Innholdsfortegnelse for October 17, 2018 i Autocar

BMW’S BOLD ELECTRIFICATION strategy, led by the i4 (p8), is another example of a major car firm’s commitment to the technology and, you might think, a victory for the EU and its recently tightened emissions targets. It’s fair of the EU to assume the industry will only respond to a regulatory stick: the push to electrification is several years late and largely in response to Dieselgate and China’s tough CO2 targets. But the move to EVs is gathering pace – apparently enough for the UK government to feel it can cut back the regulatory carrot of grants for buyers. That seems short-sighted, and I’d argue the EU’s tighter emissions standards are too. A better move would be investing in improving the charging network so it’s fit for the new generation…

The next-generation BMW M3 – due for launch in 2020 – is expected to use an extensively updated version of BMW’s twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine producing around 465bhp. Officials at this month’s Paris motor show, including company boss Harald Krüger, confirmed that a new M3 was under development, although they declined to give details. It is understood, however, that engineers have been set the target of giving the new M3 a power boost over the M3 CS, which produced 454bhp. It is believed the additional performance is likely to come from the use of a water injection system, like that used by the M4 GTS, to enable reduced cylinder temperatures for more efficient running. The only obstacle to this system being employed is believed to have centred on the…

MINI HAS OVERHAULED the trim structure of its entire range, streamlining the line-up and getting rid of several diesel variants in the process. Traditional option staples such as the Pepper and Child packs have been axed while the standard kit of each Mini is boosted, and the same options are now offered for the same price across all model ranges. Three trim levels for each bodystyle now exist for the first time: Classic, Sport and Exclusive. Classic trim is entry level, with mid-range Sport adding a John Cooper Works-inspired bodykit, sports suspension and bucket seats. Exclusive is the premium range-topper, with features such as leather seats. Options can then be added through some simplified packs, with a full range of personalisation options available on top. The changes simplify the buying…

The UK government is abolishing the plug-in car grant for all vehicles other than pure-electric cars and those that can offer more than 70 miles of zero-emissions driving range. Currently, buyers of electric vehicles that fall into Category 1 — those capable of travelling 70 miles or more on electric power — receive a £4500 subsidy towards the purchase price, with Category 2 or 3 cars (almost exclusively plug-in hybrids) receiving a £2500 grant. In the revised system, which will be put in place from 12 November, all plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) currently on sale will no longer be eligible for a grant and the Category 1 subsidy will be reduced to £3500. The government claims the changes reflect “the recent reductions in the price of electric vehicles”, claiming it will…

KIA PLANS TO greatly expand its portfolio of electrified models with a new Ceed estate plug-in hybrid (PHEV), a new Soul EV and, in the longer term, a Sportage PHEV and a large fuel cell SUV, according to its European marketing boss, Artur Martins. The Ceed PHEV will use the same petrol-electric powertrain as the Niro PHEV and is tipped to go on sale “in the second half of 2019”. That will make it capable of 0-62mph in 10.4sec, and fuel economy of 217mpg and CO2 emissions of 29g/km on the old NEDC test cycle. A new Soul EV will appear at the Los Angeles motor show in November and be launched in the UK in spring next year. It will use the same powertrain as the e-Niro, giving it…

The relatively soft suspension of the CLS 53 does have a marginally adverse effect on the precision and composure with which it tackles Millbrook’s Hill Route. Numerous highspeed directional changes serve to emphasise the car’s mass and hamper, to an extent, its sense of mid-corner adjustability. Corners over crests can cause the Mercedes to skip about on the road surface, too, although never in an alarming or dangerous fashion. Mercedes seems to have a knack for crafting well-calibrated electronic stability control systems, and that holds true for the CLS 53. This is particularly highlighted by the conservative approach it takes when stepping in early but with subtlety through the Hill Route’s numerous compressions, where sudden downwards travel can often result in a heavy-handed response from less-sophisticated systems. ACCELERATION BRAKING 60-0mph:…

From the moment I caught sight of the new Porsche 911 parked in a lowly lit car park beneath the downtown district of San Francisco, the question that sprung to mind was not so much how it actually looked but, more important, how it drove. The essence of this iconic sports car has always been its ability to deliver on the road in a way that few cars can claim to do, and as I stood there eager to jump into this latest incarnation, the curiosity was killing me. It was early morning when I joined the Porsche test and development team for the final validation tests of the eighth-generation 911 – the 992, as it is known to insiders. Never one to do things by halves, Porsche had brought…

Even before I had driven the McLaren600LT through six countries along a meandering 1370-mile route, I knew what to expect. I knew it would be searingly fast. I knew it would be freakishly agile and steer beautifully too. What I didn’t yet know about the most potent Sports Series model was that, after driving it from Budapest to London in 36 hours, I would hand over its key not with a heavy heart, but with a very real sense of relief. But that’s still to come. At 8am on a Tuesday morning in the Hungarian capital, there is only anticipation. In Ceramic Grey, the 600LT looks almost violently purposeful. I can’t bring myself to love the way it looks but it’s necessarily fussy because all those contrast-carbon flicks and wings…

“The previous two Ceeds took time to make a dent in the more established competition” FIRST REPORT WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see if the new, Europe-designed Ceed is a true Volkswagen Golf rival or still a bit of a family hatchback also-ran Crossovers might be increasingly dominant in the family car sales charts, but hatchbacks remain the bread and butter of many car makers’ ranges. Cars such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf are of vital importance to the industry and buyers alike, as reflected in the billions of pounds spent on the development and marketing of them. New entrants to the market often have a difficult time establishing themselves and the previous two generations of the Kia Ceed – despite being perfectly competent – took time to…

QUESTION Now the nights are beginning to draw in, I’ve noticed my car’s headlights aren’t great. I’ve seen these LED alternatives online. Should I try those? Bob Averbrook, via email ANSWER Unless your car came with them from the factory, the answer is no. It is illegal to use parts that are not designed for on-road use (most LED bulbs say they are for off-road use only) and do not comply with construction and use requirements. You run the risk of dazzling other road users due to your headlights not having been designed for the different light pattern of an LED bulb. Besides, the distance the light travels isn’t any greater due to the uncontrolled scattering of light. Buy a quality set of halogen bulbs and ensure the surface of…

THE PEOPLE’S EV Vauxhall Ampera £14,500 Electric cars, including range extenders, have generated a lot of public interest in the wake of Dieselgate and the government’s decision to implement a ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2040. Trouble is, most of us can’t afford to buy them new. However, more and more are appearing on the used market. BMW has had a concerted stab at this with its i3 electric and i3 range-extender models, but they’re not without their issues. First, the i3 is not that big inside, which compromises its usefulness as a family car. Second, in our hands, we’ve seen the range plummet to around 70 miles, particularly in cold weather. You’d think that this would be fine if you have the range extender but it…

“BMW will introduce up to five dedicated i models by the end of 2021” BMW is doubling down on its plans to expand its dedicated range of electric-powered i models with a four-door coupé-style i4 saloon due by 2021. The expansion of the EV sub-brand follows a ruling by the EU to enforce a fleet average CO2 emission reduction of 35% for 2030. The ruling, which effectively spells an end to the combustion engine as a sole source of propulsion for high-volume cars sold in Europe by the end of the next decade, was expected by BMW’s top management. They initiated an acceleration in the development of both long-range plug-in hybrids and pure-electric models in a board meeting held earlier this year. Speaking to Autocar at the recent Paris motor…

BMW is targeting the Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes-Benz GLS with the new X7, its seventh and largest SUV to date. Pictured here in production form for the first time ahead of a planned public debut at the Los Angeles show in November, the seven-seater is set for UK delivery next March at a price of £72,155 for the entry-level X7 xDrive30d. Conceived to provide BMW with a greater presence in the growing upper-luxury SUV market, the X7 aims to offer the comfort and opulence of a 7 Series with the versatility and off-road prowess of the new fourth-generation X5, with which it shares much of its mechanical and electrical architecture. Key markets for the X7, which goes under the internal codename G06, are the US, China, Russia and the…

Toyota is considering reintroducing its mid-engined MR2 sports car, possibly in battery-electric form. European marketing boss Matt Harrison, speaking at the Paris motor show, said the company is at the “discussion stage” but confirmed it is a favoured potential addition to the product plan. Harrison also alluded to the brand’s so-called ‘Three Brothers’ of the Supra, Celica coupé and MR2, using boss Akio Toyoda’s favoured term for the trio of sports models he would like to see returning to showrooms. The Supra is shortly to be launched and the GT86 is today’s Celica, leaving only the MR2 to come. Toyota has already hinted at a smaller sports car with the 2015 S-FR concept, which was inspired by the front-engined S800 sports coupé of 1965. Other options could include a platform-sharing…

65% Amount of fuel price in tax 327 billion Total UK miles driven a year 10.3p Average cost per mile in fuel duty 5% VAT per kW for EV charged on grid £27.9bn Fuel duty raised last year The government is forecast to collect £28.3 billion in fuel duty this financial year, and yet those who drive pure-electric vehicles will contribute precisely zero to that figure. So what will happen when we’re all humming about in electric vehicles? Such a future now looks inevitable, with impending bans on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, cities plotting access restrictions for non-electrified vehicles and the EU rapidly imposing reductions on the fleet-average CO2 figures of manufacturers for new cars sold. All this means that by 2025 more than one in 10 car…

There’s an air of confidence about the new, fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe that permeates practically everything it does. This seven-seater has been the marque’s SUV flagship for the past 17 years and has sold around 1.6 million examples in Europe as well as scoring even bigger successes in the US, so its creators have known for a long time that they’re on the right track. Which is why this latest iteration, in UK dealerships now, is pretty similar to previous versions, only better in nearly every way. It’s an imposing design and modern-looking against its peers, but the new Santa Fe is palpably about generous cabin space and carrying capacity, and none the worse for that. The new interior is dominated by an impressive two-level fascia featuring a prominent and…

Some observers may regard this new six-cylinder AMG as an irrelevance; an effort to justify the existence of Mercedes-AMG’s new £135,000 GT63 S 4-Door. There might be a grain of truth in that, but the assessment would be otherwise unfair, because the CLS 53 has proved itself to be impressive and capable in its own right. The manner with which it combines its rich and complex powertrain with an opulent interior, smooth ride and sharp handling lends the CLS a distinct and appealing identity. It’s a different take on what an AMG performance model can be: quick and engaging when you want it to be, comfortable and refined when you don’t. And it’s more enticing than AMG’s last attempt at a feeder line: the turbo V6 43. Were it not…

In a move that is also claimed to provide the new 911 with an even broader range of downforce settings, Porsche has given it a new electro-hydraulically operated rear spoiler. It deploys at speed in one of three settings. One of them is a new rain mode, which delivers greater levels of downforce than before to keep the rear end more stable in wet conditions. Interestingly, the rain mode is triggered by a sensor placed within the front wheel arches. It uses a microphone to measure the amount of water on the road and adjust the spoiler as well as the stability management system accordingly.…

If you think looking for a village pub is hard work these days, try finding a village garage. Although some are thriving and valued by their customers, you don’t have to go far to find others that have closed, either forced out of business by rising costs and changing consumer habits, or encouraged to do so by property developers waving a blank cheque. One such garage is fighting back. Called The Motor Garage, it’s in the Wiltshire village of Netheravon, once home to a bustling wartime RAF base but now the kind of place commuters prize for its quiet living and easy access to major centres. I found it by chance when, driving along the A345 Salisbury to Marlborough road, I saw an old 1930s Morris Cowley pick-up advertising its…

A certain je ne sais quoi I enjoyed Richard Bremner’s piece on the Peugeot 205 XS (‘Get to the heart of the motor’, 8 August). It evoked fond memories of my own 205 GT (five-door version), which, bought used with 60,000 miles on the clock, brought a smile to my face for another 100,000, despite spitting me off backwards twice – amazingly without hitting anything. Richard did miss one other Gallic trait – that of the 205’s build quality. All the superfluous bits of non-essential trim and gadgets (such as coin holders – remember those?) had broken or fallen off in the first few years. The bare essentials were still going strong when I sold mine. A fantastic machine. Sadly, based on the 2008 I recently hired, it appears that…

MILEAGE 9329 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 Living close to Heathrow means my spare room is occasionally used by friends and families as an airport hotel, albeit a distinctly low-budget one that wouldn’t score well on Trip Advisor. Recently, my mum booked in for a stay at my not-so-Premier Inn ahead of an early flight – and then discovered a hitch in her plans for getting from Somerset to Richmond upon Thames. So my airport hotel expanded into a chauffeur service to collect her and her luggage from Clevedon. I just needed the car for the job. Our Mercedes S-Class might be the obvious choice for a taxi service, but I had…

It should not need saying that I use my cars. The BMW was bought to do long journeys and it just did 325 miles in a day. Proper modern motorway stuff. Starting from stone-cold remains problematic, though. Consequently, we are off to see a well-known specialist in a few weeks’ time. Meanwhile, the Cooper goes in for a once-over to look at the overheating issue, so more on that to come. The Flying Pig needs an MOT and I’ve found a specialist with all the proper diagnostic gear who will also do a service. Oh, and the Lorry needs an MOT. So it will be a busy and expensive time.…

A bargain when new and a steal when used, a good Ford Fiesta ST Mk7 is downright irresistible. Take ‘One we found’ (opposite). This four-year-old ST-1 is being advertised by a private seller. Registered in 2014 and with 38,500 miles on the clock, it’s up for a £7900. New in 2014, it cost £16,995 before discount. The result: a 54% saving for 100% fun. Unusually for a used ST, it’s totally standard, when so many have been tuned and tweaked. On that subject, ‘Worth knowing’ (also opposite) sounds a warning about previously modified examples that have since been returned to standard spec. True, it would be better if it were the more popular ST-2 version (it cost £17,995) with half-leather Recaros, rear privacy glass, keyless ignition and digital radio. Today,…

Rover had a hit on its hands when it launched the sleek, David Bache-styled Rover SD1. But subsequent production issues and lack of supply meant the goodwill of the buying public – and their orders – quickly disappeared. So the SD1 has spent much of its retirement being the butt of many a joke. However, interest has been picking up for the poor person’s Ferrari Daytona. This 1979 SD1 3500 sold at auction for £6360 – more than a concours car – because it has covered only 35,000 miles and seems to be in original condition. Sagging headliner and all.…

BMW is preparing a midlife update for the X1 small SUV for next year, with European markets highly likely to receive a previously China-only plug-in hybrid variant. Strict new EU rules dictating the average CO2 emissions of all cars a brand sells and due to come into full effect in 2021 mean that BMW is rushing to ensure electrified models are offered across most of its mainstream line-up. The Chinese-market plug-in powertrain emits just 39g/km of CO2 and is already homologated in Europe in the Mini Countryman S E All4. Minor styling changes and tech improvements will also feature on the 2019 X1.…

TOYOTA IS EXPECTED to offer a hot hatch version of the new Corolla as part of a strategy to reintroduce high-performance models to its range. While a GR-badged (Gazoo Racing) model has yet to be confirmed, insiders say a hot version will “inevitably” be offered as part of company boss Akio Toyoda’s mission to bring more interesting and desirable cars to market. The Corolla is currently available with a choice of two hybrid powertrains, the more powerful providing 175bhp. Toyota has already made a limited-edition GRMN version of the Yaris with 209bhp, but a performance hybrid powertrain in a Corolla GR would need to offer at least 250bhp in order to keep pace with hot hatch rivals. The standard car’s new TNGA platform offers a lower centre of gravity and…

Seat will differentiate its cars from Volkswagen Group siblings with a completely new design language starting next year, according to design boss Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos. The new look will be previewed on a concept version of the next-generation Leon, which is due to make its debut next March at the Geneva motor show. Mesonero-Romanos told Autocar that, in future, Seat will drop the distinctive sharp creases that mark out the current line-up for a look that is more “about fullness”. He said: “We are going to be steering away from edges and lines. Using hard lines to express precision is something we have been doing since the Leon was launched in 2012. But we need to be more different to our colleagues in the VW Group. “There will be far fewer…

TESLA HAS RELEASED a new over-the-air software update for the Model S, X and 3, said to be the most substantial the brand has yet rolled out. The ‘Version 9.0’ update brings a raft of new features, including a new Dash Cam function allowing owners to use the forward-facing camera to record and store video clips of up to 10 minutes in length. Additionally, all eight external cameras from Tesla’s self-driving system have been activated, enabling “better situational awareness on the road”, according to the manufacturer. The blind-spot monitoring system now uses the side and rear cameras, while different type of vehicles – including bicycles – are now categorised and displayed in the dials. Alongside this, a new app function allows software updates to be done remotely rather than via…

The creators of the Volkswagen Iltis unexpectedly set a ball rolling that Audi caught when it launched the original Quattro in 1980. Fast forward to 2018 and the boxy, rally-wise coupé has become the peg on which the rest of the firm’s line-up hangs. Its influence is visible in the styling of Audi’s recent models, from the A1 to the Q8, and engineers stress the electric E-tron ushers in the next evolution of the now-famous quattro four-wheel-drive system. It takes a substantial stretch of the imagination to mistake the E-tron for anything other than an Audi, even when looking at a camouflaged pre-production prototype like the one we drove in Namibia. It’s not a photocopy of another SUV in the company’s portfolio – styling cues such as a lighter-coloured grille…

The new Mercedes-Benz S560e is setting itself up as the S-Class of choice for the more environmentally conscious business tycoon. For now, it’s the closest there is to a fully electric version of Stuttgart’s flagship saloon. It mates a 362bhp V6 with a 121bhp electric motor, making for a total system power output of 470bhp. Torque stands at 516lb ft, the sprint from 0-62mph can be despatched in a claimed 5.0sec and the top speed is limited to 155mph. It’s a fairly potent machine, then, but as quick as this S-Class can be, its capability for zero-emissions motoring is perhaps of greater importance. That electric motor is powered by 13.5kWh battery, which allows the S560e to travel up to 30 miles on electricity alone up to a top speed of…

MODEL TESTED 53 4MATIC+ Price £74,050 Power 429bhp Torque 384lb ft 0-60mph 4.3sec 30-70mph in fourth 6.1sec Fuel economy 31mpg CO2 emissions 203g/km 70-0mph 45.4m Is the world ready for a grand touring performance saloon, powered by a hybrid powertrain and from Mercedes-AMG? Perhaps it would be better to ask if there is another performance car maker whose emergence has depended more squarely on the raw, unreconstructed allure of the V8? It’s doubtable. Ten years ago, the idea would have been laughable. Plenty might still laugh at it today. And yet it’s happening. Mercedes’ in-house performance marque, right now in 2018, is in the final stages of preparing to launch a ‘halo’ hybrid hypercar with more than 1000bhp while already filtering a new breed of petrol-electric options into several strata of…

This is not a ‘proper’ group test for these vehicles. Because it’s a group test of commercial vehicles, not cars, and, as a man who sold vans once told me, there is a big difference between the two. With cars, you’re dealing with people’s own money and therefore their own emotions. With vans, you’re freed from the constraints of either: it is a transaction and a decision and a discussion based on absolutes that, for the most part, start with statistics to meet needs and end with a pound symbol. And that’s that. So it ought to be, then, with these five double-cab pick-up trucks. They’re so similar in layout and intent and capability that to decide which is best – to do a ‘group test’ properly – for your…

FEATURE Bowler: what happened next We go behind the scenes at the madcap British off-road specialist and drive some of its latest creations FIRST DRIVE Volvo S60 Volvo’s rise as a premium brand continues with this 3 Series rival SPECIAL REPORT Company car tax busters Ahead of the budget, here’s how to get one over on Philip Hammond EVERY WEEK LONG DRIVE The great V8 The V8 engine is dying out, so we enjoy it while we still can ROAD TEST Peugeot 508 Can its good looks and easy-going nature revitalise the saloon segment? USED BUYING GUIDE Volkswagen Touareg Unlike the super-plush new Touareg, the original is a rough, tough 4x4 SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p24…

MILEAGE 7171 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 You wouldn’t normally call washing a car a project but, in the case of the Rexton, this activity is certainly a decent undertaking. The first and very obvious challenge is the Ssangyong’s size; the second, which becomes apparent almost immediately afterwards, is that you will need to achieve some altitude if you’re even to see its roof, never mind give this veldt of steel the sponge and leather treatment. This is hardly the Rexton’s fault, of course: if you want a tall, capacious vehicle, then by definition it is going to be big. You just need to allow yourself a good couple of hours if you’re going…

Nissan Primera You might remember David Gaunt because, in 2015, we featured his 2002 Nissan Primera estate. He says: “After three years of happy use and solid reliability, I decided to replace it… with another Primera. Why not? I love these cars. “I found this beauty less than 10 miles away. Granted, it did need a new clutch, but the sellers paid half towards it. It is a 2004 SE 1.8 with the luxury of a sunroof! Everything works and it had 72k miles and one owner. All for £495. Incredible value. What a car!”…

An expert’s view GEORGE DUXBURY, FIESTA ST-3 OWNER “I bought my first Fiesta five years ago when I was 17. It was a 1.2 but it was a start. I then traded it for a new 1.0 Zetec S Black Edition, which was great fun. Three years after that, I upgraded to a new Fiesta ST-3. Never mind that it was a blast to drive, it was just spectacular value for money. That was 15 months ago. Since then, I’ve had a Peron Stage 2 Pro tune package fitted plus an ITG intake system, full exhaust system and uprated intercooler, all by AET Motorsport. It now has around 250bhp.” Buyer beware… ▪ ENGINE Listen for a rattle from the cam bucket that can fail due to fuel pump pressure. The…

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDI Price new £29,900. Price now £18,799 The hard-working family bus that is the Hyundai Tucson has just been treated to a facelift, but it’s so minor that you could buy a two-year-old example, like this one found on PistonHeads, and save yourself a bundle. This Premium SE car has covered less than 20,000 miles and gets loads of toys, such as climate control, heated seats all round, panoramic roof, sat-nav and reversing camera. Plus, you save more than £11,000 on its new price.…