Suzuki’s quirky Ignis city car has undergone a mid-life facelift, gaining subtle design tweaks and a new mild hybrid powertrain option. The Fiat 500 rival, launched in 2016, retains its boxy overall silhouette, flared wheel arches and compact footprint, but gains a new five-spoke front grille that brings it into line with the Jimny SUV. … Continue reading Suzuki Ignis gains new styling and powertrain for 2020
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
New Bentley Mulliner Bacalar is £1.5m two-seat luxury GT
Hannig identifies three pillars of Mulliner: Mulliner Classic, Mulliner Collections and Mulliner Coachbuilt. Mulliner Classic was kick-started last year with a 1939 Bentley Corniche recreation and news of a continuation series of the Birkin Blower. Mulliner Collections includes models such as the recently revealed Continental GT Mulliner Convertible. And Mulliner Coachbuilt includes the Bacalar, with… Continue reading New Bentley Mulliner Bacalar is £1.5m two-seat luxury GT
New Skoda Octavia vRS gains 242bhp PHEV option for 2020
Skoda’s longest-serving sporting model, the Octavia vRS, has moved to a new generation and, like its Volkswagen Group siblings, will be the first to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Czech brand has released details of only the vRS iV plug-in version so far, which has a 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol engine mated to a… Continue reading New Skoda Octavia vRS gains 242bhp PHEV option for 2020
New Dacia SUV will be Europe’s most affordable EV
Dacia has previewed its first electric vehicle with the Spring Electric concept – and promised that the production version, due in 2021, will be the most affordable EV sold in Europe. As expected, the Spring Electric’s design is based heavily on the Renault City K-ZE electric crossover that Dacia’s parent company designed primarily for the… Continue reading New Dacia SUV will be Europe’s most affordable EV
Special edition Pininfarina Battista to mark firm’s 90th anniversary
The Battista is now undergoing a rigorous track testing programme under the guidance of ex-Formula 1 and Formula E racer Nick Heidfeld. The Battista’s makers claim that it’s the most powerful road-legal car ever produced in Italy, with a motor for each wheel that, collectively, deliver up to 1900bhp and 1696lb ft. Pininfarina says that will be good… Continue reading Special edition Pininfarina Battista to mark firm’s 90th anniversary
Under the skin: Koenigsegg’s ingenious transmission solutions
Koenigsegg won’t say what, but it will hopefully reveal something special on the morning of 3 March at this year’s Geneva motor show. Rumour has it the Swedish supercar maker, known for its highly innovative drivetrains, will reveal a production car concept capable of breaking the 500km/h barrier (a smidge over 310mph). Koenigsegg currently employs… Continue reading Under the skin: Koenigsegg’s ingenious transmission solutions
Exclusive: new ID R sports car to pioneer secret battery tech
As Autocar reported last year, sister brand Porsche is developing an all-electric Boxster. While that model is thought to be based on either the Taycan’s PPE platform or an adapted version of the existing combustion engine platform, it’s possible the Stuttgart brand could make use of the MEB platform to create a sibling to the… Continue reading Exclusive: new ID R sports car to pioneer secret battery tech
Why Volvo is redefining autonomous driving
Volvo has been one of the leading proponents of the industry’s long-term quest for fully autonomous cars. But now it has become the latest to dial back its overall ambition and to clarify how it views the technology developing. The next XC90, due in 2022, will be fitted with the advanced hardware and software needed… Continue reading Why Volvo is redefining autonomous driving
Ford halts Puma deliveries due to airbag spring recall
Ford UK has confirmed that the new Puma crossover will be recalled, and deliveries have been halted, due to a potential airbag component problem. The Nissan Juke rival only went on sale late last year, with some buyers of the initially prioritised First Edition models taking delivery last month. However, Autocar obtained confirmation and a… Continue reading Ford halts Puma deliveries due to airbag spring recall
Dacia electric city car confirmed for launch within two years
The limited range enables Renault to keep the price low and, according to senior vice president for electric vehicles Giles Normand, the need for a big range is less important because this is a city car. In Chinese specification, the K-ZE has a 44bhp, 88lb ft electric motor. It needs seven seconds to reach 37mph… Continue reading Dacia electric city car confirmed for launch within two years