Innholdsfortegnelse for September 8, 2021 i Autocar

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class will gain an electric variant by 2025 in the rugged SUV’s most radical transformation since it first appeared in 1979. As revealed by Autocar recently, the EQG will be a close visual relation to the current internal-combustion-powered car but with a raft of styling revisions that bring it into line with Mercedes’ new EQ family of electric cars. It has been previewed at Munich in the form of the Concept EQG, which is described as a near production study. The makeover is subtle, extending chiefly to illuminated trim elements, a solid panel with a 3D star pattern replacing the front grille, bespoke 22in aluminium wheels and a storage box in place of the spare-wheel carrier, designed to look like a wallbox charger. Mercedes draws attention also to…

Audi has showcased elements of the all-electric and highly autonomous successor to its A8 luxury flagship with the futuristic Grandsphere concept at this year’s Munich motor show. Following the recent unveiling of the similarly forward-looking Skysphere concept, the Grandsphere is described as a “private jet for the road”. As with the Skysphere and forthcoming Urbansphere concepts, it is designed primarily around its capacity for level-four autonomous driving. The concept is said by Audi to be the closest of the Sphere trio to a production model, in this case the ‘Project Artemis’ flagship that will replace the A8 at the top of Audi’s saloon line-up when it goes on sale in 2025 after a 2024 debut. In line with its self-driving billing, the Grandsphere has been designed “from the inside out”…

Porsche’s new Mission R concept car previews an electric one-make racing series that could begin in 2025 – and gives strong hints at the appearance of the upcoming electric 718 Cayman. The design is a joint development of Porsche Motorsport and the Porsche Style design studio. Matthias Scholz, Porsche Motorsport’s GT race car chief, described it as “a pure race car, showing an idea of how a customer race car could be”. It utilises powertrain technology from the Taycan and has been developed to offer performance between a 911 GT3 Cup and a 911 GT3 R. The twin-motor set-up offers two settings, with the 603bhp available in standard mode raised to 1073bhp for the special qualifying mode. Unlike the Taycan, the Mission R has a single gear, because the use…

THE 2019 FRANKFURT motor show was, despite its heavy focus on electric cars, subjected to protests by environmental activists. So now that the future of the Geneva motor show is looking more stable, we asked CEO Sandro Mesquita what his event will do to acknowledge such groups. “Environmentalists are against automotive and cars,” he said. “It won’t change that we’re a platform for cars. So I’m sorry, but we won’t convince them – that’s a fact.” LIKE THE LOOK of the newly updated Porsche Macan? If so, you had better get your order in, as Macan product line boss Sebastian Staiger reckons it will be replaced completely by the new-generation electric version in just three years’ time. Asked for a switchover date, he said: “There are several limiting factors in…

THE RADICALLY RESTYLED and mechanically reinvented eighth-generation Vauxhall Astra will become available in electric form in 2023. Giving new details of the family hatchback ahead of its market launch next month, Vauxhall confirmed it will spawn an Astra-e to join the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Combo-e Life and Vivaro-e Life in the brand’s swelling electric car line-up. Along with German sister brand Opel, Vauxhall will sell EVs exclusively from 2028. Technical details remain scarce, but the Astra-e is expected to share elements of its powertrain with the Combo e-Life and Vivaro-e Life MPVs, which also use Vauxhall parent firm Stellantis’s modular EMP2 platform. However, given that it has a more premium focus than them, the Astra is likely to improve on their 134bhp output and 174-mile maximum range. The regular Astra is…

AS THE GREAT in-car touchscreen debate rumbles on, manufacturers remain totally committed, despite the fact that drivers are forced to take their eyes off the road to use them, even if only for a second or two. A well-thought-out combination of actual buttons for key, primary functions and the touchscreen for secondary functions can help, but things like searching for music albums, playlists or tracks in the infotainment system are still distracting. To improve on those shortcomings, Nissan has chosen electrostatic feedback buttons for its new Ariya, grouped on the main dashboard and on the centre console. The technology generates what feels like a kick to emulate the sensation of pushing a mechanical button even though that isn’t happening. Sounds are generated at the same time to help distinguish one…

Current Block Exemption regulations came into effect in 2010 in order to preserve competition in the servicing and repair market by requiring vehicle manufacturers to hand over technical data. However, those rules were drafted long before anyone had heard the phrase ‘connected car’. The regulations are up for renewal in 2023 and the challenge is to find a fair way for repairers to access data that, for the most part, is now ‘offboard’, meaning that is stored on a remote computer server somewhere, without compromising the security of the vehicle’s systems. Some good news is that, despite the complexity of driver assistance features and the electronic problems that arise on new-generation vehicles, it won’t always require access to inaccessible computer systems, nor the skillset of an IT expert to fix…

You know what you’re getting with Ssangyong: no-nonsense motoring at the market’s cheap end. The newly updated Tivoli is a prime example: with a revised interior and tweaked exterior looks, it majors on what the firm does well without getting lost in any fripperies. Having said that, there is a new tablet-style infotainment screen, so clearly even Ssangyong isn’t immune to trends. There are also redesigned climate control buttons that help smarten things up (the temperature dials even have knurled-look plastic), plus customisable digital dials. Externally, styling tweaks have been made in an attempt to make it stand out against rivals such as the Citroën C3 Aircross and Nissan Juke. It’s a crowded pool in which the Tivoli swims, and although the revised look modernises it, it’s still no standout.…

Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera was reborn in 2006 to cater to the nascent demand for high-end, made-to-measure cars. First to appear in 2008 was the Maserati Bellagio, a Quattroporte estate, followed by the 2010 Bentley Continental Flying Star, a shooting brake based on the GTC. The Flying Star was endorsed by Bentley and sold in small numbers. A couple of years later, Touring unveiled its Disco Volante concept, a reinterpretation of the highly influential 1952 show car of the same name. A production version appeared a year later, of which eight were sold. A commission from Mini produced the 2014 Superleggera Vision, an electric roadster rather more elegant than most of the breed, created to explore new design languages. The Ferrari F12-based Touring Berlinetta Lusso yielded three commissions, since when there…

“To be honest, I’m in love,” swoons Jean-Karl Vernay. This experienced racing driver, who has adapted from single-seaters and sports cars to become one of Europe’s best tin-top aces, isn’t talking about the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) in which he’s a title contender for Hyundai. Instead, he’s pledging his amour for the new Pure ETCR series for electric saloons, in which he’s doubling up this year. In fact, the Frenchman is so in love with EV racing that he professes he would be happy to race nothing else “if there were more cars and it were more mature”. Give it time, JK, and there’s every reason to believe it will be. So, what is Pure ETCR? In short, it’s a quick-fire, short-form race series for electric touring cars that…

COMPARISON Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Skoda Enyaq iV Attention-grabbing new electric crossover faces up against a contemporary that’s fresh from a four-star road test verdict FEATURE Missed motors Many a car niche has already been killed off. James Ruppert recalls the best NEWS Munich motor show All the behind-the-scenes action from the return of the motor show EVERY WEEK ROAD TEST Genesis GV80 You’ve read about the GV70. Now its big brother gets the full eight pages FIRST DRIVE Peugeot 308 After our prototype drive of the Golf rival, we rate the production version SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p26…

QUESTION I refuel my plug-in hybrid only three times per year, so should I be concerned about the ethanol in the new E10 petrol going off in the tank? Richard Spoors, via email ANSWER Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the atmosphere. This isn’t good for car engines, but Simon Williams, fuels spokesman at the RAC, told us that fuel suppliers have added stabilisers to E10 fuel that prevent the water going back into solution. “Water contamination shouldn’t be a problem,” he said. He does suggest, however, that you don’t allow your car’s fuel level to run too low. Putting less in but more often might be a good idea. JE QUESTION I’m looking to buy a nearly new Jaguar XF but was shocked to see how…

£29,760 With the prices of 996-generation 911s (1997-2004) climbing, how attractive does the model’s successor, the 997 of 2004-2013, look? To find out, we stuck a pin in the price map at £30,000. For this money you could have a 2003-reg 911 (996) Carrera 3.6 4S or a 2006-reg 911 (997) Carrera 3.8 S, both with 50,000 miles and manual gearboxes. The 4S would be more secure in the wet thanks to its ability to send around 40% of the engine’s power to the front wheels, allowing its driver to enjoy more of the power, more of the time. However, that nextgen Carrera S has our attention. Back in the day, our reviewer declared the 997 to be 15% better in every area than the 996. Peter Robinson concluded: “In…

An expert’s view MARK TAYLOR, FOUNDER, MTSV “I first became aware of the 190 in the late 1980s. I had to move the company cars around where I worked and one day moved a 1.8. As I looked around the cabin, I couldn’t understand why anyone would pay a fortune for a car with windy windows and plastic seats (I didn’t realise they were covered with MB-Tex, a hard-wearing leather substitute) when you could have a better-equipped Sierra for much less. And then I drove it. I was hooked by its sheer quality. Years later, I started my business dealing in classic Mercedes, including the 190. There’s still a very strong demand for the right cars and I reckon prices have risen 30% in the past 12 months.” Buyer beware……

The small roadster is a hairdresser’s car. The big SUV with heavily tinted windows is a drug dealer’s car. There are some unfair and unkind stereotypes in motoring, which were never funny, aren’t accurate and often come with troublingly prejudicial undertones. So fair play to West Midlands Police for smashing one of them by releasing a video of a car chase from last year that resulted in the arrests and convictions of two drug dealers trying to make an escape from a police car in, of all things, a BMW i8. A lot has been written about this plug-in hybrid coupé: that it’s an intelligent sports car; that it was groundbreaking; that it was the most interesting car on sale; that its rear styling looks like it’s defecating a Porsche…

Mercedes-Benz showcased the next stages of its transition to full electrification at this year’s Munich motor show and its most important unveiling was this: the all-new EQE electric saloon. It is the second model to sit atop the brand’s EVA2 platform, following the larger and more luxury-oriented EQS, and will be launched in mid-2022 as a rival to EVs such as the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4 and Polestar 2. Prices will be confirmed closer to its launch, but expect the EQE to be available from around £60,000 – roughly midway between the E-Class and EQS. DESIGN The relationship with the EQS flagship is clear from the EQE’s black front panel, ‘one-bow’ cab-forward silhouette – a hallmark of the brand’s new era bespoke EV family – and short overhangs at…

MERCEDES-MAYBACH HAS previewed its first electric SUV by unveiling the Concept EQS at the Munich motor show. Set for UK introduction in 2023, it is based on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, featuring a series of Maybach-specific elements, including the brand’s signature two-tone paint scheme and a bespoke cabin layout with individual rear seats offering “first-class” accommodation. The Benz-badged EQS SUV will be Mercedes’ third bespoke electric model after the EQS and EQE saloons, offering a range of “around 373 miles”. The intent is to position it at the very top of the EV ranks in a market segment that has yet to be entered by Maybach’s traditional rivals, Bentley and Rolls-Royce. “The Concept EQS represents the transformation of Mercedes-Maybach from a tradition-rich luxury brand into a more progressive electric…

Cupra has unveiled the Urban Rebel Concept, a bold, racing-inspired hatchback that previews the firm’s entry-level electric crossover, which is due in 2025. The concept was unveiled by the Spanish brand ahead of the Munich motor show, where it was shown in public for the first time. It is the first glimpse of a car created for the Volkswagen Group’s vital new MEB Entry platform, which will underpin a range of affordable small EVs. The production version of the Urban Rebel will join the long-awaited Volkswagen ID 2 and models from fellow Volkswagen Group brands Skoda and Audi. The firm is aiming for the most basic versions of those cars to be priced from £17,000. It is significant that Cupra, which operates under the control of Seat, was the brand…

Ford looks to be channelling the spirit of the Mk2 Focus RS for the updated version of its Focus ST hot hatch, which has been spotted testing in near-ready prototype form wearing a distinctive coat of bright-green paint. The test mule, sporting a new colour option that seems a close match for the outlandish Focus RS’s trademark Ultimate Green, gives heavy clues as to what to expect from the updated Mk4 Focus, which is thought to be nearly ready for an imminent unveiling. As with previously seen prototypes of the standard Focus, this test mule shows off a raft of obvious design changes that will differentiate the updated car from that which was launched in 2018. The most obvious change will be a new-look front that bucks an industry trend…

Lotus has outlined plans to launch four new series-production electric cars by 2026. Production of the new models will be split between Lotus’s long-time home in Hethel, Norfolk, and a £900 million plant in Wuhan, China. That site will be the home of Lotus Technology, a new division dedicated exclusively to the manufacturing of EVs. Three Chinese-built Lotus EVs will arrive in the next five years: following the Type 132 E-segment SUV will be the Type 133 four-door coupé in 2023 and the Type 134 D-segment SUV in 2024. The Type 135 sports car, developed in partnership with Alpine (whose version will replace the A110), will be made at Hethel from 2026. The Wuhan factory will open later this year, with the Lotus Technology headquarters set for completion in 2024.…

If a site has insufficient power, it may be necessary to ‘ring-fence’ a supply As EVs become ever more common on our roads and we move towards the 2030 ban on pure combustion engines, it’s not just car owners who need to be aware of the shift in the automotive landscape. Garages and workshops are also looking into being able to repair and service EVs. If there’s to be a huge shift to electric cars, dealers – be they large retail groups or smaller independent traders – will need to be up to speed on how to service them. One thing is for sure: the businesses that service our cars will need to start preparing now for the electric revolution. Here’s how they can begin to upgrade their workplaces. BUILD…

Don’t be fooled by the name: the iX3 has little more in common with the i3 than its maker and two-thirds of its badge. Whereas the i3 was ahead of its time when it was launched back in 2013, with its carbonfibre construction and futuristic design, the iX3 seems like a bit of a lazy effort. In the face of the flood of new bespoke EVs coming from the Volkswagen Group, the Hyundai Motor Group, Tesla and others, the iX3 is rather like a regular X3, shorn of the front driveshafts and with a battery pack in the floor. In fairness, there’s more to it than that, as the CLAR platform that underpins all of BMW’s mainstream rear-wheel-drive models was conceived to take the whole gamut of powertrain options. Nevertheless,…

The question here isn’t so much “why should you buy a Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial?” as it is “why wouldn’t you just buy a Toyota Hilux?” It’s an especially tough one to wrap your head around when presented with the long-wheelbase version of the former, which doesn’t even bring the extra manoeuvrability afforded by the (admittedly less capacious) Commercial SWB. This is a two-seat, panel-sided version of the largest car that Toyota sells in Europe, offering 2216 litres of cargo space and a braked towing capacity of 3000kg – but it’s not the refined and well-resolved conversion that you might expect from the world’s biggest car manufacturer. The rear side windows are painted black to protect cargo from prying eyes but, remarkably, the tailgate screen isn’t, and while the window…

FORD FOCUS ST ESTATE Slightly off the pace in terms of power, and lacks a driven rear axle, but oh so fluent on the move and with bags of practicality. CUPRA LEON 310 VZ3 ESTATE It’s sure-footed and blisteringly quick and flies nicely under the radar, but it’s somewhat one-dimensional on the move, and expensive, too. MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 35 SHOOTING BRAKE CLA trades carrying capacity for an unusual degree of elegance in this class. The dynamics are more staid. AUDI S3 SPORTBACK The S3 Sportback may not be an estate, but it’s decently spacious and tremendously secure on the move. Just a bit dull to drive, though. VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R ESTATE Upcoming wagon version of the Mk8 Golf R ought to have the edge over its Cupra cousin, thanks to…

The memory of my sales colleagues striking the showroom window the instant I tremulously removed the cables from the battery in a used car on the forecourt plays out in my mind as I watch Luke Daisley, owner of Good Guys Garage in Essex, remove the main fuse from a Nissan Leaf. Will there be a flash and a smell of burning flesh? Fortunately not. “People have this idea that electric cars are always live and dangerous,” says Daisley. “The truth is that you would have to do something stupid to get an electric shock.” That’s not strictly true, of course, as guidance from organisations including the Health and Safety Executive makes clear. Still, as a former soldier (he served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers), Daisley is determined…

Less than a tenth of the way into Catesby Tunnel’s 1.6-mile extent, it’s obvious that a large, dark hole is going to pose a photographic challenge. But standing within the vast, dripping structure that runs beneath one of the prettier parts of rural Northamptonshire, it’s equally clear that writing a story about this fascinating project is going to be a serious ask as well. This isn’t a tale about what’s here but of what isn’t. Although it’s soon to be used at the cutting edge of aerodynamic research, Catesby Tunnel isn’t a wind tunnel. Rather, it’s best thought of as a non-wind tunnel – one where conditions will be as calm and consistent as possible. And that makes it a genuinely radical advance. The earliest wind tunnels were built for…

Anger after F1’s sodden farce Formula 1 bosses have pledged to evaluate their weather delay rules after the Belgian Grand Prix was declared official with half-points awarded despite just two laps behind the safety car having been completed, due to continual heavy rainfall. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and the Alfa Romeo team publicly hit out at the decision to award points, while Sir Lewis Hamilton called on Spa-Francorchamps to refund spectators. He was classified third after title rival Max Verstappen and George Russell, the Williams man’s first F1 podium. Mercedes hints at F1 driver decision Mercedes-AMG F1 team boss Toto Wolff has hinted that he has already chosen between incumbent Valtteri Bottas and Russell for the seat alongside Hamilton next season but is holding off on an announcement until the…

MONZA The summer break is a distant memory for F1 teams as they head to the last part of their triple-header at classic European circuits. But whereas Spa-Francorchamps and Zandvoort have been cut down, Monza remains largely unchanged since its founding in 1922. Except for the chicanes: without them, the parkland circuit became known for its great slipstreaming races. Peter Gethin took his sole F1 win there in 1971, by just 0.01sec in a five-car dash to the line. The chicanes were added to improve safety, but speed remains the defining feature of Monza. As for the banking, used until the mid-1960s, it remains as a wonderful relic of this cathedral of speed’s glorious – if deranged – past.…

WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com Hybrid innovator Your story about M-Sport’s new Ford Puma MHEV rally car (‘Why M-Sport is hyped for WRC to go hybrid’, 4 August) brought back happy memories of our exploits in stage rallying in an amazing Mk1 Honda Insight hybrid. We built the car in 2005 after negotiating its use with the forward-thinking Tristan Dodd, who founded the Formula 1000 stage championship. The deal was that we left the engine standard but could uprate the hybrid system and batteries to develop technology and increase efficiency. We experimented with early lithium batteries and a big bank of supercapacitors to harvest energy. The project became a great success over six years, scoring numerous class wins and attracting support from EEMS, Honda UK and Bosch (because the car used its…

MILEAGE 133,640 LAND ROVER SERIES 3 To investigate the Lorry’s non-cancelling indicators, I decided to deconstruct the steering column surround. Actually, I’ve done it before, because that’s where lots of fuses live. Turns out the cancelling mechanism broke at some point this year after 38 years of sterling service. I couldn’t find the missing bit, so I’ll make something to take its place. The surround remains disassembled, in an effort to motivate me to finish the repair. I have a 1960s Mini stalk that’s all metal, but I can’t find it. In the meantime, I hope the new Ineos Grenadier will be built from granite, or maybe something even tougher.…

Small SUVs don’t come much funkier-looking than the Toyota C-HR. The car’s bold, sporty and somewhat futuristic styling certainly helps it stand out from the cut-from-the-same-cloth crossover crowd, even if that attention-grabbing exterior design won’t appeal to everyone. The C-HR is by no means a case of function following form, though. Sharp looks aside, there is much to hold your attention here, as well as plenty for used buyers to take in. When the C-HR was first launched back in 2016, the powertrain options were a 120bhp 1.8-litre petrol-electric ‘self-charging’ hybrid or a 114bhp 1.2-litre petrol. The 1.2 is pretty efficient, with a combined economy figure of 47.1mpg, albeit under the old NEDC tests. The hybrid fared better, though, with a claimed combined 74.3mpg, dropping to 58.8mpg under the newer…

SUZUKI VITARA FATBOY Not sure you’d get away with calling a special-edition bodykit a Fatboy these days, but back in 1993 we were less kind. The popular option increased the Vitara’s width by 180mm, allowing chunkier tyres to be fitted within flared wheel arches. Side skirts completed the look. Our featured car exited the auction ring at £4500. Classic SUVs in good condition like this Fatboy seem to be attracting the right attention. Around the same time, a same-age Discovery 2.5 TD in immaculate condition with 97,000 miles made £6500 at auction. Good Series 1 Discos are rare, so we can understand its attraction.…

If you’re looking to buy a reliable, modern classic or a daily driver with a difference, then relax: you’ve just found it. The Mercedes-Benz 190 is an old-school Merc of unimpeachable quality designed to sell in big numbers. (Almost two million were sold during its 11-year run, from 1982 to 1993.) Mercedes spent over £600 million developing the model, declaring the result to be “massively over-engineered”, a phrase that should be music to the ears of anyone seeking a 190 today. Prices go from £1000 for bare runners to £15,000 for 190s with the lowest mileages and in the very best condition. Around £5000 will buy a nice 190 2.0 E auto or rare manual (the E means it’s fuel injected) with a reasonable mileage. Beyond these cars lie desirable…

TODAY THE BENEFITS of anything must be balanced against its harm to the planet. A century ago, we did the same after the press criticised road tarring on the basis of it killing trout in roadside streams. We doubted this connection but, even assuming that it were true, argued: “Although it may not agree with fish and some of the lower organisms, it’s an admitted fact that certain diseases, particularly sore eyes, which were observed in children who played in the streets, have almost entirely disappeared where the streets are tarred. “Unquestionably it is most desirable that tar should not hurt fish, but from the quite excusable outcry made in a few quarters, it would be assumed that fish were much more important than human health, or even life, and…

THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ is the performance division’s first all-electric series-production model and will take on the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and Audi E-tron GT RS with a twin-motor set-up offering up to 751bhp. The new luxury performance saloon will serve as the flagship model for both the EQS range and Mercedes-Benz’s line-up of bespoke electric cars. It will be followed by a range of AMG EVs, including hot versions of other EQ models built on the EVA2 platform as well as dedicated AMG models using the AMG. EA architecture. The EQS 53 incorporates extensive technical changes from regular versions of the electric limo, including an AMG-specific electric performance motor mounted on each axle. The motors feature new windings, stronger currents and new actuation via inverters, which allows…

SMART IS EMBARKING on a radical product strategy under new 50% co-owner Geely and has shown the Concept #1 at the Munich motor show as a preview of its first SUV model. The near-production-ready concept takes the form of an electric crossover with premium aspirations and an emphasis on advanced technology. Measuring 4290mm long, 1910mm wide and 1698mm tall, it is a close match in size to parent company Mercedes-Benz’s EQA electric crossover. It’s the first bespoke EV from Smart since it became the first ‘legacy maker’ to ditch internal combustion engines completely in 2019. The SUV will herald the beginning of an important new era for the brand, during which Geely will manage the engineering side of model development and Mercedes the design. It is clearly recognisable as a…

BMW HAS IMAGINED how a premium four-seat electric car for the year 2040 could look with the new i Vision Circular. Revealed at the Munich motor show, the bold concept adopts an entirely new design language for the German brand, with both radical dimensions and styling details. While it is roughly similar in size to the current i3 electric supermini, BMW boss Oliver Zipse insisted that it’s only a conceptual study and doesn’t offer a “first foretaste” of the Neue Klasse design language that will be introduced on the company’s EVs from 2025. Instead, the focus for the i Vision Circular was to create a carbon-neutral EV through the application of ‘circular economy’ principles, with the design brief of “rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle”. The concept was produced using 100%…

Dacia has revealed its all new Jogger, which will be the cheapest seven-seat family car on the market, at around £12,900. It replaces the Dokker, Lodgy and Logan MCV. The Jogger is based on the same CMF-B platform (from parent firm Renault Group) as the new Dacia Sandero supermini but with a wheelbase that has been stretched by 300mm to accommodate the additional row of seats. It is said to blend “estate car practicality, MPV spaciousness and SUV styling”, having 200mm of ground clearance and, at 4547mm, being the longest Dacia on sale. Despite its SUV-influenced looks, modular roof bars and scuff plates, the Jogger will be available only with front-wheel drive. Dacia will offer three powertrains: a 108bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, a 99bhp 1.0-litre LPG engine and,…

A FULLY AUTONOMOUS Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been revealed by Motional, the driverless tech firm founded in the US last year as a joint venture between the Hyundai Motor Group and automotive components supplier Aptiv. The electric robotaxi has level-four autonomy, so can drive itself in all situations unless an occupant or a remote operator takes control. The car’s exterior is fitted with 30 sensors, comprising cameras, radar and lidar, to give it 360deg perception and the ability to detect objects at an “ultra-long” range while on the move. Should the car encounter “an unusual road scenario, such as road construction or flooding”, a remote operator can take control to guide the car back to safety. “This robotaxi represents Motional’s vision of a driverless future becoming a reality,” said CEO…

FRIDAY A Porsche 718 Boxster arrives, but a different edition from the kind of road test fodder we usually see. This is a near-standard edition, powered by the ‘basic’ 296bhp 2.0-litre turbo flat four, driving through a dual-clutch gearbox. This engine has proved unpopular with some of the Porsche fraternity, chiefly it seems to me because it’s not a flat six. By any other measure, it’s great. It’s absolutely as quick as you need (0-62mph in 4.9sec; 170mph flat out), and when you give it the beans, it sounds pretty damned good. Sure, the vaunted 4.0-litre flat-six GTS is a quicker machine, but I doubt it’s significantly faster between here and Edinburgh, while being 40% more expensive. Me, I’d settle for this model and spend the rest on a new…

Few models exemplify the global nature of today’s car industry better than the Nio ES8. The first of four EVs from a Chinese firm that was established only in 2014 yet is now valued higher than BMW, this seven-seat SUV was developed by four ‘competence centres’ around the world: Shanghai conceived it, Munich styled it, Oxford engineered it and Silicon Valley coded its software. At 5022mm long, 1962mm wide and 1756mm tall, it’s considerably larger than the Audi E-tron – just one of a number of premium EVs that Nio is targeting as it enters the European market via Norway this month. Unlike the E-tron, the ES8 is based on a dedicated EV platform. It hosts a big 100kWh battery and a body that’s 96% aluminium to weigh 2425kg. Power…

MODEL TESTED 310 VZ3 Price £40,535 Power 306bhp Torque 295lb ft 0-60mph 4.9sec 30-70mph in fourth 6.9sec Fuel economy 28.4mpg CO2 emissions 187g/km 70-0mph 45.5m Seat may languish at the bottom of the profitability table of the Volkswagen Group’s major brands, but its recent spin-off is doing considerably better. Cupra, the erstwhile sporting sub-brand of Seat, was founded in 1985 and at times found itself competing in top-tier rally and touring car racing, but it has recently reinvented itself as a stand-alone entity with bold branding, fresh designs and no shortage of performance. After an inauspicious start with an immensely quick Ateca hamstrung by its overly firm ride, the marque has found its feet. The car that best demonstrates what it’s all about is probably the rakish Formentor crossover, in…

You would probably never discover this trait on the road, but disabling all the electronic chassis aids and tackling the Hill Route at Millbrook Proving Ground showed that, with the right approach, the Leon is happy to take some slip angle and hold it under power. Admittedly, the circumstances in which you can provoke this kind of behaviour are rare. You need to make a quick entry into the corner under trailing brakes, pause just a moment while the weight in the tail comes into effect and then open the throttle wide. However, the result is surprisingly balletic for a big car, and is in no small part enabled by the Cupra’s excellent body control. Elsewhere on the Hill Route, the Cupra was unfazed. Its typical attitude is characterised by…

It has been a long time coming. Genesis as a brand, I mean. We know why it exists: premium means profit. Manufacturers of ordinary cars look at the space that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz occupy with envious eyes. And it was as long ago as 2004 that Hyundai first developed posh car aspirations of its own. It took until 2008 for it to happen, with a car badged Hyundai Genesis, the second generation of which came to the UK from 2015, in right-hand drive and small numbers. Small, because while sales of the original Hyundai model in the US were good enough to prompt the establishment of the name as a brand in its own right, we’re a bit sniffy about that sort of thing in Europe. Lexus was launched…

Pulling a handle marked ‘eject’ is generally not a good idea, unless you happen to be a jet fighter pilot faced with a sudden need to depart your aircraft’s cockpit. In the case of the Touring Superleggera Arese RH95, pulling the handle so marked is likely to bring on a tinge of regret rather than an otherwise doomed pilot’s gushing relief, because the opening of this car’s door signals journey’s end. And journeying in this car is the thrill and delight you’d have every right to hope for from a car offering 661bhp, a beautifully wrought carbonfibre skin, gullwing doors and the mild sculptural drama of a socalled dorsal scoop. It’s a novel pleasure to find a slice of wit in the labelling of a car’s controls, although you can…

For more information and to enter, visit autocar.co.uk/driversofchange Find us on Twitter @AutocarDoC and AutocarDoC. Terms and conditions apply. IAN CONSTANCE CEO, ADVANCED PROPULSION CENTRE The automotive industry is at a pivotal point. The need to decarbonise transport and reach global 2050 climate targets has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for innovation, which, with the right investment, will accelerate the journey to net zero, creating jobs and prosperity. Every late-state R&D project we support and commercialise at the Advanced Propulsion Centre started as a great idea, so I’m really looking forward to seeing some ‘outside of the box’ thinking and potential solutions to some of our biggest decarbonisation challenges. Top tip for presenting Have two or three clear key messages and make it personal for you and, if possible, your audience…

Even leaving aside electric series such as Formula E, motorsport’s electrification is gaining pace. Formula 1 and endurance racing already feature full hybrid powertrains, and in the coming years the British Touring Car Championship, Indycar Series, World Rally Championship and more will all add some level of hybrid tech. Of course, motorsport extends far beyond the rarefied air of professional series; the real challenge is electrifying the national and club levels. Even with a few notable early-adopting efforts (see p66 for an example), shifting an already hideously expensive sport to hybrid (let alone electric) power is a huge challenge. But just as issues like climate change mean the car industry is being forced to make the shift, motorsport will have to follow – and help is coming. As with all…

How do I go green? I’m in the process of deciding whether to take advantage of the current boom in trade-in values or to hold on until my BMW X4 reaches the end of its PCP contract in March 2023. It appears that I could currently buy the car and trade it in to make almost £5000 profit – very tempting. I want to be environmentally conscientious, especially in view of the latest predictions on climate change, so changing to an EV seems like the correct choice. Yet the more seriously I consider the options of keeping the X4 or swapping it for an EV, the more confused I become. There are two issues that seriously challenge my temptation to change to an EV. First, if I trade in my…

MILEAGE 1420 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT Will unusual EV make daily driving a joy, or will its limitations frustrate over time? Ford has done it with the Mustang, MG has F done it with the ZS and soon Opel will do it with the Manta. What is it about hallowed sporting model names that makes them such attractive options for newfangled and entirely unrelated SUVs, often of the electric variety? Perhaps understandably, such overtly nostalgia-bating marketing ploys have attracted their fair share of criticism from enthusiasts (we once fantasised about the Ford Capri coming back as a jacked-up EV and had to go into hiding for weeks), but Mazda seems to have got away with slotting its new electric crossover into the MX lineage. Surely the weighty, upright and underpowered…

BANGERPEDIA M is for Mazda 6 The Mazda 6 of 2007-2012 is a handsome thing. The saloon was cancelled in 2009, leaving just the estate. Go for the 1.8-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engine and aim for TS2 trim, which should get you everything a Mazda driver needs. The facelifted model (from 2010) is just inside our Bangerpedia remit. Overall, these later 6s seem to be ultra-reliable, which is good. Otherwise, check for leaking air-con and the short recall history, especially on petrols. You can get a 2008 2.0 Tamura with 90,000 miles and two ex-owners for just £1800.…

FORD FOCUS 1.0 ECOBOOST 125 ZETEC NAV £1176 deposit, £196 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year There is a strait-laced appeal to the Focus now that almost belies its dynamic competence. The Ford is trustworthy, good value and spacious, even if it can’t quite match the premium feel of the other three here. KIA CEED 1 .0T GDi ISG 2 £1138 deposit, £190 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year Still nothing matches Kia’s seven-year warranty, but if that’s not your bag, consider the Ceed’s styling, build quality and good road behaviour. This latest incarnation has new-found levels of ride and handling sophistication, and plenty of space inside for the family. BMW 118i M SPORT £1640 deposit, £279 per month, 48 months, 8000 miles per year It…

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ-440 MR 4x4X £44,950 Any Lancer Evo has future classic stamped on it, but this one deserves the title more than most thanks to its rarity. Just 40 came to the UK, and our find, registered in 2014, has done only 12,500 miles. Its owner has clearly had an eye on its investment potential since, at least during their ownership, during which it has been dry-stored and only ever driven in dry weather. The service book has no less than eight stamps. New, the model cost £50,000 so with our example priced just £5000 less, it looks like classic status may already have arrived.…