Innholdsfortegnelse for September 12, 2018 i Autocar

WLTP, THE NEW, more real-world-representative fuel economy test, has given car makers a tough time in trying to get every model in their ranges tested before 1 September. Now that deadline has passed, just how many cars have been taken off sale and by how much the official fuel economy figure has increased for those cars left can now be revealed (p15). Yet the taxation system remains based on the old NEDC economy tests. And some car makers are not publishing figures from the WLTP tests but are instead taking figures from the WLTP tests and converting them back to NEDC equivalents and publishing only that figure. We all know how unreliable NEDC is, yet some car makers are still not letting us know exactly how a car performs in…

FUTURE ELECTRIC MODELS from Mercedes-Benz will be far more radical in design than the new EQC SUV, according to EQ sales and marketing boss Jörg Heinermann. “The EQC has a close link to GLC, but for some of the future EQ models, you will see more distinct design. We have decided to take a step-by-step approach here,” he said. While some manufacturers (such as Honda and BMW) are creating EVs that look dramatically different from the traditional range, Mercedes has decided to tread carefully to avoid alientating buyers. EQC interior designer Hartmut Sinkwitz said: “[The EQC] is the beginning of the electric family. We felt this is the right amount of revolution to start with for this car. You will see more with other EQ models.” One thing that will…

Volvo has revealed the 360c autonomous concept car, which, it says, imagines a world where self-driving vehicles could replace short-haul air travel. Mårten Levenstam, Volvo’s head of corporate strategy, called the 360c a conversation starter designed to offer “a glimpse at how autonomous drive technology will change the world as we know it”. He added: “The possibilities are mind-boggling.” The 360c is a fully autonomous electric car similar in size to a Volvo XC90 that “reimagines how people travel, how they engage with friends, family and contacts, and how they can recapture time while travelling”. As a fully autonomous vehicle that requires no driver input, the 360c’s cabin abandons a traditional car interior layout and can be configured as a mobile bedroom, office or a casual space. “Fully autonomous drive…

PEUGEOT WILL RENEW its focus on the supermini market with an all-new 208, due next year. The Ford Fiesta rival will be the next Peugeot to receive an electric variant alongside conventional combustion engines. Revealing spy shots show the next 208’s production body design under light disguise. It takes inspiration from the current 308 in terms of shape, with details such as the intricate lighting patterns borrowed from the 3008 SUV and 508 saloon. Under the skin, the new 208 will be the second car to use the PSA Group’s new CMP platform after the DS 3 Crossback small SUV, due to be revealed in the coming weeks. As well as offering improved space and packaging, the platform is being specifically designed to accommodate an EV version (called e-CMP) alongside…

MODEL TESTED JAGUAR I - PACE EV400 S Price £63,495 • Power 394bhp • Torque 512lb ft • 0-60mph • 4.5sec 30-70mph in fourth na • Fuel economy 545Wh/mile • CO2 emissions 0g/km • 70-0mph 46.7m Could this week’s road test subject be the most significant new car to leave the halls of a British manufacturer since the McLaren F1? Don’t bet against it. For one thing, it is remarkable that the Jaguar I-Pace – not just a new Jaguar but a new breed of Jaguar, remember – was conceived in a mere four years. Regardless of our verdict, this is a courageous project from a marque whose total annual sales amount to a fraction of what big-hitting Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz can muster. Despite the greater R&D budgets of its rivals,…

It’s 1994. John Major is in Number 10, Michael Schumacher is embarking on his dominance of Formula 1 and Oasis and Blur are fighting for supremacy of the airwaves. It is also the greatest year in the history of the car. The best year of the car? What is this nonsense? How can you pick one year from more than a century of car production as the best ever? I’m perfectly serious and here’s why. Throughout the history of the car, there have been some great machines. In the year of my birth, 1962, a couple of real crackers made their debuts: the AC Cobra and the Lotus Elan: one a stunning sports car of the old school in style and engineering but with tremendous firepower from a new generation…

“Both the F355 and the 993 retain that power not only to thrill the driver but reassure too” To understand why we feel the way we do about these cars, it helps to understand where we stood at the time. Which, in 1994, was one step back from the edge of a precipice. The recession that had gripped the world since the start of decade was over. We were starting to feel good again. And what better expressions of those feelings than these two, the 993-generation Porsche 911 and the Ferrari F355? Again, context is everything: look at them only in terms of what they are and you’ll see only two really impressive mid-decade sports cars. You have to look at where they came from too. The similarities are striking.…

I saw reports in national papers that many drivers are ignoring messages on motorway gantries about lane closures and obstructions. The reason, as most of us understand all too well, is that far too many of these messages are simply wrong. We all frequently see messages displayed such as ‘60 – reports of debris’, ‘40 – workforce in road’, or for lane closures, obstructions, stranded vehicles, closed lanes and other, far too often, erroneous statements. If the motorway authorities want drivers to take more notice of the advice they display, the answer is simple: get the message right and make it meaningful, reliable and accurate. Drivers will soon learn to take it seriously; keep on showing rubbish and it will continue to be treated with contempt. David Imrie Via email…

MILEAGE 5661 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out whether a big, separate chassis, part-time all-wheel-drive SUV still has a place in the world Having thought that the Rexton would forever consume at least a gallon of diesel every 30 miles, and often noticeably more, I’m now surprised by it consistently breaking through the 30mpg threshold. True, this is hardly economical in absolute terms – and the figure is aided by my driving it more languidly than I do most other cars – but this is undeniably an improvement, and perhaps may yet be bettered. It makes the occasionally obvious shortcomings of its olde worlde undercarriage easier to bear. Mind you, a couple of friends clambered aboard the Ssangyong recently and both were impressed by the space and luxury of…

MILEAGE 39,722 Days after an errant trailer wheel got stuck under the Golf, the car’s regular driver, Ruppert Jr, and I spent some quality time checking that all was well underneath. It was also a good time for me to explain where axle stands should go. After all, she will inherit mine eventually. Well, we clipped the Golf’s plastic panels back into place correctly, but there is certainly a hole in one. We have to make a decision about whether to buy a second bit of underside shroud and get it in place before winter arrives. At least nothing important such as a brake or fuel line was ruptured.…

Forget the rust, the peeling veneers and the occasionally optimistic asking prices – the XJS’s biggest problem is, surely, its successor: the better-made, better-to-drive and better-value XK8. To resolve the debate, let’s consider the view of one XJS owner: “The XJS is like little else on the road. When you are sitting in the car, you feel like you are driving a Rolls or a Bentley. Its low, wide stance oozes sportiness, class and style. Damn, I love my XJS.” Problem solved: the XJS it is. More specifically, in terms of this guide, the facelifted coupé and convertible produced from 1991 to 1996, the latter being the year the model’s 21-year reign came to an end. Of course, beginning in 1991 is to ignore 16 years of XJS production, because…

With looks only its mother could love, it should come as no surprise that only five examples of the Ace of Spades were built. Powered by a 3.5-litre version of Jaguar’s XJ straight six, it was built on a ladder-style box frame that was then clothed in aluminium panels. Torsion bar front suspension allied to leaf springs at the back mean it is no sports car. But it does have an opulent interior, with satinwood veneer, Connolly leather hide and Wilton carpets. Given it’s so obscure, it’s a bit of a surprise to see it fetch such strong money at auction – £38,160, no less. GET IT WHILE YOU CAN Ford Fiesta ST Price new £19,765. Price now £13,500 We’ve had to wait a while for a hot supermini to better…

“I doubt there will be anything mass-market in terms of wireless charging for six to eight years,” says Innovate UK’s Marco Landi. Wireless charging works by linking an induction plate buried in the ground to a plate attached to the underside of the vehicle. It can be used in private garages to save the driver having to plug in, “but for the extra cost now, it doesn’t really make sense”, adds Landi. In confined spaces, however, such as workshops and car parks, it’s a more space-efficient method of charging, with the hardware and wiring neatly hidden away. Ultimately wireless charging could be used for top-up charges of vehicles on the move as they drive. But one significant issue to be overcome is the circuitry inside an EV that allows the…

The EB-01 (pictured below) is the personal brainchild of Sylvain Rubio. It is a truly extraordinary creation that should be seen as a downsized and electrified off-road trials motorbike with pedals, rather than a mighty development of a mountain bike. It’s an engineer’s dream. The main frame and swingarm are a kind of aluminium monocoque/spaceframe mix with the empty spaces blanked off with carbonfibre panels. Hidden where the bottom bracket bearings would be on a mountain bike is a nine-speed automatic transmission. In the centre of the rear wheel is a motor that has three modes, including Eco and a boost mode which can release 15kW of power. The “5-6kw” battery (mounted inside the main frame and cooled by a small fan) can be charged via a wall socket in…

Stroll down a busy city street and two things stand out: the noise of idling engines and the stench of polluted air. The impact of the internal combustion engine – particularly in urban areas – is a major problem. Even in the late 1800s, when the car was in its infancy and limited in number, criticism and concern about the smells and noises were rife. Complex, unreliable powertrains further limited the appeal of these early cars. Electric power was one solution, but range could be an issue due to restrictive battery technology and the limited electrical infrastructure. The need for unobtrusive vehicles with greater range gave rise to the earliest hybrids, such as ‘La Cuadra’ of 1899. In electric mode it was quiet and emitted nothing but, thanks to a…

“The Turbo S E-Hybrid will have more than 600bhp and a top speed of nearly 200mph” Porsche is preparing to reveal the eighth-generation 911 at November’s Los Angeles motor show, but now the new model, codenamed 992, has been spotted virtually undisguised while testing. Evolutionary design tweaks will be brought in for the revised model, but extensive changes to the powertrain range will feature. For the first time, every petrol engine in the 911 line-up will be turbocharged, marking the end of naturally aspirated units found in more hardcore variants of the current 991.2-generation model. The new 911 line-up will also include two new four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid models, including a range-topping version with more than 600bhp and a top speed of nearly 200mph. Although the Jaguar F-Type rival will be…

Lexus will enter the electric SUV market with an EV version of the NX and follow it with a battery-powered variant of the smaller UX crossover, according to sources at the Japanese firm. The pure-electric NX is due to arrive in 2021, likely as part of a new-generation model given that the current car is already four years old. The UX EV will arrive soon after. The product plan also includes a larger SUV than the current range flagship, the RX, but it’s not yet clear if it will be offered in the UK.…

It has a big job on its hands, this car. Audi is pitching it as some kind of ‘one size fits all’ model. To satisfy the practicality needs of the market, it has grown in width, height and wheelbase length. It is, however, shorter thanks to cropped overhangs. Alongside a dizzying array of new cabin and driver assistance tech, the A6 also joins the latest A7 and A8 in adopting mild-hybrid systems across the range. The result is an average efficiency gain of 10% over the old car. The A6 Avant plays up to the well-worn Audi cliché: it’s a class challenger that builds on its predecessor in every area with an exceeding level of polish, but very little surprise and delight. That’s not a black mark by any means,…

The I-Pace’s clever packaging and potent electric performance would have had more of a chance to shine here were it not for an incredibly heavy-handed electronic stability program. Any downwards vertical travel through the many compressions of the Millbrook Hill Route seemed to be particularly good at setting the systems off, which would then result in a complete, though temporary, loss of power. Past this, however, the I-Pace’s sense of balance and agility are really rather impressive. It will change direction with far more conviction than a Telsa Model S, which can at times feel as though its weight is still travelling one direction long after you’ve turned the wheel. Those 245/50 section tyres provide decent, though not brilliant, levels of grip.…

How did Stephen Crossley, the Autocar Courland Next Generation Award winner, get on during his latest month of work placement at Nissan’s European technical centre? It turns out that the Oxford Brookes University student was so impressive that Andy Todd, Nissan’s director of body, exterior and CAD engineering and a member of our award’s judging panel, says the car maker was sad to see Stephen move on to his next work placement. “We get some good people through the door via the Next Generation Award, so it was important that while Stephen was here, we gave him a real flavour of what it’s like to be on the front line of engineering,” says Todd. “One gets the sense that my colleagues have been giving Stephen the full sales pitch, because…

“Dynamic competence matters less when you’re directly connected to a car’s activities” You might wonder what a French fleet car is doing among all this high-performance machinery but, believe me, this was one of the most polished driver’s cars you could buy at the time. The 405 was born into Peugeot’s golden period – if you value driving satisfaction over freedom from squeaks – and the Pininfarina-designed three-box saloon handled like a bigger 205. So why not pick the 205? Because the 405 had the better ride: its controlled fluency over mid-bend troughs and crests were sometimes breathtaking and as satisfying to experience as its balance, grip and throttle-adjustability. This I discovered during a comparison test among the Alpes-Maritimes. The 405’s combatant was the third-generation Volkswagen Passat B3, the one…

0n the face of it, future classics from the 1990s have the potential to be a bit of a let-down. The 1980s, with their accessible hot hatches, monstrous homologation specials and ballistic supercars, were a tough act to follow, and with insurance premiums biting, you’d be forgiven for thinking cars from the ’90s failed to pass muster. But don’t write them off too quickly. This was the era in which the widespread adoption of fuel injection, ABS and power steering improved dependability, safety and usability. Yet it was also a time before electronics and emissions controls robbed us of crisp-feeling throttles and steering with feel. In short, these cars are modern enough to be reliable and accessible, but old enough – and, now, rare enough – to be interesting. Happily,…

ON SALE 19 SEPTEMBER INVESTIGATION How far can you really drive in an electric car? The driving range of EVs is increasing, so are they now viable for everyday use? We have a race to assess the state of the UK’s EV nation USED SPECIAL Britain’s cheapest car We think we’ve found it, so we’ve bought it. Meet our new banger FEATURE One-off madcap creations A diesel Seat that can outrun a BMW M5 and other specials CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST DS7 Crossback The first all-new DS in years enters a tough segment. Can it stand out? DRIVEN Honda Civic saloon Honda’s hatch is now a saloon, too, complete with a diesel and a 9spd auto USED BUYING GUIDE Honda Integra Type R How to buy…

MILEAGE 6983 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To determine whether the country’s bestselling new car is as worthy of that title as its brilliant predecessor was As you can read in the separate story on the right, the Suzuki Swift Sport on our fleet is very bright. What’s more, its arrival on our fleet risked stealing the Fiesta’s thunder. Until the little Japanese hot hatch arrived at Autocar Towers, it was the ST-Line’s sporting bodywork and red paint that topped the affordable hatchback beauty contest. Now I’m undecided as to which would win the car park pageant. I have such a soft spot for the Swift’s taut, squat stance. Then again, the Fiesta is a handsome thing. These two cars might not technically be rivals – the yellow one’s a hot…

That it is Britain’s favourite people mover by some sales margin is no surprise. The Galaxy is big, but it certainly does not feel like it when you’re behind the wheel. The responsive power steering and light gearchange mean it is as easy to drive as a Mondeo. The seven-seat option makes sense and any of the rear five seats can be removed. The 2.3 petrol is a good combination of performance and economy, although most would go for the 1.9 diesel. £795 buys a 2003 2.3 Zetec automatic with 104k miles and a service history. SEND YOUR USED CAR TALES TO james@bangernomics.com AND READERS' QUESTIONS TO autocar@haymarket.com…

An expert’s view MARTIN GLIDDON, XJS CLUB “Now values of the E-Type have hit the roof, those for XJSs are starting to rise. The most sought-after version is the 4.0 Celebration convertible of 1995-96. When buying an XJS, don’t be impressed by a low mileage since the engine needs to be used regularly. It should be smooth, and idle without noticeable movement. It certainly shouldn’t blow any smoke when starting up or running. Coolant should be blue in colour, power steering fluid red, engine oil honey and gearbox oil a nice reddy-pink. If they are none of these, walk away. Most underside knocks or rattles can usually be attributed to worn suspension and radius arm bushes. Rust is the killer.” Buyer beware… ▪ ENGINE Check condition of cooling fan blades,…

It only takes a minute in the sumptuous rear seat of the Lagonda Vision Concept to discover how different electric luxury motoring is likely to be. The car is big but the interior is vast. Your feet reach as far forward as they can go, the side-glass rises beside you as if you were sitting in a huge front cabin, not the rear, and an enormous glare-free glazed panel over your head gives an unfettered view of the sky (or ceiling) above. It’s all because the front occupants have been moved forward and downward due to the fact that there’s no big petrol engine in the nose. It works brilliantly, not just in this concept’s chauffeur-driven guise but also in the autonomous mode that’s coming. The observation that space is…

This is the road map for passenger car progress, from 2015 to the 2050 date many experts choose for the attainment of a genuinely zero-emissions transport system. Cars cleaner than Euro 6 arrive by 2025, with car makers’ range-average CO2 figure having to drop below 95g/km by then. Mild and full hybrids last into the late 2030s, before fuel cell cars and BEVs drive us towards the further future. Cars as we know them — even with engines of enhanced efficiency — are tipped to peter out between 2025 and 2030, replaced by ‘hybrid-focused’ models.…

If you follow the UK news – and Autocar – with any degree of rigour, the political debate about how to ‘decarbonise’ road transport, a catch-all subject that includes air quality, the future of combustion engines and the demonisation of diesel, will not have escaped your attention. For months the haggling between government departments, green lobbyists and the car industry has been stealing headlines, culminating in the release last month of The Road to Zero, a white paper that outlines the government’s thinking. In 147 pages allocated to 46 detailed policy points, The Road to Zero sets out a plan to “put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacture of zero-emissions vehicles, and for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero-emissions by 2040”. The white…

PROJECT VIGIL Early this year, the government awarded £9.8 million to a consortium of companies to develop a ‘vehicle-to-grid’, or V2G, demonstrator project. The object of the project, called Vehicle-to-Grid Intelligent Control, or VIGIL, is to develop a way for the UK power network to communicate with charging EVs. This would allow power from the batteries of already-charged EVs to be fed back into the grid during periods of high demand. When there are enough EVs plugged into the network, the cars could help provide extra power for the evening peak demand before completing their charging later at night when demand is low. “One thousand chargers will be installed across the network over the next three years,” says Claire Spending of National Grid. “Part of the project will include assessing…

An optimist on nearly every aspect of the electric car, Professor Dave Greenwood has concerns about how the economics of car charging will work when electric cars become common. At present, he says, when you pull into a public car park to recharge, the cost of the parking often outweighs the cost of the charge, sometimes by 10 times. “Revenue raised by the Treasury on liquid fuels is significant,” says Greenwood, “but it has been falling and will continue to do so. Government will want to do something about that. On top of that, someone, somewhere needs to make a profit out of keeping charging points running otherwise they won’t bother. The problem is in differentiating between household energy and energy for cars. The electron doesn’t know if it’s flowing…

The second-generation GLE will introduce two important new technologies to the Mercedes brand: an advanced suspension system, surpassing even that found on the flagship S-Class, and a plug-in hybrid variant with a “particularly long range”, thought to offer over 50 miles of electric-only travel. The new suspension system is a more advanced version of the Magic Body Control found on the S-Class. It is the first on sale where the spring and damping forces are individually controlled at each wheel, counteracting not only body roll but also pitch and squat. Meanwhile, the long-range diesel plug-in hybrid, set to arrive after the launch of the GLE early next year, is a dramatic development of the original GLE plug-in hybrid, which offered a range of up to 18 miles. The BMW X5…

ASTON MARTIN HAS revealed more technical details of the Rapide E ahead of first deliveries next year. The luxury four-door EV will be powered by two rear-mounted electric motors making a combined 602bhp. That translates to a 0-60mph target time of around four seconds. Torque is set to be 738lb ft. The Rapide E will be one of the first production models to use an 800V electric architecture, allowing the batteries to be replenished to a range of 350 miles in one hour and make use of both 350kW DC chargers and AC home chargers. Aston claims the Rapide E is engineered for repeatable performance without any degradation. The 155mph top speed can be maintained continuously for more than 10 minutes, Aston says. Deliveries of the Rapide E will begin…

The newly implemented WLTP emissions test has shaken up the European car market, leaving manufacturers rushing to certify models and dropping variants from their ranges. WLTP (short for Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure) replaced the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test, which had been heavily criticised for not reflecting real-world conditions, on 1 September. What does it mean for the consumer? In theory, cars that are sold today will be no more or less efficient in the real world than they were before. Many buying from dealer forecourts today will still find cars that have only been tested under the old regime, but even those that have been tested under WLTP rules should return near-identical figures. As our research shows (see right), that is not the case for a…

Vinfast, a new Vietnamese automotive company, will unveil two cars based on the outgoing BMW 5 Series saloon and X5 SUV at the Paris motor show, ahead of launching an all-new electric vehicle late next year. The as-yet-unnamed Paris-bound models will both be powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engines based on the BMW N20 unit, and offered in rear and all-wheel drive. They will go into pilot production in March 2019, with full production following in September 2019 at a new facility currently being completed on reclaimed land near the coastal town of Hai Phong, 70 miles from Hanoi. The plant will also produce an electric scooter, which will go into production that autumn. Meanwhile, Vinfast has secured a licence to produce what was sold in the UK as the…

There is a very good reason why Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Volvo and plenty more besides have hurried to introduce compact SUVs in recent years: no other premium market segment is growing at a faster rate across Europe just now. Lexus wasn’t about to sit back and watch its rivals grab fistfuls of market share, which is why its line-up of SUVs is now three-strong, rather than two. The new UX slots in beneath the mid-sized NX, which itself sits one rung below the flagship RX. Lexus reckons something like 80% of UX buyers in Britain won’t have owned one of the brand’s cars before, which means this distinctive crossover serves a dual purpose: earn revenue in the short term and bring new lifelong customers into the fold beyond that. The…

Last year wasn’t the best for the Fiat 500X. During the course of 2017, UK sales of the steroidal, crossover-type cousin to the 500 supermini plummeted 66% compared with 2016. Fewer than 5000 examples left dealer forecourts. This obviously proved to be something of a kick up the backside for Fiat, as the Italian manufacturer has wasted no time in releasing this new facelifted model. There are some minor styling changes, but it’s what’s going on beneath that retro exterior and within the cabin that warrants the most attention. Diesel engines and four-wheel drive have been dropped from the UK line-up, and Brits can now choose from two petrol engines: a 1.0-litre three-pot, driven here, or a 1.3-litre four-cylinder. Equipment levels have been given a boost, with additional active safety…

With its first all-electric model, Jaguar has not only beaten wealthier rivals to the punch but also set a high bar for those to come after it. The I-Pace is not quite the dynamic masterstroke some might have expected, but plainly has enough dynamism for owners to take much encouragement and satisfaction from the car’s driving experience. The car also has performance bordering on the wild, a design effective in being progressive yet recognisably Jaguar, and a fine interior – all of which should secure it the consideration of anyone who cares about driving and sustainability. The scarcity of compatible rapid-charging infrastructure means those owners may be frustrated when not allowed to use their cars for the effortless long-distance cruising to which the I-Pace would otherwise be suited. Moreover, its…

In 1994, Porsche was in the middle of a recovery plan that would save it from going under and that would result in the creation of the Boxster. Meanwhile, at the sales counter, Porsche was depending on the ageing 928, the new 993 and the 968, which had been launched in 1992. The latter was a simple development of the 944, a good car with great handling but not really special – still the poor relation to the 911. And then, in 1993, Porsche invited journalists to come and drive a version of the 968 that it called the Clubsport; a name previously used on a special version of the 911 produced in small numbers from 1987. It was a low-key launch without the fanfare and anticipation that surrounds the…

“No sign of Lada’s intent is more notable than the 4x4 Vision unveiled recently” The Lada Riva was emphatically not one of the finest cars of the 1990s. It was based on the platform of the Vaz 2101 from 1970, which was a reworked version of 1966’s Fiat 124. So when EU emissions regulations led to the Riva, along with the rest of Lada’s range, being withdrawn from sale in the UK in 1997, the only people who mourned were those seeking a punchline for jokes about bad cars. But the story of Lada didn’t end in 1997. It was Russia’s national car brand and its ageing models – including the Riva – continued to be hugely successful in its home country. In fact, a Russian financial crisis in 1998…

FIRST REPORT WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see if this quirkiest of compact crossovers has more to offer than its head-turning styling There’s really no escaping the charm of the compact crossover, is there? Take the humble hatchback, jack it up like it’s on stilts and apply some off-road-inspired design cues. Job done. The great British public has gone mad for SUV-themed superminis, and so manufacturers are sure to keep them coming to satisfy our thirst. It’s an increasingly crowded corner of the market, so it pays to stand out, which is something the Citroën C3 Aircross has no trouble doing. The Aircross replaces the MPV-inspired C3 Picasso in Citroën’s line-up with the SUV styling du jour, resulting in a crossover that oozes quirky French charm inside and out. It…

QUESTION I do many motorway miles to my new job. A dealer is selling a 2010 Jaguar XF 3.0 TD V6 S Portfolio with a full service history and 138,000 miles. Is the mileage a concern? Mark Nixon, via email ANSWER The XF in that specification is an excellent car and an ideal cruiser given your needs. The high mileage shouldn’t be too much of a concern if the service history is truly meticulous, but XFs don’t seem to wear big miles particularly well, so go in with your eyes open and judge based on how the car looks and drives. Only make an offer if it’s clearly been cherished and maintained regardless of cost. AR QUESTION Our kids have flown the nest so we’d like to trade up to…

CROSS-COUNTRY HERO When the Nissan GT-R was first released to a waiting public in 2008, one of the things that took many people aback was the price. The successor to the Skyline GT-R was expected to cost something similar to that car’s £54,000-odd. Instead, it was £65,000 – a figure that rose sharply when the first facelift came to pass in 2010 and has gone on climbing to the heady heights of £81,995 today, or more if you want anything other than the base model. Yet those early GT-Rs’ values have sunk steadily, to the point where today they look like quite a lot of car for the cash. This 2010 example in the classifieds is on for £35,950 – around half what it would have been when it was…

There’s an electric car revolution coming to one of the world’s most traditionally minded luxury car makers. Aston Martin Lagonda will bring at least three super-plush battery-powered cars to market over the next seven years and, by the mid-2020s, perhaps position the marque as the most progressive in the market sector. The new cars, the first an Aston Martin and the next two badged Lagonda, will play key roles in doubling AML’s annual car volume by 2025 – and bring the unique smoothness and silence of electric drive to the British super-luxury sector for the very first time. Along with others in the Big Five luxury sector – Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce – AML has decided that a 12,000-to-14,000-per-year output divided across seven models is economically viable while maintaining…

Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren and a self-confessed lover of sports cars and fast driving, believes EVs will rightly become a force in the car market and quite soon, but his welcome is distinctly guarded and conditional on important future technical developments. “The big changes electric cars need are around the batteries,” he explains. “The ones we have now are still very large and very heavy. As an example, if we were to build an electric version of our Senna right now, with the same range and power, it would weigh two tonnes, not 1.2 tonnes. Think what that’d do to the braking and handling. “Having said that, we believe the step-change is going to be with solid-state batteries, tipped to be viable between 2023 and 2025, depending on who’s…

The UK niche vehicle sector plays a crucial role in spearheading the technologies that are driving the development of increasingly efficient electric vehicles. This includes electrified drive systems, novel battery solutions and the lightweight vehicle structures necessary to maximise range and efficiency. With electric passenger cars now being produced in significant volumes, other types of vehicle will need to adopt and adapt these technologies. This year, the Niche Vehicle Network is supporting 22 new R&D projects, in a quest to find innovative solutions for the electrification of motorcycles, buses, sports cars, personal urban transport and even robotic tractors. In order to shape ever-lighter vehicle structures, the automotive industry is increasingly seeking multi-materials solutions. One project will research how best to join thermoplastics to aluminium; another will determine how best to…

An electric car is nothing without a charger to pump in the amps. Currently there area round 16,000 publicly available charging connectors in the UK and around 160,000 plug-in cars (fully electric and plug-in hybrids) registered here, so that’s a ratio of about 10:1. But is that enough? And with sales of plug-ins heading ever upwards, how many more chargers does the UK need in future? That ratio is about right, according to David Martell, boss of BP Chargemaster, the charging network company that was taken over earlier this year by the fuel and energy giant BP, and the firm’s future strategy is to keep installing chargers to maintain it. “Right now we definitely have enough public chargers for demand,” says Martell. “We think we need about one public charger…

Swindon Powertrain is one of the last places you’d expect to find an electric vehicle project. The company, founded in 1971, has long been a centre for the most mechanical of mechanical engineering and is a specialist in engine development. Since 2010 it has been owned by French engineer Raphaël Caillé, who says the firm, which employs 20 people, is a “high-efficiency-powertrain specialist”. Its business is helping Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers develop new engine components, from computer simulation through to manufacturing prototype parts and testing the results. Swindon Powertrain is also well-known for supplying the ‘unbranded’ TOCA four-cylinder engine used by nearly half the grid in the British Touring Car Championship. Indeed, so petrol-headed is Swindon Powertrain that it built 17,000 engines over four years for Mini’s old…