This new model produces 626bhp from a twin-turbocharged mild hybrid V8 that enables a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds.
Range Rover has unveiled its most potent model yet – the Sport SV Edition Two.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with mild-hybrid assistance. In total, it kicks out a heady 626bhp and 750Nm of torque, enabling a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 180mph.
To make the SV Edition Two as quick as possible, the firm has shed a total of 76kg over the standard car’s kerb weight when fitted with all the lightweight options. These include carbon ceramic brakes and forged alloy wheels. As standard, the car comes with a carbon fibre bonnet for extra weight-shedding. It’s
A choice of blue Nebula matte, Marl grey gloss, Sunrise copper satin and Ligurian black gloss exterior paint finishes are on offer to make each car individually stand out.
A choice of matte, gloss and satin paint finishes set off the Edition Two’s exterior appearance. (Land Rover)
Geraldine Ingham, managing director at Range Rover said: “What makes Range Rover Sport SV so desirable is its unique combination of dynamic performance, modern sporting luxury design, its cutting-edge sensory technology and breadth of capability.”
He added: “Today we announce the next step in our SV line-up, Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, available with new design themes which offer our discerning clients the chance to enjoy four distinct characters of our high-performance luxury SUV.”
Inside, there is integrated head restraints with SV sports seats with carbon fibre backboards. (Land Rover)
Inside, there is a redesigned steering wheel with a thicker rim and enhanced thumb grips as well as larger paddle shifters. There are SV Performance seats with integrated head restraints with carbon fibre backboards and an SV mode button which adjusts the suspension, powertrain, steering, transmission and active exhaust for the best performance.
Prices are yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to cost more than the Edition One which was priced at £171,460.
The average retail price for EVs has fallen by 8.5 per cent in three years and 14 per cent in four years, according to data at vehicle valuation HPI.
Values of used EVs have fallen past those of second-hand internal combustion-engined vehicles on average.
That’s according to vehicle valuation specialist HPI, which says cars such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC have lost almost as much as £20,000 versus their values in the summer of 2022.
Prices for a three-year-old I-Pace start at around £20,000, whereas a Mercedes EQC can be had for around £25,000 for a 2021 example.
In comparison, 2021 diesel Jaguar F-Paces are on the market for £25,000 to £35,000, while a three-year-old petrol-powered Mercedes GLE is priced at around £30,000 to £40,000, according to Auto Trader listings.
What’s more, the Porsche Taycan can be had for as little as £50,000. Two years ago, the same car would be worth around £90,000, meaning a depreciation of almost half its value. A petrol Porsche Panamera of a similar age is currently listed on Auto Trader for around £60,000 to £65,000 – a 20 per cent-plus increase.
HPI said depreciation hits a car the most in the first three years of its life, with EV prices falling by as much as 8.5 per cent compared with ICE vehicles over that period, rising to 14 per cent after four years.
Chris Plumb, EV specialist at HPI, said: “The growing availability of second-hand electric models is driving demand as motorists want to reduce their environmental footprint and make significant motoring cost savings due to high diesel and petrol prices.
“However, switching from traditional petrol and diesel motoring to electric isn’t a like-for-like swap, and certain factors should be taken into consideration before going ahead.”
When buying an EV, the factors that need to be considered are the installation of a wallbox at home – costing around £800 to £1,000 – as well as looking into a salary-sacrifice scheme, where an employee gives up some of their earnings for a new or used car. Not only that, but an EV may not be ideal for people who don’t have off-street charging or don’t live near any public charging points.
In July 2024, 18.5 per cent of all new car registrations were EVs, with 27,335 sold. Meanwhile, sales of used electric cars in the first quarter of this year stood at 41,505 – a 71 per cent year-on-year increase and generating a 2.6 per cent market share.
The Skoda Kamiq has only just arrived but it has immediately made an impression. Cameron Richards reports.
Last month I nearly shed a tear as I said goodbye to my trusty Skoda Karoq. It was pretty much the perfect daily companion as it was practical and used its space in a clever and thoughtful way, while also having superb (no pun intended) comfort and refinement levels.
Its replacement is its smaller brother, the Kamiq. I have gone for the top-of-the-line Monte Carlo model, and it features bucket sport seats, fake carbon fibre inlays on the door cards and seat bolsters, diamond-cut alloy wheels and a full-length glass panoramic roof.
The Monte Carlo features a sportier interior design. (PA)
There was a pang of disappointment as I clambered aboard for the first time to find no leather interior, no heated seats or steering wheel, and no magnified ice scraper.
But, if we gloss over those little first-world issues, the last month has proved that the cheaper Kamiq can still impress me in many areas.
First of all, while it may not feature as many clever design features as the Karoq, it still comes with a parking ticket holder on the windscreen, a phone holder located on the back of the driver’s seat and an umbrella in the driver’s door.
Under the bonnet is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol. (PA)
My Karoq was fitted with a very smooth 1.5-litre TSI four-cylinder petrol engine, but this Kamiq has a smaller 1.0-litre TSI unit under the bonnet. Like the Karoq, though, it comes with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
Out on the road the three-cylinder engine does sound a little thrummy, and the gearbox has the same annoying characteristics as before, such as being a little slow to respond, and at times, shifting down a gear when not needed. However, the Kamiq does drive well and is easy to manoeuvre around town. My first impressions are that it’s not as comfortable to drive as the Karoq, but its visibility is better, thanks to the larger side windows.
The rear seats aren’t as versatile either. The Kamiq comes with a 60:40 bench seat which just folds down, whereas the Karoq’s 40:20:40 individual seats that could slide, recline and even be removed altogether were more practical.
But, the Kamiq does come with a few nifty options which makes life a bit easier. It’s fitted with a powered tailgate, and it comes with pop-out door edge protectors to prevent you from chipping the paint on walls when opening the doors.
The full-length panoramic roof does flood the cabin with light, which is a nice feature, and the Kamiq isn’t short of cubby spaces. Like the Karoq, the Kamiq also comes with a nifty little storage bin (literally) in the front driver’s door card.
I haven’t been able to use the Kamiq as much as I would have liked recently due to a number of other short-term test cars arriving at my house, but I did stretch the car’s legs on a trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month. It proved to be refined and comfortable at speeds and because you sit lower than you do in traditional SUVs, it feels more car-like to drive.
The Kamiq managed to navigate its way around the muddy fields of Goodwood. (PA)
Our example is front-wheel drive and in the muddy, slippery fields of Goodwood you could feel it struggling slightly for grip, but not to the point where you felt as though the car was going to get stuck.
It’s also been on a couple of other trips with four-up and it performed well. There were no complaints of passengers struggling for head and legroom, and the drive didn’t feel all that different with the extra weight of those onboard.
My first few weeks behind the wheel have been enjoyable, and I am looking forward to the months ahead. Sure, it’s not as luxurious, comfortable or not as practical as the Karoq, but I think I will grow to love it just as much.
The GTi Clubsport, R Black Edition, R and R Estate are all available to order from August 8.
Volkswagen has announced that the most driver-focused models of its latest Golf will be available to order as of this week.
The GTi Clubsport features its own unique style of bumpers and honeycomb air-intake grille. It also comes with LED matrix headlights and LED rear tail-lights as well as standard equipment such as heated front seats and keyless entry.
Powering the Clubsport is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 296bhp and has a top speed of 155mph, while 0-60mph is dispatched in 5.4 seconds.
The R can be offered in an estate format. (Volkswagen)
The R model will be available in either hatchback or estate guise and with the same engine as the Clubsport, but power increases to 328bhp and grip will be enhanced by the firm’s 4Motion four-wheel-drive system. The standard transmission will be a seven-speed DSG. The top speed remains the same as the Clubsport’s, but the extra grip allows for the 0-60mph to decrease to 4.4 seconds. If you choose the R-Performance Package, the top speed increases to 167mph.
Inside are new sports seats with integrated head restraints and Volkswagen’s latest 12.9-inch infotainment screen with ChatGPT.
The R Black Edition features darkened exterior design cues. (Volkswagen)
Completing the pack is the R Black Edition, which features the same drivetrain and power as the R but features some exterior and interior enhancements.
On the outside, there are 19-inch black alloy wheels plus darkened Volkswagen and R badges as well as black brake callipers.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles, said: “The Golf has been at the heart of the Volkswagen brand for half a century now, offering affordable mobility for all at the highest technical level. This is precisely what we are now building on with the new evolutionary stage – with even higher efficiency, comfort and quality and a new operating concept. The Golf does not get any better than this.”
Prices start at £41,655 for the GTi Clubsport, while the R is priced from £43,320 for the hatchback and £44,685 for the estate and the R Black Edition comes in at £44,570. All models are available to order from August 8.
The car travelled a distance of 569 miles before having to be charged up, beating the previous record of 563.97 miles.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled in an electric vehicle on a single charge.
The car was driven by Kevin Booker and Sam Clarke, and co-piloted by Richard Parker – all from Webfleet – Bridgestone’s mobility management solution.
The previous record was achieved in September 2023 in Hangzhou, China, by Zeekr’s autonomous division, which managed a total distance of 563.97 miles.
The new record attempt was fastidiously documented with independently verified video footage, odometer readings, GPS, and battery level data from Webfleet.
The car was driven by Sam Clarke (Left) and Kevin Booker (Right). (Webfleet)
The record-breaking car was fitted with a 91kWh battery pack, and the car averaged a total of 6.25 miles per kWh on public roads throughout Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire.
Beverley Wise, regional director for Webfleet UKI Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, said: “This record is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this endeavour.
“It represents a significant milestone in the electrification of road transport and demonstrates the potential of electric vehicles when supported by innovative Bridgestone tyre design and advanced fleet management technology.”
Additionally, the drive was over 24 hours and there was a mixture of urban and rural roads to emulate real-world driving.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “We are delighted to have supported this incredible achievement with our expert patrols and back-up team. The drivers, together with Ford Mustang Mach-E, Bridgestone and Webfleet, have all used their expertise to prove that EVs can go much further than people think. Such endeavours are important to show that electric vehicles can be a major part of the future transport mix.”
Only 2,275 Porsche 928s were built for the US market in 1979, and this example has been stored by its current owner since 2021.
A Porsche 928 featured in the film ‘The Risky Business’ will go up for auction at Bonhams cars in America next week.
The German coupe comes with a 4.5-litre V8 that produces 230bhp and features a five-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes all around.
What makes this Porsche so special is that it was reported to have been used by the film star Tom Cruise who learnt how to operate a manual transmission behind the wheel.
It’s estimated that the 928 could sell anything between £1.1 – £1.4 million. (Bonhams Car Auctions)
A total of three 928s were used for the driving shots in the film, with the one being offered for sale being used for any wide shots with the whole car in view.
Originally, the car was painted white with a five-speed manual gearbox, but was repainted Platinum metallic – a colour available for a contemporary 928 but not introduced until 1981 for the film.
The car was rented by a movie car company and was used in driving and close up shots, especially in a chase scene with a 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.
After its famous on-screen film production life, the car returned to California and was resprayed back to white and passed through a few local owners before it was rediscovered by documentarian Lewis Johnsen of Denver, Colorado.
The car originally was painted white. (Bonhams Car Auctions)
The 928 would later move on to another collection on the East Coast where it received mechanical and cosmetic work – while the current owner has had it in their possession since 2021.
The Porsche is predicted to sell for between £1.1 to £1.4 million pounds when the auction begins on August 16.
British buyers are still opting for crossovers and small hatchbacks according to the latest figures from SMMT.
July saw another steady growth in the new car market with a 2.5 per cent increase in registrations being experienced during the month..
A total of 147,517 new cars were registered last month, making it the best recorded July since 2020, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The top 10 best-selling models are still dominated by crossovers and small hatchbacks, showing that they are the go-to choice for British buyers. Let’s take a look at the models that secured the top 10.
Kia Sportage -3,999
The Sportage is well equipped and comes with Kia’s seven-year warranty. (Kia)
Another win for Kia’s beloved crossover as the Sportage takes the crown for the best-selling car for the month yet again.
The Sportage is a good-looking and practical family crossover that benefits from a decent driving experience and Kia’s seven-year 100,000 warranty. Build quality is up there with the very best, and there is plenty of standard equipment on every model available in the range.
Nissan Qashqai – 3,633
The Qashqai has been a massive success for Nissan. (Nissan)
Built in Britain, the Qashqai has become a landmark car on our shores and it’s easy to see why. Not only is it very practical, but it also now is very efficient thanks to its optional e-Power hybrid powertrains which reduces overall running costs for private and company car buyers.
The Qashqai is also generously equipped and now with a recent facelift with improved on-board technology and tweaked exterior styling, will make the Nissan even more popular among buyers.
Ford Puma – 3,418
The Puma shares its underpinnings with the demised Fiesta. (Ford)
Though once the nation’s favourite, the Fiesta has been consigned to the history books and the alternative is now the Puma. Underneath its skin shares all the mechanicals and chassis with the much-loved supermini, but it houses a more lofty SUV look.
The Puma has been hovering around the best-sellers list for some time now and the reason is because it offers a lot of upsides. It’s great fun to drive, has generous equipment levels and is very cheap to run and has efficient engines.
Volvo XC40 – 3,055
The XC40 is a safe and classless choice among buyers. (Volvo)
The only Volvo to make it into the top 10 is the XC40. The compact SUV has been around since 2018 and in that time it has found a lot of homes over here in Britain.
The XC40 is a very likeable car as it offers plenty of space and safety for a growing family. Volvo knows a thing or two about how to build and design a car that will protect you and your occupants well, should an incident happen. It also looks good and has aged very well in its six-year existence, too.
Volkswagen Golf – 3,009
The Golf has just received a facelift, with Volkswagen listening to its customers. (Volkswagen)
Still seen as the benchmark of all the small family hatchbacks, the Golf represents excellent all-round refinement, build quality and practicality.
With a recent facelift, Volkswagen has also listened to its customers on what they want and now the Golf has physical steering wheel buttons and a larger, clearer infotainment screen with standard ChatGPT voice assistance.
It may not deliver the most exciting of experiences, but the Golf still leads the way in what most small family hatchbacks should do, and that is to offer a practical, efficient and good-to-drive car in a small package.
Hyundai Tucson – 2,917
The Tucson is the sister car to the best-selling Kia Sportage. (Hyundai)
The sister car to the best-selling Kia Sportage, the Tucson is still a hit with British buyers. Its wild and wacky styling may be subjective to a lot of people, but there is no denying that the Hyundai is a great car with plenty of powertrains available.
In fact, you can get the Tucson with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, which is great for many different buyers to suit their everyday needs.
Volkswagen T-Roc – 2,578
The T-Roc offers plenty of options and engines among buyers. (Volkswagen)
The T-Roc has made it onto the best-sellers list again, and that’s because people like its higher driving position compared to the beloved Golf and there are plenty of options and engines to choose from.
It may not drive as well as some of its rivals and the interior design might appear a bit bland to some, but it’s still a good-looking SUV that is refined and reasonably cheap to run, making it popular among young families.
Nissan Juke – 2,553
The Juke kickstarted the compact crossover class back in 2010. (Nissan)
Nissan’s Juke is a car which seems to have unending popularity. This small crossover is a common sight on the UK’s roads and is one of Nissan’s most in-demand models, owing to its efficient engine setup and cleverly packaged interior.
It shouldn’t be too long before Nissan unveils plans for its upcoming electric Juke, too, which is destined to be built at the firm’s Sunderland plant.
Volkswagen Polo – 2,541
The Polo is one of the most grown up of all the superminis. (Volkswagen)
Smaller, more efficient petrol cars have seen a resurgence of late in the new car market as buyers seek out models that won’t cost the earth to run. A prime example of this is the Volkswagen Polo, which delivers space and practicality in a package that’ll prove relatively inexpensive to fuel and insure.
The Polo also gets plenty of good materials alongside some handy technology. A well-sized boot only works to make the Polo even more usable.
MG HS – 2,445
The HS is a great choice for those looking for an SUV on a budget. (MG)
MG’s range of cars has always focused on affordability and that ethos has only become stronger as the years have passed. While it has put a big emphasis on electric cars, it’s the HS – which is available as a plug-in hybrid and a ‘regular’ petrol – which has made an entry on this month’s best-sellers list.
It’s MG’s largest SUV and, as a result, has the most amount of space to offer alongside plenty of in-car tech and some decent materials throughout. A recent update will only work to make the HS even more popular, too.
A new entry-level Core trim is £2,300 cheaper than an EX30 Pure, putting it in the same price bracket as Kia’s new EV3.
Volvo has announced an update to its vehicle range with a new entry-level EX30, its small electric SUV.
The EX30 Core now starts from £32,850, making it £2,300 cheaper than before and putting it on a par with the Kia EV3. Available with either single or single extended range motors, the former offers a claimed 209 miles on a single charge, while the latter can do a claimed 295 miles between trips to the plug and is priced at £37,050.
Equipment levels are also generous with the new trim level featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, LED headlights and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Google Built-in.
Jim Rowan, Chief Executive for Volvo, said: “We know that price and cost of ownership is still one of the biggest challenges when people consider switching to an electric car. With the Volvo EX30, we aim to bring premium, fully electric mobility to a much broader audience, helping to advance and speed up the transition to the full electrification that our industry and society needs.”
The XC90 gains two new trim levels. (Volvo)
Furthermore, Volvo has introduced two more trim levels for its flagship XC90 SUV. Badged The Plus Edition and Ultra Edition, they will replace Plus and Ultra trim levels and are priced at £69,425 and rise to £83,880. In terms of engines, either petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains are available – and they come with all-wheel-drive as standard.
Their specification includes perforated Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and tinted windows.
Both the EX30 Core and XC90 Plus Edition and Ultra Editions can be ordered now. Expected deliveries will take place in early 2025 for the former and autumn this year for the latter.
It will feature a carbon fibre body and a V8 engine, and there will be a supercharged version at an extra cost and will be limited to just 99 units.
One of Britain’s oldest car manufacturers, AC Cars, is making a return with its legendary Cobra.
Whereas the old model was sold purely as a roadster, this new version will come to market as a Coupe. Now called the Cobra GT Coupe, it’s more of a reference to the original – dating back to 1962. Also, inspiration has been taken by the firm’s A98 coupe Le Mans race car from 1964.
The car features an aluminium chassis and carbon fibre body to make it as light as possible and help to achieve a low overall weight of just 1450kg.
The standard car comes with a 450bhp V8 petrol engine. (AC Cars)
There will be a choice of three engine setups. A naturally aspirated V8 petrol, producing 450bhp or there will be a supercharged version of the same engine which will make 720bhp. Further details are yet to be announced. Finally, a limited production model badged Clubsport Edition will be available and will come with a 799bhp V8 – though just 99 examples will be produced.
David Conza, chief executive Officer of AC Cars said: “The reveal of the AC Cobra GT Coupe is a proud moment for us, and the story of a road-going AC Cobra coupe is one year in the making.
“To have been able to combine the timeless AC Cobra design into a car using the latest design and construction techniques breaks new ground for AC Cars. This means the limited Clubsport Edition will provide an incredible, racing car-like experience on either the road or the track.”
While prices have not been revealed for the limited Clubsport edition, the standard car will be priced at £325,000 – and both models are available to reserve now. The lucky 99 customers who place their order for the Clubsport will receive their car first, with expected deliveries commencing at the end of 2025.
Television presenter Mike Brewer has said that the ‘fight is one’ after his used car dealership was targeted by fraudsters using a fake identity.
Brewer, who is best-known for his appearance in the series Wheeler Dealers, operates One Automotive in Warwickshire and it was here that a Volkswagen Golf was sold over the phone to a buyer who wasn’t able to view the car in-person.
To put the sale through, Brewer and the rest of the team checked the would-be buyer’s car details and driving licence – both of which matched up. Once processed, the buyer – who Brewer only knew as ‘Gary’ – contacted Brewer to arrange collection of the Golf via their own courier and paid £10,490 to complete the sale.
However, shortly after, One Automotive was contacted by its card provider Barclays which revealed that the buyer was a fraud that had used another person’s identity to purchase the car. Barclays then revealed that the money paid to One Automotive would be reimbursed to the victim of identity theft – though because the car had long since been collected, it left Brewer’s business out-of-pocket.
Since the event, Brewer has been contacted by other dealers who have been hit by similar fraudsters.
Speaking to Car Dealer Magazine, Brewer said: “This is not unique. We’ve found out that this has been happening time and time again to several dealers up and down the country where they’ve been scammed in the same way.
“It has put us off remote sales. Our business cannot suffer a £10,500 loss – we just don’t have that kind of profit in the business. The customer has to be there in-person, or we’re going to have to go to the customer’s address which is on their driving licence.
“I suggest it should be the same for every dealer out there. You really have to be diligent.”
