Toyota is set to reveal a new hot GR Yaris Prototype – set to be a rally-derived version featuring four-wheel-drive – next month. The machine, which will effectively succeed the previous generation’s limited-run Yaris GRMN as the range-topping version of the small hatch, has been teased with a single image released by Toyota on social… Continue reading Toyota teases hot GR Yaris Prototype with rally heritage
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Rear-driven Audi R8 made full-time member of range
Audi has expanded its R8 line-up by making a rear-wheel-drive variant a full-time member for the first time. The limited-edition V10 RWS was released in 2018 as the first ever rear-driven R8. That model comprises the basis of the new car, which is named the V10 RWD and will be available to order in the UK from January 2020. The supercar, which… Continue reading Rear-driven Audi R8 made full-time member of range
From ink to I-Pace: How Jaguar designs an electric car
The I-Pace, however, was “a chance to start afresh,” according to chief creative exterior designer Dominic Najafi, who adds that its conception was about “being open-minded and saying: ‘what does electrification give us?’” A lot, as it turns out. Alister Whelan, Jaguar’s chief interior designer, calls the I-Pace “a blueprint for the future”. “It’s already… Continue reading From ink to I-Pace: How Jaguar designs an electric car
Bristol City Council approves first UK ban for diesel cars
Bristol City Council has approved plans for Britain’s first no-diesel zone in the city centre as part of a drive to improve air quality in the area. The so-called Clean Air Zone, to be implemented in 2021, has been devised as a means of delivering “the fastest possible improvement in air quality against targets for nitrogen… Continue reading Bristol City Council approves first UK ban for diesel cars
Electric Ariel Nomad created as one-off technology showcase
Leading automotive engineering firm BorgWarner has converted an Ariel Nomad off-roader into a fully electric vehicle. The one-off machine was produced as a showcase for electric powertrain technology developed by the US company and its partners. It swaps the 235bhp Honda-built 2.5-litre petrol engine usually found in the Nomad for an electric system that uses two… Continue reading Electric Ariel Nomad created as one-off technology showcase
Porsche: we must diversify beyond selling cars to survive
Porsche must invest in companies looking to solve issues such as traffic in cities rather than rely on selling cars to survive in the future, according to Porsche finance and IT boss Lutz Meschke. “Cities want to reduce traffic, therefore we have to look for solutions which fit our brand. Shared mobility is not enough… Continue reading Porsche: we must diversify beyond selling cars to survive
The Gaydon Triangle: Inside Jaguar Land Rover’s tech HQ
At the centre’s opening, Speth told Autocar that the base would “orchestrate all global engineering sites of Jaguar and Land Rover across the world – from China, Hungary, India, Ireland, Slovakia to the USA. For the first time,” he declared, “we can co-locate the essential divisions of the comprehensive product creation process with critical manpower… Continue reading The Gaydon Triangle: Inside Jaguar Land Rover’s tech HQ
New Audi E-tron Sportback seen ahead of debut next month
The concept mixes the lines of a liftback with the stance of a four-seat SUV to create what the brand describes as “a new class of car” that will attract buyers who might have previously considered an A7 Sportback but want a more commanding view of the road. The E-tron Sportback concept sits on 23in alloy wheels. Opinion: electric… Continue reading New Audi E-tron Sportback seen ahead of debut next month
Mercedes-Maybach GLS drops camo ahead of reveal
Despite retaining the same aluminium, high-strength steel and composite body panels as future standard GLS models, the new upmarket SUV is expected to sport a different grille and unique headlight and tail-light graphics, as well as added chrome and individual wheel designs in a move aimed at providing it with a more premium appearance in line… Continue reading Mercedes-Maybach GLS drops camo ahead of reveal
Ricardo unveils military-spec Ford Ranger pick-up
British engineering firm Ricardo has unveiled a military-spec version of the Ford Ranger pick-up, developed in collaboration with specialist vehicle manufacturer Polaris. Ricardo, which specialises in developing engines and transmissions but has also developed the Land Rover Wolf and Foxhound armoured personnel carriers, has equipped the Ranger with a range of features aimed at improving safety, fuel economy… Continue reading Ricardo unveils military-spec Ford Ranger pick-up