No show is more famed for the quantity and variety of its concept cars than Geneva, so Mazda will be very pleased to have won the ‘Concept Car of the Year’ award.
Particularly as the car that took the accolade, the Mazda Vision Coupé, was not actually making its debut at the show, having first been unveiled at the Tokyo event back in November 2017.
The Mazda Vision Coupé, which the company says represents the next phase for its ‘Kodo – Soul of Motion’ design language, was also awarded the title of ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year’ at the 2018 Festival Automobile International held in Paris in February.
Adding weight to the Geneva accolade is the fact that the panel of 18 judges included several individuals who currently serve as design directors at global automakers.
Mazda describes the styling of the Vision Coupé as pursuing an essentially Japanese aesthetic. “The concept’s flowing and deceptively simple “one motion” form speaks of elegance and quality,” a spokesman said. And while the car itself is unlikely to be seen in a showroom in its present form, many elements of it – in particular the exterior design – will progress to future Mazda production models.
Commenting on the award, Mazda design and brand styling head Ikuo Maeda said that Mazda is delighted to win it so soon after the Paris accolade. “It’s truly an honour to have this model, which aims to express the essence of Japanese aesthetics, applauded by some of the world’s top car designers,” he said.
“The essence of this design concept will be evident in the next generation of Mazda cars, the first of which is due to be launched in 2019,” Maeda added.
Apparently one never simply buys a Rolls-Royce, so with no specific new product to launch at Geneva the British luxury brand is instead showing off the efforts of its bespoke division.
Three different versions of the latest Phantom, launched six months ago, are displayed at the Swiss show. Each has been specifically ordered for a customer and each apparently demonstrates “why Rolls-Royce is a Luxury House in the business of motor cars and the by-word for Bespoke.”
‘The Gentleman’s Tourer’ was modelled to evoke the Phantom II Continental saloons of the 1930s, which were seen as tourers for long journeys across the continent. The Geneva car boasts bespoke ‘iced Gunmetal’ paint and a satin silver bonnet, created especially to appeal to an interest in high-performance aircraft by the car’s buyer. Inside it is upholstered in various shades of black, grey and Anthracite leathers with the stand-out feature a detailing in Ruthenium – a precious metal platinum derivative of which only 20 tonnes is mined each year.
The other two cars are both extended wheelbase Phantoms, dubbed ‘Whispered Muse’ and ‘A Moment in Time’. They are the first two new Phantoms commissioned with interior ‘galleries’ created by individual artists.
Whispered Muse
The gallery in Whispered Muse was created by London-based designer Helen Amy Murray. Inspired by the original Charles Sykes drawings for the Spirit of Ecstasy symbol of Rolls-Royce, it uses various silks to create a sculpted effect, as well as Piano Seashell veneer on the interior surfaces, created by hand polishing for 12 hours. The seats are also clad in a Seashell leather shade.
On the outside, the paintwork is again bespoke, with a newly-developed crystal effect over the two-tone Selby Grey and Palais Nemaskar Dawn bespoke paint. Creating the finish involved ten layers of paint, with the last being a layer of glass-infused clearcoat to create the crystal effect. Rose Gold is also used extensively, with the Spirit of Ecstasy finished this way for the first time.
A Moment in Time
If that sounds like a lot of effort… The process of creating A Moment in Time began by pulling a broad strip through a tank of water, the strip weighted and suspended to control the effect. This was captured on camera and the resulting fluid form analysed by the Rolls-Royce design team and design specialists Based Upon. It was then recreated in clay to create a wax sculpture and the final version machined from a solid billet of aluminium, then polished to accentuate its curvature.
This car’s interior uses a Piano Milori Sapphire veneer, hand-polished for 12 hours, and of course, the exterior paintwork is again bespoke, a newly-created Blue Crystal over Milori Sapphire paint with a mere six layers including the final clear coat infused with blue glass to create the blue crystal effect.
Two-seat Dawn
Also debuting on the Geneva stand is an aero cowling for the Rolls-Royce Dawn, which is effectively an extended tonneau cover over the rear seats and turning it into a two-seat roadster.
The hand-made unit comprises two cowls that extend upwards behind the front seats and each includes leather-lined storage compartments. The tonneau cover is made in carbon fibre and aluminium and the lid of each cowl is covered in leather.
Of course, Rolls-Royce would never be so vulgar as to indicate the price of such conversions. But consider that the Phantom starts from beyond a quarter of a million pounds, even before the bespoke department gets involved…
Supercars for the very wealthy have always been an essential part of the Geneva motor show, but a more recent trend sees such supercars and even more specialist hypercars being developed into track specials, so those very wealthy owners can pound around a race circuit living out their dreams of being the next Lewis Hamilton. This year’s Geneva event revealed a small but highly exclusive selection of such machines.
In the Valkyrie, Aston Martin believes it has the world’s most extreme road car, and at Geneva this year an even more potent track version was revealed. The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is, like the road car, mainly the work of Adrian Newey, chief technical officer of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and responsible for several Formula One world championship-winning cars.
The Valkyrie AMR Pro boasts a hybrid V12 powertrain developing more than 1,100hp, and totally redesigned aerodynamics generating downforce of more than 1,000kg.
According to its creators, the AMR Pro offers track performance akin to a current Le Mans LMP1 prototype or Formula One car – full technical details are yet to be revealed but it is capable of 225mph.
Ferrari 488 Pista
Ferrari always produces a new car for Geneva, and there is always a huge crowd around it all day long. This time it is the 488 Pista – it can be driven on the road but considering it is powered by the most powerful V8 engine in Ferrari history and boasts the most technology ever transferred from the brand’s F1 and GT racing programmes, why would you want to?
The 488 Pista deliberately celebrates Ferrari’s motorsport heritage. The V8 pumps out 720hp with 700Nm of torque, while the Pista is also 90kg lighter than the 488GTB that has proven such a successful car for Ferrari. And it boasts a clever ‘S duct’ that makes the aerodynamics 20% more efficient than the 488GTB…
McLaren Senna GTR
The names McLaren and Senna are indelibly linked and when the British brand launched an extreme road car named after the double world champion, they sold out pretty quickly. So now a further 75 are being made, specifically built for track use and dubbed the Senna GTR.
The McLaren Senna GTR promises more power, more grip and more downforce – up to 1,000kg – than the Senna, although we are not being given precise details just yet. But McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt is in no doubt just how potent a machine will result; “The very limited number of customers who secure this car will be buying the closest experience you can get to a race car without actually lining up on a circuit grid,” he says.
McLaren is making major efforts to get owners of its cars onto the track. A single-make race series has been launched as part of the programme of Pure McLaren track events, allowing McLaren owners with the minimum of an International D-grade licence to take advantage of a full ‘arrive and drive’ package to race in a 570S GT4 car. However, we understand that the Senna GTR will not be developed into a full race car for competition.
Pininfarina H2 Speed
Italian styling house Pininfarina first showed its H2 Speed concept, with a hydrogen fuel-cell engine using four electric motors, at the 2016 Geneva show and won the concept of the show award. Now the car is back, and set to become a production model, just 12 being made and all for track-only use.
The latest version of the H2 Speed is larger in all areas than the 2016 concept, but with no increase in weight. Its powertrain, developed by Swiss specialist GreenGT, produces 653hp, good enough for a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 186mph.
Pininfarina describes it as a car for “speed- and performance-loving gentleman drivers who also respect the environment and are attracted at the same time by the exclusivity typical of a Pininfarina-designed vehicle.” What they are not saying yet is how much it will cost…
Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder
The Performante version of the Lamborghini Huracan was developed as a more focused version of the Italian supercar brand’s current road car, drivable on the road but more suited to being exploited on the track, and now there is a drop-top Spyder variant.
Apart from the folding fabric roof, this is basically the Performante, with its bespoke carbon fibre body styling, including the dramatic and enormous rear diffuser. The convertible weighs in at 35kg less than the stock Huracan Spyder, but with the same engine as the Performante coupé so enjoying a 30hp power increase to 640hp.
The Spyder is not quite so quick as the coupé due to the body strengthening needed to accommodate the soft top. Even so, it will hit 62mpg from rest in 3.1 seconds, double that in 9.3 seconds and go on to 201mph. Pricing is yet to be announced – industry sources believe it will be from around £238,000 which is £23,000 more than the Performante coupé.
Bugatti Chiron Sport
The Bugatti Chiron Sport, unveiled at the show, boasts no changes to the 8.0-litre W12 engine used by its Chiron inspiration – but that won’t matter, as the regular Chiron puts out a mere 1,500hp together with 1,600Nm of torque! Changes to the Sport model involve a diet, with such areas as the intercooler cover and even the windscreen wiper being made of carbon fibre, and the rear screen being formed of lighter glass.
The chassis is returned for a more track-focused performance, with 10% stiffer dampers, more rapidly-reacting steering and torque vectoring on the rear axle to aid handling with all that power.
The Chiron sport will pass 62mph in a mere 2.5 seconds and by 6.5 seconds an owner will be going at 124mph plus. It will also cost said owner in excess of £2.3 million to buy one…
As we toured the halls at the Geneva motor show, the electric cars kept on coming – here is a second selection of the plug-in vehicles set to become familiar sights.
The Jaguar I-Pace might be the first electric car from a premium European brand, but the Hyundai Kona Electric makes a bolder claim, to be the first all-electric SUV on sale. It will be offered in two versions, with either 135 or 204hp, and a range of 186 or 292 miles.
Charging of the Kona electric can be as short as 50 minutes (to 80%), using the latest 100kW DC fast charger. And it will be easy to differentiate the Electric models from other Konas, because an electric powertrain does not require a grille…
Honda Urban EV
Concept version of Urban EV big hit at Frankfurt and Geneva shows.
Concept car had clever door screens instead of mirrors.
This electric concept from Honda looks production ready and it is – the Japanese brand announced at the show that order books for the car will open in early 2019, and it will become Honda’s first mass-produced electric vehicle to be sold in Europe.
The Urban EV accommodates four on two bench seats, and these have different fabric finishes, according to the makers in a bid to create the atmosphere of a lounge. Another notable aspect is the wraparound dashboard which extends into the doors – these have digital camera displays, replacing traditional side mirrors.
No news yet, however, on the coupé EV also on show with its Urban EV sister.
Porsche Mission E-Cross Turismo
These days virtually every motor show unveiling is telegraphed days before, which made this one all the more surprising. Porsche revealed a new crossover version of its forthcoming Mission E electric model, dubbed the E-Cross Turismo. The concept’s all-wheel-drive powertrain is powered by 800-volt electrics which gives it more than 600hp and a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds.
Porsche promises that the E-Cross Turismo will be able to perform multiple rapid accelerations without losing power, and will be fast to recharge, providing a range of 250 miles after just 15 minutes plugged in. The concept is described as ‘road ready’ and produced to gauge customer interest. The smart money says a production version will go on sale in 2021.
SsangYong e-SIV
The e-SIV is the fifth concept for an electric car that we have seen from the Korean brand on SsangYong, though there is still no news as to when one of these will translate into a production model. This latest is a mid-sized SUV and we do know that the body shape will form the basis of SsangYong’s next production model in this market.
While boasting an electric drivetrain, the concept mainly focuses on connectivity and autonomous driving – e-SIV stands for Electronic Smart Interface Vehicle. The car can reach level 3 autonomous driving standard, recognizing its lane, staying in it and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles. And the connectivity allows everything from remotely charging the battery to turning various equipment on and off, and offering an extensive infotainment service.
Polestar 1
The Polestar 1, making its European debut at Geneva, is the first release from Volvo‘s electric performance sub-brand, and is very much an upmarket car. The car is a plug-in hybrid, combining a Volvo 2.0-litre turbo engine driving the front end with two electric motors at the rear, for peak power of around 600hp and 1,000Nm of torque. It can also drive on electric-only power for more than 90 miles.
More than 6,000 potential customers have expressed interest in the Polestar 1, which could lead to a long waiting list as the company intends to build the £116,000-plus car at the rate of 500 a year. The UK has joined the second list of markets the Polestar 1 will be sold in – official orders open on 13th March with customers required to put down a refundable deposit of 2500 Euros to secure their car.
British luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has unveiled an all-electric concept at the Geneva motor show that revives the famed Lagonda badge.
The Lagonda Vision Concept previews at least one and possibly two production models, to launch between 2021 and 2023, and Aston Martin insists the revived Lagonda will be true to the heritage of the company founded by Anglo-American entrepreneur Wilbur Gunn in 1904.
Gunn’s Lagondas were known for their innovation, one model in 1910 boasting a form of monocoque decades before the technology became widely accepted. Aston Martin bought Lagonda in 1947 and continued the tradition, particularly with the strikingly-styled Aston Martin Lagonda of the 1980s.
Now, according to Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, the new Lagonda aims to continue the trend. The company is planning to usher in “the biggest revolution in land-bound transportation since the invention of the car” on its way to becoming what Aston Martin claims will be the world’s first zero-emission luxury brand.
“We believe people associate luxury in their cars with a certain traditional and even old-fashioned approach because, to date, that is all that’s been available to them,” commented Palmer at the unveiling of the car. “Lagonda exists to challenge that thinking and prove that being modern and luxurious are not mutually exclusive concepts.”
Described as a ‘near future’ design study, the Vision Concept was unveiled alongside two 40% scale models of potential future Lagonda models, one a coupé and the other an SUV. According to Aston Martin chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, electrification allows a complete redesign of a car’s packaging.
“Our new concept shows the scope of design opportunities that open up once you no longer need to provide space for a large power source directly in front of the passenger compartment,” Marek says, adding: “In the Lagonda Vision Concept, the batteries occupy the floor of the car. Everything above that line belongs to us.”
The Vision is significantly shorter and lower than traditional limousines but offers internal space for four, including plenty of room to stretch out. According to Reichman, without any internal combustion architecture to accommodate the designers were able to finalise the interior in detail and then build the car’s exterior around it. So, for example, there is no bonnet as it doesn’t need one.
Aston Martin is currently providing few performance details of the Lagonda Vision, only saying that it has been designed to accept batteries giving its all-wheel-drive powertrain a range of up to 400 miles between charges. The car is also designed to accept level four autonomous technology, in effect being able to drive itself on all recognisable roads.
Could this be Apple’s car?
Aston Martin is expected to partner with an as-yet-unnamed US technology company on this aspect of the Lagonda, sparking rumours that it could be Apple, which has been making very public noises about getting into the car industry.
Lagonda owners are expected to be the kind of people who are routinely transported in a car rather than driving it – so in order to give the most versatility between human or computer driver, the steering wheel can be moved from the left to right seat as needed and the front seats turn to face those in the rear.
Decisions about how Lagonda will be marketed have also apparently still to be made – whether the cars will sold from existing Aston Martin dealerships or separately. No production facility has yet been revealed although it is known that the plant currently being constructed for the DBX SUV in St Athan, South Wales, would have the capacity for a second model.
Palmer describes Lagonda as a brand without limits, saying; “It will produce cars that exploit technology, without being obsessed with it for its own sake – and It will enable Lagonda to redefine the concept of luxury within the automotive and other spheres.”
Lexus has debuted its first compact SUV at the 2018 Geneva motor show. Called the UX, it will be wading into a fierce battle of small luxury crossovers.
The new UX is built on the same Toyota New Global Architecture as the new Toyota Auris (also unveiled today), Toyota Prius and the Toyota C-HR compact crossover. It shares its wheelbase with the C-HR, although the baby Lexus SUV has longer overhangs at both ends and sits 4cm lower, to give the UX a longer, lower look.
Chika Kako, chief engineer of the UX, is quite clear who Lexus is targeting with the new model: “Right from the start, I focused on the target customer – mid-30s, millennials, men and women – and tried to understand how they would expect a premium compact vehicle to change their lives and enable new experiences.”
The full-width LED rear light bar will be seen on other Lexus models very soon
As with every new Lexus, the front end is dominated by an enormous ‘spindle’ grille, which is full of careful details to give a three-dimensional appearance. Unlike other cars with equally-gaping grille openings (ie – any given Audi), the UX has a mesh pattern with individual elements that gradually change in shape as they radiate out from the central Lexus badge, to give a three-dimensional look that changes according to the angle of view (and absolutely does not show up well in photos – sorry).
The flanks are heavily sculpted and lead to a rear end dominated by a full-width LED light bar. This new design feature is set to become a Lexus signature across the range in coming years.
Inside, the dashboard is angled around the driver with all the major controls easily within reach. Lexus has worked to keep the dashboard height low and A-pillar width slim to maximise the view forwards for both driver and passenger. Like any Lexus interior, the quality and craftsmanship are likely to be as good as anything in the car industry, and the company is also showcasing some new and different finishes in the cabin.
The smooth leather upholstery is made using sashiko, a traditional Japanese quilting technique that is also applied in the making of judo and kendo martial arts uniforms. The quilted leather is decorated with new perforation patterns that form mathematical curves and gradations. The UX’s instrument panel is accentuated with a choice of two grain patterns and four colours.
The UX also debuts a new trim grain finish inspired by the grain of Japanese paper known as washi, familiar from the screens used in traditional Japanese homes. Created using slush-moulding and a carefully chosen surface finish, it evokes a calm and warm feeling. A leather grain finish is also available, shared with the high-end LC coupé and flagship LS saloon.
Interior features leather and plastic finishes inspired by Japanese materials
As with other Lexus models, an F Sport specification will be available on the new UX. Externally, it features different grille mesh, bumper designs, gloss black plastic mouldings and larger 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside there are sports seats, sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals. Adaptive suspension is optional for F Sport models.
New engines and smarter drivetrains
Two new powertrains make their debut in the UX. Firstly, a new 2.0-litre hybrid system with 180hp as also found in the new Toyota Auris, which comes with a choice of front-wheel drive or electric all-wheel drive in the UX 250h. Secondly, a new 2.0-litre petrol engine connected to the latest version of Lexus’ continuously variable transmission called Direct Shift-CVT in the UX 200.
The electric all-wheel drive system works by placing an additional electric motor on the rear axle. When a loss of rear-wheel grip is detected, up to 80% of total power can be directed to the rear of the car at speeds up to 44mph.
The Direct Shift-CVT uses a combination of gears and pulleys to provide a more direct and manual feel from low revs, and eliminate the traditional ‘rubber band’ feeling of CVTs. From start-up, the transmission uses gears to provide acceleration, and then switches to the CVT belt and pulley system as speed rises. It sounds good in theory, and we look forward to seeing how it works in practice.
As well as a fresher and more dynamic appearance, the new Auris premieres a brand new 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain to sit at the top of the new model range, which will consist of two hybrid powertrains and a 1.2-litre petrol unit – there will be no diesel model offered, with Toyota having dropped its two diesel models from the previous model’s line-up at the end of 2017.
The 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain will be familiar from the current model. It produces 120hp and provides the usual hybrid features of quiet urban electric running with low CO2 emissions and good fuel economy.
The new 2.0-litre hybrid system ups the power output to 180hp and also features steering-wheel paddles to replicate conventional gearshifts through the continuously-variable transmission.
The new Auris is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) architecture, which is already used by the current Prius and C-HR models, which simplifies vehicle design in key areas while improving rigidity and lowering the centre of gravity. This improves handling and stability, as well as safety. The latest Prius has been rightly praised for offering a far more enjoyable driving experience than previous models, so hopefully the same success can be replicated with the Auris.
As with most new models, the latest Auris is a bit bigger than the old one. Length grows by about 4cm and width by 3cm, although height has been reduced by 2.5cm (an inch, for those still stuck in Victorian times). The bonnet, in particular, has been lowered significantly, providing not just a sleeker look but a clearer view ahead for the driver.
Toyota’s desire for more dynamic styling is bolstered by a narrower grille and full-LED headlights. Front overhang has also been marginally reduced to improve both the car’s appearance and weight distribution. At the back, the rear window is more raked to provide a more compact look, which belies a slightly longer rear overhang. Again, the lights are all LEDs and a strong horizontal design theme visually exaggerates the car’s width.
Toyota has spent £240 million to prepare and equip the Burnaston plant for building cars on the new TNGA architecture. This gives rise to the possibility that other models could be added to the production mix in the future, although nothing has been said about this. The majority of engines for the new Auris will be built at Toyota’s Deeside factory in Wales.
In recent years, motor shows have seen many an electric car unveiled but never more so than at this year’s Geneva event. And these are no longer all speculative concepts but full production models coming to a showroom near you much quicker than you might think…
Here we present the first selection of important new electric cars debuting at the show.
The much-awaited Jaguar electric SUV makes its public debut at the show. This is the first pure electric production vehicle from the famed British manufacturer, though it will be by no means the last, Jaguar planning a whole host of plug-in model with the next thought to be a version of the XJ saloon.
The I Pace is also a rare Jaguar not be a proper British car – it will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria, and we can expect to spot it on UK roads from mid-2018.
Bentley Bentayga Hybrid
As one traditional British name embraces electricity, so does another. Bentley is unveiling a plug-in hybrid version of its very successful Bentayga SUV at the show.
Described by its makers as the world’s first luxury hybrid and a first step towards full electrification, the new Bentayga variant combines the electric motor with a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which makes the official CO2 emissions figures of 75g/km remarkable for such a large luxury segment car.
The Bentayga Hybrid will offer an all-electric range of 31 miles, and while a full recharge using a domestic three-pin socket will take 7.5 hours, installing a callbox will cut this time to 2.5 hours.
Skoda Vision X
The Skoda Vision X is a concept but described “as the third model in the Skoda SUV family” after the Kodiaq and Karoq. Therefore it looks very likely that this car will make production, and indeed it is expected to go on sale in 2019, rivalling the Arona and T-Roc from sister brands SEAT and Volkswagen.
The Vision X appears in this report, however, as the concept boasts not just a hybrid electric powertrain, but one using compressed natural gas instead of petrol.
The result is a versatile power delivery with very low emissions, under 90g/km. The novel power plant won’t be on the first production models, but could preview a future technology direction.
Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion
The electric plans of Volkswagen under its I.D. branding are well known, and while the I.D. Vizzion, debuting at the show, is a concept, it is expected to evolve into the fourth of at least five planned I.D. models. This will become a very upmarket saloon, an electric successor to the Phaeton large luxury car that VW sold between 2003 and 2016.
The concept boasts fully autonomous driving technology, an occupant able to move it by means of voice and gesture control, and it is no slouch – the all-wheel-drive powertrain, using two motors and two gearboxes, puts out more than 300hp for a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds. VW’s first I.D. models should go on sale in 2020, the Vizzion likely around a year later.
Cupra E-Racer
There is no SEAT in the title because this Geneva show marks the debut of Cupra as the Spanish manufacturer’s standalone performance sub-brand. And while the first production model on the stand is a Cupra variant of the Ateca SUV, most interest will surround the E-Racer, a fully electric version of the Leon touring car racer and set to get its own series in 2019.
The E-Cupra boasts more than 400hp of continuous power, peak output of 680hp and a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds. As a comparison, cars in Britain’s most popular race series, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), have around 300hp, so a full-grid of electric touring cars likely will not be dull…
The Geneva motor show is underway and The Car Expert‘s Andrew Charman is busy trawling the halls checking out the new metal unveiled in the halls. But while the supercars will be attracting the most attention, the most important cars are the mainstream models that will likely sell in their thousands.
Here we showcase some of the real stars of 2018 – keep an eye on the site for more news from Europe’s most important Auto Show.
Toyota Auris
Definitely a British car is the Toyota Auris – the Japanese brand having only this week confirmed that the latest generation of its family car will be built at its Burnston plant and be powered by Welsh-built engines. The third-generation Auris is expected to boast more distinctive styling as Toyota attempts to boost its competent but slow-selling hatch.
Kia Ceed
One of the biggest rivals to the Toyota Auris will be the third generation of the Kia Ceed. It’s a long time since the unveiling of a new Kia failed to get the attention of journalists, and while the Ceed doesn’t sell as many as the brand’s Sportage SUV, it is still an important model and the new one will gain all the quality and technology that has completely changed perceptions of the Korean brand’s product.
The new Ceed, which goes on UK sale in the summer, also loses something – the apostrophe in the name, a butt of jokes by the likes of Top Gear, is gone in a bid to add to the car’s mainstream appeal.
The newcomer is pitched as a ‘sporty’ estate and expected to earn more sales for Volvo against the premium heavyweights of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.It is expected on UK roads in the autumn.
Lexus UX
The latest to join the expanding Lexus crossover line-up will be the most dramatic-looking model yet. First shown as a concept at the Paris show in 2016, the Lexus UX is a small SUV described as an ‘Urban Crossover’ by its makers.
The UX is pitched as a real driver’s car – the cockpit is focused around the driver and the car built on an all-new platform that promises far greater rigidity and a lower centre of gravity – Lexus says the UX will have ‘the handling of a hatchback.’ When it goes on sale it will rival such cars as the Jaguar E-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Peugeot 508
The saloon is dead, long live the fastback. The Peugeot 508, unveiled at the show, will offer buyers something different to the current glut of new SUVs when it goes on sale, probably before the end of 2018.
Peugeot has abandoned the saloon styling of the first-generation 508 in favour of a much more dramatic fastback shape. Naturally, it also gets the latest variant of Peugeot’s much-praised i-Cockpit. The petrol and diesel powertrain range is expected in time to be joined by a plug-in hybrid.
Audi A6
Audi’s big saloon is gaining a significant updating to take on younger versions of its big rivals, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. On sale in the summer of 2018, the car boasts all of the technology that has been seen in other recent cars from Audi, particularly the larger A8.
Highlights include all-digital controls in the cockpit, the most up-to-date connectivity, and powertrains that include mild hybrid technology.
The Volvo XC40 has been named the European Car of the Year for 2018.
The new compact SUV, which is yet to arrive on UK roads, is the first Volvo model to take the prestigious award, traditionally presented on the eve of the Geneva motor show. And it won in impressive fashion – scoring 325 votes, significantly in front of the runner-up SEAT Ibiza with 242 votes and the third-placed BMW 5 Series with 226.
Others shortlisted for the award, which is voted for by panels of leading motoring journalists from throughout Europe, were the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi A8, the Citroën C3 Aircross and Kia Stinger.
The XC40 launches Volvo’s new compact modular vehicle architecture (CMA), co-developed with the brand’s Chinese owner Geely and which will form the basis of all upcoming cars in the 40 series. These will include fully electrified vehicles, Volvo having committed to offering electrified versions across its model range by 2020.
The car will also debut the brand’s new three-cylinder Drive-E powertrain – the first three-cylinder engine in Volvo 91-year history. The all-new 1.5-litre direct-injection petrol unit uses the same modular design as Volvo’s four-cylinder Drive-E engines that have propelled the brand’s downsizing efficiency drive.
The three-cylinder unit will also be incorporated into Twin Engine plug-in hybrid versions of the XC40, which will launch later along with a fully electric model.
Commenting on the award, Volvo Cars president and CEO Håkan Samuelsson said that winning it with the new XC40 is perfect timing. “Volvo now has three globally available SUVs in its range for the first time – the XC40 will be a strong contributor to further growth, taking us into a new and fast-growing small SUV segment.”
First UK deliveries of the XC40 are expected imminently at prices starting from £27,905.
The BMW X2 has gone on sale in the UK as the company’s ongoing attempt to squeeze an SUV-style vehicle into every possible niche continues.
The BMW X2 is based on the X1 and shares the same wheelbase, but is a smidgen shorter (2cm, to be precise) and more than 7cm lower. Like its bigger SUV-cum-coupé-thing brothers, the X4 and X6, it has a stretched, coupé-style roofline and narrower windows than its more practical X1 sibling.
Probably the most distinctive feature about the newest member of the BMW X family is that the brand’s famous kidney grille design is wider at its base than at its top. BMW designers claim this gives the new car a broader, more distinctive and sportier appearance. LED headlights are standard on sport and M Sport specifications.
Around the back, strong horizontal lines visually exaggerate the X2’s width, with these lines continuing into the high-set rear lights. The LED rear lights are set in the L shape familiar from BMW coupés.
Interior based on X1
Inside, the instrument panel is much the same as that found on the X1, but naturally with extra pseudo-sportiness. Contrasting stitching is standard on all models, while the M Sport model comes with cloth and Alcantara upholstery and the M Sport X adds leather upholstery.
Like its traditional rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz, BMW is gradually coming around to the idea of having touchscreens controls in cars, after years of railing against them. As well as the latest iteration of its iDrive rotary controller, the X2 comes with standard touchscreen controls and optional voice control as part of a technology package.
Standard specification includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen and satnav, with the option of a full-colour head-up display, also included in the technology pack.
The LED lighting in the trim surfaces of the instrument panel and door panels forms a continuous band that extends all the way around the cabin to the rear. A mood lighting package is optional, allowing X2 owners to choose to be lit in orange, lilac, mint, bronze, blue or white.
Naturally, being a BMW, you have to pay extra for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, despite the fact that dozens of other car companies manage to offer this software for absolutely no charge whatsoever.
Only one engine at launch, more to come later
At launch, the only a 2.0-litre diesel engine with all-wheel drive will be available. It generates maximum output of 190hp and 400Nm of torque enabling a zero to 62mph time of 7.7 seconds. Official fuel consumption is 61.4mpg (depending on chosen wheels), while CO2 emissions are 121g/km (again, depending on wheels).
Further powertrains will be added to the X2 line-up later in the year, in the shape of a petrol two-wheel drive model, and a lower-output diesel in either two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The car’s driving responses can be adapted between comfort, economy and sport modes. The set-up available for sport mode gives the car more dynamic steering and powertrain responses.
If the optional adjustable dampers are specified, the car’s suspension can be adjusted to individual requirements in either comfort or sport modes. As with most BMW vehicles, sports suspension fitted as standard on the BMW X2 M Sport and M Sport X models, which means tauter spring and damper tuning, as well as a 10mm lower ride height.
The BMW X2 is now on sale at BMW dealers, with prices starting at £33,980 on-road for the xDrive 20d SE model.
The stars of the Alfa Romeo stand at this week’s Geneva motor show will be the new Nürburgring Editions of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV and Giulia Quadrifoglio saloon models. They have been created to celebrate the records recorded by Alfa Romeo on the legendary German race track.
The Stelvio Quadrifoglio currently holds the record for the fastest SUV in its segment, with a lap time of 7 minutes, 51.7 seconds. How relevant this statistic is to anyone actually buying a mid-size SUV is highly debatable, but for the record, the Alfa is currently the fastest.
Similarly, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the current record-holder for standard production four-door saloons, with a lap time of 7 minutes 32 seconds. Both cars are powered by the same 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine that was totally not developed by sister brand Ferrari, and totally not related to the 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine of identical dimensions that used to live under the bonnet of the Ferrari California T. Pure coincidence, apparently.
Just 108 of each model will be made, to commemorate 108 years since ALFA (Anonima Lombardia Fabbrica Automobili, or Lombardy car manufacturing company) was founded in Milan. The new limited editions have a numbered badge in the carbon fibre dashboard insert and are available in an exclusive Circuito Grey colour.
Building on the standard Quadrifoglio specification, the “NRING” special series models include carbon-ceramic brakes, Sparco racing seats with red stitching and carbon shell structure, Mopar automatic transmission knob with carbon insert, leather and Alcantara steering wheel with carbon inserts as standard.
The front badge and the mirror caps are made of carbon fibre, as are the side skirt inserts, while tinted windows, active cruise control, Harman Kardon premium audio package, and Alfa’s top-spec infotainment and satnav system complete the package. The Giulia version also includes a new bare carbon roof.
What is it? The latest Kia Sorento is a large, range-topping full 4×4 SUV
Key features Seven seats, new premium models, new eight-speed auto gearbox
Our view The Kia Sorento GT-Line is a clear effort to keep the SUV, for many years the brand’s flagship model, competitive against many emerging rivals, and in most areas the upgrades work.
Buyers tempted by a GT-Line will gain a lot of SUV for the money, with loads of interior space and significantly improved interior quality. It boasts more up-to-date technology – especially the new eight-speed auto gearbox – and the ability to go much further off the tarmac than many of its rivals could manage.
Buyers wanting a large, quality all-rounder should certainly take a look at the Sorento.
For many years, the Kia Sorento was the Korean brand’s flagship. The ‘proper’ big SUV was always the first to get the new technology, and when the latest, third-generation model launched in 2015 it was seen as leading phase two of Kia’s transformation, from budget brand to mainstream manufacturer of quality cars.
Today, however, there’s a new flagship in town. The Sorento has lost its top dog status to the Kia Stinger, the newly-released and potent-looking coupé. And the SUV is also facing competition like never before from a whole host of new rivals entering the market – all much newer, and with more up-to-date technology.
So Kia’s answer, for a model it still considers a highly important part of its line-up, is to update the Sorento – principally by adding two new range-topping trim levels. And as part of this package, the previous six-speed auto transmission is replaced by an all-new eight-speed variant.
The Sorento does have two factors in its favour as it fights off the new SUV onslaught. Firstly unlike many of its rivals, it is a proper, full-time four-wheel-drive off-roader, with true go-anywhere ability.
Secondly, it has seven seats, and for those who need such capacity the options today are much more limited than they used to be. The rise of the SUV has in turn seen the virtual death of the MPV, and few of the new breed offer the bulk carrying ability their predecessor people-carriers did.
The problem for the Sorento, however, is that one other SUV that does also offer seating for seven is the Skoda Kodiaq – a rival almost universally praised since its launch little over a year ago and one that is increasingly becoming the car everyone must beat.
New GT-Line models sit at the top of the updated Kia Sorento range.
Buying and owning a Kia Sorento
The central changes to the new Sorento range are the addition of the two new trim levels, GT Line and GT Line S. These sit above the existing KX1 and KX2 grades and offer an alternative to the KX3 grade, while also effectively replacing the previous range-topping KX4.
Both newcomers are only available with the new auto transmission. The GT Line is £7,500 more than the cheapest Sorento, the £28,995 KX1 with manual transmission, and £1,800 above the cheapest auto in KX2 grade.
So what does one get for the money? Both the GT-Line and GT-Line S gain subtle exterior styling upgrades, in the form of bespoke double five-spoke alloy wheels, stainless steel side steps, red brake calipers, more stylish ‘ice-cube’ headlamps and twin exhaust pipes.
Inside there is plentiful leather, on the seats, steering wheel and gear shift, all of it in a black shade and grey-stitched.
In terms of equipment the GT-Line takes the KX2 as a start point, and adds keyless entry and start, power adjustment of the front seats in eight directions, a seven-inch digital display ahead of the driver, plus safety upgrades aiding lane keeping and observing speed limits, plus a driver attention warning system.
Choose the GT-Line S and the bill jumps another £5,500. The additions over the GT-Line are led by a significant safety upgrade – this is the only Sorento on which autonomous emergency braking comes as standard.
Blind spot detection, a rear cross traffic alert for reversing out of parking spaces, and adaptive cruise control are also part of the safety specification, and the Sorento earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating back in 2014.
Getting into tight spaces is further aided by a park assist system and an around-view monitor which can be viewed at any speed, while other niceties supplied as standard include two extra power adjustments on the front seats (which are ventilated), a panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps that bend around corners, solar reflecting glass and window blinds, and a ten-speaker sound system.
One final major plus is the fact that, like all Kias, the Sorento comes with a seven-year warranty – definitely worth having.
Inside the Kia Sorento
Lashings of leather in GT-Line spec improve the feeling of quality
The Car Expert set the new Sorento models a major challenge by firstly driving them just days after getting out of the Skoda Kodiaq, and also by firstly trying one of the ‘normal’ KX2 variants.
The Sorento KX2 is a very competent, traditional SUV, but slipping into it the surroundings immediately feel dated, compared to not only the Skoda but other more recent rival challengers.
The surfaces are ordinary, areas such as the satnav graphics appear a generation behind, while starting a car with a key seems so old hat these days. This clearly shows the pace of change because, when it launched in 2015, the Sorento represented a pivotal step up in Kia quality standards.
The interiors of GT-Line models, however, pull back much of the deficit. The plentiful leather does a lot to increase the feeling of quality. The satnav still appears a bit basic in its graphics and over colourful compared to the likes of VW Group’s product, but at least the screen is big and easy to use, and housed in a stylish centre binnacle. And yes, there is keyless entry.
The Sorento is a big SUV, and this translates to loads of interior space, especially above the head and whether in front, back or very back. Unusually for seven-seaters, the rearmost two seats are usable by not just younger occupants, though getting into them is not quite as easy as in, for example, the Kodiaq.
With all seven seats in place, the boot offers 142 litres of space. Fold the rear seat flat – a very easy process – and this grows to 605 litres, fold both rear rows and you have a massive 1,662 litres – that’s more than 50 over the sister Hyundai Santa Fe, though again not as much as in the Skoda.
Driving the Kia Sorento
Sorento feels planted although ponderous if cornered too enthusiastically
Choosing one’s powertrain on a Sorento is easy as it only comes with one engine, a 2.2-litre diesel developing 200hp and 441Nm of torque. On GT-Line models this can only be combined with the new eight-speed automatic transmission – an option on other models.
Replacing the previous six-speed unit, the eight-speeder improves official combined cycle fuel economy to 43.5mpg alongside a small reduction in CO2 emissions to 170g/km. For such a big SUV, these are better than adequate figures.
It is also a highly refined gearbox. While accelerating crisply, reaching 60mph in just over nine seconds which is competitive with rivals, the Sorento feels totally relaxed. The automatic shifts are slick and sure, with none of the hunting such transmissions can suffer from. The new ‘box is definitely an improvement on its six-speed predecessor.
On the road the Sorento cabin is a hushed, comfortable environment to travel in – much effort was expended on improving noise vibration and harshness in the design of the third-generation model, and the work is evident in the lack of evidence of any extraneous sounds or bumps.
The Sorento is also a proper 4×4, and as a result feels very planted and sure-footed on the road, though it can be a bit ponderous if cornered too enthusiastically. You do, however, have the sure knowledge that it would not be fazed if the road ran out. Driving one on the launch event during the worst winter for many years proved undramatic.
Summary
With rivals emerging at a rapid rate, Kia had to do something to keep the Sorento competitive in its market. The addition of the GT-Line models just about fulfils the brief.
While perhaps not quite offering enough to tempt potential buyers away from a Kodiaq, the Kia Sorento GT-Line is a lot of SUV for the money. It’s big, with loads of interior space, and with significantly better perceived interior quality than previously.
The new transmission is a definite forward step, and the Sorento also retains the ability to go much further off the tarmac than many of its rivals could manage. Buyers wanting a large, quality all-rounder should certainly take a look at it.
New car registrations fell by just under 3% in February, according to results published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However, it’s not a particularly drastic state of affairs – February is traditionally one of the two quietest months of the year, and the difference between this year and last is less is only about 2,300 cars.
The fall is also significantly less than last month’s results, which saw new car registrations down by 6% year-on-year. The drop was evenly spread across private and fleet new car registrations, although business registrations (the smallest sector) fell more sharply – but again, this only means about 700 units in February.
Within those numbers, however, the story largely follows the same pattern as the last 12 months. Diesel sales continue to nosedive, with petrol sales picking up the slack. Alternatively-fuelled vehicles (basically hybrids and EVs) were also slightly weaker than expected despite a slight increase compared to last year. Petrol cars commanded more than 60% of the new car market, while AFVs were at 4.4% – better than last year, but below the 5% mark that we have come to expect over the last year.
February’s results showed less of a fall than in recent months.
Diesel sales continuing to plummet
This time last year, the tide had started to turn against diesels, with sales in Feb 2017 some 9% down on Feb 2016. AS we all know, this accelerated through 2017 and has continued into 2018. In February 2018, diesel registrations were more than 23% down on the same month in 2017, meaning a drop of about 30% in the last two years. Diesel’s share of the market is now down below 36%, compared to 45% last year and nearly 49% two years ago.
Both private and fleet buyers continue to ignore the increasingly desperate pro-diesel propaganda being pushed by the SMMT and other industry mouthpieces. As we have previously predicted, it looks like diesel sales will continue to fall in coming months, probably settling at about 30% market share.
This is absolutely not a UK phenomenon, despite the rhetoric from those with vested interests. All across Europe, diesel sales are falling at similar rates as car buyers and governments continue to move away from diesel power. In the short term, this has meant a revival for petrol cars, but will inevitably lead to rapid growth in hybrids and electric vehicles as soon as car companies can bring them to market.
March is traditionally the biggest month of the year for new car registrations, as new number plates arrive and many private and fleet buyers rush to buy new cars with the latest numbers. However, we need to remember that last March was an all-time record as buyers rushed to beat major road tax changes that came into effect in April 2017.
This March represents the best chance for diesel cars to show some sign of temporary recovery, as road tax for virtually all new diesel cars will increase in April. Dealers and manufacturers will be hoping that fleets repeat last year’s decision to bring forward vehicle replacements to beat the road tax increase. However, unlike last year, the extra road tax burden is probably not sufficient to overcome depreciation costs from changing cars a few months earlier.
Private buyers, on the other hand, tend to react more strongly to tax-saving incentives, so maybe we will see a one-off boost to private diesel new car purchases in March.
Overall, it’s likely to be another month of negative headlines for March, but given that the first quarter of last year was a record period, we will really have to wait and see how the second quarter unfolds to really assess the state of the new car market.
Ford Fiesta reigns supreme once again
Looking at the monthly best-sellers list, it is no surprise to see the Ford Fiesta dominant as usual, with an enormous margin over the second-placed Volkswagen Golf. Keen run-out deals have helped the Ford Focus and Mercedes-Benz A-Class to third and fourth places respectively. The BMW 3 Series made an appearance in the Top Ten for the first time in a while, in ninth place and only 26 units behind the rival Mercedes-Benz C-Class in eighth.
Another dominant month for the Ford Fiesta in February
Audi has unveiled an all-new A6 executive saloon, integrating many of the refinements and innovations from the latest A8 luxury flagship.
The new Audi A6 will make its public debut at next week’s Geneva motor show before going on sale in the UK in the summer.
The new A6 has grown slightly in size, and every model in the range will feature mild hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Audi claims improvements to comfort and handling, as well as a raft of technological improvements passed down from the flagship Audi A8 model.
The latest version of the A6 has been launched with one petrol and one diesel engine, both using automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive, although more engine options will inevitably be added over the next year as usual.
Just when you thought Audi grilles couldn’t get any bigger.
Audi’s new direction on driver input
One of those upgrades is a new digital operating system with touchscreen format, which offers fast access to vehicle functions thanks to its logical and flat menu structure. Configurable favourites buttons help tailor the system to the user’s preferences, and it allows up to seven drivers to store their preferred settings in individual user profiles and set up to 400 parameters. Central vehicle functions can be placed in the required position in the screen by dragging and dropping icons like managing apps on a smartphone.
The driver controls the infotainment via the upper display, which measures nine inches in standard form or ten inches where the upgraded navigation system has been specified. The lower display is used for climate control and convenience functions, as well as text input. In addition, the head-up display projects important information onto the windscreen directly in front of the driver.
The optional MMI navigation plus system features include a self-learning function based on the driven routes, which generates intelligent search suggestions. Route guidance is provided online on the servers run by service provider HERE; these servers factor in the traffic situation in the entire region. If the flow of data is interrupted, the navigation switches to the online route guidance that runs in parallel.
MMI navigation plus has optional add-on modules, including two sound systems headed by the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System delivering 3D sound. Shortly after launch, an on-street parking service.
The new A6 features natural-language voice control, which processes questions and commands in two ways; with onboard stored data and also – in conjunction with the optional MMI navigation plus – with detailed knowledge from the cloud.
Also as an option, you can replace your conventional vehicle key with an app. It allows an Android smartphone to lock/unlock the car and start the engine. Near Field Communication transfers data to the car. The owner can pass the access data onto five people or smartphones.
Comfort features include parking pilot and the garage pilot, which will become available at a later date and will be capable of autonomously manoeuvring the car into and out of a parking space or garage. The parking pilot and the garage pilot will form part of the forthcoming Parking pack.
Two other packages will be available at launch – the City assist package includes features such as a crossing assist system, while the Tour package offers adaptive cruise assist, which supplements the adaptive cruise control by means of gentle steering intervention to keep the vehicle in lane, and efficiency assist, which promotes an economical driving style.
Behind the assistance systems lies a high-tech module called the central driver assistance controller (zFAS). It continuously calculates a detailed model of the environment from a fusion of sensor data. Depending on equipment, the sensor set includes up to five radar sensors, five cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors as well as a laser scanner – another major innovation.
Latest generation of Audis is finally embracing touchscreens after years of criticising them
Mild hybrid technology across the new Audi A6 range
All engines in the new A6 feature new mild hybrid technology. Here a belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery, enabling the A6 to coast at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph in the interest of fuel economy and to initiate its start-stop function earlier – at speeds of 13mph and below.
The engine is restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front of the Audi A6 starts moving. During deceleration, the BAS recovers up to 12 kW of energy. In real-world driving, Audi claims the mild hybrid technology can improve the car’s range by up to 62 miles.
The interior of the new Audi A6 is even larger than in the outgoing model. Rear legroom exceeds not only the previous model but also rivals like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, while headroom and shoulder room measurements in both front and rear are also more generous than previously.
The new Audi A6 is claimed to be noticeably sharper than the outgoing model from a handling perspective, thanks to innovative new suspension options. Customers can choose from four set-ups: the conventional steel spring suspension, sports suspension, suspension with damper control and adaptive air suspension, also with controlled damping.
Progressive steering that becomes quicker and more direct as the steering angle increases is standard, and dynamic all-wheel steering can also be added to further enhance this agility.
As part of the launch in the European markets, Audi offers the new A6 with two engines – one petrol and one diesel. The petrol unit is a 3.0-litre V6 unit, which powers the saloon from rest to 62mph in 5.1 seconds thanks to outputs of 340hp and 500 Nm, and tops out at an electronically limited 155mph.
The 3.0-litre diesel V6 with 286hp delivers similar performance, with the help of an impressive 620 Nm torque output.
All A6 models will be exclusively equipped with automatic transmission. The 3.0 diesel unit is paired with a conventional eight-speed unit, while the 3.0 petrol engine is paired with a seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.
Both launch-spec engines channel their outputs through quattro all-wheel drive as standard, although the exact technical solution depends on your choice of fuel (or more accurately, gearbox). The diesel model with its conventional transmission runs a familiar self-locking centre differential all-wheel drive format, while the petrol engine and slicker transmission works with a more efficient all-wheel drive system called ultra, which is capable of engaging the rear axle instantly whenever needed but decouples it during cruising to maximise efficiency.
The new Audi A6 will go on sale in the UK in the summer. Pricing and specification for our market will be confirmed nearer to launch.
Two new versions of the Alpine A110 will be unveiled at next week’s Geneva motor show – the A110 Pure and A110 Légende.
It was a year ago, at the 2017 Geneva show, that Renault’s revived sports car brand Alpine unveiled the production version of the new-generation A110, following numerous concepts over the years.
Both new specifications of the A110 share the same full aluminium structure, 252hp 1.8-litre mid-mounted engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with double wishbone suspension front and rear.
The A110 Pure represents the model at its lightest and most driver-focused, which translates to a stripped-down specification to reduce both weight and price. Meanwhile, the Légende adds more luxury kit for drivers who prefer comfort to ultimate performance. Standard equipment includes six-way adjustable lightweight seats, full leather upholstery and gloss-finished carbon fibre interior trim.
Three new exterior colours will also be added to the Alpine range.
Dacia is increasing its scrappage allowance on selected versions of the Duster compact SUV for 18-registration customers to as much as £2,000.
Until the end of March, the Duster Lauréate dCi 110 4×2 and 4×4 now receive an extra £500 and £1,000 respectively on top of their existing scrappage scheme offers.
This means the front-wheel drive version now comes with a scrappage allowance of £1,500, while the all-wheel drive variant offers a scrappage allowance of £2,000.
In addition to this, during a special Dacia Week event at participating dealers between the 12 and 18 March, the Duster Lauréate dCi 110 will be available with up to a £2,200 deposit contribution when purchased on a three-year 4.9% PCP offer.
Prestige and Ambiance versions of the Duster continue to be available with a scrappage allowance of £1,000. The Dacia scrappage scheme also extends to the Sandero hatchback model. Access specifications of both models are not included in the scrappage scheme.
Drivers wanting to take advantage of the scrappage scheme must part-exchange a car that is Euro-4 standard or older, registered before 31 December 2009. Vehicles traded in under this scheme will be scrapped.
Checking the fine print
This offer is a part-exchange allowance, for selected used cars part-exchanged against selected new cars.
Your current car can be from any brand, but must be built to Euro-4 emissions standard or earlier, first registered no later than 31 December 2009.
You must be the owner of the part-exchange vehicle and the buyer of the new car (same name and registered address).
You must have owned the old car for at least 90 days, to stop people buying an old banger for £100 and then getting a £2,000 part-exchange allowance for it.
The scrappage price is fixed for any car part-exchanged as part of the scheme, not an allowance on top of the car’s value. You are effectively getting nothing for your car, but a discount on the new car (although it won’t be written that way on the contract).
You must buy and take delivery of your car by 31 March 2018.
This offer cannot normally be used on top of any other offers from the dealer/manufacturer/finance company, although Dacia is having a special finance event from 12-18 March where you can combine the scrappage allowance with
The offer is not dependent on you taking any finance package or other products.
Full details of the Jaguar I-Pace have been unveiled, claimed to be the first all-electric SUV from a premium European brand.
What is expected to be a vital model to the future of the manufacturer – the first of several electric Jaguars – was revealed in a live online broadcast, ahead of its public debut at the Geneva motor show next week.
And Jaguar has already opened order books for the car, at prices from £63,495 – the Government’s £4,500 grant to electric vehicle buyers will bring this down to £58,995. First deliveries are expected as soon as July.
The I-Pace has been designed from the outset as an electric vehicle (EV) and also a performance one. Its all-wheel-drive powertrain promises a 400hp output and a resultant 0-60mph time of only 4.5 seconds.
The car is built around a bespoke aluminium architecture with the battery placed between the axles to create both a low centre of gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Emphasising the car’s sporting credentials, Jaguar will even organise a race series for the I-Pace alongside the Formula E international championship for electric single-seater race cars.
However Jaguar insists that the I-Pace is also a practical EV, quoting a range between charges of up to 298 miles. It will recharge from 0 to 80% in 85 minutes using a public 50kW fast charger, and a half-hour charge will give it an 80-mile range. The car is also fully compatible with the 100kW DC rapid-charging technology being rolled out across the UK, which will cut the 80% charge time to 40 minutes.
Using a 7kW home-charging wall box for overnight charging will achieve the same 80% charge in three hours. “For I-Pace customers fuel stations are a thing of the past, after overnight charging they’ll wake up every morning with a ‘full tank of fuel'” says Jaguar I-Pace line director Ian Hoban.
Jaguar adds that while in terms of exterior dimensions a mid-sized SUV, the I-Pace will offer interior space to compare with larger SUV rivals. The lack of internal combustion engine infrastructure, such as a transmission tunnel, frees up extra interior space and storage, while the 656-litre boot expands to 1453 litres with the seats folded flat.
New technology will feature heavily in the I-Pace. The debuting Touch Pro Duo infotainment system includes a navigation system directly focused on EVs, assessing such aspects of the planned route as hills and recalling previous journeys to calculate a personalised range and charging status to provide highly accurate information.
Also debuting will be Amazon Alexa Skill. Drivers will be able to ask questions of an Alexa-enabled device on such aspects as the car’s range and whether the next journey is achievable without a recharge. The I-Pace will be the first Jaguar to update its software over-the-air.
While, however, the I-Pace will be the latest product from a thoroughly British brand and designed and developed in the UK, it will not be a strictly British car. With space at a premium in its UK plants, not to mention Brexit concerns, Jaguar has contracted Austrian giant Magna-Steyr to build the car.
Hyundai is claiming an industry first with the unveiling of the new Kona Electric – the first all-electric SUV to the market.
The new Kona Electric offers a choice of two different powertrains. The long-range 204hp version with a 64 kWh battery provides an electric range of up to 292 miles and an energy consumption of 15.2 kWh/100 km (internal target under WLTP regulations). The electric motor delivers an output of 150 kW, accelerating the Kona Electric to 62mph in 7.6 seconds.
With a battery capacity of 39.2 kWh, the basic 135hp version drives you up to 186 miles on a single charge with the motor delivering 99 kW and an energy consumption as low as 14.8 kWh/100 km (internal target under WLTP regulations). It is capable of covering 186 miles and has an acceleration potential of 9.3 seconds from 0 to 62mph.
Both powertrain versions deliver 395 Nm of immediate torque, with full power available from the first second. The Kona Electric also features an adjustable regenerative braking system.
Charging the lithium-ion polymer battery up to 80% only takes about 54 minutes using a 100 kW direct current (DC) fast charger. With the 7.2 kW on-board-charger, charging with alternating current (AC) takes 9 hours 40 minutes for the long-range battery pack and 6 hours 10 minutes for the shorter-range battery pack.
Drivers also have the option of charging their car at a compatible regular household power socket using the ICCB-cable (in-cable control box). The charging port is located at the front of the vehicle, next to the Hyundai logo.
The Kona Electric is easy to spot compared to the regular Kona thanks to the lack of grille, because electric motors don’t need a radiator like petrol or diesel engines. LED daytime running lights sit on top of the LED headlights, while the battery models also sport a two-tone roof.
Inside, the infotainment system integrates navigation, media and uses Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as offering wireless charging for compatible devices.
The Kona Electric is equipped with the company’s latest active safety and driving assistance technologies, called SmartSense: autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot detection including rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, driver attention warning and speed limit information.
The new high-resolution seven-inch supervision cluster displays the different gauges, such as the speedometer, battery charge level, energy flow and driving mode to the driver. Depending on the selected drive mode, background colour and gauges are adapted to always provide the most important and useful information.
In addition, the head-up display (HUD) projects the relevant driving information directly to the driver’s line of sight. This allows faster processing of information while keeping attention on the road ahead.
Given that electric cars don’t have the ability to use heat from the engine to warm the cabin, buyers will appreciate three-stage ventilation heating system for the front seats, as well as an optional heated steering wheel.
Renault has launched new discounts and finance offers on its Twingo and Clio models to coincide with the new 18-plate registrations that start today.
The Twingo range has seen prices reduced by up to £2,400. Unusually these days, the discounts are not dependent on taking a finance agreement. The range now starts at £8,495 on-road for the Twingo Expression SCe 70 model, which is a £1,500 drop on the normal RRP of £9,995.
There are no cash discounts on the Renault Clio range, but the entry-level Play model is available with a 0% APR on a four-year PCP agreement with nearly £2,000 in deposit contribution. It is being advertised at £159/month, although this is based on 6,000 miles a year (see our analysis of the fine print below).
The rest of the Clio range, as well as the Twingo, is available with a 4.9% APR PCP finance agreement. These offers come with significantly better deposit contributions in order to keep the monthly payments down.
Looking at the Renault website, the difference between the 0% and 4.9% PCP offers on the Clio Play are minimal. Essentially, Renault is boosting the deposit contribution to cover the interest, meaning your payments are exactly the same. In fact, the 4.9% offer is possibly better as it has a more beneficial voluntary termination point…
What’s in the fine print?
These offers are for selected new Renault models only.
Finance provided by Renault Finance. UK residents only (excluding the Channel Islands). Over 18s only.
A 0% APR offer means that you should pay absolutely no interest or fees over the course of the agreement (although penalty fees may still apply).
The annual mileages shown on the website examples are all set at 6,000. This is less than most drivers average per year, so make sure you are choosing an annual mileage allowance that suits your needs.
The excess mileage on the PCP packages is 8p/mile. That’s £80 for every 1,000 miles you go over your limit, so make sure you allow yourself enough mileage when setting up the finance agreement. The fee only applies if you are giving the car back and claiming the guaranteed future value (GFV).
Offers cannot be used with other schemes or finance offers.
Cars have to be ordered by 31st March 2018 and registered by 30th June 2018.
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Renault UK promotion.
The finance offers are provided through Renault dealers by Renault Finance. If a dealer offers you a finance deal that does not match these details or from another lender, it is not part of this offer.
As with any car purchase, work out your budget before you visit the showroom and don’t be persuaded to go beyond it – regardless of what the smiling sales executive suggests. They don’t have your best interests at heart, but The Car Expert does!
If you want to go fast, then you usually have to part with a fair amount of money. The Bugatti Veyron, famously one of the quickest cars ever built, cost the best part of £2 million.
The 620S that we have here can hit 60mph in under four seconds – close to the Veyron’s time – yet costs from £44,995. In short, there are few ways to go as quick for as little money.
What’s new about the Caterham 620S?
Our 620S used the SV chassis, making it wider and more accessible to taller drivers. In addition, the 620S gets a smattering of design cues which help it stand out from the crowd, including a nose with an air intake embedded in it – an easy way to differentiate this car from the rest of the Seven line-up.
Of course, the biggest changes here are mechanical; the supercharged motor in the 620S is supremely powerful (we’ll talk more about that in a moment), while the S pack brings a softer, more road-focused suspension setup than the one you’ll find on the more hardcore R version.
How does it look?
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The Seven remains somewhat of a design classic, but the 620S is about as modern as that look can be. As mentioned, it’s recognisable thanks to the vented nose cone, while it also benefits from a gunmental colour-painted chassis, giving it a stealthy, undercover look.
Of course, there are plenty of options that you can add to make it look even more special. Caterham can even finish your 620S with any colour you could think of – just supply the paint code, and it’ll do the rest.
Everyone loves the look of a Caterham – there are few who don’t stop and stare when it passes by. It’s still an iconic design, even 50 years after the original was penned.
What’s the spec like?
As mentioned, you don’t get a lot of toys for your money. The key attributes are all mechanical – the car’s overall cost is spent on the engine, chassis and gearbox.
As standard, you get a lovely Momo steering wheel, black leather seats and a four-point racing harness, as well as the previously mentioned windscreen and sidescreens. The 15-inch alloy wheels are shod in sticky ZZS tyres, while a limited-slip differential comes included in the price too.
There are swathes of options to choose from too. Heated carbon-fibre seats will no doubt appeal to those who want to be a little warmer, while that wider SV chassis is a good option for those who want a little more space in the cabin.
In truth, anyone over six foot will struggle for room in a ‘regular’ Caterham, which is why the SV chassis is such a handy option.
What’s the Caterham 620S like inside?
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Much like any Caterham, the 620S doesn’t have a huge amount to offer in terms of creature comforts. The S pack does bring a heater, boosting the car’s comfort levels, while a 12-volt socket means that you can charge a smartphone – though that’s about it for in-car features.
The biggest benefit from the inclusion of the S pack is the full windscreen, hood and sidescreens, which all make the car far more useable in typical British weather.
The lack of any real features doesn’t make the Seven’s cabin a dull place to be, however. The driving position is spot-on, while the carbon-fibre dash looks and feels well made.
The variety of toggle switches may be difficult to decipher at first, but using them soon becomes second nature after time.
What’s under the bonnet?
The engine in the 620S is nothing short of remarkable. Two litres in capacity and featuring a supercharger, it produces 314hp and 296Nm of torque yet the car weighs just 610kg – giving it a figure of 515hp per tonne, which is more than a Ferrari Enzo or McLaren 650S.
It’s simply a breathtaking amount of performance to be found in a ‘regular’ road car. That fury is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission and can power the 620S to a top speed of 145mph.
If you’re looking for economy, this isn’t the place to go. The 620S will return an estimated 30mpg on the combined cycle, though this will drop harshly under heavy driving. That said, the S model benefits from a larger fuel tank than other Seven models – so touring is a more viable prospect.
What’s the Caterham 620S like to drive?
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Driving the 620S is a dramatic experience. The steering is impeccably well-judged, with the smallest of hand movements on the wheel directing the Caterham exactly where you want it.
The five-speed gearbox is smooth to operate (though can feel notchy when cold), while the softer suspension is exactly as you’d want on UK roads – not too firm for the bumps, but not so pliable as to leave the car feeling wallowy.
Then there’s the performance. There’s nothing to prepare you for the way a car with over 300hp and weighing just 610kg fires itself down the road. The twin-outlet exhaust howls in a close-to-demonic way, rising to a near-deafening tone under heavy acceleration. There are really very few cars quite like it on the road today.
Summary
The Caterham 620S is a real giant killer, capable of taking down nearly any supercar on sale today.
However, even a ‘regular’ Caterham can deliver big thrills without the razor-sharp edge you’ll find in this one. Though the 620S benefits from many features designed to make it more comfortable, it remains overwhelmingly spiky to drive, with traction close to non-existent in the wet.
Though just under £45,000 may seem good value considering the performance, in truth you’d probably be just as happy with a lower-powered Caterham at half that price.
As the UK’s used car market is about to enter its peak period (following an influx of part exchanges against new 18-plate models), a survey of consumers by vehicle history checker My Car Check has found that 89% were unaware of the recent write-off category changes.
In October 2017, the old A, B, C and D categories were replaced with new codes, which focus on safety rather than the cost of repair:
A – car must be scrapped in its entirety
B – car must be scrapped, but may be broken up for parts
S – car has suffered structural damage, but may be repaired and returned to the road
N – car has suffered non-structural damage, but may be repaired and returned to the road
Mark Bailey, head of CDL Vehicle Information Systems, which owns My Car Check, said: “We are checking new category write-offs almost daily now, so the fact that 9 out of 10 people are unaware of them is a worry, especially when you consider that four of those who did know were motor traders.
“It shows that more must be done to educate buyers about write-offs, so they can either decide they want nothing to do with them, or they go into it with their eyes open, fully aware of the risks.
“Safety is paramount and written-off vehicles have to be properly repaired in order to perform as they should in the event of a second crash. There might be things the seller doesn’t know, or things they’d rather not tell you, so do your own history check to find out exactly what you’re getting into.”
A write-off is an accident-damaged vehicle that an insurer decides is either beyond repair or too expensive to fix. Category A (e.g. burnt-out by fire) and B (e.g. major rear-end shunt) write-offs should never return to the road.
Categories S and N replace the old Categories C and D. Category S write-offs have suffered some sort of structural damage (e.g. collapsed crumple zone), and will be unsafe until they have been professionally repaired. Category N write-offs have suffered non-structural damage (e.g. cosmetic damage or electrical issues), but are simply uneconomical to repair based on the car’s market value.
It might look like very minor damage, but it was enough for the insurance company to write this MINI off (Category N).
Leaving the safety aspect aside, there’s the impact on desirability and value to consider with S and N (and the old C and D) grade write-offs. A category N write-off that has had minor damage repaired will generally be worth about 25% less than a similar vehicle with clear history.
Some insurers will check the history of vehicles and can refuse to cover them or charge higher premiums. In the event of a claim, if it is discovered the vehicle has been previously written-off, they might offer a smaller amount to reflect the market value.
Toyota is to build the third generation of its Auris family hatch at its UK plant.
The news that Auris production will remain at the Burnaston facility near Derby boosts the British automotive industry at a time of uncertainty, with manufacturers reconsidering their investment in the UK as Brexit negotiations continue.
However, Toyota Motor Europe announced only a year ago that it was to invest more than £240 million in its UK plant, upgrading the factory with new equipment, technologies and systems to enable manufacture of vehicles on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
The next Auris, which will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show on 6th March, will use the TNGA platform.
And in further good news for British manufacturing, most of the engines installed in the Auris will be built at Toyota’s plant in Deeside, north Wales.
The announcement secures the mid-term future of Toyota’s UK plant.
Announcing the news on a visit to Burnaston, TME President and CEO Dr Johan van Zyl said that producing TNGA-based vehicles locally is a key part of Toyota’s plan to strengthen the global competitiveness of its plants. “Today’s announcement that we will manufacture the new Auris at Burnaston, with most engines to be supplied from Deeside, shows our confidence in the skills and capabilities of our TMUK members,” he added.
However Dr van Zyl also made a plea to the politicians negotiating the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe. “As a company, we are doing what we can to secure the competitiveness of our UK operations as a leading manufacturing centre for our European business.
“With around 85% of our UK vehicle production exported to European markets, continued free and frictionless trade between the UK and Europe will be vital for future success.”
Industry sources suggest the next Auris will go on sale late in 2018, in hybrid form. Rumours continue to circulate suggesting that the petrol-engined version to be launched later will revert to the Corolla name, replaced by the Auris in 2010, in a bid to boost sales of the model.
One in five drivers is still using their mobile at the wheel a year after tough new penalties were introduced, according to a new survey from vehicle CCTV providers SmartWitness.
It means that 7 million motorists are still regularly flouting the law, even though it could result in automatic disqualification. In March last year, the government doubled the penalties to six points on the licence and on-the-spot-fines of £200. Drivers who get six points within two years of passing their test are automatically banned.
The level of abuse has gone down since the clampdown was introduced – one in four drivers were using their phones while driving at the time the new penalties were brought in.
Figures released by the Department for Transport reveal there are still unacceptably high levels of illegal phone use among drivers, with 37% of drivers believing the chance of getting caught is minimal, and 52% not concerned about the impact of getting caught.
Checking your phone while stopped in traffic is still illegal
The most common way drivers break the law is by checking their phones for incoming messages while driving: 21% of motorists admitted to doing that.
One in seven drivers (14%) said they still spoke on the phone while at the wheel and answered incoming calls, Three-quarters of drivers (76%) were aware of the increased penalties and two-thirds of those surveyed (67%) said they would support a further increase in fines and penalty points to deter future abuses.
The overwhelming majority of drivers breaking the law with phones (69%) claim that they only did it when they were stuck in traffic or moving slowly, and nearly all drivers (92%) ignore their phones when they are driving at speed. And only 8% of drivers have a ‘cradle’ in their cars so they can use their phones hands-free and avoid breaking the law.
SmartWitness chief executive Paul Singh said: “While it is welcome news that fewer drivers are using their phones behind the wheel, these figures are still a huge concern for everyone wanting to improve road safety. Studies consistently show that using a mobile phone while driving is as dangerous as drink driving. Yet 7 million drivers are consistently flouting the law and ignoring concerted efforts to clamp down on the problem.
“The way to tackle this abuse is to make using your phone at the wheel as socially unacceptable as drink driving and we all have responsibility to hammer home this point. If you know of a driver using a phone or you are a passenger with someone who does this, tell them to stop.”
Neil Worth, road safety officer for breakdown provider GEM Motoring Assist, commented:“You wouldn’t do it with a police officer watching… so ask yourself is there anything that makes it any less risky or foolish just because the police aren’t there? The answer is no. It is irresponsible and puts not only your own safety at risk, but the safety of those who happen to be sharing the road space with you.
Handy tips for mobile phone safety
GEM Motoring Assist has produced a list of mobile phone tips for drivers:
You’re allowed to use a mobile phone when you are safely parked, with the engine off and the handbrake on.
Do not pick up your phone in any other driving situation, including when you’re stationary at traffic lights or queueing in traffic.
The only exception to this is if it’s an emergency and it would be unsafe or impractical to stop, in which case you may call 999.
Don’t assume that using a hands-free kit means you have dealt with the risk. You are still allowing yourself to be distracted from the task of safe driving, and you could still be prosecuted for not being in control (an offence that carries a £100 fine and three penalty points).
Take a few minutes before a journey to make important calls or to check voice messages and emails. Work together with friends, family, colleagues and work contacts to remove the expectation that we should all be available, all the time.
Plan journeys to build in breaks from driving, where you can call, text or email or interact with social media in a safe environment.
Kia has introduced a range of design enhancements and two new powertrain options to its Optima saloon and estate – a new 136hp 1.6-litre diesel engine, and a 163hp 1.6-litre petrol engine.
A switchable drive mode selector lets the driver switch between Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart modes. Each mode can then be further customised to prioritise fuel economy or more immediate acceleration. ‘Smart Mode’ is designed to anticipate the driver’s needs, switching automatically between Eco, Comfort and Sport modes depending on conditions. This enables the Optima to adapt to the driver’s behaviour and the road conditions, pre-empting the driver’s preference for different speeds and driving environments.
Kia designers have made a series of modifications to the Optima’s exterior design. These include a revised front bumper design, as well as new LED tail lamps and a revised design for the head- and fog lamps.
Saloon models also feature a new rear bumper design. The grille features a new bright chrome finish to create a more sophisticated, purposeful appearance. A new paint colour called ‘Runway Red’ is available, as well as new alloy wheel designs.
Inside, the cabin features a newly-designed steering wheel and satin-chrome trim on the centre console which extends across the dashboard. Buyers can specify their interior in black, two-tone black and grey cloth or leather, or choose a new brown cloth or leather upholstery. There’s new ambient lighting around the dashboard and doors, which can be switched between six different colours.
GT and GT Line updates
The GT Line and flagship GT models also get some new design updates. These consist of new LED fog lamps, 18-inch alloy wheel designs, and gloss black colouring for the mirror caps, side sills and air intake grille. GT Line models are distinguished by dual twin exhausts, while the Optima GT is fitted with chrome twin exhaust tips.
The interiors feature the same improvements to material quality and trim as the standard car, while the seats are now available in two-tone black and red leather. Black leather with contrasting red stitching is also available. The GT has front seats embroidered with subtle GT logos in contrast black or grey stitching, depending on the choice of upholstery.
Safety improvements
The updated Optima is available with Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a suite of active safety technologies to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions.
This includes a driver drowsiness detection system, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, lane-keeping assist, and full LED swivelling headlamps with automatic high beam. These technologies are claimed to make the Optima one of the safest cars in its class.
The new Optima is available with seven- or eight-inch touchscreen infotainment systems, with navigation and connected services powered by TomTom. The system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to enable full smartphone integration. In the centre console is a wireless smartphone charger for compatible devices.
The infotainment system is linked to a higher-resolution 360º camera system. The system uses cameras at the front, rear and sides of the vehicle to provide the driver with an overall view of their surroundings, making it easier to complete low-speed parking manoeuvres.
As with all Kia models, the new Optima will come with a seven year, 100,000 mile warranty. The upgraded Optima saloon and Sportswagon go on sale across Europe in the autumn – full UK specification, line up and pricing will be announced in due course.
Learned judging panel
Bugatti Chiron Sport
Now, according to Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, the new Lagonda aims to continue the trend. The company is planning to usher in “the biggest revolution in land-bound transportation since the invention of the car” on its way to becoming what Aston Martin claims will be the world’s first zero-emission luxury brand.
“Our new concept shows the scope of design opportunities that open up once you no longer need to provide space for a large power source directly in front of the passenger compartment,” Marek says, adding: “In the Lagonda Vision Concept, the batteries occupy the floor of the car. Everything above that line belongs to us.”
Decisions about how Lagonda will be marketed have also apparently still to be made – whether the cars will sold from existing Aston Martin dealerships or separately. No production facility has yet been revealed although it is known that the plant currently being constructed for the DBX SUV in St Athan, South Wales, would have the capacity for a second model.
The car is built around a bespoke aluminium architecture with the battery placed between the axles to create both a low centre of gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Emphasising the car’s sporting credentials, Jaguar will even organise a 
Jaguar adds that while in terms of exterior dimensions a mid-sized SUV, the I-Pace will offer interior space to compare with larger SUV rivals. The lack of internal combustion engine infrastructure, such as a transmission tunnel, frees up extra interior space and storage, while the 656-litre boot expands to 1453 litres with the seats folded flat.
