Renault‘s sports car brand Alpine has released the first images of its new two-seater sports car, the Alpine A110. The return of the Alpine sports car brand was announced by Renault in 2016 and the A110 concept car debuted shortly afterwards at the Geneva Motor Show.Read more Renault news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertThe new two-seater is named after the original A110 which was produced by Alpine from 1961-1977. Like its predecessor, the new A110 is compact, lightweight and agile, due to an aluminium platform and upper body.
Alpine only intends to produce 1,955 examples of the A110, recalling the year in which Jean Rédélé originally founded the company.
All 1,955 examples of the A110 have now been allocated. Customers were able to reserve an A110 via an app from the Alpine website and by making an initial deposit. They were then able to choose their preferred numbered model from 1 to 1,955, depending on availability. Customers were also able to specify the colour of their A110 with a choice from Bleu Alpine, Noir Profond or Blanc Solaire.
The original A110 coupe was produced by Alpine from 1961-1977.
UK pricing specification is yet to be announced but the new Alpine A110 is expected to cost in excess of £50,000 when it arrives in late 2017.
Though few technical details are currently available, the Alpine A110 will be capable of achieving 0-62mph in a time of 4.5 seconds. The A110’s key specifications are due to be announced during Alpine’s press conference at the Geneva Motor Show 2017.Alpine has opened reservations for its as yet unannounced next model, which has a delivery date starting from 2018.An aluminium platform and upper body is expected to make the new Alpine A110 compact, lightweight and agile, much like its famous predecessor.
Mitsubishi has unveiled its new compact SUV, named Eclipse Cross, ahead of next week’s Geneva motor show.
The new Eclipse Cross will compete in the hotly-contested C-SUV segment, against rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar. It fits into the Mitsubishi range between the smaller ASX and larger Outlander models, and is expected to arrive on UK roads in early 2018.
The design continues the themes started by the successful Outlander SUV, but with a more pronounced coupe-style silhouette. The wedge profile and short overhangs are also strongly reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque and Toyota C-HR compact SUVs, suggesting that Mitsubishi is prioritising style over practicality.
On-road handling is also likely to be more of a feature than off-road ability. Body rigidity has been emphasised with a three-point brace on the front strut towers and additional structural bonding at the rear to allow the suspension to deliver more precise handling and better stability.
Interior photos have not yet been released, but Mitsubishi has described the cabin as “futuristic”, dominated by horizontal lines and a black and silver colour scheme. A large touchscreen infotainment system and head-up display replace traditional buttons and dials. The car will support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for communication and navigation functions.
Mitsubishi has also developed a new red paint colour, which will make its debut on the Eclipse Cross when it is presented in Geneva. The standard red coating is layered with a semi-transparent red and clear coating to create high levels of colour saturation, which gives off a deeper and more three-dimensional finish.
Two powertrains have been confirmed for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine connected to a new eight-speed CVT gearbox, and a 2.2-litre turbo diesel paired with a conventional eight-speed torque converter automatic.
Both units will drive all four wheels using an electronically-controlled 4WD system, which is predominantly front-wheel drive but can send torque to the rear wheels when wheelspin is detected. This is integrated with the car’s stability control and an active yaw control system, which manages drive between the rear wheels to help maintain control.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will make its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva motor show and go on sale in the UK in early 2018. Full UK pricing and specifications are not expected to be announced until towards the end of this year.
Peugeot has revealed a new concept car which offers a glimpse into the company’s vision for how its future vehicles will switch between manual and autonomous driving.
The Peugeot Instinct concept has been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress In Spain, the vehicle showcases Peugeot’s thinking in how the driver and vehicle can be integrated to offer several options for automated driving support.
Rather than simply offering a simple choice between manual control and fully-autonomous driving, the Peugeot Instinct uses data from a smartwatch, phone or diary to adapt the vehicle settings to match the driver’s mood and lifestyle.
Peugeot claims that the technology can learn the driver’s lifestyle and preconfigure settings such as driving mode, audio and ambient lighting, seating and interface settings to adapt to the driver’s routine. As an example, the Instinct could read data from the driver’s smartwatch and configure its settings to ‘Autonomous Soft’ mode to give the driver a relaxing ride home after a trip to the gym. By synching the driver’s diary with the vehicle navigation system, the car could send a prompt to the driver to suggest setting off for an appointment earlier than scheduled if it registers heavy traffic along the planned route.
In the two the fully-autonomous driving modes (‘Autonomous Soft’ or ‘Autonomous Sharp’), the driver can recline his or her seat to watch TV or even lie it flat to rest, although Euro NCAP may have something to say about how this could affect the vehicle’s crash test performance.
Beyond reclining the seats, the Peugeot Instinct concept also offers an adaptable cabin environment. In autonomous mode, the steering wheel and accelerator pedal fold away to provide additional space (so presumably the driver’s airbag would be mounted elsewhere). A control switch called the i-Device allows the driver to switch the car back to manual mode on the fly, for example to overtake another vehicle or pull off the road into a service station.
The Peugeot Instinct is a stylish estate design, powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 300hp. Described as a shooting brake (it’s not, as it has four doors), the Instinct is low and wide and a clear evolution of current Peugeot design. Ignoring the usual concept car themes of massive wheels and ground-scraping sills, the Instinct has a stylish combination of edges and curves which would translate well into a production vehicle.
The Instinct concept is currently on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and is likely to appear at the Geneva motor show next week.
Jeep has unveiled a limited-edition version of its Renegade SUV, with only 100 examples being allocated to the UK.The Renegade Desert Hawk is the latest in a line of limited-production Renegade models, following the previous Night Eagle and Dawn of Justice versions.Read more Jeep news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertBased upon the Renegade Trailhawk model, the Desert Hawk specification includes design features inspired by the desert and is available in a unique Mojave Sand colour, as well as in white, anvil grey and black. It features gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels and unique body decals.Inside, a Moab desert map logo features on the base of the black leather-and-fabric seats. Other features of the interior include dual-zone climate control, DAB digital radio with 6.5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, satnav and cruise control.The Renegade Desert Hawk demonstrated its off-road capabilities by towing Alex Bird, a British sandboard rider and instructor, at speeds of 40mph through a series of stunts and tricks on the Braunton Barrows sand dune in North Devon.Only 100 examples of the new Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk will be available to buy in the UK.The Renegade Desert Hawk is powered by a 170hp 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel engine paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Jeep claims the Renegade Trailhawk delivers best-in-class off-roading performance. The Selec-Terrain selectable 4WD system includes a Sand mode as well as an exclusive Rock mode, an 8.7-inch ground clearance, hill descent control and 19-inch water fording. A 20:1 crawl ratio is available through the standard Active Drive low system.The Renegade is the most popular model in the Jeep range, with more than 11,000 vehicles sold in the UK in 2016. Renegade Desert Hawk pricing starts at £28,995 on-road and is available to order now.Read more Jeep news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertThe Desert Hawk follows the previous Night Eagle and Dawn of Justice limited editions in the Jeep Renegade range.
What is it?
The Renault Twingo GT is a performance-pitched version of a novel city car.
Key features
Rear engine, rear-wheel-drive, sharp turning circle.
Our view
The Renault Twingo GT offers pace and handling improvements over the standard Twingo, but not to a level that makes it truly sporty.
The Renault Twingo has enjoyed a complex history. It started life in 1993 as a quirky city car that could only bought as a left-hand-drive model, then evolved into a somewhat dull second-generation model (albeit available in right-hand drive) in 2008.
The third-generation model is a different proposition altogether. Signing a partnership deal with Mercedes-Benz enabled Renault to turn the concept on its head. The third-generation Twingo, closely related to Merc’s smart forfour, combines style and space thanks chiefly to its rear-mounted engine under the boot and the consequent rear-wheel-drive powertrain.
Of course, RWD also suggests sporty performance, so it’s no surprise that around 18 months on from the launch of the latest Twingo, we are now getting a GT-badged variant.
Powertrain and Styling
Breathed upon, a little, by the brand’s RenaultSport performance division, the Renault Twingo GT uses the same 898cc three-cylinder petrol engine available in mainstream Twingo models, but modified to free up an extra 20hp, along with 35Nm of extra torque.
Changes to the turbo, uprated fuel and water pumps, revised engine mapping and a new free-flowing twin-silencer exhaust contribute to the power hike. There’s a new air intake too, mounted on the left-rear flank and providing a visual differentiator to other Twingo variants.
The visuals are aided by a styling package evolved from the Renault TwinRun concept first seen at the Monaco GP in 2013. There is a body kit, with side skirts, extended arches and a rear bumper diffuser with the twin exhaust pipes incorporated. The 17-inch alloy wheels are to a bespoke design, as is the ‘Blaze Orange’ metallic paint available as one of the four exterior finish options, and over which are placed RenaultSport graphics.
Inside reflects the image, with detailing to match the exterior colour, part-leather upholstery and more RenaultSport badging. Tinted rear windows are included too.
Surprising space for a small car.
Small boot but there is an engine underneath…
Up-to-date connectivity included.
On the road
So the Twingo GT looks the part, but does it fulfil the role? Well, only partly. On slipping inside one is immediately impressed by the room in what is a small four-seater – that rear-engine layout liberates 33cm more cabin space despite the car being 10cm shorter than the previous Twingo. At 180 litres the boot is smaller though it can be extended by dropping the rear seats.
To go with the engine upgrades the GT has gained changes to its gear ratios, stiffer dampers, a thicker anti-roll bar and 20mm cut from the ride height, while the Electronic Stability Control has been recalibrated for a little more sportiness.
The result is a nippy, rather than quick car. It accelerates smartly, passing 62mph in 9.6 seconds, and will go on to 110mph where allowed, but the GT does not offer the fun, purposeful handling through corners that one might expect with rear-wheel-drive. The steering is too light and indecisive, the car too soggy in its reaction to a challenging corner. It’s better than a standard Twingo, but beaten by rivals such as the Volkswagen Up.
Where the GT does impress is in an urban environment. Without driveshafts and such restricting the front wheels, it boasts an impressively-tight turning circle of only 8.6 metres. Combined with that nippiness in the powertrain, this really is a true city car.
The Renault Twingo GT costs a significant £13,755. However it is also the best-specified car in the line-up – based on the top Dynamique trim which already includes such niceties as cruise control, the GT adds auto lights and wipers, cornering fog lights, rear parking sensors and auto climate control.
Verdict
The Renault Twingo GT goes some way to overcoming the on-the-road limitations of the stock Twingo, in a sporty, stylish package. But with only a warmed-up engine and handling that disappoints for a rear-wheel-drive model, it does not go far enough to be truly regarded as a pocket hot hatch.
Model tested:Renault Twingo GT TCe 110
Price: £13,755 (Twingo range starts £9,545)
On sale: Jan 2017
Engine: 898cc petrol, 110hp, 170Nm
0-62mph and max speed: 9.6 sec, 113mph
Economy and emissions: 54.3mpg, 115g/km
Key rivals: Volkswagen Up, Skoda Citigo
Test date: Feb 2017
The all-new Ford Fiesta ST has been revealed ahead of its global premiere at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
The flagship of the new-generation Fiesta range will be powered by a brand new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine generating 200hp and promising 0-62mph acceleration in just 6.7 seconds.
The new Fiesta ST won’t be seen on UK streets until early 2018, and will be offered in both three- and five-door versions. Ford Performance is promising that the new car will offer a greater variety of interior trim and personalisation options than previous models, with distinctive exterior styling packs and unique 18-inch alloy wheels. Customers will also be able to choose from a range of trim elements for the gear lever, steering wheel, door pulls and dashboard trim.
The Fiesta ST will offer selectable Drive Modes, enabling engine, steering and stability controls to be configured to Normal, Sport and Track settings. Like many manufacturers, the system will also use fake exhaust noise technology to “amplify the naturally sporty sound of the engine” which roughly translates to making the car sound louder from inside the cabin.
The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine is based on Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre unit, and includes turbocharging, high-pressure fuel injection and advanced variable camshaft timing to maximise both performance and fuel efficiency. Ford Performance claims CO2 emissions of 114g/km. The engine can also deactivate one of its three cylinders under light loading to improve fuel economy.
Handling prowess should be enhanced by torque vectoring technology to brake the inside front wheel when cornering. The stability control system has three settings to allow a progressive reduction of electronic intervention under hard driving. In the Track mode, traction control is disabled and the stability control will allow a greater degree of slip before the system cuts in.
The new Fiesta ST will premiere at the Geneva motor show in early March, but UK pricing and specification is not expected until towards the end of 2017.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been named UK Car of the Year for 2017, chosen by a panel of 27 of Britain’s most-read motoring journalists. The Volvo V90 and Jaguar F-Pace finished as runners-up.12 category winners were announced in the fourth year of the UK Car of the Year Awards, with the E-Class also winning Best Executive Car. Director of UK Car of the Year, John Challen, said: “Mercedes-Benz has a long history of creating impressive saloon cars and the new E-Class continues this trend and raises the bar in the executive vehicle sector. Stunning inside and out, it takes driver and passengers into the realms of luxury.”Read more Mercedes-Benz news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertOther judges were also fulsome in their praise for the E-Class. Fleet World’s Alex Grant described it as “a technological showcase”, while Honest John’s David Ross summarised it as “just sublime”.The E-Class is also one of the safest cars on the road. It received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and its exceptional performance, particularly in child occupant protection, was recognised at the Euro NCAP awards 2016. The UK’s Thatcham Research also rated the E-Class as one of the safest new models launched in the last year.The award for the E-Class follows recognition for its advanced safety features.Read about Thatcham Research’s ten safest new cars of 2017In the overall category, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class triumphed over the Volvo V90 and Jaguar F-Pace which finished in joint second place, with the Hyundai Ioniq and Ford Focus RS in joint third.Launched in 2014, the UK Car of the Year Awards are judged by 27 of Britain’s most-read motoring journalists. Each judge picks out the top performer in 12 vehicle categories, before deciding the overall winner from their favourites in each class. In addition to the success of the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz also celebrated the S-Class Cabriolet winning the Best Cabriolet category. The other category awards were spread across a wide range of manufacturers, with only Porsche and Mercedes-Benz scoring multiple class wins.The complete list of category winners for 2017 are:Best Small Hatch – Hyundai IONIQ
Best Family Car – Toyota Prius
Best Executive Car – Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Best Luxury Car – Rolls-Royce Dawn
Best Estate Car – Volvo V90
Best MPV – Renault Scénic/Grand Scénic
Best Crossover – SEAT Ateca
Best Large Crossover – Jaguar F-Pace
Best Coupe – Porsche 718 Cayman
Best Cabriolet – Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
Best Sports Car – Porsche 718 Boxster
Best Performance Car – Ford Focus RS
British motorists wanting to go green currently have some 83 different low-emission cars and vans to choose from – but they need more incentives to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric alternatives.
Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) this week organised a photo-call of 26 of the alternatively-fuelled vehicles currently on sale in the UK – mostly hybrids and electric vehicles but also including hydrogen fuel-cell cars, and drawn from 16 different brands.
And the public display of the variety on offer comes just as looming changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, commonly known as road tax) threaten to make such cars less attractive to potential buyers.
Sales of alternatively-fuelled cars have been growing at the greatest rate ever seen on the UK market – up 22.2 per cent in 2016. But the 88,919 such vehicles registered represented just 3.3 per cent (up from 2.8 per cent) of a market worth almost 2.7 million units. And of that almost 89,000 such vehicles, 36,917 were plug-in electric models – Britain is now the biggest market in the EU for such cars.
Low costs the attraction
The SMMT commissioned a YouGov survey to find out the reasons why motorists might be persuaded to switch to hybrid and electric cars. Low running costs topped the incentives, quoted by 51 per cent of the 2,100 people questioned. This was followed by cheap or zero road tax (46 per cent), while 36 per cent highlighted purchase incentives such as the Government’s plug-in car grant, that can cut around £4,500 from the purchase price of such vehicles.
From April, however, the new VED rates will badly affect the two largest incentives. Currently owners of virtually all low-emission vehicles pay no road tax at all, as the CO2 emissions of such vehicles are below 100g/km.
The Nissan LEAF has led the growing interest in electric cars.
After 1st April 66 per cent of these vehicles will move into a regime where in addition to a road tax charge of varying rate on purchase, their owners will have to pay £140 per year thereafter. A few vehicles, costing more than £40,000, will also be subject to a £310 supplementary charge – every year for five years.
This is very concerning when the YouGov survey also revealed that currently, just 13 per cent of motorists would consider switching to ultra low-emission vehicles when buying their next car. And very few give the new tax rates as the reason – alarmingly the survey showed that some 68 per cent of respondents were not even aware such changes are on the way.
Fear of running out
Instead, the prime reason given still relates to the ‘range anxiety’ that has hung over electric vehicles since they were first launched. Some 48 per cent of respondents fear that they won’t find a place to charge their car before it runs out of power, and 43 per cent say they don’t have convenient charging locations near their home or place of work.
Drivers still fear being stuck with a flat battery and no charge point.
These concerns endure despite many manufacturers offering free home wallbox installations with purchases, and the latest electric cars now having ranges between charges of around three times the average daily commute – the latest Renault ZOE for example can travel 180 miles before needing to be plugged in.
Other concerns included the possible price of battery replacement (46 per cent) and the higher purchase price of such cars (41 per cent) despite the Government incentives.
Government charged to act
Such doubts exist as concern over the pollution caused by car emissions, particularly diesels, grows, and the SMMT is insisting that the Government needs to get fully behind promoting the advantages of low-emission vehicles.
“Our survey highlights the need for ongoing government support for this new market,” says SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“We want to encourage more people to switch to ultra low emission vehicles in meaningful numbers but more must be done to boost buyer confidence. A consistent approach to incentives – fiscal and otherwise – and, most importantly, greater investment in the charging network is essential if we are to grow this emerging market.”
The Government claims, however, that it is doing as much as it can to support the growth of alternatively fuelled vehicles. “We are working with determination to get more people switching to low emission vehicles,” says Transport Minister, John Hayes.
“Our Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill published this week, will make sure the right infrastructure – such as electric charge points and hydrogen refuelling stations – is in place for this growing market.
“We’ve committed more than £2 billion since 2011 to increase electric vehicle uptake and support greener transport schemes. This includes £290 million, announced in the Autumn Statement, to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels.”
Despite such promises many in the industry feel the post-April VED charges could stall any meaningful progress towards wider adoption of low-emission vehicles.
Latest versions of the Renault ZOE can travel 180 miles between charges.
Volkswagen has released images hinting at the brand’s big Geneva unveiling – the Volkswagen Arteon.
The new car, a four-door fastback, will be revealed at the show on 7th March, and will sit above the Passat in the German maker’s model line-up. Effectively a successor to the CC, the Volkswagen Arteon will aim to take on cars such as the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.
Volkswagen is currently releasing few details of the car, but does say the Arteon will offer exceptional interior space, ‘extraordinary for this body form’, with ample leg room in front and rear seats.
Read more Volkswagen news, reviews and features at The Car Expert
Distinctive styling
From the teaser images the Arteon is clearly a more distinctive car than its Passat CC and CC predecessors, though it does share significant components with the Passat. Notable styling features include a completely new front end with the LED headlamps and daytime running lights merging into the chrome-plated crossbars of the radiator grille and bonnet.
The images also display muscular shoulders, suggesting that the Arteon will have a striking presence.
Volkswagen has not released any details of the Arteon’s powertrains though they are expected to replicate the engine choices of European-specification Passats, and include both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive transmissions.
The brand does say that the car will debut ‘the latest generation of driver assistance systems,’ including ‘features that are typically reserved for luxury automobiles’.
The Volkswagen Arteon is expected on UK sale sometime in the summer of 2017 at prices starting in the region of £28,000.
Read more Volkswagen news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertCatch up with all the latest news from the 2017 Geneva motor show at The Car Expert
Dacia is set to introduce a range of Summit special editions for the Duster, Sandero Stepway and New Logan MCV Stepway models at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
The Summit special edition models will offer customers a choice of two exclusive colours. Nordic Grey is available for all models, whilst Magma Orange is available only for the Sandero Stepway.
The Stepway Summit models have 16-inch Grey Flex wheels while the Duster has 16-inch diamond-cut black alloy wheels. The Duster Summit also features wheel arch guards and protective side mouldings.
Inside, the new Summit models have exclusive dual-material upholstery. All the seats feature piping and top-stitching in Burnt Orange, and the seats of the Sandero Stepway and Logan MCV Stepway have an additional embroidered ‘Stepway’ in Burnt Orange. The carpet mats of all the models are finished with Burnt Orange top-stitching. Details on the centre console cover and air vent surrounds are also picked out in Burnt Orange.
The trim for the Summit special editions is based on the Lauréate, Dacia’s highest regular trim level. It includes air conditioning, a Media Nav Evolution multimedia system, rear parking sensors, DAB digital radio and cruise control with speed limiter.
The Summit special edition Duster features 16-inch diamond-cut black alloy wheels, wheel arch guards and protective side mouldings.
The Summit special editions use the same engines as the existing Duster and Stepway model ranges.
The Summit special editions are set to go on sale in the UK in Spring 2017, with pricing and specification details yet to be announced.
The Range Rover Velar will be officially unveiled on 1st March, before debuting at the Geneva Motor Show a week later.
Teaser pictures have been released of the fourth member of the Range Rover family but few details are currently available of the car. We do know that it will fill the gap between the highly-successful Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport.
Read more Land Rover news, reviews and features at The Car Expert
Jaguar sister
It will be closely related to sister brand Jaguar‘s F-Pace, sharing its architecture, and will be built alongside it at Solihull in the midlands. Prime rivals for the car, which is likely to cost around £50-£60,000, will be the likes of the Porsche Macan.
According to its makers the hallmarks of the new Range Rover Velar are ‘elegant simplicity, a visually reductive approach and pioneering consumer technology.’
“We call the Velar the avant garde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything,” said Land Rover Chief Design Officer, Gerry McGovern.
It is understood that the Velar will be the most on-road pitched Range Rover model yet and will also debut a new interior design, based on the layout of its Jaguar sister model.
The Velar name (pronounced vel-ar) is one of the oldest elements of the car, dating back to the first Range Rover prototypes of the 1960s. When development engineers needed to hide the true identity of the 26 pre-production Range Rovers, they chose the name Velar, derived from the Latin velare meaning to veil or cover.
Read more Land Rover news, reviews and features at The Car ExpertMore details of the Range Rover Velar will be released as we get them, and The Car Expert will also be at the Geneva Motor Show to report on all the new models unveiled.
Aston Martin has added another special edition to its decade-old Vantage range: the Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition, which will be available either with the company’s 4.7-litre V8 or 6.0-litre V12 engines.
The new editions of the Vantage have been created by Q by Aston Martin, the marque’s in-house personalisation service, to celebrate the second year of partnership between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing.
The launch of the Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition comes just weeks ahead of the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix on 26th March.
As standard, the new limited edition will be finished in a deep Mariana Blue colour. Other choices include Tungsten Silver or a satin version of the Mariana Blue, to match the look of the Red Bull Racing F1 cars.
Externally, the Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition features a carbon fibre finish to the front splitter, rear diffuser, side strakes and grille. The grille is finished with a red infill and the brakes sport yellow calipers, drawing on the colour scheme of the F1 team.
Inside, the special edition models get Red Bull Racing embroidery on the seat headrests, carbon fibre trim inlays and a colour-coded leather steering wheel.
The Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition’s carbon-fibre grille features a red infill.
Q by Aston Martin also offers the chance for customers to have their cars’ sills and final inspection plaques signed by either Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing F1 drivers.
Customers can expect to take delivery of their cars over late Spring and early Summer 2017. Full specification and pricing details have not been publicly disclosed, but are available by request from Aston Martin dealers.
Tungsten Silver is an optional colour for the Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition.
The SsangYong XAVL concept will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, previewing a future seven-seat SUV model.
SsangYong has previously shown an XAVL concept (the designation stands for eXciting Authentic Vehicle Long), a five-seat model first revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015.
According to the Korean brand the car is inspired by the 1990s version of the Korando SUV, and is described as “a tough and masculine looking SUV concept that blends advanced convenience and the practicality of a multi-purpose MPV.”
It is said to offer a wide interior with a user-friendly interface in the front cabin, with a digital display and connected car technology. A host of new safety aids also feature, while the car is powered by either a petrol or a ‘clean-burning diesel’ engine.
Any production version of the XAVL is not expected to launch before 2020.
What is it? The Mazda MX-5 RF is the folding metal hardtop version of the latest MX-5 roadster. Key features: Coupe styling, targa-like folding metal roof. Our View: The Mazda MX-5 RF is a more practical alternative to the roadster, if just a little less fun to drive. Type of Review: First UK drive
Anyone who knows cars also knows that the Mazda MX-5 is the most iconic roadster of the last quarter century, desired as much by those who enjoy a really fun drive as those who think they look good in a convertible. It has been the world’s best-selling roadster for some two decades.
So it will no doubt surprise many readers to learn that more than three-quarters of British buyers of the Mk3 MX-5 (and we take half of all Europe’s MX-5 sales) opted not for the pure, fabric-roofed roadster, but its sister with a retractable hard top.
So when the latest, fourth-generation MX-5 launched in August 2015 – a car we described as “the best MX-5 yet” in our first drive – a hardtop version could not be far behind. That model is the Mazda MX-5 RF (retractable fastback) and it arrives in showrooms on 4th March.
Mazda MX-5 RF styling
The RF is a very different proposition to the RC (Roadster Coupe) versions of the MX-5 that Mazda has previously produced. Whereas with their roofs down and tucked under a panel on the rear flanks those cars looked just like the roadster, the new RF is styled first and foremost as a coupe.
The ‘natural’ position appears to be with the roof in place, in which form the car looks like a purposeful little coupe – a bit square in the rear quarters (A colleague likened it to a Ginetta), but overall with satisfactory visuals. It’s reminiscent of the sister BRZ/GT86 models from Subaru and Toyota, which will no doubt be considered by potential buyers.
The folding roof is a clever three-piece mechanism. The process is electronic, operated by a button on the steering wheels and can be done on the move, though only at up to 6mph.
Opening or closing takes a mere 13 seconds and involves the rear buttresses rising up as the front and centre roof sections fold back and slip underneath them, along with the rear screen glass, the buttresses then slotting back into place to hide all the mechanics.
It’s impressive, but with the roof down all that is effectively missing is what was above and the glass behind. You are still cosseted by the buttresses just behind your shoulder, so you never get the full open-air driving experience you do with the roadster. In fact, you have to stand right next to the RF to realise the roof has been retracted.
Mazda MX-5 RF powertrains
Apart from the roof, the MX-5 RF is effectively the same car as its roadster sibling. Okay it stands 5mm higher, and weighs 40 to 45kg heavier depending on model, which cuts a tenth or two from the 0-62mph speed. Obviously much of the extra poundage is accounted for by the roof mechanism, plus extra sound insulation, though there is not quite so much of the roadster’s chassis strengthening needed.
The two engine choices are the same, however, both petrol units, both to Mazda’s latest SkyActiv technology and of 1.5 litres with 131hp or 2.0 litres with 160hp. The superb, six-speed short-throw manual gearbox remains, though there is also a six-speed auto option for the 2.0 car (does anybody choose auto in a Mazda MX-5? Surely that’s the equivalent of watering down a fine red wine with lemonade?).
So if so much remains the same, is the MX-5 RF as much pure fun to drive as the roadster? In a word, no. Though this is not to detract from it, as we will explain. Your writer once persuaded a colleague who was coming out of a Caterham to try the latest MX-5, despite he using the common and misrepresenting comment of “hairdresser’s car” to describe the Mazda.
Said colleague test drove the MX-5, bought one and has never been happier – it is a car for those who consider driving so much more than getting from A to B, a car in which one gets excited when approaching a section of twists and turns on a challenging B road. It carves out each turn in such a precise manner, while exhibiting fine-tuned balance in a way that all rivals have tried and failed to replicate.
The RF, however, does not quite feel as sharp in the twisty bits. It’s good, don’t get us wrong, but appears just a little biased towards the rear, which in turn gives the front end a slight floaty feel, a little (and it is a little) less confidence compared to its open-topped sister.
This is particularly true of the 2.0 SE-L variant, which boasts the sporty extra of a limited-slip differential. If anything this heightens the rear bias, requiring rather more concentration in a bend than one is used to with an MX-5.
There are compensations, however. Cruising with the top on, the MX-5 RF is significantly quieter than the fabric-roofed roadster. Travelling at motorway speeds with the top down is not the best option, as those large buttresses lead to a lot of swirling wind noise. And the extra weight and general setup make for improved road comfort, more effective smothering of bumps, than with the roadster.
Specifications
The Mazda MX-5 RF costs from £22,195 and comes, like the roadster, in two trim levels – SE-L Nav or Sport Nav. Notable features on the SE-L Nav include LED daytime running lights, tyre pressure monitoring, electric heated mirrors, leather on the steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake lever, cruise control, climate control air-con, DAB radio on the six-speaker sound system and as its name suggests a sat nav system. One disappointing absentee, however, on all MX-5s is reach control on the steering wheel.
Sport Nav models cost £2,600 more than the SE-L and the extras include auto wipers and headlamps, rear parking sensors, black leather trim, heated seats, keyless entry, a Bose sound system with nine speakers, and lane departure warning.
The options list is short – all versions can be bought with a couple of metallic paint choices at £550 or £670 respectively, while Sport Nav cars can be fitted with Nappa leather trim at £400 and the 160hp Sport Nav a Safety Pack. This also costs £400 and adds auto high beam headlamps and blind spot monitoring with a system to alert the driver to traffic crossing behind the car.
If you are quick to the showroom you may be able to secure one of the 500 Launch Edition versions. Costing £28,995 and based on the 2-litre Sport Nav, it gains a bespoke two-tone roof, 17-inch BBS alloy wheels, black door mirrors and rear spoiler, metallic paint and the Safety Pack as standard, Alcantara trim and Recaro seats.
Verdict
If this writer was choosing between the two versions of Mazda’s sports car, he would of course go for the roadster. The thrill of tackling the best of the UK’s driver’s roads in the car will outweigh the fact that the vast majority of one’s mileage will consist of going from A to B. Most drivers will be more practical, however, so we can expect this RF to continue the trend established by the RC and remain the best-selling version of the Mazda MX-5, by far.
Mazda MX-5 RF – key specifications
Models tested:Mazda MX-5 RF 131ps SE-L Nav, 160ps SE-L Nav On Sale: March 2017 Range price: £22,195-£27,095 Insurance groups: 24E-28E Engines: Petrol 1496cc, 1998cc Power (hp):131, 160. Torque (Nm): 150, 200. 0-62mph (sec): 8.6, 7.4 (auto 8.4). Top speed (mph): 126, 134. (auto 121). Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 46.3, 40.9 (auto 39.2). CO2 emissions (g/km): 141, 161 (auto 167). Key rivals: Subaru BRZ, Toyota GT86, AudiTT Test Date: February 2017
The Ferrari 812 Superfast will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March – the fastest, most potent production car ever released by the iconic Italian brand.
According to its creators the new model is aimed at customers demanding the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range. It also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the first official Ferrari in 1947, that like the new car had a 12-cylinder engine.
Ferrari describes the 812 Superfast as “an uncompromising sports car that will deliver exhilarating driving both on road and track yet also be comfortable enough to allow its owners enjoy it as an all-round experience.”
Effectively it is a major update of the F12 Berlinetta, with a larger 6.5-litre V12 engine. This puts out 800hp, delivered at 8,500rpm, and 718Nm of torque at 7,000rpm though with 80 per cent available from just 3,500rpm. Such figures outperform the previous most potent Ferrari, the F12tdf, by 20hp and 13Nm.
Such figures are achieved by what Ferrari says is the first 350 bar direct injection system on a high-performance engine, combined with variable geometry intake tracts developed directly from the brand’s Formula One racing experience.
Front-engined leader
Paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the unit makes the Ferrari 812 Superfast the most powerful front-engined car ever – it will cover the 0-62mph sprint in 2.9 seconds, and go on to a maximum speed of 211mph. Combined cycle fuel economy is quoted at 19mpg with CO2 emissions of 340g/km.
Industry observers also believe that this engine will be the last traditional 12-cylinder unit from Ferrari with future units using turbos or hybrid assistance.
The 812 Superfast also features the first electric power steering system ever fitted to a Ferrari. This is fully integrated into the car’s electronic systems, including the latest version of the Slide Slip Control system that aids handling.
Fastback styling
Ferrari describes the 812 Superfast as a new take on the styling of its front-engined models. The two-door car has a fastback style with a high tail which is made to look shorter by the design of the sides, including bold wheel arches.
Inside the cabin has been redesigned to give a more sporty appearance.
Even the red exterior colour is new, dubbed Rosso Settanta and created to celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary.
Order books for the Ferrari 812 Superfast will open as it makes its debut in Geneva on 7th March. Pricing has not yet been stated but is expected to be more than the £241,000 of the F12 Berlinetta.
The all-new Kia Picanto will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, before going on UK sale in the Spring.
The third-generation version of the brand’s city car follows its larger Rio sister by being offered as a five-door model only, Kia reacting like other manufacturers to declining sales for small three-door cars.
It also debuts the most powerful engine yet offered in a Picanto, while buyers will also for the first time be able to choose a sports-pitched GT-Line trim level.
While remaining the same length as its predecessor, the new Picanto boasts a wheelbase extended by 15mm to 2,400mm, the wheels pushed closer to the edges of the car. The front overhang is reduced by 25mm, the rear extended 10mm. Kia says this gives the car more of a planted stance, complementing the more distinctive lines of the exterior and the signature ‘tiger nose’ grille.
The current trend to individuality is served by 11 paint finishes, six of them new to the car, and the opportunity to upgrade the 14-inch steel wheels to 16 inches. Projection headlamps with LED indicators are fitted along with LED daytime running lights.
Sporty look
GT Line models will gain additional exterior detailing with red, silver and black highlights in the grille, side intakes, along the side skirts and in the rear valance, as well as chrome-tipped twin exhausts.
Inside there is more space, particularly in the boot that grows from 200 to 255 litres, and a horizontal design to increase the impression of width, while the materials and layout have been upgraded to offer a feeling of greater quality.
A new dash layout includes a central seven-inch touchscreen, effectively moving several controls upwards and closer to the driver. Five separate colour packs will be available to customise the upholstery, while GT-Line versions will also be fitted with a D-shaped steering wheel.
New turbo engine
The Picanto engine line-up will comprise three petrol units. Alongside the 1.0 67hp and 1.25-litre 84hp variants carried over from the outgoing Picanto, the car gains a new 1-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine.
Joining the range in Autumn 2017, the T-GDI produces 100hp with 172Nm of torque. Efficiency figures for the unit are yet to be revealed, but both the other engines have seen their efficiency improved, the 67hp unit cutting CO2 emissions by 6g/km to just 89g/km.
Five-speed manual transmissions will be standard, but the 1.25 unit will also be offered with a four-speed auto unit.
Prices for the new Picanto are yet to be revealed though industry observers expect them to be close to the current car’s, starting at around £9,000 and also boasting Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
GT-Line models will offer a sports-pitched styling option.
A wider choice of engines heads a range of newly-announced improvements to the Jaguar F-Pace, XF and XE ranges.
The Ingenium engine range is expanded by two new four-cylinder petrol models and a high-output diesel unit.
The petrol engines produce 200 and 250hp respectively. The smaller unit is only available with the XE and XF, and models fitted with it will wear 20t badging. The 250hp unit can be fitted to all three cars and carries a 25t badge.
Both engines use electro-hydraulic valve control, which varies the intake valve lift for optimum efficiency, power and torque across the rev range. A new 200bar direct injection system improves efficiency and reduces emissions.
Technical first
Debuting on these engine’s is Jaguar’s first exhaust manifold integrated with the cylinder head casting. Passing coolant through the manifold significantly cuts warm-up times, when engines are at their least efficient, to improve fuel consumption and again reduce emissions.
Diesel choices are expanded by a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit with twin turbos and a 240hp output, along with 500Nm of torque.
A new high-power diesel is among the latest Jaguar Ingenium engines.
Alongside the wider engine choice, the latest Jaguar XE and XF models will be offered with ‘Configurable Dynamics’. The system allows drivers to set up the vehicle to suit their personal preferences by choosing Normal or Dynamic settings for the engine, gearbox and steering. The chosen combination is activated by engaging ‘Dynamic’ mode using a chequered flag button on the central console.
Interior upgrades
Seat changes in the F-Pace and XF see winged headrests added in the front, with powered height adjustment, the sides altered manually. All three models can now also be fitted with InControl technology allowing the driver and front-seat passenger to view different display on the 10-inch central touchscreen at the same time. For example, the passenger can watch a TV programme while the driver follows satnav instructions.
Two new safety technologies are added. Forward Traffic Detection uses a discreet forward-facing camera in the grille to warn if a potential hazard crossing in front of the car is detected – for example when exiting a junction with limited side visibility. Forward Vehicle Guidance works with the front parking sensors to help drivers park in tight spaces.
XE and XF models also gain Blind Spot Assist, and improvement on the existing Blind Spot Monitor system by applying a gentle steering force to keep the car from pulling out of its lane if a hazard is detected.
Pay for fuel on the dash
The most novel addition is cashless fuel payment. Using an app on the touchscreen, drivers will be able to drive up to any pump at a Shell service station (initially in the UK and then globally) and use the vehicle’s touchscreen to select how much fuel they require and pay using PayPal or Apple Pay. Android Pay will be added later in the year.
Once the fuel has been taken, an electronic receipt will be displayed on the touchscreen, so the driver can leave the forecourt confident of having paid. A receipt will also be sent directly from the pump to the driver’s email address.
According to Jaguar Land Rover managing director Jeremy Hicks, the new models are core to repeating the company’s record sales performance in 2016. “These models are attracting new customers to the Jaguar brand and now with an extended offering this appeal can only grow,” Hicks says.
“It is all about giving our customers more choice – all three vehicles offer a wider range of engines and a suite of new technology, comfort and convenience enhancements that will make them even more relevant for UK buyers,” he adds.
Jaguar dealers are now taking orders for the updated cars and will hope to maintain a strong start to 2017 for the brand. Jaguar recorded its best January performance in the company’s history, 20 per cent up on 2016 with 2,694 vehicles sold.
Vauxhall and its German sister brand Opel could finally be divorced from American parent company General Motors, if talks underway with PSA Group prove successful.
PSA Group, which owns French brands Peugeot, Citroën and DS Automobiles, has announced that it is in talks with GM over a purchase of Vauxhall and Opel, seven years after the American giant came very close to selling its loss-making European division.
According to industry title Automotive News Europe, Vauxhall and Opel have since cost GM $8 billion, having last made a profit in 1999. There had been hopes of breaking even in 2016 but these had been scuppered by the vote by the UK to leave the European Union.
The talks over PSA taking the majority interest in Vauxhall-Opel, with GM retaining a stake, are rumoured to be at an advanced stage but neither party is admitting so.
Similar statements
PSA has issued a statement saying that “Since 2012, General Motors and PSA Group have been implementing an Alliance covering, to date, three projects in Europe and generating substantial synergies for the two groups.
“Within this framework, General Motors and PSA Group regularly examine additional expansion and cooperation possibilities, as well. PSA Group confirms that, together with General Motors, it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel. There can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached.”
The forthcoming Vauxhall Crossland X SUV is built in a joint project with PSA Group.
GM has issued a statement that virtually matches that of PSA.
The combined sales of Vauxhall-Opel and PSA’s brands would total around 2.5 million, making it the second largest group in Europe after the Volkswagen Group.
The two are already co-operating in practical terms. The Peugeot 2008 and 3008 are being built together with Vauxhall-Opel’s two new crossovers, the Crossland X and Grandland X, on the same platforms.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross crossover will debut at the Geneva motor show in March, as the brand goes after the best-selling Nissan Qashqai.
Mitsubishi has released the first teaser photos of the car, and its name, which revives a title last used in 2012 – the Eclipse was a two-door coupe sold only in North America.
According to its makers the Eclipse Cross will broaden the Mitsubishi SUV line-up and ‘introduce a whole new audience to Mitsubishi Motors.’ It is expected on sale in the second half of 2017, slotting into the brand’s SUV range between the ASX and Outlander models, both of which have recently undergone mild facelifts (click here for ASX first drive).
No further details of the Eclipse Cross have yet been released, though from the teaser photos it can be determined that the newcomer will be a much more stylish, crossover-type car than the brand’s typical SUV product.
Evolved from Geneva star
The heavily sculpted nose, sloping roof line and steeply rake rear screen are developed directly from the XR concept that produced a highly positive reaction when it was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva motor show.
The new SUV is evolved from the Mitsubishi XR concept of 2015.
Industry sources suggest that the Eclipse Cross will go on sale with a choice of 2.2-litre diesel and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines, and front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive transmissions.
With Mitsubishi’s sales having been greatly boosted by the launch of the plug-in hybrid Outlander, it would seem likely that the technology will be extended to the Eclipse Cross, thought Mitsubishi is giving no indication of such plans. The new car is built on a shortened Outlander platform, and the XR concept was displayed with a PHEV drivetrain.
Mitsubishi intends to further grow its crossover line-up. The Eclipse Cross will likely be followed in 2019 by a smaller sister model targeting the likes of the Nissan Juke, and including a full-electric drivetrain.
British chemical giant Ineos plans to manufacture a 4×4 to fill the gap left by the demise of the Land Rover Defender.
According to the company, Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to stop making the iconic Defender leaves a market for an ‘uncompromising off-roader’ and it is prepared to invest ‘many hundreds of millions’ in creating such a vehicle, hopefully in the UK.
Described as one of the largest manufacturers in the world in its field, Ineos has been undertaking a six-month feasibility study before giving the go-ahead for what will be the company’s first vehicle.
The new, as yet unnamed 4×4 will both fill the gap in the market vacated by the Defender and ‘provide a step-change improvement in build quality and reliability.’
Traditional design
Industry sources suggest that the vehicle will be traditional in design – Ineos has firmly stated that it its new vehicle will offer a real and pure alternative to the current crop of standardised ‘jelly-mould’ SUVs. However its powertrains could include a hybrid or even full-electric option.
A global target market includes agriculture and forestry workers, explorers and adventurers as well as traditional Defender fans.
The Ineos 4×4 will apparently be in the spirit of the Land Rover Defender, pictured here, but not a replica. Photo: Andrew Charman
The company’s former head of Engineering and Technology, Dirk Heilmann, has now been named head of the new Ineos Automotive division and has begun looking for sites to build a manufacturing facility, while also recruiting personnel from the automotive industry. This is an amazing project for everyone involved – our job is to create the world’s best 4 x 4 and we are already moving forward with our plans,” Heilmann says.
Ineos chairman Jim Radcliffe, who came up with the proposal, admits to being a fan of the Defender and believes he can produce a vehicle targeted at adventure and ‘active driving’ markets, but also for those who need a work and utility machine.
“I am a great admirer of the old Land Rover Defender and have enormous respect for its off-road capability, and our new 4 x4 has been inspired by it,” Ratcliffe says.
“But whilst our off-roader might share its spirit, our new car will be a major improvement on previous models”.
Industry sources suggest that the first Ineos 4×4 could appear in 2020 at prices similar to those of the Defender. JLR has previously indicated that it intends to launch a successor to the Defender – this is expected to appear in 2019 and is rumoured to be much more high-tech than its predecessor.
What is it?
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is the soft-roading final member of the brand’s flagship 90 series.
Key features
Raised ride height, all-wheel-drive, off-road styling.
Our view
The Volvo V90 Cross Country offers all the refined performance and upmarket luxury of its sisters, but with a welcome extra dose of versatility. When the road stops, it doesn’t.
The Volvo V90 Cross Country arrives in showrooms in February, the final variant in a trio of flagship models that have raised the image quality of the Swedish brand.
The S90 saloon and V90 estatemodels launched in August 2016 to sit alongside the established XC90 SUV. Now with the arrival of the soft-roader variant of the estate, along with the more sports-pitched R-Design trim across the range, Volvo’s range-topping line-up is complete.
It is 20 years since the Swedish brand first launched a Cross Country model with the V70 XC of 1997. The aim was to provide an answer for buyers who need a level of off-road ability, for example for weekend equestrian activities on muddy fields, but who don’t want to go the full SUV route. Now with the V90 Cross Country joining its V40 and V60 sisters, Volvo can offer the soft-roader option across its model range.
Cross Country outside and in
Volvo V90 Cross Country variants can be distinguished from other V90 models by an exterior makeover designed to give the car a more muscular presence and add a degree of off-road protection. Wheelarch extensions are included, as is lower body cladding and sills in a charcoal finish, and front and rear protective skid plates. The body mouldings can be had in body colour for an additional cost.
Visually it looks the part, and on slipping inside matters just get better. Back when we reviewed the standard S90 and V90 models we were seriously impressed with the quality of fit and finish, and the Cross Country maintains the breed.
As we stated then, the driver’s surroundings have clearly been thought through very carefully indeed, with by far the best aspect being the vertical-format nine-inch touchscreen in the centre console – turning the screen on its head seems such a natural thing to do.
Initially, admittedly, the system is complicated, taking some getting to know as one learns how to control the various aspects of the car, including the Sensus Connect and Navigation system. However it would soon become second nature to an owner using it regularly.
Volvo V90 Cross Country models are, currently at least, only offered with diesel powertrains, the four-cylinder 2.0-litre D4 and D5 units built under the brand’s latest Drive-E efficiency programme. There’s no clue yet as to whether the petrol engines offered on continental models, or the forthcoming T8 TwinEngine plug-in hybrid, will be extended to the soft-roader.
The D4 diesel offers 190hp, while the D5 has 235 horses along with the clever PowerPulse tank that injects compressed air into the turbocharger to overcome turbo lag and dial in the maximum torque much earlier in the rev range.
Both engines are combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and of course all-wheel-drive. In fact the Cross Country is the only way one can have the D4 engine with AWD, whereas all D5 options across the S90/V90 range come with traction on each wheel as standard.
There are other mechanical modifications made to suit the Cross Country specification. Most pertinently, the car’s ride height is increased by 60mm, producing much more effective approach and departure angles for negotiating difficult terrain.
The drive-control system gains an off-road mode, which operates at speeds under 25mph and automatically brings extra safety systems into play, notably hill-descent control.
While the D5 and its plentiful torque was tempting, The Car Expert tried the D4 variant on the launch, and we can confirm that it really is all one needs. It accelerates smoothly while producing a very high level of refinement, and the 8.8 seconds to pass 62mph is hardly pedestrian in such a car.
On the road the extra height really makes very little difference, apart from providing a more commanding view of the road ahead. The Cross Country rides very well, and while there is a little extra body roll in corners, it’s hardly noticeable and very controllable.
Where the car comes into its own of course, is away from the tarmac. The launch event included a ‘soft-road’ course, consisting of very muddy tracks, stiff gradients both up and down, and the Cross Country took everything in its stride. With off-mode road selected, hill start and hill descent control taking charge, one could negotiate the course with hardly a concern.
Prices and specification
Cross Country variants are offered as a distinct grade on estate V90 models only, based on the existing Momentum entry-level trim, but with the extras we have already described plus such details as larger door mirrors and leather-faced upholstery with stitching bespoke to the model.
At the same time, Volvo is adding R-Design trim to the general S90 and V90 range, to offer a more sports-pitched grade between Momentum and the range-topping Inscription level.
R-Design cars gain a bespoke exterior look. The radiator grille mesh is finished in gloss black, as are the lower bumper inlays. Matt silver door mirrors are added, along with bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels.
The changes go beyond the visual, however. The sports theme extends to lowering the car’s ride height by 15mm compared to other S90 and V90 models, and fitting faster-responding monotube dampers with firmer settings.
Inside the front occupants enjoy sports seats with leather/nubuck upholstery, while the perforated leather is added to the steering wheel and gearknob, and the driver’s information display in the dash information panel increased in size from eight to 12.3 inches.
Choosing an R-Design model over the Momentum version will cost the buyer an extra £2,500. The cheapest V90 R-Design is the D4-engined version at £37,455. Cross Country prices, meanwhile start from £39,785, again with the D4 and £4,830 than the stock V90 in Momentum grade. The price is also very close to the £40,000 barrier that on cars bought after 1st April 2017 will add an extra £310 to road tax bills for the first five years. So even the slightest scrutiny of the options list could have financial implications!
Volvo predicts 25 per cent of V90 buyers will choose the Cross Country specification, with the other three trim levels split equally at 25 per cent each. Those that choose the soft roader will have an effective and highly versatile car. It is very accomplished on the road, but when the road runs out, it keeps going…
The Citroen C-Aircross concept will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, previewing a production model to rival the Nissan Juke.
Industry sources suggest a production version of the C-Aircross will launch before the end of 2017, with the C3 Picasso making way for it in the Citroën range.
Officially the car demonstrates the extension of Citroen’s latest design language, seen first on the Aircross concept of 2015 and in production form on the C4 Cactus and more recently the C3, to the SUV sector.
Read more Citroen news and reviews at The Car Expert
The C-Aircross is a compact car, measuring 4.15 metres long, 1.74m wide and 1.63m high. Like its sister models it boasts a distinctive silhouette with a short but raised bonnet and stands high to rival more traditional SUVs for presence.
Notable elements of the concept include rear hinges on the second pair of doors. Combined with large windows and a panoramic sunroof the doors open to give an impression of extensive interior space.
Citroen is applying its Advanced Comfort programme to the C-Aircross . A colour head-up display replaces traditional dials, user-friendly controls sit on the single-spoke steering wheel, while rear-facing cameras are employed in place of the door mirrors. A 12-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console. A host of storage areas are incorporated throughout the cabin.
No details have been released concerning powertrains though the production model will likely make use of the same engine range as the recently launched C3. The concept makes use of the brand’s Grip Control system, offering standard, sand, off-road and snow modes, together with one that disengages the electronic stability programme.
Read more Citroen news and reviews at The Car Expert
* The Car Expert will be reporting directly from the Geneva Motor Show – check back for all the latest news from press day on 7th March.
The Geneva motor show in March will see the debut of the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer alongside its saloon Grand Sport sister.
Both are expected on UK sale by the summer of 2017, assuming flagship roles in the Vauxhall line-up.
Like the Grand Sport (see our story here) the estate-bodied Sports Tourer takes its styling inspiration from the Monza concept, created by a team led by Vauxhall-Opel design head Mark Adams and first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013.
It has a sleeker look than its predecessor, but use of all-new architecture also frees up extra interior space, including maximum boot space with the rear seats folded of 1,638 litres – 100 more than the outgoing car – in a boot extended by 10cm.
Longer and lighter
The Insignia Sports Tourer is 7cm longer than the previous model, measuring up at almost exactly 5m, with a wheelbase extended by 9cm to 2.8m. New construction techniques also see the weight of the car reduced by up to 200kg.
As with the Grand Sport details of the powertrain line-up are yet to be revealed, Vauxhall only stating that they will be latest-generation units, which suggests efficiency improvements.
It is know that both the saloon and estate versions will include include torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive and a newly designed eight-speed auto gearbox.
Nine out of ten Insignia sales have previously been to fleet buyers and Vauxhall will be seeking to attract new customers with a swathe of technology.
LED matrix lighting, Lane Keep Assist, Head-up Display, front and rear-seat heating and a heated windshield will all be available, as will the IntelliLink connectivity/infotainment system and Vauxhall’s OnStar personal assistant service.
Prices for the new range will likely be announced closer to the car’s launch – industry observers suggest they will broadly be in line with the current model, starting from just over £20,000.
UK new car sales hit a 12-year high in January, with alternative-fuelled cars powering the growth.
According to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, 174,564 new cars were registered in the month – 2.9 per cent up on January 2016 and highest total recorded since 2005.
The most significant growth was in the alternative-fuel market, which includes electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. A total of 7,279 such vehicles were registered, 19.9 per cent more than in January 2016 and taking the sector’s market share to more than four per cent for the first time. Previously AFVs have never exceeded 3.6 per cent of the market.
Diesel decline
Suggesting that a backlash against diesel may be growing, diesel car registrations slipped by 4.3 per cent to 78,773, while petrol vehicles jumped 8.9 per cent to 88,507. Current speculation suggests that the Government could be planning a diesel scrappage scheme, possibly within months, to take older diesel models off the road.
There is also evidence of growing confidence amongst consumers, with private registrations leading the market, up by five per cent and accounting for 76,729 cars. However this could also be due to buyers trying to secure models before a new, more expensive road tax regime begins on 1st April (see our story here).
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes describes the results as a good start to 2017 in the new car market, which he says has been buoyed by a great range of new models which are safer and cleaner than ever before.
“It’s encouraging to see alternatively fuelled vehicles benefiting from this positive growth, reaching a record market share,” Hawes adds, while warning that such growth is likely in coming months.
“After record growth in 2016, some cooling is anticipated over the coming months, but provided interest rates remain low and the economy stable, the market is in a good position to withstand its short-term challenges,” Hawes says.
The Ford Fiesta started 2017 where it finished 2016, dominating the new car top 10 – the 8,495 registrations of Fiestas were 3,040 ahead of nearest challenger the Volkswagen Golf.
What is it?
The new Kia Rio is the fourth generation of the brand’s global best-selling supermini.
Key features:
Larger, more space, more efficient engines, connectivity.
Our view:
The latest Kia Rio is a significantly updated model that, while it can’t match the driving dynamics of some rivals, outdoes most in space and value for money.
The Kia Rio is not nearly as well-known on the UK market as it is globally. The supermini is the brand’s best seller across the world, shifting 475,000 each year, and can trace its lineage over four generations back to the Pride, which was really the first proper Kia model.
In the UK market, the Rio rates only fourth in the brand’s top ten, behind the Sportage, cee’d and Picanto. But it is Kia’s oldest nameplate in the UK, still accounts for around 12,000 sales a year and is crucial to the brand’s ambitions to hit annual UK volumes of 100,000 by the end of the decade.
So we now have a completely new Rio, replacing the model that has been around since 2011. The headlines are a larger car with more interior space, efficient new downsized engines, a totally revised chassis for more effective road manners, and of course all the latest connectivity and driver-aid tech that has now spread into the supermini segment from larger cars.
Kia Rio – outside and in
Visually the Mk4 Rio is, quite attractive actually. The latest styling language has been applied, principally the work of Kia’s European studio in Frankfurt and the American equivalent in California.
So we get the signature ‘tiger nose’ grille, which is longer and more slender than its predecessor, giving a greater impression of width. It is framed by sculpted projector headlamps and fog lamps, the latter standard across the range.
The shape of the shell is distinctly different – while 15mm longer than the outgoing model it also boasts a longer front overhang and bonnet, and a shorter rear overhang, plus a 10mm lower roofline, all of which adds up to a more purposeful appearance.
The wheelbase is extended, by 10mm, which naturally frees up more interior space, emphasised by more efficient packaging of the interior, along with wide-opening doors making for easy access. Sitting in the back it certainly feels roomy for a supermini.
There are big gains in the boot – the volume rises by 37 litres to 325 litres, which makes the Rio very competitive amongst its rivals. The Peugeot 208 offers some 40 litres less, the Hyundai i20 is 73 litres down and even Britain’s best-selling car the Ford Fiesta only manages 290 litres. Only the Skoda Fabia significantly outscores the Rio, and then by just five litres.
Drop the rear seats and you can make use of 980 litres, while the boot is easy to load too, as the tailgate opening is 71mm wider and with a 26mm lower lip. However, there is a step in the floor space with the seats down.
Slip behind the wheel and if you know the previous Rio you will notice the better visibility, particularly behind the shoulders courtesy of rear screen pillars some 87mm narrower than the outgoing car.
The dash layout looks the part, especially on the upper trim levels which include a seven-inch touchscreen rather than a five-inch. And while the materials are not exactly soft touch, they add to a well put-together interior.
Powertrains
The new Rio launches with a powertrain choice ranging across six engines and three transmissions. There is a 1.4 diesel in outputs of either 77hp (replacing a previous three-cylinder 1.1 unit) or 90hp. Petrol choices range across the 1.25 84hp unit available in the previous Rio or a new 1.4 of 99hp, but the highlight is the new 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine.
Offered in 100 or 120hp outputs both returning torque figures of 171Nm, this new three-cylinder engine is part of Kia’s stated aim to cut its 2014 range average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 25 per cent before the end of 2020.
This aim will partly be achieved by new technology such as plug-in hybrids, but downsizing and greater efficiencies will also play their part and the 1.0-litre engine gains a turbocharger and direct injection to boost its power and torque. While offering up to 21 horses more than the 1.4 unit, it also outstretches it on miles per gallon while producing CO2 emissions almost down to diesel levels.
The 99hp versions of the 1.0 are coupled to a five-speed manual transmission and are expected to prove the most popular engine in the Rio range, so on the launch event we tried this combination alongside the 1.4 diesel, which comes with a six-speed ‘box (as does the 120hp petrol unit specifically in range-topping ‘First Edition’ models). The only auto option is with the 1.4 petrol – it’s only a four-speed and carries significant economy and emissions penalties.
The 1.0-litre petrol engine is certainly impressive, especially in the mid range where it pulls strongly in a similar fashion to the diesel. The gearbox could be slightly slicker in operation, but overall it’s a competent combination and makes the diesel’s perceived advantages, particularly in low-down pulling power, seem less obvious. Both engines are refined in their progress too, though road noise can get just a little intrusive for particularly rear-seat occupants.
Kia’s efforts to improve the Rio’s road manners include a shell increased in stiffness by 51%, and significant revisions to the MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear suspension.
The result is a competent performance with a comfortable ride tending to the slightly firm side. It will more than suit the vast majority of Rio buyers, but those who really enjoy driving their car should go instead for a Fiesta or a Volkswagen Polo as the Rio is not exactly exciting to drive.
Equipment
Four trim levels are available to UK buyers of the Rio, dubbed 1, 2, 3 and First Edition. The last is a range-topping model, the only way currently to get the higher-powered 1-litre turbo engine and we are told a limited-time model.
Equipment levels are impressive – even entry-level models, costing from £11,995, get air conditioning, front electric windows, remote locking, electric heated door mirrors, Bluetooth, auto lights, LED daytime running lights and cornering lights.
Grade 2 adds such niceties as 15-inch alloys, leather trim on the steering wheel, rear electric windows, folding mirrors, DAB radio, the five-inch display screen, a rear parking camera and sensors and cruise control. It also includes two significant safety features, autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning, which safety body Euro NCAP recently insisted should be standard equipment on all cars.
Our pick would be the 100hp 1-litre turbo petrol engine in 3 grade. It costs £16,295 and gains the larger seven-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, heated front seats and steering wheel, black leather-like upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth with voice recognition and smartphone compatibility through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The air conditioning is auto and the alloys grow to 16 inches.
And if you want to pay £17,445 for a First Edition with the 120hp petrol unit, you will also gain 17-inch alloys, a smart key entry system with a stop-start button, stainless steel pedals, black and red on the leather look and LED rear lights.
Perhaps of more value across the range, however, will be the Kia warranty, that still reaches across an industry leading seven years and is a big plus when you come to sell the car on.
Kia Rio – Summary
The fourth-generation Kia Rio is an effective reinvention of the model, with significant advances particularly in terms of the efficient little 1-litre engine. For pure driving pleasure, it can’t come close to the likes of the Ford Fiesta, but it leaves rivals behind in several areas of practicality, notably interior space. And the combination of competitive pricing and that warranty makes it a value-for-money option in the supermini market.
Kia Rio – key specifications
Models tested:Kia Rio 3 1.0 T-GDi 99bhp five-speed manual, 3 1.4 CRDi 89bhp 6-speed manual
On Sale: February 2017
Range price: £11,995-£17,445
Insurance groups: TBA
Engines: Petrol 1.25, 1.4, 1.0T x 2. Diesel 1.4 x 2.
Power (hp): 84, 99, 100/120. 77/90.
Torque (Nm): 121, 133, 171/171. 240/240.
0-60mph (sec): 12.5, 11.8 (13.4*), 10.3/9.8. 13.5/11.6.
Top speed (mph): 107, 108 (103*), 115/118. 102/108.
Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 58.8, 56.5 (46.3*), 62.8/60.1. 80.7/74.3.
CO2 emissions (g/km): 109, 114 (140*), 102/107. 92/98.
Key rivals: Peugeot 208, Hyundai i20, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris
Test Date: January 2017
* = with auto gearbox
Mitsubishi has also developed a new red paint colour, which will make its debut on the Eclipse Cross when it is presented in Geneva. The standard red coating is layered with a semi-transparent red and clear coating to create high levels of colour saturation, which gives off a deeper and more three-dimensional finish.
Two powertrains have been confirmed for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine connected to a new eight-speed CVT gearbox, and a 2.2-litre turbo diesel paired with a conventional eight-speed torque converter automatic.
Both units will drive all four wheels using an electronically-controlled 4WD system, which is predominantly front-wheel drive but can send torque to the rear wheels when wheelspin is detected. This is integrated with the car’s stability control and an active yaw control system, which manages drive between the rear wheels to help maintain control.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will make its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva motor show and go on sale in the UK in early 2018. Full UK pricing and specifications are not expected to be announced until towards the end of this year.
Volkswagen has not released any details of the Arteon’s powertrains though they are expected to replicate the engine choices of European-specification Passats, and include both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive transmissions.
The brand does say that the car will debut ‘the latest generation of driver assistance systems,’ including ‘features that are typically reserved for luxury automobiles’.
The Volkswagen Arteon is expected on UK sale sometime in the summer of 2017 at prices starting in the region of £28,000.
Read more Volkswagen news, reviews and features at The Car Expert
Catch up with all the latest news from the 2017 Geneva motor show at The Car Expert 
It is understood that the Velar will be the most on-road pitched Range Rover model yet and will also debut a new interior design, based on the layout of its Jaguar sister model.
The Velar name (pronounced vel-ar) is one of the oldest elements of the car, dating back to the first Range Rover prototypes of the 1960s. When development engineers needed to hide the true identity of the 26 pre-production Range Rovers, they chose the name Velar, derived from the Latin velare meaning to veil or cover.
Read more Land Rover news, reviews and features at The Car Expert
More details of the Range Rover Velar will be released as we get them, and The Car Expert will also be at the Geneva Motor Show to report on all the new models unveiled. 
Industry observers also believe that this engine will be the last traditional 12-cylinder unit from Ferrari with future units using turbos or hybrid assistance.
The 812 Superfast also features the first electric power steering system ever fitted to a Ferrari. This is fully integrated into the car’s electronic systems, including the latest version of the Slide Slip Control system that aids handling.
Inside there is more space, particularly in the boot that grows from 200 to 255 litres, and a horizontal design to increase the impression of width, while the materials and layout have been upgraded to offer a feeling of greater quality.
A new dash layout includes a central seven-inch touchscreen, effectively moving several controls upwards and closer to the driver. Five separate colour packs will be available to customise the upholstery, while GT-Line versions will also be fitted with a D-shaped steering wheel.
Citroen is applying its Advanced Comfort programme to the C-Aircross . A colour head-up display replaces traditional dials, user-friendly controls sit on the single-spoke steering wheel, while rear-facing cameras are employed in place of the door mirrors. A 12-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console. A host of storage areas are incorporated throughout the cabin.
No details have been released concerning powertrains though the production model will likely make use of the same engine range as the recently launched C3. The concept makes use of the brand’s Grip Control system, offering standard, sand, off-road and snow modes, together with one that disengages the electronic stability programme.
Read more Citroen news and reviews at The Car Expert
* The Car Expert will be reporting directly from the Geneva Motor Show – check back for all the latest news from press day on 7th March.
