BMW‘s next-generation X5 and X5 M models are being tested on public roads in Scandinavia, as the brand puts the finishing touches to its Porsche Cayenne-rivalling model range. BMW boss Harald Krüger confirmed at the brand’s Annual General Meeting that the X5 will arrive later this year; an October launch is anticipated Our spy photographers laid eyes on a new… Continue reading BMW X5 confirmed for arrival later this year with 7 Series architecture
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Genesis boss: UK will be ‘main target’ in 2020 European launch
The UK will be the main target of Genesis when the marque is launched in Europe in 2020, according to brand boss Manfred Fitzgerald. Hyundai’s luxury arm launched as a brand in its own right in 2016, focusing on US and Asian markets but with the expectation that it would eventually arrive in Europe. However,… Continue reading Genesis boss: UK will be ‘main target’ in 2020 European launch
Analysis: Are car makers ready for WLTP?
Car makers are ramping up their efforts to ensure they are ready for the roll-out of tougher new emissions tests, which must be undertaken by all new cars from 1 September. After that date, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will apply to all new type approvals for cars. The test is designed… Continue reading Analysis: Are car makers ready for WLTP?
Porsche order books temporarily closed amid WLTP changes
Porsche has temporarily closed order books for its entire range as it updates and retests each model to the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) standards, which come into force in September. A spokesman told Autocar that Porsche has increased its existing stock of cars to reduce the order bottleneck this causes, but buyers wanting… Continue reading Porsche order books temporarily closed amid WLTP changes
European Union lists safety features mandate for 2021
Twelve new safety features are to become mandatory on cars from 2021 onwards in the EU’s latest effort to cut road deaths. Currently, road deaths stand at 26,000 per year across the EU. The aim is to reduce this to 13,000 and halve the number of serious injuries by 2030. Since 2010, fatalities on EU roads have reduced by… Continue reading European Union lists safety features mandate for 2021
European Commission begins legal action against UK over air quality
The European Commission is cracking down on EU member states’ lax air quality standards, referring the UK and six other countries to the EU Court of Justice over their failure to significantly improve air quality. Three ‘pillars’ of air quality improvement have been pegged by the Commission: setting out air quality standards, targets for reducing emissions… Continue reading European Commission begins legal action against UK over air quality
Aston Martin hires former Bugatti exterior designer amid performance boost plans
Aston Martin’s shift towards becoming a brand of higher-performance models has taken another step forward with its hiring of former Bugatti employee Tobias Sühlmann as exterior design boss. Sühlmann, who has worked for Mercedes, the PSA Group and Volkswagen before moving to hypercar-maker Bugatti as its exterior creative development boss, arrives at a time Aston… Continue reading Aston Martin hires former Bugatti exterior designer amid performance boost plans
New car tech to create 320,000 UK jobs by 2030
Cutting-edge technology will create an additional 320,000 jobs in the UK’s automotive industry by 2030, despite fears increasing automation could reduce the nation’s workforce. Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) chief executive Steve Nash said at the London motor show that rapidly growing demand for newly created jobs such as analytic engineers, 3D printing technicians… Continue reading New car tech to create 320,000 UK jobs by 2030
Aston Martin Valkyrie to use more advanced materials than F1
Aston Martin‘s Adrian Newey-inspired hypercar, the Valkyrie, is so extreme that it uses materials and parts not even Red Bull Racing, who is co-developing the car, features on its Formula 1 racers. Autocar has learned that with no regulations to restrict development, several components and materials used on the £2.5 million hypercar are of far higher performance than those used on the latest… Continue reading Aston Martin Valkyrie to use more advanced materials than F1
First Bloodhound SSC speed record attempt confirmed for 2019
The Bloodhound SSC – the British 1000mph Eurofighter-jet-powered land speed record challenger – looks set to make its first record attempt at the end of 2019 despite major setbacks to funding. Thanks to a shift in plans, the Bloodhound team, which recently lost composites suppliers that have fallen into receivership, is scheduled to make its first high-speed runs on South Africa’s Northern… Continue reading First Bloodhound SSC speed record attempt confirmed for 2019