Category: News

New fourth-generation of Bentley’s Continental GT Speed will come with hybrid power alongside the GTC Convertible version.

Bentley has introduced the latest generation of its Continental GT model with a bold new look and hybrid power.

The new Continental GT Speed ditches the famous W12 which has appeared in its engine range for years, replacing it with a 4.4-litre hybrid V8.

It blends 584bhp from the petrol engine with a 187bhp electric motor – giving a total power output of 771bhp and of 1000Nm. In terms of acceleration, 0-60mph is dealt with in 3.1 seconds and the GT Speed will keep going until 208mph. There is also a 25.7kWh battery pack located behind the rear axle improving weight distribution as allowing up to 50 miles on electric power alone.

Both the GT Speed and convertible GTC feature Bentley’s new Active Chassis which includes active all-wheel-drive, an electronic limited-slip differential, all-wheel steering, torque vectoring, a new generation ESC system and Bentley’s dynamic anti-roll system which should help the car to remain flat and composed through the bends.

The GTC’s roof can be operated at speeds of up to 30mph while performance remains very close to that of the hard-top with 0-60mph being achieved in 3.2 seconds alongside an electronically limited top speed of 177mph.

The exterior is new, with features such as new headlights with a horizontal LED strip, a redesigned rear bumper, brake lights, boot lid, exhaust tips and new 22-inch alloy wheel designs all being incorporated into the design.

Inside you’ll find Bentley’s rotating three-sided display featuring a 12.3-inch screen, three analogue dials and veneer which can all be selectable at the touch of a button.

Customers can also have the choice of three different audio systems including the standard 10 speakers 650 watts setup, a Bang and Olufsen 16 speaker unit or a 2,200 watts, 18-speaker Naim system.

Prices and order books are yet to be announced but we expect further details to be released later in the year.

By Cameron Richards

Two rallying legends are set to return after Boreham Motorworks sign a brand licence agreement with Ford Motor Company.

A pair of Ford’s most iconic models are set to return to the roads under Boreham Motorworks – the RS200 and MK1 Escort.

Boreham Motorworks is the motorsport division of the DVRN Automotive Group, which has just signed a brand licence agreement with Ford to start building two motorsport legends again.

The Ford RS200 was designed and engineered to compete in the World Rallying Championship. It has a four-wheel-drive, a mid-engine layout and a lightweight composite body.

The RS200 will be the first to be built as we approach the model’s 40th anniversary. The build will be completely new and will be a road legal group-B-inspired road car.

The second car to be remastered will be the original Escort which became a household name in motorsport and rallying in the 1960s. Its lightweight design and clever suspension setup meant it handled neatly and was good both on the track and on the gravel roads.

Darren McDermott, executive chairman, DVRN Automotive Group said: “We aim to redefine automotive innovation and push the boundaries in terms of driver engagement and design. Our shared commitment to this incredible project will create an outstanding analogue driving experience and leave a lasting legacy for the true petrolhead.”

At least another five iconic models will be reproduced as part of the series, with the MK1 Escort arriving as the first to be shown to the public later this year – while an initial look at the RS200 has come through an early image, showing it had LED headlamps surrounded in the circular front spot lights.

Will Ford, general manager, Ford Performance Motorsports, said: “From the first time we met with Boreham Motorworks and the DVRN team, it was clear that they had an exciting vision for how to bring some of our most iconic historical nameplates to life in the modern era.”

Both the MK1 Escort and RS200 will be produced in very limited numbers, although prices and exact production figures are yet to be revealed.

By Cameron Richards

A pre-production version of the latest Audi RS 3 has just been put through its paces at the legendary Nordschleife in Germany.

Audi has just set a new lap record around the Nürburgring in a pre-production version of its updated RS 3.

The latest iteration achieved a lap time of 7 minutes and 33.1 seconds, beating the previous record of 7 minutes and 44.8 seconds, set by Nestor Girolami driving a Honda Civic Type R.

The hot hatchback will be available in five-door Sportback or four-door saloon variants.

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre TFSi five-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 394bhp that also gives out 500Nm of torque.

The new RS 3 comes with a 19-inch ceramic brake system and RS sports suspension with adaptive damper control. To maximise the grip, the car was also fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres.

Behind the wheel at the German circuit was Frank Stippler, who explained what was done to make the upgraded model drive and handle more sharply.

“The new RS 3, thanks to fine tuning including brake torque vectoring, is more willing to turn in at the corner entry, allowing the car to be positioned better and earlier for the corner exit at the latest by the apex,” he said.

“The result is a smaller steering angle from apex to corner exit, leading to less friction and earlier acceleration. This way, you carry more momentum and speed on to each following straight.”

The upgraded version of the new RS 3 will be available to order from the end of August this year. Prices and specification are yet to be revealed – with more details to follow nearer the car’s launch.

By Cameron Richards

The Chiron replacement will come with an 8.3-litre V16 engine plus three electric motors and a 25kWh battery pack.

Bugatti has revealed its Chiron replacement that could be the world’s fastest production car – the Tourbillon hybrid.

The engine is a 8.3-litre V16 that was engineered with the help of Cosworth and is said to produce 1,013bhp. There are three electric motors on board that generate the equivalent of 811bhp, giving a total power output of 1,824bhp. Top speed and 0-60mph figures have not been revealed yet.

There is a 25kWh oil-cooled 800V battery – allowing for a claimed electric driving range of up to 37 miles. The battery is housed in the centre tunnel behind the passengers, also the car comes as standard with four-wheel drive. The front e-axle houses the front two electric motors, while the rear axle features an extra motor to help drive all four wheels.

Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac said: “The development of the Bugatti Tourbillon was guided at every step by the 115 years of Bugatti history and the words of Ettore Bugatti himself.

“His mantras ‘if comparable, it is no longer Bugatti’ and ‘nothing is too beautiful’ were a guiding path for me personally, as well as for the design and engineering teams looking to create the next exciting era in the Bugatti hyper sports car story.”

The body is made from carbon composite, there is a new chassis with multi-link suspension at the front and rear and there are carbon ceramic brakes, too.

Externally, the new car doesn’t look as radical as the mechanical enhancements, but the design has been inspired by the 1936 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic. The vertically positioned front windscreen wiper, third brake light and bonnet all resemble the old classic – while the c-shaped body design resembles more modern Bugattis from the Veyron and Chiron.

Inside, the car has seats that are fixed to the floor to be as low and light as possible. The pedal box is electrically adjustable and there is more space for passengers for better comfort on longer journeys.

Customer deliveries of the Tourbillon are expected in 2026, with only 250 examples being made, and the car will come with an estimated price tag of around £3.2 million.

By Cameron Richards

New compact SUV will be available in petrol, hybrid and zero-emission flavours.

Citroen’s upcoming C3 Aircross will be capable of almost 190 miles on a single charge in its electric guise.

That’s according to the French manufacturer, which has revealed more details about the new compact SUV.

It said there would be a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains and that it would be available with either five or seven seats in two of the variants.

The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit that produces 100bhp and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.

A new hybrid version is coupled with a new 1.2-litre petrol engine that has a 28bhp electric motor and a 48V system producing a total of 136bhp.

Both petrol and hybrid versions will offer the choice of five or seven seats.

The new electric variant will come with five seats only and packs a 44kWh lithium-ion battery and 111bhp electric motor that Citroen claims to have a range of 186 miles on a single charge.

Furthermore, DC rapid charging at 100kW chargers means the car can go from a 20 to 80 per cent charge in 26 minutes.

From launch, there will be two trim levels on offer as well. The entry-level Plus trim comes with automatic air conditioning, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera.

Step up to the top-of-the-range Max and it boasts 3D LED rear lights, a heated front windscreen, heated seats and steering wheel, plus a white or black bi-tone roof depending on what exterior colour is chosen.

Prices are yet to be confirmed but the new C3 Aircross will go on sale in the autumn, with customer deliveries expected at the end of this year.

By Cameron Richards

The MC20 Icona and Leggenda celebrate 20 years since Maserati released the MC12 road-going race car.

Maserati has revealed two special editions of its latest supercar – the MC20 Icona and Leggenda.

The two cars celebrate two decades since Maserati returned to racing with the MC12, having been away for 37 years, and only 20 examples of each car will be built.

The MC20 Icona features the same livery as the old MC12 Stradale, which itself was a tribute to the style of the Maserati Trofeo Light that ran in the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race, while the Maserati Fuoriserie logo in Bianco Audace features down the side and an Italian flag logo can be found under the MC20 lettering on the door.

These special editions also come with a Sonus Faber sound system, an electronic limited-slip differential, carbon-fibre interior trim and floor mats in the front and boot area.

The exterior of the Leggenda features a Nero Essenza and Digital Mint Matte sports livery that harks back to the MC12 GT1 Vitaphone – the car that won the 24 Hours of Spa three times. The wheels are painted in Nero Lucido with Nero Opaco and Digital mint hubcaps, while the Trident logo can be seen in yellow on the front grille, doors and C-pillar. It also features black brake callipers.

Both cars can be specified with the Fuoriserie package, which includes lightweight racing seats plus blue with a silver background for the centre console on Icona models and black with silver for the Leggenda.

Because of their exclusivity, it’s uncertain if any of the MC20 special editions will come to the UK. Prices and the date when they go on sale are yet to be confirmed as well.

By Cameron Richards

Estate versions of the V60 and V90 were axed last August but high demand means they’re coming back.

Volvo is performing a U-turn over its axed estate versions of V60 and V90 because of increased customer demand.

The big estates were removed from sale in August 2023 due to the uptake in SUVs and increase in EV production.

The booted versions of the V60 and V90 were available with plug-in hybrid options and were praised by journalists for their excellent levels of safety, comfort and good looks.

A Volvo Car UK spokesperson said: “We removed the V60 and V90 from sale in the UK last August amid falling appetite for estate cars.

“While this remains a long-term trend, we have seen a resurgence for our estate products in recent months and have decided to reintroduce the V60 and V90 to our UK portfolio in response to this.”

Volvo has been one of the leaders for large estate cars for the past four decades. Models such as 145, 240 and 850 have all become household names for the Swedish brand.

Both the V60 and V90 will be available in Plus and Ultra trims. The smaller V60 will have the choice of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol variants, while the V90 will be made to order only as a plug-in hybrid.

Customers will be able to place orders from July.

By Cameron Richards

The latest X3 has received refreshed exterior design and an all-new interior, as well as improved plug-in-hybrid efficiency.

BMW has revealed the next generation of one of its longest running SUVs – the X3.

The new X3 has been completely redesigned with a heavily revised exterior and interior, as well as being offered with an improved plug-in-hybrid powertrain.

Prices start at £46,800 for the standard 20 xDrive and rise to £64,990 for the M50 xDrive.

The new plug-in-hybrid model comes in at £56,340 for the 30e xDrive and is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to electric motor and eight-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox. This generates a total power output of 294bhp and can now achieve between 50 and 56 miles on electric power alone.

All models come as standard with four-wheel-drive and the petrol engine models all come with a 48V mild hybrid system across the range, too.

The 20 xDrive comes with a 2.0-litre engine that produces 210bhp and completes the 0-60mph sprint in 7.6 seconds. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel found in the 20d xDrive generates 199bhp and reaches 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds.

The range topping M50 xDrive comes with a 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo engine that develops 403bhp, produces 580Nm of torque and can complete a 0-60mph dash in just 4.4 seconds.

Standard equipment includes three-zone automatic climate control, acoustic glass, automatic tailgate, keyless entry and sports seats.

The exterior design now features BMW’s large front kidney grille, flared wheel arches, a flush-mounted rear window with a long roof spoiler. The front headlights and daytime running lights all receive a new L-shape design.

Inside, the new X3 features BMW’s latest iDrive system, as well as an increase in boot space. There’s now 570 litres of stowage capacity with the seats up (460 litres for the PHEV), extending to 1,700 litres with the seats folded down (1,600 litres for the PHEV).

Furthermore, all models come with a flat bottom steering wheel, BMW’s curved display, new gear selector and interaction bar.

The interaction bar is a slim display incorporated into the dashboard that is used to control various vehicle functions and systems.

Order books are open now with the first cars being delivered to UK customers in the fourth quarter of this year.

By Cameron Richards

The latest EV to come from the British firm has recorded one of the fastest charging times.

Lotus has announced that its latest EV, the Emeya, has achieved one of the fastest charging times for an electric vehicle.

Using a DC fast charger, the car was able to brim its batteries from 10 to 80 per cent in just 14 minutes when tethered to a 400kW charging outlet. Tests found it could draw a peak of 402kW and average 331kW throughout the charging process.

To enable these improved charging speeds, Lotus has used a cell-to-back battery structure, meaning that 20 per cent more cells can be stored without increasing the size of the vehicle.

Qingfeng Feng, CEO of Lotus Group said: “With our industry leading charging technology available today, Emeya pushes the boundaries for how an EV performs, providing drivers with the confidence to travel anywhere. We’re bringing an unrivalled driving experience in the ultimate grand tourer package, so drivers want to go electric.”

Lotus is also pushing further to make EV ownership more relaxing for customers by collaborating across the industry and developing its own app, charging card, and fast charger that is capable of delivering 450kW of peak power.

The Lotus charging card will allow customers to gain access to the charging network and will be able to keep track of their charging history, manage costs and monitor vehicle battery status remotely, too.

The Emeya will soon be arriving in the UK and Europe in the third quarter of this year, and will be the first electric GT car to join the Lotus line-up.

By Cameron Richards

Volkswagen is just about to launch the new GTI, GTE and Style eHybrid models in the UK with prices and more details revealed.

Volkswagen will soon release updated versions of the Golf GTI, GTE and Style eHybrid models in the UK.

The new GTI will offer more power than its predecessor, with an extra 19bhp taking the total number to 261bhp. This has resulted in a new 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.9 seconds – down from the 6.2 seconds offered by its predecessor.

In addition to an increase in performance credentials, there is a new matrix LED headlight system, an illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front, 18-inch alloy wheels and a redesigned LED taillight cluster.

This also sees the first introduction of VW’s all-new infotainment system, which comes complete with a 12.9-inch touchscreen and the latest Volkswagen IDA voice assistant with ChatGPT integration for hands-free, AI-powered requests on demand.

A new plug-in-hybrid model is also available with two power outputs on offer. The Style version will come with a 1.5-litre TSi Evo2 201bhp petrol engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while a more powerful GTE performance model will come with 268bhp.

Hybrid performance and electric range have been improved thanks to a battery on board with 19.7kWh, which offers an electric driving range of 89 miles for the Style model and 82 miles for the GTE.

DC charging speeds of up to 40kW, as well as standard AC charging, ensure it is quick and easy to top up the batteries from a number of different outlets. Although official charging times have not been revealed yet.

The new Golf GTI is available to order from June 20, priced at £38,900, while the eHybrid Style and GTE models will be available from June 27 and will start at £36,760 and £39,750 respectively.

By Cameron Richards