Mercedes-Benz has pulled the covers off a new battery-powered SUV crossover concept called Generation EQ at the Paris Motor Show, describing it as “close to production”.The Generation EQ previews a new scalable architecture for battery-electric vehicles across a range of future Mercedes-Benz models. The wheelbase and track width, as well as all other system components like batteries, are variable components in a modular building-block system. Daimler suggests that one single basic architecture could be suitable for SUVs, saloons, coupés, cabriolets and other body styles in a variety of sizes. Like the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz production models, the new platform uses a mix of steel, aluminium and carbon fibre in different roles to maximise strength and minimise weight.As well as being the name of the concept car, the EQ branding will be used for future battery-electric Mercedes-Benz models. EQ stands for ‘electric intelligence’. Daimler describes the principle as extending beyond the vehicles into broader issues of electric mobility, such as charging systems, home storage units and wallboxes.
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The concept is powered by two electric motors – one for each of the front and rear axles, to deliver all-wheel-drive traction. The lithium-ion battery is built into the vehicle floor. Mercedes-Benz claims a total power output of 300kW (407hp), with 700Nm of torque. Range is claimed to be up to 500km (320 miles).The company describes the concept’s styling as ‘electro-look’, with an emphasis on stripping back the design to bare elements and minimising visual interference. Panel joins are scarcely visible, windscreen wipers and door handles have been concealed, and – like most contemporary concept cars – wing mirrors have been binned in favour of cameras. The end result is described as a monolithic look, and the intent is for much of the direction to filter down to future production vehicles. Internal design emphasises touch-sensitive controls and no physical buttons or switches apart from the electric seats. The driver faces a 24-inch widescreen display, which displays all necessary information across different stages of the screen and can be reconfigured to personal preference. The screen is controlled by touch-sensitive elements on the steering wheel rather than from the screen itself.
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The centre console is a separate touchscreen for operating the climate control and infotainment systems. Even door handles and window lifters are touch-sensitive controls rather than physical levers or switches. The four individual seats have speakers integrated into each headrest. Rear passengers can watch screens integrated into the rear of the front seats.The exterior features LED lighting for not only head and tail lights, but also for illuminating the three-pointed-star logo. Strips of blue LED light also provide “a light show with exciting touches of colour”. The Generation EQ concept also previews autonomous and connected technologies, integrated into range and economy information to advise the driver of charging facilities and local attractions within range.
Skoda has unveiled its long-awaited Kodiaq SUV at the Paris motor show, starting a model rush that is expected to see the Czech brand grow to offer five crossovers.
Describing the launch of the Kodiaq as “the spearhead of our SUV offensive,” Skoda CEO Bernard Maier adds that the car is a “wonderful, powerful SUV,” its design language “shaping the identity of the entire brand.”
Despite the Kodiaq measuring up only 4cm longer than the Octavia saloon Skoda is claiming best-in-class interior space for the model, the only car in its class to offer a full third row of seats. It also claims a record boot space of 720 litres extendable up to 2065 litres with the rear seats folded.
Maier adds that the model will have all the best qualities for on and off-road performance – this will be achieved by a five-strong engine line-up, ranging across two 1.4 TSI petrol engines of 125 and 150hp, a 2.0 TSI with 180hp and a pair of 2.0 TDI diesels with 150 and 190hp. Depending on the model six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG auto transmissions will be available alongside front or all-wheel-drive transmissions.
Skoda’s much-vaunted ‘Simply Clever’ features are also being highlighted, the Kodiaq having more than 30 of them including the signature umbrella in the doors, while Maier adds that the Kodiaq will also offer the latest in connectivity.
“It will always be online,” he says, users able to make use of internet services such as Google Streetview, while a Skoda app will allow owners to stay connected to their car wherever they may be located.
The Kodiaq is expected on UK sale in April 2017. Industry sources suggest prices could start from £22,500 which would substantially undercut rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its AMG GT Roadster as the highlight of a swathe of announcements at the Paris motor show, and confirmed that the Mercedes-AMG brand is going on a model offensive.
According to CEO of Mercedes-AMG Tobias Moers, the performance sub brand is set to add at least ten new models. “Starting this year, we will offer the widest model range in the entire performance segment – a choice of no less than 48 different AMG performance cars,” he says.
The AMG GT Roadster will go on sale in February 2017 in two versions, a stock model with 476hp from its 4.0-litre V8 engine, and a GT C variant with 557hp on offer alongside 680Nm of torque. This sees it go from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and onto 196mph.
The uprated model also gains AMG Ride Control sports suspension with a wider rear track and bigger arches in which to house wider, 20-inch alloy wheels, active rear-axle steering and an electronically controlled rear differential lock, as well as a switchable performance exhaust.
Equipment on the GT C includes nappa leather upholstery, an AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/Dinamica microfibre and an additional ‘race’ programme in the drive model selector.
Both cars make use of a fabric hood for light weight – this opens and closes in 11 seconds at speeds up to 30mph.
Mercedes insiders have also confirmed that the 557hp engine, together with the exterior upgrades, will also be extended to the Coupe version of the GT, though in what form such a model will be offered is yet to be revealed.
The GT roadsters are expected on sale at the end of 2016 at prices yet to be announced.
Meanwhile the model ramp-up will see Mercedes-AMG seeking to significantly increase its output, despite the fact that the almost 70,000 cars sold in 2015 represented a more than doubling of sales in just two years.
Main drivers were GT models, performance versions of the C-Class, compact cars and notably the new 43 series models being introduced across several ranges – the latest, the E 43 4Matic Estate, debuts in Paris.
Nissan has unveiled an all-new Micra supermini at the Paris motor show, describing the car as a “complete redefinition” of the model.
The fifth-generation Micra is aimed directly at European buyers which form the world’s largest market for hatchbacks. It debuts a completely new body style, first seen on the Sway concept at the 2015 Geneva show. The body is lower, wider, longer and according to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn sleeker than both its predecessor and most competitors.
Power will come from new downsized turbo engines. At launch, a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit and a 1.5-litre diesel will be available, both developing 90hp, with a 73hp 1.0-litre petrol engine following soon after.
Inside the Micra offers more space while the current trend to customisation is reflected in a total of 125 body and trim colour variations. Equipment includes the debut of a new six-speaker BOSE sound system with speakers in the driver’s headrest, while the seven-inch colour central display will access the audio system, satellite navigation, mobile phone, downloadable apps and Siri voice control via Apple CarPlay.
The new Micra will also debut the latest generation of Nissan’s Safety Shield safety technologies, Ghosn saying that the car will offer technologies more common on upper segment cars and be the first B segment model to be available with lane departure prevention.
Ghosn describes the unveiling of the Micra Gen5 as “an important milestone, redefining one of Nissan’s most iconic cars,” and emphasises the importance of returning production of the model to Europe – in a joint operation it will be built in the plant of sister brand Renault at Flins in France.
“It demonstrates Nissan’s ongoing commitment to manufacturing and delivering cars in Europe for Europe – (building it at the Renault plant is) a win for Nissan, Renault and our European customers,” Ghosn adds.
The new Micra is expected in showrooms in the Spring of 2017.
Volkswagen has unveiled the I.D. concept car at the Paris motor show and pledged the brand to an electric future.
The production version of the car will go on sale in 2020 as the first in a new range of Volkswagen electric cars, the brand’s board chairman Dr Herbert Diess telling the Paris show that VW aims to sell one million electric cars by 2025.
The I.D. is the first car to be built on an all-new modular electric platform with its batteries inside the floor. It will be powered by 125kW motor that Diess says promises driving pleasure, and have a range of up to 600km (370 miles).
Its batteries will be charged by wireless induction, and using the car’s park pilot function the process will be fully automated.
Inside the car uses the space vacated by the traditional internal combustion powertrain to increase room for occupants. The I.D. is the length of a Golf but according to Diess offers the internal space and comfort of a Passat, with luggage capacity to match.
The I.D. is also the first Volkswagen entirely designed to be ready for fully autonomous driving. It has a sensor system using 10 laser scanners, which form a central part of a safety package aiming at the brand’s ‘Vision Zero’ of fully accident-free driving.
The car’s cockpit lacks buttons or switches, instead being controlled by augmented reality displays projected on the windscreen and touchscreens in similar fashion to a mobile phone. These can be operated by voice and gesture control.
Diess also promises that each I.D. will be able to be fully individualised to the owner’s preferences; “It will be part of your digital lifestyle, and will become part of powerful community – electric is the new cool.”
And in potentially a major step forward for electric vehicles, Diess has told the show that the I.D. will cost the same as a VW Golf Diesel.
The unveiling comes as Volkswagen continues to suffer the fall-out from the ‘dieselgate’ emissions scandal but Diess insists the brand is recovering; “We are making good progress on getting the situation under control, getting back on track. We are dealing with the challenges and have a clear plan how to make Volkswagen more profitable, and more future proof.”
The electric programme is a central part of this strategy. “We are putting a much closer focus on a new world of mobility, Our future will be electric and connected – we will target new competitors like Tesla, Apple and others.
“We expect a breakthrough in electric mobility in 2020 and Volkswagen will be ready and well prepared by then. In a groundbreaking new approach starting in 2020 we will launch a new family of electric cars, all based on the new platform designed exclusively for electric – no combustion engines, no plug-in hybrids.
“Our goal is to become global market leader in electric cars – to make that happen we have started the greatest change process in VW’s history.”
Hyundai is going after the Honda Civic Type R with the RN30 Concept, unveiled at the Paris motor show.
The car is based around the latest i30 hatchback, which also debuts at the Paris show.
Hyundai is planning a high-performance range of N cars across its line-up, and the RN30 is described as “a motor sport-inspired racing concept developed to deliver passion and pleasure on the track.”
It is revealed at Paris just as the next version of its Honda rival breaks cover. The Hyundai will also target the Ford Focus ST.
The car will use the i30’s 2.0-litre turbo engine uprated to deliver 380hp and allied to all-wheel drive. This has been developed in close collaboration with Hyundai Motorsport and its World Rally Championship programme.
The exterior gains extra aggressive panels, in similar form to the Type R that the car will rival, and added for both visual appearance and more effective aerodynamics.
According to Hyundai high performance development head Albert Biermann, the RN30 embodies the concept of a strong, high-performance car that brings dynamic, sporty driving.
“Soon to evolve into our first N model, the RN30 is inspired by our passion to provide a high-performance car that everybody can enjoy effortlessly.”
A launch date for the first production Hyundai N models is yet to be announced though it is expected to be sometime in 2017.
Honda is surprising the Paris motor show, revealing a concept pointing to the next Civic Type R performance hatchback.
The Type R Prototype is based on the tenth-generation Civic, which also debuts at the show. The production version of the Civic Type R will launch in the second half of 2017 as a range-topper.
Performance details have yet to be revealed, though the car is expected to use an updated version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine of 310hp in the current Type R, that only went on sale in 2015.
The new model boasts the more aggressive body styling that has become typical of previous Type R models for both styling and aerodynamic purposes.
Notable at the front end is a winged splitter in carbon fibre and slatted ducts on either side of the bumper, with diamond-mesh inserts in the air intakes.
A new air vent is added to the nose, above which sits the red H badge, while the bonnet also gains an extra air scoop.
Additional body mouldings include carbon fibre side skirts, while the car sits on 20-inch piano black alloy wheels with trademark red detailing, and 245-section tyres, squeezed under larger arches.
There are three exhaust tailpipes – the central one of smaller diameter and in red – under a large carbon fibre rear diffuser, while the equally trademark rear wing is retained.
Honda says that the next Type R, built like the rest of the Civic range in Swindon, UK, will be exported to global markets including for the first time as a Honda the USA.
Land Rover has unveiled its new Discovery on the eve of its public debut at the Paris motor show.
The full-size seven-seat SUV, the fifth generation of the model, will go on sale in Spring 2017, at prices starting from £43,495.
Evolving from the Discovery Vision Concept shown at the New York Auto Show in 2014, the new car is a radical departure from previous models with a much bolder, curvier look.
The trademark stepped roof line remains, however, aiding headroom for passengers in the third row of seats and making possible a ‘stadium’ layout with each row placed higher than the one in front.
Land Rover designers claim that unlike many rivals who offer ‘5+2’ seats, all three rows in the Discovery will comfortably accommodate normal-sized adults. Each seat is heated and cooled, and is also fitted with folding technology that can be operated from the rear, the touchscreen in the centre console or remotely using a smartphone. “(Each) allows owners to rearrange the seats from inside a shop while they queue to pay for large or bulky items, ensuring the vehicle is perfectly configured to accommodate their purchases,” Land Rover says.
Other features designed to make life more comfortable for passengers includes ‘Auto Access Height’, which drops the car’s height by up to 40mm to ease entry or exit.
The new Discovery will make use of Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system. Based around a 10-inch touchscreen mounted high on the centre console, it has cut the number of controls on the dash by a third.
Connectivity with iOS and Android smartphones is included alongside a 14-speaker Meridian digital surround system, with an additional subwoofer, and 3G WiFi.
Land Rover is also debuting its Activity Key wristband, which allows drivers to leave the standard key fob in the car. Holding the waterproof Activity Key up to the ‘D’ in the Discovery badge on the tailgate simultaneously locks the vehicle and disables the ordinary key, which can be left safely inside.
The basics of the model have not been forgotten, in particular its off-road ability. Ground clearance has been increased 43mm to 283mm, and the wading depth goes up 200mm to 900mm.
The Terrain Response 2 driving system offers a range of modes depending on the surface being traversed, setting various aspects of the car from throttle response to gear changing, and can be left in an auto mode.
For particularly different ground the All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programmed to autonomously maintain a suitable crawl speed chosen by the driver, allowing them to concentrate solely on steering.
The new Discovery will go on sale with a three-way engine choice, the highlight of which is the new Sd4 Ingenium four-cylinder diesel. It produces 240hp with an 500Nm of torque and fuel economy of 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 171g/km.
Also available will be a six-cylinder diesel with 258hp and 600Nm of torque, and a 340hp supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6, with 450Nm.
According to Jaguar Land Rover managing director Jeremy Hicks the new Discovery will build on the strong demand that has always existed for the model in the UK, offering customers the most complete all-round SUV package available anywhere today.
“The new vehicle takes absolutely everything that is great about Discovery from its design, its versatility, its go anywhere, do anything credentials and builds on them to make it better in every way,” he says.
And he adds that the new model will appeal to a wider range of buyers. “Customer interest has exceeded all expectations already with a strong mix of new customers interested in the brand. With the addition of the Ingenium 2.0 litre engine, we’re also looking forward to talking to more fleet and business users across the country.”
But safety experts in the UK are questioning why several safety features are not offered as standard, and why manufacturers cannot offer the same levels of safety across all their global markets.
In the latest tests conducted by the European safety body Euro NCAP, an E 220 d Avantgarde version of Mercedes’ large four-door premium saloon scored 95% for adult occupant protection, 90% for child protection, 77% for pedestrian protection and 62% for its safety assist features.
The testers noted that the car is fitted as standard with the Mercedes ‘Pre-Safe’ system that senses when an accident is about to occur and primes restraint and protection systems ready for the collision.
Also highlighted was the side-barrier impact that forms one of the several tests carried out by Euro NCAP, and in which the Mercedes scored maximum points with good protection of all critical body areas.
The car’s autonomous emergency braking system also earned it maximum points for avoiding impacts with a stationary car at all speeds tested, which testers said would give additional protection against whiplash injuries.
The 1.6 HDi Active version of the Peugeot 3008 scored 86% for adult protection, 85% for child protection, 67% for its pedestrian protection and 58% for safety features.
Testers highlighted the ‘predominantly good or adequate protection’ provided by the bonnet to the head of a struck pedestrian, though added that the base of the windscreen and the stiff windscreen pillars scored poorly.
Maximum points were scored for protection to the pelvis and to pedestrians’ legs, but while the pedestrian-detecting autonomous emergency braking system performed well in the tests, it was discounted from the results as the technology is not standard on every version of the 3008.
Meanwhile the UK’s automotive safety testers at Thatcham Research have welcomed the addition of two more Euro NCAP five-star rated cars, but added that with much of the latest advanced technology costing extra, safety still comes at a price.
While Autonomous Emergency Braking is included as standard on the Mercedes, many of its other safety features are only available as optional extras.
“The E-Class is head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to advanced safety features. However, we know that the take up of optional safety features is typically less than 10%, so more needs to be done in terms of standard fitment to make these superb technologies more widely accessible,” says Thatcham director of research, Matthew Avery.
A second E-Class is tested for frontal impact. Photo: Euro NCAP
Thatcham is also pointing out how the latest results highlight the current gulf in safety standards in different parts of the world, as recent safety test results from Global NCAP in India and Latin America have brought the issue into sharp focus.
India’s ‘car of the year’, the Renault Kwid, continues to be offered without any airbags on the standard version, scoring zero stars for adult occupant protection as a result. The same was true of the Honda Mobilio, which also scored no stars, as did the Chevrolet Spark GT in tests carried out in Latin America.
When Euro NCAP began safety testing in 1997, most cars had a driver airbag and by the early 2000s many, including Renault’s Megane, had up to six fitted as standard.
Thatcham believes that safety should not come with a price tag. “Airbags save lives by making vehicles safer and it simply is not acceptable that cars sold at very similar price points in different countries bring varying levels of safety – or more worryingly, no safety at all,” says chief executive Peter Shaw.
Commenting on the results in India the Secretary-General of Global NCAP, David Ward, says, “Renault and Honda make safe cars in other markets; they have the know-how to make all their Indian cars much safer. We expect them to start doing so now.”
Aftermath of the Peugeot’s frontal-impact test. Photo: Euro NCAP
Jeep has revealed its all-new Compass SUV in Brazil, ahead of the model’s official unveiling at the Los Angeles motor show in November.
The model, which is expected to provide the brand with a rival to big-selling models such as the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan, will go on sale in the USA first, before a European launch in the second half of 2017. Industry speculation suggests it will make its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Very few details of the Compass have yet been released, Jeep merely saying that it will be offered with “17 fuel-efficient powertrain options” to suit customers in more than 100 global markets.
It is also described as “the most capable compact SUV” ever, its makers saying that it will include class-leading off-road ability, superior on-road driving dynamics and a host of safety and advanced technology offerings.
Photos issued of the new model, celebrating the start of production at FCA’s Jeep Assembly Plant in Pernambuco, Brazil, suggest that its styling follows that of its larger sister the Grand Cherokee, both in terms of the exterior visuals and interior layout.
The new Jeep will be built on an extended version of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles platform also used for the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X.
Ford is to offer the performance version of the Fiesta, the ST, for the first time with five doors.
The five-door variant will boast the same potency as the existing three-door, and its creators believe it will appeal to fans of the car who require more practicality, for example those with young families.
Power for the car comes from a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine of 182hp with 240Nm of torque. The 0-62mph sprint takes 6.9 seconds while combined cycle fuel efficiency is 46.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 141g/km.
Upgrades over the mainstream Fiesta include retuned suspension, steering and brakes, bespoke settings to the Torque Vectoring control – this brakes the inside front wheel when cornering to reduce understeer and improve grip – and Electronic Stability Control with three modes.
Visually the car gains 17-inch alloy wheels, and a specific grille, headlamp design and rear diffuser.
The five-door models go on sale in October at prices starting from £19,495 and are expected to take 25 per cent of ST sales. “Ford has now sold more than 38,000 Fiesta STs in Europe since we introduced (the car) in 2013, and growing numbers of customers have been asking us for a five-door version,” said Ford of Europe marketing chief Roelant de Waard.
“The Fiesta ST with five doors makes an affordable Ford Performance driving experience accessible to an even greater number of customers,” he adds.
Suzuki has unveiled a significant facelift to its S-Cross crossover, which includes new engines.
Three years after its launch, the S-Cross gains the petrol Boosterjet engines that have already been seen in the Vitara and Baleno. The units are available in three-cylinder 1.0-litre and four-cylinder 1.4 litre form.
Claiming the same output as a previous 1.6-litre engine but with 10 per cent improvements in fuel consumption and 11 per cent lower CO2 emissions, the 1.0 offers 111hp and 170Nm of torque.
The 1.4 version has 140hp on tap, with 220Nm of torque. 17 per cent more powerful, with a torque improvement of 41 per cent, while four per cent more economical than the previous 1.6-litre engine.
There is also a 1.6-litre DDiS diesel engine option, producing 320Nm and in 2WD form offering combined cycle fuel economy of 68.8mpg and 106g/km CO2 emissions.
New S-Cross models are also available in all three engine formats with Suzuki’s AllGrip four-wheel-drive transmission.
The facelifted model sits 15mm higher than its predecessor at 180mm and gains revised front-end styling which its creators say gives it a stronger on-road presence. New head and LED rear lamps also feature.
Inside the dash surfacing has been revised while all versions now include DAB radio as standard.
Trim levels now range across SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5. Standard equipment includes seven airbags, ESP, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, air conditioning, Daytime Running Lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with a speed limiter, air conditioning, heated door mirrors, black protective skid plates and black wheel arch extensions.
SZ-T versions add LED Projector Headlamps, satellite navigation, polished 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear parking camera, front and rear parking proximity sensors, Dual Zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass, silver roof rails and silver rear skid plates.
Range-topping SZ5 models include a Radar Brake Support driver aid, leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, a double sliding panoramic sunroof and aluminium roof rails.
The new S-Cross will launch on 17th October, at prices starting from £14,999.
Key features Stylish looks, strong powertrains, plenty of tech.
Our view: SEAT has offered all-wheel-drive cars before, but the Spanish brand has never had a full-house SUV in its range. And this is a problem, because the crossover/SUV market is the one that is soaring, and which just about every other manufacturer is now in.
So now we have the Ateca compact SUV, and SEAT management will tell you that the brand’s late arrival to the party is no bad thing, allowing them to ensure they best meet the requirements of customers.
This car will take on the likes of Renault’s Kadjar and the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai, while next year it will be joined by a smaller sister, currently dubbed A Zero Cross, to tackle the Japanese brand’s equally popular Juke.
The Ateca – the name follows SEAT tradition in referring to a small Spanish village – is designed as a sister model to the Leon. But while completely designed by the Spanish brand, it is built at the Kvasiny, Czech Republic factory of sister VW Group brand Skoda.
And this is, of course, the crucial point – while according to company head Luca de Meo marking “the start of a new era for the brand” the Ateca is hardly stepping into unknown territory.
It is built on the MQB platform that has underpinned just about every new VW Group model over the past couple of years, and the all-wheel-drive versions employ transmissions long proven in the cars of sister brands Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen.
First impressions of the Ateca are impressive. It is an SUV with visually more low purpose than pumped-up dominance – effectively a more imposing, larger Leon. Measuring 4363mm long with a 2638mm wheelbase, it feels comfortable and spacious on the inside, while the boot-space of 510 litres is 80 litres more than the segment-leading Qashqai can offer.
Note, however, that if you choose an all-wheel-drive version you do sacrifice 25 litres. A double boot floor provides useful hidden storage, while fold the rear seats and the space jumps to a maximum of 1604 litres.
SEAT says it designed the cockpit wholly around the driver, though basically it’s an evolution of that already offered in the Leon. Certainly everything falls to hand naturally and intuitively, the high centre console notable, while the finishes, at least on the visible bits, are up to the mark. A definite plus is the amount of adjustment available in seat and steering column – it’s easy to get totally comfortable behind the wheel.
There are five engine choices available, SEAT’s literature adding “at launch” which suggests more might be on the way. For now you have the choice of 1.0 TSI 115hp and 1.4 TSI 150hp petrol units, and TDI diesels in 1.6 115hp and 2.0 150 and 190hp offerings.
Only the two 2.0 diesels can be specified with all-wheel-drive, while SEAT expects the 1.4 petrol and 150hp diesel to be most popular amongst retail customers, the efficiency and therefore tax credentials of the 1.6 TDI to attract fleet buyers. The latter are expected to account for 45 per cent of sales.
During the launch, The Car Expert tried out the 1.4 petrol and the 1.6 and 2.0 190hp diesels, the latter with all-wheel drive. The busy roads around Manchester, pot-marked with roundabouts and traffic lights, made it difficult to form a firm opinion on the Ateca’s dynamic qualities and that will have to wait for a full road test, but initial impressions are positive.
The refinement of the engines is a given – they are proven VW Group units. The diesels still sound a little agricultural on start-up and at low revs but they settle into a beat which is as smooth as it is freely giving of pace.
SEAT has always been pitched as a sporty member of the VW Group and its chassis are expected to perform. No complaints here – the car rides well, if a little firmly, and maintains a confident, upright poise in corners, whether with or without the extra grip of the all-wheel-drive transmission.
All bar entry-level S models include the Drive Profile function that sets the chassis according to four modes, Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual. AWD versions also add Snow and Offroad modes, along with Hill-Descent Control. The Ateca is said to have a fair degree of off-road ability, though very few customers are expected to leave the tarmac very often…
The £17,990 starting price for the Ateca is impressive, but that does buy the 1.0 petrol unit, small for an SUV, in entry-level S trim, which is light on equipment though you do get a touchscreen infotainment system.
The standard safety spec is impressive, however, including such aids as front assist with city emergency braking and pedestrian protection, and tiredness recognition and multi-collision braking features. Technology is a feature of the Ateca – go up the range and you can add such useful aids as auto high beams, traffic jam assist, blind-spot alerts…
Ignoring the 200-strong ‘First Edition’ models which are likely to be sold out before you read this, there are three further trims, of which SE variants are expected to be the prime fleet seller.
They start from £19,590 with the 1.0 and £21,015 with the more attractive 1.4 TSI – an extra £875 gets you a 1.6 diesel in Ecomotive form. Among the gains are better infotainment, with Bluetooth and voice control, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and parking sensors.
Move up to SE Technology, a shade under £2,000 more than SE but annoyingly not offered with the 1.4 petrol, and you gain satellite navigation and DAB radio. Most retail customers, however, are expected to choose Xcellence, £2,890 more than SE, the extras including the navigation/DAB ambient lighting in a choice of eight colours, sports seats, keyless entry, a wireless phone charger and rain-sensing wipers.
And of course, there is a goodie-strewn options list, ranging across such delights as adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, self-parking and an above-view camera to an electric tailgate that opens automatically by waving one’s foot under the rear of the car.
In terms of engines on first impressions, we would choose the 1.4 petrol unit. You sacrifice 12mpg and 7g/km of CO2 emissions over the 1.6 diesel, but alongside an £875 cheaper price comes a 0-62mph time three seconds quicker and very smooth progress. And its Benefit-in-Kind tax is one per cent less than the diesel.
So will the Ateca be a success? It looks very likely. UK dealers are reporting unprecedented interest and pre-orders for the car and we are not surprised. Combining ability with a splash of style that is part of the brand’s image but always harder to achieve with an SUV, it’s an effective new entrant to the crossover market.
MG is to end assembly of cars in the UK – and according to its sales and marketing head, Brexit is partly to blame.
The historic British brand, which is owned by Chinese giant SAIC, began building cars on part of the former Rover plant at Longbridge, Birmingham, in 2011, six years after MG Rover collapsed and closed the plant. Initially the MG6 saloon and more recently the MG3 supermini were assembled using kits of parts made in China and shipped into the UK.
In future, however, the cars will be fully produced in China and then imported into Britain ready for distribution to the brand’s dealer network.
According to sales & marketing head Matthew Cheyne, the change has been made for a number of reasons but primarily because the small UK operation is not economically viable when compared with the larger, more modern facilities that SAIC has in China.
But he also told Autocar that the drop in the value of the pound since the UK voted to leave the European Union had also made producing cars at Longbridge more expensive and not cost-effective.
The decision will cost 25 jobs at the plant but the site will continue to employ 300 people, as Cheyne insists that the brand’s design and development centre will remain at Longbridge.
The BBC reports that the decision has drawn heavy criticism from Richard Burden, Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, who dubbed it “hugely disappointing and premature”.
“I understand the business concerns that MG have surrounding costs of assembly at Longbridge, which have undoubtedly been aggravated by problems with the strength of the pound,” Burden said.
“However, more discussions should have taken place to explore alternatives and options before any decisions were finalized,” he added.
MG is pushing ahead with plans for a more global product line-up with an SUV sister to the GS set to be the next model launched.
Smart is unveiling significantly improved versions of its electric car line-up at the Paris motor show.
The Electric Drive range debuting on 29th September promises better performance and increased range over its predecessors, along with significantly improved recharging times.
The line-up will encompass all three Smart models including for the first time the ForFour. Smart claims to be the only manufacturer to offer its entire range with either internal combustion engines or electric motors, and the only manufacturer to offer a cabriolet electric vehicle.
The new powertrain is closely related to that in Renault’s Zoe, though employing a smaller battery, and made in Renault’s Clèon, Northern France.
The 60kW (81hp) electric motor sits in the rear of the car, powering the rear wheels and offering immediate torque of 160Nm, which is 5hp and 30Nm better than previous Smart Electric Drives.
Driving through a constant ratio with no gear changing, the 0-62mph time takes between 11.5 and 12.8 seconds depending on model, and all are limited to an 80mph top speed.
Smart claims a maximum range of 93 to 96 miles for the new models, while recharging of the 17.6kWh lithium-ion battery, which is encased into the car’s floor, has been halved from five to 2.5 hours for models in the UK and USA. German cars, which use a different charger, can be replenished 40 per cent faster than previously.
Smart also intends to make a new 22kW fast charger available in 2017, which will cut recharging time down to 45 minutes. A smartphone app is also available allowing owners to program and monitor various aspects of the car including battery charging.
The first of the new electric Smarts will go on sale early next year, initially in the US, with first UK examples expected on the roads in September 2017. UK prices are yet to be confirmed – in Germany prices will start from €27,839, which drops to €23,459 when the local environmental bonus is included. UK prices of the current line-up range from around £17,700.
Ferrari is launching what is effectively an entry-level version of its GTC4Lusso four-seater.
The GTC4Lusso T is the first four-seat car in Ferrari history to be supplied with a turbocharged V8 engine, and also the first time the Italian brand has offered a car with two engine choices.
Choosing the 3.9-litre V8 turbo of the T brings 610hp with 760Nm of torque – this compares to the 690hp and 697Nm of torque produced by the 6.3-litre V12 powerplant of the standard GTC4Lusso.
The T version also does without the all-wheel-drive system, and as a result its 1740kg kerb weight is 180kg lighter, with the bias increased to 46:54 to suit the rear-wheel-drive transmission.
It will accelerate through 62mph from rest in 3.5 seconds, just a tenth behind the stock Lusso, and go on to 199mph, which is 9mph slower than the standard Lusso. Combined cycle fuel economy is quoted at 24.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 265g/km.
Technology retained in the GTC4LussoT does include the four-wheel-steering and side-slip control, while a Variable Boost Management system in the engine eliminates turbo lag.
The shooting-brake style car will be officially unveiled at the Paris motor show on 29th September. No price has yet been revealed for it – the V12 Lusso costs from £230,430.
What is it? The Ford Edge is a large SUV aiming to target premium market rivals. Our view: The Edge is a very good mainstream large SUV and provides great value for money. Type of review: Taster test
The Ford Edge effectively completes the brand’s SUV line-up, being a large – in fact very large – vehicle to sit alongside the EcoSport compact SUV and its Kuga mid-sized sister.
However, the newest Ford SUV is much more than a finishing touch. It is targeted firmly at upmarket, rather than mainstream rivals, Ford arguing that the vehicle can take sales from the likes of the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5.
It will do this, we are told, on a combination of class-leading space, quality refinement (especially in the Vignale version) and technology every bit as up to date as premium alternatives. Take for example the microphone-based noise-cancelling software that adds that extra layer of silence to the cabin, even when moving along at speed.
There are two engine options for the Ford Edge, both versions of the 2-litre Duratorq diesel with either 180 or 210hp, and both allied to all-wheel-drive as standard. Six-speed manual or Powershift auto transmissions are available, while there are three trim levels – Zetec, Titanium and Sport – with the latter expected to take the majority of sales.
What do we think of it? The first impression of the Edge is that it is big – very big. And once one gets inside, that is not a bad thing, the car offering impressive space whether one is seated up front or in the rear. Remarkably, considering its size, the Edge is only offered as a five-seater, but that does make it seriously spacious.
It’s also well put together. The surfaces are of good quality, though the dash layout is not as user-friendly as some rivals. And while it does feel like a very good mainstream car, it still doesn’t quite make the leap into premium contention.
Our test vehicle was fitted with the more powerful 210hp engine, though in truth it doesn’t feel that powerful, needing a lot of work to hustle along with any urgency.
The car is well planted on the road, the all-wheel-drive helping greatly in this respect, and in our short test did a good job of smothering all but the most severe bumps.
Verdict: The Ford Edge is a very good mainstream large SUV. Looked at objectively it could challenge premium rivals, because while the base price might not seem a great saving, once one factors in the standard equipment it becomes a very serious alternative. The problem is, many will be seduced by the Audi or BMW badge, be taken in by their clearly premium interiors and fail to rate the obvious advantages of the Edge, particularly its space.
SEAT has finally put its Ateca SUV on UK sale after what has appeared to be one of the longest pre-launch build-ups in the market.
The launch of the car has been dubbed “the start of a new era for the brand” by company head Luca de Meo.
The Ateca is SEAT’s first full-blown SUV, at long last giving the Spanish brand a foothold in the most vibrant sector of the industry. From selling cars in 52 per cent of the market, The Ateca and cars to follow it will increase SEAT’s access to more than three quarters of potential UK car buyers.
Widening its influence is vital to the brand – after six years of consistent growth SEAT saw a dip in its UK registrations in 2015, down almost 11 per cent to 47,654 from 53,512 in 2014. According to SEAT personnel the slide was expected due to what was then a static product range.
Globally SEAT is progressing well – a third consecutive rise in sales in 2015 saw the brand break the 400,000 cars barrier, representing 25 per cent growth since 2012. It was also able to announce a profit of €6m, something that is not common in SEAT accounts.
The Ateca, however, is regarded as the momentum changer. While SEAT UK expects to sell “broadly the same amount” of cars this year, it is confidently predicting a move back to significant growth in 2017. The Ateca will turn the company from effectively a two to a three-car brand.
SEAT’s UK director Richard Harrison describes the car as the “biggest product firework” the brand has ever seen, and alongside it heavy investment is going into the brand’s image. Another change to SEAT’s marketing slogan sees the brand adopting “Created in Barcelona” described by Harrison as an indication that it makes “beautiful, cosmopolitan, design-led cars, a brand on the move.”
Heavy investment is going into SEAT’s UK presence – the Ateca media launch including a lavish ‘drive-in’ movie press conference.
Early evidence suggests that SEAT’s confidence is not misplaced. The pre-launch website for the Ateca has seen a great deal of activity before any of the cars arrived in the UK. “Interest in the car has been the highest we’ve ever seen,” says head of sales Steve Catlin. “We’ve been overwhelmed with the number of visitors to our website.”
SEAT never publicly predicts the amount of each individual model it will sell, but is confidently stating that in the case of the Ateca demand will exceed supply; “We have an order bank,” one company insider comments, with a strong hint that this too SEAT is not used to.
And the move of SEAT into the SUV sector will accelerate next year when the Ateca gains a sister, the brand having recently confirmed that a second SUV, currently named the A Zero Cross, will go into production. It will launch in 2017, a year that will also see SEAT refresh the Leon family hatch and launch an all-new generation of the Ibiza supermini.
Ateca prices start at £17,990 and SEAT sees the car’s key competitors as the Renault Kadjar, Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage.
SEAT Ateca First Drive – coming shortly on The Car Expert
Lined up at the UK launch in Manchester – SEAT expects the Ateca to become a familiar sight on UK roads.
MINI will unveil the John Cooper Works version of its latest Clubman at the Paris Motor Show on 29th September.
Becoming the Clubman range-topper, the JCW version will offer 231hp and 350Nm of torque from the same four-cylinder turbo engine used in its hatch and convertible sisters – 39hp and 50Nm more than the Clubman Cooper S.
The engine is matched to either a six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed Sports Steptronic auto transmission, while the All4 all-wheel-drive system also comes as standard.
As a result the JCW model slices seven tenths of a second from the 0-62mph recorded by AWD versions of the Cooper S, the 6.3 second time combined with a 148mph top speed.
JCW versions return best combined cycle fuel economy figures of 41.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 154g/km.
As in other JCW models the Clubman gains more aggressive front and rear bumpers, the front ones including extra cooling ducts, and a rear wing. Bespoke alloy wheels and John Cooper Works badging are also specified, while the car can also be chosen in a bespoke colour to JCW models, ‘Rebel Green’.
Inside, the JCW upgrades extend to sports seats, an Alcantara headliner and a long standard equipment list including MINI Navigation, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and cruise control with a brake function.
The novel projection of the MINI badge onto the floor alongside the doors is also included, while like other models there is a wide range of options to enable owners to personalize their car.
Dealers are already taking orders for the car, at prices starting from £29,345 with the manual gearbox or £30,945 in auto form. First cars are expected on UK roads before the end of 2016.
Mercedes-Benz is directly targeting the Audi A6 Allroad and newly-announced Volvo V90 Cross Country with its new E-Class All-Terrain.
The off-road version of the large estate will be unveiled at the Paris motor show on 29th September, and will arrive in UK showrooms in the Spring of 2017.
The car follows the now traditional formula for such vehicles of adding extra body panels to give it an SUV-style look, raising the ride height by 35mm and specifying the 4Matic all-wheel-drive transmission as standard.
“The All-Terrain-is a flexible all-rounder – for unpaved roads, family and leisure time,” says Mercedes-Benz Cars sales and marketing head Ola Källenius.
Most notable visual feature of the car is the two-fin grille, in the style of Mercedes SUVs, with the brand’s three-pointed star badge integrated into it. There is a three-part front bumper with the top section in body colour and the lower formed from grained black plastic, while the silver chrome colour also incorporated is repeated in extra lower panels. The body colour/black combination also features on the rear bumper.
Black wheel arches and side skirts are included, the former enclosing the wheels and higher-sidewall tyres, in either 18 or 19-inch sizing and with a choice of three alloy designs.
Inside the All-Terrain gets its own aluminium-carbon trim, with stainless steel pedals and bespoke floor mats. It is modeled on Avantgarde trim levels, though there are likely to be extra options available.
Initially the car will be available in E 220d form with the four-cylinder diesel engine of 194hp. Mercedes also intends to launch a six-cylinder version, both power plants paired with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission.
Standard on the All-Terrain is the Dynamic Select driving programme controlling engine, transmission, ESP and steering characteristics, and this includes a fifth All-Terrain mode developed from that fitted to the Mercedes GLE.
By selecting the mode the air suspension raises the car’s ride height by 20mm, a process that can be carried out on the move at speeds up to around 20mph. Three levels from 0 to 35mm higher can be selected manually using a button on the centre console.
The car’s electronic aids are adjusted to suit off-road driving, and an information panel on the dash shows steering angle, vehicle level, slope and incline angle, where the throttle and brake are positioned and a compass.
UK prices for the All-Terrain will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date. Industry sources predict a starting price of around £45,000, £5,000 above a standard E-Class estate, which would put the car between its two rivals.
Ford will put its all-new Ka+ on sale in October, with prices starting from £8,995.
The five-door city car replaces then existing Ka and is an all-new design, targeting the likes of the Vauxhall Viva and Fiat 500 as more buyers turn to smaller models.
It is it built in India and sold there as the Figo, but has been heavily upgraded for European sale – Ford’s EcoSport crossover also comes from India.
Sitting on Ford’s global small-car platform, the Ka+ is much more comparable in size to the Fiesta supermini rather than the car it replaces. It is very slightly shorter than the Fiesta but 29mm taller, which with careful packaging of the interior allows Ford to claim best-in-class status for the 1002mm headroom, alongside rear legroom of 896mm and hip room of 1335mm.
The car will also accommodate two large suitcases in its 270-litre boot, while the rear seats also fold in 60:40 format. A total of 21 stowage areas are dotted throughout the car including the ‘My Ford Dock’ in the centre of the instrument panel that allows charging of phones and navigation systems.
Just two powertrain options will be available for the Ka+, both based around Ford’s 1.2-litre Duratec petrol unit, effectively a downsized version of the 1.25 unit in the Fiesta.
The unit is offered in 70 or 85hp power outputs and Ford claims combined cycle fuel economy of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km for both options.
A notable change from versions of the car sold in Asia and South America is the chassis, which includes bespoke springs and dampers, a rear torsion beam axle, new brake pads and tyres, and a re-engineered front sub-frame.
The steering is faster, 2.6 turns lock to lock with speed-sensitive assistance and the front anti-roll bar is stiffened by 47 per cent.
Ford has also worked hard to improve the car’s refinement for European buyers, with improved door seals, Fiesta-specification hydraulic engine mounts tuned to absorb vibration and soak up road bumps, additional sound deadening material in the engine bay, windscreen pillars and doors, new rear suspension bushes and even aerodynamic fins on the door mirror mounts to prevent buffeting.
Ka+ models with the 70hp engine will be offered in entry-level Studio grade while the 85hp version will also be available in Zetec. Standard equipment on all includes a chrome front grille, front fog lamps with daytime running lights, electric front windows and door mirrors, a perimeter alarm with remote central locking Speed Limiter and Ford’s Easy Fuel system to prevent mis-fuelling.
Zetec versions add 15-inch alloy wheels, manual air-conditioning, Ford’s Sync voice-activated communications and entertainment system (including an AppLink that enables voice-activation of a range of smartphone apps and Emergency Assistance), a leather-trimmed steering wheel with remote audio controls and cruise control.
The MyKey system is also supplied with Zetec variants, – aimed at parents letting their children drive the car, this allows maximum speed and audio volume limits to be set, and prevents safety aids being disabled.
Ford will also be marketing Black and White versions of the Ka+ Zetec in 85hp form. These will come with either a black body colour with white roof and door-mirrors, or a white body with black roof and door-mirrors, and include black 15-inch alloy wheels.
On Thursday 29th September France will become the centre of the automotive world for two weeks, with the opening of the biennial Paris motor show. But when the international executives and the world’s motoring media wander the halls on the first day, they will notice some big names are absent.
Significant manufacturers, such as Rolls-Royce, Volvo, and perhaps most remarkably, Ford, are not at Paris, deciding that in an age of online marketing, social media and such like, there are better ways to spend the considerable amount of money – in many cases several millions – that it costs to exhibit at a show such as Paris.
On the surface it would seem a no-brainer to be at Paris. Said to have attracted a remarkable 1.2 million visitors when last held in 2014, the event is one of the three ‘premier league’ automotive shows in Europe, the others being Frankfurt – which alternates with Paris as Europe’s Autumn show – and the Geneva event, held every year in March.
The sheer size of the Frankfurt show has to be seen to be believed.
The three are very different – Paris is big, Frankfurt is huge, an event so vast in its floorspace spread over so many halls that manufacturers run shuttles between them, and after the two press days journalists in particular can be seen physically wilting, no longer able to feel their legs.
Geneva, however, remains a very compact event, held in an exhibition pavilion next door to the city’s airport and easily ‘doable’ in a day, flying in on the first plane of the morning and flying out again in the early evening. And despite a footprint of much less than half of that of Frankfurt, Geneva is generally regarded as the premier European show.
The automotive market has changed, however, as consumers become ever more informed about the new metal beforehand. Where once on the first day everyone eagerly crowded onto each show stand to see the reveal of each new model, today virtually every one is announced on the Internet, across social media, sometimes weeks before the show – a truly newsworthy unveiling at a show is becoming a rare thing.
Where once a new model unveiling at a show was a newsworthy event, today it’s all revealed online weeks before… Photo: Andrew Charman
And the manufacturers are beginning to see targeted marketing to those most likely to buy their product as much more effective than hoping to appeal to a portion of the 1.25 million that might pass through the Paris halls. The preferred venues today are the likes of cultural and lifestyle events, taking their new models to where their audience is, rather than the other way round, and in many cases spending rather less doing so.
“Volvo Cars sees the need to present our brand, products and innovations to customers and the media, but motor shows are not always the best way to do this,” says Nikki Rooke from Volvo Cars UK.
“Motor shows are a traditional way to launch new products but it’s a crowded environment. Over recent years, we’ve gradually reduced our motor show activities, remaining in one motor show per region per year: Geneva in Europe, Shanghai/Beijing in China and Detroit in the United States and instead embarking on our own series of new product launch initiatives that better reflect our individual approach to the market.
“Volvo is a unique brand so we feel can be better marketed in alternative ways that challenge the traditional cycle of other automotive brands.”
Other automotive brands are challenging this ‘traditional cycle’. Ford announced at the end of 2015 that it was planning a new marketing push in France, which rather than attendance at the Paris show would see a series of ‘experiential events and activations throughout France showcasing product and smart mobility solutions’, quoting as examples technology shows, design events and mobility forums.
And the brand is also looking to its own dedicated events, rather than competing with everyone else. “Paris is a great show but we are always looking for new ways to communicate with our customers, dealers, employees and other stakeholders,” says Tim Holmes of Ford UK.
“This year we have decided to share our important European news at a dedicated Ford event later in the autumn. Watch this space!”
All of which is concerning for the future of the traditional motor show. Those outside the premier league are already falling by the wayside, notably Britain. The UK’s international motor show moved from Birmingham to a well-received new location at London’s Excel Centre in 2006, but the second show in 2008 was the last.
London’s Excel Centre was a quality new home for the UK motor show – but a short-lived one… Photo: Andrew Charman
Interestingly, the manufacturers who no longer spend money on the British show can now be seen erecting ever more elaborate stands at the ‘Moving Motor Show’ which has become an extra day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed motorsport event – again, targeted marketing.
…but they are spending money at more targeted events, such as Goodwood. Photo: Andrew Charman
So, are the really big shows under threat? Not immediately perhaps, but as manufacturer marketing techniques continue to shrink towards more specific audiences, it might be time to make the most of our big auto shows, before their time is up…
Dacia will show off updates to its Sandero and Logan model ranges at the upcoming Paris Motor Show at the end of this month.
The models which are sold in the UK are the Sandero hatchback, Sandero Stepway crossover and Logan MCV estate.
The most recognisable difference in each of the updated models is the adoption of a new headlight and grille design, which brings them in line with the Duster to present a unified Dacia family look.
New headlights, incorporating LED daytime running lights, form a pattern of four rectangles. Dacia intends for this to become its headlight signature across the range. Tail lights also have a similar rectangular theme. The bumpers have also been redesigned.
Although scant on details, Dacia promises that the interiors have also received updates to features, materials, ergonomics and storage areas.
It is not yet clear whether the updates will involve any new engine or gearbox choices, with the rest of the detail to be outlined when the new models are presented at the Paris motor show media day on 29 September.
Honda has revealed full details of its new Civic hatchback ahead of the car’s unveiling at the Paris motor show on 29th September.
As reported last week on The Car Expert, the 10th generation model will be built at Honda’s UK plant in Swindon, which becomes the global production hub for the model – first exports are destined for America.
According to the new Civic’s creators a design priority of the new model was to produce a more distinctive car, less conservative than its predecessors and an answer to the bold new versions of the car’s rivals that have appeared in recent times.
Therefore the body shell – the largest but lowest in the Civic’s history – includes short overhangs, prominent wheel arches and a bold frontal treatment. Notable styling details include larger and wider wheels and tyres, the Honda ‘family face’ with signature headlamp clusters with either LED or projector halogen bulbs depending on model, a ‘hockey-stick’ strip on the outside of the standard-fit daytime running lights, and C-shaped LED rear lights.
Initially available as a five-door hatch but expected to spawn a Tourer estate version in due course, the new Civic measures up at 130mm longer, 30mm wider and 20mm lower than the outgoing model. It sits on a new platform which thanks to new materials and manufacturing techniques – including cutting the space between spot welds from 40 to 20mm – is 16kg lighter than the previous model but 52 per cent more torsionally stiff.
Honda says the car will be the most agile and dynamically proficient Civic ever, with the increased body rigidity, a 10mm lower centre of gravity and a new suspension design combining a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear all contributing.
A 30mm longer wheelbase and the longer body contributes to increased interior space, Honda claiming the room available, and the 478-litre bootspace, as class-leading. The driving position is 35mm lower than in the previous Civic while the driver gets a new seven-inch colour digital instrument panel along with a centre console design dubbed a ‘technology centre’, with the brand’s Connect 2 colour touchscreen display at its top.
This system will offer full connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Among options available are Garmin satellite navigation with free map updates for five years.
The Civic will be the first European model to make use of Honda’s new 1-litre three-cylinder 129hp and 1.5-litre four-cylinder 182hp turbo petrol engines, the latter producing more power and torque than the previous 1.8-litre unit. Both will be matched to a redesigned six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission, and while performance and efficiency figures are yet to be released, Honda is promising highly competitive fuel economy and emissions levels.
The safety package includes the Honda ‘Sensing’ suite of technologies. These range across Collision Mitigation Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assistance and Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control.
UK sales are expected to start in the Spring of 2017 and prices will be announced closer to the car’s launch.
What is it?
Upgraded version of Tesla’s mould-breaking electric luxury saloon
Key features
Fully electric drivetrain, controversial autopilot feature
Our view
The Tesla Model S, the car that has the automotive industry scared stiff, keeps getting better.
Before we even start, let’s make one thing quite clear. The merit of the Tesla Model S will be directly impacted by the availability of rapid charging points in your area. If you have convenient access to the Tesla Supercharger network or other EV charging points, you should be able to cope with owning one of these cars comfortably. If not, this car is never going to be a realistic option for you.
Tesla is keen to shake up the established automotive industry, and it has been very good at getting enormous publicity for a start-up car company which still only produces a relatively small number of vehicles and still runs at an enormous loss.
Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla amongst his various other interests, has certainly taken the industry by surprise. Conventional wisdom pre-Musk was that fully electric vehicles were not viable for volume sales and wouldn’t be for many years. There were a few production models like the Nissan Leaf, but nothing that the average car buyer would really ever want to own. Premium brands stuck to their beliefs that customers wouldn’t pay premium prices for an electric car.
The Tesla Model S has changed all that. Here is a car which looks good and promises an awful lot, particularly in two of the areas which continue to bother potential buyers – performance and range. It is also aimed squarely at executive car buyers rather than fleet buyers, governments and environmentalists.
Living with an electric vehicle requires a different mindset from living with a petrol or diesel car. Even with Tesla’s much-hyped Superchargers, a full charge takes over an hour. And if you are charging at home on a regular wall socket, it would take more than 24 hours to fully charge a Model S.
In reality, you will be looking for opportunities to plug the car in wherever possible to top up the battery, rather than run it down and then charge it back up to full. That means you need access to a network of commercial charging points, which is not too bad if you live in London or other major centres.
However, the story is not so good if you live in many other parts of the UK. From my home or office, both in Surrey, the nearest Superchargers were over 30 miles away and in generally the wrong direction from anywhere I ever go. There is still a long way to go before a Tesla (or any other electric vehicle) can match the sheer convenience of a fossil-fuel car.
But if the logistics of battery charging work out for you, the Tesla Model S is a fantastic car. Performance – we drove the 90D model – is superb. It is comfortable and luxurious, has a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP (2014 test regime), and there are a lot of things it does very well indeed.
Interior – it’s all about that screen
The interior party piece is the 17-inch touchscreen, which controls everything from stereo to satnav to (optional) sunroof. It certainly gives the dashboard a striking look, but like all touchscreens, it is much easier to use when stationary than on the move.
For example, trying to adjust the sunroof requires selecting a menu and then trying to hit the right spot on the screen for the amount of sun you would like, and it’s difficult to get it right no matter how much you practise.
With no physical buttons or switches to grab, making adjustments to anything on the move is at best a pain and at worst a dangerous distraction. The Tesla Model S does have steering wheel controls which you can use for many functions, but by loading a large number of options into the steering wheel controls, you still end up scrolling through menus to find what you’re looking for.
Tesla is certainly not alone in this, but by removing nearly all of the physical buttons and switches from the interior, it has made the controls very user-unfriendly.
Once you have everything set to your liking, the interior is a very comfortable place to be. Latest versions of the Tesla Model S have finally gained a sensible centre console for drinks and storage, addressing one of the main complaints about the original interior. The seats are broad and supportive, and the digital instrument display is excellent. Other than the fiddly touchscreen, the main quibble is that the fit and finish are not at the same level achieved by the likes of Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
The Model S received a minor visual update in 2016, adopting Tesla’s sleek new grille-less corporate face and replacing the original model’s big black ‘koala nose’. It still manages to look fresh and different, and the Model S has always been a car that looks smaller than it really is.
It is a big car, comparable in size – and price – to vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or CLS, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 or A7, Jaguar XF or Maserati Ghibli. And while those are all very good cars from very good companies, they are all variations on the same theme compared to the Tesla.
One of the features our car had and I was keen to try was the optional and controversial Autopilot self-driving system. Tesla stresses that it is a ‘beta’ feature (ie – not yet finished, so don’t blame us if you crash), which is rather a cop-out since they charge you £2,600 for an unfinished system.
As its name suggests, Autopilot takes over most of the driving functions from you, although on UK roads it has limited success. It also gives you a fully adaptive cruise control if you don’t want the car to steer itself, and adds autonomous braking and other safety systems.
In motorway situations, Autopilot works very well and would be a great feature to have. But once the roads get less predictable, the self-steering system struggles to cope. And in the UK, the road infrastructure does not match that of the USA and Europe.
Autopilot doesn’t like roads without clearly defined lane markings, and during our time it continually tried to veer towards the side of the road unless there was a clearly visible line. It coped better in traffic than on its own, as it could use the other cars to judge its position better.
The adaptive cruise control system, however, is probably the best I have used. Linked to the speed limit recognition programme, it can default to the speed limit at any time with one touch, meaning you don’t have to tap a button or lever constantly to set the speed.
Tesla Model S (2016 onwards)
Tesla Model S pricing
It’s certainly not cheap. Our car had the Autopilot system and panoramic sunroof options, and the on-road price was £83,680. The government will give you £4,500 towards that, but you are still paying just under £80,000 for a Model S 90D. But Tesla knows that the luxury saloon market is about aspirations, and the high cost of electric motors and batteries is less of an issue than it is at the more budget end of the market.
Of course, you won’t have to pay for petrol or diesel ever again, but the cost of charging will very much depend on your circumstances. If you have access to a Supercharger, Tesla promises that you can charge your car there for free, forever.
If you use public charge points, you will have to pay whatever the going rate is. If you are charging at home, it will be painfully slow and the cost will depend on your home electricity tariff.
There have been several reports of quality and reliability issues from Model S owners, although most have also been quick to point out that the manufacturer has gone to great lengths to look after their customers when things have gone wrong.
Overall, the Tesla Model S is a fascinating glimpse of future-tech that is here now. Most of it is very good, some of it is interesting but no great leap forward, and some of it we are just going to have to get used to, since all the kids these days seem to want bloody touchscreens.
Tesla has shown us how the tech industry of Silicon Valley views the future of the car, and both Google and Apple are investing heavily in autonomous car technology. If all American cars were as good as the Tesla Model S, the US car industry would be in a much stronger state.
Tesla is keen to shake up the established automotive industry, and it has been very good at getting enormous publicity for a start-up car company which still only produces a relatively small number of vehicles and still runs at an enormous loss.
Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla amongst his various other interests, has certainly taken the industry by surprise. Conventional wisdom pre-Musk was that fully electric vehicles were not viable for volume sales and wouldn’t be for many years. There were a few production models like the Nissan Leaf, but nothing that the average car buyer would really ever want to own. Premium brands stuck to their beliefs that customers wouldn’t pay premium prices for an electric car.
The Tesla Model S has changed all that. Here is a car which looks good and promises an awful lot, particularly in two of the areas which continue to bother potential buyers – performance and range. It is also aimed squarely at executive car buyers rather than fleet buyers, governments and environmentalists.
Living with an electric vehicle requires a different mindset from living with a petrol or diesel car. Even with Tesla’s much-hyped Superchargers, a full charge takes over an hour. And if you are charging at home on a regular wall socket, it would take more than 24 hours to fully charge a Model S.
In reality, you will be looking for opportunities to plug the car in wherever possible to top up the battery, rather than run it down and then charge it back up to full. That means you need access to a network of commercial charging points, which is not too bad if you live in London or other major centres.
However, the story is not so good if you live in many other parts of the UK. From my home or office, both in Surrey, the nearest Superchargers were over 30 miles away and in generally the wrong direction from anywhere I ever go. There is still a long way to go before a Tesla (or any other electric vehicle) can match the sheer convenience of a fossil-fuel car.
But if the logistics of battery charging work out for you, the Tesla Model S is a fantastic car. Performance – we drove the 90D model – is superb. It is comfortable and luxurious, has a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP (2014 test regime), and there are a lot of things it does very well indeed.
With no physical buttons or switches to grab, making adjustments to anything on the move is at best a pain and at worst a dangerous distraction. The Tesla Model S does have steering wheel controls which you can use for many functions, but by loading a large number of options into the steering wheel controls, you still end up scrolling through menus to find what you’re looking for.
Tesla is certainly not alone in this, but by removing nearly all of the physical buttons and switches from the interior, it has made the controls very user-unfriendly.
Once you have everything set to your liking, the interior is a very comfortable place to be. Latest versions of the Tesla Model S have finally gained a sensible centre console for drinks and storage, addressing one of the main complaints about the original interior. The seats are broad and supportive, and the digital instrument display is excellent. Other than the fiddly touchscreen, the main quibble is that the fit and finish are not at the same level achieved by the likes of Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
The Model S received a minor visual update in 2016, adopting Tesla’s sleek new grille-less corporate face and replacing the original model’s big black ‘koala nose’. It still manages to look fresh and different, and the Model S has always been a car that looks smaller than it really is.
It is a big car, comparable in size – and price – to vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or CLS, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 or A7, Jaguar XF or Maserati Ghibli. And while those are all very good cars from very good companies, they are all variations on the same theme compared to the Tesla.
