Innholdsfortegnelse for April 17, 2019 i Autocar

ONE OF SEVERAL fascinating threads to come out of Andrew Frankel’s essay on what really makes for a comfortable car (p52) discusses the impact touchscreens and other potentially distracting interior and driver assistance technology has on a driver’s concentration and alertness. Frankly, so many of today’s touchscreen infotainment systems aren’t fit for purpose. They require the driver’s eyes to leave the road to carry out the most simple of commands. Even things as fundamental as heater controls are hidden behind a menu or two on some screens. Hit a bump that moves your finger, fail to press the screen hard enough or just find a poorly developed system suffering from latency issues and you’re back to square one – eyes off the road and heart rate increasing again. Only a…

Volkswagen has extended its range of ID concepts to include a new 302bhp electric-powered SUV, known as the Roomzz. Unveiled at the Shanghai motor show, the contemporary seven-seater acts as a preview to a production model of similar size and shape Volkswagen says will be launched in 2021. It’s a crucial part of the German car maker’s plan to become the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles by the middle of the next decade. Set to be positioned above the upcoming production version of the Crozz and a more sporting Crozz Coupé, the Roomzz is said to offer interior space superior to that of the VW Touareg in a body measuring 4915mm in length, 1890mm in width and 1760mm in height. “The ID Roomzz shows us what we can expect…

Mazda is turning its attention to a hot hatch version of the new Mazda 3, with hopes it could roll into dealerships as soon as 2021 – although it might not come to Europe. During the launch of the fourth-generation small car in Australia, visiting programme manager Kota Beppu said he wants a “hyper” version of the hatchback. “I’m a car guy, so I want to drive a high-performance Mazda 3… I’ll do my best,” he said. Despite claiming such a project had not yet been signed off, insiders suggest that it is a formality. Beppu said there was keen interest from “most developed countries”, including the US, Japan and Australia. Various drivetrain options have been discussed, but it would be likely to adopt the turbocharged 2.5-litre engine from larger…

MODEL TESTED 300 R-SPORT AWD Price £48,640 Power 296bhp Torque 295lb ft 0-60mph 6.6sec 30-70mph in fourth 7.1sec Fuel economy 24.1mpg CO2 emissions 175g/km 70-0mph 46.4m The past four years have been of the sort that age an Autocar mid-sized executive saloon class champion very quickly – and this week we’re checking up on a car that might have more relevance to that statement than most. When the current X260 generation of the Jaguar XF emerged in 2015, it hit a competitive mark in the Autocar road test. It did so, however, against the last-generation version of each German opponent it now faces and before the arrival of the Volvo S90 and V90 and the European introduction of the Lexus ES. To find out where Jaguar’s middle-sized executive option sits today,…

BMW 530i TOURING M SPORT Handsome, practical, impressively comfortable and almost as expressive as the XF. BMW’s 5 Series Touring remains our first choice in the segment. AUDI A6 AVANT 45 TFSI QUATTRO S LINE Audi’s sleek A6 oozes tech-appeal and majors in sure-footed dynamism. Not quite as fun to drive as the Jag, mind. MERCEDES-BENZ E220D 4MATIC AMG LINE ESTATE Diesel power blunts the Merc’s driver appeal somewhat, but as a luxurious, comfortable and practical estate it’s a class act. JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE 300 R-SPORT AWD Still the sweetest-handling car of the bunch, but now starting to lack the premium appeal of its updated rivals. VOLVO V90 T5 R-DESIGN PLUS Volvo’s handsome estate offers plenty of practicality, a smooth ride and a reasonable amount of performance but it’s no…

When Bicester Heritage elbowed its way onto the UK car lover’s list of Most Desirable Destinations four or five years ago, its mission seemed clear: to become an important new Oxfordshire haven for vintage and classic cars, and for those who loved, owned, mended or transacted them. The miraculously well-preserved (and sympathetically restored) red-brick buildings of this former RAF base, dating from 1926 and used as a location for Churchillian movie Darkest Hour, set an instant ‘between-the-wars’ scene for anyone who drove through the old-style black-and-white boom gate, especially after a chat with gatekeeper Neil, whose genial manner also seemed to come from another time. But as it turns out, Bicester Heritage is only the first stage of a much bigger project called Bicester Motion, designed to establish the UK’s…

With the quirky Yeti crossover, Skoda proved something that many of us had come to doubt: that while the Volkswagen Group’s strategy of sharing platforms, engines, suspension systems and whatever else between the various models across its brands is clearly good for business, would any of them ever be able to produce a car with a discernible personality of its own? Then, in 2009, the Skoda Yeti arrived, with its unusual styling and a distinct character all of its own. The Yeti predated today’s seemingly unstoppable SUV-mania, and even now it doesn’t really sit comfortably in that category. It shared its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Golf, and although it is a little taller than a conventional hatchback, it doesn’t have so many of the unavoidable drawbacks of a high-riding SUV.…

With a 215bhp 3.2 V6, subtle bodykit and understated saloon body, this Omega MV6 auto is the definition of a Q-car. It romped home at auction, making £4440 on the hammer. The 2001-reg motor had 72,000 miles and belonged to the boss of a Vauxhall dealership, so had enjoyed five-star treatment. Upgrades included an Irmscher grille and a Powerflow exhaust. As a special incentive on the day, the boss threw in its Y11 VXL registration number. The car’s sure to attract attention at club meets, where enthusiasts earnestly debate the Omega’s comparison with rival Beemers and Mercs.…

As the all-new Griffith inches closer (deliveries should start next year), interest in its forebear remains strong. Not as strong as it was when news of the new model first broke, though. Then, values of the old Griff stiffened quickly as people made the connection, only to soften slightly as its successor’s launch date was pushed back. Add winter’s usual chilling effect on convertible prices and now is probably your last chance to snare an old Griff for sensible money before the new model, costing from around £90,000, hoves into view once more. All that said, these days you’ll be lucky to find a decent runner much below £15,000, while good, refurbished cars start at around £20,000. The best nudge £35,000, while the very best, lowest-mileage and cleanest last-of-the-line SEs…

An expert’s view DAVID HOTHERSALL, TVRCC “I’ve had my 1998 Griffith 500 for 13 years. I bought it with 19,000 miles and today it’s showing 83,000. It’s my daily driver and has mostly been trouble-free. If there had been any serious problems, there’s enough support out there to build a new one. In fact, there are at least three TVR businesses operating from the old Bristol Avenue factory. The Griffith isn’t complicated but, given its torque-to-weight ratio, you have to respect it.” Buyer beware… ▪ ENGINE Listen for camchain rattles: they last about 100,000 miles; camshafts can need replacing at 50k. Expect oil leaks from rocker cover gaskets and sump cover. Early 5.0s had crank issues. Check oil pressure and also engine temperature since the radiator can become blocked and…

“The GLB is a durable and practical SUV with nonetheless compact dimensions” Mercedes-Benz has previewed a new G-Class-inspired rugged compact SUV at the Shanghai motor show with its Concept GLB. Scheduled to go into production later this year, with five or seven seats, the GLB features a boxy off-road design and variable four-wheel drive that Mercedes hopes will combine to give the car some Land Rover Defender-style cachet as one of its more distinctive models. The GLB will serve as a rugged rival to the Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X1 and Audi Q3. As well as being offered with petrol and diesel engines, by 2021 the GLB will be available as an all-electric variant, dubbed EQ B (see page 9). The new SUV is described by Mercedes as…

Mercedes-AMG is using the New York motor show this week to release updated versions of the GLC 63 and GLC 63 S in standard and Coupé form. The hot SUVs benefit from the same round of changes as the regular GLC, including a redesigned front end, altered exterior details and the latest MBUX infotainment system. Power is unchanged from 469bhp on the base car and 503bhp on the S, but a new dynamic handling control system featuring three modes (four for the S) has been added. A ‘Slippery’ drive mode now features on the Dynamic Select system, while an electronic locking differential is now standard fitment.…

GENESIS, HYUNDAI’s luxury brand, has previewed a future electric city car at the New York show with the Mint Concept. The firm says the luxury two-seater is intended as a small, manoeuvrable urban runabout, and has been designed to make the most efficient use of a small footprint. Instead of a conventional boot, the Mint features a rear parcel shelf, accessed via side openings, with the rear of the car used for charging ports. Design chief Luc Donckerwolke said the model “disconnects the physical dimensions of the vehicle from its positioning as a premium product”. The firm said the machine is the result of a “global” design effort. The car will have a range of around 200 miles and be capable of 350kW fast-charging. Hyundai is gearing up to launch…

The new Audi AI:ME concept, which has made its public debut at the Shanghai motor show, previews the firm’s vision of shared urban mobility in the future – but also provides hints to a forthcoming A3-sized compact electric model. The model is the third of four concepts the manufacturer is producing to show its vision for shared motoring in 10 years’ time, with the idea that subscribers choose the car they need for any given moment. It follows the 2017 Aicon concept, designed for inner-city journeys, and last year’s PB18 E-tron sports car. While the PB18 E-tron likely previews Audi’s future R8 successor, the styling of the AI:ME hints at a compact crossover. The firm says it isn’t built on a specific platform, but at 4300cm long, 1500cm high and…

MOST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EVs pretty soon turn towards battery technology and charging times, but the electric motors that actually drive an EV rarely catch the limelight. That’s a shame, because the beating heart of a car, the engine, has traditionally been something drivers get excited about, so why should electric motors be any different? An EV’s electric machine (to use the motor’s proper name – it works as a generator as well) is just as important as the battery in achieving the best possible range. Range directly relates to one crucial characteristic of electric motors: their phenomenal efficiency (ie how good they are at converting electrical energy into mechanical energy). Even the best combustion engines don’t do a great job in converting the energy in the fuel into torque, with…

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The arrival of the Audi E-tron on British roads suggests one thing: the Cold War is well and truly heating up. Not the one from the history books though, more the growing skirmish at the premium end of the electric SUV market. It’s a tussle you’ll be familiar with. Tesla struck first with its trailblazing Model X, and last year Jaguar retaliated with the I-Pace. Mercedes-Benz is set to join the fray with the launch of its new EQC later this year, as is BMW with its forthcoming iX3. Anyway, the E-tron. It’s Audi’s shot across the bows of the world’s established high-end car makers, a signal that it’s not going to sit back while they capitalise on a growing appetite for plush, eco-friendly EVs. And so far, the E-tron’s…

The snaking Tarmac of Millbrook’s Hill Route served to shine a light on just how good a job Jaguar’s dynamics engineers have done of making the XF Sportbrake handle like a proper sports estate should. Despite its reasonably large footprint, the XF still felt impressively lithe and athletic. Directional changes were delivered in a much more expressive and enthusiastic fashion than is the norm for the class – a trait no doubt aided by linear steering response and a helm that doesn’t dial in an artificial amount of weight when Sport mode is selected. Traction is strong but not entirely unbreakable. Applying too much throttle through sharper bends will see its nose push into understeer; backing into a corner on the brakes encourages the back end to subtly rotate in…

Warning: the comparison test you’re about to read involves a Land Rover. It therefore includes obligatory photographs taken off-road, in a Welsh limestone quarry known well to staffers of this magazine, for which the Autocar road test desk and photography department send their apologies. In this line of work, some visual clichés are simply too well-worn to resist. This particular cliché should certainly be acknowledged for what it is, though: a bit of artistic licence. Because while the second-generation Range Rover Evoque may be all-new and all-important for its creator, it’s every inch a compact SUV and not an ‘off-roader’. As such cars go, the Evoque is capable, rugged and versatile, but it’s very much an everyday road car. You know this. We know this. Yet while picturing it abandoned…

“Please enjoy the pleasant sensation of looseness,” says the car you are driving. Once you’ve stopped smirking, you would be for given for concluding that the pursuit of comfort by at least one luxury car manufacturer might be in danger of descending into self-parody. The car in question is a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the breed that has become almost as synonymous with comfort as Sellotape has with sticky-back plastic. And on this occasion it was giving advice on how best to use its seat massagers. But what is comfort in an automotive context? Is it really just about big chairs and soft springs, or is there more to it? Back in 2005 tests were conducted between an S-Class and its immediate rivals over a 300-mile route that revealed that whoever was…

These days, nuance seems to be all too rare in any public debate and, in this case, ‘road safety’ could be used as a cudgel to silence or eliminate dissent or questioning against measures that are flawed or simplistic in some way. Matt Prior hits that nail on the head (Tester’ser’s Notes, 3 April): it’s hard for the enthusiast not to feel threatened by the intelligent speed assistance (ISA) systems, but clearly the general standardard of driving and new cars sales do not point to us being the majority. Personally, I’m more observant of the posted speed limit than many in urban areas; on the open road, less so. So, as with traction control, why not a staged ISA controlled by the user? Personally, I’d welcome an automatic 30mph and…

MILEAGE 4572 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see if Audi has made an executive car with the broad appeal needed to truly challenge the class best Spring has sprung just in time to enjoy the Audi A6 Avant during the refreshing antidote to the long winter murk, as the estate’s stint on the Autocar fleet begins to draw to a close. The daily motorway haul and usual seasonal lottery of mixed driving conditions doesn’t make it any easier to keep its metallic glacier white skin gleaming at its striking best. But once out of sight, out of mind within the calming perspective of the cosseting interior, the twinge of guilt over the shameful exterior grime soon drifts away. Tomorrow. We’ll clean it tomorrow. The weekly economy numbers of this premium…

Robert Carr invites us to take a closer look at what he describes as his cheap ride. “I needed a five-door runaround for driving around town, going to the tip, taking the parents out,” he says. “Bought this Golf 1.9 diesel from a friend’s sister in July last year. It came with full VW history, a recent service, 12 months’ MOT, 130,000 miles and two mature owners. I lobbed some second-hand winter tyres on the steels that came with the car, then bought these alloys for £40 from a friendly breaker. Bought a set of Bosch wiper blades to see properly. Cost £700 in all. I’ve done 5000 trouble-free miles since.”…

The GLB’s engine range at launch is set to be petrol- and diesel-based, but Mercedes’ commitment to launch over 130 electrified models before 2023 means a fully electric version will appear within the next couple of years. Fitting into the maker’s EQ sub-brand and due to be dubbed EQ B, the electric SUV will sit below the recently launched EQ C and feature a similar, aerodynamically optimised redesign including a bespoke front end. The EQ B will use the EV driveline from the upcoming EQ A hatchback, using two electric motors, with one mounted at the front and one at the rear, to power both axles. Insiders suggest the EQ A will use a battery of at least 60kWh in capacity, giving a claimed range of around 310 miles. Expect…

Tesla boss Elon Musk has admitted that making money from selling electric cars is tough. But in the past few years Tesla has made millions by getting rival car firms to pay it for a surprisingly valuable commodity: nothing. In the US, several states require car firms to produce a certain number of zero-emission cars, or face fines. But firms can buy EV ‘credits’ from other car makers, and because Tesla only makes electric cars, it has a huge number of those credits. In one financial quarter last year it made more than $190 million (£164 million) – more than two-thirds of its profit in that quarter – selling such credits to rivals. Tesla has now found a way to turn nothing into profit with its European arm, through a…

The temptation to look upon this new Mercedes-Benz CLA as a common-or-garden A-Class in evening attire is so strong, it becomes an almost natural assumption to make. We know that the secret to successful car manufacturing is to produce a single car, then dress according to need. So there’s the smart-casual A-Class, the business-suited B-Class, the shortly to be announced cagoule-clad GLA and, of course, the party-frock CLA. Same car, different clothes. Stands to reason, doesn’t it? Well, no, as it happens. At least not in this case. I found this out on a road leading south from Munich to the Alps. I was thinking about the first time I drove the new A-Class and how, for all its brain-boggling technology, it just wasn’t that great to drive. Yet here…

This is a well-presented two-bedroom detached house with a newly fitted kitchen and dining area with yacht wood flooring, situated in the heart of anywhere you care to park it. You get the idea. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo is a bite-size luxury property on wheels, and it’s just had a few updates as part of a facelift for the entire V-Class MPV range. Chief among them is a very welcome refresh in its engine and gearbox offering. The OM654 four-cylinder diesel engine from the E-Class, GLE and CLS with two different outputs (220d and 300d) are now available, along with Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic gearbox, which is standard. Elsewhere in the V-Class line-up, automatic emergency braking is now standard and there’s a tweak to its design inside and out. Even…

VERDICT As a case study of what Jaguar does well and what it needs to do better, the XF Sportbrake speaks volumes. Among its peers this remains perhaps the stand-out chassis, capable of engaging its driver when the moment arises but also calmly lapping up miles on all manner of roads as required. And the launch of all-new rivals has hardly diminished the appeal of this car’s striking good looks. However, on the evidence of this test, Jaguar’s mid-size saloon and estate now fall markedly short in terms of cabin isolation, materials quality and the digital onboard experience, which together are crucial in attracting a modern audience. Cabin noise is a particular concern, and we’d contend that a flagship model warrants no fewer than six cylinders in its nose, not…

A class-leading residual value forecast is chief among the reasons why the Evoque looks so expensive at showroom list price while appearing much less costly on monthly finance. There are plenty of pricier trims for the car, and plenty of options to tick, but cheaper versions are available. These PCP figures are manufacturer-sourced, so you might be able to haggle them down. Frugal private buyers should note that by keeping the car’s after-options price below £40k (which is easy enough), you’d slash your annual VED bill by more than £300 per year compared with these figures. It’s interesting to note that for fleet drivers the Evoque remains a slightly pricier prospect than its peers, but that’s mostly due to its CO2 emissions. For both fleet and private buyers, however, the…

If you’re a regular reader of Autocar, you’re probably abbreviation WLTP. Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure is a new way of measuring vehicles’ fuel economy and emissions, and it has appeared on our pages for a number of reasons. First, there’s been plenty of related news. For example, Audi sales in the UK fell by a fifth last year, due to WLTP. Porsche has almost halved its sales so far this year, also due to WLTP. Plus, we’ve started to future-proof our first drive reviews and A-Z data pages by quoting only WLTP fuel economy and CO2 figures where possible, rather than those measured under the previous NEDC cycle. It’s easy to glaze over this stuff, but it’s important for car buyers because it can affect how much…

DRIVEN Jaguar F-Pace SVR After being delayed by nearly a year, Jag’s fire-breathing super-SUV is ready to hit the road. Read our first test in the supercharged 542bhp V8 FEATURE FCA’s new museum Behind the scenes at the incredible facility inspiring Fiat’s designers COMPARISON Volkswagen GTI TCR vs rivals Last of the Mk7 hot Golfs fights Civic Type R and RS Mégane EVERY WEEK DRIVEN Toyota Camry No longer just a hire car in America, it’s now available to buy in the UK ROAD TEST Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupé Is the revised Merc sports coupé the sweet spot of the AMG range? USED BUYING GUIDE Ferrari F430 Why it’s not as crazy a used buy as you might think. You will be tempted…

MILEAGE 22,015 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see if a true sports utility vehicle can be an endearing everyday car Six months after arriving, then, the Land Cruiser was due its second service, a 20,000-miler. That’s a main service, rather than the 10,000-mile interval, so as well as engine oil being changed, as at 10k, the gearbox oil and differential oils are changed, as is brake fluid, the fuel filter and cabin air filter, and the key fob battery is replaced. The list of other checks is longer, too. Toyota runs a fixed-price servicing programme, so it doesn’t matter which main dealer you visit. The Land Cruiser is the biggest car Toyota makes so, along with a Dyna (a forward-cab compact truck) and the Hilux pick-up, it’s the most expensive…

QUESTION My wife’s choice of new car is between a Mini Countryman Cooper Sport auto and a Mercedes-Benz GLA Urban Edition auto. The Mercedes is bigger but has no sat-nav, which the Mini has. Advice, please. James Wilson, Devon ANSWER The GLA will be replaced next year by an all-new model, while the Countryman is relatively fresh (it was launched in 2017). Don’t worry about the GLA’s lack of integrated sat-nav – it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can run your phone’s maps on it. The GLA is quicker than the Mini but not as fun to drive. Both aren’t especially comfortable but the Mini is roomier and more practical. It gets our vote. JE QUESTION Is it worth paying to have my nearly new car’s paint…

Aston Martin DB9 £29,950 You could argue a DB9 looks at its best in the classifieds, where it’s someone else’s problem. Still, it does get you dreaming, especially one like the 66,000-mile, 2005/05-reg car we found in black, shot against an austere Edinburgh terrace. Equipment includes a Linn sound system, xenon headlights and rear parking assistance. All the signs of a good purchase are here: factory-spec Bridgestone Potenzas all-round, main dealer service mileages laid bare for examination and a recent service ensuring there should be no horrors waiting in the wings. It costs less than £30,000 but that’s just the start. You’ll need to budget at least £1000 a year for servicing and other expenses, and that’s before road tax. It would be sensible to maintain its main dealer service…

Volkswagen Up GTI Price new £14,055. Price now £12,490 If you love small cars, Autocar’s recent story on their possible extinction (News, 20 March) is a wake-up call for those interested in models such as the Volkswagen Up GTI. When it first landed last year, there was a queue around the block. You’ll still have a bit of a wait, but why bother when you can get your hands on a nearly new one now and save a pretty sum in the process? One like the 2018/68-reg example we found. It’s an ex-demonstrator with 1800 miles, so fingers crossed it hasn't been thrashed too much.…