Innholdsfortegnelse for October 23, 2019 i Autocar

FOR SO LONG, no one made better hot hatches than Renault Sport. Even now, any ‘greatest hot hatch of all time’ list would have multiple 1990s and 2000s RS models vying for the podium, if not outright honours. But that list would not contain any of Renault Sport’s current offerings. This week, we road test Renault’s response to it being knocked off the top spot: the Mégane RS Trophy-R (p34). This car is Renault Sport at its most extreme and hardcore, aiming to show the world it can still create a hot hatch that is considered the ultimate among its peers. Yet while brilliant in parts, it merely raises more questions for Renault Sport in other areas. The Trophy-R has a sublime chassis, but not an engine to match, and…

Lotus Engineering, the division that acts as an engineering consultant for third-party clients, is set to be expanded under new leadership. Boss Miguel Fragoso has begun reinvigorating the division, with a new commercial director appointed. Fragoso has kept a team “working on the areas instrumental in maintaining our capability”, such as advanced structures, dynamics, propulsion systems and electronic controls. During the cost-cutting drive under previous Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus Engineering’s contribution to the group’s turnover dwindled to as little as 15%. In the past, it has contributed almost half. However, Fragoso has credited Gales with bringing “the financial discipline that it didn’t have. That made it more attractive for an investor.” Recent projects have included an exploratory exercise in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover for the government’s Technology Strategy…

Car makers that ignore emissions legislation will be forced to recall affected cars – which could involve millions of cars and cost hundreds of millions of pounds – if a new environment draft bill becomes law. A draft of the bill was included in last week’s Queen’s speech, clearly intended to tighten oversight of the car industry in the wake of the Volkswagen Group’s Dieselgate scandal. “The government will be empowered to mandate manufacturers to recall vehicles when they do not meet the relevant environmental standards,” the draft bill said. Autocar understands these standards will included heat and noise as well as emissions. The bill will also propose a legally binding target to reduce fine particulate matter – PM2.5. This matter comes from a variety of sources, including cars, trucks,…

PORSCHE HAS MADE its new Taycan electric car more attainable with a new 4S trim to exist below the Turbo and Turbo S. It is available to order now from £83,367 excluding government grants. UK deliveries commence in January alongside the Turbo and Turbo S models. The Taycan 4S puts out up to 523bhp in standard form, with a 79.2kWh battery pack for a maximum range of 252 miles. A Performance Battery Plus pack can be specified raising peak power to 563bhp, the battery output to 93.4kWh and the range to 287 miles – the most of any Taycan. Both models achieve the same 0-62mph time of 4.0sec. But the optional upgrade brings a faster peak charging rate, up from 225kW to 270kW. Other changes include smaller brakes and 19in…

Volvo has launched a bold set of plans to reduce its carbon emissions, with the goal to reduce the life cycle carbon footprint of each car by 40% from 2018 figures by 2025. It has also set a target to become an entirely carbon-neutral company – which would mean being an electric-only firm – by 2040. To meet that goal, Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson said it is not a case of if but “when” Volvo becomes an EV-only firm and the exact date of the switchover will ultimately be decided by customer take-up. Samuelsson said Volvo will also reduce the CO2 emissions of both its own operations and those of its global supply chain by 25% and use 25% recycled plastics in new cars. He added that the firm is…

‘From 2020 you will become a permanent back-seat driver’ ran a typically breathless headline from 2015. The story, from The Observer, reflected the optimism that Silicon Valley geniuses were fast clearing the hurdles to self-driving. That optimism has faded as both car and tech firms begin to acknowledge that training a computer to think faster and smarter than a human amid the myriad of driving situations we encounter daily is tough. “Everybody talking about autonomous cars four years ago was saying they’d be here by now,” Nick Rogers, head of engineering at Jaguar Land Rover said. “I think we can get 80% of the way there very, very quickly, but when the car’s in charge, the only answer is zero accidents and that’s going to be a challenge for a…

There’s a small, reasonably discreet patch of empty space towards the front of the Aston Martin Vantage’s transmission tunnel that – back at its official UK media launch in late 2017 – prompted a somewhat inevitable line of questioning from attending members of the press. “Is that where the manual gearshifter is going to go, then?” was the gist of the enquiries levelled at CEO Andy Palmer. His answer was, of course, far more nuanced than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but it was, reading between the lines, explicit enough to indicate that Aston very much planned on making such a car happen. The firm’s PR team was understandably less than thrilled with Palmer’s revelation. This is that car. Its dog-leg seven-speed manual is the same Graziano unit that appeared…

VERDICT The third-generation Renault Mégane RS has reached an early zenith with the new Trophy-R – if that is, in fact, what it represents. We should remember, after all, that the R26R emerged only a year before its parent model was replaced, and the original Trophy-R was another end-of-run production. So there’s clearly time before the end of the Mégane IV’s factory life cycle for Renault Sport to dial up the performance volume of this extra-hot, track-ready front-driver even further, as ridiculous as it sounds. If it does, there is no doubt that the lion’s share of its attention should go to the car’s powertrain. That both engine and gearbox play only serviceable parts of the Trophy-R’s dynamic appeal sells this car conspicuously short – and in exchange for more…

“They must have depleted the UK of thousands of vehicles” If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t see quite so many used BMW 5 Series, Volkswagen Passats, Suzuki Grand Vitaras, Mitsubishi Shoguns and Mercedes E-Classes these days, go to the Port of Dover. Every Sunday afternoon, a procession of ageing VW LT and Mercedes Sprinter vans, each dragging a one-car trailer, winds its way over the Jubilee Way ramp or, occasionally from the other direction, along the coast on the A20, and into the port. Their registration numbers indicate they’re from Poland and Bulgaria but mainly from Romania. The registration plates of the cars they’re towing are UK. Mainly premium German cars and Japanese 4x4s, they also include Audi A6s, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Classes. Where inexperienced visitors might…

Thank you for John Evans’ article on autonomy (9 October). One of the reasons for undue optimism – the ‘false confidence’ in your headline – is our choice of words to describe the technology. What is often called artificial intelligence is nothing of the kind. It is the ability to store, recall and use vast amounts of data. This is an immensely useful tool, but it is not intelligence, as defined by Jean Piaget. He defined intelligence as what you use when you do not know what to do. Consider animals that stalk, give chase and catch their prey. Is it intelligence that they use? No, this behaviour is largely hard-wired from birth or learned. Intelligence is too slow. The work to develop autonomous cars is the accumulation and use…

MILEAGE 5753 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To discover how deploying the premium EV’s mighty acceleration dovetails with preserving its electric range Quite a car in which to double my experience of fully electric motoring. Following time spent with Tom Morgan’s BMW i3s, I’ve switched to Steve Cropley’s Jaguar I-Pace for a step up in size and eye-watering value. The big Jag might have been judged only third out of four in our recent electric SUV comparison (4 September), but its striking looks, smooth ride and stunning capabilities clearly make this a car to savour. Personally, I’m not so sure about the looks. The short droop snoot looks sharp in profile, but that rear end’s crop is a little harsh. Not sure about the colour either, but the choice of orange…

MILEAGE 4451 INNOCENTI MINI You may not remember that the adorable Italian car would spontaneously wee out some coolant after a run. Rather worryingly, it sounded like a kettle. All I did was top up the coolant to the lowest level in the expansion tank. I stopped doing that and – you know what? – it packed up spilling coolant. I do worry that there isn’t enough in the system, but the temperature stays normal, which is 90 on the gauge. I should attend to a bit of ‘dieseling’. It isn’t the new spark plugs and it could be all sorts of tired A-Series engine issues.…

When you’re planning to park your tanks on your rivals’ lawns, it pays to be prepared. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Jaguar was when it drove its new XE onto Germany’s hallowed turf. Rear-wheel drive with four-wheel drive an option; an advanced, lightweight aluminium monocoque; a new modular family of powerful and efficient engines that could be easily adapted to suit changing market conditions; a genuinely sophisticated suspension system; and styling that would engage the young thrusters in its cross hairs – the XE had all this and more. Today, prices of the first cars start at £7000 for a 100,000-mile 2.0d 163 SE manual, around £1000 less than the equivalent BMW 320d SE. The XE we have in mind has done 106,000 miles and has one company owner in the…

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT Continental GTs have looked like good value for some time, with prices starting at around £15,000. However, the hammer fell on this 2004-reg example with 81,000 miles at just £11,000. There had to be a catch, surely? Make that catches. The bodywork required a touch-up but, more worrying, two management lights indicated airbag and suspension problems. Those two could add up to a tidy sum, except that sometimes fortune favours the bold. Perhaps the airbag and suspension lights were a glitch and, right now, the new owner is cradling a fresh 12-month MOT for their dirt-cheap GT.…

A Golf GTI with a bigger boot: that’s often how the Octavia vRS Mk2 of 2005-13 is described. Obviously, there’s a lot more to the VW than how many (or how few) suitcases it’ll swallow, but that fact is that, until 2009, the Octavia ran the same 197bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine as the Mk5 Golf GTI and, after that date, the same chain-driven 2.0-litre that powered the Mk6 Golf GTI, although still with 197bhp. The diesel-powered Octavia vRS also had the same 167bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine as the Mk5 Golf GT TDI. To cap it all, the model is based on the Golf Mk 5 chassis. Add the availability of an estate body, and weekday speed freaks – with or without an eye on the fuel gauge – cum…

“The Elan would be positioned above the Elise with more space and creature comforts” Lotus is considering reintroducing the Elan name on a new drop-top sports car, as well as other models in a back catalogue that includes the Elite, the Europa and the Esprit. The Elan name is said by sources at the Hethel-based firm to have a strong possibility of being revived in the next few years. Few of the details are known at this stage but insiders are said to be “very excited” by the proposed configuration of this car, which is expected to be positioned above the Elise as a two-seat convertible with more refinement, space and creature comforts to take on the Porsche Boxster. Despite this, the new car should stick to the classic Lotus…

The Mazda MX-30 will shake up the electric vehicle market when it goes on sale, shunning typical characteristics such as silent motoring and one-pedal driving. Mazda said the EV, which will be launched in early 2021, has been developed for drivers who “don’t want to sacrifice driving pleasure” when buying an electric car. Mazda’s first electric model will deliver 141bhp and 195lb ft via one electric motor powered by a 35.5kWh battery, offering a range of 130 miles. This is far less than most competitors but Mazda says it exceeds the 31-mile average daily drive of European customers. Mazda added that it has chosen a smaller battery to achieve better emissions through the entire life cycle of the car. Its research has found that a 35.5kWh battery produces fewer emissions…

Behind the wheel of an MX-30 prototype, hidden under a CX-30 shell, the car feels refreshingly different from existing EVs. Those who have driven a few EVs will be familiar with their typical characteristics: instant torque, one-pedal driving and near-silent motion. None of those applies here. Mazda has single-mindedly chosen another route and it’s immediately noticeable on our test route on the outskirts of Frankfurt. Press the throttle and there’s a far more progressive style of acceleration than the instant torque of other EVs. That’s intentional, said Mazda, because it wants the MX-30 to feel like any of its other cars. Deceleration is another major differentiator between this prototype and a typical EV. Mazda has shunned the one-pedal mode of driving for a more traditional set-up. There is a small…

THE SALE OF car finance is set to undergo a crackdown after the UK’s financial regulator revealed that it had uncovered unfair practices among some retailers and brokers in the way they make commission. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed that some sellers earned staged commission on sales according to the interest rate at which they sold a car, with greater bonuses given for charging customers more. The executive director of strategy and competition at the FCA, Christopher Woolard, claimed that banning this type of commission “will see increased competition in the market, which will ultimately save customers money”. Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association Sue Robinson released a statement in which she said: “Franchised vehicle retailers are committed to helping and providing clarity to the consumer. Clear rules…

FREE SEALEY TOOL KIT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TODAY ■ COMPREHENSIVE RANGE ■ SOFT GRIP HANDLES ■ KIT HOLDS A SELECTION OF TOOLS ■ SUPPLIED WITHIN THE STORAGE CASE WORTH £45 SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOCAR For 124 years, Autocar has been dedicated to sharing with you our love of cars every week. You can turn your support of Autocar into access to an even more exclusive club by subscribing. Every Wednesday you’ll be first to read the magazine packed with news, reviews, insightful features, star columnists, used car buying advice and our expanded data section. You’ll also receive regular free supplements and gain access to exclusive benefits (see below). There has never been a more interesting or significant time for the car industry and we’d love for you to join us on…

It’s not often that the Golf R has company, but it’s a fairly apt sign of the times that the newest member of the loftiest order of Volkswagen’s high-performance family is SUV-shaped. This is the T-Roc R and it joins the likes of the Audi SQ2, Cupra Ateca and BMW X2 M35i in the ever-expanding performance crossover sphere. Like its SQ2 and Ateca relatives (not to mention the Golf R), the T-Roc R is based on Volkswagen’s MQB architecture and makes use of the now ubiquitous EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor. It develops the same 296bhp and 295lb ft as in its cousins and all of it is deployed via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and Haldex clutch-based four-wheel-drive system. A new aluminium subframe helps facilitate a far sportier suspension calibration…

1 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R GT At two years old, the FK8 Type R is still the undisputed hot-hatch king. An incredible blend of handling smarts, engagement, performance and packaging. 2 RENAULT MEGANE RS TROPHY-R Trophy-R is easily the pick of the Mégane RS range, but still not quite on the same level as the Civic for overall cohesiveness. 3 MERCEDES-AMG A45 S New A45 S packs the most powerful four-cylinder production motor ever under the bonnet. No UK drive yet, but early impressions are promising. 4 AUDI RS3 SPORTBACK Dramatic pace and limpet-like road-holding capability marred by mute steering and an aloof demeanour. Five-cylinder engine is fantastic, though. 5 BMW M135i A quick, agile and involving contender, but the switch to 4WD does mean the BMW M135i misses out on its predecessor’s rear-drive USP.…

“It’s never been used in a road car before. And I really don’t know why” If you’re reading this, I guarantee you’ve done it. Whether at school, on holiday, while bored at work, you’ve sat down and designed your own ideal car. How much power, how much performance, how much weight and so on. But today the desire to pen the perfect car seems stronger than ever. You don’t need me to tell you that we are at the end of an era, that all we’ve taken for granted about the way cars are built throughout our lifetimes will shortly become no more than history. Electric cars are coming and I think most of us know that if they are to deliver true driving pleasure, it will come in a…

“We are prototype safe, so the paparazzi can’t spy the cars when they’re indoors” Every November, car industry engineers dig out their thermals and puffer jackets before jumping on a flight to the Arctic Circle for the annual cold-weather-testing pilgrimage. Autocar readers will know all about this snowy exodus as disguised prototypes get papped as they venture into the open for cold starts, acceleration tests, stability control calibration, anti-lock brake assessment and handling appraisals. Some engineers, however, have a head start and have been cold-weather testing through the summer months courtesy of an indoor test track where there’s snow and ice despite the outside temperature hitting 30deg C as the sun beats down. Just one global location offers large-scale indoor cold-weather test tracks – Test World in Ivalo, northern Finland,…

SPECIAL FEATURE Sixty years of Britain’s motorways As the M1 turns 60, Andrew Frankel drives a modern-day Daytona Cobra (at 70mph…) across our country’s fastest roads INTERVIEW JLR’s Ralf Speth We check the progress of JLR’s £2.5 billion turnaround plan FEATURE Can you live with hydrogen? Richard Bremner on life running a hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST BMW 118i We’ve got to know the M135i, but about what the entry-level 1 Series? FIRST DRIVE Alpine A110S Faster, more powerful, a touch heavier – but is the tweaked sports car better? USED BUYING GUIDE Lotus Esprit The Esprit was made right up until 2004. Here’s how to buy a later one SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p20…

MILEAGE 3884 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT Because a plug-in hybrid diesel seems like the best of both worlds. But can reality live up to the theory? It’s a bullet I’ve been meaning to bite for a while now but actually it was another Mercedes-Benz that, if you’ll forgive the appalling melange of metaphors, finally persuaded me to take the plunge. After adding a grand total of 44 miles to the range of an all-electric EQ C overnight, I realised I needed to make the change. And what better excuse to sort it out than having a plug-in on the premises for a few months? Living in the middle of nowhere, I have off-muddy lane parking, but until now, my charging has come courtesy of a three pin plug by the…

Ford Puma Al Horsman pops onto these pages occasionally and here is his revived Puma: “It was a real find, but the paintwork on it was a bit tired looking. I’ve finally got round to bringing it back to its former glory. I think you’ll agree it was worth the effort and a little expense! “The roof had deteriorated the most – it was parked under a tree – and the rest of the car was detailed to match the roof as best as possible. “I had the headlights refurbished, too. They’re much clearer now and safer for the coming dark evenings. Also, given the 1.7 engine is really quite a modern powerplant, I tried using Shell super-unleaded, particularly before a long journey, and that has really made the car…

Nissan GT-R Track Edition £59,995 GT-Rs have never attracted the interest of the concours d’élégance set, who keep the prices of Astons, Ferraris and the like bubbling, so the chances of this Track Edition version of 2016 finding its way into one of their lavishly illustrated catalogues are slim. Still, there are enough enthusiasts around ready to appreciate its specially developed and race-tuned Bilstein Damptronic suspension set-up, supplementary bonded bodywork to increase stiffness and lightweight 20in Rays forged aluminium alloy wheels. Our example is a 2016/16-reg with 32,000 miles. One for some squillionaire’s collection when EVs rule.…

An expert’s view RICHARD DUNCAN, OWNER, RD GARAGE SERVICES “We’re Skoda specialists so see a lot of Octavias, including vRS models. The vRS petrol engines prior to the 2009 facelift are much less troublesome than the later direct-injection units. In my opinion, these engines are badly engineered. How else do you explain worn piston rings, burnt valves and failing timing chains? It’s not owner neglect as far as I can see. Fortunately, later engines from 2012 were improved. The diesel engine in the vRS is a lot more reliable than the petrol units. Some of the Octavia diesel taxis we see for servicing have done over 300,000 miles without trouble. They thrive on VW 505.01 5W-40 fully synthetic oil, so check it’s been used.” Buyer beware ■ PETROL ENGINE On…

MAZDA WILL LAUNCH an innovative diesel engine next year as it seeks to broaden its approach to reducing emissions. The news comes despite a significant drop in demand for the fuel in cars, with some manufacturers, such as Volvo, saying they will not develop new diesel engines but instead favour electrification. “We will show you how clean and very efficient diesel engines can be,” said Mazda’s Europe R&D boss, Christian Schultze. In2020, we have a new approach to diesel engines… We will surprise you next year.” Although Schultze wouldn’t confirm it, this suggests Mazda will innovate technically in a similar way to its new Skyactiv-X compression ignition petrol engine, first seen on the 3. Schultze said Mazda will consider other powertrain options as and when they become viable. “If we…

The dream of reviving the Ford Capri lives on within the company’s European design studio, according to the man who leads it, Amko Leenarts. Ford has recently brought back the Puma as an SUV, will soon revive the Bronco and is using the Mustang as inspiration for its first electric car, leaving others to speculate what else from the firm’s rich back catalogue it could create a modern-day version of. “Who would not want to bring back the Capri as a design?” said Leenarts, when asked about badging and which models from the past could be used to inspire his design team. “We’d love it. But it’s got to be in the zeitgeist and has to fit, and work as a plural, not just exist as something for a designer…

The new Volvo XC40 Recharge is “an electric car without compromise”, according to the firm’s technology chief, Henrik Green. The small SUV is Volvo’s first battery-electric model and will launch with a 402bhp twin-motor set-up with a claimed range of more than 248 miles. It is due to arrive in the UK late next year, with pricing expected to be close to £50,000. The XC40 Recharge will be the first of five fully electric models Volvo will launch in the next five years, with the firm aiming for EVs to account for half of its global sales by 2025. Those five electric cars, along with Volvo’s range of plug-in hybrid models, will all carry the new Recharge branding. The all-wheel-drive XC40 Recharge features a motor mounted on each axle, combining…

MULTIGRADE ENGINE OIL is one of the best examples of chemical wizardry since cars were invented but driveline lubricants – the stuff that looks after your gearbox, differential and four-wheel drive systems – is just as clever. Higher-viscosity lubricants are needed inside the driveline to resist the massive forces exerted between gear teeth. Like engine oils, this family of lubricants were once monograde and for modern applications have evolved into multigrade. Gear oils struggle to do the job from cold, because driveline components take longer to warm up than the engine. In most cases, gears are lubricated by splashing due to the gears being partially immersed, and not by pumped oil like the engine. With old-school monograde oils, lubrication from cold was compromised and the internal drag they caused consumed…

The new, eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette delivers many impressive statistics. But none is more remarkable than the one with the dollar sign in front of it. Persuade an American dealer to sell the base car at its official MSRP list price – unlikely for several months at least – and it will cost just $59,995 (£47,230). This for a mid-engined 483bhp sports car with performance that gets it close to supercar territory. Bargain is an overused term, but it’s hard to think of any better way to describe the C8. Of course, there is no chance that any Corvette would ever officially reach the UK with the direct sterling equivalent of that price tag. Context is everything here, and in the US that means the entry-level C8 is cheaper than the…

Not long ago, this version of the latest Discovery Sport would have been decisively the biggest seller. We all know why it will sell more slowly, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that a fat 317lb ft slug of torque served early is just what an off-roader, a family seven-seater and a tow car need to best deliver on their mission. The Discovery Sport is all of these things, of course, besides being a civilised long-distance machine that, when equipped with this 178bhp 2.0 turbo diesel, is capable of fuel economy that shouldn’t alarm. This despite the fact that it weighs 1953kg. This heft is a slightly greater burden than the previous Discovery Sport carried, in part because the new one comes as a mild hybrid with 48V…

MODEL TESTED MEGANE RS TROPHY-R Price £51,140 • Power 296bhp • Torque 295lb ft• 0-60mph 5.6sec • 30-70mph in fourth 7.4sec • Fuel economy 26.0mpg • CO2 emissions 183g/km • 70-0mph 45.0m This week’s road test subject would be a tough sell to someone with little or no interest in hot hatchbacks, track driving or the pantheon of great performance cars we enthusiasts spend so long thinking about. Luckily for Renault, few people who fit that description are dedicated readers of this magazine. The Mégane RS Trophy-R is, strictly speaking, a premium version of Renault’s existing hot Mégane that comes in one colour and with one transmission option; that has been studiously ‘de-contented’ of its back seats, foglights and four-wheel steering system; that hasn’t been endowed with an exclusive engine of…

The Trophy-R’s Bridgestone tyres plainly aren’t as liquorish-soft or track-intended as others on the performance market. They work reasonably well on the road; their grip level doesn’t seem as dependent on outright temperature as that of, say, a Pirelli Trofeo R; and they even work quite well in the wet (deep standing water notwithstanding). All up, they seem a very intelligent compromise for a hot hatchback – and, on dry Tarmac, they allow the Trophy-R a grip level that is at once high and long-lasting, rather than one that seems to begin deteriorating after five hard circuits. The car is hugely stable and precise on corner entry and very predictable on exit, making it easy to drive fast. It works its Torsen front slippy diff harder under acceleration than other…

Is there anything more overtly ‘2019’ than a plug-in hybrid SUV? On a purely conceptual level, at least, they provide a compelling snapshot of both the prevailing and emerging trends in the wider motoring sphere. Resplendent in Turbo Blue, the Audi Q5 55 TFSIe is the current class newbie. You’ll know the drill by now: comparatively low CO2 emissions will help it carry sway with tax-savvy fleet managers, while its boxy architecture should appeal to the classically family-minded buyers who helped catalyse the propagation of the SUV breed as a whole. Only, it’s not quite that simple any more. Such a formula might have spurred the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on to sales greatness, but this new Q5 – one of more than 20 electrified Audis due to…

In essence, Test World is a cold store – like those used to keep food fresh – built on top of an ice rink. But there is a lot more ‘snowhow’ in the detail of how indoor snow, curated to mimic outdoor conditions, is kept in tip-top condition for eight months of the year. Not only is the air above ground cooled, but two sets of underground pipes with layers of insulation ensure precise control of test track temperature. The deepest pipes actually warm the ground, using waste heat from the refrigeration process, to stop the permafrost under the test halls from dictating track conditions. A central refrigeration plant – out of bounds to Autocar because its plumbing is top secret – has a power rating of 1.5MW, enough to…

Gerry McGovern doesn’t believe in fairy tales. I’ve arrived in the Land Rover design director’s light and spacious Gaydon office desperate to hear the full, emotionally charged saga of how he and his design crew created a new Defender to replace the company’s 1948 icon – and the first comment he can offer is that it all happened “quite a long time ago”. This is true, of course. One well-known fact about modern mass manufacture is that all the really important stuff about market positioning, major dimensions, mechanical layout and styling gets decided anything up to five years before a model hits production. Just the same, as the new Defender goes on sale this month for deliveries next spring, I’m desperate to hear as much sentimental stuff as McGovern can…

QUESTION I think I’ve just been ‘zapped’ by a policeman with a speed gun when I was driving at 33mph in a 30mph zone. Will he let it pass because of the 10% rule? Josh Brown, via email ANSWER What 10% rule? It’s true that police chiefs suggest that a 10% allowance above the speed limit for speedo error is okay but it’s only a suggestion and not a rule, much less a law. You’re at the mercy of the traffic officer, I’m afraid. JE QUESTION Now it’s autumn and getting colder and wetter, what’s the point of a car’s air conditioning system and can I just leave it switched off? David Wright, Belfast ANSWER An air-con system works by passing the air in your car’s cabin over cold evaporator…

We’re looking at S-spec cars this week and our trawl begins with the Rapide S. The four-door, four-seat, V12-powered sports car was a hard sell new but it looks good value today. For example, we found a 2013-reg S Touchtronic with sought-after carbonfibre exterior pack and 23,000 miles for £56,497 – a big number, true, but usefully smaller than the car’s new price, before discount, of £151,000. What’s more, it’s an approved used car with a 12-month warranty so is pukka and protected. Being a 2013-reg, our find is an early second-generation version with the more powerful 550bhp 5.9 V12 – an increase of 80bhp on the first-generation car. In recognition of its substantially improved performance, it gained that S in its name. It kept the six-speed Touchtronic II automatic…