Innholdsfortegnelse for September 29, 2021 i Autocar

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The E-Sports platform has huge implications for the future of Lotus’s own line-up, but it will also find its way into models from other manufacturers. The firm’s consultancy arm, Lotus Engineering, is already talking to interested parties, but only Renault-owned Alpine has publicly declared its intention to use Lotus-fettled underpinnings. Alpine is collaborating with Hethel on chassis development with a view to launching an EV successor to the A110 coupé. Alpine’s sibling model to the Type 135, Lotus MD Matt Windle hinted, is likely to have a shorter wheelbase (the current A110’s wheelbase is 120mm shorter than the Evora’s, for reference) and recent comments by Alpine technical chief Gilles Le Borgne suggest it will, like Lotus’s car, maintain a commitment to agility over outright pace. “For us, it’s more important…

GORDON MURRAY DESIGN (GMD), the all-encompassing engineering firm founded by the McLaren F1 designer, has revealed a lightweight urban EV concept that showcases its innovative iStream vehicle manufacturing process, which it first announced back in 2015. Said to be adaptable for “a broad portfolio of vehicles” ranging from the new Motiv concept (pictured) to mid-engined sports cars and even petrol-powered SUVs, the iStream process aims to optimise the performance, cost and efficiency of future electrified vehicles. It is especially applicable, GMD says, to battery-electric vehicles, because the light weight of the architecture will allow for maximum range and optimised all-round performance. Using the iStream process can reduce the overall weight of a typical family car by more than 20% and requires 50% fewer body panel components, according to its inventor.…

SKATE, A NEW platform concept, is Citroën’s vision for the future of autonomous shared mobility in cities and forms part of a revolutionary “open-source”model that the firm says could improve traffic fluidity by 35%. The platform, equipped with level-five autonomous capabilities to move around urban areas with no human input, can operate “almost continuously”24/7, charging itself at dedicated hubs. It has a maximum speed of 3mph or 16mph, depending on its surroundings, and is equipped with Citroën’s Advanced Comfort hydraulic cushion suspension set-up for optimum ride quality. Bespoke motorised spherical wheels designed by Goodyear allow for 360deg manoeuvrability, “just like a computer mouse”. The Skate has been designed to accommodate interchangeable travel ‘pods’ from a variety of providers that offer different takes on the concept of ride sharing. Citroën says…

THE LATEST EV announcements give an inkling as to how the technology will evolve before the end of the decade and what we can expect to see in forthcoming cars. In particular, with the Mégane E-Tech Electric revealed recently at the Munich motor show, Renault has firmly planted its flag in the sand and potentially made the best possible choices to eke out every single milliamp of power from the lithium ion battery. First, that battery. No whizz-bang surprise announcement here of a sooner-than-expected solid-state battery but more fine-tuning of the best that lithium ion has to offer. To be clear, lithium is only part of the mix in an EV battery, which gets its name from the fact that lithium ions migrate between the electrodes during charge and discharge.…

SATURDAY How fantastic to see Goodwood right back on top form. It seemed to me that this year’s Revival worked as if the pandemic had never happened: magnificent cars, superb racing and a huge crowd of happy people. There were refinements to the organisation, of course, as is always expected of one of the Duke of Richmond’s events. This time there were trade stands and exhibits stretching right down the inside of the Lavant Straight, which drew us punters out there and showed us how excellent the place is for watching as well as shopping. This might sound a bit offbeat, but my personal Goodwood hero was the bloke (it had to be a bloke) who paid £32,200 in the Bonhams auction, including premium, for a 1945 DUKW – a…

Here’s the reality: in Europe, premium saloon drivers nearly always buy German. They’re also among the least likely of any cohort to switch brands, and if they do, they go to another German marque. These conditions are the rocks against which the ambitions of Cadillac, Chrysler, Infiniti, Lexus and even Alfa Romeo and Jaguar have been dashed, with some worthy cars going unloved over the years. The new Genesis G70 won’t shake things up either, but in the SUV era, you have to welcome the arrival of any new three-box saloon, especially one with some slick design cues, sensible dimensions, rear-wheel drive and sporting undertones. Which is exactly what we have here in the G70, right down to the racy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres. Genesis Europe has some…

MODEL TESTED E-TECH PLUG-IN HYBRID 160 RS LINE •Price £31,495 •Power 158bhp •Torque na •0-60mph 8.6sec •30-70mph in fourth na •Fuel economy 60.1mpg •CO2 emissions 28g/km •70-0mph 50.2m With the launch of the pure-electric Zoe in 2012, Renault was one of the first brands to create a credible EV for the European market. In the ensuing years, things remained quiet around electrification at Renault while other manufacturers launched hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric models. And now, as the current Mégane is due to be replaced by an all-electric successor and EVs are generally gaining ground, Renault has launched a plug-in hybrid version of the recently facelifted outgoing model. In fact, the brand has rapidly pivoted from hybrid sceptic to hybrid believer, as it adds E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions to…

I am not normally an envious man, but a photographer friend moved to the US several years ago, and when I see pictures of him flying his plane over vast Californian landscapes or down the Pacific coast, or working on his classic car in the sunshine outside his large garage, I do think ‘yeah, I fancy a bit of that’. The chief designer of the Jeep Wrangler once told me that, in winter in Michigan, he pops his snowmobile on the back of his pick-up truck, unloads it a short drive away from home and then can cruise for hour after hour on hundreds of miles of deserted track. I’m not convinced about the healthcare costs, the risk of being shot or the predilection for plastic cheese with every meal,…

While earlier Aston Martin Continuation cars were designed to be almost exact copies of the hallowed originals, the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation threw up a much greater challenge. The gadgets that made the original film car famous were theatrical props that needed to work only once; those fitted to the Continuation had to be able to operate repeatedly. They would also need to be non-lethal. Gaydon’s lawyers were apparently very insistent on that point. There’s an almost full set of gadgets, created under the supervision of Chris Corbould, an Oscar-winning special-effects designer who has worked on no fewer than 15 James Bond films, including No Time to Die. They include machine guns, rotating numberplates, on-board radar, a bulletproof rear screen, an oil slick and a smokescreen, plus the front and rear…

SUNBEAM ALPINE DR NO, 1962 In the first book, Bond drove a 1933 supercharged ‘Blower’ Bentley. (Fleming got his date wrong. The car ceased production in 1930.) In the first film? A Sunbeam Alpine. Not a bad car, but some distance from what you’d want to introduce the world’s least secret agent to the silver screen. An E-Type Jaguar – powerful, handsome and just a little rough around the edges – would have been far more appropriate. ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH DIE ANOTHER DAY, 2002 This could have been in the top 10 until the producers decided it could become invisible. The resulting Aston Martin ‘Vanish’ was Bond’s ‘Fonzie jumps the shark’ moment, after which I couldn’t take him, his car or anything he did in it seriously again for the…

Elliot Moss looks a size or two larger than his famously trim old man, but the resemblance to Sir Stirling was uncanny as he stood arm in arm with Sir Jackie Stewart and Damon Hill on the grid at Goodwood. They were gathered earlier this month in front of a stunning and large collection of Moss-related cars to pay an emotional tribute to Stirling at the first Revival to take place since his death aged 90 last year – although he was surely there in spirit. Ahead of them all sat the glorious Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, its number 722 bold in red across its nose confirming that here for one last time was the most important (and surely most valuable) historic racing car in the world. For it was in…

Guenther Steiner has had the toughest job of any Formula 1 team principal this year. His Haas squad has the slowest car and at the time of writing is rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship with zero points, which in most seasons would represent unmitigated disaster. But this is no ordinary campaign for Haas, which effectively gave up on 2021 to focus on next year’s dramatically overhauled technical regulations. “Transitional,” interjects Steiner in his distinctive Tyrolean accent, which has been made famous by his cult role in Netflix’s documentary series Drive to Survive. It adds up to the same thing and, counterintuitively for such a competitive sport, is absolutely the right move. The eruption of the pandemic early last year created a unique set of conditions that Haas…

FEATURE The world of Bentley in a day Steve Cropley takes Bentley’s new PHEV on a 500-mile drive from its Crewe factory to its famous P&A Wood heritage dealer SPECIAL REPORT Car crime in 2021 How are thieves now targeting your car? Our investigation reveals all FEATURE Kia Elan Remember when Kia bought the rights to a retiring Lotus? We revisit the result EVERY WEEK USED BUYING GUIDE Volkswagen Lupo GTI Before the Up GTI came the Lupo GTI. Here’s how to spot a good one ROAD TEST Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet We evaluate the rejuvenation of Stuttgart’s luxurious drop-top SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p4…

Following delay after delay, 007 has finally made his 25th outing. Forget all the fighting and Vesper martinis – we love James Bond flicks for showcasing the most elegant and exciting cars around, and we’ve gathered some of the best that you can find on the used market. We’re starting with the Aston Martin DBS – a car defined by its seductive form and raucous V12. Built from 2007 to 2012, it is perhaps best remembered for flipping and rolling a record seven times in Casino Royale (with a bit of help from a nitrogen cannon and Millbrook’s hilly Alpine course), but the cars in the classifieds tend to be better cared for. Aston’s AM11 V12 brings 5.9 litres, 510bhp and 420lb ft of fury, getting the DBS from 0-62mph…

The used car scrappage allowance of 2009 has a lot to answer for, not least the absence of XR3is on our roads. Back in 1994, there were around 95,000 of them, but today there are only about 450, with another 1500 off the road being restored or tucked away as investments. And an XR3i is a good investment, in the same league as contemporaries such as the Peugeot 205 GTi and Volkswagen Golf GTI. That said, how good an investment depends on how much has been spent bringing one up to scratch. We found a 1989-reg concours-winning XR3i with 56,000 miles on the clock advertised for £24,995. The trouble is that £75,000 has been spent getting it to this standard. Investment potential or not, the XR3i is an appealing car…

Do you envisage replacing each of Lotus’s recently retired models? “For me, what’s important is that while we talk about the history of dynamics in our DNA, I also want to innovate and look forward, and EV powertrains give a lot of different options. You’ve seen it on Evija, with the chest battery and the aerodynamics running through the car, so I don’t want to limit the creativity of the team by saying we’ve got to replicate something that’s gone before, but we always will use it as a reference.” E-Sports can accommodate a crossover, so will Hethel build an SUV? “No. But this platform has been developed both for our own products and Lotus Engineering. It was part of the Vision80 strategy that we sold to Geely, and they…

SILVER POWER SYSTEMS (SPS) claims it has achieved the “holy grail of battery modelling”with a digital platform that can predict the usable lifespan of an electric vehicle’s battery. Over the past nine months, the British company has been working on a research programme dubbed Redtop (Real-time Electrical Digital Twin Operating Platform) in partnership with Imperial College, the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) and JSCA, the research and development arm of the Cornwall-based Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC). The project has resulted in a virtual model of an EV battery, linked to a real-world counterpart, that gives “not just an unprecedented view of real-time battery performance and state of health but also the potential to enable these highly sophisticated battery models to predict battery lifespan”. As part of the Redtop programme,…

THE TWIN HYDROGEN tanks in BMW’s new iX5 Hydrogen run at 700 bar of pressure but can actually handle more than 2000 bar. So stable and safe are they that one of the tests involved shooting them with a real gun – and there was no explosion, as we found out when we emerged shakily from our hiding place under the table. WHILE OTHER CAR makers struggle to get the sums to add up for city cars, Hyundai continues to make a success – in both sales and profit terms – of the i10. Indeed, Hyundai Europe chief operating officer Michael Cole says he sees the i10 as the entry point into the Hyundai line-up for “the foreseeable future”and it remains “very much part of the product plan”. THERE WAS…

Jonathan Goodman is the UK CEO of Polestar and its head of global communications, having played an integral role alongside global CEO Thomas Ingenlath in launching the brand from scratch over the past five years. He has previously held senior roles with a multitude of responsibilities at car companies including the PSA Group and Volvo. Here, Goodman discusses Polestar’s success to date, why Tesla is its biggest rival and what his expectations are for the future. Setting up a new car company is famously difficult. Did you have any qualms when you were asked to be Polestar chief operating officer alongside Ingenlath back in 2017? “In truth, it took me about five seconds to decide. After 28 years in the industry, it was a golden opportunity – not just exciting…

We’ve waited a long time for the iX. Originally previewed by the Vision iNext concept at the Paris motor show in 2018, it’s BMW’s third EV, following the i3 and iX3. BMW sees the introduction of the distinctively styled large SUV as a watershed moment in its transition from traditional internal combustion engines towards an all-electric future, suggesting the lessons learned in its development will influence new models such as the imminent i4 executive saloon and electric versions of the next-generation 5 Series and 7 Series. The iX is meant to convey a new form of relaxed driving pleasure. With power outputs ranging from 326bhp in the xDrive40 to 600bhpplus in the yet-to-be-revealed M60, though, performance remains a priority, despite the weight penalty incurred by a large battery pack. The…

Before you pay £85,000 for a new Audi Q8 60 TFSIe Quattro Competition (or £92,000 in the case of our optioned-up car), it makes sense to examine exactly why you’re buying the plug-in hybrid version of Audi’s flagship SUV. The case for the car itself is strong: this is a rakish-looking SUV-coupé featuring all the latest hardware from a progressive manufacturer. It’s both better looking and sportier than the Q7 that sits below it in the Audi range, because it’s 66mm shorter and 33mm lower, yet it has virtually the same roomy five-seat interior, because it sits on the same wheelbase. The PHEV part contains the conundrum. Instead of buying a conventional V6 petrol engine, you’re committing (for more money) to a powertrain whose main virtue is a 22- to…

Even though the current Renault Mégane isn’t long for this world, with an EV successor waiting in the wings, Renault has fitted it with its new and unusual E-Tech plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and has given it a limited dose of extra appeal. The hybrid system is a very appropriate companion for the Mégane’s laid-back chassis. It is smooth and flexible, providing just a touch more dynamism than some hybrid drivetrains as well as the potential for great economy. Just don’t expect too much of Renault’s ‘inspired by F1’ marketing to come true when you flex the accelerator pedal. However, it’s impossible to get away from the fact that this modern drivetrain has been wrapped up in a pretty old package. An updated infotainment system mitigates things somewhat, while the Mégane’s…

DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT Dodge’s 6.2-litre Hellcat V8 engine makes 717bhp before aftermarket tuners turn their attention to it. In the Charger, Dodge melds it to a four-door saloon platform, so you can scare the heck out of quite a lot of passengers for just $74,720 (£54,610). FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 Ford’s own superfast Mustang lacks RHD but does get a lot of grunt: 760bhp and 625lb ft. That’s small beer by the standards of the CS850, but it’s the authentic thing, if that matters to you. The V8 has 5.2 rather than 5.0 litres and the price is $72,900 (£53,270). HENNESSEY VENOM 775 SUPERCHARGED F-150 Muscle isn’t for cars only. Ford’s F-150 truck has a 5.0-litre V8 with 400bhp, to which Hennessey adds 375bhp via a new supercharger, intercooler,…

While some of the additional features of this very special DB5 might seem like childish distractions, it’s clear that the car was created to accomplish a very special mission – one attested to by discoloration from what appeared to be gold paint. Also, more confusingly, we found a trove of Slazenger No 1 golf balls. The standard DB5 is truly special, but we suspect that future buyers will all wish their cars could feature similar enhancements to this one. Our only substantive complaint is with the car’s Fern Green paintwork; we struggle to see such a drab hue catching on. While this car hasn’t caused us to substantially revise the conclusion we reached in our earlier DB5 road test, its impressive arsenal has given cause to amend it slightly. Because…

We’re standing in a surreal setting on the outskirts of Warwick, a football pitch-size compound filled on all sides with huge metal blocks piled to twice head height, most streaked with rust acquired from a life in the great British outdoors. Each block has some sort of serial number on its side. Mostly the hieroglyphics are unintelligible, but a few carry the great names of British motoring: Jaguar, Rover, MG, Triumph. These are press tools from the past, used for making body panels back in the day, often employed again today by a unique company, British Motor Heritage (BMH), to make them again. Such a collection of weird shapes may not look much like a treasure trove, but that’s what this is. It’s still early morning, so cars behind us…

Dudley is new hillclimb star Lizzie Dudley has won the inaugural Autocar-Shelsley Walsh Young Drivers’ Championship, the 19-year-old from Cambridge having claimed four outright wins from the six events. Alfie Westlake was runner-up. The series, open to 19- to 22-year-olds driving 1.2-litre Vauxhall Corsas, is set to expand to Prescott and Loton Park when it returns next year. Colin is king of Croft Infiniti Q50 racer Aiden Moffat and MB Motorsport Ford Focus man Jake Hill claimed their first British Touring Car Championship wins of the season at Croft recently. Four-time champion Colin Turkington won the finale – remarkably, his 13th BTCC win at the Yorkshire circuit. Kubica crowned Euro Le Mans champion Team WFT crew Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Louis Delétraz sealed the European Le Mans Series championship…

At the time of writing, after the Italian Grand Prix, Haas has failed to score a point in 20 races and sits alone at the bottom of the constructors’ championship. Yet its hundreds of personnel are expected to keep pushing to the limit. It’s not an easy task, but it’s more pleasant than the situation last year, when the team’s very existence was threatened. “Last year was a different challenge, because we didn’t know where it was going and if we would sign [F1’s] new commercial agreement,” says team principal Guenther Steiner. “This year, the focus is for next year, and we’re over the hump of mid-season, so it’s going towards the end. We try to let our people know what we’re doing with the development of the new car.…

FINAL REPORT MILEAGE 1550 WHY WE RAN IT Does Mazda’s unusual debut EV make daily driving a joy, or will its limitations frustrate over time? Let’s get it out of the way in the first sentence: no, an official range of 124 miles is not enough to position Mazda’s first EV as a zero-emission runaround with mass appeal. I won’t leave it to that blunt conclusion to comprehensively summarise our past few months with the MX-30, but as that was our primary concern when the car arrived, and has been the subject of much discussion since, it makes sense to address it quickly and conclusively. The MX-30’s 35.5kWh battery is among the smallest fitted to any mainstream EV, let alone its SUV-shaped contemporaries, and as such it can’t help but…

QUESTION I’m about to enter the shark-infested pool that is known as the used car market. Are there any new scams I should be aware of? Craig Stone, via email ANSWER Used car prices are riding high, so be suspicious of anything youngish and with low mileage that is too cheap. Not everything is fetching strong money, but as supplies dwindle, prices are only going one way. You should always run a history check on a used car, but rather than just one, do two checks, since some companies delve deeper into vehicle histories than others. Pay the smallest prepurchase deposit you can, check online reviews of the seller and beware of those requesting your payment by bank transfer only. JE QUESTION My car is approaching its first MOT but…

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE LIMO Do stretched cars make good buying sense beyond the stag nights and hen dos? You would think they would waft better than a Rolls-Royce. In truth, they probably redefine scuttle shake. And then there’s the booze stains and worse… We ask because, at the time of writing, a stretched 2006-reg Volkswagen Beetle 1.9 TDI with 2200 miles has just sold for £12,000 and a stretched 1997-reg Type 1 Beetle with twice the mileage for £500 more. If they can bear the horrified looks, it’s one way to transport the family. It has to be better than in one Lincoln Town Car with 108,000 partygoing miles and broken windows. Yours for £5000. Alfa Romeo 156 GTA £10,995 Launched in 2002, the 156 GTA was equipped with a 247bhp…

An expert’s view BRIAN ROWE, INSURANCE VALUATIONS, XR OWNERS CLUB “I have a Mk4 90-spec XR3i hatch with 73,000 miles that I bought 11 years ago. It was the car I always wanted as a teenager but could never afford. Filling it up at a petrol station takes around half an hour because people come up to me to share their memories of the XR3i. Of course, it feels nothing like a modern car to drive but it does feel more connected to the road. You can hear the engine better than a modern car’s, too, especially at around 3500rpm, when there’s a lovely rasp from the exhaust. It’s outpaced by other hot hatches of the time such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTi but I still…

“The batteries can be stacked behind the rear seats, replicating a mid-engined layout” Lotus is ramping up development of the all-new, pure-electric sports cars that will take the place of the now-retired Elise, Exige and Evora at its UK HQ in Hethel from 2026. As the company prepares to put the 130-run Evija hypercar into production and get the Emira, its final combustion-engined car, into dealerships in the coming months, it has revealed the first details of the E-Sports architecture that underpins its bold plan to electrify all future sports cars. More ‘lifestyle’-oriented EVs, including the Type 132 SUV, Type 133 four-door coupé and Type 134 crossover, will be built at the Lotus Technology HQ in Wuhan, China, from next year. The E-Sports platform has yet to be revealed in…

The futuristic Aura is a one-off road-legal two-seater developed by a consortium of British companies to showcase an array of new technologies that could shape the development of electric cars. Four outfits contributed to the project: Astheimer led the design, Potenza Technology supplied the batteries and motors, BAMD Composites developed the body panels and vegan interior and Conjure was responsible for the human-machine interface (HMI), which uses technology from Spark EV to effectively manage battery charge. Although it’s designed in the mould of a traditional open-top roadster, the Aura’s prevailing focus is on sustainability and efficiency, rather than outright pace and dynamic agility. It’s described as “Britain’s first long-range EV”and employs an array of measures to maximise range and reduce its environmental impact. Its body is formed from lightweight natural…

Brit Wayne Griffiths was the man tasked in 2019 with the launch of the Volkswagen Group’s new performance brand, Cupra. Last year, Griffiths added to his business card CEO of Seat, a marque whose sales and marketing operations he has overseen since 2016. At the recent Munich motor show, he told Autocar what the future holds for his Spanish brands. How does Cupra now sit alongside Seat? “We’re a company with two brands. I joined Seat and tried to make Seat cool and desirable – not just a cheaper VW. We made Seat the youngest brand in Europe with the highest conquest rate, a new Leon that cost €1 billion [to develop], three SUVs, PHEVs: Seat has never been as strong. We made the decision to elevate Cupra, and to…

Mini has nearly signed off the designs of its next generation of models, which include smaller and bigger models with a mix of petrol and electric power. Design boss Oliver Heilmer, speaking to Autocar at the recent Munich motor show, promised an evolution in style for the “icon” of its range, the staple three-door hatchback, but more radical designs are on the cards for the rest of the line-up, with clues provided by the recent Urbanaut concept. The new Mini hatchback range will be split into two distinct models: a petrol variant built in Oxford and based on a heavily updated version of the existing car’s architecture; and a new electric version that will be slightly shorter and built in China only on a dedicated EV platform as part of…

Some facelifts are a tacit admission that there was something wrong with the original car. The Skoda Kodiaq’s is quite the opposite. It sold well from the start and continues to do so; the changes focus on making it slightly better here and there. It has received the usual visual nip and tuck. You will mainly recognise the facelift model from the slightly slimmer headlights: they’re always LEDs now, and SE L trim and above get matrix LEDs. Inside, there’s a new steering wheel, some grey stitching and revised ‘ergonomic seats’. As before, all trims but entry-level SE get you seven seats as standard. The engine line-up stays largely the same, with one major exception: there’s now just one diesel unit: a 2.0-litre four-pot with 148bhp or 197bhp, which always…

Given that the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is among the growing ranks of high-powered super-SUVs, it’s surreal that the overriding initial impression is how pliant and serene it is in spite of its considerable size. It’s disarmingly quiet, smooth and, thanks to a raft of driver assistance systems and sensors, easy to thread down even small streets. If you’re happy to waft along in quiet contentment, you could easily forget this machine is produced in Affalterbach. Until, that is, you apply a bit of vigour to the throttle pedal and awaken AMG’s monster biturbo V8 engine. It’s the unit used in most of the performance brand’s 63-badged range-toppers, although to cope with the GLE’s near two-and-a-half-tonne kerb weight, it’s now armed with a 22bhp mild-hybrid electric motor. That puts the…

Price Power, torque 0-62mph, top speed CO2, economy 1 SKODA OCTAVIA iV 1.4 TSI SE TECHNOLOGY Similar relaxed character to the Mégane, with more power, range and space, in a modern package. Standard spec isn’t generous. 2 SEAT LEON 1.4 E-HYBRID FR SPORT Brisk and somewhat dynamic to drive, with a good electric range, but competent rather than inspiring. 3 TOYOTA COROLLA 2.0 PETROL HYBRID GR SPORT Not a plug-in hybrid, but still very frugal, with good looks and intuitive handling. Disappointing cabin fittings and infotainment. 4 KIA XCEED PLUG-IN HYBRID 3 Raised hatchback offers a lot of equipment for the money. Hybrid powertrain lacks power and the estate version is no longer available. 5 RENAULT MEGANE E-TECH PLUG-IN HYBRID 160 RS LINE Hybrid drivetrain works well with the relaxed chassis. Lower trim level is…

MODEL TESTED DB5 GOLDFINGER Our recent road test of the Aston Martin DB5 (18 September 1964) confirmed that the newly launched British grand touring sports car offers a peerless combination of style and performance. The conclusion we reached in that test was that “this is a car that cries out to be driven, to be driven well and to be driven far. It is a car requiring skill and muscle – a man’s car – which challenges and satisfies and always excites.” We would not seek to revise that verdict in any substantial way. Yet we have recently had the opportunity to test a modified version of the DB5 – one that has been given a variety of customised options on behalf of somebody who was, we’re told, a “very…

What’s the best way to set the grid for a race? It’s a question that several series are grappling with at present and cuts to the heart of the debate over whether motorsport is a sporting contest or entertainment product. In Formula 1, there’s much discussion about the new sprint qualifying races, and it’s a talking point in Formula E, which uses a heavily criticised multi-session format that handicaps the front-runners by forcing them into action when track conditions are least favourable. There’s an unresolvable tension to qualifying, especially amid demands that sessions make compelling viewing. Putting the fastest driver at the front is the best way to reward performance but generally comes at the expense of entertainment during the race: imagine giving the fastest qualifier for the Olympic 100m…

Mental methods 2 July 1977 “MOTOR RACING’S mental requirements have clearly been shown up by a recent survey carried out in the US,” we reported 44 years ago. “The results show that the only sport that places so much emphasis on mental ability is sailing.” Particularly interested in this finding was Sir John Whitmore, who had been a leading European touring car racer in the 1960s. He had quit to pursue business interests, but when they went awry, he focused on personal introspection. “If I were going to race again, I would concentrate on self-development and the consciousness,” he told us. “Those are big words, but it is a simple concept. Certain things require more mental development and certain things more emotional development – and there are techniques that enable…

WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com LETTER OF THE WEEK Okay computer? I enjoyed Matt Prior’s column of 11 August regarding the retirement of Autocar’s old road test laptop, but it turned up the volume on an alarm bell that I’ve been hearing in the background for some time now. I’m no techie, but surely the electronics involved in most new cars in the form of touchscreens etc can only lose efficiency and degrade over time? My own elderly Toshiba laptop has slowed to the point of making it virtually unusable, but at least it can be retired in the same way as yours, because I’m not relying on it to operate a car’s systems. What price a 20-year-old Tesla with a clapped-out touchscreen? Dave Pritchard Bexleyheath, Kent Cycling proficiency While we must…

MILEAGE 3394 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out if Cupra’s crossover is up to the challenge of day-to-day running The honeymoon is over. I was still gleaming with faint pride six weeks ago when I wrote the first report on our Cupra Formentor long-termer. Well, now I’ve encountered a few quirks and frustrations, which I’ll fill you in on shortly. On balance, though, I’m still feeling good about life in this handsome, alternative, high-rise hatchback. So far, I’ve just been using and abusing the car on the daily grind. The occasion has yet to present when I might take it on a really long trip, although I did manage to get out to South Wales the other day, and I’ve now had a full roster of passengers on a…

Remember the first Peugeot 208? It was perky and good value with a certain Gallic charm but rather uncouth – the original 208 was a rather divisive little thing. This second-generation version, however, is a real competitor, thanks to its much-improved road manners and a range of impressively economical engines. Indeed, if you’re not fussy about a premium badge, the high-spec 208s even hold up well against such plush small-car rivals as the Audi A1 and the Mini. Under its pert bonnet, the 1.2-litre petrol engines start with the 74bhp Puretech 75 and work their way up to the 99bhp Puretech 100 and 127bhp Puretech 130, which comes only with an automatic gearbox. The 99bhp 1.5-litre BlueHDi 100 diesel could be a better pick if fuel economy is a serious…

For full reviews of every car listed here, visit our website, autocar.co.uk ECONOMY EXPLAINED Between the various figures produced on the old-style NEDC, transitional NEDC Correlated and new-style WLTP laboratory emissions and fuel economy tests, it has become tricky to compare manufacturers’ claimed efficiency on the latest new cars. When you see a fuel economy and CO2 figure reference elsewhere, it’s often without explanation. So, to provide as fair and clear a basis for comparison as possible, you’ll only ever read WLTP combined fuel economy and CO2 figures in Autocar’s first drive reviews, features and comparison tests – and on these data pages. Those are the aggregated results of four lab tests carried out across as many different cruising speed ranges – although they’re sometimes expressed as a range rather…

Do you remember the Perodua Nippa? I think you would be forgiven for not doing so. Somebody reminded me of its existence the other day: it was a cheap city car that was considered sufficiently difficult to recognise when it was launched in 1997 that it featured in my first job interview. Having applied to be a picture researcher for a car annual, I was shown a selection of pictures of cars and asked to identify them. One was the Nippa, and it was the only car that I couldn’t pick out. It was a few months before it went on sale and I thought it was a Daihatsu Mira. Which effectively is what it was, only facelifted and rebadged. So I was half-right, and I got the gig. I…