Ford will launch an upmarket Vignale version of the Kuga SUV late in 2016.
The mid-sized SUV will line up in showrooms alongside the four-door Mondeo, the first Vignale model launched last year, the S-Max and the forthcoming five-door Mondeo and Edge versions.
Kuga Vignales will be available with four engines – petrol 1.5-litre units in 148 and 179bhp variants and 2-litre TDCi diesels of either 148 or 177bhp. All-wheel-drive will be available with the two more potent engines.
Upgrading to the Vignale specification from the mainstream Kuga includes the signature hexagonal grille and a bespoke exterior paint finish, described as pearlescent Milano Grigio, with a contrasting dark gloss on the front and rear skid plates, door panels and boot trim.
The interior gains Windsor leather again in the hexagonal design, with cashmere coloured tuxedo-style stitching on the seats and door interiors and a leather-trimmed dash instrument panel.
Ford is still to release full details of the Kuga Vignale’s specification. The Sync 3 infotainment system will be included, a standard feature on all Vignales, while the equipment list is also likely to boast such features as tri-zone climate control, a premium audio system and a host of driver aids including a wide-view camera, traffic sign recognition and a blind spot information system. All these featured on the Edge and five-door Mondeo Vignales unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Like other Vignale models the Kuga variants will be produced in a bespoke facility at Ford’s factory in Valencia, Spain – the line combining laser and camera technology with hand-finishing by craftsmen. They will be offered only at specialist dealers including the 70 UK Ford Stores which each have specialist Vignale lounges.
Adding the Kuga to its upmarket sub brand is seen as an obvious move for Ford as of the 33,000 examples sold in the UK in 2015 more than 80 per cent of customers chose the high-specification Titanium trim.
According to Ford of Europe marketing sales and service head Roelant de Waard the Kuga Vignale will meet the growing trend to luxury SUVs. “We see great potential to extend the top end of our Ford product range and offer a special experience that meets the growing expectations of our customers,” he says.
Aston Martin is to put a Vanquish concept model unveiled at a concours d’elegance into very limited production.
Only 99 examples of the Vanquish Zagato Coupe will be made, each virtually identical to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a concept model shown at the famed Italian concours in May 2016.
The Zagato is more powerful than its Vanquish inspiration, the 6-litre V12 engine uprated by 24bhp to 592bhp. Aston Martin quotes a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds, three tenths faster than the stock Vanquish.
Several of the brand’s most specialist models, including the Vulcan, CC-100 and One-77 have influenced the bodywork, which is all-new, entirely moulded in carbonfibre and larger, with fewer shut lines, to improve the aerodynamics. The sculpted rear end is close in profile to the DB11 and includes a retractable spoiler.
The car’s windscreen and side windows are created in wraparound style, designed to look like a visor, and side strakes, again in DB11 style, run from the wheel arches to the doors. The roof has a shallow ‘double-bubble’ shape, a Zagato trademark originally created to allow space inside for race helmets.
Details inside include ‘herringbone’ style carbon fibre, anodized bronze and optional aniline leather, A ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch is used on the seat and door sections, with the trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.
Aston Martin’s partnership with renowned Italian design house Zagato dates back to 1960 with the launch of the DB4 GT Zagato. The Vanquish is the fifth collaboration between the two brands.
No details have been released concerning the likely price of each car – industry rumours suggest an individual cost of around £500,000, and that all 99 have already been reserved.
Thousands of Kia Soul mini MPV models are being recalled over a potential steering fault.
The brand says that in extreme circumstances the fault could cause the car’s steering to fail.
Affected models were built between 18th January 2014 and 30th September 2015, with 5,707 sold in the UK. Kia says that an adhesive with insufficient bonding strength was used during assembly and may cause a pinion plug that secures the pinion gear to the steering gear assembly to loosen.
If the plug loosens sufficiently, the pinion gear may separate from the steering gear assembly, which could cause a loss of steering.
Kia adds that there is presently no evidence of the potential defect causing any injuries or accidents to any customers in the UK or globally, and no Kia Soul customers have reported problems in this area.
Kia Motors UK will notify owners of affected cars using post and email, suggesting they take their vehicle to their nearest Kia dealership where the pinion plug will be secured or replaced, usually within one hour and at no cost to the owner.
What is it? Third UK model and first SUV from reborn MG.
Key features: Budget price for power and space.
Our View: With no significant downsides and plenty of plus points, there’s every reason for the MG GS to become a significant player in the brand’s progress.
The GS adds a third model to the MG range
Old-style British motoring enthusiasts will likely recoil in horror at the very prospect of the MG badge appearing on an SUV, and use this as a prime example as to why the reborn, Chinese-owned company is not the same brand as once produced much-loved affordable sports cars.
According to MG’s UK sales and marketing head Matthew Cheyne, however, that the brand’s third offering after the MG6 saloon and MG3 supermini, and its first launch in three years, is an SUV is definitely the way to go. “It’s not a two-seater sports car because two-seater sports cars are a declining market,” he says at the UK launch of the GS, days before it arrives in dealer showrooms.
And considering that the market for SUV crossovers is still mushrooming fast and even performance-pitched brands such as Bentley and Jaguar feel happy leaping into SUV sales it’s hard to argue against his view.
Marketplace
Cheyne also argues, however, that the MG heritage is still very much alive and well in the new model. “I’m asked whether an SUV can be an MG, and I think it can. (MG founder) Cecil Kimber talked about affordability, fun to drive, never once did he mention two-seater sports cars.”
And the MG GS is not really like any other SUV. For a start, it comes only as a front-wheel-drive model, with a petrol engine – its makers insisting that neither all-wheel-drive or diesel propulsion are in their current plans.
There’s little point, apparently, as some 90 per cent of GS owners will be retail buyers, who can’t be doing with the complexity of 4x4s and favour petrol cars – diesel buyers are predominantly in the fleet market in which the brand currently has little presence.
All of which significantly reduces the list of GS direct rivals, and the car outscores all of them on power and torque, with 163bhp and 184lbft available from its 1.5-litre turbo engine. This is a new unit for MG, developed with partner General Motors, and closely related to the 1.4 unit found in today’s Vauxhall Astra.
Rivals
MG has an interesting view on what those rivals will be – at the launch a starting price of £14,995 is announced which puts the GS right at the bargain basement end of the market. But Cheyne insists that the car has been benchmarked not against the likes of Dacia or SsangYong but much bigger players – the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and even the SUV market’s biggest seller, the Nissan Qashqai.
In terms of looks, the MG GS can certainly hold its own in such company – MG is very proud of its styling and engineering studios based in the UK at Longbridge, and insists that the UK team had the major influence in the joint styling efforts with the much larger department in China.
Interior
Step inside the MG GS and one finds adequate space. The car is longer than most of its direct rivals, at 4500mm, though its wheelbase is shorter than most, at 2650mm. This allows the Kia and Mazda to outscore it on luggage space, at 503 litres compared to the MG’s 483, though this compares to a mere 430 in the Qashqai. Fold the MG’s seats down, a one-handed operation, and luggage capacity jumps to 1336 litres.
Fit and finish is also adequate, if not particularly noteworthy – the centre console controls are raised towards the driver and neatly finished if a little dated in appearance compared to rivals, while the touchscreen is high on the console. Generally the plastics used are somewhat hard and scratchy.
Performance
MG believes its reputation will be maintained by the engine, as mentioned a 1.5 turbo unit that out-powers all its rivals – the Mazda by a single horsepower admittedly. And despite the Japanese rival needing a 2-litre unit to provide its potency it also outdoes the MG on fuel economy, at 47.1mpg to 46.3mpg, and hits 62mph from rest in 9.2 seconds compared to the MG’s still swift-for-the-class 9.9 sec.
The GS feels eager on the road, and rides well on smooth surfaces. Lower-quality tarmac can unsettle it, however, pothole bumps easily finding their way into the cabin. In corners the car steers with confidence, though it does not feel the sportiest member of this class.
Value for money
MG also believes the equipment levels offered with the GS will attract buyers, particularly when one factors in the starting prices. Entry-level Explore models include such niceties as cruise control, automatic headlamps and air conditioning. The step up to Excite specification is £2,500 and the additions include DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors.
Choose the range-topping Exclusive, another £2,000 more or £3,500 with the DCT gearbox, and electrically adjustable leather sports seats and navigation are included in the equipment. Finally all cars include a five-year warranty.
Summary
The GS is a very important car to MG, though Cheyne does not believe it will overtake the MG3 to become the brand’s best seller – that job he thinks will be done by another B-segment SUV coming in 2017 before the all-new MG3 a year later.
The GS is, however, expected to contribute significantly to MG’s 2016 sales target of 5,000 cars, up from 3,152 in 2015. With no significant downsides to the car, and plenty of plus points led by the price, there’s every reason that the MG GS should become a significant player in the brand’s progress.
MG GS – key specifications
Model tested: MG GS Excite, six-speed manual On Sale: July 2016 Range price:£14,995-£20,995 Insurance groups:16E-17E. Engines: Petrol 1.5. Power (bhp):163. Torque (lb/ft):184. 0-62mph (sec):9.9. Top speed (mph): 118 (DCT 112). Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 46.3 (DCT 45.5). CO2 emissions (g/km): 139 (DCT 141). Keyrivals: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 Test Date: July 2016.
Skoda has issued new sketches showing the look of its soon-to-launch Kodiaq SUV.
The car will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September and go on sale in 2017.
It is clear from the released images that the production model closely follows the visual appearance of the VisionS concept, which was displayed at the Geneva show in March 2016.
The Kodiaq – the name comes from a species of Alaskan brown bear – will be the first Skoda to be produced with a new design language, described as more striking by the brand’s head of design Jozef Kaban. It is likely to be the first of a range of new SUVs from Skoda to sit alongside the big-selling Yeti.
A combination of a long wheelbase and short overhangs promises plenty of interior space, and a third row of two extra seats will be available as an option. No details have yet been released regarding powertrains for the new model, but it is believed they will mostly be taken from the range currently offered in the Superb large saloon. A plug-in hybrid version is also likely to appear sometime after the Kodiaq launches.
The first MG SUV has thrown down the gauntlet to potential rivals by pricing the new QS from £14,995 to £19,495.
The figure significantly undercuts major opponents to the newcomer, which goes on sale on Thursday 16th May.
The first MG SUV has been principally designed and engineered at MG’s Longbridge base in Birmingham, where the brand has a specific studio working alongside the facilities of its Chinese parent company.
The car is launching as a front-wheel-drive petrol-engined model only, the brand emphasising that such a format is favoured in the retail market that is expected to form 90 per cent of QS sales.
The engine is all-new, a 1.5-litre unit with 163bhp and torque of 184lbft of torque, developed by MG in partnership with GM. It’s mated to either a six-speed manual or MG’s first auto transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. While turning in a sub 10-second 0-62mph time, in manual form the GS offers CO2 emissions of 139g/km, the DCT 2g/km more.
The MG SUV is offered with three trim levels, dubbed Explore, Excite and Exclusive. Despite the budget price the specification of entry-level models includes cruise control, automatic headlamps and air conditioning.
Excite models cost from £17,495 and among additions include DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors. And the Exclusive, costing from £19,495, gains electrically adjustable leather sports seats and a navigation system. This trim is also the only one available with DCT transmission, at £20,995.
The price might invite comparisons between the MG and other budget models from the likes of SsangYong, but MG insists it has benchmarked its model against major players in the market, and sees the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and even the secotr-leading Nissan Qashqai as its prime rivals.
MG head of sales and marketing Matthew Cheyne describes the GS as competitive in many ways and is confident it will do well in the SUV market.
“This car offers so much for comparatively little, making it the SUV to choose – the specification on these cars is phenomenal and when you add in the five year warranty it’s a no-brainer,” Cheyne says.
The GS is expected to sell around 2,000 examples in a full year and while it is the brand’s first launch in three years it will kick off a product offensive. A new B-segment SUV to launch in 2017 is predicted to become the brand best-seller, and will be followed in the following year by a completely new version of the MG3 supermini.
Renault has unveiled a mid-life refresh for its Clio supermini, which has been on sale since 2012.
The most significant updates to the fourth-generation Clio are in the infotainment systems, while there is also a new dC1 110 diesel engine option.
Exterior changes are subtle – the front grille is updated, with a look that follows Renault’s latest design language, as seen on the soon-to-launch Megane, and also to accentuate the width of the car.
New LED headlamps are fitted, and the rear bumper reshaped, while four more body colours – Mars Red, Titanium Grey, Arctic White and Iron Blue – are added alongside new wheel and wheel trim designs and more extensive personalisation options.
The interior also gains only detail changes, mainly the use of more soft-touch plastic, and chrome detailing, Renault saying that materials normally reserved for its higher-end cars have been employed..
As is typical of current market offerings the technology plays a big role in the updates, particularly in terms of connectivity.
Entry-level Clios come fitted with Renault’s newly-released R&Go system which uses a smartphone’s screen to connect with the car. Move up through the range and the centre console touchscreen-based R-Link Evolution and Media Nav Evolution systems are added, both including integrated satellite navigation.
For the first time the car can be fitted with a BOSE audio system, while front parking sensors and a reversing camera are added to the equipment available, and range-topping models can come with Handsfree parking.
The engine range is as in the outgoing model with the exception of the new 1.5-litre diesel unit of 108bhp. Buyers choosing the TCe 120 petrol engine can now specify a six-speed manual transmission, so in total there are now 11 engine/transmission combinations in the range. However it is not yet confirmed whether all will be offered to UK buyers.
The new Clio models are expected in showrooms in October 2016 and prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Maserati has updated its Quattroporte model, restyling the exterior, upgrading the interior and adding more features, together with a new range structure.
The refresh, applied three and a half years after the four-door luxury saloon went on sale, applies to versions of the car now on sale.
Exterior changes include a bolder, more pointed front grille emphasising the shark-nose look, matt black on the bumper and side skirts. More than cosmetic is the electrically adjustable air shutter, mounted in the grille between the air vents and the radiator to more precisely control temperatures. It also aids a drag reduction programme, Maserati saying that the new Quattroporte is 10 per cent improved in aerodynamics.
Most noticeable on the inside is a high-resolution 8.4-inch touchscreen, integrated into the front console with the climate control and boasting controls for the new infortainment system which includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone integration.
More technology is available on the options list in the form of driver aids – Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Brake Assist and Automated Emergency Braking can be specified, along with a.n additional new Surround View Camera.
Standard on all cars is now an Air Quality Sensor, that calculates the external pollution levels and prevents polluted air and toxic gases from entering the cabin.
The launch of the new Quattroporte, regarded as Maserati’s flagship, also sees the addition of two new trim options, GranLusso and GranSport, offered on Quattroporte Diesel and Quattroporte S models and the only choice on the range-topping GTS V8 variant.
As the names suggest GranLusso is pitched at extra luxury, with such features as bespoke exterior detailing and patented silk fabric on the seats, headliner and sun visors, along with wood inserts. GranSport offers a more aggressive exterior look, extending to gloss black finishes and red brake calipers, sports seats and a steering wheel trimmed in carbon fibre or leather, along with piano black and stainless steel detailing.
Order books are open for the new Quattroporte line-up, prices ranging from £70,510 to £115,980.
Mercedes-Benz has begun taking orders for the new C-Class Cabriolet, which will arrive in showrooms in September.
First seen at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the first-ever drop-top in the C-Class line is based on the Coupe version. It has a fabric, fully automated soft top that opens and closes in less than 20 seconds at speeds up to 31mph.
UK models of the C-Class will be offered with six engine choices and two trim levels. Entry level will be the C 200, priced from £36,200 and using a 2-litre 181bhp petrol engine with either a six-speed manual or 9G-Tronic nine-speed auto transmission.
C300 versions, only offered with the auto transmission, increase the power of the 2-litre engine to 241bhp, while there are two diesels, the 167bhp C220 d, offered in both rear and all-wheel drive form, and C250 d of 201bhp.
Range-topping models will be the AMG versions. The Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic uses a 3-litre bi-turbo V6 petrol unit of 361bhp which gives the car a 4.8 second 0-62mph time.
Its more powerful sister is the C63 Cabriolet, costing from £65,685. The engine is a 4-litre bi-turbo V8 with 469bhp, shaving the 0-62mph time to 4.2 seconds, while an S variant further boosts the potency to 502bhp – resulting in a 4.1 second sprint to 62mph.
Standard equipment on the entry Sport trim level includes the Airscarf heating system mounted in the headrests for when the hood is retracted, along with the related Aircap and Memory Package. Also included are a reversing camera; keyless start and entry in auto models; a Garmin Map Pilot navigation system; Mirror Package; heated seats; Active Parking Assist; Agility Control comfort suspension; LED headlights; ambient lighting (only on auto versions); a DAB radio and sports seats in Artico leather.
AMG Line versions are £1,495 more than Sport models and add black ash wood trim with brushed aluminium; an AMG sports steering wheel with flat bottom; brushed steel sports pedals and a black roof lining.
The exterior gains an AMG bodystyling kit; 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels; a diamond grille with chrome pins and 15mm lowered sports suspension.
SEAT has unveiled full details of the brand’s first SUV, the Ateca, described by the brand’s head as “one of our most crucial cars ever.”
First seen at the Geneva motor show in March 2016, the Ateca will arrive in UK showrooms on 9th September, at prices starting from £17,990, which its creators point out undercuts several of its direct rivals including the segment-defining Nissan Qashqai.
Launching the car to media in Barcelona, SEAT chairman Luca de Meo describes it as the “start of a new era for SEAT.
“The Ateca is a clear development of the Leon DNA and will drive forward the success of the range – SEAT is a brand on the move,” de Meo says, adding that the model kicks off a product offensive that will see four new models in the next 18 months, while SEAT owner Volkswagen Group has committed to invest 3.3 billion Euros before 2019 to fund continued growth.
SEAT is highly hopeful that UK sales for the Ateca will reflect customer orders in France and Germany that have already significantly exceeded the brand’s own forecasts. More than 11,000 UK customers registered interest in the car ahead of order books opening on 1st June.
Built in the Czech Republic on the versatile VW Group MQB platform, the Ateca boasts much of the body style of the recently renewed Leon family hatch, while the SUV’s designers add that it offers plenty of interior space including a 510-litre boot, 80 litres larger than the Qashqai’s.
At launch the Ateca will be available with five engine choices – two TSI petrol units of 1.0 114bhp and 1.4 148bhp, a trio of TDI diesels of 1.6 114 and 2.0 148 or 187bhp.
All will be front-wheel-drive but the 2-litre units will also offer all-wheel-drive versions, which SEAT expects 15 per cent of customers to opt for.
Best 0-62mph time will be offered by the two 2-litre diesels at 7.5 seconds, while the 1.6 TDI 115PS Ecomotive will return the best efficiency figures, with 65.7mpg combined cycle fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 112g/km.
Three trim levels will be available, following SEAT’s usual convention of S, SE and Xcellence, while there will also be a 200-strong launch model dubbed First Edition.
As with most new releases in today’s market technology features heavily on the new model. Safety measures standard on every Ateca will include new Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Protection, ESC, plus Tiredness Recognition and Multi-Collision Brake systems.
Seven airbags come as standard as does ASR traction control, an electronic differential lock, Hill Hold Control and a tyre pressure monitor.
SEAT’s Drive Profile is fitted to all versions with four driving modes – normal, sport, eco and individual, while the all-wheel-drive models also get off-road and snow modes.
All cars will have a touchscreen infotainment system as standard with four different variants across the trim levels. Smartphone integration is included across the various handset manufacturers, while apps developed by SEAT alongside the Android MirrorLink system and with phone manufacturer Samsung will offer various extra functions.
SEAT expects the Ateca Xcellence 2.0 TDI 150 to be favourite with retail customers, who are predicted to account for 55 per cent of sales, with the SE 1.6 TDI 115 Ecomotive appealing most to fleet buyers.
Ford is revealing its answer to the Vauxhall Viva – a replacement for the current Ka city car dubbed the Ka+.
The all-new five-door hatchback, built in India, will be priced for affordability – with a starting price of £8,995 Ford also hopes to attract customers who have been tempted by budget cars such as Dacia’s Sandero.
The Ka+ is constructed on Ford’s global small-car platform and due to dimensions that are slightly shorter than its Fiesta sister but some 29mm taller, it claims best-in-class front headroom and rear legroom. It also offers 270 litres of bootspace that its makers say is enough for two large suitcases.
All Ka+ models will be powered by Ford’s 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine – derived from the slightly larger 1.25-litre unit in the Fiesta, it will be available in 70 or 85hp versions. Both return combined cycle fuel economy of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km.
Two trim levels will be on offer – Studio grade will only be available with the 69bhp engine, Zetec across both. Standard equipment on all versions includes power front windows and door mirrors, front fog lamps, an AM/FM radio with Bluetooth connectivity, remote central double locking with a perimeter alarm, safety system with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control with Hill Start Assist, a tyre pressure monitor, a speed limiter, and Ford’s Easy Fuel system.
Zetec models gain 15-inch alloy wheels, manual air-conditioning, a DAB digital radio/CD with Ford’s SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system with AppLink, a leather steering wheel and cruise control.
There is also an extensive options list including electronic climate control, heated front seats, privacy glass and a City Pack combining rear parking sensors, power rear windows and power folding door mirrors.
Order books for the Ka+ open this month (June) with the model expected in showrooms later in 2016.
Fiat has revealed the price of its much-awaited 124 Spider, which will be offered to UK buyers from £19,545.
The rear-wheel-drive roadster, unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November 2015, shares its chassis with the Mazda MX-5, a car which, despite Fiat’s insistence, will be seen as the Spider’s direct rival.
The two versions of the MX-5 available cost from £18,495 and £20,095 respectively, so the Fiat falls directly between them in price and also potency – it employs a 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo petrol engine of 138bhp and 177lbft of torque, which enables the Spider to hit 62mph from rest in 7.5 seconds and onto 134mph.
In contrast the Mazda offers a choice of 1.5 or 2.0 powerplants, of 129 or 157bhp, a 62mph sprint time of 8.3 or 7.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 127 or 133mph.
In terms of efficiency the Fiat records combined cycle fuel economy of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 148g/km. The Mazda produces 47.1 or 40.9mpg and 139 or 161g/km.
The Spider will be offered in three trim levels, Classica, Lusso and Lusso Plus. Entry-level Classica versions include as standard four airbags, air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, a leather-trimmed gear knob, cruise control with speed limiter, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless engine start and an infotainment system with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity. A seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB, WiFi, two USB ports and a multimedia control knob is a £500 option.
Mid-range Lusso models, costing from £22,295, include the seven-inch infotainment system as standard plus satellite navigation with 3D maps and a Parkview rear parking camera. The alloy wheels grow to 17 inches, while also supplied are heated leather upholstery, automatic climate control, front fog lamps, keyless entry, chrome exhaust tips and a premium silver finish on the windscreen frame and rollover bars.
Range-topping Lusso Plus versions, costing from £23,295, add adaptive LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, automatic lights and wipers and a nine-speaker Bose sound system with stereo headrest speakers on both seats.
In terms of performance and efficiency figures, there seems little to favour the Italian newcomer over its Japanese cousin or vice versa.
Car registrations in the UK grew 2.5 per cent in May, suggesting that the new car sales market has levelled out after strong growth in 2015.
A levelling off was forecast by industry observers at the beginning of the year, but some believe the cause could be uncertainty created by the forthcoming EU referendum.
The May figures, issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), follow a two per cent rise in April, reining back from an opening quarter of 2016 that saw a surge in sales averaging more than eight per cent over the period.
Best May results since 2002
In total 203,585 vehicles were registered in May, the highest total for the month since 2002. And as in April, it is the fleet sector that is currently driving the market, up 8.8 per cent and counteracting a three per cent drop in registrations to private customers.
Diesel-powered cars also made a bit of a comeback, registrations up five per cent compared to a 0.6 per cent slide in petrol registrations. And 5.632 alternative-fuel powered vehicles were registered in May, 607 more than in the same month in 2015.
Slowdown in growth continues
Year to date 1,164,870 cars have now been registered which is 4.1 per cent ahead of the same period last year.
But the SMMT points to a second month of growth under three per cent as showing that the market is becoming potentially more stable following a record 2015, while adding that the fall off could be to uncertainty stoked by the EU referendum.
Despite a slowdown new registrations now compare with a peak seen in 2002. Chart: SMMT
“The new car market in May remained high with compelling offers available on the latest vehicles, but the low growth is further evidence of the market cooling in the face of concerns around economic and political stability,” says SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes.
“Whether this is the result of some buyers holding off until the current uncertainty is resolved or a sign of a more stable market for new cars remains to be seen,” he adds.
Familiar faces occupying the top ten positions
The new car top ten has a familiar look about it. The top three are unchanged, with the Ford Fiesta continuing to dominate ahead of the VW Golf and Ford Focus. Vauxhall’s Corsa has recovered to fourth, demoting the Nissan Qashqai by a place, followed by the Vauxhall Astra, VW Polo, MINI and the fleet market’s two major players, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series.
Renault has revealed a new higher-power version of its Twingo city car, ahead of its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Twingo GT offers 110hp and 125lbft of torque, which compares to 90hp and 100lbft of the previous most powerful model. This is achieved chiefly through modifying the air intake and the engine mapping of the rear-mounted 898cc engine, along with the ratios of the gearbox.
Revised suspension, bespoke calibration of the Electronic Stability Program, variable rate steering and a lower ride height help make the most of the extra pace. Exactly what this pace is has not yet been revealed, however.
Visually the Twingo GT stands out courtesy of a look inherited from the Twin Run concept car unveiled at the Monaco GP in 2013. The changes include 17-inch wheels, lateral air intakes, a twin exhaust tailpipe and a distinctive orange body colour. – though the car will also be offered in Lunar Grey, Diamond Black and Crystal White.
Inside there is orange detailing, Renault Sport-badged doorsills, aluminium pedals and an alloy gear lever knob.
The Twingo will debut at the Goodwood Festival’s Moving Motorshow event on 23rd June. UK sales are expected to start in the winter of 2016 at prices yet to be announced.
Mercedes-Benz will publicly unveil the latest version of its E-Class Estate model this week, not at a motor show but the MercedesCup tennis tournament in Stuttgart.
The launch of the sixth-generation model, which goes on sale in July, follows the arrival of the E-Class saloon earlier this year. Its main targets will be big hitters the BMW 5 Series Tourer and the Audi A6 Avant.
A completely new body shape marks out the new E-Class Estate – evolved from its smaller sibling the C-Class, the body shell is bolder with a more swooping profile.
Despite the new model boasting a lower roof line, Mercedes claims best-in-class rear-seat head and elbow room for the Estate, together with boot space that is 670 litres as standard – 25 litres less than its predecessor but more than its direct rivals. This can extend to 1,820 litres by dropping the rear seats.
Cargo capacity can also be extended by 30 litres by repositioning the rear-seat backrest at a 10-degree steeper angle, while before the end of 2016 a third-row folding bench seat will be offered for children, as in previous versions.
Three powertrains will be offered, all matched to the 9G-Tronic automatic transmission as standard. Initial UK models will be 220d versions powered by an all-new four-cylinder 1950cc diesel engine of 191bhp and 295lbft of torque. It will crest 62mph from rest in 7.7 seconds and go on to 146mph, while official combined cycle fuel economy is 67mpg with CO2 emissions of 109g/km.
In late 2016 the E 350d will join the range, its six-cylinder 2987cc diesel offering 254bhp and 467lbft of torque. The 0-62mph is 6.2 seconds, top speed an electronically-limited 155mph, with fuel economy of 52mpg and CO2 emissions of 140g/km.
At the same time Mercedes will launch its AMG performance model, the E43 4Matic, with 290bhp, and 384lbft from its 3-litre V6 engine, along with 4Matic all-wheel drive. It will reach 62mph in 4.7 seconds, go on to 155mph with fuel economy of 34mpg and CO2 emissions of 192g/km.
The new E-Class Estate will offer many features seen on previous models, notably the self-levelling rear air suspension, while inside the car replicates the saloon, a major change from its predecessor – notably the touchpads, mounted between the front seats and on the steering wheel and able to be issue commands to the Infotainment system by thumb swipes, which Mercedes says keeps with its safety motto of ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.’
The most desirable interior upgrade on the options list will be a optional double panel with two 12-inch digital screens. According to its creators the resultant widescreen cockpit display appears to float in the air, providing a large display with virtual instruments in the driver’s field of view along with a central display above the centre console. The driver can choose between ‘Classic’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Progressive’ display modes.
Audi has unveiled the all-new and lighter A5 and S5 coupe models.
The four-seater, which appears nine years after the first A5, is expected to be available to order from late summer 2016.
Highlights of the new model are weight savings, a new and more aerodynamic body design, more interior space and improved efficiency from the powertrains.
The new exterior look is evolved from the previous A5 but according to its creators has been aerodynamically optimised to be the most efficient in its class, with a drag coefficient of 0.25.
Use of Audi’s latest lightweight materials in construction and the MLB platform, previously employed on the A4, helps cut kerb weight by up to 60kg. The wheelbase is extended, though Audi is yet to say by how much, while promising more interior space and a boot of 465 litres, 10 more than the outgoing A5.
The new A5 models will be offered with two TFSI petrol and three TDI diesel engine choices, power outputs ranging from 187 to 285bhp. Compared to the previous A5 output has been increased on average by 17%, while efficiency gains are by up to 22%.
Range-topper will again be the turbocharged V6 TFSI in the S5 model, with 348bhp on offer – ore than 20bhp more than its predecessor – and a 4.7-second 0-62mph time.
Depending on engine, transmissions will range across six-speed manual, seven-speed S tronic and eight-speed tiptronic units. Four cylinder manual transmission models will also be able to be specified with Audi’s ultra efficiency technology.
Inside the car a full suite of the brand’s latest technology will be available, such as the virtual cockpit and Audi Connect systems. Driver aids on offer include a predictive efficiency assistant to help save fuel, active lane assist and the Stop&Go adaptive cruise control which includes traffic jam assist to ease progress in slow-moving traffic.
New to the safety menu are park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist and turn assist, the brand’s pre-sense warning systems and camera-based traffic sign recognition.
Audi also says that buyers of the new A5 will find a more generous standard equipment list, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, LED interior lights, the MMI radio plus with seven-inch MMI colour display, Bluetooth and USB charging function, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, height-adjustable belt feeds, the drive select dynamic handling system and Audi pre sense city all included.
Prices for the new A5 range will be revealed closer to ordering opening – the current version starts from around £32,000.
What is it? The Jaguar F-Pace is a ‘performance crossover’ taking on the premium SUV market. What’s new? All of it. Our view: Jaguar has charted a course out of its premium saloon/sports comfort zone towards SUV territory, but not so far that sister brand Range Rover should be worried. Type of review: Taster test
Jaguar has realised that it really needs to be amongst the burgeoning numbers of premium SUVs. The brand’s three German rivals now have extensive SUV line-ups, and even the luxury market is going SUV, spawning the likes of the Maserati Levante, Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin’s forthcoming DBX, and even a Rolls-Royce.
All are chasing the success enjoyed by Porsche with its Cayenne and more recently the Macan.
The trouble is, Jaguar already has a premium SUV range – it’s just that they are badged Range Rover. Any Jaguar SUV would spark a real prospect of taking sales from a sister brand.
Perhaps that’s why the Jaguar F-Pace is not like any rival – the company insists it is a ‘performance crossover’, not an SUV, and it looks very much like a muscled-up car rather than something one would hit the trail in – more Audi Allroad than Audi Q7.
The Jaguar F-Pace range is available in rear and all-wheel-drive format and with a choice of three powerplants. The 3.0-litre V6 diesel of 295bhp and the supercharged petrol unit, also of 3.0-litre V6 format and with 374bhp on tap, will satisfy those who expect Jaguars to boast plenty of power. By far the most sales, however, will come the way of the Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel version with 177bhp.
What do we think of it? So far, The Car Expert has had a mere 30 minutes in the Jaguar F-Pace, in the less than perfect environment of the busy roads around JLR’s new Wolverhampton engine facility, so a considered opinion will await a full road test. But on first slipping into the car it’s obvious that this is something different to its perceived rivals.
The surroundings are very familiar to anyone who has driven a Jaguar saloon, and driving the F-Pace feels like being in the new XF but placed rather higher up. It’s an initially odd sensation but one soon becomes accustomed to it.
The Ingenium engine pulls eagerly and the car’s road manners are impeccable. One struggles to imagine it straying too far from the tarmac, but then it’s likely that very few F-Pace owners will buy them for their off-road ability.
Verdict: With so little time in the car so far this verdict is very much first impressions, but it is clear that Jaguar has charted a course that takes the brand out of its premium saloon/sports comfort zone towards SUV territory, but not so far that sister brand Land Rover should be worried. The F-Pace looks to be a major advance for the brand, which is already being demonstrated – even in its first few months on the market, this is already the fastest-selling car in Jaguar’s history…
Tested model:Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport 2.0d 180PS AWD Price: £40,360 plus £4,410 of options (Range starts £34,170) On sale: Spring 2016 Engine: 2-litre turbo diesel, 177bhp, 317lbft 0-62mph and max speed: 8.7sec, 129mph Economy and emissions: 53.3mpg, 139g/km Test date: June 2016
Jaguar Land Rover appears to have discovered how to sell to business customers, after posting record sales in the fleet market in the first quarter of 2016.
The UK premium brand posted fleet growth of 84% compared to the first three months of 2015, with models such as the Jaguar XE and Range Rover Evoque leading the surge.
Jaguar fleet sales mushroomed by 194% in the period, while Land Rover saw a 53% increase. The Evoque, pictured above, was the top seller for fleet customers compared to its premium rivals, while one in three fleet vehicles sold in sectors competed in by Land Rover was made by the brand.
JLR has struggled to make significant inroads into the fleet market in past years, but has stated its intention to increase such sales to 25% of the company’s total volume by 2020.
Key to this growth is the introduction of business market friendly models such as the XE, XF, Evoque and Discovery Sport. The two Jaguars can offer models with CO2 emissions levels down to 99g/km, making them far more attractive to company car drivers.
Speaking at a fleet and business briefing held at JLR’s expanding Ingenium engine plant near Wolverhampton, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD Jeremy Hicks describes the fleet and business performance as a fantastic result that proves the company has an effective formula in place.
“We have desirable and sector-appropriate cars, efficient Ingenium engines and class leading total cost of ownership – together, these factors deliver a compelling proposition for Fleet Managers to add Jaguar Land Rover to their fleet lists,” Hicks says.
“With this formula in mind, and with an ever expanding range of stunning Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles on the horizon, I’m confident that there’s plenty more fleet growth to come,” he adds.
Hicks’ views are backed by JLR’s fleet and business manager Jon Wackett, who says that the company has disrupted a market that has been traditionally dominated by three or four brands “by introducing extremely desirable cars that represent real-world value for money.
“We are strategically aiming to balance volume of sales against maintaining strong residual values which is a core buying decision for our existing and future customers,” Wackett says.
JLR is confident that 2016 will continue the strong growth, on the back of a full year of Ingenium-powered XE and XF sales, and the arrival of both the Evoque Convertible and the F-Pace crossover.
The F-Pace has already become the best-selling Jaguar in the company’s history, and one-in-six of these sales is predicted to go to the fleet sector. JLR predicts that its fleet sales in 2016 will grow by 50% compared with 2015, and continue double-digit growth through to 2020.
Ford has announced its most powerful production Fiesta yet, the ST200.
Costing from £22,745, the newcomer offers 200hp and 214lbft of torque – 10% and 20% more respectively than the existing Fiesta ST. A further 15bhp and 22lbft is available for up to 20 seconds courtesy of an overboost feature.
The ST200 is pitched as a celebration model as the Fiesta marks 40 years in production, and its power is around double that the XR2, a direct ancestor, was putting out two decades ago.
The power upgrade is achieved through recalibration of the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine used by the Fiesta ST. The gearbox final drive is shortened from 3.82 to 4.06, and as a result the 0-62mph sprint time is shaved by two tenths of a second to 6.7 seconds, and in-gear acceleration (31-82mph) improved to 5.2 seconds in fourth gear – on the way to a top speed of 143mph.
Chassis upgrades are also applied – the rear torsion beam gains an extra 27% of roll stiffness, the front anti-roll bar is increased 2mm in diameter to 19mm and damper settings are revised.
Power-steering settings are also sharpened, utilising a shortened steering arm and modified knuckle to improve feel, Enhanced Torque Vectoring Control (eTVC) and three-mode Electronic Stability Control (ESC) included while braking performance is improved by 278mm front and 253mm rear discs and a larger master cylinder.
To differentiate it from stock ST models the ST200 gains a bespoke Storm Grey exterior colour and matt black 17-inch alloy wheels with polished rims. Red calipers sit behind the rims while the full ST bodykit is included.
Inside the car is differentiated by Charcoal Recaro front seats with contrasting silver stitching repeated on the seatbelts. Illuminated scuff plates incorporate the ST200 logo.
According to Ford of Europe’s product development head Joe Bakaj, the Fiesta ST200 takes a special drivers’ car to a new level of power and performance. “We think it’s a future classic in the making,” he says.
What is it? New ‘rational’ supermini line to sit alongside the Suzuki Swift.
What’s new? Everything. It’s an all-new model, although engines and so on are shared with other Suzuki models.
Our view For buyers seeking a practical runabout, the Suzuki Baleno has lots to offer – efficient engines, positive performance, value for money and loads of space.
The Suzuki Baleno is an all-new model line nothing like the last Suzuki to bear the name, which was last sold in 2002. According to its makers, this is a car to appeal to supermini buyers that are too ‘rational’ to buy Suzuki’s most popular car, the Swift.
Chief among the newcomer’s attractions is its space, the car 15cm longer than the Swift – claimed as class-leading, the interior really can accommodate five adults while the boot is enormous for the segment, going from 320 litres to 1,085 litres with the seats folded down.
The Baleno is built on a new platform, the first under Suzuki’s ‘Next 100’ plan, and saves significant weight, some models tipping the scales at only 935kg.
Engine choices are two, both petrol. The 1.2-litre 89bhp unit is most efficient, at fuel economy of 70.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 94g/km, helped by Dualjet twin-injector technology debuted on the Swift in 2014, and for the first time a mild hybrid system that provides energy assistance under acceleration and gathers electricity through regenerative braking.
Most buyers are expected, however to choose the direct-injection 1.0-litre BoosterJet turbo petrol engine of 110bhp, first seen in the Vitara earlier this year. It’s claimed to offer the performance of a much larger 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated unit but with better fuel economy – 62.7mpg at best, with 105g/km emissions.
What do we think of it?
Suzuki says the Baleno debuts a new design style dubbed ‘Liquid Flow’. It’s not distinctive, but it’s not unattractive either, looking at home alongside rivals such as the Hyundai i20 or Skoda Fabia.
Inside the layout is practical with everything in the right place. The surfacing is not exactly plush, plenty of plastic in evidence and looking like plastic, but it is fitted well. But the aspect that stands out is the space – rear seat passengers in particular will struggle to fins similar comfort in other models.
The Car Expert drove the car with the three-cylinder BoosterJet engine, which is expected to prove the most popular, and it is easy to see why. It is an eager unit, reaching 62mph in around 11 seconds while pulling strongly in the mid range.
There are better handling cars than the Baleno in this segment, such as the renowned Ford Fiesta, but there are also many that it competes very firmly with. The car corners confidently and rides with comfort.
Verdict
Suzuki believes the Baleno will appeal on its practical aspects and thus sit happily alongside the Swift, and we see no reason to doubt that view.
For buyers seeking a practical runabout it has lots to offer: strong, efficient engines, a positive performance, as well as strong value-for-money credentials: satellite navigation, air conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity are standard on every version, But chiefly, space. Lots and lots of space…
Suzuki Baleno – key specifications
Tested model:Suzuki Baleno 1.0 BoosterJet SZ5 Price: £13,999 (Range starts from £12,999) On sale: June 2016 Engine: 1.0 petrol, 110bhp, 125lbft 0-62mph and max speed: 11.4sec, 124mph Economy and emissions: 62.7mpg, 105g/km Test date: May 2016
Vauxhall has released first details of its revised Zafira Tourer, that arrives in showrooms in October 2016.
Changes are made to the styling and the interior, while technology added includes Adaptive Forward Lighting LED headlamps and smartphone integration.
The exterior treatment includes a replacement upper and lower grille, while the chrome bar carrying the Vauxhall logo blends into the reshaped headlamps – these including ‘double-wing’ daytime running lights – to give the car a wider look which is enhanced by pushed-out wheels housed in new arches.
According the Vauxhall design head Mark Adams, the latest Astra has inspired the visual changes to the Zafira. “Its sharp, precise double-winged daytime running lights convey a new level of sophistication, which is also reflected in the interior by a completely redesigned instrument panel – it is purer, clearer and easier to use,” he says.
The one-piece instrument panel now has its infotainment screen integrated into the centre console, several buttons being replaced by a simpler switch-based layout. The touchscreen is seven inches in size and tablet-based.
Two versions of Vauxhall’s latest IntelliLink infotainment systems are on offer. The R4.0 IntelliLink integrates with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphones while the Navi 950 IntelliLink provides an infotainment system with on-board navigation.
Vauxhall’s OnStar connectivity system is also standard, features including Automatic Crash Response Destination Download with the Navi 950 variant and the ability to provide a Wi-Fi Hotspot for up to seven devices.
A further major change to the cabin is the availability of the Lounge Seating System – the back of the middle seat in the second row folds down and rotates to offer armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. These also slide to the rear and towards the centre of the car to increase leg and shoulder room.
The new Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) LED headlamps automatically adapt their lighting patterns to the driving situation – nine different modes are available, including town or country lighting, tourist mode, a curve and cornering function a manoeuvring light and a stop mode light.
Other upgrades that will be offered on the latest Zafira Tourer include a new generation Front Camera System, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and FlexRide. which continuously adapts vehicle behaviour to the driving situation, style and the individual preferences of the driver.
Renault’s all-new Megane range will cost from £16,600 when it arrives in showrooms in July 2016.
Order books have opened for the new model, which is being pitched heavily on an array of new technology, including 4Control four-wheel-steering and an 8.7-inch portrait-format touchscreen infotainment system.
The car will be offered in 25 different versions across six trim levels, encompassing two dCi diesel and two TCe petrol engines, manual and EDC auto transmissions.
More powertrains will join the line-up later on, notably dCi 165 and Hybrid Assist variants, both due in 2017. Before they arrive the range will be extended by a Sport Tourer model, on sale before the end of 2016.
Equipment on all versions will include cruise control with a speed limiter, Hill Start Assist, a two-way adjustable steering column, height adjustable driver and passenger seat, Bluetooth connectivity, LED daytime running lamps, tinted windows, a seven-inch TFT instrument panel with digital speedometer, all-round electric windows, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 4 x 20W DAB radio with fingertip controls and an AUX input.
Renault unveiled the fourth-generation Megane at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, with the Sport Tourer debuting at the 2016 Geneva show in March. Both are built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance ‘CMF’ platform and European versions will be built in Palencia, Spain.
European car companies, including those in Britain, have long prided themselves on being leaders in the automotive world. They have set the standards for technology, safety, style and efficiency. But this may all be set to change, with China now calling the shots for the global automotive industry.
Enormous economic growth in China, the global push for more environmentally-friendly cars and changing attitudes from younger generations all over the world are all combining to reshape how cars will look and drive – and who will own them. This was a key topic of discussion at the FT Future of the Car Summit earlier this month in London.
China comes first for new model planning
China is now the largest automotive market in the world, having eclipsed the US and Europe several years ago and continuing to grow. In fact, the Chinese car market is growing by the size of the entire UK market each year. And as the largest market in the world, China carries a lot of clout. Every major car manufacturer in the world now has to make decisions about their future product plans based on what the Chinese market is demanding – even if that contradicts demand in their home markets.
For example, hatchbacks might be the most popular style of vehicle in the UK and across Europe, but they don’t sell nearly as well as saloons in China (or America, for that matter). So nearly every major European car maker now offers saloon versions of their popular hatchback models if they are trying to succeed in China.
Ever wondered why Mercedes-Benz has been replacing the traditional grille and bonnet mascot on its luxury saloons with the ‘sports’ grill with the huge star in the centre? It’s because Chinese buyers like the huge star, to make sure everyone in the street knows they drive a Mercedes-Benz…
China’s pollution problems are bad news for diesel
You have to have been living under a rock for the last year to not know that diesel fuel has been copping a bashing from all over the place, thanks to Volkswagen choosing to cheat its emissions tests and increasing evidence that diesel pollution is linked to serious health issues in urban environments. But diesel was already starting to struggle before the Volkswagen scandal ignited the issue in September 2015.
At the FT Future of the Car Summit, Volkswagen UK managing director Paul Willis admitted that diesel sales were already declining before the Dieselgate scandal became public news. Despite the push for diesel cars from European governments over the last couple of decades, the huge US car market was never interested in diesel technology (and the big German companies certainly tried). And the new market leader China isn’t interested either.
Major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai have been battling crippling levels of pollution for years. That pollution is now driving the world’s largest push for the electrification of cars rather than incremental improvements to petrol or diesel engines.
Car companies you have probably never heard of, like NextEV and Faraday Future, are working hard on bringing advanced new electric vehicles to market. They are employing some of the brightest industry talent from Europe and America, in a race to be the “next Tesla”. Tesla, of course, has announced plans to be building 500,000 electric cars a year within three years, and is relying on China to buy a large number of those vehicles.
Richard Bruce, head of Office for Low Emission Vehicles at the UK Department for Transport, said: “Chinese companies are not interested in diesel engines or turbocharging. They are investing in electric vehicles, battery packs and so on.
“There is a huge risk for European car companies if they don’t adapt.”
So if car companies want to compete in the world’s largest market, they will have to develop viable electric cars. This is a huge undertaking, with many billions of pounds being spent around the globe, and it means that electric cars have become a priority for every major car maker – regardless of whether buyers in Europe or elsewhere really want them. The knock-on effect of the investment in electric technology is inevitably going to be less money to spend on petrol and diesel technology.
With diesel also under pressure from environmental groups and Volkswagen’s own goal, it is quite possible that diesel development will trail off sooner than expected. Diesel engines are also not as suited to hybrid drivetrains, which is limiting for markets which are demanding more hybrid cars – like the US and China. Volkswagen has announced a massive investment in electric vehicles, and has also pulled nearly all of its diesel models from sale in America (where the Dieselgate cheating was first uncovered). Europe may still be diesel-centric, but industry figures expect this to reduce significantly in the next decade if governments start to increase taxes on diesel-engined cars.
China is leading the world away from car ownership
Only 10% of the adult population in China can drive, and this percentage is likely to fall further. Wealthier families in China employ drivers so they don’t have to do their own driving, which is leading to increased investment from car companies in vehicles with more rear legroom and infotainment technology for rear seat passengers to play with.
It is also accelerating the development of autonomous cars, as there will simply not be enough drivers to chauffeur millions of Chinese passengers around each day. Plus there are numerous other benefits to traffic management and pollution from autonomous cars, as we have discussed recently, which could significantly help ease traffic jams and air quality problems in major Chines cities.
Around the world but especially in China, millennials are collectively turning away from driving and owning cars. They are preferring to use taxis or services like Uber for short journeys and car-sharing services or rentals for longer trips.
The consensus among industry representative at the FT Summit was that car sharing will trump car ownership for a large percentage of the world’s population in the next couple of decades, so manufacturers have started investing heavily in providing car-sharing services like Daimler’s car2go (pictured above). Again, it will likely take off first in China before moving to more traditional markets like Europe and the US, where owning your own car has long been a natural part of society and will take longer to change.
So for many reasons, key aspects of your next car could be the way they are because that’s what they want in China. British and European car companies are relying on the huge Chinese market for an increasing percentage of their sales, and it is affecting every aspect of the automotive sector.
BMW will be releasing a host of 2017 upgrades for its product range with the introduction of more efficient, stronger-performing four- and six-cylinder engines for the BMW 1 and 2 Series. There will also be new additions to the BMW iPerformance range of Plug-in-Hybrid models.
2017 upgrades will see the BMW M140i and M240i models will replace the previous M135i and M235i, respectively. These M Performance models are to be powered by a new 3.0-litre straight-six engine employing TwinPower Turbo technology delivering a maximum of 340hp and 500Nm of torque.
The M140i has a zero to 62mph time of 4.6 seconds (automatic). The M240i Convertible goes from rest to 62mph in just 4.7 seconds. These increases in speed are claimed to be accompanied by a reduction of up to seven per cent in fuel consumption over the previous engine range. Official figures for the BMW M140i hatchbacks and M240i Coupé are 36.2mpg (manual) or 39.8mpg (Sports Automatic), with respective CO2 figures of 179g/km and 163g/km. The M240i Convertible has a claimed fuel efficiency of 34.0mpg in manual guise and 38.2mpg as an automatic, while their respective CO2 emissions are 189g/km and 169g/km.
The new 2017 M Performance models will also feature electric wastegate control, a close-coupled catalytic converter, an on-demand cooling pump and map-controlled oil pump, electronic power steering, Auto Stop Start and Brake Energy Regeneration. Owners will also benefit from a rev-linked vibration damper helping to enhance the car’s smoothness.
BMW has also made additions to the BMW iPerformance range. Three of these plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models – the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, BMW 330e saloon and BMW X5 xDrive40e – are already on sale. They will be joined next year by the BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive saloons, all to be sold under the new iPerformance banner. OTR prices for the BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive start from £68,330 and £74,880 and are available in the Exclusive or M Sport trim.
The prices of the new Abarth 595 have just been announced by FiatChrysler Automobiles UK.
Starting at £15,090 OTR for the 1.4 TJet 145hp Manual, the new offering is available as a hatchback or convertible.
The Abarth 595 comes in three trim levels: 595, 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione, and three power levels. An Abarth mechanical limited-slip differential can be added to the 595 Competizione – designed to improve traction in extreme conditions.
On the outside, the new Abarth 595 now has an oversized air intake and a rear bumper that has been altered to offer a more pronounced diffuser. Specific bumper inserts have also been created for each trim level.
There are new 17’’ Granturismo rims (standard on 595 Turismo) on offer and 15 body colours for customers to choose from. There are also three new two-colour combos: Scorpione Black/Podio Blue and Scorpione Black/Record Grey and Circuit Grey/Abarth Red. An updated upholstery selection has also been added for the entire range.
The new Abarth 595 also features a brand new sports instrument panel. For infotainment, all 595 versions are equipped with Uconnect™ 5-inch DAB digital radio with touchscreen and Uconnect Live services as standard. This will include Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto support. The range also sports a newly refined BeatsAudio™ system with seven speakers.
