Just 88 examples are set to be produced and the car will have a carbon-fibre body structure.
The team at TWR has unveiled its Supercat, which utilises a Jaguar XJS platform.
TWR or Tom Walkinshaw Racing is responsible for creating, developing and building race cars across the world and had input into some iconic vehicles such as the Jaguar XJ220 and Renault Clio V6.
The Supercat is the first road car to be built by the team at TWR and it uses a platform from a Jaguar XJS with a carbon-fibre body structure.
The car comes with a supercharged V12 engine. (TWR)
Under the bonnet, there is a 5.6-litre supercharged V12 engine that pushes out 660bhp and 730Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
The exterior design includes 18-inch wheels at the front and 19-inches on the rear, while the car is also nearly 200mm wider than a normal Jaguar XJS. There is also a carbon-fibre body kit with flared wheel arches and six pot and four pot brake calipers to give the car the best stopping power possible.
The interior features a modern touchscreen and bucket seats. (TWR)
On the inside, the modern theme continues with a touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as carbon fibre-backed leather bucket seats and toggle switches to adjust the steering and the suspension settings.
Fergus Walkinshaw, Director and Founder of TWR, said: “Almost 40 years after my father’s original company dominated the racetrack, we’ve brought the TWR name roaring back with our new Supercat.
“Our debut product, designed as an authentic, analogue Super-GT for the committed driving enthusiast, has been developed for over three years by some of modern motorsport’s brightest talent. Built on the foundations of the classic Jaguar XJS, it uses modern materials and production methods, plus our in-house supercharged V12, to deliver a visceral, immersive driving experience on the road and the track.”
Production will be limited to just 88 examples worldwide, with customers having to put down a £35,000 deposit to secure their build. The car itself will start at £225,000, excluding local taxes, and will vary depending on each client’s requirements.
The rutting season can be one of the most dangerous times to be out on the road, and the latest AA accident assist report shows proof.
Deer-related car accidents have shown a 42 per cent increase in just three years, according to the AA’s Accident Assist study.
The AA’s Accident Assist enables several different surveys to be shared on road safety, and its latest asked 10,237 AA members about their encounters with deer on the roads.
It found that a total of 276 members had hit a deer during the rutting season, falling from late September to early November, which is 42 per cent more than what it was in 2021, with 195 occurrences.
As well as the rise in rutting season, accidents involving deer annually have also risen, too. Three years ago, 1,054 accidents were reported compared to 1,304 in 2023 and year-to-date figures already show a total of 1,200 incidents.
The study also created a poll of the different drivers and found that 51 per cent say they don’t slow down when they see a warning sign for deer – while 39 per cent continue at the same speed, six per cent slow down and only three per cent carry on as normal.
Not only can deer strikes cause a lot of damage to a vehicle, but they can prove fatal with a total of six fatalities involving swerving for deer between 2021 and 2023 – while a further 302 people have been seriously injured and 659 suffered minor injuries.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said: “ Deers are wonderful animals, yet sadly too many are needlessly hit or killed on our roads. With half of drivers not taking animal warning signs into consideration, we need to better understand the realities of animal strikes.
“While clearly shocking and distressful for both animal and driver, deer strikes can cause hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth of damage. Rutting season has come to an end, but throughout November and December, we will still see deer run across the roads. Drivers need to slow down and look out for wildlife to protect both the animal and themselves.”
As we approach winter, our roads will become a lot more dangerous with snow expected to fall in certain parts of the UK.
Driving in conditions where snow is settling can be one of the most dangerous times to use your vehicle.
Not only are the roads slipperier than usual, but your car will take longer to stop in an emergency. Also, the darker days mean that the roads become a lot harder to judge distances and a lot of drivers avoid using the road entirely.
Parts of the UK have already experienced snowfall, bringing a more dangerous edge to many of the country’s key areas.
We’ve compiled a list of things you need to check before you use your car this winter if snow falls.
Plan your journey
Planning your journey with satellite navigation will save you time and hassle. (VWCV)
A sensible thing to do if you know you’re driving great distances in snowy conditions is to plan your route. This is because certain roads could be blocked or closed due to the conditions and a rise in accidents means that congestion could form another obstruction.
Many decent road map apps on your car’s infotainment screen can work out the quickest and most effective routes while informing you of where all the tailbacks are and if there are any road closures. This means you can allow plenty of time to leave, plus if the road conditions are dangerous and icy, you need to make sure you drive slowly and cautiously.
Check your tyres
Always check your tyres for condition, age and wear. (Land sail)
One of the most crucial checks you need is for your car’s tyres. The legal requirement of tread depth here in the UK is 1.6mm, but it’s advised that you replace them when the tread gets to 3mm for added safety.
Check for cracks, bulges, tears and even the age of the rubber fitted as all these can play havoc with how your car performs on a wet, slippery road. Another thing you could invest in is purchasing winter tyres which give chunkier tread and thicker sidewalls to allow your car to cope with snowy conditions more effectively
Keep your phone charged
Keep your phone’s battery charged up. (CASEZY/Getty Images)
Always keep your phone topped up with charge as you never know when you might need it at this time of year.
The colder months can put more strain on your car’s engine making it harder to start or run smoothly. Plus, accidents happen more frequently when there is snow, and if you find yourself in a problematic situation without any battery on your mobile – it could be dangerous.
Check the condition of the battery
Always check the condition of your car’s battery or get it replaced. (GEM)
Always check the battery on your car or even have it replaced as engines will take longer to crank over when it’s cold and snow is starting to set.
If your battery is on the way out, you might notice that it struggles to get a car’s engine started – you can get a trained professional to test out the remaining ‘life’ in your vehicle’s battery and have it replaced if it has fallen too low.
Make sure you don’t run on low fuel
Keep your car topped up with fuel. (PA)
Regardless of whether you’re driving in snow conditions, you should always drive with a decent amount of fuel in your car and never let it run too low. Not only can it damage your engine, but you don’t want to run out of fuel at the side of the road in dangerous conditions and it’s freezing cold.
Always allow at least half a tank of fuel, and if you know you’re going to be driving a lot in the snow, keep it topped up on a weekly basis, as it will save you from any headaches if you find yourself running on fumes and need to stop to fill your vehicle up with fuel.
Keep your car topped up with screenwash
Make sure your screen wash doesn’t run too low. (PA Images)
If you’re driving in the very early hours of the morning when temperatures are at their lowest, always make sure you’ve got screenwash in your car as this will prevent the windows from freezing up.
Making sure that you’ve got screenwash in your car will ensure that the whole system doesn’t freeze up when the temperatures fall – as can be the case if you use just water – and will do a far better job at clearing your car’s windscreen when you need it.
The fresh and funky R5 brings a little bit of retro to the EV market and will be one of the cheapest on the market.
Renault has revealed that its new R5 EV will cost less than £23,000 – making it one of the cheapest electric cars on sale.
It will be offered in three trim levels consisting of Evolution, Techno and Iconic and there will be two battery packs.
The former battery setup comes with a 40kWh unit with an electric motor that pumps out 120bhp and gives a claimed range of up to 190 miles. The latter comes with a 52kWh battery pack and electric motor that produces 147bhp and Renault says it has a range of up to 248 miles.
All cars come as standard with a heat pump and vehicle-to-load. (Renault)
All cars come with a heat pump and vehicle-to-load as standard, which allows domestic appliances to be plugged into the car and then run off the vehicle’s battery.
The Evolution starts at £22,995 and features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch central infotainment screen, rear parking sensors and a seven-inch digital driver’s display.
Move up to the Techno at £24,995 – or £26,995 – for the larger battery pack and it adds a rearview camera, a wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control and Google Built-in.
The flagship Iconic comes in at £26,995 or £28,995 for the latter powertrain and it boasts a heated steering wheel with heated front seats, blind-spot warning and rear occupant safety alert.
Renault’s new R5 will be available to order from January 2025 with first deliveries expected to commence in the UK from the Spring.
The firm’s smallest saloon will be revealed soon and will compete with BMW’s 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3 Saloon.
The next-generation Mercedes CLA will offer a choice of hybrid and electric powertrains using 800V technology for ultra-rapid charging.
Even though the full production car has not been completely revealed yet, Mercedes has given a few heads up of some technical details and new technology featured inside.
Under the bonnet, the new CLA will be available with a new hybrid petrol engine that uses 48V technology combined with an electric transmission. The engine will be available in three different power outputs, including a 134bhp, 161bhp, or 187bhp unit. Its engine capacity, however, has yet to be revealed.
The hybrid version will come with a choice of three different power outputs. (Mercedes)
There will also be an electric model, which will feature a two-speed transmission and use design elements from the EQXX concept car. The EV version will use the firm’s new 800V technology and will allow DC rapid charging speeds of up to 320kW – which collates to 180 miles of range added in 10 minutes.
Inside, this new car will feature the firm’s new MBUX operating system which will include an AI virtual assistant. It will enable the car and driver to communicate with one another to provide information that the owner may want to know. Further details on this new interface are yet to be announced.
Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management at Mercedes-Benz, said: “With the CLA, we are ushering a new era at Mercedes-Benz. We will substantially elevate every aspect of what our customers can expect from a Mercedes in this segment. The modular platform allows for maximum flexibility: We can offer the CLA in both a state-of-the-art electric drivetrain version and a hybrid electrified combustion engine version. And our operating system, MB.OS, will make it into the most intelligent car we’ve ever built.”
The new CLA will be revealed early next year with prices and orders to follow.
Jaguar has unveiled a new logo that combines upper and lower case letters and confirmed it will only make electric cars in the future.
The British car maker has taken new cars off sale to the general public for more than a year as it reinvents itself to launch three new electric cars, starting in 2026.
The new logo is produced in a bespoke font and the car maker says its ‘geometric form’ has ‘seamlessly blended upper and lower case characters in visual harmony’.
It debuts along with a new prancing cat ‘Leaper’ design embossed on brass and some bold marketing slogans. These include ‘delete ordinary’, ‘live vivid’ and ‘copy nothing’.
A new concept car, showcasing Jaguar’s new look for the road, will be unveiled at Miami Art Week on December 3.
Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover said taking new cars off sale was ‘intentional’ as it looked to create a barrier between the old models and the new-look Jaguars.
He said: “From a marketing sense, at the moment, there are lots of people out there that know what Jaguar stands for, and actually it doesn’t stand for them, and we’ve seen that in terms of how they’ve responded to the offering that’s been in the market for the last 10 or 20 years.
“We need to change people’s perceptions of what Jaguar stands for. And that’s not a straightforward, easy thing to do. So having a fire break in between old and new is, actually, very helpful.”
JLR’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern added: “Jaguar has its roots in originality. Sir William Lyons, our founder, believed that “a Jaguar should be a copy of nothing”.
“Our vision for Jaguar today is informed by this philosophy. New Jaguar is a brand built around “Exuberant Modernism”. It is imaginative, bold and artistic at every touchpoint. It is unique and fearless.
“We are creating Jaguar for the future, restoring its status as a brand that enriches the lives of our clients and the Jaguar community.”
Jaguar also revealed its ‘Strikethrough’ branding – 16 bold lines that will appear across its marketing and products – as well as a ‘JR’ monogram and an ‘exuberant colour palette’ which uses ‘red, blue and yellow’ but ‘never flat colours’.
With tougher emissions regulations, a lot of car markers have already set out to go all-electric, but others have made a U-turn in their future plans.
Car manufacturers are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their emissions while making their vehicles greener and cleaner.
With the UK having mapped out its goals for a net zero economy by 2050, many car brands have decided to set their carbon-free future by phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by a certain date – which varies depending on the brand.
However, recently with the drop in sales of EVs, some firms have revised their future product portfolios and have either extended a phase-out date for internal-combustion-engined models or dropped the entire electric future altogether.
We check out the key pledges of some of the biggest and most important car manufacturers.
Volvo
The EX30 is the firm’s smallest electric car. (Volvo)
Last year, the Swedish firm announced that it was stopping production of all diesel engines and would be focusing on electric, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Its future goal was to become an all-electric car manufacturer by 2030 and with five EVs on sale, and a further five in development, it’s clear the firm knows where its future is heading. Plus, it wants to become a net zero business by the year 2040.
However, in September 2024, Volvo announced that its plans for going all-electric by the end of the decade had been adjusted in favour of aiming for a 90 to 100 per cent of its global sales to be either electric or plug-in hybrid. The remaining 10 per cent will be mild-hybrid models to be sold if the demand is there.
Ford
The Capri hardly shares anything with the old two-door coupe. (Ford)
The blue oval is undergoing controversial changes in its model line-up. Firstly, there was the removal of one of Britain’s most popular and loved cars, the Fiesta and next year, the Focus will meet a similar end.
Also, bringing back two famous nameplates such as the Explorer and Capri onto vehicles that hardly resemble the cars of yesteryear means that one of the world’s biggest car makers faces a tough few years.
Its plans going forward are that by 2026, all its passenger vehicles in Europe will have zero emissions and by 2035 will be electric-only.
Currently, the firm offers four electric models and will be releasing its fifth EV next month.
However, in August this year, Ford announced that it had scrapped plans to produce a large three-row electric SUV and had postponed the launch of its electric pick-up.
Toyota
The bZ4x is the first of many upcoming electric Toyotas. (Toyota)
One of the world’s biggest carmakers, Toyota, seems to be late to jump on the EV bandwagon and currently only sells one battery-powered vehicle in its passenger vehicle range – the bZ4x.
Although the firm has been in partnership with the European giant, Stellantis, since 2016 for producing its electric commercial vehicles, the Japanese firm is still looking into other alternatives to power our vehicles of the future. It currently offers the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car and it’s also looking into the hydrogen internal-combustion engine where the only emission created is water vapour.
In terms of electric cars, Toyota will add to its product mix over the coming years. In fact, a couple of years ago it announced that it was planning to introduce a total of 30 BEVs by 2030 and achieve around 3.5 million sales globally. But, there would be 10 new models coming to Europe by 2025, with the first being the bZ4x – which is built in conjunction with Subaru.
Mercedes
The ‘EQ’ badge will be dropped for more conventional names. (Mercedes)
Just like Volvo in this list, Mercedes has done a U-turn on its future line-up of electric cars. Offering a wide range of EVs from its ‘EQ’ range, the firm announced earlier this year that the nameplate would be dropped in future for conventional names and that by 2030, all of its cars would be battery-powered.
However, Mercedes recently said that it would continue to sell internal-combustion-engined models past that target date. Plus, by 2025 it wants to have a sales target mix of 50 per cent of electric or plug-in hybrid models. But, despite this slight change in the mix, Mercedes will still be launching new EVs in the coming months and years with the next to join the line-up being a new CLA.
Volkswagen
The ‘ID’ range is to expand even further into the future. (Volkswagen)
Another automotive giant with ambitious plans is Volkswagen. Its ‘ID’ range is scaling up with a total of five different models that run on electricity and even more to follow including a budget city car.
The brand wants to focus on its sustainability and has set a target to become a net zero business by 2050 and by 2025 will offer a total of 20 BEV models globally – with EVs accounting for 25 per cent of the firm’s sales.
Bentley
Bentley will reveal its first EV in 2026. (Bentley)
The British firm, Bentley, is also focusing on an all-electric future and has ambitious plans to remove all of its internal-combustion engined models by 2030.
However, this is another manufacturer that has announced a slight change in its plans towards its decarbonisation strategy, pushing back its 2030 deadline to 2035. Meanwhile, it won’t reveal its first EV until 2026 – which will be an SUV.
In fact, Bentley has said that it will continue to offer internal-combustion engined vehicles until 2035 instead of the initial 2030 phase-out date it had first intended.
The last Mini Convertible was produced at the VDL Nedcar factory in The Netherlands.
Mini has revealed that production of its Convertible has begun at its Oxford plant after a nine-year absence.
This latest model sits alongside the three and five-door hatchback variants and includes a revised exterior and an interior that features a variety of sustainable materials such as a 2D knitted dashboard.
Also, this latest Mini Convertible is offered with a choice of two petrol engines and two power guises – either a 165bhp or a 207bhp unit.
The Oxford plant built a total of 160,000 Mini Convertibles from 2004 to 2008 and a further 165,000 of the second-generation car that ran from 2009 to 2015.
The new model is priced from £26,200. (Mini)
Production for the third-generation moved to the VDL Nedcar factory in The Netherlands with over 150,000 produced – until production came to a close in 2023.
But, for this new fourth iteration, Mini has decided to use its home turf to produce this latest drop-top model.
Stefan Richmann, Head of Mini, said: “We are thrilled about the start of production of the Mini Convertible, which is now being produced again at the Oxford plant, the home of Mini.
“Unique in its class, the Mini Convertible offers unparalleled, brand-typical driving fun, combined with boundless freedom and great emotions. The iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity makes this vehicle an unmatched open-air experience for customers.”
The new Mini Convertible is on sale now with prices starting from £26,200. Customer deliveries are expected to commence in early 2025.
The firm’s most famous SUV has undergone some changes and has had the diesel variant dropped in favour of mild-hybrid and plug-in versions.
Many car manufacturers are avoiding offering diesel engines in their vehicle lineups, and Volvo is one of the latest to adopt this trend.
Recently, the firm announced that it had removed all the diesel-powered variants from its product portfolio and now focuses on selling its vehicles with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
The Swedish firm’s oldest SUV, the XC90, has recently received some subtle tweaks to keep it in line with its competition.
Volvo has ditched diesels on all its cars. (Volvo)
The PA news agency spoke with product leader Martin Hamlet about the new XC90. He said: “We think that plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid is the future for this car. The diesel volumes were slowing down, so it was a natural decision to phase out this engine variant. We had a certain number of customers who still wanted the diesel, but we had to remove it at a time, and that was 2024.”
Volvo recently launched its seven-seat electric EX90 onto the market to give customers an alternative to the older XC90 who wanted to go down the EV route. However, Hamlet is confident that the combustion variant still has a market.
He added: “We have a very stable customer group that request and want to buy an XC90 because of the plug-in hybrid performance and it’s good for these customers who find it not suitable yet to move to a fully electric car. We have a stable customer base on this car right now and we still see a demand for the XC90.”
The updated XC90 is on sale now with prices starting at £63,790 and rises to £75,290 for the flagship plug-in hybrid variant.
This year, a flood of new battery-electric vehicles have entered the market, ranging from affordable city cars to midsize SUVs.
With tightening emissions regulations and a greater focus on alternatively powered cars, it’s no surprise that a glut of new electric vehicles is entering the market.
This year, we have seen an eclectic mix of EVs ranging from the budget-focused end of the market right up to the very top.
In this article, we examine some of the latest EVs on the market and recommend the ones you should consider second-hand.
Dacia Spring
The Spring will cost from £14,995. (Dacia)
One of the most important EVs to enter the market this year is Dacia’s baby Spring which starts at just £14,995 – making it the cheapest new electric car on sale.
It comes with a practical five-door body style as standard and is available in two trim levels. There is a choice of a 26.8kWh battery pack with two power outputs of either 45bhp or 65bhp. Dacia claims that the Spring can do a claimed 135 miles between charges – not bad for trips in and around town.
Renault 5
The Renault 5 brings a little bit of retro to the EV market. (Renault)
Lots of car manufacturers are reviving old names from the past and Renault has decided to bring back its iconic ‘5’ name and slap it on its latest electric supermini.
Its retro styling and funky colour options make this piece of motoring jewellery look the part out on the road and Renault is offering the car with a choice of two battery packs. The former comes with a 40kWh unit that the French firm claims can do up to 186 miles and the latter is a larger 52kWh that has a predicted 248 miles between trips to the plug.
Kia EV3
The EV3 will sit alongside the EV6 and EV9 in Kia’s electric line-up. (Kia)
One of Kia’s most important EVs was launched this year – the EV3 SUV. Following in the footsteps of its larger siblings, the EV6 and EV9, this new model offers high levels of practicality with a lower price tag.
The standard range model comes with a 58.1kWh battery pack and electric motor that gives a claimed 270 miles between charges, whereas the bigger long-range model comes with an 81.4kWh unit that Kia claims can do up to 375 miles between charges.
Hyundai Inster
The Inster will be rivalling the Citroen e-C3. (Hyundai)
Keeping with the theme of affordability, Hyundai decided to reveal its smallest EV yet with the Inster.
It features a tall narrow body, along with flat-folding seats which helps it to deliver a practical interior with lots of room for occupants. A funky exterior design with the brand’s trademark pixel LED headlights and tail lights ensures the Inster stands out.
It will be offered with a choice of two battery packs, a smaller 42kWh unit or a larger 49kWh that Hyundai claims can do up to 229 miles.
Polestar 3
The Polestar 3 is a comfortable and fast SUV. (Polestar)
At the other end of the EV spectrum, we have cars such as the new Polestar 3 SUV which starts at £68,900.
For a while, the Swedish brand has only offered one model – the 2. But, now it’s expanding its line-up and the 3 is here to take on cars like the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE.
This new car drives very well with a smooth and subtle ride, as well as being fast, has decent handling and looks great, too.
In terms of batteries, there is only one – a 111kWh unit – but there is a choice of three motor setups. Electric ranges are claimed from 348 miles up to 403 miles – making it one of the best in its class for driving longer distances.
Polestar 4
The Polestar 4 is the first car to go on sale without a rear window. (Polestar)
Another Polestar that joins its expanding family is the 4 which is more of a coupe-crossover with a frameless door and a world-first design touch as the 4 lacks any rear window whatsoever.
Just like its bigger brother, the 3, the 4 is a good-looking and practical car that oozes class, comfort, equipment and performance. To drive, it handles well, it’s quiet and refined as well as being practical inside.
All models come with a 100kWh battery pack and there are two motor configurations; a rear-wheel-drive Long range single motor and a Long range dual motor that Polestar claims can do up to 367 miles.
Citroen e-C3
The e-C3 has a claimed range of up to 199 miles. (Citroen)
Jumping back on the affordability bandwagon, Citroen has reintroduced its popular C3 supermini as a mini SUV and the electric version badged ‘e-C3’ is also competing with cars like the Hyundai Inster.
This new model utilises the firm’s new design language and features roof bars and chunky wheel arches to make the car look more rugged.
It comes with a 44kWh battery pack that Citroen claims can do a total distance of up to 199 miles.
Porsche Macan
The Macan is now electric only. (Porsche)
Porsche has decided that its smallest SUV, the Macan, will be electric only from now on. But, that doesn’t mean its sporty character has been lost. The latest Macan still offers a great driving experience and still looks unmistakable like a Porsche.
Under its skin, you’ll find a 100kWh battery pack combined with an electric motor that Porsche claims can deliver a claimed 381 miles between charging. The best thing about the Macan though is it’s great to drive, looks good and has a very upmarket-feeling interior.
