Innholdsfortegnelse for September 9, 2020 i Autocar

Volkswagen has again extended its Mk8 Golf range, this time with the unveiling of new Estate and Alltrack variants. The load-luggers, set to go on sale in the UK early in 2021, complement the standard five-door hatchback launched earlier this year and the subsequently detailed GTI, GTD and GTE hot hatches. Key to the new Golf Estate’s practical appeal is an increase in size: at 4.63m long, it’s 66mm longer than the Mk7 Golf wagon, although rivals such as the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer are longer still. Its width and height are similar to its predecessor’s, however. The new-found length is all concentrated in the wheelbase, affording a 38mm increase in maximum rear leg room. The boot is larger than before, too, although by just six litres with the rear…

Vauxhall has detailed the conventionally powered variants of its all-new Mokka SUV, following the electric Mokka-e. There are two turbo petrols and one diesel, as with the related Peugeot 2008. The base 99bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol promises up to 51.4mpg and can do 0-62mph in 11.0sec, while the 134bhp version gets the same economy yet is 1.8sec quicker. It’s available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, too. The diesel is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 109bhp and 184lb ft. Manual-only, it promises up to 65.7mpg. Prices are expected to mirror the 2008’s, so starting at about £20k for the ICE models and £28k for the EV.…

PLANS TO INTRODUCE to Britain the Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS), which is described as a “traffic jam chauffeur technology”, is likely to accelerate the need for more robust autonomous technology than exists on our roads today. The Department for Transport, which has launched a consultation on its possible use, says ALKS will allow vehicles to stay in lane on motorways without the driver having to do anything but be prepared to take back control when prompted. One of the questions the consultation document poses is “should the UK permit the use of ALKS up to 70mph?”, but the ALKS regulation approved in June 2020 by the United Nations Economic Commission is for a system (in its current form) capable of operating at up to only 37mph. ALKS is effectively…

“It’s the start of a new era!” Jeep says. “It’s to reduce your fleet CO2 average!” we say. Regardless, it’s a show of confidence in the rough and tough US brand that it’s the first Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brand with a European presence to receive a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It won’t be the last. Jeep is among the group’s biggest contributors of emissions and even FCA’s emissions credit pooling with Tesla will go only so far to remedying that. So Jeep needs electrification to do some of the legwork. The ever-popular Renegade takes priority but soon to follow are a plug-in Compass and Wrangler, and all models will feature some form of battery propulsion by 2022. The Renegade 4xe (pronounced 4-by-e) joins an ever-growing rank of plug-in SUVs, but Jeep…

The Audi A5 Coupé has been revamped for 2020, although you might be hard-pressed to tell at a glance, only the likes of a slightly restyled grille differentiating the car from its predecessor. While rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been adding ‘emotion’ to the design of their executive coupés, the Ingolstadt firm continues to pursue premium feel through cool restraint. Certainly, there’s little here to spark opinion like the grille of BMW’s 4 Series. Whether that’s a good thing or not is for you to decide. Still, the A5 Coupé’s minor makeover wraps progress elsewhere: the interior has been updated, including gaining the latest version of Audi’s excellent infotainment system – although in doing so, the firm has removed the control wheel function in favour of touchscreen controls. Although most…

1 RANGE ROVER P525 AUTOBIOGRAPHY V8 Range Rover might be ageing on the technological front, but it remains the definitive go-anywhere luxury five-seat SUV. 2 BMW X7 xDRIVE M50i M PERFORMANCE Multifaceted luxury SUV: smooth and refined one minute, agile and seriously quick the next. Seats seven adults, too. 3 AUDI SQ7 VORSPRUNG Smaller than the X7, but its impressive diesel V8 blends pace with plenty of premium appeal. A very comfortable, very quick, posh SUV. 4 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 400d AMG LINE PREMIUM PLUS EXECUTIVE Has refined diesel performance but doesn’t ride as smoothly as the ‘S-Class of SUVs’ should. 5 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2.8D INVINCIBLE 7-SEATER Lacks the premium appeal and outright performance but will take seven people further from the beaten track.…

Ferrari isn’t the only supercar firm dabbling in hybrid technology with a twist. Just up the road from Maranello, in Sant’Agata, Lamborghini has built its electrification plans around the supercapacitor – a device that can store only small amounts of energy but dispatch it and charge much faster than a battery. The limited-run 808bhp Sián FKP 37 supplements its 6.5-litre V12 with a supercapacitor-powered 48V 34bhp motor, and Lamborghini is working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a more powerful next-generation system. In the meantime, it is likely to launch a more conventional plug-in hybrid Urus SUV and, in the longer term, is working on full electrification. Here in Britain, McLaren has already used hybrid powertrains in the P1 and Speedtail. Pre-pandemic, it had planned to launch its first…

Lewis Hamilton: blame the rules for dull races Lewis Hamilton has said that F1 rule-makers are to blame for dull racing and not his Mercedes-AMG F1 team. The German manufacturer has dominated since 2014 but, after his crushing Belgian GP win, Hamilton said: “I hope people understand it’s not our fault.” He said the onus must be on F1 bosses to improve the racing with rule changes. New car rules, due in 2022, are intended to spice up the action. Williams family steps aside after team sale Sir Frank Williams has stepped down as principal, and daughter Claire as deputy principal, after the Williams F1 team’s sale to US investment company Dorilton Capital last month. The British team, founded in 1977, has been in a downward spiral over the past…

In theory, the last-minute addition of a host of new tracks offers a level playing field that could shake up the established order, given that teams won’t have much data on which to base their set-ups and strategy. Could that help Max Verstappen and Red Bull take the fight to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes? In reality, it’s unlikely. Thanks to heavy investment in computer simulation software, the teams should be able to turn up at a venue at which they have never raced with a well-sorted baseline car set-up. “I don’t think there will be a lot of changes [to the competitive order],” says Verstappen. “If you have a good car, you have a good car. We can practice a lot on the simulator, so everybody is very well prepared.…

Your news article on Land Rover’s Zeus hydrogen vehicle project (29 July) was most interesting. As Steve Cropley commented, refuelling a hydrogen fuel cell car is easier than a battery-electric car and significantly quicker. I suspect battery cars will be a temporary phenomenon, lasting barely a generation, during which huge amounts of money, effort and upheaval will be expended and much CO 2 emitted in building charging infrastructure. I have a battery car and, like many others, have found that chargers are difficult to find, often occupied and sometimes faulty. So, electric is fine for local journeys, if you can charge at home or work or know of a local charger and when it’s likely to be unoccupied. Otherwise, hydrogen is the way forward. It’s pollution-free (current batteries require toxic…

MILEAGE 2880 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out if the magic touch of Volvo’s SUVs translates to this compact executive saloon The more miles that pass, the more it becomes clear our super Swede has a bit of an identity crisis. On the one hand, it’s a near-400bhp sports saloon. On the other, it’s a zero-emissions eco-warrior that’s theoretically capable of triple-figure fuel economy. So what is it: the road burner or the tree hugger? Well, if I’m honest, in my hands it spends most of its time being the eco-warrior. That’s partly because a lot of my journeys are short hops that can be completed using the 25 miles of electric range, but partly because being an EV suits the sybaritic S60’s character. With just 87bhp, the electric…

MILEAGE 6979 INNOCENTI MINI All I’ve been doing is safety checks on the Italian Job. Pumping up the tyres, checking the oil, which stays bang on, and very occasionally dribbling in some coolant. If I fill the expansion tank to the correct level, it just piddles out after a run. I watch the temperature gauge closely and it glues itself to 90. When I first got it, there was always a whiff of steam from under the bonnet, but after a service that stopped. Instead of a boring ‘checking levels’ image, here we are prepping with a picnic basket and folding chairs for an afternoon out. We had such a nice time that I forgot to take any photos in a field. Next time.…

It might look a million dollars but you can pick up a good example of the handsome second-gen Jaguar XF Sportbrake for around £18,000, which seems like an exceedingly healthy return. What you’ll be getting is a fine-handling, well-equipped and practical estate that’ll cut a dash on your driveway for thousands less than a dynamically compromised SUV of a similar age. Under the elegant bonnet, there’s a choice of six engines. The petrols on offer are 247bhp and 298bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder units. Propping up the diesel range are 161bhp and 178bhp 2.0-litre engines, while a twin-turbocharged version produces 237bhp. Topping the range is a silky-smooth twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6. Trim levels are Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport, S and First Edition. Prestige models come with 17in alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats,…

MAYBACH 57 In the early 2000s, two ultra-luxury marques returned to the market with brand-new models, but only one of them survives today. However, it is a shame that the Maybach is overlooked by many in favour of the Rolls-Royce because, at £37,000 (before fees), this 57 is basically half the price of an equivalent Phantom. It’s not as if the 57 is lacking in luxury features since – dated infotainment aside – it could easily pass as a new barge. It certainly has the performance of one, with a 543bhp 5.5-litre V12 – which, incidentally, is nearly 100bhp more than the Rolls-Royce can muster.…

The newly revealed S-Class saloon is described as the most technically advanced car that Mercedes-Benz has ever placed into series production. Set for UK delivery in early 2021, the luxurious four-door has been comprehensively re-engineered around a new body structure that’s claimed to be 60kg lighter than the old S-Class’s despite added levels of rigidity and, it’s said, even greater refinement. Key among the revisions to the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series rival is a newly developed petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The new S580e model promises an electric range of up to 62 miles on the WLTP test cycle – more than double the electric range of its predecessor, the S560e. Despite a renewed focus on electrification, though, Mercedes has confirmed to Autocar that it will hold true to…

THE PEUGEOT 5008 SUV has been given a new look, enhanced technology and a streamlined trim hierarchy, mirroring the recent facelift for its smaller 3008 sibling. Chief among the changes is a revised front end with a frameless grille flanked by Peugeot’s new fang-shaped daytime-running lights. The model number has also been applied to the leading edge of the bonnet for the first time, with gloss-black side scoops, painted treadplates, a smoked rear light bar and redesigned headlights the other tweaks. Inside, the 5008 gains Peugeot’s new i-Cockpit layout, comprising a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen, ‘piano key’ controls for essential functions and a customisable 12.3in digital instrument display with higher-quality readouts. The 5008’s engine line-up of two petrol and two diesel options goes unchanged, with power output ranging from 128bhp to…

Jaguar Land Rover bosses have confirmed the existence of an electric Range Rover – and revealed that it and the upcoming electric Jaguar XJ have been delayed by spending cuts during the pandemic. According to the transcript of a conference call with investors seen by Autocar, JLR’s chief financial officer Adrian Mardell said the two EVs will be revealed in October and November, instead of their planned unveilings in August and September. The two cars will be based on JLR’s all-new MLA architecture and will be siblings under the skin. Very little is known about the battery-electric Range Rover, but it’s expected to be slightly lower in profile than the Velar, if a similar length. The two cars will be built at the retooled Castle Bromwich plant. Mardell also spoke…

The first plug-in hybrid Land Rover Defender will go on sale next year with a 398bhp powertrain capable of 27 miles of electric-only running and the promise that it will be “the most capable and durable” version of the off-roader. The new Defender P400e will be offered only in long-wheelbase 110 form and uses the same powertrain as the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. This mates a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to a 139bhp electric motor. Land Rover claims the model will offer “substantial torque” and can achieve 0-60mph in 5.4sec, a top speed of 130mph, fuel economy of 85.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 74g/km. The Defender P400e features 20in wheels and electric air suspension as standard, with its powertrain tuned to allow electric-only running in low-range mode. It…

JEEP WILL REVIVE the name Wagoneer for a new family of premium SUVs from 2021 and has previewed them with a bold Grand Wagoneer concept. The new SUV will supersede the Grand Cherokee as Jeep’s flagship and is intended to take on the likes of the Range Rover and BMW X5, although it’s not currently destined for the UK. The production car will offer three different four-wheel drive systems and independent front and rear air suspension, hinting that off-road capability remains a priority despite the luxury shift. This concept is a plug-in hybrid, likely with a powertrain related to that of the new Renegade 4xe (driven, p24). The design is expected to be toned down for production, but the concept gives a good idea of what to expect from the…

The rapid growth in EV sales over the past few months has been well documented, with zero-emissions models now accounting for 4.9% of UK market share for the year to date. It’s still modest but significantly more than the 1.1% share from the same period last year and – notably – means so far in 2020, EVs have outsold plug-in hybrids, so often called “the bridge technology” to EV adoption. But those figures of low-emissions vehicle sales, published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have one obvious powertrain missing: hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, or FCEVs. That’s because their numbers are so minimal that sales wouldn’t even account for 0.01% market share. In 2019, 68 FCEVs were sold, almost double that of 2018. So far this year, 19…

“Never before has an electric vehicle been conceived with such a global outlook.” That’s how Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen’s new CEO, introduced the ID 4 before our first drive of a near-to-production-ready prototype – and he is nothing but bullish about its mainstream market ambitions. The second model from VW’s electric-only ID sub-brand sits in the world’s fastest-growing segment and will be built in five factories on three continents, starting at its Zwickau plant in Germany, from which right-hand-drive UK versions will begin rolling late this year. “The ID 4 will have a big impact in each of our three most important markets – Europe, China and North America,” said Brandstätter. “We see the potential for significant volumes.” As well as being key to VW’s aim to sell up to 1.5…

For ‘Sportback’, read four-door coupé, or any other phrase that means more rakish looks at the expense of a 45-litre reduction in boot space. This, then, is the lengthily titled Audi E-tron 55 quattro Sportback. Sportback aside, the rest of the name has ‘quattro’ for four-wheel drive, ‘E-tron’ for being free from internal combustion, ‘55’ for having 402bhp and a 95kWh battery, and ‘Audi’, which means a classy interior. We’ve driven the E-tron SUV extensively before. This time around, the raked back window means the range starts in semi-sporting S line trim but the hardware is the same as the squarer car. There’s a skateboardy big battery beneath the floor with an electric motor front and rear, both driving through their own single-speed gearing at a peak combined output of…

Behold a groundbreaking world first, of sorts. The Kia Ceed twins 48V mild-hybrid technology with an electronic clutch for the first time, in a bid to obtain even better fuel economy (and fewer emissions) from its 1.6-litre diesel. Kia’s new clutch-by-wire system works in tandem with the starter-generator to boost the engine’s capacity to switch off and idle on the move, also allowing the car to retain a manual gearbox. If it sounds complicated, it isn’t. The new clutch is virtually indistinguishable from the mechanical one in the current car, with more than enough feel to change ratios smoothly and find the biting point for hill starts. The mild-hybrid technology is just as unobtrusive, so much so that Kia plans to replace the diesel-only option in the Ceed line-up with…

Tackling Millbrook’s Hill Route at pace in the X7 M50i isn’t a particularly pleasant experience. That’s not down to any shortage of traction. Even when pressed hard, the X7 clings on impressively. It’s more to do with how pronounced vertical and lateral body movements are at serious speeds. Although these weight transfers remain controlled during quick directional changes, the inertia generated by the car’s sheer mass in these instances is profound. Driving quickly soon becomes quite a physically taxing process as a result. If competitive cruise lining were a thing, this is probably how it’d feel. Nevertheless, the X7’s traction and stability systems are calibrated impressively. Progress isn’t constantly hampered by a heavy-handed line of software code, so you can carry what feels like serious speed through sharper, off-camber corners…

By far the bravest and most innovative attempt to define the future of low-slung sporting coupés is a car that history will record as a failure. To succeed, you have to not only get your product right but your timing right, too. And if ever there was a case of the right car at the wrong time, the BMW i8 is it. This carbonfibre-tubbed, aluminium-bodied plug-in hybrid was just too far ahead of the curve. The world just wasn’t ready for a supercar with only three cylinders, least of all when they came from a Mini. But it delivered in sound and strong performance. The fact that the i8 was good, rather than great, to drive was due to the fact it was set up more as a grand tourer…

WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS on taking the Jaguar Land Rover job, and especially on keeping your candidacy out of the public eye while the long-winded Tata recruitment process played out. It’s remarkable that our own Financial Times, which prides itself on knowing what comes next, didn’t even mention you in its recent list of probables. Full marks for your discretion. At Autocar, we very much look forward to your arrival. The UK car business is dominated by German and German-influenced managers – and has a great deal to thank them for – but it’ll be fascinating to see whether you bring a different management style, and how that plays out. The variety will be refreshing. Although your career at Renault was rudely interrupted last year (we understand it was for political reasons…

There is little in British motorsport as evocative or esoteric as the sight and sound of period racing cars and home-built specials rushing up the side of the Teme Valley in rural Worcestershire. The Shelsley Walsh hillclimb course has hosted motorsport for 115 years and, uniquely, continues to use the same 1000-yard course to test man and machine against the clock. The whole venue oozes history and atmosphere and, even behind closed doors, its events have a real sense of occasion. In August, four days before Shelsley’s 115th anniversary, competitors from the Vintage Sports Car Club got their annual adrenaline rush up the short, steep and narrow ribbon of asphalt. Even with no spectators, the cramped paddock at Shelsley is a special place in motorsport heritage. From the start line,…

Following the extra European races, F1 will conclude its season with three events in the Middle East. Sakhir in Bahrain will give us races on 29 November and 6 December, then Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi will host the season finale on 13 December. The Bahrain double-header will feature a twist: while the first event will be held on Sakhir’s regular F1 track, the second will run on the 2.2-mile ‘outer’ circuit, a short, oval-esque layout comprising long straights and tight turns. These three events bring the 2020 calendar up to 17 races, making it the shortest season since 2009. The pre-pandemic schedule featured 22 events, which would have been the most ever to feature in a single F1 season.…

REVEALED The future of Maserati begins First pics of the all-new MC20 supercar, plus details of every new model planned in the Italian luxury brand’s big relaunch INTERVIEW Toby Ecuyer The man behind the Ineos Grenadier usually pens yachts. We visit his studio FEATURE Why doesn’t it exist? Inspired by the BMW M3 Touring, here are the cars that we think deserve to be made EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST Mercedes-Benz GLB Mercedes’ expansion reaches a pocket-sized, B-Class-derived SUV DRIVEN New Audi S3 The new A3 has quickly turned into a 306bhp hot hatch. We test its mettle SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p26…

MILEAGE 2041 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To make an owner’s comparison between traditional petrol and new battery versions of the same model The one-way journey was 164 miles, the round trip 328 miles. The Corsa-e’s range is 209 miles. I could set off with a full charge and recharge overnight ahead of the return journey. Sounds easy and doable? Yes and yes. Which, in the types of journeys I do and mileages I cover, feels like a bit of a milestone in the world of affordable electric cars. I’ve written a few times in the past couple of years about how we need to look beyond the pure range of electric cars, and instead turn it back on the buyer: once you’ve decided an electric car is for you and…

Toyota MR2 Tom has an interesting tale to tell: “About 15 years ago, I bought a Mk1 MR2 with a year’s MOT for £250. I sold it after a trouble-free year for £130. “Next was an E-reg Polo for £100, which lasted the nine months of MOT it had. This was followed by a 106 for free from a family member, which was swapped after a couple of years for a K-reg Fiesta. This sadly was stolen and burnt out but I managed to haggle the insurers up to £400. By my calculations, this four-car run left me £180 up in total. I love Bangernomics.”…

Audi has refreshed its smallest SUV, the Q2, with styling tweaks and technological enhancements to match its larger stablemates. Available to order next month and priced from around £23,500, the new Q2 has been restyled for a “purposeful, confident stance”. The single-frame front grille is now set lower to make it appear wider and features a new polygon motif that’s echoed in the shape of the new rear diffuser insert. The front air intakes have also been reshaped, while higher-end variants gain three narrow slits between the bonnet and the grille, inspired by the iconic Quattro rally car. As with the Q5, the Q2 has been given LED headlights as standard. These are upgraded to matrix LEDs on top-rung Vorsprung cars, which also get dynamic rear indicators. Inside, the Q2…

Ask me to configure a car to get down my favourite road and it would go something like this. It would need to be light, of course, and quite but not overwhelmingly powerful. I’d like to find the engine ahead of me and the driven wheels behind. That engine should have more than four cylinders and power the rear wheels through a manual gearbox. And the car should be slender, so it has more of its own side of the road on which to play. Fully independent suspension and disc brakes are, of course, a must too. What I’ve just described to you is a 1960s Jaguar E-Type. But were you to find such a car, even if its condition reflected that in which it left the factory all those…

MODEL TESTED xDRIVE M50i M PERFORMANCE Price £92,975 • Power 523bhp • Torque 553lb ft • 0-60mph 4.8sec • 30-70mph in fourth 5.5sec • Fuel economy 19.0mpg • CO2 emissions 293g/km • 70-0mph 45.2m The latest vision of high-riding, big-car luxury to come out of Munich, Bavaria, is the focus of this week’s road test: the near-5.2m-long, near-six-foot-tall, 2.48-tonne BMW X7. Introduced in the UK in spring 2019, the X7 has escaped the scrutiny of a full road test until now. However, this full-sized SUV’s first 18 months on sale here have been eventful. Certain engine derivatives within its showroom range have already been removed and replaced, more or less directly depending on which one in particular you’re looking at. The car was introduced with three choices of motive power, two…

VERDICT The X7 is not a BMW for which enthusiasts readily fall but, having subjected the top-billing X7 M50i to the Autocar road test, we don’t imagine owners will care. BMW’s decision to enter this corner of the market will seem questionable to European drivers who travel along roads far smaller than those found in the US and the Middle East, but the execution of this Range Rover rival is difficult to fault, at least on the road. Its long-distance manners are impeccable, its cabin is spacious and comfortable, the handling inspires surprising confidence and, equipped with a subdued but powerful cross-plane V8 engine, overall the car is an unexpectedly likeable companion. However, this BMW lacks the ultimate off-road credibility and cabin ambience of its British counterpart, and unless you…

When the 2020 Formula 1 calendar was originally revealed last year, excitement centred on the return of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort after a 37-year break and the brand-new Vietnamese GP. The World Championship will still be visiting some new circuits and returning to some old favourites this year – just not the ones anyone could have expected. You know what happened, of course. The global impact of the coronavirus has affected everything, including motorsport, and since the Australian GP was axed at the last moment in mid-March, F1 bosses have been scrabbling to cobble together a calendar with enough events and geographic reach to ensure that it’s worthy of ‘world championship’ status. It has been a work in progress, too: when the season finally began in July with…

“It has classic GT appeal even before you turn its 19in wheels” FIRST REPORT WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out what sort of performance car the GR Supra really is, and whether it has the character to live up to the name Let’s suppose we played car word association. If I said ‘996 GT2’, you might say ‘hedgerow’. If I said ‘Elise’, you might say ‘head gasket’. And if I said ‘Supra’, you would say? I’m certain the more mischievous among you would say ‘BMW’, and shortly we’ll address the reasons for that, but until very recently, most of us would probably have said ‘tuner’, or similar. And we can squarely blame the Mk4 A80 Supra for that. The Supra was born in 1978, when Toyota gave the Celica…

QUESTION I have an E46-gen BMW 330i Touring and am thinking of upsizing to a 2007 550i with 83k miles. Is this a good idea? Tom Philpott, via email ANSWER It depends largely on the reasons for the upgrade. If it’s a bit of extra grunt you’re after, then the 550i’s 362bhp 4.8-litre V8 certainly has the edge over your 330i’s 228bhp straight six, but you’ll spend more time at the petrol pumps and at tyre shops. Plus, values for the E46 (particularly the top-rung 330i) have been climbing, while the E60 5 Series is still awaiting a renaissance. Our advice? Hang onto the 3 if it’s still going strong. FP QUESTION I have a 2010 Jaguar XJ. The switches for the hazard lights, central locking and the small panels…

It’s with some sadness that we’ve reported Mitsubishi’s decision to pull out of Europe next year. No doubt the immaculate example of the Evo VI Tommi Mäkinen from the firm’s UK heritage fleet will be sold to a collector and hidden away, leaving the world bereft of the greatest car this diverse company has brought to these shores. A few years ago, £10k would have been enough for a good one, but now £25k or more is required, which is a lot for a car that’s over 20 years old. But what a car it is. We should laugh at some of the comments made when it was new – the ones that suggested the active yaw control (AYC) and complex four-wheel drive system detracted from the purity of the…

Honda CR-Z Price £4500 Hybrid cars aren’t seen as the driver’s choice – the obvious exceptions being the LaFerrari, Porsche 918, McLaren P1 and, of course, the CR-Z. No, hear us out, because the performance of this Honda is boosted by electricity just like those exotics, except the CR-Z is rare in having a more engaging manual gearbox. It’ll be dependable because there are many around with 100k miles or more, and nobody would drive a car that much unless they enjoyed doing so.…

We don’t often quote artists at Autocar, but “have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it”, the oft-paraphrased words of Salvador Dalí, seems as good a motto as any for owners of the Jaguar XJ40, an iconic British saloon whose problematic predisposition is central to its charm. That’s not to say every XJ of this generation listed in the classifieds is a basket case: at the time of writing, you could buy a mint-condition 1989 car for £8000 or a very promising one-owner 1992 example for £10,995. But these are collectors’ cars, kept in garages and driven only on sunny days. If your used Jag budget is south of the £5000 mark, you’re looking at slightly less prestigious examples and would do well to exercise caution. A big…

An owner’s view SEBASTIEN TURIN “The 2.9 is a mix between Jaguar’s AJ6 and V12 engines with some XK parts. It’s prone to head gasket failure, and the head can be badly damaged. Because the engine is a bit weak, people use them too harshly. The 3.6 is more revvy and has a sportier feeling, but it has no oxygen sensor, so some people would consider it less reliable, because it can’t compensate for something like a small air leak.” Buyer beware… ■ ENGINE The mammoth V12 is durable, but its MPG figures will be in the single digits around town. The straight sixes like to eat head gaskets, so check for creamy oil and white smoke from the exhaust. Timing chain tensioner failure is one to avoid – best…