Author: Jack Evans

Nissan is to give robo-vehicles a public try-out in Japan next month.

The test will run on a set route between Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama and the nearby Yokohama World Porters shopping centre – a distance of some 4.5 kilometres (circa 2.7 miles) – and the service, dubbed ‘Easy Ride’, will provide an autonomous vehicle service to people wanting to get to a destination in that area.

Not only will vehicles be tested but Nissan’s dedicated mobile app will also be put through its paces. Passengers will be able to input where they want to go via text or voice. In addition, an in-car tablet will showcase some 500 nearby points of interest, along with 40 discount vouchers for retailers and restaurants in the vicinity. These can then be downloaded directly to the passenger’s smartphone.

Easy Ride is seen as a mobility service for anyone wanting to travel freely in a robo-vehicle to a destination of their choice. 

The trial, which starts on March 5 and is being conducted by Nissan with mobile and online services operator DeNA, will gauge public reaction. If successful, the aim is to expand on the number of service routes. Though planned to be introduced in a limited area initially, Nissan and DeNA aim to offer a full service ‘in the early 2020s’.

The trial appears to use current Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 vehicles. Both are all-electric, so provide the perfect zero-emissions platform for an autonomous service. The Leaf has a claimed all-electric range of up to 177 miles, meaning it’s capable of travelling far enough on a single charge for numerous short, inner-city trips.

Aston Martin has an all-new F1 car.

Revealed this week, the latest racer – built in partnership with Red Bull Racing and dubbed RB14 – features a special-edition livery and it’s eye-catching to say the least.

An appetite for disruption in 2018 ?
Introducing the #RB14 ? https://t.co/gdQRXmhHyq pic.twitter.com/qdS2Vy9YwG

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 19, 2018

Aston Martin has admitted that the livery won’t be exactly the same as the one on the completed version, although it didn’t stop it mocking up this temporary camouflage on a DB11. The racer features all-new systems in F1, such as halo safety protection and additional aerodynamic touches.

Watch this @astonmartin #DB11 get the #RB14 treatment ? pic.twitter.com/OpaaJVhhMJ

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 22, 2018

And the British sports car manufacturer thought the exterior design would look just as good on its flagship DB11 coupe – so applied the dark blue and black scheme to it.

Starting off in a pearlescent white, the DB11 was transformed entirely thanks to a complete body wrap featuring Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing side logos.

Underneath the bonnet of the Aston sits an AMG-built twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine producing 503bhp. It’s enough to get the DB11 to 60mph in under four seconds and on to a top speed of 187mph.

The accelerated footage shows the large sections of wrap being applied to each panel of the car, with little of the original white paint visible once the process was completed.

Travelling long distances in a car with children can be a little tricky. Though the scenery whizzing by may be impressive, a kid’s enthusiasm for the journey can quickly go downhill without anything to keep them entertained. We’ve picked out the best ways to keep little ones happy when out on the open road.

Get a game going

There is, after all, nothing better than a classic in-car game. A round of I-Spy or spot-the-yellow-car can cause the miles to go past pretty quickly, all the while keeping kids engaged and entertained.

A variety of traditional board games are available in smaller, travel-friendly versions too. These could be a good option for then the imagination-based games have run their course.

Guess the song

There’s a good chance that you won’t fancy playing nursery rhymes on repeat for hundreds of miles, but there’s a way of incorporating that music into a game.

Select a song that the children know, and play just a small, half a second snippet of it. Going off this time, they then have to guess the track. Though simple, it’s likely to keep them entertained for quite some time.

Add in a quick stop

Though you may be wanting to get to your destination as quickly as possible, a quick pause for some fresh air can do wonders. Even if it just means parking up for ten minutes, a break in the journey can quickly calm children down.

Adding in a stop may put more time on the overall length of the journey, but it does open up the ability to see some new places along the way.

Set up an in-car DVD player

Yes, it may not be the most imaginative solution, but sometimes technology works. An in-car DVD player can quickly keep tantrums at bay – and they don’t have to cost the earth, either. Most can be mounted to the back of the front seat headrests, meaning that there shouldn’t be too many cables trailing around the cabin.

It’s always better to go for a good quality version, as it’ll pay dividends to have a solid, reliable source of entertainment at all times.

The high-tech option

It might be one of the easier options, but you can’t fault the way tablets keep children entertained. However, it does bring in a whole series of other problems. You have, for one, got to make sure that any devices are charged before you drive off.

In addition, it’s best to download anything the night before the trip. You can guarantee that in the morning of the journey, the internet will slow and you’ll be unable to download anything at all.

With snow hitting many parts of the UK at the moment, drivers could do with vehicles designed to better cope with the white stuff.

Fortunately enough, Nissan has created just such a car. Called the 370Zki, it’s part-sports car, part snowmobile – and it’s certainly a bit different. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

It’s still got a sports car engine

You could be fooled into thinking that this Nissan would use a small capacity engine, but no. Underneath the bonnet is a 3.7-litre V6, packing just over 300bhp. That gives it more than enough power to tackle the slopes.

A lot of work went into the conversion

Believe it or not, mechanics removed the car’s entire drivetrain before fitting a custom lift kit – elevating it three inches higher than normal. This was all done to allow enough space for the snow tracks and forward ski sections.

The car has ski goggles

Okay, perhaps not quite. When designers were creating the custom wrap for the Nissan, they chose to make it appear like the tint on a pair of ski goggles. The effect is certainly dramatic – there’s no way that you could miss the 370Zki.

The rear tracks are incredibly substantial

The ‘Dominator’ tracks at the rear, created by American Track Truck Inc, are 15 inches wide, 48 inches long and 30 inches high. This makes the Nissan incredibly adept at crossing snow quickly – and they’ve even been custom mounted to the car’s regular wheel hubs.

The suspension was overhauled too

The Nissan’s front suspension was modified so that the front skis could properly articulate, giving it spot-on turning each and every time. In addition, a front skid plate was constructed and fitted to prevent damage in deeper snow.

In the motoring world, big figures are thrown around in the quest for power, acceleration and the ultimate driving experience. However, you can still have just as much fun in a car for a much smaller budget – £5,000 in this case.

There’s no reason why spending £5,000 on a car should equate to a mundane, run-of-the-mill vehicle – there are many gems on the market today that should provide the driving enthusiast with everything they need. Here are five of the best.

Peugeot 206 GTI

Yes, the little 206 may still be a common sight on UK roads today, but it spawned one of the best handling hatchbacks ever – the 206 GTI. Available with a 2.0-litre engine putting out either 137bhp or 180bhp.

Though the lower-output car may offer slightly lacklustre performance, the more powerful version can hit 60mph in just over seven seconds – so it remains punchy even today.

Toyota MR2

The last edition Toyota MR2 produced was arguably one of the sweetest handling cars of its generation. A 1.8-litre engine linked to the rear wheels via a notchy six-speed manual gearbox.

Limited storage space meant that it wasn’t the most practical car, but its inherent balance was loved by driving purists back in the early 2000s – and that makes it a bit of a steal today.

Citroen Saxo VTS

Small, lightweight, yet good to drive, the Citroen Saxo VTS embodied what a hot hatch was meant to be. A 1.6-litre engine sat under the bonnet, while the brakes were upgraded from drums to discs enabling better stopping power.

Though the Saxo gained a strong ‘boy racer’ image, it remained a popular hot hatch for some time, even when rivals started to become more accomplished towards the end of the Saxo’s life in 2003.

Suzuki Swift Sport

The Suzuki Swift Sport is easily one of the best used buys available at the moment. Powered by a 1.6-litre engine, it produced around 120bhp when new, as well as 148Nm of torque. Though this may not sound like much, it was enough to make the Swift feel, well, swift. Inside, it gained red sports seats, while the exterior was treated to larger alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes and sports suspension.

Driving the Swift shows up the car’s inherent balance, as well as its keenness to corner – traits which make it a steal at £5,000 and under.

Renaultsport Clio 182

Despite its humble basing upon one of the most popular small hatchbacks of all time, the Renaultsport Clio 182 came to define the hot hatch segment. A 2.0-litre engine powered the whole affair, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. However, the Clio 182’s success was down to its inherent balance and ability to conquer twisty B-roads quickly and effortlessly.

The 182 was also available with an optional ‘Cup’ pack. This added modified suspension and a wider track as a result, while a lower ride height gave it a sportier stance. The 182 Cup remains widely regarded as one of the truest drivers’ cars of all time.

You’ve probably noticed that at the pumps there are a variety of fuel options. As well as regular petrol and diesel choices, there are also ‘premium’ fuels. They command a higher price per litre, but why is this?

Though that increased price might be off-putting, drivers of high-performance or sports cars will find that their cars benefit from using premium fuel regularly. However, it’s not just those motorists’ cars that could run more efficiently. We look at the benefits of using a premium fuel.

A cleaner engine

That’s right. When you use a premium fuel, it helps remove deposits that may have built up on the intake valves and fuel injector nozzles. This should, in theory, give a better engine response as well as better economy figures.

Diesel engines become far sootier than their petrol-powered counterparts and additional chemicals in premium diesel can help rid the engine of any deposits that have built up during daily driving. There’s no need to run a car with this fuel all the time, but using it once every 1,000 miles could really help prolong your engine’s life.

Better performance

Drivers of sports cars or supercars will likely see their vehicles run perfectly when using premium fuels. Though they’ll run on lower-quality petrol, the difference that a premium fuel will make should be instantly noticeable. Throttle response should be sharper, while the engine should feel smoother in general.

Less chance of damage

In highly strung, high-performance engines that have been designed to run on premium fuel, there’s a chance that you could cause damage by running them on a lower-grade alternative.

Higher octane levels mean improved response

The octane number given to a fuel designates how well it works – the higher the number, the more effective the fuel is at working. As standard, all petrol sold in the UK is rated at 95 octane – but lower grades are available abroad. Some companies offer 97 or 98 octane fuel – and as high as 100 is available from certain garages. These high-octane fuels are ideal for high-performance cars, although drivers of hot hatches and sports cars will probably notice a difference too.

There’s no getting away from it: insurance is one of the pricier aspects of car ownership. And being a legal requirement means that cover for your vehicle isn’t something you can avoid.

However, that’s not to say you have to buy the first policy you find. There’s a variety of ways to bring down your insurance costs – here are some of the best.

Shop around and haggle

As you may have noticed, there are all manner of price comparison sites offering insurance quotes. These are a useful starting point – though make sure to try more than one.

Once you’ve found the best possible quote, start phoning other insurers to see if they can improve on it – some may be able to do a considerably better deal than the one you’ve initially found. Just picking up the phone can make a real difference to the overall price of your premium.

Consider choosing a black box policy

Telematics systems, or ‘black boxes’, are devices fitted to a car that can monitor the owner’s driving. Elements such as speed, braking severity and acceleration are measured and then relayed back to the insurance company.

Because of this system, and the ability for the policy provider to see how well – or badly – a motorist is driving, insurance premiums can fall. It all depends on whether you’d like a company seeing your driving habits or not.

Limit policy mileage

When you take out a new insurance policy, you’ll be asked to provide an estimate of how many miles you’ll be travelling over the course of a year. Over-estimating this can cause the premiums to increase considerably, so being able to tell insurers that you’ll be undertaking a lower number of miles can help bring premiums down.

However, make sure they’re still accurate – an incorrect mileage estimate could cause problems if you ever need to claim.

Choose a less powerful car

This may sound like an obvious one, but buying an insurance policy for a high-performance sports car can be an expensive thing indeed. Opting for a less powerful, smaller engined vehicle can reap dividends when it comes to insurance as policy providers know that it’s less capable of higher speeds and has slower acceleration.

Of course, if you’re planning on buying a sports car from the off then you’ll take the higher insurance cost as part of the deal. But if there’s some movement in your decision, then choosing a less powerful car can really help bring policy costs down.

Think twice before adding younger drivers to the policy

It may be tempting to add a just-passed driver to your policy to save spending huge amounts on premiums for a newly qualified motorist, but this could hike up your own policy.

Furthermore, if that younger driver is found to be the one who is predominantly using the car, then this could invalidate the insurance – and potentially incur prosecution. This whole process is known as ‘fronting’ and is highly discouraged.

Ensure your car has the proper security systems

A proper system can prove to an insurance company that the car is secure when left alone. Most new cars come with all manner of security systems, so insurers are unlikely to question these more up-to-date vehicles.

Older vehicles may not have any system fitted, though, so finding a decent aftermarket kit could really help bring premiums down.

Clear the garage

Yes, it may be easy to keep all your unwanted items in the garage, but clearing it and storing your car there could do wonders for your insurance premium.

Insurers like to hear that a car is being kept in a secure location, and a garage is certainly one of these. Just make sure that if you’re planning on keeping a car in the garage, you have a variety of building security systems fitted.

Today, Land Rover revealed its most powerful Defender – a V8-powered, 400bhp version of the British brand’s iconic 4×4.

Limited to just 150 units the Defender is a last hurrah before an all-new version arrives later on in the year. Here are six things that you need to know about this hugely powerful swansong Defender.

It’s powered by a V8 engine

Harking back to the early V8-powered Series III Stage 1 from 1979, the Defender Works V8 produces 399bhp and 515Nm of torque from a 5.0-litre V8 engine. Sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it allows the Defender to hit 60mph in just 5.6 seconds.

Though we know the power outputs, we have yet to be told the official economy details. However, given the car’s power output and high performance, it’s likely that the Defender won’t be the best in terms of miles per gallon.

The engine isn’t the only area that has been upgraded

Because of the Defender’s high power output, other mechanical elements of the car have been updated too. As such, uprated brakes help bring the car effectively to a stop, while large 18-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres contribute to better traction levels.

In addition, new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars should give the Defender improved on-road handling manners and better suit it to higher driving speeds.

Exterior changes have been applied too

How do you tell the Defender Works apart from a more run-of-the-mill example? Well, aside from the burbling engine note, there is a variety of exterior changes to look for. You’ll find the roof, wheel arches and front grille finished in black paint, while the door handles, fuel filler cap and Defender bonnet lettering are all made from machined aluminium.

All this does make the car stand out, with the large alloy wheels in particular giving it plenty of presence.

The interior has been been given a high-end lift

Not only has the exterior of the Defender been given a range of highlights, but the interior has been worked over as well. Now, Windsor leather has been used to trim the dashboard, door panels and headlining. It’s also been applied to the Recaro sport seats, giving them a far more luxurious look.

In addition, an infotainment system with satellite navigation and media functions has been fitted, bringing the interior of the Defender firmly up to date.

It commands a fearsome price tag

Owing to its limited numbers and powerful engine, the Defender comes with a rather daunting price tag – £150,000 in fact.

Available in both 90 and 110 wheelbase layouts, the Defender is, as mentioned, limited to just 150 examples – so it’s likely that they’ll become collectors’ items as soon as they’ve been snapped up.

It’s been planned since 2014

Apparently the idea of a building a more powerful Defender has been around for some time, according to Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director. He said: “The idea of reintroducing a V8 Defender was something we were discussing as far back as 2014, when we were still building the Defender in Solihull.

“We knew the demand was there for a powerful and fast Defender – the Land Rover authenticity is the ultimate finishing touch for discerning clients purchasing these collector’s edition Defenders.”

Jaguar’s new E-Pace SUV is about to hit UK roads – and is set to be a huge seller for the British manufacturer. Coming in the wake of the popular F-Pace, it’s designed to appeal to people wanting a slightly more compact but high-riding SUV.

Not only is this latest compact SUV good to look at, it’s also packed with innovative new tech features – and here are five you need to know about.

4G internet hotspot

Not only is the E-Pace capable of tackling rough terrain, it can also provide an internet hotspot for its passengers. That means you can wirelessly connect to the internet on a variety of devices – all from the comfort of the car.

The car itself is also internet-ready, giving you instant access to internet-based apps via the car’s infotainment system. Put the CDs away – this is all the multimedia tech you’ll need.

Smart activity key

For those who are on the go, taking a key can be annoying. That’s why the E-Pace comes with a wearable, waterproof activity key. Rubberised and comfortable, it lets you lock and unlock the car simply by pressing your wrist against the boot.

It’s also waterproof to 20 metres, meaning you’re free to go swimming, surfing or kayaking without worrying that it’ll break. The regular key stays inside the car but is deactivated – keeping things safe and secure.

Phone-based remote

If you’ve ever been inside your house and wondered how much fuel is left in your car, then this could be the ideal feature. Currently being used by a variety of manufacturers, the phone-based remote allows you to check the E-Pace’s fuel levels, as well as where you’ve parked it.

Not only that, but you can also see how efficiently you’ve been driving or check your overall average speed.

Lane departure warning

A useful piece of new tech for those who spend a lot of time on the motorways, the E-Pace’s lane departure warning system vibrates the steering wheel should it detect that the car is drifting across a lane. It’ll also flash a warning on the main screen ahead of the driver too.

In addition, the E-Pace packs lane-keep assist technology. This will gently steer the car around bends when it detects that your hands are on the wheel, making longer journeys more comfortable.

Head-up display

The head-up display on the E-Pace is projected directly on to the windscreen and gives clear and easy-to-read indications regarding speed and the current gear. In addition, it displays satellite navigation directions – meaning you don’t have to look down at the main screen.

When coupled with audible commands, the system lets you follow the satellite navigation without having to lose concentration by checking other screens.

Over the years, the performance branch of Audi – RS – has produced some iconic, hugely capable road cars.

Benefiting from years of experience generated in rallies, they’ve all provided plenty of performance with all-weather capability.

Audi recently released its latest instalment of the RS bloodline – the RS4 Avant – sparking cries as to which model from history is the best. Here are our top five…

RS2 Avant

One of the earliest members of the RS brand, the RS2 was based on the 80 body style produced back in the 1980s. Co-developed with Porsche, it was powered by a turbocharged 2.2-litre straight-five engine with just over 300bhp.

A direct ancestor of the current RS4 Avant, the RS2 showed what Audi could do with a conventional estate car – the RS2 had an ungoverned top speed of 163mph – while maintaining a real level of practicality too.

RS6 Avant (C7)

The latest RS6 Avant model will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the key vehicles produced by Audi RS. Featuring a turbocharged V8 engine, quattro all-wheel drive and a practical estate body style, it’s the perfect all-rounder – which is why it’s proved so popular.

With the trend towards downsizing apparent in performance cars, it’s unlikely that the next-generation RS6 will have the same engine, which is why this edition needs celebrating all the more.

RS4 Avant (B7)

Though the latest RS4 Avant is something of a technical masterclass, it was the previous-generation model that broke the mould for performance estate cars. The B7 edition RS4 Avant proved that fast Audis needn’t understeer everywhere – it was a proper performance car that could corner, steer and accelerate as well as any BMW.

There were a few complaints – the fuel tank was tiny, for instance – but the overall impressions of the RS4 Avant were impressively positive.

RS6 Saloon (C6)

One of the key aspects that made the C6 RS6 Saloon quite so famous was the engine. Shared with Lamborghini, the 5.0-litre V10 was something that wasn’t usually found in “regular” estate or saloon cars and yet here it was – in a comfortable, five-seater Audi.

Capable of hitting 60mph in under five seconds and able to quickly trouble its 155mph limiter, the RS6 Saloon looked, in truth, a little like a taxi – although true car aficionados knew about its underlying supercar performance.

TTRS

Despite being one of the smallest models in the Audi range, the latest TTRS shows that compact cars needn’t be lacking in performance. The current-generation car features a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine and quattro all-wheel drive, but in a smaller, more road-friendly package.

Though not as practical as some of its estate or saloon stablemates, the TTRS makes up for it with invigorating performance and a turbocharged five-cylinder engine with plenty of character.