Innholdsfortegnelse for June 9, 2021 i Autocar

BMW has rounded out the second-generation 4 Series range with the new Gran Coupé, which will be launched in the UK in November with a 369bhp M440i xDrive range-topper. The four-door coupé will join the existing Coupé and Convertible in the 4 Series line-up and is heavily based on the four-door electric i4, alongside which it will be built at BMW’s Munich factory. The firm claims it offers enhanced handling ocer its predecessor, and its petrol and diesel engines will all feature mild-hybrid technology. The new 4 Series Gran Coupé is based on the same CLAR platform as the 4 Series Coupé and i4, and it benefits from a similarly aerodynamically optimised design, including an active air flap control system and an almost sealed underbody. As with the rest of…

Rolls-Royce is aiming to produce a new car from its Coachbuild division every two years, according to company CEO Torsten Müller-Otvös – but such projects will occur only if there is both demand from buyers and an “appetite” from within the company. The British firm recently unveiled the £20 million Boat Tail, an ultra-luxury four-seat GT created for three of its customers. The machine took four years to develop and was inspired by the one-off Sweptail, revealed in 2017. Müller-Otvös said customer demand for one-off models following the Sweptail prompted the establishment of Coachbuild as a full business unit. “Sweptail was a one-off with a particular client and received an unbelievable reception,” said Müller-Otvös. “We had a lot of enquiries from our clients if they would be picked to join…

Fiat has committed to becoming an electric-only brand by 2030. To that end, it will phase out all of the petrol and diesel models in its global portfolio from 2025. The Italian firm recently launched an all-new, electric-only version of its hugely popular 500 and has been considering the full switch to EVs for years, due to its focus on small cars. Boss Olivier François said this represents a “radical change”. The move will further differentiate Fiat from other mainstream Stellantis brands, such as Citroën and Vauxhall. Fiat said its EV commitment will also apply to countries where new ICE car sales are still allowed after 2030. Fiat joins the likes of Bentley, Ford and Volvo in committing to offering entirely electric line-ups by the next decade.…

Porsche won’t sell an electric 911 for some time, if ever, but a British firm is offering you the chance to own one right now – if you have a 964-generation (1989-1993) classic and a desire to swap its flat six for a battery and motors. Everrati has broader plans involving other classics, and this wide-body 964 is intended to show what’s possible and the quality and driving experience it aims to offer. The result might be worthy, but your view on whether the effort is worthwhile will be coloured by your takes on old 911s and electrification. Our test car is powered by a pair of Tesla-sourced AC induction motors, which make a combined total of 500bhp and drive the rear axle through a common input shaft and a…

MODEL TESTED eHYBRID ELEGANCE Price £41,330 • Power 215bhp • Torque 295lb ft • 0-60mph 7.1sec • 30-70mph in fourth 8.9sec • Fuel economy 44.8mpg • CO2 emissions 27g/km • 70-0mph 46.2m The subject of this week’s road test is nothing less significant than the flagship offering from the world’s second-largest car maker. The Arteon Shooting Brake may not be the most expensive Volkswagen on sale – that status is now held by the £77,195 Touareg R plug-in hybrid SUV – but it is the most eye-catching, is arguably the most interesting and, in architectural terms, sits squarely in traditional flagship heartland: the four-door exec. The Arteon was first introduced in 2017, in saloon form. At the time, it felt like more than simply a replacement for the sleek Passat…

With its long wheelbase and broad tracks, the Arteon exhibits good natural stability on the Hill Route at Millbrook. As with the regular Arteon, the Shooting Brake offers little in the way of excitement or involvement but does possess good accuracy in its steering. Roll is generally well contained, although it lacks the control you would find with a BMW 3 or 5 Series Touring riding on M Sport suspension. In short, the Arteon will tolerate being hustled and is comfortable making swift progress, but it begins to feel uncomfortable above, say, seven-tenths effort. You sense this most in the calibration of the ESP system, which acts upon the brakes long before the Arteon is in danger of losing grip at the front axle. It’s a highly conservative set-up that…

The Precept luxury saloon, which was planned as a concept for the ill-fated 2020 Geneva motor show and then confirmed for production in September last year, gives a clear sight of Thomas Ingenlath’s ambition for his new marque. Its exterior is the best expression yet of what Ingenlath describes as Polestar’s guiding design principles: “super-precise geometric shape with a soft, sculptural body”. The Precept is a pillarless saloon similar in length to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with a graceful panoramic roof. This is made longer by the fact that the rear structure, which would normally provide space for a rear window, has been moved rearwards (cameras provide rear vision) yet still allows for a huge rear hatch. Whereas conventional cars have a radiator grille, the Precept has a ‘smart zone’ with…

FEATURE McLaren 12C vs BMW M3 CSL We explore depreciation and appreciation and what happens when two very different used cars cross at the same price point FEATURE Freedom special! As we near 21 June, we reveal how you should fill your motoring summer DRIVEN Genesis G80 Hyundai launches its premium brand in the UK with an executive saloon EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST Toyota Mirai Toyota’s second crack at a hydrogen fuel cell car: has the tech moved on? AS GOOD AS NEW Honda Civic Type R In the market for a hot Honda? Top choice. Here’s what to look out for SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p110…

MILEAGE 9654 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out if it’s good enough to be a credible fast Ford hatchback flagship Our Focus ST has only recently swapped the Wye Valley for the Surrey commuter belt, but it had an impromptu homecoming this week when I was asked to assist on a group test in the Brecon Beacons. It was the first proper bit of long-distance driving that I had managed since being handed the keys and an opportunity to see how it stacks up next to a Volkswagen Group rival. Near-constant rain on the outward journey meant being able to test the Slippery driving mode, which dials back the throttle mapping, ramps up the stability control and tames the electronic limited-slip differential. The ST still feels potent like this…

QUESTION I’m planning a North Coast 500 road trip with a car budget of £7500. Should I prioritise performance or comfort? Andy Franklin, Dartford ANSWER With £7500, you might not have to compromise on either. The BMW 1 Series Convertible will provide a good ride, responsive handling and fulfilling acceleration for less than £7000. It’s rear-wheel-drive and offers the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox, as well as several turbo petrol and diesel engines. Our pick is the 125i. If you would rather keep your hair out of those Scottish winds, the Mk6 Volkswagen Golf GTI could also provide your thrills. JW QUESTION My Volkswagen Polo makes a knocking sound at low speeds and when I steer left hand down. Why could this be? Hannah Shields, Fyfe ANSWER This…

Welcome to summer 2021. Not exactly balmy, is it? With Caterham Sevens and Lotus Elises still tucked up warm and snug in their garages, we need something more predictable and watertight for our B-road antics in the coming months. How about the S1? Packing the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-litre EA888 turbo engine, this hot A1 arrived in 2014 as Audi’s answer to the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTI. With a bespoke quattro four-wheel drive system, the S1 can put down its 228bhp effectively whatever the weather. And with 272lb ft of torque, it can hit 62mph in less than 6.0sec. There’s no sporting variant of the current second-generation A1, and it’s very rare for cars of this size to be equipped with such a complete four-wheel drive system. This…

Mechanical complexity and expense mark out modern-day supercar ownership. But back in 2001, low-volume supremo Lee Noble launched his first eponymous model, the M12, which for the next five years held sway as not just a true Ferrari and Porsche rival but also one that didn’t break the bank to buy or to run. With an original starting price of £44,950, the M12 GTO came to market with a simple but effective recipe: a steel spaceframe chassis clad with a Le Mans-style glassfibre composite body; suspension by double wishbones all round; and power from a then relatively new all-alloy 2.5-litre Ford V6 (plucked initially from the Mondeo) twin-turbocharged to produce 310bhp. For a low-volume manufacturer, Noble achieved a high degree of production consistency, with fully trimmed rolling chassis supplied to…

Someone cynical recently commented on Autocar’s website that DS models are routinely awarded two stars too few by our testers. Given that would have made the previous two DS cars we’ve tested worth a five-and-a-half stars out of five apiece, that seems harsh. And it would have made the 9, as tested last week by Steve Cropley – one of the finest reviewers who has ever worked in this business – a six-star car. No, four will be what it’s worth. The commenter’s implication, though, was that posh French cars are hard done by in the UK. Well, yes, they may be hard done by here, but not by us. We report as we find, but the car-buying public is harder to convince about cars like the 9. What struck…

JAGUAR’S HISTORY OFFICIALLY begins in 1945, but the heritage of Sir William Lyons’ automotive firm actually goes right back to 1922. Pre-war, it was called SS Cars (no wonder the change); it stood for Standard Swallow, Standard being the chassis supplier and Swallow the name of the original sidecar and coachbuilding firm. Soon after the SS One (really the blueprint for Jaguar’s ‘space, pace and grace’ formula) arrived in 1931, a roadster was launched, based on the popular Wolseley Hornet, as Lyons’ first six-cylinder offering. “Although the Swallow Hornets are not so great in number, their character and beauty make them stand out,” the advert claimed. Swallow marketed two versions, both offering two or four seats for £255 (about £18,200 today). Mind you, there were more than 10 other firms’…

GOT A STORY? Email our news editor felix.page@haymarket.com Alfa Romeo is plotting a revival of the GTV as an electric four-door coupé flagship under a sweeping revival plan that will include a major revamp of its model line-up, Autocar has learned. Seen as a technological flagship for Alfa Romeo’s future line-up, the modern-day GTV is one of a number of proposed new models being considered by the Italian brand’s new CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, to spearhead its embracing of electrification and other key technologies. “There’s no announcement at this stage, but [in] the GTV I’m very interested,” said Imparato, the former Peugeot boss who took control of Alfa Romeo in January. Autocar has been told that proposals for the revival of the GTV extend from a retro-inspired two-door coupé to a…

THE RANGE-TOPPING M Competition versions of the BMW X3 and X4 have gained a revised powertrain that offers extra torque as part of the mid-life facelift for the SUV siblings. BMW has made tweaks to the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine used by the Porsche Macan Turbo rivals, which were launched in 2019. Although peak power remains at 503bhp, the addition of the lightweight crankshaft used for the M3 and M4 models and a revamped cylinder head core has allowed BMW to increase the torque by 37lb ft to 479lb ft, on tap from 2750rpm to 5500rpm. That results in a 0-62mph time of 3.8sec, which is 0.3sec quicker than previously. The performance SUVs also retain an eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox and a rear-biased four-wheel drive system. BMW has made…

VOLVO SALES BOSS Lex Kerssemakers believes SUVs will remain a popular choice with buyers in the future – and he says they can be efficient if used in the right way. “It’s still more efficient to drive in one car with six people than two cars with three people each,” he said. “We continue to see a market for bigger cars and SUVs. We just need to ensure they are properly powered with a range of batteries to ensure proper journeys.” STELLANTIS BOSS Carlos Tavares is open to adding more brands to the 13 already in the group, if an opportunity arises in China. He expects the market to open up from next January to allow foreign investment and ownership of Chinese domestic brands. “But right now,” he said, “I…

THERE ARE MANY ways of approaching the design of an all-new engine, but taking more than a little inspiration from Ferrari’s Colombo V12 surely has to be one of the best. The naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V12 forthcoming from British classic Ferrari experts GTO Engineering is an echo of the past brought right up to date using the latest engineering techniques and internal-combustion technology to produce an engine that will be lighter, cleaner-running, more powerful and higher-revving than its 1960s counterpart. With a target power output of 460bhp and rev limit of 10,000rpm, the sound it will make at full chat is almost unimaginable. It’s designed to power the Squalo, a ground-up sports car design recapturing the spirit of 1960s Ferraris without being a recreation of one. Back in 1960, Ferrari…

MONDAY Drifting about today in my new Dacia Sandero Stepway, having recently given back a Bentley Bentayga, I’m beset by the feeling that, despite the opposed excellence of these cars, nobody has yet built me the ideal set of wheels – or even got close. What I want is a truly refined, fairly tall, four-metre-long hatchback that has good handling and a supple ride, whether it’s lightly or fully laden, and that generates an absolute minimum of wind and tyre noise. I don’t need high performance (just enough of it) but my priority is avoiding oppressive wind and tyre noise so that I can hear the hi-fi clearly while cruising on typical UK surfaces. In short, I need a much smaller Range Rover. I know that such a vehicle would…

Do you have a problem with the way the Civic Type R looks? Honda thinks you might, which is why there’s now this Sport Line version. It exists chiefly to tone down the warzone aesthetic of what is surely the finest senior hot hatch of the current crop. The big casualty is the high-level rear wing – that see-it-a-mile-away identifier of Type R-ness. It has been replaced by something subtler, even if, should you inspect the undersides at its extremities, the new part still features vortex-generating fins. The wheels are downsized, too, from 20in on the Type R GT to 19in, although space remains for the full-fat car’s 350mm MMC brake discs. Those wheels wear what’s now the third different tyre Honda has fitted to its Ford Focus ST rival,…

TRANSMISSIONS 6-spd manual 6-spd dual-clutch automatic 7-spd dual-clutch automatic It might surprise you to learn that a car of the Arteon’s GT-lite aspirations is available in manual form, but the entry-level (and somewhat underpowered) petrol and diesel versions offer just that. It is also surprising that there are no mild hybrids in the line-up, but that’s because the Arteon uses an older version of the MQB platform that doesn’t facilitate the technology. The final surprise is that VW has launched an R version, with the same driveline as the 316bhp, four-wheel-drive, torque-vectoring Golf R.…

Cast an objective eye over the Arteon Shooting Brake and it’s di cult to level serious criticism at this flagship Volkswagen. It is priced sensibly in line with mid-sized saloons and estates but has a capaciousness that is easily a match for competitors in the class above. Topped o? with what is an undeniably striking piece of exterior design, the Shooting Brake ticks all of the major boxes it should. This plug-in hybrid version then offers good refinement and the potential for extremely low day-today fuel consumption, although both attributes are dependent on your ability to charge the relatively small drive battery frequently. If you can’t do that, you’re better o? with one of the regular models. Where the Arteon Shooting Brake falls down slightly concerns the more subjective elements.…

In 2000, a 15-year-old Lewis Hamilton accepted an invitation to take part in the Autocar Sideways Challenge. Does he remember it? “I do, yes,” Hamilton says without hesitation. “The Z3, right? The Z3 Coupé? I have a really bad memory, but I do remember that day. I remember getting in with a rally driver; I can’t remember his name, but it was really special to see his control of his car. I’m so competitive, and I remember being so frustrated that at the time I couldn’t hold the car sideways around the course. But it was a really amazing experience.”…

Take a look inside a 2007 Dodge Ram pick-up and you’ll see a simple, very plastic dashboard whose only real lift comes from a set of white-faced instruments. And even they look cheap. Now look at a 2010 Ram dash and see the difference. By today’s standards it’s not so special, but it is compared with its predecessor. It adds a level of sophistication and design flair that is entirely absent from the model it replaced. When Busse arrived at Chrysler, he discovered no specific interior design department. The task was considered second best to exterior design, and that approach does much to explain the sometimes dire cabins of the Jeeps, Chryslers and Dodges (remember those?) sold here in the early 2000s. Design boss Ralph Gilles was intent on changing…

Within weeks of the first lockdown in March last year, the PSA brands under Alison Jones had opened a virtual showroom on the ground floor of PSA’s HQ, where specially trained hosts offered Zoom-linked walk-around tours to potential customers, who could also chat one on one to product experts or arrange test drives. It wasn’t perfect, admits Jones, but it has proved so popular that it’s still working and may lead to something permanent. As will the rapid digitisation she promoted, now spreading through dealerships. Meanwhile, Jones is especially concerned with the situation of younger employees, many still working from home, and has set up a widely praised RUOK mental health initiative to help. In the meantime, amid the general decline of 2020, the PSA marques managed a marginal increase…

With its turbocharged petrol engine, the Toyota GR Yaris is almost a throwback in an age of electrification – and one largely enabled by Toyota’s hybrid car sales success, which keeps its average fleet emissions low. Toyota is developing electric cars, too, along with other alternative fuels such as hydrogen. And it’s hydrogen that the firm is hoping the GR Yaris can use to help secure the combustion engine’s future in an emission-free world. The firm recently developed a Corolla race car, which uses a version of the GR Yaris’s 1.6-litre engine specially converted to run on hydrogen. “Akio Toyoda loves engines,” says Naohiko Saito. “He loves old Ferraris and motorsport cars, and he wants to continue having exciting sports cars with exciting noises.”…

Castroneves ties Indy wins record Hélio Castroneves achieved a record-tying fourth career Indianapolis 500 victory a fortnight ago. In a dramatic race, the 46-year-old Brazilian fought past youngster Álex Palou on the penultimate lap and then held on for the Honda-powered Meyer Shank Racing team. Castroneves was competing at Indy as a one-off, having left the Indycar Series for the IMSA Sportscar Championship back in 2017. Rosberg team seals Extreme E double Rosberg X Racing duo Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor made it two Extreme E wins from two events with victory in the final of the Ocean X Prix in Senegal. Their car survived a first-turn clash with the X44 team’s to take victory. Second went to Veloce Racing pairing Jamie Chadwick and Stéphane Sarrazin, who were unable to…

MILEAGE 1222 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To see if Netflix-style subscriptions such as Care by Volvo provide a blueprint for the way cars are ‘bought’ in the future ONCE YOUR VOLVO has been delivered to you by the Care by Volvo team and there’s no service or dealer visit on the horizon, the experience of living with the car is just like that of those who’ve acquired theirs by any other more traditional method. So far in previous updates, we’ve discussed how big it feels (mid-size is how its maker describes it, but it’s wider than the original XC90, which shows just how big all cars – not just Volvos – are getting); and how its electric-only range is hovering around 20 miles, even in warmer weather – some way…

MI LEAGE 85,37 7 BMW 320 I promised you some sexy shots of a bubbling Baby Shark wheel arch, so here’s the rear nearside for your delectation. Things could be worse, of course. I know that the jacking points are looking slightly crispy as well. MOT test time isn’t far away, and the jacking points were listed as an advisory last time. I’m not at all sure whether the body should be cheered up. It had a paintjob, many years before I bought it, that was pretty average. This is an incredibly original car, but there’s no point neglecting the bodywork in particular, because it will just turn to dust quicker than you can say ‘E21’. Plans are afoot, about which I will fill you in over the coming months.…

Not too many years ago, a top-flight, thoughtfully engineered and seriously appealing Hyundai hot hatch would have been considered a flight of fancy, but in 2018 the Korean firm rocked perceived wisdom when it launched the i30 N, a sporting version of its smart but sensible i30 family hatchback. It worked, too. Hyundai’s Volkswagen Golf GTI chaser was deeply impressive and purposeful straight out of the box, with such driver’s delights as electronically controlled suspension, launch control, an automatic rev-matching function and an overboost facility to help with speedy overtaking. Under its stubby and attractive bonnet is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that can be had in two flavours: a standard 247bhp version and a 271bhp Performance variant that’s a fraction faster and gets upgraded brakes, stickier tyres and…

BMW M3 EVOLUTION 2 Widely hailed as one of the most desirable and capable performance cars of its era, the original (E30) BMW M3 is quickly becoming a collectors-only proposition, so now is the time to bite. The M3 Evolution 2 received an increase in power to 217bhp, a new spoiler and bespoke larger (16in) wheels. It’s no wonder that this particular model is so coveted when you learn that just 500 were made. This 1988 example isn’t in perfect condition (it has had a new gearbox and needs minor corrosion tackled underneath) yet sold for £55,000 with just over 100,000 miles on the clock. Fewer than 1000 of those miles were driven in the past 15 years. Honda S2000 £7350 It’s good to see a car like the Honda…

An expert’s view MATT WALTON, JETSTREAM MOTORSPORT “The M12 is pretty reliable with regular checks and maintenance. Some of our customers drive them every day, and one has covered over 130,000 miles in his from new, including track-day use, and never had any major problems. We recommend an annual service, regardless of mileage. This includes everything from checking the hoses, oil and fuel lines, bushes and balljoints to checking the bolts that hold the suspension together. We also change the oil and filter, spark plugs, fuel filter and auxiliary belts, bleed the brake fluid and clean out the K&N air filters. It costs £555 – far less than an approved service for a Ferrari or Porsche.” Buyer beware… GEARBOX Pre-GTO-3R models fitted with the open diff and five-speed gearbox can…

VAUXHALL HAS GIVEN the Grandland a major mid-life overhaul, including a substantial exterior revamp to reflect the brand’s latest design language. The SUV went on sale in 2017, and the facelift brings it into line with the rest of the firm’s range. The new look is based around the Vizor grille, which has already been adopted by the Corsa and Mokka. The rest of the Grandland has also had a design makeover, and it gains new side panels and bumpers. The side panels are now finished in body colour, with the underbody skidplates in black or silver. The Grandland will now also offer a two-tone paint finish with a contrasting roof. The car’s interior has also been extensively reworked. The dashboard has been rebuilt around Vauxhall’s twin-screen Pure Panel, which…

FERRARI’S UPCOMING mid-engined hybrid supercar, which has been spied testing in prototype form ahead of a 2022 launch, is set to be the firm’s first model since the Dino to use a V6 engine. The machine, which will follow the SF90 Stradale as Maranello’s second hybrid model, is being developed under the internal codename F171. Although Ferrari has been tight-lipped about the car’s development so far, it is understood to feature a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with a single electric motor for hybrid power. Unlike the SF90, which has a motor on the front axle to offer all-wheel drive, the new machine will be rear drive only. As with the SF90, the new model will offer limited electric-only running, although it won’t be an expansive plug-in hybrid system. The engine…

Uber’s decision to become electric-only in London by 2025 has created a scramble among car makers to secure the business of some 45,000 drivers who will soon have no choice but to dump their hybrids if they want to continue working for the American private-hire-vehicle-hailing company. However, it’s not just the usual industry players angling for custom: also making a pitch will be Chinese EV giant BYD and nascent British EV maker Arrival, which both see ride-hailing as a unique way into the UK car market. The race is already starting. No new car with a combustion engine, whether it’s a hybrid or not, can be registered for private hire in London now. Uber says that 3.5 million trips have been undertaken in EVs (users can now specify one if…

The UK government is developing legislation to permit autonomous cars to drive on public roads, addressing a range of issues such as insurance, liability and cybersecurity and establishing a legal framework to govern driverless vehicles. Known as the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act (AEVA), the legislation is spearheaded by the Law Commission (the body responsible for consulting with the public and relevant industries ahead of the introduction of new laws), and work has now begun on identifying how laws could be modified to accommodate autonomous cars. When complete, the legislation will apply to cars that can drive independently some or all of the time – effectively level three autonomy and above, as defined by SAE International. Many cars are currently available with level two features, such as lane-keeping assistance and…

we don’t always mourn the passing of truly unique cars. When the Audi A2 slipped away, no one really noticed (wrongly), and journalists weren’t exactly queuing up to pen an obituary for the drop-top Range Rover Evoque in 2018 (more understandable, that). But the Lotus Exige? This one hurts. After 21 years and three iterations, production is ending, along with that of the ultra-lightweight Elise and the GT-flavoured Evora. Come winter 2021, the final Exige will have left the factory, which is now gearing up for production of the altogether more rounded, Porsche 911-rivalling Emira coupé. That has got a new assembly hall with autonomous pallets that move chassis between stations, plus an improved paintshop. Even the facility constructing the extruded aluminium core is new and now sits near Hethel,…

Back in 2007, SUVs in our major cities were being stickered with fake parking fines, courtesy of eco-campaigners trying to highlight how much damage they were doing to the environment. Then the SUV boom began and the campaign quietly fizzled out. Maybe they simply couldn’t print enough stickers once the vast majority of the population were driving SUVs. Or maybe it’s because of cars like this new plug-in hybrid Audi Q7, which arrives with the sense that it has to be slightly more eco-friendly as we all become ever more aware of needing to do our bit. The theory is all there, courtesy of a 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol engine and an AC synchronous electric motor, which is integrated in the eight-speed automatic gearbox’s housing. Zero-emissions range is quoted as…

BMW 330e M SPORT TOURING Popular BMW tops this class simply by offering PHEV economy potential with almost no compromise to the regular car’s truly fine handling. MERCEDES-BENZ C300e ESTATE Excellent bang for your buck and plenty of premium feel. Dynamics don’t match the BMW and it’s due for replacement. SKODA SUPERB ESTATE iV Uses the same driveline as the Arteon eHybrid but pairs it with an even more practical body and a lower asking price. Not exciting but still compelling. PEUGEOT 508 SW HYBRID Stylish estate majors on tidy handling and day-long comfort more than performance, and it has more personality than the more expensive Volkswagen. VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON SHOOTING BRAKE eHYBRID Space and grace but not much pace. Looks more special than it feels, but hard to find significant…

HYUNDAI i10 Initially a success in India, the i10 rose to prominence in the UK during the government’s 2009 scrappage scheme. More than 39,000 were sold thanks to the scheme, under which buyers swapped older cars for cleaner alternatives. It became Britain’s most in-demand car. KIA E-NIRO The e-Niro was widely praised when launched in 2018 and is still considered one of the most impressive electric cars on sale. It’s officially capable of returning up to 282 miles of range, and we called it the “best affordable electric car” at the time of our road test. HYUNDAI COUPE The Coupé was first introduced in 1996 as a small two-door sports car with swooping lines and Porsche-developed suspension. It was available with either a 112bhp 1.6-litre or a more inspiring 137bhp…

What does a seven-time Formula 1 champion drive to the shops? “I still have a small collection of cars,” says Hamilton. “To be honest, I haven’t driven any of them for a long time. I was in Los Angeles just recently and have a Mercedes-AMG GT there, but I’m trying to move everything in my life to being sustainable and kinder to the earth. When I’m picked up by car, I try to make sure Mercedes makes it an EQC. At home in Monaco, I use an EQC and a Smart Brabus, even though I have a McLaren and a Pagani Zonda there. They haven’t moved in over a year and they’re just collecting dust. “I still love older cars like E-Type Jags and have always dreamed of having a…

A mark of Becker’s modesty is that on arriving at Aston Martin, he asked non-executive director Richard Parry-Jones to be his mentor. “I used to see him every other month probably, and we’d just sit down and talk about what I was doing, not just with my career but day-to-day challenges,” says Becker. “He was almost like a counsellor. “I first met him in 2007, I think. The first thing I noticed was he knew all of the numbers, all of the data, and it prepared me for dealing with people of that level and intellect.” After test drives with Parry-Jones (not for faint-hearted passengers), “he had this method where he went through the whole car section by section, not just dynamics but any resonances, brake feel, throttle feel. But…

There are several slightly different routes published online, an inexactitude that suits the more laid-back nature of the North East 250. We went Spittal of Glenshee, Braemar, Balmoral, Cock Bridge, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, Craigellachie, Fochabers, Spey Bay, Buckie, Cullen, Banff, Rosehearty, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Cruden Bay, Newburgh, Aberdeen, Peterculter, Milton of Campfield, Ballater, Balmoral, Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee. That should have totalled 259 miles, but with toing and froing for photos and investigating both sides of the River Dee on the way back, we ended up doing 389 miles, with the Taycan consuming 41.2kWh per 100 miles, according to its trip computer. If we were doing it again, we’d probably cut out the northern coast from Spey Bay to Banff and take what’s probably a more interesting cross-country route. While the…

Ariel’s origins can be traced back to its ‘Ordinary’ (penny-farthing-style) bicycle of the 1870s. It came with wire-spoked wheels that made it lighter than its contemporaries, hence being named after ‘the spirit of the air’. Ariel made powered trikes from 1898, quadricycles from 1901 and its first motorcycle in 1902. It remained a bike maker and endured the receiverships and mergers typical of British motorcycle manufacturers until its demise in 1970, by which time it was part of BSA. Automotive designer and lecturer Simon Saunders adopted the Ariel name in 1999 when launching the Atom, which had been designed as the Lightweight Sports Car by one of his students, Niki Smart. Today, Ariel has at its Crewkerne works a collection of Ariels from each decade of production.…

Sardinia was a blast, but next it’s on to probably the most anticipated rally of them all: the Safari. For a while, the World Rally Championship’s visit to Africa seemed in doubt, but now it’s going ahead from 24-27 June, with 58 crews entered. The one we will be looking out for is #36, a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Its driver is Sobieslaw Zasada, who will smash the record for the oldest driver to start a WRC event – aged 91. Yes, you read that correctly. Less than a decade from his 100th birthday, the three-time European champion is about to take on the toughest rally in the world. He has plenty of experience, having contested the Safari eight times before – including a second-place finish in 1972 at the wheel…

IF YOU CAN remember when Daf produced not trucks but small cars, your main recollection will most likely be of its innovative Variomatic transmission. It was the first CVT used on a mass-market car (in 1958), with “a system of drive belts that look as if they came off a washing machine”, we said in 1966. To dispel any doubts around the effectiveness and reliability of its CVT, the nascent Dutch firm decided to take it racing. Its experiment started with an Alexis Formula Junior car in 1964. Sir Jack Brabham tested it at Zolder not long after, and “although he wasn’t at all impressed with the handling of the chassis, he soon realised the potential of the transmission”. The F1 legend arranged for his Brabham team to fit one…

WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com Chill out Ken Christian worries over EV range being much worse in winter (12 May). In my BMW i3, the range displayed is based on recent driving history, and this will be the range you get if you continue the same driving programme. If you’ve been doing lots of short shopping trips from cold, you use a disproportionate amount of battery to heat up the car. If you continue doing short journeys, it doesn’t matter if your range is only 20 miles. The reality is that on longer journeys, you get much more. Last winter, my i3 was showing 95 miles when fully charged as opposed to the expected 120 miles. We drove 25 easy miles (50mph limit most of the way) and on arrival the car…

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MILEAGE 2129 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out if the Mk8 Golf remains the world’s most rounded family hatch ONE OF THE challenges of running a Volkswagen Golf long-termer is that there are certain traits you simply take for granted; things you just assume and accept that a Golf does well. That can cause two problems: it’s more noticeable when it falls in anyway short of those standards (see the Mk8’s touchscreen) and it’s easy to overlook the things it’s very good at. So a few recent work trips have given me the chance to offer praise where it’s due and highlight just how pleasing the Golf’s drive and handling are. Now, don’t mistake that for it being a hyper-handling hot hatch. Although the Mk8 is sharper than its…

Volvo C30 1.6 It was great to hear from Andrew, who says: “As winter approached, I was keen to get into a nice warm car with heated seats. I had always quite liked the Volvo C30 and after a couple of weeks searching found myself arranging a deal with a garage in Nottingham to buy a 70,000-mile 2008 example. It was only a 1.6-litre petrol but was in very nice condition and well specced, plus it had the all-important working heated seats. “The dealer agreed to replace the worn lower suspension arm bushes (a common issue; I heard the telltale knocking on the test drive) and put 12 months MOT into the deal. A few days later, I was driving it back up the M1. I’ve now had it for…

LEXUS LC 500 COUPE £4044 deposit, £1348 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year Packing one of the two naturally aspirated V8s still on sale, this bruiser pairs luxury with brute force and doesn’t come up short dynamically. A recent update enlivened the auto’box, improved the suspension and introduced some striking new colours. BMW M850i xDRIVE COUPE £6148 deposit, £1025 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year A straight-line mile-muncher that’s also happy to chow down on the odd technical B-road, this second-fromtop version of BMW’s reborn 8 Series could be all the M car you’ll ever need, even if the tetchy secondary ride leaves a little to be desired. JAGUAR F-TYPE P450 R-DYNAMIC COUPE £4470 deposit, £745 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year Now that…