Porsche has released the first official drive footage of its upcoming Mission E electric sports car that shows it being driven at pace by Mark Webber around the brand’s Weissach test track. The Formula 1 race winner and 2015 World Endurance Championship champion demonstrates the all-electric car’s agility and traction on the technical layout, with the Porsche employee stating that it’s… Continue reading Porsche Mission E: 592bhp output confirmed by Webber in new video
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Prodrive: how it went from building rally cars to hybrid transit vans
“I’ve always looked at ambulances as heavy, old technology. How do you bring them into the modern era? That’s what we’re working on next.” David Richards, the boss of the Prodrive race team and engineering company he set up in 1984, is nothing if not diverse in his business. While closely associated with high-profile World… Continue reading Prodrive: how it went from building rally cars to hybrid transit vans
German authorities call for Porsche to recall 60,000 diesel Macans and Cayennes
Porsche has been asked by German automotive regulator KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) to recall 60,000 diesel-engined Macan and Cayenne models running with emissions defeat devices. The Audi-produced 3.0-litre V6 Euro 6 diesel engine used in the two models was found to have lower emissions during lab testing, constituting a test cheat device — and linking the cars to the Dieselgate scandal. It’s estimated… Continue reading German authorities call for Porsche to recall 60,000 diesel Macans and Cayennes
BMW X5 confirmed for arrival later this year with 7 Series architecture
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
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