The facelifted Urus will be the first performance plug-in hybrid SUV.
Lamborghini has released a more powerful plug-in hybrid version of its performance Urus SUV.
The new Urus SE incorporates a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 producing 611bhp and 800Nm of torque. An electric motor, meanwhile, delivers an additional 189bhp and 483Nm of torque.
When you have two hearts, the excitement is even more unique. The new Lamborghini Urus SE has arrived: the first plug-in hybrid Super SUV. New combustion and electric engine, new design, optimized aerodynamics, unprecedented on-board technology.#Lamborghini
Combined, the Urus SE has a total power figure of 800bhp and 1,283Nm of torque which makes it one of the most powerful SUVs to arrive in the UK.
Capable of 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and 0-120mph in 11 seconds, the Urus SE can reach a top speed of 189mph, while a 25.9kWh battery pack should return a claimed 37 miles of electric-only range.
The exterior features a new bonnet and headlight clusters that incorporate LED headlights alongside a redesigned bumper and front grille. At the back, there is a new diffuser and boot lid as well as trademark Lamborghini “Y” lights that are shaped around the tailgate.
The updated interior sports a larger 12.3-inch screen than the previous Urus, as well as a digital instrument cluster and updated seat, panel and dashboard coverings.
The centre console features a switch that allows the driver to toggle between six different driving modes including Strada, Sport, Corsa for road and track use – while Neve, Sabbia and Terra modes are more destined for different off-road driving.
Prices have not been confirmed yet while Lamborghini is understood to not be accepting orders at present. However, with the current Urus starting from £188,000 we expect the new Urus SE to start closer to the £200,000 mark.
The legendary G-Class off-roader has been given the EV makeover.
Mercedes has revealed its latest addition to the EV market with the EQG – an electric version of the firm’s iconic G-Class.
The electric version will come with a 116kWh lithium-ion battery pack and will give a claimed range of 294 miles on a single charge. The vehicle uses 200kW DC charging, too, enabling it to be rapid-charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 32 minutes.
Underneath the skin, four individually controlled electric motors produce the equivalent of 579bhp and give a torque output of 1,164Nm.
Just because the G-Class has received electric power, doesn’t mean it isn’t still a capable off-roader. This new EQG has a ground clearance of up to 250mm, and a fording depth of 850mm for water and mud. It comes as standard with adaptable adjustable damping on the suspension to help the vehicle remain stable and planted over rough terrain.
A new function Mercedes is calling G-Turn, which allows the EQG to turn on the spot, with the four wheels from left to right being able to turn in opposite directions – helping with manoeuvrability and getting out of tricky situations off-road.
The Rise of Electric: Introducing the all-new electric G-Class.
The new G-Roar system also allows fake exhaust noises recorded from the combustion power V8 G-Class to pump through the speakers, and depending on what driving mode the driver is in, the noise will turn up or down whether Comfort or Sport mode is activated.
The EQG also features something called the ‘Transparent Bonnet’ which gives the driver a virtual view of the underside of the vehicle – which is then displayed on the infotainment screen helping the driver prevent any damage that may occur when driving off-road.
From launch, there will be one model available – the Edition One. It will come in a choice of five different exterior paint finishes, blue brake calipers and 20-inch AMG spoke alloy wheels.
The Edition One also includes the AMG Line and Night Package which includes silver running boards, a nappa leather interior with blue stitching, a sports steering wheel and black door mirrors.
Prices have not been revealed yet, with order books still yet to be available, but we expect the EQG to be marginally more expensive than the combustion-powered G-Class which starts at £133,500.
The Aceman will sit between the Cooper and Countryman in the Mini range.
Mini has revealed the Aceman crossover which will slot between the smaller Cooper and larger Countryman in the firm’s line-up.
Things start with the Aceman E, which brings a 42.5 kWh battery pack and a claimed electric driving range of 192 miles. It also produces 181bhp, gives out 290Nm of torque and does 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds – and 75kW DC charging is available.
The more powerful Aceman SE comes with a larger 54.2 kWh battery pack, enabling an increased electric range of 252 miles, 214bhp, 330Nm of torque and a 0-60mph time of 6.9 seconds – with rapid charging allowing the car to go from 10 to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes.
The exterior features new LED headlights, an octagonal grille, flush door handles, a retracted rear window and an elongated roof spoiler.
The interior features a 24cm OLED display. (Credit: BMW Mini Group UK)
The interior has a curved dashboard with a two-tone door trim design. As with the Cooper and Countryman, the Aceman features a large OLED central display and while lighting along the roof frame aims to replicate ambient lighting.
The boot space offers 300 litres of luggage capacity with the rear seats in place, while that extends to 1,005 litres with them folded down.
In the UK, there will be three trim levels on offer, Classic, Exclusive and Sport.
Classic comes with a high gloss black front grille and 17-inch alloy wheels while Exclusive boasts a silver front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels or 19-inch as an option. The top-of-the-line Sport features a rear spoiler equipped with air blades, John Cooper Works-inspired front and rear bumpers as well as red and black bonnet stripes.
The exterior features flush door handles and new LED headlights. (Credit: BMW Mini Group UK)
Prices will start at £31,800 for the Aceman E in Classic trim and will rise to £36,300 for the Aceman SE in Sport trim. The first deliveries are due in November 2024.
The sporty four-door coupes have undergone some mid-life updates to keep them in line with their rivals.
BMW has revealed facelifted versions of its i4 electric and 4-Series Gran Coupe.
Externally, both models receive new headlight designs and the famous BMW front kidney grilles now are finished in matt chrome – while M Sport versions of the i4 and 4-Series Gran Coupe now feature a gloss black rear diffuser.
There are new alloy wheel designs with the option of 19-inch M aerodynamic wheels with double spokes or 20-inch BMW Individual wheels, too.
Inside, the interiors feature a new steering wheel design with two spokes, while M Sport models receive a three-spoke design with a flat bottom.
The iDrive infotainment system has been upgraded and now features what BMW is calling ‘QuickSelect’ – which enables fewer buttons and controls in the cockpit. Functions such as the climate control or – if fitted – with heated seats and steering wheel can be controlled via the infotainment display.
Ambient lighting is now standard across the i4 and 4-Series Gran Coupe range and owners have the choice of up to nine different coloured lighting.
The 4-Series Gran Coupe gets new headlights and steering wheel. (Credit: BMW Mini Group UK)
In terms of powertrains, buyers in the UK have a choice of two versions of Gran Coupe – the M440i xDrive M Performance or the 420i. The former comes with mild-hybrid 48V technology and is mated to a six-cylinder petrol engine that produces 379bhp and returns a 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds. The latter produces 186bhp and gives out 300Nm of torque – while 0-60mph is achieved in 7.7 seconds.
The i4 comes in three different guises – eDrive 35, eDrive40 and M50 xDrive.
The eDrive35 electric motor produces 290bhp and 400Nm of torque and gives an electric range of between 240 to 311 miles while the eDrive40 pushes out 340bhp and 430Nm and goes between 291 to 373 miles on a single charge.
The i4 is available as a four-wheel-drive xDrive model. (Credit: BMW Mini Group UK)
The M50 receives BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard, utilising a 317bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels and a 261bhp motor that powers the front. In Sport mode, the driver can enjoy an extra 69bhp and increased torque of 65Nm taking it to 795Nm. It also enables the i4 xDrive to go from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and onwards to an electronically controlled top speed of 140mph.
Deliveries are expected in July this year with the i4 priced from £50,365 for the eDrive35 and rising to £69,995 for the i4 M50, while the 4-Series Gran Coupe starts from £43,830 for the 420i and rises to £59,545 for the M440i xDrive.
Roads could start going back up to 30mph by the end of the year, the Welsh government has announced, just months after lower speed limits were put in place.
Ken Skates, the Welsh transport minister, has announced that the government in Cardiff Bay will be revising its guidance to the council on which roads can be exempted from the new lower 20mph speed limit.
The move could see councils able to return limits to their previous speeds by the end of the year.
But opponents have branded the move a “comms exercise” that will not see the 30mph default return.
The Welsh Labour government implemented a default 20mph speed limit in September last year, covering built-up areas.
Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr Skates said there will be a “national listening programme” putting the “voice of Welsh citizens” at the heart of deciding which roads can return to 30mph.
Alongside this he promised to work jointly with local authorities to prepare the ground for changes, revising the guidance on which local roads can be exempted from the lower speed.
The revised guidance will be published in July, with councils expected to start detailed consultation on changes from September.
The Cabinet Secretary said: “We’ve started by listening. I have been clear in all my conversations that we will put communities at the heart of our thinking and will listen to people.
“As I have already said there is growing consensus on safe speeds in communities that we can build from. We continue to believe 20mph is the right speed limit in places such as near schools, hospitals, nurseries, community centres, play areas and in built-up residential areas.
“The principal objective of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. What I am doing now is listening to what people want for the roads in their communities, and pressing ahead with refining the policy and getting the right speed on the right roads.”
He encouraged people in Wales to let their councils know which roads should be targeted for change.
Speaking to the Press Association news agency, Mr Skates denied that his party was capitulating to the Conservatives, who have been calling for the policy to be reversed.
He argued they wanted to see the policy reversed entirely, which would cost the Welsh government around £35m.
He said: “The Tories want something completely different, something that would cause chaos at an extraordinary cost.
“They want to get rid of the policy completely, and that will cost in the region of £35m.
“Then they would wish to use what are called Traffic Regulation Orders to change any 30mph routes back to 20.
“It would be like a game of yo-yo.”
He accepted that Labour’s plan would also come at a cost, but argued that it would be a “fraction” of the Conservatives’ plan.
The transport minister denied that the Labour government had rushed to implement the scheme, insisting it was the “cleanest” way to put it in place.
“The reason that this policy was implemented in the way that it was is that we have very limited powers within Wales to be able to make changes of this nature,” he said.
“(Changing the) default setting was the swiftest and cleanest way of doing it.
“The government always knew that there’d be routes that would have to change, what we’re doing is making sure that we have citizens, the people of Wales, determine what is right, so that they can take ownership then over the speed limits in their communities, and that we implement the changes that people want as soon as possible.”
Asked if this was the Welsh Government admitting it had got the policy wrong, he said it was “showing humility”.
He said: “Humility is a vital part of being in politics.
“Showing compassion, standing and listening to people is vitally important.
“So far all I’ve heard from people leads me to believe that we’re doing the right thing in listening to people, acknowledging concerns and putting in place a process to make changes where necessary.”
Reacting to Mr Skates’ announcement, Natasha Asghar MS, the Conservatives’ shadow transport minister, said: “All of Labour’s talk of change on their flawed 20mph speed limit was sadly just a comms exercise which has consequently made people from all corners of Wales believe that their roads will be going back to 30mph.
“The bottom line is that after all of Labour’s talk about listening to the Welsh people, the default speed limit across Wales will remain 20mph. Nothing has changed to everyone inside and outside of Wales.
“Instead of making councils clean up the mess of this daft, divisive and destructive policy, it should be scrapped in its entirety, so common sense can prevail and 20mph remains where it is needed such as outside schools, play areas, high streets, places of worship etc.”
Labour’s shadow Welsh secretary in Parliament, Jo Stevens, said: “The practical changes Ken Skates has announced represent a pragmatic, welcome response to the concerns that have been raised over the last few months.
“Under Vaughan Gething’s leadership the Welsh Government is delivering on the priorities of people across Wales. With a Labour government at both ends of the M4, we will drive positive change in people’s day-to-day lives.”
Camper vans are getting increasingly popular as they offer your very own moving mobile home.
Ever since Volkswagen set the trend back in 1949 with the original Volkswagen Type 1 Camper Van, the market has grown and grown for mobile homes on wheels.
As we approach summer, it’s not hard to see why they mean big business here in the UK. They offer the practicality of a van, with the added benefit of being your very own miniature home and holiday destination.
Beds, kitchens, cookers and gazebos can be fitted as standard or as optional extras, which makes them a very attractive proposition for those wanting to travel around Europe or in the UK.
After the original camper van was launched, there have been many iterations and attempts by other car manufacturers over the years and now there are examples out there that are like mini-hotels on wheels.
Here is our list of some of the very best camper vans currently on sale in the UK today.
Mercedes Marco Polo
The Mercedes Marco Polo is a V-Class that doubles up a mobile home. (Credit: Mercedes-Benz Media)
The Mercedes Marco Polo is essentially a V-Class decked out to be your own little home from home.
The driving experience feels more like a car than a van and the dashboard is taken straight from the normal V-Class meaning that there is a nice blend of soft-touch materials and leather.
Inside, the Marco Polo comes with plenty of camping equipment and features that will fit your holiday requirements such as two beds, a wooden floor style decking, ambient lighting, cupboard style draws and an optional side awning.
However, the Marco Polo is rather expensive to buy starting at £51,550, while the interior may be packed full of storage features, it’s still not as practical as rivals from Volkswagen.
Volkswagen California
The California is the benchmark among camper vans. (Credit: Volkswagen Press)
The California is commonly seen as the benchmark when it comes to camper vans. There is a larger variant called the Grand California, but with a rather hefty starting price of £82,000 – the smaller version looks like a better deal.
The standard California is based on the very popular Transporter van which means you get all the Volkswagen’s familiar switchgear and lofty driving position.
Inside, the California has rotating and swivel passenger seats that can be adjusted 180 degrees. If you go for a Beach model, you get a fold-out kitchen with a single gas hob, too.
Higher specced Coast and Ocean models come with all the camping equipment you’ll ever need including both getting full kitchens with twin gas hobs, a sink with fresh and waste water tanks and a fridge.
The top-of-the-line Ocean model gets an electric roof that is operated with a control panel, and a fold-out awning is an option on the base Beach model, but standard on higher spec versions.
A 230V socket which allows you to hook up to the mains comes as standard with all California models.
Ford Transit Custom Nugget
One of Britain’s best-selling vans can be a mobile home, too. (Credit: Ford Media Centre)
The Ford Transit is a motoring success here in the UK, and now you can have one for your camping trip away.
The Transit Custom Nugget may have an odd name but, behind the rather anonymous exterior lies a bench seat that can fold flat to make a double bed and a roof that tilts up to reveal another double bed, however, the roof unlike the California and Marco Polo is manually operated.
The ground floor houses a kitchen, a hob, a sink and a fridge and there are plenty of cupboards and drawers to stow things away.
There is a table between the rear seats, too. However, all of this is spoiled by the Transit’s driving experience which gives a harsh ride and numb handling, which isn’t the end of the world, but the Mercedes Marco Polo does offer a sharper driving experience.
Volkswagen Caddy California
The Caddy California offers great value for money. (Credit: Volkswagen Press)
The baby sibling compared to the more mature California and larger Grand California is the Caddy California.
The Caddy California starts from £35,600 which sounds like great value for money. It’s also available with petrol or diesel power and unlike the rest on our list, feels more like a car to drive thanks to its lower centre of gravity and ride height.
Inside the Caddy, there is a logically laid out dashboard with decent-quality materials used throughout.
Further back, drop the second row of seats and you’ll find lurking beneath them a fold-out bed big enough for a pair of two adults to sleep in as well as a mini-kitchen – which is located in the boot.
Also, there is a single-burner cooker with an integrated gas bottle and there is even a custom made bag designed to carry two fold-out chairs and a table.
Toyota Proace Matino Campervan
The Proace makes for a great camper van. (Credit: Toyota Media UK)
The Toyota Proace Matino is based on the Proace Verso minivan, with the added benefit of side graphics and an extending roof for a bed.
The Matino’s interior layout is simple and easy to use, if not a little cheap feeling to the touch, and the front seats rotate 180 degrees, too.
The rear bench seats can slide and adjust to make a double bed and you get the option of a secondary bed by raising the roof. The problem is, unlike the Mercedes Marco Polo and Volkswagen California, everything in the Matino is operated manually instead of electrically.
There is a kitchen with twin gas hobs and a sink with fresh and waste water tanks. A fridge is also present and located in one of the larger cupboards you get a toilet cassette – but unfortunately does take up a lot of space.
The late F1 legend helped develop Honda’s supercar back in 1990.
Three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna’s personal Honda NSX is up for grabs.
Senna is considered to be one of the greatest racing drivers of all time with him winning a total of 41 Formula One races throughout the 80s and 90s. He was tragically killed on May 1, 1994 at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Japanese supercar can be found on AutoTrader’s website, with the listing consisting of 41 images and a video of the vehicle.
The NSX was co-developed with the Brazilian racing driver back in 1989, so it’s no wonder that Senna’s very personal one would be fetching as much as £500,000.
The vehicle was registered in 1991 and currently only has 39,100 miles on the clock.
The current owner has had it since 2013. (Credit: AutoTrader PLC)
The current owner, Robert McFagan, said: “I first bought the car in 2013 during a trip to the Algarve in Portugal, and have owned it ever since where it has sat proudly at my estate in East Sussex.”
He added: “Senna’s red NSX was given to him by Honda who he had a commercial partnership with, and Senna frequently used it and was photographed with the car during his stays in Portugal.”
The NSX was also featured in the Senna film ‘Racing Is In My Blood’, which was released in 1992.
The full listing can be found on the AutoTrader website, with the car being sold by the current owner Robert McFagan.
The new SUV will be available with a selection of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
Vauxhall has taken the covers off its next generation Grandland SUV offering electrified power throughout its range.
The electric version of the new Grandland will be the first Vauxhall to use parent company Stellantis’s new medium BEV platform. There will be two battery packs on offer. The smaller 73kWh will come with the option of a 316bhp dual-motor drivetrain with further details yet to be announced. The larger 98kWh battery pack has a claimed electric driving range of 435 miles and can be rapid-charged from zero to 80 per cent in 26 minutes.
Vauxhall is also offering mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, with the former using a 138bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 28bhp electric motor, and the latter offering a pure electric range of up to 53 miles.
The Grandland is 173mm longer, 19mm higher and 64mm wider than its predecessor, and has a number of new exterior features, including an illuminated Griffin badge and new LED Matrix headlights that feature over 50,000 LEDs. A bold looking horizontal light bar that features illuminated ‘Vauxhall’ lettering also features.
On the inside, the Grandland continues similar design themes already seen on the Vauxhall Mokka and Corsa with a minimalist look. New features for the Grandland include a 16-inch touchscreen and something Vauxhall is calling the Pixel Box – a neat smartphone charger that hides the phone while driving in order to prevent distracting the driver. Boot room, meanwhile, stands at 1,641 litres with the seats down and 550 with them up – 36 more litres than before .
James Taylor, managing director of Vauxhall said: “The all-new Grandland is a milestone for Vauxhall. With it, every Vauxhall model will be available with the choice of a fully electric powertrain – a decade ahead of the UK government requirements.
He also added: “The new Grandland will therefore strengthen our position in the important family crossover segment.”
Order books for the new Grandland open in July and will arrive in showrooms in the Autumn, with prices yet to be announced.
Goodwood might be one of the UK’s best-known motoring hotspots, hosting key events such as the Festival of Speed and Revival each year. Both occasions are rooted in driving and racing, celebrating all things motorised at the West Sussex estate.
However, Goodwoof – which is Goodwood’s latest dog-themed event – is also attracting the interest of some of the motoring world’s top designers.
Marek Reichman, chief creative officer for Aston Martin, has created a unique kennel concept for dogs which draws inspiration from some of the British luxury carmaker’s designs.
Dubbed ‘DBK-9’ in reference to Aston Martin’s range of sports cars, the bag-like kennel allows for either handheld or shoulder use and, when folded out, provides a quality hang-out for pets to shelter from the sun. It’s even got a quilted leather base – just like the seats in Aston Martin’s DB12 – while brass elements on the pivot function add an extra finish.
Then, when your dog has finished relaxing, the design means it can easily be collapsed and carried away – or even stowed in the boot of a car.
It’s one of 14 shortlisted designs for Goodwoof’s ‘Barkitecture’ kennel competition, with all entries shaped around the headline theme ‘Lounge Access: For the Jet-Setting Dog’. Last year’s competition saw Gianna Botsford Architects awarded top-dog status, with the competition raising a total of £26,050 for charity partner Pets As Therapy.
As with 2023’s competition, a winner will be selected by designer Kevin McCloud MBE and The Duke of Richmond.
Goodwoof will take place from Saturday 18 May until Sunday 19 May. Tickets are still available online.
The supermini and small crossover get updated engines and improved equipment levels.
Skoda has updated its Fabia and Karoq line-up with new equipment levels and revised engines.
The Fabia is Skoda’s smallest model and shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza. It’ll now be available in one of four guises with SE Comfort, Colour Edition, SE L and Monte Carlo all there for customers to choose from.
SE Comfort comes with an eight-inch digital display, an 8.25-inch infotainment screen, front centre armrest and front and rear speakers.
The Colour Edition adds cruise control with a speed limiter and electric rear windows while SE L boasts a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit, privacy glass and LED rear taillights. The top-of-the-range Monte Carlo features a larger 8.25-inch infotainment display and updated interior inserts.
Engines for the Fabia consist of a new 1.0-litre TSi engine that produces 114bhp and is available with either a six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
The Fabia for 2024 will be available with a new 1.0-litre petrol engine. (Credit: Skoda Media)
The Karoq is Skoda’s rival to the Nissan Qashqai and the updated line-up includes three different trim levels consisting of SE Drive, SE L and Sportline.
The entry-level SE Drive comes with a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit and wireless smartphone charging.
The SE L adds a new 18-inch alloy wheel design with the tip-top Sportline variant adding two tablet holders and a front passenger Isofix child seat anchor point.
The engine choices in the updated Karoq remain the same as before with four petrol engines and one diesel unit.
The 1.0-litre TSi unit has been updated with a 6bhp increase bringing total power output to 114bhp.
Prices for the new Fabia start at £19,730 for the basic 1.0-litre SE Comfort and rise to £22,965 for the Monte Carlo. Karoq prices start at £28,380 for the 1.0-litre TSi SE Drive and rise to £35,130 for the flagship Sportline model.
Both updated versions of the Fabia and Karoq are available to order now with deliveries expected later this year.
