“The Skoda, with the least powerful, 62bhp all-alloy engine, will hit 92mph, pulls lustily past 60mph in 14.3sec and keeps the driver waiting for 15.7sec during the 30-70mph increment. It makes up for its less spritely performance by having by far the most responsive, eager engine. “The Lada is a stable and unfussed motorway cruiser — probably this… Continue reading Super-budget superminis of the Eastern Bloc face off
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Autonomous cars will transform life for society’s most vulnerable
Nissan has now finished testing autonomous cars on UK roads, as its EvolvAD project has come to a close – the last part of an eight-year scheme. This bit was to see whether a self-driving Nissan Leaf could operate outside of cities and in less connected areas, on residential and single-track country roads, to discover what types of… Continue reading Autonomous cars will transform life for society’s most vulnerable
Geely-Renault firm Horse reveals hybrid conversion for electric cars
Horse, the engine-making joint venture of Geely and the Renault Group, has revealed a hybrid powertrain designed to be retrofitted into electric cars. It contains the internal combustion engine, electric motor, gearbox and related electronics in a single unit that, Horse said, can be squeezed into the same space as an EV’s main drive motor. This means manufacturers… Continue reading Geely-Renault firm Horse reveals hybrid conversion for electric cars
Porsche 911 GT3 is the fastest manual car at the Nurburgring
The Porsche 911 GT3 is now the fastest manual car to lap the Nürburgring, beating the previous record-holder by nearly 10 seconds. Porsche has sent the recently updated ‘992.2’ around the Nordschleife – with ambassador and ex-racer Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel – in 6min 56.294sec. That’s not only 3.6sec quicker than the pre-facelift 992 with… Continue reading Porsche 911 GT3 is the fastest manual car at the Nurburgring
Audi Q7
Little else showcases the Q7’s quality and refinement more than its lavishly appointed cabin. Rivals like the Range Rover Sport and BMW X5 have long been at the forefront when it comes to modern luxury interiors but the Audi is more than up to the challenge. Its preference for brushed metal (or the appearance of… Continue reading Audi Q7
Western brands plot fightback against Chinese at Shanghai show
Global companies are plotting a fightback in China against the rise of Chinese brands, with next week’s Shanghai motor show offering them the perfect stage to show off their recovery. New models from the likes of Audi, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan and Volkswagen will take to the stands in a bid to convince showgoers that they’re still relevant in this electrified, tech-led age. Volkswagen… Continue reading Western brands plot fightback against Chinese at Shanghai show
Volvo S90 gets new look and interior update
The Volvo S90 has been updated with a fresh face, upgraded interior technology and extra electric range for the plug-in hybrid version. Visual changes include a new front grille, which matches those on the revised XC90 and XC60 SUVs, as well as sharper-looking lighting signatures front and rear, bringing it into line with the new… Continue reading Volvo S90 gets new look and interior update
Are electric cars really quieter on the road?
I’ve done plenty of very high speeds on Horiba MIRA’s ‘twin horizontal’ straights, but rarely quite like this. The Bentley Continental GT Speed Hybrid that I recently road tested took me to the far side of 170mph several times, back and forth in opposite directions, all within the bounds of a measured mile, while simultaneously… Continue reading Are electric cars really quieter on the road?
BMW M5 Touring
The M5 Touring’s belt-and-braces hardware features a beefy 4.4-litre engine that makes 577bhp at 5600-6500rpm on its own, and pairs it with a 195bhp gearbox-mounted motor, with the two of them combining to have up to 718bhp driving all four wheels (or two, if you select the right mode). To give it a respectable motor-only range of… Continue reading BMW M5 Touring
I bought a Saab convertible for £2300 – and I’ll never sell it
However, while the backrest element is still available, the base one is not. This, I suspect, is down to demand because the seat-base one is more likely to get damaged. The only option was to take a punt on a replacement for another model of Saab and hope that it fitted. I winged it on… Continue reading I bought a Saab convertible for £2300 – and I’ll never sell it