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Jaguar XF S review

Stuart Masson
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Jaguar XF S review

What is it: The Jaguar XF S is the performance model of the second-generation XF family, although not the most extreme version available.
Key features: Supercharged V6 engine, lightweight construction, superb ride/handling balance
Our view: The Jaguar XF S is a worthy competitor in a very tough market. It’s not perfect, but it is a fine car.
Review type: Full road test

Introduction

The current Jaguar XF range has been on sale for a couple of years now, although it’s possible you may not have noticed since it looks rather similar to both the previous model and the smaller Jaguar XE saloon.

Despite the same-again styling, it is a much more advanced machine. Extensive use of aluminium and lightweight materials has kept weight down – despite a more spacious cabin and ever-increasing levels of kit weighing it down.

On test is the XF S performance model, which is powered by a supercharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 engine generating some 380hp. Plenty quick enough, then. It also gets some slight styling tweaks, bigger wheels and brakes, and suspension upgrades. Lower-spec models get the Ingenium diesel and (from summer 2017) petrol engines, replacing previous units sourced from the Ford empire.

Over a week of varied driving, the XF S proved highly competent is what is an incredibly tough market segment. The middleweight Jaguar range has to compete against the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Infiniti Q70, Lexus GS, Maserati Ghibli and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. If you don’t want the performance S model, then the Volvo S90 is also a formidable competitor.

Jaguar XF S letter box image

Exterior design

Jaguar has managed to produce a bodyshell that provides significantly more room than the previous model, despite being fractionally shorter (only by 7mm, so don’t start making plans for that extra garage space).

In XF S specification, and with our car’s optional 20-inch alloy wheels, it is a handsome albeit slightly generic look. When the previous XF and then the current Jaguar XJ were launched nearly a decade ago, it was a rather shocking break with decades of retro-tastic Jaguar designs. A toned-down version of the XJ’s style has been applied to the small XE and mid-size XF saloons, and it is a modern yet fairly anonymous look.

Even for car enthusiasts, telling the difference between an XE and XF on the street can be tricky. Having decided on a new design language, Jaguar seems determined to apply it rigorously to every model in the range.

Better than: Audi A6, Infiniti Q70
Not as good as: BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Maserati Ghibli, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S90

  • Jaguar XF S saloon executive car review 2017 (The Car Expert)

Interior design

Jaguar’s design and engineering teams have managed to significantly improve the room for rear-seat passengers, who now have a decent amount of room for such a large car. The boot is not only larger but also better shaped, and it was able to swallow two large and two small suitcases with ease.

The dashboard layout is similar to XE and has some genuinely nice design features, like a sweeping line which ran all around the dash from door to door, but gimmicks like a pop-up gear selector and automatically-swivelling air vents lose their appeal after the second time you start the car. Another negative is the touchscreen infotainment system, which looked dated and was annoying to use on the move (more of that shortly). Likewise the digital dash display, which lags behind Audi’s best-in-class version.

Emphasising its ‘sportiness’, our test vehicle had carbon-fibre trim and somewhat gaudy red and black leather. Maybe some buyers like it, but the combination seemed rather tacky for what was nearly a £60,000 car with all the options it was carrying.

Better than: Infiniti Q70, Lexus GS, Maserati Ghibli
Not as good as: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S90

  • Jaguar XF S dashboard
  • Jaguar XF S (US-spec) red and black interior

Powertrain

The supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine in the Jaguar XF S may be getting a bit long in the tooth these days, but it is still a lovely thing to drive. Partnered with a refined eight-speed automatic transmission, its 380hp gives more than enough performance for any given situation. Unlike many ‘sporting’ saloons (and unlike Jaguar’s own F-Type sports car), the XF S does not have a booming exhaust note to drive you batty over a long journey. Instead, the fast Jaguar is a pleasingly hushed model of discretion.

The performance does come at a price, however. Over a week of mainly gentle driving and motorway cruising, we rarely saw fuel economy reach 30mpg. If we’d been really pushing it, the numbers would probably have been down in the teens.

Better than: Audi A6, Infiniti Q70, Maserati Ghibli, Mercedes E-Class, Volvo S90
Not as good as: BMW 5 Series

Jaguar XF S supercharged V6 engine

On the road

If you enjoy driving your large luxury saloon along winding B-roads at speed, then the Jaguar XF S fits the bill very well. The steering encourages you to play and the handling is excellent for such a large car. Switch the car into Dynamic mode and it’s a sharp performer.

Finding a balance for the other 99% of the time is usually a difficult trick. Big wheels and stiff suspension are usually the enemies of comfortable ride, and most manufacturers will sacrifice one in favour of the other. Jaguar, however, has managed to balance the opposing requirements of ride and handling pretty well.

Even on our car’s optional 20-inch wheels (19-inch is standard), the XF S was a comfortable commuter and motorway cruiser. Switching over to Eco mode dulls the throttle response significantly, which is actually very useful in commuter traffic compared to the very sensitive response of Normal and Dynamic modes.

Better than*: Audi A6, Infiniti Q70, Lexus GS, Maserati Ghibli, Volvo S90
Not as good as*: BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

*Where we have not driven competitor vehicles to rate against the tested vehicle, we have aggregated reports from across the UK motoring media.

  • Jaguar XF S side profile
  • Jaguar XF S rear view on road

Equipment

Equipment levels for the Jaguar XF S are largely in line with what you’d expect for this segment and price. Electrically-adjustable heated leather seats, auto high-beam headlights, auto wipers, reversing camera, parking sensors, satnav and bluetooth streaming are all present.

The test car featured an optional head-up display, which worked brilliantly and is highly recommended. It was also equipped with an upgraded infotainment system, which did not garner any great praise. The system felt slow and clunky compared to its German rivals, and the touchscreen was difficult to use on the move (the Germans still refuse to go down the touchscreen path, and I completely agree with them). Bluetooth pairing was also inconsistent.

Safety-wise, the Jaguar XF range was awarded a five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was launched in 2015. Autonomous emergency braking is standard, but additional active safety features like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot assist and active cruise control are all optional extras.

Better than: Infiniti Q70, Lexus GS, Maserati Ghibli
Not as good as: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S90

Summary

The large executive car segment is a very tough marketplace, but the Jaguar XF S is competitive in pretty much every way you would need.

It is a comfortable, quiet and smooth saloon, with plenty of performance on tap whenever you feel the need. It rewards spirited driving far more than most of its rivals, and is a genuinely lovely place to cover miles – whether it’s a daily commute, a motorway trip or a Sunday blast.

The visible digital technology – satnav, stereo, bluetooth, and instrument panel – lags considerably behind the best in class, and certainly the fuel economy on the XF S isn’t too clever. Some of the optional extras are pretty pricey, and a few should really be standard equipment on a car like this.

If you can live with the negative points and enjoy driving, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy a Jaguar XF S.

Similar cars

Audi A6 | BMW 5 Series | Infiniti Q70 | Lexus GS | Maserati Ghibli | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | Volvo S90

Jaguar XF S – key specifications

Test Date: May 2017   
Price: from £51,100
Engine: Petrol, 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power: 380hp @ 6,500rpm   
Torque: 450Nm @ 4,500rpm.
0-62mph: 5.1 seconds   
Top speed: 155 mph

Insurance group: 38
Fuel economy: 34.0 mpg (combined cycle) CO2 emissions: 198. g/km

Jaguar XF S static

Nissan Qashqai – Ten years on

Andrew Charman
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Nissan Qashqai – Ten years on

Ten years ago, the Nissan Qashqai went on sale. A decade on, not even the most optimistic prophet at the Japanese brand could honestly state that they had expected the dramatic way in which this car changed the car market – in the UK, across Europe, even globally.

The concept was simple – Nissan designers noticed how buyers liked SUVs for their dominant road presence, but not so much for their generally coarser road manners, and the complexity and cost of their all-wheel-drive powertrains.

From family car to SUV

In fact, the Nissan Qashqai was born out of a difficult period in the company’s design office, which had started off penning a replacement for the Almera family car. With Renault and Nissan newly merged, boss Carlos Ghosn insisted that the poor-selling Almera should be replaced by something much better. A 25-strong design team conceived the idea of a larger car, somewhat like SEAT’s Altea, but after nine months of work concluded they were going in the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, Nissan had been talking to its customers, concluding that while SUVs were becoming more popular, many motorists considered them too large for using as around-town everyday cars, while poor fuel efficiency and lacklustre interior quality were also turn-offs.

According to Peter Brown, vehicle evaluation manager then and today at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE), based in Cranfield, Berkshire, from this conclusion was born the idea of the first ‘crossover’.

“We managed to persuade the business that we could break down some of these barriers by taking the best bits of a family hatchback and adding the elements of SUVs that are most attractive to customers,” Peter said.

2008 Nissan Qashqai, with 2017 model in the background

The resultant car would “combine the advantages of a compact SUV with the agility and comfort of a hatchback”. It was named the Qashqai – after inhabitants of a mountainous area of southwest Iran and translating to ‘horse with white forehead.’

Three into one

The Nissan Qashqai ended up replacing three cars – the Almera and its larger sister the Primera, and the Terrano II SUV. And while observers naturally compared the imposing newcomer to the Terrano, it was a very different concept. The Terrano was of traditional SUV construction with its body bolted to a ladder frame, the Qashqai was of monocoque construction, like all new family cars.

Nissan emphasised this fact when the Qashqai was unveiled as a concept at the 2004 Geneva motor show. The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks were described as the Qashqai’s prime rivals, not any SUVs.

Reaction to the car was guarded. One media commentator dubbed it “the Stannah Stair Lift of concept cars”, and also dismissed the name as ridiculous. Nissan was convinced, however, and less than three years later launched the production Qashqai.

A decade on, that optimism has been dramatically rewarded. Today Nissan proudly claims to have invented a whole new sector with the crossover, a description now familiar to motorists. Said sector is today the fastest growing in the entire industry – in 2010 crossover/SUVs accounted for less than 1% of the UK market, today it’s close to 9%, and the story is the same across Europe.

Just about every manufacturer today considers it vital to have not just one, but a range of crossovers in its line-up. Nissan claims 21 direct rivals have been launched against the Qashqai in the last decade, while new models are appearing all the time; Vauxhall and Skoda among those revealing new contenders in 2017.

Meanwhile the crossover sector has itself fragmented into sub-sectors based mainly on size, while expanding into the premium and even the luxury arenas – in 2006, who would have imagined buying an SUV-like Bentley, or Maserati, or even Jaguar?

Through it all, the Nissan Qashqai has remained out front. In the last decade, more than 3.3 million Qashqais have been sold in 99 countries across the world, 2.3 million of these in Europe. And almost all of them have come out of Nissan’s UK plant in Sunderland.

  • 2008 and 2017 Nissan Qashqai SUV - front
  • 2008 and 2017 Nissan Qashqai SUV - rear
  • 2008 Nissan Qashqai alongside a 2017 model

A very British car

In fact the Qashqai is more British than virtually all other cars rolling off the lines in UK plants. It was the first Nissan to be styled by the brand’s European Design Centre in Paddington, London, while in charge of getting the engineering right was the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE), based in Cranfield, Berkshire.

To celebrate the decade the Qashqai has been with us, The Car Expert spent a week driving two versions of the car – one of the very first, a 1.6 petrol model on sale in 2008, and the current model in 1.5 dCi diesel form. This is an example of the second-generation Qashqai, launched in 2014 and with a facelifted version expected on sale in July.

Slipping into the 2008 model first, it’s difficult to believe that when we attended the launch events a decade ago, the motoring journalist pack had to think long and hard about how to describe this newcomer. It seemed not one thing or another, with SUV height and looks, an MPV interior, and claimed family hatch economy.

Today, even a 2008 Qashqai feels one of the most normal of all cars to drive, simply because we drive so many crossovers these days. Reacquainting ourselves with the old model is a reminder that the Qashqai did not do anything stand-out well, but it did everything to a level that was thoroughly practical and easy to live with – it really did offer that SUV feel without SUV drawbacks.

The interior for example – back in 2007 this gained a few headlines because it was far better than anything we had previously seen from Nissan. Today it immediately looks dated when perhaps unkindly compared to that of the current Qashqai. The new car benefits from all the advances made in technology, digital displays and such like, but there remains an appeal to the simplicity of the original version.

  • 2008 Nissan Qashqai - front
  • 2008 Nissan Qashqai - rear
  • 2008 Nissan Qashqai dashboard

The Nissan Qashqai grows up

Where the current Nissan Qashqai wins hands down is in interior space. Rear-seat passengers were the least well-served in the original, particularly in terms of headroom, but the new architecture adopted for the second-generation model added 47mm to the length and a whole lot more room inside.

On the road? Well, it’s not really a fair test because our 2008 original is petrol powered, while the current version is a diesel, reflecting the CO2 emissions-induced growth of diesel popularity over the last decade.

It’s a clear demonstration of the march of technology that the diesel not only feels smoother and quieter than its petrol predecessor, but it moves the Qashqai along rather more rapidly. The current car reaches 62mph more than two seconds quicker than the 2008 version, despite the engine having 18 fewer horses and having to cope with more than 120kg of extra weight! That’s progress…

The first Qashqai introduced handling to the SUV market, showing that you could drive such a car without resorting to fear each time a corner loomed ahead. The current one maintains the trend.

It’s more dynamically sorted than its predecessor, but still erring towards comfort rather than grin-producing road holding – which of course is what it was always meant to do. The extra weight helps it feel more planted on the roads.

Yet… the 2008 Nissan Qashqai impressed us. Strip off all the modern tech from the current model, and it’s not that massively different from its pioneering predecessor. The most pertinent conclusion to come out of our week’s testing is just how right Nissan got it ten years ago.

  • 2017 Nissan Qashqai - front
  • 2017 Nissan Qashqai - rear
  • 2017 Nissan Qashqai - dashboard

Fastest Lotus Elise yet unveiled

Andrew Charman
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Fastest Lotus Elise yet unveiled
The Lotus Elise Cup 250 has been revealed as the fastest four-cylinder sports car ever produced by the Norfolk brand. Dealers are already taking orders for the car that promises a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds from its 1.8-litre 243hp engine.

For road and track

Lotus describes the Elise Cup 250 as bridging the gap between road and track, offering race car capability in a car usable every day. Joining the already released Exige Cup 380, the Lotus Elise Cup 250 gains similar aerodynamic improvements. These include a new lightweight rear wing, front splitter, bargeboards and rear diffuser contributing to 125kg of downforce at 140mph. The car’s dry weight is reduced to 884kg, thanks to the use of carbon fibre, titanium and aluminium. Revised dampers and lightweight forged wheels, shod with Yokohama performance tyres, also feature. The latest Elise visual treatment, debuted earlier in 2017 on the standard car, includes wider front radiator inlets and a mesh-pattern grille, and two instead of four rear light clusters. The reveal of the Elise Cup 250 comes just as Lotus looks set to acquire new owners with Chinese giant Geely, which owns Volvo, taking a controlling stake in the brand. Announcing the new car, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales describes it as the latest edition in an exciting period for the company. “We know what existing Lotus enthusiasts demand from our cars and we are also bringing in many new customers who can see clearly that we offer an unrivalled combination of performance, styling, dynamics and value for money,” Galles says. “The power and aerodynamic prowess of the new Elise Cup 250 has taken the fight beyond the reach of lesser rivals and, at just 860kg, it shows that we are ahead of the curve in delivering lightweight, intelligently engineered sports cars,” he adds. Prices for the Lotus Elise 350 Cup start from £47,400.

Audi electrics & SUVs head bold launch plans

Andrew Charman
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Audi electrics & SUVs head bold launch plans

Audi has unveiled an ambitious new model programme to include more Q series SUVs and three e-tron battery-electric cars.

The German premium brand intends that at least 30 per cent of its sales will be of electric or part-electric models by 2025, and to have the technology available for driverless city cars within four years.

Five new lines in one year

The plans have been outlined to Audi shareholders during the brand’s AGM in Neckarsulm, Germany. “We are rejuvenating our model portfolio enormously and will renew five existing core model series by mid-2018,” said chairman Rupert Stadler.

“In addition, we will expand our successful Q family by 2019 with two new concepts – the Audi Q8 and the Audi Q4 – and we will launch our battery-electric e-tron models.” Three new electric Audis will appear by 2020, and the brand will then introduce electric versions across its core model ranges.

Audi is also taking over the development of autonomous car technology across the Volkswagen Group and the first examples of driverless cars will be launched early in the next decade. Meanwhile the new ‘myAudi’ programme will establish a digital platform for online services across the range.

This year the brand will focus on its high-end cars. A new A8 will be launched at the first-ever Audi Summit event in Barcelona in June, and will be followed by a new A7.

Audi A3 e-tron review (The Car Expert)
The Audi A3 e-tron will gain new sister models.

Fiat brands move into personal contract hire market

Stuart Masson
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Fiat brands move into personal contract hire market
Fiat’s finance arm has begun offering personal contract hire (PCH) packages on selected Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep models from its dealerships, in a move which aims to strengthen its position in the growing PCH sector. Private customers looking at a Fiat Tipo or 500X, Alfa Romeo Giulia or Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee or Renegade will now have a factory-backed PCH option to compare with the traditional personal contract purchase (PCP) or hire purchase (HP) offers. The new offering, called Be-Free, includes road tax, breakdown cover and roadside assistance and free GAP insurance finance waiver (which covers any early termination costs in the event of the car being declared a total loss). Customers can choose terms from two to five years, with mileage allowances of up to 150,000 miles over the total duration. A variety of upfront rental payments is also available.

New ground for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The move into personal contract hire is potentially a significant one for Fiat’s brands, as controversy continues to swirl around PCP car finance, and it is likely that more models will be added to the above list in coming months. The move may also be an attempt by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to reclaim some of the finance business which is currently going to a large number of independent finance brokers currently monopolising the PCH market. The new PCH offers are being managed by FCA Fleet Services, the contract hire division of FCA Bank, which is a joint venture between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and French bank Crédit Agricole.

Skoda Kodiaq targets business customers

Katharine Morgan
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Skoda Kodiaq targets business customers
Skoda is targeting corporate fleets, small businesses and company car drivers with a trim level of its newly-launched Kodiaq called SE Technology. Only available with a 2.0-litre diesel 150hp engine, customers can choose between front or four-wheel-drive and a manual or automatic gearbox. Based on the entry-level SE specification, the Kodiaq SE Technology has relatively few luxury features but a high level of connectivity, aimed at the needs of business users. The Skoda Connect online infotainment system provides satellite navigation, traffic reports and calendar updates. The Skoda Kodiaq was awarded five stars from Euro NCAP this week, thanks to excellent ccrash protection and standard fitment of autonomous emergency braking on all models. Pricing for the five-seat version starts from £26,860 and from £27,860 for the seven-seat model.

September launch for higher-tech Peugeot 308

Andrew Charman
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September launch for higher-tech Peugeot 308
Technology upgrades feature in a facelift to the Peugeot 308 family car, ranging across the hatch, SW estate and GTi versions of the model. On sale in September, the new model also includes significant engine and transmission updates. Dubbed New Peugeot 308, the car will be the first Peugeot-Citroën model to be fitted with the group’s new 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel engine of 130hp. This uses an ‘at source and at exhaust’ emission control system that Peugeot says was developed in its Le Mans 24hr race cars. The three-cylinder Pure Tech petrol engines are upgraded and matched to a revised six-speed manual gearbox, while the 2-litre 180 BlueHDi diesel gains a new eight-speed auto transmission.

Six-second GTi

The Peugeot 308 GTi remains the range-topper, developed by the brand’s Peugeot Sport competition department. Its 270hp petrol engine promises a 0-62mph time of six seconds while returning CO2 emissions of 139g/km. New technology includes the brand’s latest infotainment system. Centring on a 9.7-inch touchscreen, it includes Mirrolink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility.1706 new Peugeot 308 Peugeot is also highlighting the increase in driver aids now available for the 308 range. Speed Limit Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control and an Active Blind Spot Monitoring System are all added to the menu. The Speed Limit Recognition employs a windscreen-located camera to read speed limit signs and display them on the car’s dashboard, while ignoring signs aimed at specific vehicles, such as HGVs. The Adaptive Cruise Control includes a stop function, while also now available is a smart park assist system dubbed City Park. Visually the car gains the usual facelift elements of reshaped bumpers and headlamps, the new look designed to match that of the larger 3008 SUV launched in 2016. 1706 New Peugeot 308 SW

Skoda, MINI and Nissan receive five-star Euro NCAP ratings

The Car Expert staff
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Skoda, MINI and Nissan receive five-star Euro NCAP ratings
Euro NCAP has released the results for its latest round of crash tests, with the MINI Countryman, Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan Micra all receiving five-star safety ratings. Also tested was the new Suzuki Swift, due to go on sale in the UK in June, which received a disappointing three-star rating in its base specification. The premium SZ5 models will receive additional accident avoidance technology, which improves the score for those models to four stars. However, the SZ5 specification models start at an additional £3,500 over the entry-level Swift. All four cars tested did receive five stars for adult occupant, child and pedestrian protection. The differences lay in the provision (or lack) of advanced accident avoidance systems like autonomous emergency braking (AEB). The Skoda Kodiaq had the most advanced AEB system of the four cars tested, being able to detect both cars and pedestrians. The latest result means that all recently-tested Skodas have received five-star ratings. The MINI Countryman also has AEB car-to-car as standard, which helped it secure the five-star rating, with pedestrian detection an additional-cost option. The Nissan Micra receives a five-star rating across all models in the UK, although some models in the rest of Europe do not receive all the same safety equipment as standard and only receive a four-star rating as a result.
Nissan Micra scores a five-star Euro NCAP rating
The Nissan Micra gets five stars for all UK models. Some continental models will only get four.
The Suzuki Swift was the only vehicle not to any AEB technology as standard equipment, although the optional safety pack does include AEB car-to-car. This was one factor in the Swift’s below-par three-star score. The Euro NCAP ratings are based on a vehicle with safety equipment which is standard across the whole model range. Euro NCAP now allows manufacturers to have a second rating for vehicles that offer additional safety equipment as part of an extra-cost safety pack. To qualify for this second rating, manufacturers must commit to selling at least 25 percent of cars fitted with the option pack in the first three years, and 55 percent of sales in the following three years.
Skoda Kodiaq scores a five-star Euro NCAP rating
Five stars and advanced accident avoidance systems for the new Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Superb gets minor updates

Katharine Morgan
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Skoda Superb gets minor updates
Skoda has announced a series of minor modifications to its Superb and Superb Estate as part of its 2018 model year update programme. From the end of May, the Superb will feature new 19-inch alloy wheels and be available in a new Velvet Red paint finish. Technology-wise, the Skoda Connect App now offers remote access and provides details as to the status and location of the vehicle. A larger infotainment screen is paired with SmartLink+ featuring navigation and communication apps. Driver assistance systems include Park Distance Control and Manoeuvre Assist which now detects obstacles in front of the vehicle. Inside, Skoda has looked to improve comfort, and a massage function is now available for the driver’s seat, which also includes ventilation and memory. CareConnect is now as standard from Ambition trim upwards and features automatic emergency call. If a restraint system has been triggered following an accident, this is activated with the vehicle establishing voice and data connection to an emergency call centre. An emergency call can all be initiated via a button in the roof module.
Skoda Superb gets minor updates (The Car Expert)
The cabin features a new 9.2-inch infotainment screen.

Manx police unleash BAC supercar

Andrew Charman
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Manx police unleash BAC supercar
How do police enforce regulations in countries that have no road speed limits outside towns? They get themselves a supercar… A BAC Mono, a carbon-fibre based single seater powered by a 2.5-litre engine of 305hp and with a 0-60mph time of 2.8 seconds, has joined the fleet used by the traffic department of the Isle of Man police force. Liverpool-based BAC has been using the roads of the Isle of Man, including the world famous TT course, to test its cars ever since launching in 2011. The island also recently hosted a gathering of the specialist cars with 12 taking part and enjoying roads specially closed for the event by the Manx Government.

Attracting bikers

Now the BAC Mono, which has been specially supplied in police livery, will be used by the force, primarily to promote safer motoring. Police chiefs believe it will create great interest, particularly among the thousands of motorcyclists who travel to the island around the TT festival in June. BAC Co-Founder and Director of Product Development, Neill Briggs, is delighted to be making the car available, saying that the company has a very special affinity with the Isle of Man. “The Government has been nothing but amazingly supportive to BAC and the BAC dream, and we’re honoured to be able to play our part in making their roads a safer place – this is a world first for both BAC and the Isle of Man and something both parties are incredibly proud of,” Briggs said.  

Volvo and Lotus set to be sister brands

Andrew Charman
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Volvo and Lotus set to be sister brands
Swedish brand Volvo and UK sports car manufacturer Lotus look destined to be related after Chinese giant Geely agreed terms to buy a stake in Malaysian manufacturer Proton. Geely purchased Volvo from Ford in 2010, while Proton has owned the majority share in Lotus since 1996. The Malaysian manufacturer has been losing money for some time but the 49.9% stake that Geely is buying, effectively taking control of the firm, could prove a major boost, giving Proton access to up-to-date powertrains. The Chinese, meanwhile, will benefit from an increased presence in the south-east Asian market. As part of the deal, Geely will acquire a 51% majority stake in Lotus, with Proton parent DRB-Hicom looking to sell off its remaining interest in the sports car firm. Lotus has been making significant progress in recent times but needs to expand – UK registrations were down nine per cent in 2016.

PSA beaten?

The deal is still subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in July, possibly frustrating PSA Group which had previously been believed to be the most likely bidder for Proton. Industry observers generally believe the Geely takeover is positive news for Lotus, giving the sports car manufacturer access to the funding and investment that has already proven a major success for Volvo. A new version of the core Lotus Elise model is expected in 2020, and the new ownership could also see a revival of the company’s previously mooted SUV programme.
Lotus Elise
Replacement for core Lotus models such as the Elise will soon be due.

UK car production plummets in April

Katharine Morgan
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UK car production plummets in April
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that UK car manufacturing plummeted in April. A total of 112,116 cars were produced, representing an 18.2% drop in production from March which was the highest month on record. Despite April’s fall in production, year-to-date output remains the strongest it has been for 17 years. So far in 2017, production has risen 1% to 593,796 cars. Overseas demand continues to drive growth in UK car manufacturing, and this year 76.8% of all the cars produced in the UK have been exported. This overseas demand has helped to combat a 7% drop in domestic demand.
UK car production plummets in April (The Car Expert)
Overseas demand for UK-manufactured vehicles rose 3.5% in April 2017 on the same period last year.
Mikes Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “Overall, British car manufacturing remains in good health with the production outlook still very positive, and significant new models are due to go into UK production shortly.” Ahead of next month’s general election, the SMMT has published a report calling on the next government to “safeguard the conditions that have made the UK’s automotive industry globally competitive”. According to the SMMT, the sector provides 814,000 jobs and produces a turnover of £71.6bn.
UK car production plummets in April (The Car Expert)
Year-to-date production for 2017 is at an all-time high.

BMW 8 Series to be reborn in 2018

Andrew Charman
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BMW 8 Series to be reborn in 2018

The BMW 8 Series is on the way back – the German brand has revealed a concept version of the 2+2 coupe that will go on sale in 2018.

The Concept 8 Series, on show this week at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in Italy, revives a model line last marketed almost 20 years ago. According to BMW bosses, the production version will aim to significantly increase the brand’s luxury class offerings as part of ‘Number-One’ Next’, the biggest model offensive in BMW’s history.

Industry sources suggest that the BMW 8 Series line-up will replace the coupe and convertible versions of the current 6 Series, and target the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe. It will be a two-door car and will be offered first in coupe form, the convertible following a year later with very likely a fabric – rather than metal – folding roof.

Bold visuals

While production versions of the 8 Series are expected to differ in details to the concept, a bold exterior look will be an essential element of the new car. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand,” says BMW chairman Harald Krüger.

“This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”

No details have yet been released of the car’s mechanical makeup or powertrains, though it is expected to use the latest lightweight chassis construction already seen in the 7 Series, and be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive form.

BMW Concept 8 Series rear 34
BMW Concept 8 Series rear
BMW Concept 8 Series bonnet
BMW Concept 8 Series interior
BMW Concept 8 Series dash

Vauxhall Crossland X review

Andrew Charman
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0
Vauxhall Crossland X review

What is it? The Vauxhall Crossland X is a new family-pitched compact SUV.
Key features: Five engines, front-wheel-drive only, entry-level SUV
Our View: The Vauxhall Crossland X is a perfectly competent model but may struggle for visibility in an increasingly congested sector.
Type of Review: First UK drive

The Vauxhall Crossland X is the brand’s new compact SUV – but of course Vauxhall already has a compact SUV, in the Mokka X, so where does this newcomer fit in?

Well this is another example of a manufacturer striving to take as much advantage as possible of a booming sector of the market, even if it means offering, in this case, three separate models where previously one would have sufficed.

The Crossland X is designed to be the new entry point to the Vauxhall SUV range, and aimed firmly at those who like the muscular looks and the high driving position of such vehicles, but don’t want all the off-road bells and whistles such as a 4×4 drivetrain.

As we’ve said many times on The Car Expert, compact, what the industry calls B segment, SUVs are doing big business right now. Taking just 0.8% of the market in 2010, they now account for 8.3%.

Small people carriers, however, have gone right out of fashion, so it’s bye-bye Vauxhall Meriva, hello Crossland X. In future, it will sit alongside its slightly (very slightly) larger sister, the Mokka X, with the latter offering the more traditional SUV ability including the option of all-wheel-drive.

Vauxhall Crossland X crossover SUV

Soon they will be joined by a third, range-topping model, the Grandland X. This car, due for its public debut at the Frankfurt show in September, is some 20cm longer than the Mokka X, yet still only a five-seater, designed to be the luxury option in the range. Confused yet?

Back to the Crossland X. It’s the first model built on a new platform, shared with Peugeot Citroën parent PSA Group in a joint project agreed long before PSA decided to buy Vauxhall and sister brand Opel. It’s being built at GM’s Zaragoza plant in Spain together with sister model and future rival, the Citroën C3 Aircross, which we will see later this year.

Next page: Design and powertrains

Why the Bank of England is looking into the car finance market

Stuart Masson
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0
Why the Bank of England is looking into the car finance market
As we have reported previously, the Bank of England has announced that it has opened an investigation into the UK car finance market, citing concerns over the state of the sector. Predictably, the industry lobby groups and lapdogs leapt in to defend the status quo, claiming that everything is fine and warning of dire consequences for the UK car industry if the Bank interferes. So why has the Bank of England chosen to open an investigation, and what is it looking for?

Part of an ongoing study of the UK credit market

The Bank of England has been monitoring credit and household debt for some time, which includes car finance along with house mortgages, credit cards, personal loans and so on. Unlike the Financial Conduct Authority, which has also opened its own investigation into the selling (and potential mis-selling) of car finance, the Bank of England is concentrating on the overall economic picture. Car finance borrowing is growing at a much faster rate than the rest of the credit market and is now a £40 billion per year industry, with up to 90% of private new car sales now being financed by a personal contract purchase (PCP). This rapid growth has inevitably been spotted by the Bank, which would like to know more about how and why it is happening. Last week, the Finance and Leasing Association published its results for the first quarter of 2017. These are shown below, along with data for private car sales over the same periods. Car sales vs car finance, March 2017 The results show that the number of new cars sold under finance has increased at much the same rate as the number of total sales, which is to be expected. However, the value of those loans has increased by 10%, meaning customers are borrowing more on each car. Over the last 12 months, this trend has been accelerating, with March 2017 alone showing a new car finance increase of 5% in terms of volume, but an increase of 13% by value. For used cars, the pattern of customers taking out more finance and borrowing more per car is even clearer. Used car sales were up 3.4% on last year, but the number of loans increased by 6% and the amount financed increasing by 12%. Although the SMMT is yet to publish a month-by-month breakdown of used car sales for 2017, again we can see that the both the volume of finance deals and amount of money financed has been accelerating over the last 12 months.

Particular growth in sub-prime car finance sector

The Bank of England is also concerned that much of that growth is coming from ‘sub-prime’ customers, potentially leading to a lot of money being owed by high-risk borrowers. Closely connected to this is a concern that sub-prime customers are being loaned large amounts of money on highly unfavourable terms (ie – much higher interest rates and fees), further increasing the likelihood of these customers defaulting on their loans. The Bank is concerned that any downturn in economic conditions could lead to large-scale defaulting on these finance deals, which would be bad news for both borrowers and lenders. It has been suggested that the Bank may impose tougher lending criteria to limit the amount of money being lent to higher-risk customers. The industry has predictably reacted with outrage and warnings of catastrophe if lending criteria are tightened up. Currently, high interest rates for sub-prime borrowers mean that such a customer could be paying the same per month as a regular ‘prime’ customer, but is only able to afford a cheaper car because much more of the monthly payment is simply interest. So for £200/month on a PCP, a regular customer might be able to afford a £20,000 car. But for a sub-prime customer paying much more interest, their £200/month might only get them a £15,000 car. The finance companies try to justify charging higher interest rates because the sub-prime borrower is considered a higher risk, but the combination of higher interest with generous borrowing limits simply makes a customer default more likely.

Are tougher affordability rules the answer?

If the lending criteria were made tougher, and the finance companies were not allowed to pile on the interest, then the sub-prime customer might still only be allowed to borrow enough money for a £15,000 car. But their monthly payments might now only be £150 per month instead of £200, which means they are less likely to default on that loan if they hit any financial trouble. From the car industry’s point of view, they have still bought the same car, but the finance company is making a more normal profit margin on the deal, rather than milking those customers who can least afford it. If the sub-prime customer does still default on a smaller loan with a lower interest rate, then at least the loan settlement figure is going to be lower. This gives them a better chance of being able to sell the car and settle all or most of their debt, rather than having an enormous debt still outstanding that could be far more damaging for a much longer time. Saving for a car  

Updates to best-selling Renault Captur

Andrew Charman
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0
Updates to best-selling Renault Captur
The Renault Captur, a model the brand first launched in 2013 as one of the first of the breed of smaller crossover-style SUVs, is being updated. The changes are expected to maintain the Captur’s major success for Renault – it has since become the brand’s best-selling model both in the UK and Europe, with more than 215,000 sold in 2016, as the B-segment SUV sector has mushroomed in popularity. Changes to the model centre on its looks and equipment, with the mechanical specification – ranging across 90 and 120hp petrol and 90 and 110hp diesel engines – remaining unchanged.

Family look

Visually the car gains redesigned bumpers, front grille and headlamps, designed to fit the family style established by its larger sister models, the Kadjar and soon to be launched Koleos. New colour options for both the body and roof take the number of variations of the two-tone exterior finish to 30. Inside there are new finishes designed to present a more upmarket environment, redesigned gear levers and door panels and several new equipment options. These include Android phone connection on the top-specification R-Link infotainment system, along with front and side parking sensors, blind spot warning, hands-free parking and a fixed panoramic sunroof. Dealers have started taking orders for the new Renault Captur, prices ranging from £15,355 to £23,745 and now including a range-topping Signature S Nav trim level. First cars are expected on UK roads in July. 1705 Renault Captur interior  

Fiat 500L range receives update

The Car Expert staff
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0
Fiat 500L range receives update
Fiat has updated the 500L range, revealing three trim levels – Urban, Cross and Wagon – all featuring updated technology, a refreshed look and greater customisation options. The five-seat Urban variant is the standard model, while the Cross replaces the Trekking as the more adventurous model, featuring added ground clearance and a traction control system. Wagon is the seven-seat model, replacing the MPW. A number of new safety features have been added, such as autonomous emergency braking, rear parking camera and a child monitoring mirror, which allows the driver to keep an eye on the rear seat. The revised interior features a new dashboard, a restyled multi-functional steering wheel and TFT colour digital display, as well as a new central armrest and a redesigned gear lever, which is placed higher than before for improved usability. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also integrated with the touchscreen infotainment system, which also boasts Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition and built-in satnav. For Urban and Cross models, boot space stands at 455 litres, while storage in the Wagon extends to 493 litres with the two additional rear seats folded. Storage space increases to 1,480 litres with the rear seats folded in Urban and Cross trims, and 1,509 in Wagon trim. Exterior design revisions are light across the range. The front bumper and grille have been redesigned and LED daytime running lights have been added, along with new fog and reversing lights. For those looking to personalise their vehicle, there are up to 36 colour combinations possible, available in pastel or metallic colours with three roof styles to choose from. Prices for the Fiat 500L range will start from £16,195, and first deliveries will take place in September.

2017 sees UK used car market running at record high

Katharine Morgan
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0
2017 sees UK used car market running at record high

Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that used car sales were at a record high in the first quarter of 2017. A total of 2,133,956 used cars changed hands, representing a 3.4% increase on the same period in 2016.

Sales of used diesel cars saw an increase of 5.6%, while sales of petrol models rose 1.6% and alternatively-fuelled vehicles saw a rise of 43.2%. In the first three months of 2017, the alternatively-fuelled segment accounted for 1.0% of the total used car market, compared with 0.7% last year.

More used diesel cars now feature the latest Euro 6 emissions systems, making up 20% of the 851,569 used diesel cars sold. Euro 6 came into law in 2015, so this figure is certain to increase over time.

The best-selling colour was silver with 463,959 vehicles, accounting for over a quarter of total used car sales. Compared with 2016, sales of silver cars were down 2.1%, while sales of white cars saw an increase of 17.1%.

Assessing the situation, SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes said: “A buoyant used car market combined with strong residual values is good news for the sector, with motorists benefiting from the wide range of models and high-tech safety and connected features entering the market.”

The Ford Fiesta, consistently the best-selling car in the new car market, was also the top seller in the used car sector.

Top-selling used car models Q1 2017 (The Car Expert)

Audi A4 is back in Black Edition

Michael Dalton
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0
Audi A4 is back in Black Edition
Audi has announced its 2018 Model Year update programme, with the headline addition being a new Black Edition of the A4 Saloon and Avant. Based on the S Line specification, Audi claims that the Black Edition models receive equipment enhancements worth up to £550 compared to ordering the extra kit individually on an S Line model. The Black Edition models get privacy glass for the rear windows, acoustic glazing for the front windows, black exterior trim replacing the normal chrome trim, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, piano black trim inlays and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Minor model year specification updates across the range

All new Audi A4 models ordered from May onwards will feature Audi connect Safety & Service, which uses the car’s onboard 4G network to offer emergency call, roadside assistance and service request functions. Audi A4 Sport and A4 S Line models also get upgraded upholstery, heated front seats and other minor trim changes. All Audi models, from A1 upwards, will now have cruise control and rear parking sensors fitted as standard as part of the 2018 model year. The optional technology, comfort and sound pack contents will now also be applied more consistently across the Audi range. The A4 saloon and Avant Black Edition models are both available to order at a starting price of £32,350 on-road, rising to £44,350.  Audi A4 Black Edition saloon

Volkswagen reveals up! GTI concept

Michael Dalton
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0
Volkswagen reveals up! GTI concept
Volkswagen has announced a new up! GTI in the spirit of the original Golf GTI from forty years ago. The concept car had its world premiere at the annual GTI Meet at Lake Wörthersee in Wolfsburg. The concept and power output of the up! (85 kW / 115 PS) are similar to that of the Golf GTI MkI released in 1976 (81 kW / 110 PS). The car will have a turbocharged engine with 230 Nm torque, allowing for a top speed of 197 km/h and a 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds. Visually, the car’s influences are immediately recognisable. At the front, a red stripe runs across the radiator grille with the GTI logo above. Meanwhile, the wheels have been completely redesigned, with The body lowered by 15mm due to the car’s sports running gear. On the inside, the car features a leather-trimmed steering wheel and GTI gear knob. The production version of the up! GTI is expected to enter the market early next year.

Top ten blink-&-you-miss-them cars

Andrew Charman
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2
Top ten blink-&-you-miss-them cars
Designing and producing a new car model is a very expensive business, so you would think manufacturers these days would do all they can to make sure they get it right. They try very hard, but far more often one might think, they get it very wrong. The recent history of the automotive industry is littered with failed models, launched on a wave of optimism, journalists flown to exotic places to test drive them, only for the car to make no impression on buyers and be abandoned, sometimes in as little as two years. Sometimes the car in question has a major flaw, sometimes it’s just bad all over, and just occasionally it’s a great idea at the wrong time. We’ve chosen ten of the most memorable automotive failures – there are quite a few more… Next page: The “uninspiring and poorly built” Chrysler

Morgan Roadster test drive

Jack Evans
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0
Morgan Roadster test drive

What’s new?

Morgan cars are instantly recognisable. See one on the road and there’s little doubting what it is or where it’s been built. The Malvern manufacturer has been creating cars since the 1950s, and it has retained much of its original building techniques. Because of this, the Roadster – which we’re driving here – still utilises wood in its chassis construction, and you’ll find rudimentary leaf spring suspension at the back. A hypercar it ain’t. So, what have we got then? Powered by a 3.7-litre Ford-sourced V6 petrol engine, it produces 280hp but weighs just 950kg dry, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 300hp per tonne. That power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and because there’s little in the way of sound deadening, you’ll get to enjoy that V6’s rasping note at almost all times.

Looks and image

Morgan Roadster - front | The Car Expert You could hardly call the Roadster’s styling cutting-edge. Though updated, the Morgan’s looks have remained relatively unchanged since they were first imagined. You’ve got an almost unlimited choice of paint colours for the exterior, and you can choose between various exterior finishes and trim pieces too. There’s a very traditional image associated with the Roadster. It’s a well-known sports car, and you’d be amazed at how many people smile when they see it – it’s an effect that few vehicles have on those they pass. There’s no denying the sheer attention to detail that you’ll find in a Morgan. The same can be said of the Roadster, as everything is beautifully designed.

Space and practicality

Morgan Roadster dashboard | The Car Expert You’ll be unsurprised to hear that there’s not a huge amount of practicality to be found in the Morgan Roadster. As a two-seater, low-slung sports car it isn’t designed to match a family hatchback for space, but in truth it doesn’t do as badly as you’d think. There’s an area behind the seats large enough for two soft weekend bags, and its elasticated door pockets are large enough for sunglasses cases or mobile phones, and it provides usable spaces that make it just a little easier to get along with day to day.

Behind the wheel

Morgan Roadster - side | The Car Expert The Morgan Roadster has all the old-school charm you’d expect from a hand-built car. It’s got a surprising amount of performance, and the sprint to 60mph takes just 5.3 seconds – more than enough to give the modern hot hatch driver something to think about. Shift from second into third at speed and it’ll even chirp its rear tyres. The power-assisted steering lacks a lot of precision, and there’s not a huge amount of feedback, either. However, you can still get the Morgan sweeping through country road bends with little thought. The ride is firm, but it’s never overly sprung. Yes, if you hit a pothole it’ll send a large shockwave through to the cabin, but for the most part it’s comfortable enough. This is aided by the well-padded seats, too. The Roadster is never a car you feel the need to thrash. It’s happiest when ambling along at a cruise, the rorty exhaust chattering away throughout the rev range. Unsurprisingly, the Roadster’s drive is as traditional as its looks.

Value for money

The Morgan Roadster isn’t what you’d call the most extensively equipped car on the market today. Yes, you get heated seats and a radio, but that’s really about it. If you took its value for money based on this, then the Roadster would appear to be a car that makes little argument for itself. However, from the moment you sit in the cabin, it’s abundantly clear how much time and effort goes into the car. There’s a high-end smell to the leather, and the large wood and steel Moto Lita steering wheel feels expensive. Yes, there are foibles – our test car’s floor carpet refused to stay in place, and we did experience a fair amount of water ingress during a shower – but these are things you just accept as part of the Morgan’s character and it’s the reason why people are joining a year-long waiting list to get their hands on one. People will either get the Morgan Roadster or shun it completely – but we’re firmly in the former camp. There are few cars on the road today that make you – or others for that matter – feel quite like the Roadster does, and it’s why it should be celebrated.

Who would buy one?

The Morgan Roadster is an ideal ‘Sunday’ car, although it really deserves to be driven far more often than this. It could be used as a daily driver, but this really would be pushing its capabilities to an extreme. However, with Morgan cars only gaining value once they leave the factory, it’s an ideal investment for someone looking to put their money into something special.

Key specifications

Model: Morgan Roadster Engine: 3.7-litre V6 Power: 280 hp Torque: 380 Nm Top speed: 140 mph 0-60mph: 5.3 seconds Fuel economy (combined): 40.4 mpg CO2 emissions: 230 g/km

Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre

Stuart Masson
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0
Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre
Picture an automotive factory somewhere in the Midlands, building car engines. What comes to mind? Is it dirty, dingy, noisy, hot, chaotic? Are the factory workers much the same? I suppose it’s possible that some automotive factories still operate like that, but the majority these days are spotless, quiet and highly structured, carrying out their work with precision and skill like enormous operating theatres. In Wolverhampton, the UK’s newest engine factory is still building up to full capacity, some three years after it opened. It is the Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC), a £1 billion facility that builds JLR’s latest Ingenium family of engines, and The Car Expert was recently given a guided tour. With a footprint of about 200,000m2, the EMC is strategically located between JLR’s Halewood, Castle Bromwich and Solihull car manufacturing facilities. This means that the engine factory can minimise delivery times to all of the production sites, which is a good thing as Ingenium engines will be found under the bonnets of nearly every Jaguar and Land Rover model for the next decade and beyond. As you would expect from a state-of-the-art production facility, there is a high level of automation. More than 170 machines take care of heavy lifting and incredibly precise machining – some of the tolerances are as fine as 0.003mm, which is much less than the width of a human hair. Over 1,000 employees (soon to reach 1,400 as petrol engine production ramps up) work with these machines to produce what will soon be 250,000 Ingenium engines each year. The EMC is possibly also one of the greenest automotive factories in the country. Atop the vast roof sit more than 21,000 solar panels, which provide up to 30% of the energy needed to run the factory. And during downtime, JLR can sell energy back to the grid.
JLR Engine Manufacturing Centre EMC solar panels
21,000 solar panels provide up to 30% of the factory’s electricity
A vast number of windows in the ceiling, and a 2m-high glass wall that goes almost right around the facility, allow natural sunlight to pour in during the daytime shifts, and the lights are programmed to dim automatically on sunny days to save energy. The windows in the roof can be automatically opened and closed to regulate temperatures on the factory floor. Careful attention has also been paid to ‘swarf’, the aluminium waste by-products that result from shaving, scraping and polishing millions of engine components. JLR claims that its swarf recovery levels are industry-leading. The swarf is automatically collected up and sold for recycling and re-use, bringing both environmental benefits and a handy sum of money for JLR.

Ingenium – the heart of the tomorrow’s Jaguar and Land Rover models

JLR’s Ingenium is a modular engine design, which can be built in a range of sizes and in both petrol and diesel configurations (and eventually hybrid powerplants as well). The first version of the engine to launch was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel format, that has been put to use in the Jaguar XE, Jaguar XF, Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models. Now the first 2.0-litre petrol models are starting to roll along the EMC’s state-of-the-art production lines in Wolverhampton. In the next few months, these engines will start to be fitted to all the models above, and a 300hp high-performance version will also go into the Jaguar F-Type coupé and convertible sports cars. According to JLR, the petrol versions share about 85% of their parts with the diesel units, which makes life much easier for the factory and its suppliers. The Engine Manufacturing Centre has been carefully set up to ensure that production can be adjusted to cope with shifting customer demand between petrol and diesel engines. With such high commonality between its petrol and diesel engines, the benefits go beyond production efficiencies. JLR has basically developed two brand-new engine families for not much more than the price of one, and the high commonality also makes life easier for the car designers and engineers at both Jaguar and Land Rover. Further down the road, there will be a petrol-electric hybrid version of Ingenium, and the modular design means that other engine configurations could join the range. Maybe a 3.0-litre six cylinder model, or a 2.5-litre five-cylinder version? Or even a 1.5-litre three-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain for the next generation of models? JLR is obviously not saying anything, but the engine architecture was designed for precisely these sorts of options. JLR Ingenium engine crankshaft in the Engine Manufacturing Centre

Skoda Karoq replaces Yeti and targets Qashqai

Andrew Charman
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0
Skoda Karoq replaces Yeti and targets Qashqai
The Skoda Karoq SUV has been unveiled, and it has the Nissan Qashqai in its sights. The Karoq replaces the Yeti, which while one of Skoda’s most popular models, is an MPV-shaped SUV when buyers are increasingly going for more traditional, high-riding models. Skoda believes the Karoq will outstrip the 10 per cent of Skoda’s total sales that the Yeti currently accounts for. The Karoq is built on the same MQB platform that has already underpinned a host of VW Group cars. It shares its styling with the recently launched larger sister model, the Kodiaq. On sale before the end of 2017, the Karoq will be offered with 1.0-litre 115hp and 1.5 150hp TSI petrol engines, and diesels of 1.6 115hp, 2.0 150hp and 2.0 190hp outputs. Two and four-wheel-drive transmissions will be available.

Digital dash in a Skoda

Technology will feature heavily in the car, with the Karoq the first Skoda to offer a digital instrument panel pioneered by Audi with its Virtual Cockpit – its settings will be able to be personalised for up to three different drivers. The drive mode selection on AWD models will include an off-road mode with an electronic differential lock, while there will be a host of driver assistance systems and latest-tech infotainment. Like the Kodiaq, the Karoq name comes from a tribe in Alaska. Skoda intends to give the car its own identity with a new name but also intends the car to sell well globally – and the Yeti name was not popular in the significant market of China. Skoda Karoq front 34

Honda Civic review

Andrew Charman
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0
Honda Civic review
What is it? The new Honda Civic is a total change in direction for the brand’s core family car. Key features: Complete redesign – larger car, different look, new chassis. Our view: The Honda Civic benefits from the brand’s bid to make its car a more mainstream contender and is now a purchase far easier to justify. Type of review: First UK drive.
The Honda Civic has been around a very long time – the model can trace its history back to 1972 and the new one that has just arrived in showrooms is the tenth generation. For the past decade, European buyers have been offered a Civic hatch that was just a bit too sci-fi – a coupé-like exterior with a high-up jellymould profile, and an interior dominated by a funky dash with a big digital speed readout. It was very different to any of its rivals in the market, and that made it a Marmite choice – some loved it, plenty of others didn’t. With the new model, Honda has ripped up the history book. Formerly the Civic’s specification varied significantly dependent on what part of the world one was in. They have made way for a single global design that is completely new in all areas and looks very different to its predecessor, but it will still be made in Honda’s UK factory near Swindon. In fact, Swindon is now the only Honda plant building the Civic hatch, sending its cars around the world. Next page: Exterior and interior design Honda Civic 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo EX - bonnet
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