Month: January 2019

What is it?

Nissan’s keen to point out that it’s listened to the feedback its customers gave it on the latest Micra. Although the car’s only been out for two years, customers criticised the engines – calling them underpowered and bemoaning the lack of an automatic gearbox.

So, this early-life upgrade addresses those complaints and gives the popular supermini a new edge – essential in such a crowded and talented marketplace, where best-sellers such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Polo dominate.

What’s new?

This isn’t a facelift, and so 2019 Micras don’t look any different to their predecessors on the outside. The changes come under the bonnet, where Nissan’s fitted a pair of new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines to replace the ageing – and not particularly good – 0.9-litre unit. They offer 99bhp and 116bhp, and the former can be mated to an automatic gearbox, which is a first on this generation of Micra.

Nissan’s also introduced a new ‘sporty’ trim level. Called N-Sport, it’s available exclusively with the higher-powered engine and aims to take the fight to the Ford Fiesta ST-Line and Volkswagen Polo R-Line. Finally, there’s a new NissanConnect infotainment system – a vital upgrade.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Micra still offers the basic 1.0-litre non-turbocharged petrol engine and 1.5-litre diesel engines as before, but the big talk is on the two new 1.0-litre turbos.

The higher-powered unit is fitted with the Micra’s first six-speed manual gearbox, and offers comparable performance to most of its main rivals. However, for all Nissan’s claims of it being a ‘warm hatch’ the tinny sound, rubbery gearbox and reluctant power delivery mean it’s far from a thrill.

Far more pleasant is the new 99bhp unit, which revs cleanly albeit with an alarming turbine-style whirr. It can be had with an adequate five-speed manual or a CVT automatic. Surprisingly, we’d actually recommend choosing the auto – it’s one of the best of its breed, and manages to resist the urge to send the revs spiralling at the merest mention of throttle input.

What’s it like to drive?

The higher-powered engine comes complete with 17-inch alloy wheels, a quicker steering rack and lowered sports suspension. It makes the Micra more agile than the likes of the VW Polo, and it’s certainly easy to fling about city streets. It can’t hold a candle to the Ford Fiesta on the handling front, however.

Lower-powered models with the standard suspension do tend to lean through the bends but the payoff is a very forgiving ride – the Micra is one comfortable supermini. We weren’t able to test the limits of its ability too much on our soaking wet Portuguese test route, but the levels of grip and response from the steering were easily up there with the rest of its competitors.

How does it look?

There’s little news on this front – the only exterior changes for the 2019 Micra are some new trim combinations and the addition of LED front fog lights on certain grades. N-Sport models lower the ride and add niceties such as 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust tip and N-Sport badging – but the makeover is far milder than that of a Fiesta ST-Line. Perhaps that’s because the N-Sport doesn’t have a true halo hot hatch’s looks from which to draw inspiration, as Ford and VW do with the Fiesta ST and Polo GTI.

Overall though, the Micra remains a fairly handsome and sharply styled supermini – and it remains one of the most personalisable on the market, with customers able to choose trim finishes for various exterior elements including the wheels, mirror caps and side mouldings.

What’s it like inside?

The Micra’s interior is generally one of the car’s strong points. Although space inside is only really average for the class, the sharply designed dashboard and lashings of interesting material choices – plus the sheer level of personalisation on offer – ensure there’s something to appeal to almost everyone.

The headline upgrade, though, has to be the new NissanConnect infotainment system. It now offers live services, but crucial for attracting younger buyers it also brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It’s a big improvement over the old system, with greater responsiveness and a clear, easy-to-operate menu system – although the inbuilt sat nav can be a little dim-witted.

What’s the spec like?

The new N-Sport trim is based on the mid-spec Acenta, so rather than dazzling with lots of equipment it offers a sporty look and mid-range specification. Still, sports seats, keyless entry, fog lights, carbon-fibre finishes for the door mirrors and alloy wheels plus rear privacy glass add to an already generous roster of climate control, cruise control, all-round electric windows and the aforementioned NissanConnect infotainment system.

Automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning are standard across the range, as are automatic headlights.

Verdict

These new engines are a vast improvement over the old 0.9-litre – and they definitely make the Micra worth further consideration. In fact, this updated model feels like the car that the Micra should have been at launch. It’s some way off the class best when it comes to driving dynamics, but now offers the same excellent economy, good levels of equipment and sharp looks as it did before, just without the poor engine to hold it back. The Xtronic automatic, meanwhile, could be one of the best non-electric inner-city cars you can buy.

Model as tested: Nissan Micra N-Sport
Price as tested: £19,005
Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder
Power: 116bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Max speed: 121mph
0-60mph: 9.9 seconds
MPG: 56.5
Emissions: 114g/km

Car design could become a lot more driver-focused, thanks to a new tool being tested by Ford.

The American firm is experimenting with Gravity Sketch – British-built 3D virtual reality (VR) technology that lets the designers get up close and personal with their creations.

Wearing a VR headset and using hand-held motion controllers, they can navigate an open space and get a 360-degree view of the car they are creating – allowing them to produce a design around themselves. Ford says having the ability to see all angles will result in more ‘human-centric’ models being created.

It also believes the design process could be shortened, eliminating the need to turn a 2D sketch into a 3D model.

Michael Smith, design manager at Ford, said: “Jumping right into 3D gives us a 360-degree view of a vehicle as it is being created. This application has the potential to help ensure we are delivering the very best vehicle designs for our customers.

“It moves the entire process into the world of virtual reality, giving us greater options for reviewing more models in the 3D environment to create the best possible vehicles.”

Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Gravity Sketch chief executive and co-founder, said: “Our collaboration with Ford designers has enabled us to get immersed in their creative process and discover ways to help fine-tune this application to better suit their needs.”

SUVs. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re here to stay – and have been one of the fastest-growing market segments for several years now. Encompassing everything from tiny crossovers to the very largest of luxury off-roaders, this segment has gone from being small-time fare to containing some of the most profitable cars on sale.

But how exactly did the modern SUV come to be? We’ve leafed through the history books and found seven of the cars that – at least in Europe – helped push the crossover into the mainstream.

Matra Rancho

The Matra Rancho’s achievement list reads like the specification of any modern crossover. Rugged styling, a car-derived platform, greater practicality than its hatchback sibling and an awkward name? All present and correct.

However, the Rancho came out in 1977 – years before SUVs became viable as family transport. It was pretty popular on the continent, but their nature as a work vehicle and the unlovable nature of its quirky styling means not too many survive.

Jensen FF

Sure, a gorgeous 2+2 grand tourer may not immediately occupy the same space in your head as a humble mumsy-bus, but the FF had one important distinction – four-wheel-drive. In fact, it was the first proper road car fitted with a 4WD system, as previous models had all been unashamed off-roaders.

The concept of fitting 4WD to a car that has no intention of ever leaving tarmac is one that’s been successfully applied to a huge number of SUVs and crossovers since.

Nissan Qashqai

The Qashqai wasn’t the first SUV, or even the first hatchback-based crossover, but it marked a step-change in manufacturer strategy. Nissan was the first brand to realise that the future of family transport lay in these jacked-up vehicles, and so it didn’t bother to replace its Almera when it reached the end of its life – concentrating solely on the Qashqai.

It’s definitely a strategy that’s worked – the car has been sold in its thousands since its launch in 2007, and remains one of Europe’s best-sellers.

Toyota RAV4

In 1996, Toyota released the RAV4, and with it came the acknowledgement by manufacturers that their rugged off-roaders were mainly used by families rather than farmers. The name RAV4 actually stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD – showing that this car was better suited to a camping holiday than tackling the deepest, darkest wilderness.

By giving buyers what they wanted – chunky styling, a modicum of off-road ability and raised ground clearance but without the associated lack of finesse on tarmac – Toyota created a wildly popular SUV that’s still a global best-seller.

Range Rover

Land Rover was known only for one model until the release of the Range Rover – it was rugged, tough, and a nightmare as soon as it got onto a paved road. But the Range Rover was different, adding luxury features, coil springs and a sense of imperious superiority for everybody who drove one.

The Range Rover’s only become more luxurious as time has gone on, and easily ranks as one of the world’s top luxury SUVs today.

Volvo XC90

Big families spent the early 2000s gravitating towards MPVs, but these family buses weren’t exactly stylish. That’s why big families with a little more cash to splash preferred the SUV – and Volvo capitalised on this by releasing the XC90, which offered the versatility of the former and the style of the latter.

It also concentrated heavily on safety, and it’s recently been claimed that not a single person in the UK has died in an XC90 since its 2003 launch. That’s a big deal for a kid-carrier, and one that’s cemented the XC90 as a popular choice for the safety-conscious.

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche was the first sports car manufacturer to acknowledge the SUV-shaped elephant in the room. It realised that by releasing a Porsche SUV, the resulting profits could be used to further development for its iconic sports car line.

That has left Porsche with two distinct lines of products – its SUVs pay the bills while its class-leading sports cars keep the brand’s image alive. Neither could exist as well as it does without the other, and it’s a sort of partnership that many brands have emulated since.

Convertible ownership in the UK brings its challenges. Sure, it’s wonderful for the handful of sunny days we see in August — but with the weather so temperamental for the rest of the year, a slow-acting roof can be the difference between a soaking and staying totally dry, or even missing a brief catch of the rays.

While the obvious solution may seem to be to opt for a manual closing roof, many can be difficult or even impossible to close on the move. That said, speed can be everything with an electrically operated alternative — so we’ve listed the quickest power-folding roofs on sale today…

BMW i8 Roadster — 15 seconds

It took a while for BMW to finally bring the i8 Roadster into production, but it still manages to look light years ahead of rivals in its segment. And what better way to enjoy it than with the roof down? With a 15 second opening and closing time, the roof even has the speed to match the i8’s performance.

Audi A5 Cabriolet — 15 seconds

Audi’s A5 Cabriolet may be one of the more mundane soft-tops on our list, but that doesn’t stop it from qualifying in roof-lowering times. Fifteen seconds is on the slower end of the scale here, but it’s still quick enough to avoid getting soaked in a rain shower.

Ferrari Portofino — 14 seconds

Folding hard-tops often have a tougher job than fabric roofs, with a difficult origami involved in fitting a bulky metal roof into a small compartment at the rear. They’re also pretty weighty compared to a fabric roof too, leading them to be slower. Despite this, the Ferrari Portofino manages to retract its canopy in just 14 seconds, at speeds of up to 25mph. Not bad for a supposed ‘budget’ Ferrari. Oh, did we mention it’ll also do nearly 200mph?

Aston Martin DB11 Volante — 14 seconds

Aston Martin’s convertible cars are, if anything, even better-looking than their hard-roofed counterparts – and the DB11 Volante is no exception. It’s truly gorgeous roof up or down. Luckily, you won’t have to worry about switching between the two – folding and unfolding the eight-layer fabric roof takes just 14 seconds, at speeds of up to 31mph. No drama if it starts raining while you’re boulevard cruising, then.

Mazda MX-5 RF — 13 seconds

The Mazda MX-5 has long been one of — if not the — most popular convertibles to make it to the UK. It’s perhaps surprising the Japanese took them until 2016 to introduce a folding hard-top variant of the car, but it arrived with sharp looks and a respectable folding time of 13 seconds. That said, it is hindered slightly by only being to operate at speeds up to 6mph.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet — 12 seconds

The old Porsche 911 Cabriolet didn’t exactly have a slow power-folding roof — registering a 13 second time — but the latest version has still managed to improve on it. With a 12 second open/shut time, the 992 911 is perfect for going fast while rapidly taking advantage of sunshine bursts.

Jaguar F-Type Convertible — 12 seconds

The Jaguar F-Type Convertible does well in the roof closing and raising race, with its time of 12 seconds close to the top of our list here. It’s also a pretty car with the roof up or down, meaning you don’t have to compromise on style with either configuration.

Audi TT Roadster — 10 seconds

The Audi TT Roadster has been one of the go-to premium drop-tops for some time now, and its roof operating time of 10 seconds is yet another reason to choose it. Available with a variety of engines, the TT Roadster is a convertible you can use every day – and it looks good, too.

Porsche 718 Boxster — 9 seconds

The Boxster may sit underneath the 911 in the Porsche range, but it at least has one thing over its bigger brother — roof speed. In just nine seconds, the roof of the Boxster can be opened or closed. Who needs more horsepower, anyway?

Ford Mustang Convertible — 7 seconds

Topping the list of fastest convertibles might be the car everyone thinks of when it comes to capturing the sun in a real drop-top cruiser — the Mustang Convertible. While driving it on a summer’s day in California might mean the roof will never have to go up, it’s handy to know it’ll only take seven seconds to do so if you’re heading around Hull on a patchy day.

Take a look down the specification list for any modern car – particularly larger luxury models – and the range of equipment, both standard and optional, can be very confusing. What’s better – bi-xenon headlights or Matrix LED? Are heated washer nozzles more important than a heated steering wheel? And why should you want to adjust your seat bolsters?

Despite this confusing mess, there are some car options that always jump out at us – and that we’d always choose if they were available. Here are our picks for the optional extras you should really consider adding to your next car purchase.

Adaptive cruise control

A fully-autonomous future may be some while away yet, but adaptive cruise control offers a taste of what’s to come in a driverless world.

Offered by pretty much every manufacturer, adaptive cruise control builds on the traditional cruise systems many may be familiar with by bringing an array of sensors that allows a car to monitor surrounding traffic and adjust its speed accordingly. High-end versions of the tech even include speed limit recognition that can automatically detect when to bring the car to legal limits — perfect for those multiple hundreds of motorway miles trips.

Heated seats and steering wheel

There’s not much worse than hopping into a freezing car on a cold winter’s morning. With sub-zero temperatures overnight, the cabin of your car has probably felt the heat — well, the opposite of that really — and that can make you feel like the Christmas turkey tucked in the freezer a week before the big day.

With heating elements in the seats and steering wheel though, you can soon get back to a cosy temperature and relax for the drive ahead without having to stick the air conditioning on 28 degrees and full blast fans.

LED headlights

We all want to see where we’re going, right? Well, every car obviously has headlights… but not all headlights are created equal. Far above lowly halogen, projector or even xenon units sits the noble LED headlight. These systems are super-bright but can be aimed really accurately to avoid dazzling other drivers.

The smartest systems are capable of blanking out certain portions of their lighting grids, providing main beam across the road with a dark section that tracks oncoming traffic. That’s not even mentioning how their razor-edge appearance can enhance the look of your car. Clever stuff.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Smartphone connectivity is all the rage, and there’s no simpler way to do it than through either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. These two systems are very similar, and just involve plugging a compatible smartphone into your car’s infotainment system. From there, you’re able to interact with your phone’s functions via a bespoke interface – one that’s easy to use on the move.

With the penalty for using your phone behind the wheel a steep fine and several points on your licence, systems like this which allow you to use your phone as navigator and media player all in one without taking your concentration off the road are more and more important.

Upgraded speakers

If you’re anything like us, listening to music in the car is a big part of each day – and so it makes sense that upgrading the sound system should be one of your first moves. Now, 18-year-olds know all about the wonder that a pair of Halfords drivers and a flashy head unit can bring to a 53-plate Fiesta, but in brand new cars, it’s not quite so simple. For that reason, many manufacturers now offer brand-name stereo systems as an upgrade.

Different manufacturers use different systems – Peugeot, for example, offers a FOCAL audio system on its 508, while BMW goes for Harman Kardon. The Bang & Olufsen systems fitted to high-end Audis are definitely worth their cash, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a Land Rover without several hundred watts of Meridian in the interior. Regardless of name, there’s no doubt that an upgraded sound system is the ideal optional extra for audiophiles everywhere and one well worth speccing.

Bolster adjustment

No two people are the same size, and that means manufacturers have to design car seats for all types of bodies. The result can often be something that doesn’t quite feel secure or is perhaps too tight to be in.

Tick the option for bolster adjustment though and that worry can soon go. With the ability to bring them in closer to the driver, or further away if you’d prefer, this basic but clever technology can make the difference between an annoying car and a comfortable one.

Dual-zone climate control

Nothing makes a long journey go by quicker than harmony between passengers. Sitting there while your front passenger is in a strop with you is genuinely very unpleasant – and if they’re too cold or too hot, then it’s sadly very likely that they will be pretty irate.

That’s where dual-zone climate control comes in. It allows both the driver and front passenger to set their own temperature on the climate control, allowing the passenger to bask in a balmy 22 degrees while the driver chills out in an 18 degree Arctic breeze. More sophisticated systems are available that allow the rear passengers to choose their own temperatures, too – but we think they can lump it. There has to be benefits to riding up front, right?

Heated windscreen

It’s a cold February morning. You’ve woken up a little later than usual, and there’s the mad rush to get to work. Having quickly washed, brushed your teeth and thrown a makeshift outfit on you race to the car in the hope of clocking in on time — only your car windscreen is frozen over, and it needs clearing.

You foresaw this when buying your latest car though, and as you hop in to the seat, you fire up the heated windscreen. After a couple of minutes of setting up a playlist for the journey and waiting for the cabin to warm up a bit, your windscreen is de-iced and the view out is clear as day. No standing with a scraper and spray needed, you’re all good to go. You make it to work on time. You’re thankful for ticking the heated windscreen option box.

Reversing camera

A lack of rear visibility is a common problem in newer cars. You can blame safety regulations for that – with crash tests necessitating thick rear pillars and bulky rear doors, both of which conspire to produce narrow rear windows and not much of a view back. This isn’t such a big problem when you’re on the move, where side mirrors tend to do the job – but when reversing, not knowing what’s directly behind you can spell disaster.

That’s where reversing cameras come in. Quite simply, they activate when the car’s placed into reverse gear and give a clear view of the area immediately behind the car. Most also offer some guidelines, to make parking a cinch. Though 360-degree camera systems are also great, we wouldn’t necessarily spend the extra on them – but plain old reversing cameras are worth every penny.

Sunroof

While many of us would love to own a convertible, it’s just not a practical option for the vast majority. Sure, that one week of sun we get in the UK would be ideal for driving a Mazda MX-5 but then that also has the boot capacity of a kitchen drawer.

That’s where the sunroof comes in — bringing a sense of open-top driving to any car. Open it up to bring in a little bit of fresh air on those wonderful July days, without the reduced refinement and lack of practicality many dedicated convertibles bring with them. There also great for bringing some light in the cabin when shut, too.

Back in the late 1940s, several people decided that a nearby airfield – known as RAF Silverstone – would be ideal for a little bit of impromptu motor-racing. It was bare-bones to begin with, but since that time the circuit has gone on to become the home of British motorsport – and the host of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix to boot.

And though those intrepid racers may have had to dodge sheep, and poor road surfaces, they never had to deal with an icy surface framed by solid, deep snowbanks. At least we’re pretty sure they didn’t.

But recently some clever people in Sweden thought that an all-ice version of the UK’s most famous circuit may be a good thing. Which is why, every year, they carve a replica version of Silverstone into a frozen lake in Arjeplog. Completely to scale.

In fact, it’s not the only track to be carved out of the otherwise desolate area. Here, you can lap the Nurburgring GP circuit, Yas Marina and even Paul Ricard – all framed by snow banks and maintained almost as fastidiously as the real thing. Oh, and for those hoping to see a car sinking ever-so-slowly into the icy depths, you’re going to be disappointed – the ice is almost a metre thick.

And speaking of cars, we should probably discuss our vehicle for this particular adventure. It’s Skoda’s latest Kodiaq vRS, a 237bhp, hotter version of the Czech brand’s popular SUV. Yes, we’ll admit it may not be the best suited car to conventional track driving, but out in -24 degrees with limited traction, the car’s four-wheel-drive system and suite of driving modes make this car a more sensible circuit option.

Before we traded swapped Northamptonshire for somewhere more Nordic, we set a lap time around the real-life Silverstone for comparison. The Kodiaq did admirably well; the brakes managed several laps without cooking, and the punchy diesel engine did an excellent job of bringing the car up to speed in a decent enough time. One of the standout aspects was the body control; the vRS comes fitted with adaptive chassis control, and it managed to keep the Kodiaq far flatter in the corners than you’d expect, particularly given its near-1,900kg kerb weight.

We set a lap time (though we’re not going to disclose it just yet), and readied to try the whole thing again on a slightly less grippy surface.

As we arrived at Lake Uddjaur, the temperature was reading a balmy -27c. It was so cold, in fact, that there was ice forming on the inside of the windows. Needless to say, it was ‘big coat’ weather.

We got a feel for the conditions with a series of handling courses; driving on ice and snow is always an odd sensation to begin with, particularly when you’re piloting a car fitted with tyre studs, like our Kodiaq was. There’s a lot of traction to begin with, and it’s only once you slowly enter a corner that the rear begins to rotate around you – though the ESP systems in the vRS did a good job of keeping the car on the straight and narrow.

Last Friday I drove the Kodiaq vRS around Silverstone circuit. Today, we’re driving it around a Silverstone carved into a frozen lake. Also, look at this sunrise! pic.twitter.com/qdymCpoqSm

— Jack Evans (@jackrober) January 15, 2019

Warm-up sessions complete, it was time to take to the Silverstone Circuit.

With a lack of visual references, and no grandstands, barriers or curbs to give you an indication of where you actually are, the first few laps are a little disconcerting. The corners sweep up unannounced, and Hangar Straight feels almost unbelievably long – we were still able to hit well over 100mph before needing to stamp on the anchors.

However before long we start knitting bends together, using the natural rotation of the car to guide you around the corner before leaning on the Kodiaq’s four-wheel-drive system to propel you on the low-friction surface. The ice is etched with grooves to give the tyres a little more to grab on, but it’s still perilously slippery – trying to walk on it is a tricky task, let alone drive on it.

And then, just like that, it was time to come in. My tarmac Silverstone time was 2:59 (I don’t claim to be a racing driver), while my icy circuit took a little longer at 4:27. Though it did require a little more time to travel around the frozen version of Britain’s most famous race track, it’s the one I’d pick to go around again; sure, clipping the same apexes as Lewis Hamilton has done before has its charm, but going sideways around them on snow and ice? That takes some beating.

As the winter months draw in, performance cars are traditionally hurried into garages, storage units and lock-ups to protect them from the elements.

However, there are a few cars on the market today that needn’t be mollycoddled and can genuinely take whatever the winter can throw at them. Here, we’ve picked out 10 performance cars that you can use throughout winter come rain, shine, sleet or snow.

Audi RS6 Performance

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Powered by a turbocharged V8 engine packing 596bhp, it’ll crack 60mph in under four seconds.

However, don’t think you’ll be spiralling off into a hedge when things get slippy, as the RS6 uses Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system, allowing it to find grip no matter how treacherous the conditions. Add to this the RS6’s genuinely practical bodystyle and its better – though not brilliant – fuel economy, and you’ve got an ideal winter wagon.

Range Rover Sport SVR

Of course, anything with a Range Rover badge on the bonnet is already laden with go-anywhere potential, but the Sport SVR adds to this with a tremendous amount of performance.

A supercharged 5.0-litre sends 542bhp to all four wheels, though you still get Range Rover’s Terrain Response off-road system – meaning all that power can be put to good use in all conditions. This does all come at a cost, particularly in fuel economy –22mpg to be exact.

Mercedes-AMG E63S

You’d think that a powerful Mercedes-AMG vehicle would be rear-wheel-drive, and therefore a nightmare on slippery roads. However, the latest E63 has a trick up its sleeve – all-wheel-drive.

This means that it’s far from a handful when the roads get greasy, though there’s still a 4.0-litre V8 to keep things interesting. On top of that, the E63S – available as either a saloon or estate – is impressively practical, with a decent boot and plenty of rear legroom too.

Ariel Nomad

Okay, we understand that you’ll probably need to get quite wrapped up when driving the Ariel Nomad in colder weather, but its all-round usability and incredible performance will more than make up for it.

A 2.4-litre Honda-sourced engine sends drive to all four wheels, while suspension with a huge amount of travel allows the Nomad to handle anything that is thrown at it. A tubular framework also means you’ll look like nothing else on the road.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

Available with either a turbocharged V8 or naturally-aspirated V12 engine, the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso is the best option if you’re looking for a car with a prancing horse on the front that can be used in all weathers.

Thankfully, the GTC4 Lusso utilises a clever electronic all-wheel-drive system, meaning that it’ll be able to tackle snow and ice like no other Ferrari can – yet it’ll do so in supreme luxury, as you’d expect with a car from Maranello.

Bentley Bentayga

Yes, it’s quite an ostentatious choice, but you simply cannot fault the way Bentley’s Bentayga can cover ground, be it on- or off-road. It features an opulent interior which, save for a noticeable few switches borrowed from parent company Audi, feels bespoke and well-made.

Of course, it has a lot of performance to offer too. With a turbocharged W12 powering this affair, it’ll hit 60mph in just four seconds before topping out at 187mph.

Volkswagen Golf R

Though the Volkswagen Golf R may not carry the same badge prestige as other cars on this list, it can more than keep its head held high when it comes to performance. The R’s turbocharged petrol engine gives it enough shove to out-drag a lot of current supercars.

Whereas the two-wheel-drive GTI would be spinning its front wheels in poor conditions, the R’s all-wheel-drive system means the fun doesn’t have to stop when the weather turns sour.

BMW M5

Though traditionally rear-wheel-drive, the latest incarnation of the M5 uses complex all-wheel-drive technology to give it huge amounts of traction, while a 4.4-litre V8 means you’ll be able to exploit the system to its fullest at all times.

You are able to lock that system to rear-wheel-drive only, but for the vast majority of the time it’s best left powering all four wheels – particularly in the winter months when traction is king.

Subaru WRX Final Edition

There are few cars with as much all-weather pedigree as the Subaru WRX. With rally history engrained in its make-up, it’s been designed to be able to travel very quickly over the toughest of surfaces and in the worse conditions.

A four-wheel-drive system, as well as rally-inspired suspension, makes the WRX Final Edition hugely capable in all weathers, while large Brembo brakes can effectively bring the whole thing to a stop.

Ford Focus RS

The Ford Focus RS has already made a name for itself as one of the most accomplished hot hatches on sale today, packing a lot of performance into a usable and practical layout. However, it’s also got four-wheel-drive, and this means that it’ll be ideal for tackling the elements in.

When you strip away the performance, you’re left with a genuine five-seater hatchback, so you’ll still be able to bring your friends along and save them from the cold.

Winter is well and truly upon us now — the heating is on full blast, the constant ‘snow is coming’ fears are all over the news and the gritters are out in force to chip car paint everywhere.

All jokes aside, driving conditions at this time of year are undoubtedly the most challenging we face in the UK and failing to take on the weather without the right care and attention can leave yourself and other drivers at risk. Here are our tips for staying safe on the road over the winter months.

There’s never too much preparation

The most crucial aspect of being safe on the roads, especially in winter conditions, is preparation.

Before setting off for the day, de-icing your car is key. Frozen windows mean poor visibility, so clear as much ice as you can with a de-icing spray or scraper to clear your view.

Take an extra 5 minutes this time of year to clear your windows & windshield of snow & ice before taking off. We see you driving while looking through the one small spot you scraped clear… It’s illegal, unsafe &, frankly, a bit lazy to drive with your car in an unsafe condition pic.twitter.com/lioFeVpZXc

— Oxford Police Dept. (@OxfordOhioPD) November 27, 2018

It’s also worth packing a winter driving kit, too. This doesn’t have to be apocalypse-proof, but it’s a good idea to keep some essentials in your car such as a high-visibility jacket, snow grips for shoes, a torch, emergency snacks and a power bank for your mobile devices just in case you do end up stranded on the roads.

If you’re heading into seriously harsh conditions, it could be worth carrying a shovel to clear snow and a rug to lay under your tyres for extra grip, while tyre chains can be a useful addition for keeping on the move in thick snow.

Pace yourself

Frozen and snow-covered roads are a different ball game to the rest of the year and driving styles must be adapted for the conditions.

Traction is the big difference. Regular tyres don’t grip as well to icy roads as they do clear tarmac, resulting in less friction. As a result, excess input on the controls could be met with disaster.

Remember that when driving in snow and ice, you should always be accelerating and decelerating slowly and avoiding using cruise control. pic.twitter.com/V8dI2q0dto

— Haymont Auto Repair (@HaymontAuto) November 26, 2018

Take more care upon throttle application to ensure power is delivered gently — a spike in delivery could cause the wheels to slip and result in a loss of control. Staying in a higher gear will aid in reducing wheelspin. Harsh steering inputs could have a similar effect, so it’s key to be smooth on turning too — and keep in mind that brakes are less effective on slippery surfaces.

Finally, remember that speed limits aren’t targets, and you should always drive at a pace safe for the conditions you’re in — even if that means travelling slower than usual.

Visibility is key

Although de-icing your car is key to maximise visibility, it’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to ensuring a clear view in frosty conditions.

Checking your bulbs before every journey is a quick but crucial task, and it’s worth carrying spares in case a light goes, as being seen by other motorists is just as crucial as being able to see where you’re going.

Foglights can be used if visibility is severely reduced, but remember to switch them off in traffic or brighter conditions to avoid dazzling other drivers.

Take charge of your battery

Car batteries operate less effectively in cold temperatures — far from ideal in the conditions we demand the most from them.

Keeping your battery charged is key and long drives are the best way to generate power. Short drives can be heavily draining on power, so it’s worth avoiding quick trips if possible. Turning off lights, wipers and heating when not needed is also essential to avoid excessive battery use.

In addition, it’s worth investing in jump leads in case your battery does go flat and refuses to start your car at all.

Avoid driving at all

Be aware that stopping in snow or ice can take a lot longer. To help compensate, driving slower on ice and snow can also lessen your stoppage time. When it snows, alleviate your anxiety while driving by allowing for extra time to travel to your destination. #WinterWxPrep pic.twitter.com/O0Kl864ira

— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) November 16, 2018

The best way to stay safe in difficult driving conditions is not to get behind the wheel at all. If weather warnings are severe, it’s best to avoid trips in your car unless absolutely necessary.

If you don’t have much experience or confidence driving in difficult conditions, it may also be wise to ask a more capable family member or friend to drive if you must travel by car.

Should you get behind the wheel, always remember to take extra caution, as well as allowing more time and space for other road users who may not be as prepared for the weather.

When colder conditions arrive, few people realise the effect they can have on a car. Without a proper knowledge of how chilly temperatures can alter a vehicle’s set-up, you could quickly find yourself in trouble – or be hit with a repair bill. Here, we look at what changes when you drive in wintertime.

Battery problems

You may have driven your car throughout the summer and found it starts on the button at every turn of the key. However, without checking your battery, you could quickly find yourself unable to start a car once temperatures drop. Lower temperatures put added strain on the battery and cause it to be less efficient – which is why when the weather gets colder, you may find that an older battery is unable to start a car.

Tyre pressures can drop

Colder temperatures can cause tyres to lose pressure. This is particularly dangerous, as under-inflated tyres don’t return the best braking or traction levels – both of which are crucial in winter conditions. Ensure that you check your tyre pressures regularly and inflate them if they are low.

Wipers aren’t as effective

With the increase of grit and salt on the roads, you may find that your wipers aren’t as effective as they were in warmer and driver conditions. This is particularly noticeable when the blades are old. Replacing them is the best solution to smeary, ineffective wipers.

Spark plugs misfire

Because cold weather can cause an engine to struggle starting, it puts pressure on certain components. One of the first to be affected are the spark plugs. If the plugs aren’t firing effectively, it can mean the engine won’t crank and therefore won’t start. Make sure the spark plugs in your car have been checked and, if found to be working inefficiently, replaced.

Fluids can thicken

When outside temperatures fall below freezing, a car’s fluids can thicken and, as a result, work less effectively. How do you avoid this? The best way is simply to run the car for five to 10 minutes before driving away, ensuring it is warmed up properly.

Exterior panels take a beating

During the winter, grit and salt on the roads are whipped up and can take a toll on your car’s bodywork – and grimy windscreen can prove dangerous, too. This is why it’s important to keep washing your car with fresh water throughout the winter period – even if it doesn’t feel like the best time to take a bucket and sponge to your motor!

If you’re in the market for a convertible, winter is the time to buy. A rise in demand during the summer months pushes prices up, meaning that while the weather outside is frightful you may be able to bag yourself a real bargain.

But even a modern convertible can be a pretty miserable thing in the winter months, so it’s worth choosing your model carefully to ensure you’re not left freezing cold, fishtailing and generally miserable. We’ve rounded up a few of the convertibles you can buy that can tackle the worst the Great British winter has to offer.

Mercedes SLC

Mercedes’ dinky SLC Roadster is a car for those who like to look good – and appreciate the prestige of the three-pointed star. It’s also an absolutely smashing choice for anybody who wants to use their convertible as a daily driver, as it features a folding hardtop – far more secure and refined than a fabric soft-top.

The brilliant AirScarf features too, consisting of vents mounted in the headrest to keep you warm even when the roof’s down.

BMW 8 Series Convertible

BMW’s latest 8 Series is notable as it features xDrive four-wheel drive across its entire model range. This rear-biased system is designed to be good fun on tarmac, but as the roads get slippery it can shunt 100 per cent of the engine’s power to the front wheels if necessary, ideal for sticky situations.

The triple-layer soft-top should keep you toasty inside, and the load bay is long enough to accommodate a couple of pairs of skis. Let it never be said BMW doesn’t know its market.

Range Rover Evoque Convertible

Strictly speaking, a soft-top Landie isn’t a new idea – the old Series models as well as the Defender all offered a fabric roof, but the Evoque was the first to take the true Convertible formula and apply it to a Range Rover.

Purists despair at the further softening of what’s already the most fashion-led Land Rover model ever, but it’s hard to deny that it actually looks quite good and offers open-air thrills with SUV styling.

Audi TT

The Audi TT may be small and compact, but it’s actually got some serious all-weather credentials. As always, Audi’s well-known quattro all-wheel-drive system is present and correct here, which means that the TT will be able to conquer conditions which would leave other sports cars spinning in circles.

It’s also got a well-sorted cabin with good ergonomics and, most importantly for this time of year, excellent heated seats.

Audi S5 Cab

Audi knows a thing or two about making performance models with all-wheel drive – mention the word ‘quattro’ to any car enthusiast and you’ll likely be mopping up a puddle of drool as they reminisce about the 80’s legend.

But Audi doesn’t just stick quattro on its saloon and estate cars, and the S5 Cabriolet also offers it. In some ways, it’s the best of all worlds – you get a slickly-designed soft top, with a powerful V6 engine, surefooted all-wheel drive and four rings on the bonnet. What’s not to love?

Jeep Wrangler

Very few cars can challenge the Jeep Wrangler when it comes to go-anywhere ability, but one thing that’s often overlooked about the rugged machine is its status as a convertible.

Opt for a four-door model, and you’ll have the ability to spec either a full canvas roof, giving all occupants the open-air experience when taking on even the toughest of terrains, or an electric folding unit that allows for convenient touch-of-a-button usage.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 has long held a reputation as the everyday sports car, boasting comfort and practicality at a reasonable price — oh, while also being hailed as the benchmark for driving dynamics.

That’s all true of the car in its various Cabriolet forms, too. We’d go for it in Carrera 4 GTS spec here — blending genuine performance with bags of style, and a useable all-wheel-drive system that can prove crucial on the slippery roads winter often brings with it.

Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster

Many supercar owners will be tucking their prized possessions away for the winter, but with the Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster — that won’t be necessary.

Ok so simply tagging onto the ‘it’s all-wheel-drive, it’ll be fine’ tagline may sound a stretch — and it kind of is — but if you’re planning to showboat over the colder months, then it’s handy to have that increased traction. Plus there’s nothing to warm the eardrums like a belching V12.

Mercedes C-Class Convertible

Need a convertible with four adult-sized seats? The Mercedes C-Class is one of your best options, with plenty of room for the festive journey home and a boot big enough for several hefty presents.

Being a Mercedes, it features the brilliant Airscarf system, while the triple-layer fabric roof will keep out the very worst of the winter chill. It also looks the absolute business, which while we acknowledge isn’t actually that important in winter, it’s certainly a plus.