Author: Darren Cassey

Electric vehicle uptake is on the rise. Latest figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that in the first six months of 2019, sales of all-electric vehicles were up more than 60 per cent on the same period last year.

That’s still just a 1.1 per cent market share, but with more manufacturers adding pure EVs to their ranges all the time, and consumer confidence constantly improving, that number is set to skyrocket.

So if you’re one of those people looking for an EV for your next car, but want to take safety considerations into account, we’ve got you covered. Of the electric and hybrid vehicles tested since the start of 2018, all have received five stars. Read on to find out what they are…

Tesla Model 3

As usual, Tesla is the standard-bearer for both electric vehicles and general vehicle safety. In recent testing, the Model 3 set a ‘new benchmark’ for safety assistance technology, receiving 94 per cent in this category.

The all-electric family car and BMW 3 Series rival also scored a hugely impressive 96 per cent for adult occupant safety.

Order now and you could be waiting a while, as the first UK customers only received their cars recently. However, it’d be worth the wait, with a spacious cabin, high range options and impressive performance.

Toyota Corolla

The best-selling badge in the history of cars is back with a new model, and while it has traditionally been considered pretty dull, this new one looks great. It’s offered in petrol-electric hybrid form, with the only real downside being the CVT gearbox. Get past that, and it’s a handsome, economical and good-to-drive hatchback.

It’s safe, too, getting high marks for adult occupant and pedestrian safety. Its scores for child safety and driver aids were bang on average among the electrified vehicles tested so far.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is another petrol-electric hybrid, but this one’s a bit more spacious than the Corolla thanks to its SUV-like shape. It also has a CVT, but this one’s less annoying than the Toyota’s, while build quality is impressive. Perhaps the only negative is that the rear seats aren’t particularly spacious.

However, once you’re squeezed in, you should be pretty safe. The CR-V scored well across the board despite not really standing out in any department – good or bad. 

Audi e-tron

Tesla better watch over its shoulder, because the big guns are now entering the electric vehicle market. Here we have Audi’s first EV built from the ground up to be pure-electric, and the biggest compliment you can pay it is that it’s just a very Audi SUV – stylish, practical and well-built.

Like the CR-V, the e-tron doesn’t particularly stand out in any area, scoring well in all categories. However, its child occupancy rating of 85 per cent puts it in the top half of the electrified table, offering peace of mind for families.

Lexus ES

Lexus’ long-standing luxury limousine was updated in 2018, and as you’d expect from a high-end automaker, scored particularly well for safety. While it might sell itself as a quirky, characterful alternative to German rivals such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi, its crash tests prove it takes safety seriously too.

The petrol-electric hybrid earned Euro NCAP’s 2018 ‘best in class’ nod in both the large family car and hybrid and electric classifications. This is thanks in part to it having the highest child and pedestrian safety scores of any vehicle in this list at 87 and 90 per cent respectively, as well as hitting the average for adult safety and driver aids.

Hyundai Nexo

The true alternative option in this list, the Nexo is a hyrdogen-powered vehicle. It’s essentially an electric vehicle that is powered by on-board hydrogen, but despite many people’s concerns about the volatility of the fuel, the South Korean firm has worked hard to keep occupants safe. (Though fuel stations are few and far between in the UK, which is worth bearing in mind.)

It has excellent occupant safety scores, which are rated at 94 per cent for adults and 87 per cent (joint-highest with the ES) for child safety. Its pedestrian safety is by far the weakest here at 67 per cent, but that’s countered by one of the highest safety assistance scores of 80 per cent.

Jaguar I-Pace

After betting on diesel just before the VW emissions scandal proved catastrophic for black-pump power, Jaguar Land Rover was in real trouble. Fortunately, the I-Pace electric vehicle came along to show the British firm was capable of pivoting its business somewhat to offer a green luxury car that was also desirable.

Again, it’s bang on average for the segment in all categories, but considering it’s received the full five star overall rating, average is a high bar to hit.

Nissan Leaf

Think electric car and you probably think Nissan Leaf. It’s been the best-selling electric vehicle for years and in its latest form is quite the looker. A new model has recently been released with more power and more range at 239 miles. It’s also the ideal size for families, with its only real downside being cost – that high range model starts at about £36,000.

However, when it comes to safety, you get your money’s worth. The Leaf scores a hugely impressive 93 and 86 per cent for adult and child occupant safety respectively, with a decent if unremarkable score of 71 per cent in both the pedestrian and safety assistance sections.

What is it?

Whenever there’s a new Fast Ford, it’s a pretty big deal. Particularly in the UK, hot versions of the Blue Oval’s regular models have captured the imagination of car enthusiasts for generations. Although most will hark back to bewinged Cosworths tearing up rally stages, these days there are also more sensible, usable performance Fords.

These models tend to wear the ST badge, signifying a go-faster model that’s not quite as wild as those that wear the RS moniker. The Fiesta ST has long been the hot supermini standard-bearer, but while the Focus ST has earned a cult following, it tends to struggle to beat the best in the hot hatch segment.

Can this new model finally take the fight to the big boys? At circa-£30,000, it really has to.

What’s new?

It seems that Ford is fed up with being the alternative option – as in, the “yes, it’s flawed, but it’s less expensive than the best hot hatches” option – because this new Focus ST has been sent to war with the big guns in its arsenal.

The engine is a detuned version of that found in the previous-generation RS and current EcoBoost Mustang, it finally gets an electronically controlled limited-slip differential (eLSD) to control power through the front wheels, there’s rev-matching on downshifts, new drive modes, and ST-specific suspension and steering. On paper, at least, it’s a serious bit of kit.

What’s under the bonnet?

So, the ST gets its own version of the now-familiar 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that has served Ford Performance so well. With 276bhp, it’s the most powerful Focus ST ever and is about 30bhp up on the old one.

Perhaps even more impressive is its 420Nm of torque – that LSD better work, then. That figure is available in the middle of the rev range, while peak power is higher at 5,500rpm. The result is that putting your foot down even at lower revs gives a punchy response, but if you’re not in the mood for full banshee mode you can short shift and still feel a kick.

There’s also a diesel for those who are less fussed by hard-charging performance and want lower running costs. The 2.0-litre unit makes 187bhp and promises about 59mpg, though we haven’t tested it here.

What’s it like to drive?

So it’s looking good on paper, but what about on the Tarmac? Well, here’s the good news Fast Ford fans: it’s brilliant. Not perfect, but in a new league compared with old one.

Even in the tightest of corners, the eLSD manages power output to smoothly-but-rapidly shunt you out of corners, with the front wheels occasionally skipping across the rough Tarmac to let you know you’re on the limit before you step over it. Ease off and you’re brought right back into line.

The engine is boosty and the exhaust note sounds great, the steering is super direct, the brakes are superb, and the body stays in control even when you’re pulling off a chain of high-speed switchbacks. This is more RS than ST.

One thing to note, though, is that in Sport mode, the occasional bumpy section of road could unsettle the car. The exhilarating and picturesque Route Napoleon in the south of France, where the car’s launch took place, isn’t the smoothest, but there are signs the suspension could struggle more on Britain’s broken roads.

That said, in Normal the ride is impressively comfortable, and could be any more mundane Focus. (Which is intended as a compliment.)

How does it look?

There tend to be two ends to the hot hatch spectrum. You can either go subtle and subdued like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, or Fast and Furious wannabe like the Honda Civic Type R. The Ford definitely leans towards the Golf’s ethos, looking more like a sporty-trimmed family car than a performance monster.

That being said, the standard car is already quite handsome, and with more angular bumpers, twin-exit exhausts and bigger alloy wheels, the ST turns the temperature up just enough to match its performance. If you like your hot hatches properly lairy, though, you might want to wait for the RS.

What’s it like inside?

Again, inside, subtlety is the order of the day. Aside from a few ST badges and some fake carbon-fibre trim you really could be in any other Focus. Are you starting to notice a trend here? This will appeal to some, who want their hot hatch to blend into everyday life seamlessly. However, wanting something more special from your £30k Focus is also a justified viewpoint.

The stand-out feature of the interior, though, is the Recaro bucket seats. They’re brilliantly judged, offering enough side bolstering to keep you in place in corners without getting in the way when you’re changing gear. As always with Ford, the driving position is spot on, too.

What’s the spec like?

As you might expect from a £30,000 Focus, the ST is well-equipped. On the outside you get all the sporty bodywork you’d expect from a hot hatch, while inside those bucket seats are a welcome addition.

On-board equipment includes selectable drive modes, adaptive cruise control, a B&O sound system, wireless charging and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Keen drivers should also tick the performance pack option, which adds a Track driving mode, rev matching on downshifts, launch control and a shift indicator light. Having tested this option extensively it really enhances the experience.

Verdict

If you tried the old model and were underwhelmed, have a go in this one – you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If you owned and loved the old one, this new one will blow your mind.

Ford has pulled off a big win here at a time when the hot hatch market has never been better, but the established benchmark models have been around a while.

The new Ford Focus ST has a price to rival some of the best-in-class, and fortunately, with the help of some impressive technological upgrades, it’s able to call itself a genuine on-road rival.

—±Fast Fords are an icon of the British car scene. The badges RS and ST will cause most enthusiasts heart rates to pick up, thanks to their connotations with touring car racing and rallying.

They’re best known for having lairy body kits and exciting performance, so with a new Focus ST going on sale very soon, now seems like a great time to look back at the model’s brief but brilliant history.

Ford Focus ST170

The first-generation Focus burst on to the scene in 1998 and blew everyone away. It had pretty styling and excellent handling that made it great to drive —even in its more boring specifications.

A few years after launch the ST170 was released, with the number relating to the amount of power it had. Its performance wasn’t electrifying, but thanks to that great chassis it still proved to be a quietly competent warm hatch.

Mk2 Ford Focus ST

This is where the ST really started to make a name for itself, largely because the engine was so brilliant.

The 225bhp, 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine was borrowed from Volvo and given modifications to make it more responsive, as well as sound cooler than any Focus before it. It was built by Ford’s Team RS, so it was a proper job, and it showed on the road, quickly gaining a cult following.

Mk3 Ford Focus ST

For the third-generation Focus, the ST was good without being great. Gone was that iconic engine, replaced by a 246bhp 2.0-litre unit of Ford’s own creation, which was faster and punchier but lacked a little bit of character.

It handled fantastically and looked great, too. Sounds like a brilliant recipe, right? Well, while most rivals moved to limited-slip differentials to control power through the front wheels, Ford persevered with a mock set-up that just didn’t work quite so well.

Fast and fantastic in corners – but if you put your foot down too hard it would tug and yank you all over the road. Some buyers liked that it wasn’t easy, but rivals such as the Renault Megane RS were just better…

Mk4 Ford Focus ST

And that brings us to the latest model. Ford has fitted an electronic limited-slip differential, which should mean any complaints about torque steering will be rectified.

It also uses a detuned version of the 2.3-litre engine from the RS, making a healthy 276bhp here. It’s also got driving modes for the first time, too, meaning you can switch between sedate road driving and a more aggressive track-focused set-up.

On paper, it’s set to be the most exciting ST ever.

Ford has revived the Puma name for its new crossover, which majors on practicality and efficient powertrains.

While the badge is more commonly associated with the firm’s small sports car from the turn of the century, it has been commandeered here for a model that aims to tap into the lucrative small family crossover market.

It will get Ford’s new mild-hybrid powertrain, which utilises a small battery and electric motor to take over ancillary functions at low speeds and assist the internal combustion engine to improve efficiency.

It will be available on the 123bhp and 153bhp 1.0-litre petrol engines, with Ford claiming the electric motor improves efficiency by around nine per cent.

A 123bhp version of the 1.0-litre engine will also be available without the mild-hybrid set-up, while a diesel powertrain and seven-speed automatic transmission will join the line-up after launch.

Practicality is high on the agenda of the Puma, which features a clever “MegaBox” luggage compartment in the bottom of the boot, which helps increase boot space to a class-leading 456 litres. Ford says the load area can accommodate two bags of golf clubs standing upright.

The Puma’s styling is described as “a new chapter in Ford’s design identity”, with high-mounted headlights and a sloping roofline at the rear. It has been launched in ST-Line trim, which is available with 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, a sporty body kit and functional roof spoiler.

Inside, there’s plenty of technology on offer, including a wireless charging pad, an infotainment system with touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and an optional 10-speaker B&O sound system.

Vehicles fitted with the automatic gearbox have access to an advanced cruise control system, with other safety technologies including local hazard information, parking aids and pre-collision assists also available.

Stuart Rowley, president of Ford Europe, said: “We believe Puma is going to really resonate with drivers in Europe.

“We’ve gone to every length to give customers the flexibility they want, and the best-looking car they’ve ever owned.”

The Ford Puma will go on sale at the end of 2019 with pricing to be revealed closer to that time.

Nissan is giving the world a taste of the future with an all-electric prototype ice cream van.

The Japanese car manufacturer teamed up with Mackie’s of Scotland, which makes ice cream on a farm powered by wind and solar energy, to show how ‘carbon dependence’ can be removed from production to distribution.

Traditional ice cream vans tend to be diesel models, which need the engine ticking over even when parked to keep the refrigeration equipment running.

However, Nissan’s prototype, which has been built to celebrate Clean Air Day, is based on the firm’s zero-emission, all-electric e-NV200 van. The vehicle runs from a 40kWh battery, while the on-board equipment gets its juice from a new portable power pack called Nissan Energy ROAM, which uses recycled battery cells from the company’s old electric vehicles.

The two packs have a combined storage capacity of 1.4kWh and produce up to 1kWh. They can be recharged from a 230v mains supply in about an hour, or via the roof-mounted solar panels.

Kalyana Sivagnanam, managing director of Nissan Motor GB, said: “Ice cream is enjoyed the world over, but consumers are increasingly mindful of the environmental impact of how we produce such treats, and the ‘last mile’ of how they reach us.

“By eliminating harmful tailpipe emissions and increasing our use of renewable energy, we can help make this a better world for everyone.”

The prototype may not have been launched on a ‘Sundae’ but Nissan no doubt hopes it’s got the competition licked with a van that could lead to hundreds and thousands of sales…

With the government wanting only cars that are “effectively zero emissions” being sold in the UK by 2040, and ultra-low emission zones popping up in cities as local authorities try to tackle air pollution, electric vehicles are becoming more popular.

However, the buying public have been slow to uptake EVs, with legitimate concerns about range and recharging and less legitimate worries about stuff like whether you can drive them in the rain. (Of course you can.)

To encourage motorists into zero-emission cars, the government has put a plug-in car grant in place to make EVs more affordable. How do you take advantage of this discount? Read on…

What types of vehicle are targeted?

The plug-in grant doesn’t just apply to cars, it’s also applicable for vans, motorcycles, mopeds and taxis, so long as their official emissions figures fall under the amount specified in the legislation.

What are the categories?

The criteria required for a vehicle to be eligible for the grant is different depending on the type of vehicle. For cars and taxis, they must emit less than 50g/km of CO2 and travel at least 70 miles without any emissions at all.

Motorcycles must have zero emissions and travel at least 31 miles between charges. Mopeds can’t have any emissions either, but only have to travel at least 19 miles on a charge. Finally, vans must have emissions of less than 75g/km and travel at least 10 miles between charges.

How much can I save?

Again, this depends on the category. Car buyers can save 35 per cent of the vehicle’s value up to a maximum of £3,500, while motorcycle and moped buyers can get 20 per cent, up to a maximum of £1,500.

The biggest potential savings are for van and taxi drivers, who can save 20 per cent of the vehicle’s value up to £8,000 and £7,500 respectively.

Which cars does this apply to?

There are currently 24 cars, 13 motorcycles, 16 mopeds, 11 vans and one taxi eligible for the grant. The full list is available on the government’s website.

There are a wide variety of cars available, ranging from relatively inexpensive superminis like the Renault Zoe and Smart EQ Fortwo, up to more premium options such as the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model S.

In the taxi category, the only eligible option is the LEVC TX, which is the latest generation of London black cab. It runs purely from an electric motor but has a petrol engine acting like a generator to recharge the batteries when necessary.

What do I need to do to get it?

Absolutely nothing. The beauty of this grant is that there’s no onus on you to fill out forms or chase rebates – the grant is automatically applied to the cost of the car and the government reimburses the dealer or manufacturer you’ve bought the car from.

 

Britain’s electric vehicle revolution is being hampered by a “bottleneck” in global battery production, as demand far outstrips supply of zero-emission vehicles.

An investigation by the Press Association found that some dealers were telling customers they could be waiting more than a year if they placed an order for an EV today, with some manufacturers confirming they couldn’t guarantee the number of vehicles coming to the UK in the future.

Kia and Hyundai appear to be the worst affected, with the former’s e-Niro and latter’s Kona and Ioniq Electric experiencing 12-month-plus wait times.

Jaguar, Tesla, Nissan, Smart, Audi and Volkswagen are all also experiencing delays with their electric vehicle offerings of between two and five months.

A Kia spokesperson blamed global demand and battery supply, calling the e-Niro “a victim of its own success” and adding that the South Korean firm’s 2019 UK allocation of about 800 cars sold out within two weeks of going on sale in January.

He said: “The simple fact is our battery suppliers cannot make battery packs quickly enough for the demand, and if we haven’t got battery packs, we cannot sell the cars.”

Both Kia and its sister company Hyundai said they were taking reservations for 2020 deliveries and would contact interested customers once pricing and delivery time frames were clearer.

Simon Moores, managing director of lithium-ion battery specialist Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, confirmed there was a bottleneck in the production of the high-quality batteries needed for electric vehicles.

He said: “Not all lithium-ion batteries can be used in all electric vehicles. There are quality and scale issues at play, and they don’t usually go hand in hand.

“Western EV makers need the highest-quality lithium-ion batteries for a multitude of reasons, including safety, range and longevity. The surge in EV demand in the past two years has meant that tier one battery producers – such as Panasonic and Tesla, LG Chem and Samsung SDI – are playing catch-up.

“Global capacity of tier one lithium-ion battery supply is still an issue, but we are seeing a shortage in the quality and quantity of key raw materials, especially graphite anode at present.”

Tom Callow, director of communication at EV charge point supplier BP Chargemaster, said supply delays should become less of an issue in 2020 as new EU emissions targets applying to manufacturers come in.

“We are undoubtedly seeing demand outstrip supply for electric vehicles in the UK at the moment,” he said.

Elsewhere in the market, Volkswagen confirmed wait times for the e-Golf were nearly four months. The e-Up, however, remains unavailable to order because of long wait times, but should return “later in the year”.

In 2018, the German manufacturer stopped taking orders for the Passat GTE and Golf GTE plug-in hybrids because “unprecedented demand” had put factories at full capacity. The electrified Golf remains on hold, while a new Passat GTE goes on sale soon.

A Renault dealer quoted wait times of up to five months for the Zoe, but a spokesperson for the manufacturer disputed it, saying it’d expect even an order with “a very particular specification” to be delivered within two months. Meanwhile, the Twizy remains unavailable for order while production moves to a new factory.

The typical wait time for an electric vehicle is about three months – quoted for cars such as the Nissan Leaf, Audi e-Tron Quattro, Jaguar I-Pace and BMW i3.

Nissan said: “We are seeing very strong demand for both the Leaf and e-NV200, and we continue to try and secure production allocations that match our customer demand.

“However, across Europe and globally there is also strong demand.

“For Leaf we have reasonable supply but depending on variant the lead time will vary.”

A BMW spokesman said “production and delivery times can vary” because the company offers “a range of built-to-order options in order to make their vehicle truly their own”. However, lead times for the i3 “are in line with expectations for a build-to-order BMW”.

This week, Tesla opened its UK configurator for the Model 3 – the firm’s new entry-level EV. It claims deliveries should be less than two months from an order being placed, however, UK customers who placed deposits when the car was first revealed have been waiting three years for right-hand drive models to become available.

Tesla says deliveries of the Model S and Model X could take up to three months, and estimated delivery times are shown on the company’s website.

A Tesla spokesperson added that because the cars are built in the US, it factors in a transit time of “around six to eight weeks”.

There’s a reason hatchback cars are so popular, and that’s because they offer a little bit of everything. You’ll find a healthy dose of practicality in them, but without being big and intimidating to drive. On top of that, they usually come in any combination of fuel type, engine size and transmission you might desire.

But when it comes to ownership, something many buyers in the market might overlook is whether they should opt for a three-door or a five-door. While some cars are only available as one or the other, many give you the option of both — so it’s worth thinking about what your needs are and how they would be best served here.

But before we get into how to choose, a quick word on something you might be wondering – why the odd number of doors? It’s mostly just manufacturer-speak that has stuck in the mainstream. A five-door actually has four traditional doors, while a three-door just has the two at the front. The fifth and third doors in the name refer to the bootlid.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, here are the advantages and disadvantages of three- and five-door cars

Space – five-doors have more room in the back

Typically, you’ll find that the space in the rear of a five-door is very close to that of the three-door. However, because three-doors tend to have a sportier design, they can have sloping rooflines that eat into headroom, or smaller windows that let in less light and make rear passengers feel more claustrophobic.

You’ll also find that because accessing the rear seats is so much easier in a five-door, you’re more likely to actually use the space. So, while it might not technically be larger, it is in a more practical way.

Access – five doors makes it easier to get in and out

When it comes to access, five-door cars have three-doors beaten again. If you carry more than one passenger on a regular basis, a five-door becomes the obvious choice.

Furthermore, if you have young children and regularly need to put them in the back, reaching through between the seats of a three-door will quickly become tiresome and could put a lot of strain on your back.

Another advantage comes into play if you’re carrying something large that requires you to fold the rear seats flat. Shimmying it into a three-door could be a pain, but if you can open the rear doors then it’s much easier to shift into place.

One point in favour of three-doors though is that the doors tend to be larger, so getting in and out of the front seats can be easier. Though bear in mind this can make it tricky to open them in tight parking spaces. Swings and roundabouts…

Price – more doors means more cash

The three-door might look like it’s starting to fall behind in this fight, but when it comes to the impact it has on your wallet it starts to claw some points back.

If you don’t have any inclination towards either option, or you’re happy you don’t need the extra practicality, you can typically save a few hundred pounds by opting for a three-door over a five-door. It could be a simple way to shave a little off your monthly repayments.

Looks – three-doors are usually better-looking

Again, if the practicality of a five-door isn’t essential, you might be swayed by the fact that three-doors typically look better.

This is particularly true on smaller cars, where designers and engineers have a tough time cramming four doors into a small frame. However, if they only have to fit front doors, there’s more freedom to be creative, often leading to a sleeker window design or sportier, sloping rooflines.

Use – think about what the car needs to do

The final decision comes down to how you’ll use the car. If you tend to carry more than one passenger or you need to regularly get to the back seats for any other reason, a five-door will make your life much easier.

However, if it’s just you and maybe one other person in the car, and you’re confident you can put up with a bit less practicality, opting for a three-door could save you a bit of cash and give you a better-looking car as a result.

The Vauxhall Corsa is the most popular car among young drivers, followed closely by the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, according to new research.

The British firm’s supermini has long been synonymous with those who’ve recently passed their test, owing to its small size and a lack of power that should help keep inexperienced drivers out of trouble.

Insurance comparison site MoneySupermarket analysed four million enquiries between April 1 2018 and March 31 2019 to find out which cars 17- to 20-year-olds are looking to insure.

It’s been 25 years since we launched the Corsa. Times are changing. And Vauxhall thrives on change. Find out more here https://t.co/lMu1MxMNoK#NewRulesBritannia #corsatwentyfive. pic.twitter.com/7FQBIjvNM9

— Vauxhall (@vauxhall) November 28, 2018

Despite its popularity, the Corsa was far from the cheapest car for younger people to insure with an average quote of £943, 68 per cent higher than the average price of a quote for someone aged 21-plus.

Young drivers were quoted highly on several other popular models, including an average of £994 for a Ford Fiesta and £916 for a Volkswagen Polo. Those figures are 122 per cent and 79 per cent more than those for older drivers respectively.

The least expensive car to insure in the list was the Ford Ka at £644, while the most expensive was the Volkswagen Golf at £1,651.

Rachel Wait, consumer affairs spokesperson at MoneySupermarket, commented: “When calculating premiums, insurers take many factors into consideration which can result in younger drivers paying a considerable amount more than other age groups. This is mainly because a high number of personal injury claims come from accidents that involve younger drivers.

“The good news is that there are lots of ways to keep the costs down, such as taking out a telematics policy, also known as black box car insurance, which uses data – where, when and how people drive – to determine the cost of car insurance. Not only does telematics offer a way to secure a cheaper policy, it also encourages responsible driving habits.”

Audi has revealed the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo – an all-electric race car concept designed for virtual competition on the PlayStation 4.

The racer was originally only conceived to be included in the Gran Turismo video game to celebrate its 15th anniversary. However, the German car manufacturer has announced that it has built a one-off, fully functional version to support its team in the all-electric Formula E single-seater championship.

It will be used as a ‘race taxi’, giving guests of Audi hot laps on the series’ street circuits, starting in Rome on Saturday, April 14.

Peter Mertens, technical development boss at Audi, said: “E-mobility is rapidly gaining importance.

“That is why in 2017 Audi was the first German manufacturer to enter Formula E with a factory-backed commitment. In our motorsport development laboratory, we are continuously expanding our expertise in e-mobility and gathering valuable experience – in extremely demanding conditions as well.

“With the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo race taxi we are turning electric mobility into a tangible experience for our customers and guests as part of the Formula E races – in the middle of the world’s metropolises.”

The electric powertrain produces 794bhp and feeds all four wheels via two electric motors at the rear wheels and a third powering the front two. It has a carbon-fibre construction to keep weight down, tipping the scales at 1,450kg with a 50/50 weight distribution.

Its face is an evolution of the existing R8 supercar’s design and could signal a first look at the next-generation model’s appearance, perhaps even hinting that Audi is going to have another go at an EV R8 following a very limited trial run between 2014 and 2016.