While the UK auto industry headlines focus elsewhere in the Geneva motor show halls, the Range Rover Velar is an important unveiling for the home industry.
The Velar is a truly British car, designed at Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon studios and to be built in the JLR plant in Solihull, Birmingham. Its Ingenium powertrain range, meanwhile, will come out of the recently-constructed engine plant near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
JLR sales have been mushrooming in recent times, Land Rover registrations alone up by close to 20 per cent in 2016, and the Velar is expected to further boost this progress.
Sitting between the existing Range Rover Evoque and Sport lines, the Velar will be expected to widen the Land Rover brand’s customer base and attract buyers away from the Macan of rival Porsche.
The car sits on the same platform as the F-Pace SUV that has already proven a major success for sister company Jaguar, and will be offered with a six-strong powertrain range. The name comes from the development of the original Range Rover of 1970 – the title Velare, derived from the Latin velare meaning to veil or cover, was given to the 26 pre-production examples of the Range Rover produced.
Sales of the newcomer start in July, with the Range Rover Velar priced from £44,830 to £85,450.
Vauxhall and sister Opel have unveiled the new Crossland X SUV and Insignia large car at the Geneva motor show, hoping that the two new models would earn headlines away from the uncertainty resulting from the sale of the two brands to PSA Group.
But the new cars are not likely to be the reason that the Vauxhall-Opel stand was one of the busiest of the show’s press day, as journalists from around the world clamoured to get more information about the impending takeover by PSA Group, which was only announced on Monday and remained one of the biggest talking points of the whole show.
Ironically the Crossland X and its forthcoming larger sister the Grandland X are built by Vauxhall-Opel’s new owner – both are part of a joint project with PSA.
The Crossland X sits on the same platform as the Peugeot 2008 while the Grandland X is effectively a sister to the Peugeot 3008, named European Car of the Year on the eve of the show.
The Crossland X will replace the current Meriva in the Vauxhall line-up. It is 4.2 metres long, shorter than its currently on-sale Mokka X sister and 16cm under the Astra family hatch.
Set to become the new Vauxhall range-topper, the Insignia has been unveiled in both Grand Sport hatch and Sports Tourer estate versions.
The car is built on a completely new platform that Vauxhall says adds to the interior space while also improving the on-road performance.
Technology will feature heavily – LED matrix lighting, Lane Keep Assist, a Head-up Display and premium seats with front- and rear-seat heating and a heated windscreen are among the features that will b eon offer when the car goes on sale in the summer.
Vauxhall’s latest generation IntelliLink and OnStar systems are also on show in the car with the OnStar assistance service now offering new features including the ability to book hotel rooms and search for suitable parking spots via an OnStar Advisor.
The Infiniti Project Black S is a radical rework of the Q60 coupe said to celebrate the brand’s association with the Renault Formula One team.
However the concept has another, important role – Infiniti management wants to know if high-performance versions of its model range would be popular and reaction to Project Black S will be closely noted – approval from Geneva motor show visitors could lead to a future production model.
The car’s powertrain adds Formula One technology in the form of a KERS – Kinetic Energy Recovery System – to the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine of the Q60. Developed by Renault F1 engineers the KERS harvests energy, for example, developed under braking, to boost power and torque, pushing the car’s output to 500bhp.
Styling to match the potency is added, based around a matt grey exterior colour with gloss black detailing replacing the chrome of mainstream Infiniti models.
Carbon fibre is also used extensively, including a large front splitter, rear diffuser, wings and side skirts. Ultra-thin aero ‘blades’ are fixed in the side sills ahead of the rear wheels to channel air around the lower body of the car while a large fixed rear wing – also made of carbon fibre – is mounted at the rear.
Other bespoke touches include larger air intakes at the front to channel cold air into the engine bay and brakes, and vents in the bonnet to allow heat to escape. Forged 21-inch aluminium alloy wheels – larger, wider and lighter than those on the standard Q60 – are fitted under wheel arch extensions.
“The company believes there is potential for a ‘Black S’ grade that offers progressive levels of product enhancement – including higher power and torque from innovative powertrains, new or uprated suspension systems, and unique design elements,” Infiniti says.
“Project Black S suggests what a Black S grade could offer customers, and the concept’s debut in Geneva will help Infiniti gauge potential interest in daring high-performance derivatives of its cars that benefit from genuine motorsport technology.”
The Mercedes-AMG GT concept previews the German brand’s answer to the Porsche Panamera.
Unveiled at the Geneva motor show, the concept is expected to evolve into a four-door production model that is expected to launch in 2019. It will be a successor to the CLS Shooting Brake.
Other rivals in the new car’s sights will include the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé and the Audi A7.
The Geneva concept is presented in range-topping form with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing more than 600bhp. The GT – the name has not been confirmed for a production model – would be manufactured by the Mercedes-Benz performance subsidiary Mercedes-AMG. However it will be based around the Mercedes-Benz modular rear architecture (MRA) platform that is already used on AMG models such as the C 63.
Industry sources suggest two power outputs of the four-litre will be offered in the car, both combined with all-wheel-drive, while there will also be an entry-level 3.0-litre V6 model.
Also on the Mercedes-Benz stand at Geneva is the E-Class Cabriolet, completing the brand’s latest E-class range. The cabriolet is based heavily on the new E-Class Coupe and retains that model’s lightweight part-aluminium construction.
UK employees of Vauxhall are facing an uncertain future after French giant PSA agreed a 2.2 billion Euro deal (around £1.9m) to buy the brand and its German sister Opel.
The deal will see PSA Group, which owns Peugeot, Citroën and DS Automobiles, take over the running of Vauxhall and Opel from current owner, US giant General Motors (GM). The new group will be Europe’s second largest car maker after Volkswagen, overtaking the Renault–Nissan alliance and having 17 per cent of the market.
However the deal leaves 4,500 UK Vauxhall workers, particularly those in the brand’s two plants at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire and Luton, Bedfordshire, concerned about their long-term job prospects.
GM and PSA issued a joint statement announcing the sale and stating that the addition of Vauxhall and Opel is expected to “allow significant economies of scale and synergies in purchasing,” resulting in savings of 1.7 billion Euros by 2026 and a significant part as early as 2020.
GM decided to sell its European operations after missing a target for them to break even in 2016 after years of losses. The failure to hit the break-even target was blamed on Brexit – the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and the sharp fall in the value of the UK pound that followed the vote.
PSA believes it will “accelerate Vauxhall/Opel’s turnaround” with the group making a sustained operating profit of two per cent by 2020 and six per cent by 2026.
GM sees the sale as a significant step in its ongoing work to transform its business, which the company says has delivered three years of record performance and a strong 2017 outlook. However rumours continue to circulate in the US suggesting that GM may now merge with FIAT Chrysler Automobiles.
Commenting on the agreement, PSA head Carlos Tavares says that the group is proud to join forces with Vauxhall/Opel and deeply committed to continuing to developing the company and accelerating its turnaround.
“We respect all that Opel/Vauxhall’s talented people have achieved as well as the company’s fine brands and strong heritage – we intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their respective brand identities,” Tavares adds.
“Having already created together winning products for the European market, we know that Opel/Vauxhall is the right partner. We see this as a natural extension of our relationship and are eager to take it to the next level.”
“We are confident that the Opel/Vauxhall turnaround will significantly accelerate with our support, while respecting the commitments made by GM to the Opel/Vauxhall employees,” Mr Tavares continues.
Vauxhall currently builds the Astra at Ellesmere Port and the Vivaro in Luton, as well as having its corporate headquarters in the Bedfordshire town. PSA has not built cars in the UK since closing its Peugeot factories in Coventry in 2006.
Brexit has added potential complexities for manufacturers with factories in Britain, particularly over exports that account for the vast majority of UK automotive production. Around 80 per cent of Vauxhall exports are to the European Union – there are fears that these could be badly affected by the export and import tariffs that will result if the Government does not secure an agreement to remain part of the single market when it leaves the EU.
Reacting to the sale announcement Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite trade union, insists that PSA head Carlos Tavares can be convinced that keeping production in Britain makes sense.
“Our plants are the most productive in the European operation, the brand is strong here, the market for the products is here, so the cars must be made here,” McCluskey says.
However he adds that the Government needs to play its part to end the harm being caused to the UK auto sector by the uncertainty over Brexit. He insists that the Budget on Wednesday would be a perfect opportunity to announce that trading opportunities with Europe will be preserved.
The current Astra is expected to continue in production until at least 2021 and relocating its manufacturing plant before then would seem to be unlikely. However around three-quarters of the car’s components are sourced from the EU so PSA could decide to base future Astras on the same platform as Peugeot Citroën models, building them together in European factories.
Some reports suggest, however, that a ‘hard Brexit’ could be good news for Vauxhall manufacturing in the UK. PSA could decide to overcome the inevitable tariffs resulting by relocating some production to Britain in order to supply the UK market, which is one of the strongest in Europe and in which Vauxhall has a significant 16 per cent share.
Tavares has appeared to confirm such reports, sating that there could be an opportunity to open new plants in the UK.
Vauxhall/Opel and PSA already co-operate on several models. The Vauxhall Crossland X and Grandland X crossovers, launching at the week’s Geneva motor show, are built on the same platform as the Peugeot 2008 and 3008 equivalents. The Vivaro van, however, is part of a joint programme with PSA’s great rival Renault-Nissan, sold by the latter as the Traffic and Primastar.
The Car Expert will update this story as more details emerge.
European audiences get their first view of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace at next week’s Geneva motor show.
The extended version of the brand’s popular SUV was unveiled as the Volkswagen Tiguan LWB at the Detroit show in January.
It stretches the standard Tiguan wheelbase by 110mm, and the overall length by 215mm, mainly in the rear overhang that grows 106mm.
The extension creates a potential extra 145 litres of boot space, or 250 litres with the rear seats folded, as well as the option of fitting two extra seats in a third row.
Ahead of the car’s European debut, more details of the powertrain line-up have been released – six engines will be available, ranging from 150 to 240hp. All are direct-injection four-cylinder turbo units.
Three petrol options range across 150, 180 and 220hp, while their diesel equivalents rate at 150, 190 and 240hp. Front-wheel drive is standard on the entry-level models, though 4Motion all-wheel-drive is an option on the 150hp diesel and standard on all other versions. All-wheel-drive models also gain the DSG auto dual-clutch gearbox.
Mild changes to the front-end styling and the profile differentiate the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace from its big-selling standard length sister. It will be offered in VW’s standard three trim levels of Trendline, Comfortline and Highline.
UK sales of the Tiguan Allspace are not expected to begin until late 2017. Prices are still be revealed but based on the already announced German prices they are expected to be around £3,000 more than the standard Tiguan. This costs from £23,140.
The Tiguan Allspace will be unveiled on Volkswagen’s Geneva stand on 7th March – The Car Expert will be at the show to provide latest news on all of the new model reveals.
All will be matched to eight-speed auto transmissions, adaptive dampers and intelligent all-wheel-drive – Land Rover’s reputation for all-surface ability ensured there was no thought of following the front-wheel-drive route of many other mid-sized SUVs.
This capability is emphasised by a class-leading ground clearance of 251mm on versions with the air suspension that is standard on six-cylinder models, and a wading depth of 650mm.
The options list will include the Terrain Response 2 and All Terrain Progress Control traction aids, while a locking rear differential will also be available.
Among notable styling touches are the slimmest LED headlamps fitted to a production Land Rover, and flush-fitting door handles. The Velar is also described as the most aero-efficient Land Rover yet.
Inside a new interior design focuses on keeping the number of controls to a minimum. The front is dominated by the new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which uses two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens integrated into the dash.
Also debuting is a new seat material, described as a sustainable alternative to leather. It is finished in grey and has inserts in Ebony or Light Oyster shades.
SEAT expects the new Ibiza to boost sales in a year expected to show significant growth for the brand – sales in January were up 16.5 per cent. According to SEAT chairman Luca de Meo the new Ibiza is important to the brand while it is in a phase of consolidation and growth.
“We are working to become one of the most dynamic organisations in our industry – the new SEAT Ibiza will make a great leap forward for the brand and it is set to be a turning point in the segment,” de Meo says.
SEAT’s ambitions will be further strengthened later in 2017 when the brand’s second SUV, the Arona, is unveiled, a smaller sister to the already successful Ateca.
Also debuting on the SEAT stand in Geneva will be the Leon Cupra 300. The brand’s most powerful road car yet, it boasts a sub five-second 0-62mph time thanks to its 300hp, 380Nm engine, and all-wheel-drive on its Sports Tourer version.
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.
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.
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