Category: News

Police unmarked cars are getting harder to spot – but they’re not impossible if you know what you’re looking for.

As technology moves on, the days of twin aerials on the roofs and lights cut into the rear bumpers are long gone. But if you know the tell tale signs the unmarked cars can still be identified.

We spent a shift with an unmarked car from the Roads Policing Unit based in Havant, Hampshire with PC Chris Powling to see exactly what they get up to.

Don’t think we’re giving away any of the police force’s secrets here without them knowing, though. They wanted us to write about their unmarked cars – because they want the public to know they have it and use it. Just as forces do up and down the country.

What’s more, if you’re looking out for one, they say, you’ll be driving more cautiously and paying more attention so its job is done by default…

They sit low at the back

Police cars – even the unmarked ones – have to carry a lot of kit including cones, signs and more. This means the unmarked BMW 3 Series sits noticeably lower at the back.

One cop or two?

It used to be thought that unmarked police cars had to be manned by two officers – but that’s rarely the case these days. Savage budget cuts have depleted roads policing units and that means you’re more likely to see unmarked – and marked – police cars manned by single officers rather than two.

Make and model

Police forces up and down the country use all manner of different makes and model of unmarked vehicles. We’ve seen unmarked HGVs, motorcycles and more. However, BMW, Skoda (often Octavia VRs), Volvos and even VW Golf Rs are commonly used up and down the country. So looking for a certain type of car is no giveaway.

They have a lot of kit on the dash

You won’t notice until you pass, but look inside and you’ll spot the large ANPR screen and buttons for the sirens and lights on the dashboard. It’s far more complicated than iDrive, but it’s lit up like a Christmas tree on the dashboard.

They have a camera behind the number plate

You’d need to have eyes of a hawk to spot it, but the infrared camera now often sits behind the rear number plate. One of the letters on the plate is mirrored so the camera can see through.

However, these have been known to break all too easily, so many forces are reverting back to cutting holes for them in the bumpers or placing them under spoilers. These are especially obvious on Skodas, where the central strut of the spoiler is now a huge box housing the camera.

Lights behind the front number plate

Look closely at the front number plate from the side and you will see it sits further forward and has a strip of LED lights either side. These are so the car can be seen side on. You can just about see them in this picture.

Behind the grille

With more cars than ever before stashing radars for cruise control and anti-collision systems behind their grilles, these two LED light strips could easily be mistaken for something else. But look closely enough and they are there.

Is it driving like a BMW?

It’s a cliché but BMW drivers have a certain, how shall we put this, “style” about their driving. Police trained drivers do not. Is it in the slow lane? Is he travelling at the speed limit? Is he behaving like a proper driver should?

Parcel shelf gubbins

If your car is high enough to look down on to the parcel shelf you’ll see there are several unusual blocks where the dot matrix board pops up to tell people it’s a police car. but you’d have to be looking very hard to spot them when retracted.

Uniformed officer

The biggest giveaway will be the fact a police officer is sat behind the wheel. Although they won’t be wearing their high visibility jackets they will have epaulettes on their shoulders and the word ‘police’ written on their clothing. it’s hard to spot at night, but not so hard during the day.

 

The wheels on a car are often the area that end up the dirtiest, and therefore need the most attention.

They attract brake dust like a magnet, particularly front alloys that typically have disk brakes. Mud-splattered roads also mean that rear wheels can end up caked in grime, needing attention to remove safely.

As more wheels are painted in gloss black finishes that are prone to scratching, as well as many being a pricey optional extra on new cars, there is even more of a need to keep them looking their best to prevent marks.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy step-by-step guide to get your wheels sparkling again. It might seem a bit time consuming, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

And unfortunately we couldn’t find a Ferrari with filthy enough wheels to take photos of, so we had to make do with a dented brown 2011 Skoda Yeti. At least it was in need of a clean…

1. Get the wheels their own bucket – they are often the most fiddly, time consuming and grimy area. Get them out of the way first.

2. Spray them with a pre-wash product, or a wheel cleaner, and leave to soak for a couple of minutes.

3. Pressure wash the dirt away – just look at the difference made already!

4. Next,  clean the wheel faces using a soft wash mitt or wheel mitt.

5. Don’t forget the wheel barrels – use long ended brushes to clean them – you often need several brushes to reach all the areas.

7. If the wheels look like they still need a bit of attention, use what’s known as fallout remover to remove any iron particles from the brake dust left on the wheels. The product turns red, and then it can be sprayed off. The reaction shows up better on neglected wheels. 

8. Don’t forget the tyres and wheel arches, either. Spray a strong APC on them and leave for a couple of minutes.

9. Scrub the tyres using a dedicated tyre brush and the wheel arches if ingrained dirt is present on them.

10. Fully rinse the wheel removing any dirt.

11. Once you’ve cleaned the rest of the car, and dried it – don’t forget to dry the wheels and tyre arches, too. This leaves a good base to apply tyre shine to.

13. And there you have it – one sparking set of wheels, we did have to clean the rest of it, too.

For every car brand that works, there’s probably fifty that have failed in one way or another. While the likes of Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota continue to this day as multi-billion pound conglomerates, there are hundreds and hundreds of other car brands which no longer exist.

There are a variety of reasons why brands disappear. Some, such as DKW, didn’t really die, but merely became absorbed into the larger Auto Union – a merger of DKW, Horch, Wanderer and Audi, which eventually turned into the modern-day Audi.

Others were killed off by their parent brands. Take Scion or Saturn – hampered by slow sales, and taken out of action by owners Toyota and GM.

Then, of course, there are the manufacturers which simply fade into insignificance – often through bankruptcy, leading them to close up shop and depart forever.

We’ve rounded up a few dead car brands you might not be so familiar with below.

Scion

If you live in the USA, you’re likely to know Scion quite well – but the brand’s lineup is a mystery to European buyers as it was only ever sold Stateside. A sub-brand of Toyota, it was pitched at the total opposite end of the spectrum to Lexus, with youthful verve a key selling point.

However, the boxy design of its first car, the xB, gave it an unfortunate reputation. Those with liver spots and dicky hips adored its high driving position and brilliant visibility. With the rest of Scion’s range consisting of rebadged Toyotas, the brand never achieved the youthful desirability it craved, and after 13 years it folded in 2016.

Autobianchi

Originally a bicycle manufacturer, Bianchi joined forces with Fiat and Pirelli to become ‘Auto’ Bianchi and begin manufacturing cars. Based on Fiat mechanicals, Autobianchis were pitched as luxurious alternatives to workaday fare such as the 500.

Autobianchi continued producing quirky and high-end small cars, culminating in the Y10. However, as parent company Fiat now owned the luxurious Lancia brand, there was little need for Autobianchi. The Y10 was branded as a Lancia outside of Italy, and eventually Autobianchi disappeared altogether in 1996.

Panhard

Panhard et Levassor (later just Panhard) embodied the sense of chasing innovation rather than profit in the way only French brands can. A pioneer of aerodynamics, the 1954 Panhard Dyna was capable of cruising at 70mph with six adults on board using just an 850cc, air-cooled twin-cylinder engine – shaming many 2.0-litre equivalents from other brands.

A selection of other aerodynamic and innovative cars followed, and Panhard experimented with aluminium bodywork, sleeve-type valves, and Panhard Rod suspension which continues to be used to this day. Panhard was sadly absorbed into Citroen in 1967, though the brand does still exist as a manufacturer of military vehicles since 2005.

Matra

Matra was originally a defence specialist, manufacturing missiles and bombs, but moved into car manufacturing with the acquisition of Automobiles Rene Bonnet in 1964. It produced a wide array of quirky vehicles, and can even be credited with creating two whole market sectors in Europe – the crossover, with the Rancho, and the MPV with the Renault-badged Espace.

Most exciting of the bunch were its Bagheera and Murena sports cars, which used an innovative three-across layout to provide some practicality while retaining a sporty look. However, following the discontinuation of the Renault Avantime – designed and built by Matra – the company closed down its automotive arm.

Duesenberg

In the early days of motoring, America had a luxury car brand to rival Rolls-Royce – Duesenberg. The company was run by brothers Fred and Augie Duesenberg, who were impressive engineers but terrible businessmen, and their combination of prize-winning race cars and incredibly high-tech luxury vehicles failed to make any notable profit until it was purchased by E.L. Cord in 1925.

Cord challenged the brothers to build the biggest, fastest, and most expensive car in the world – the Model J. The resulting car was beautiful, high-tech and engineered to near-perfection, but the Great Depression dulled the American public’s lust for luxury vehicles, and the company folded in 1937.

NSU

NSU was primarily a motorcycle manufacturer for the first half of the 20th century, but broke into volume automobile manufacturing with the rear-engined Prinz. It really began to be noticed after 1964, though, when its experiments with Wankel rotary engine tech spawned the Wankelspider – the first production car ever powered by such an engine.

Three years later, the iconic Ro 80 came along, powered by a twin-rotor Wankel engine and with seriously impressive performance. But investment in rotary tech proved costly, sales were slow and the whole project was unsustainable. NSU was absorbed into Auto Union, the parent company of modern-day Audi, in 1969, and its name was never used on a new car again. The last Ro 80 was sold in 1977.

Panther

Based in Surrey, Panther Westwinds was founded in 1972 as a small company producing quirky vehicles based on rather mundane mechanicals. If you’re familiar with Japanese Mitsuoka, you’ll know the type – Panther produced luxurious versions of Triumph Dolomites and retro-styled roadsters based on Vauxhall Viva underpinnings.

It shot to notoriety in 1977 with the Panther 6, an incredible feat of engineering taking the form of a six-wheel, luxury convertible, which the brand claimed could top 200mph. Only two were produced, but both remain in existence – with one selling at Bonham’s Monaco Auction in 2011 for just £36,255 (pictured). Sadly, the company collapsed in 1980, and further attempts to restart it with Korean backing failed.

Buying a used car can be a daunting experience. Without prior knowledge, selecting a vehicle from a list of thousands can prove to be a little overwhelming – and can prove costly if done incorrectly.

Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of the things you need to check when buying a used vehicle.

Check its history

Once you’ve picked out a car you like from the classifieds, it’s imperative that you check the car’s history. Many companies provide this service for a small fee and require just the car’s registration. You can also find out a vehicle’s MOT history via the government’s website, and this gives you an idea as to any faults the vehicle may have had, or still suffers from.

Ask questions

Before you even go anywhere near the car, give the seller a ring and ask them about it. This could save you hundreds of pounds by eliminating the need to travel and see the car if it isn’t quite right for you.

Get up close and personal

Once you get to the car, it’s time to give a thorough going over. Check that the engine isn’t warm – this could be a sign that the owner is trying to hide some mechanical faults.

Look out for rust spots on the arches – these are prone to corrosion – and check underneath the car’s sills, too.

Look under the bonnet

Of course, checking out the engine is a crucial part of the inspection process. Check the dipstick – is the oil fresh?

Also look around the oil filler cap – any white residue could potentially mean a blown head gasket, and could lead to thousands of pounds in repair bills. Make sure that you see receipts for any work that has been undertaken on the car too – this will give you a better idea about the state of its mechanicals.

Check the interior

Does the interior of the car match the mileage? If the car has a beaten-up interior but has low miles, it could mean that the vehicle has been ‘clocked’, where the car’s odometer is wound back. This is less prevalent in newer cars, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

Do the deal

If you’ve checked the car over, reviewed its history and feel happy with the overall package, then it’s time to make an offer. Don’t be afraid of pitching low – there’s a good chance that the seller could take it, saving you thousands.

Remember to keep things amicable and, above anything, don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re not happy.

Hot hatches offer a compelling combination of practicality and performance that buyers can’t seem to get enough of.

These days, it’s almost impossible to imagine a world where we don’t have sporty hatchbacks, such is their beloved, revered status among car enthusiasts.

Inevitably, dozens of discussions happen in offices, race circuits and pubs across the world, all of which centre around the hot hatches that stand out from the rest.

Here’s our list of hot hatches that define the breed; yes, we’ve tried to rank the best hot hatches of all-time, and considering there’s so much to choose from, it wasn’t easy. But we had a go…

Honda Civic Type-R (EP3)

In 2001, the second generation Honda Civic Type-R was released – the first to be built at Honda’s Swindon plant.

The 197bhp Type-R was one of the few great hot hatches of the early-2000’s, becoming renowned for its eager, near-constant three-wheeling while steering at the limit, with the likes of Jeremy Clarkson remarking that the car was ‘cocking its leg’ much like a small dog.

The car was a serial award winner among the motoring press, and cemented the Civic Type-R as a prime hot hatch after the previous success of the EK9.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Lancia suffered a well documented fall in reputation at the tail-end of the 20^th century. However, during the 80s and early 90s, the Italian firm achieved many of its greatest sporting accomplishments in rallying.

The car that provided much of that success was the Lancia Delta HF Integrale, which won three World Rally Championship titles in 1988, 1989 and 1991.

The road-going version of the rally car retained its four-wheel-drive system, as well as much of its handling prowess and performance ability. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale is not only a great hot hatch, but also one of the best race-bred road cars the world has seen.

Ford Fiesta XR2

From its launch in 1976, the Fiesta was lauded as a significant source of driving fun, and as such, it was a prime platform for a hot hatch.

And sure enough, for the second generation of the Fiesta, the XR2 was a winner all round. While it is not the most powerful hot hatch, at just 96bhp, it is one of the best-loved and most purposeful-looking cars of the era.

While performance was limited by Ford itself to protect the Escort’s performance credibility, the XR2 has still gone down as a hot hatch icon.

Renaultsport Megane R26.R

While cars like the aforementioned Lancia Delta are racers calmed down for the road, the Megane R26.R took an exciting road car and turned it up to 11 in honour of one of Renault’s most successful Formula One cars of all time.

In 2006, Renault took its second consecutive Formula One World Championship with their R26, and Fernando Alonso at the wheel. The R26.R was a hardened version of the previously-launched Megane Renault F1 Team R26 launched to commemorate the F1 successes.

The R26.R was to the Megane range what the Porsche GT3 RS is to 911’s – lightened, hardened and styled for the track. With 123kg shed from the 1,355kg R26, the ‘R’ version proved to be one of the most potent hot hatches of the late-2000’s, and also one of the rarest, with just 450 examples produced.

Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus is an oddball in the hot hatch world, as it is rear-wheel drive.

Honed by the famed Norfolk-based sportscar firm, this 150bhp, 960kg hatchback could hit 60mph from standstill in less than seven seconds, a figure which holds up as impressive to this day.

While the Sunbeam Lotus is rather forgotten compared to the likes of the Golf GTI, its brilliant chassis and rear-wheel drive layout make it a standout hot hatch driving experience.

Ford Escort RS Cosworth

 

The best Ford ‘Cossie’ was, for our money, the last one.

After the incredible Sierra RS Cosworth allowed Ford to compete in Group A rallying and touring car racing at the tail-end of the 1980s, it was inevitable that a successor would have to come, as the regulations for the World Rally Championship still required the production of 2,500 homologation specials.

The result was the Escort RS Cosworth. With four-wheel drive, 227bhp and that incredible whale-tail spoiler, it soon became the envy of a generation.

The car was infinitely upgradeable, incredibly butch from a styling standpoint, and one last example of the Escort’s potential before the model was consigned to the history books.

Renault Clio Williams

 

In the mid-90s, Williams and Renault were all-dominant in Formula One, and also in touring car racing, with their incredible Laguna Super Tourer.

With such strong collaboration between the legendary race team and the French manufacturer, a road-going car was inevitable, and when it came, it was truly phenomenal.

This car was yet another homologation special for the secondary WRC ‘Kit Car’ class of rallying, and to ensure the road-going version was as good as it could be, nearly 150bhp was on tap, suspension borrowed from a Clio race car, and the folks at Williams had the chance to tinker with the sub-1000kg pocket rocket.

To many fans of hot hatches, the iconic Metallic Sports Blue and Gold wheels of the Clio Williams define the breed. It is a spectacular machine.

Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1

We couldn’t not include the car that serves as the origin of the GTI badge, the MK1 Golf GTI.

When this arrived in 1975, the hot hatch recipe was fresh and new. This phenomenal product of Wolfsburg was both practical and pacey, weighed just 810kg, and would perform all the light, rear-wheel cocking B-road handling you could ever dream of.

While its performance is tame in this day and age, the handling still holds up, and while other manufacturers would try different methods early on, this car would prove to be the mould for all hot hatches going forward.

Mini Cooper S

If the Golf is the original GTI, the Mini Cooper S is the progenitor of all GTIs and hot hatches as a whole.

The car, particularly with the most popular 1275cc engine, has all the key ingredients of a hot hatch. It is lightweight, and thanks to that, its 76bhp packs quite the punch. The handling is wonderful, and as a plus, the car has serious racing pedigree thanks to the exploits of Paddy Hopkirk at events such as the Monte Carlo Rally.

Of course, it also became a movie star in The Italian Job, and went on to be a symbol of all things British. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most iconic cars of all time.

Peugeot 205 GTi

The MK2 VW Golf GTI took the original version’s recipe and improved upon it to an impressive degree. The world knew it would take something special to knock the Golf off of its perch, and Peugeot went for the jugular with something very special indeed.

The 205 GTi is another lightweight, superbly-fettled hatch with more than enough power to classify it as a daily use missile. While the handling of the car is superb, we think it’s the engines that really made the car special, with the revvy, hyperactive 1.6 and the slightly less vigorous 1.9 with superior pull, both being wonderful motors.

Over 30 years after launch, the 205 GTi is still a benchmark which many hot hatches are put up against, and if that isn’t the mark of an all-time great, we don’t know what is.

The world’s first all-electric snow race has taken place, with vehicles ranging from a humble Smart Fortwo Electric Drive to a classy Tesla Model S P85 taking to the hills of Andorra in near-blizzard conditions.

Organised by Eco Grand Prix and with more to come, the races seek to prove to the world that electric vehicles can work in a variety of conditions and be fun at the same time. In addition to this snow stage, races will take place in Calafat, Spain, and Bilster Berg, Germany, with the cars sampling wind and heat in one environment and wet conditions and hill climbing in the other.

The Andorran race was a five-hour endurance circuit, with winning driver Alan Fuertes completing 62 laps within the allotted time at the wheel of a Tesla Model S P85. He was tailed by Pere Soria in a Hyundai Ioniq and Peter and Michael Walser in another Tesla Model S.

Other competitors raced in a wide variety of electric cars, including a BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen eGolf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive.

Eco Grand Prix co-organiser Rafael de Mestre, who holds the current record for the fastest trip around the world in an electric vehicle, said: “A lot of petrolheads are commenting there will be no fun any more if EVs take over.

Some of the action from an #electricvehicle #EV race, the #EcoGrandPrix, in the snow near blizzard like conditions in #Andorra recently.

This is the first of a series of #EcoGP events which will test EVs to the limit in different environments. https://t.co/CBlG0wPHgG

— World Reach Comms (@WorldReachComms) April 3, 2018

“We at Eco GP are showing that this is a thrilling competitive race series which also encourages people to think about buying EVs. Also, we want to show that EVs can stand up to the toughest tests in harsh conditions.”

De Mestre achieved his own record in 2012, after setting off around the world behind the wheel of a Tesla Roadster. His goal was to achieve the trip in 80 days, as in the famous Jules Verne novel ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ – but fell short of the target, taking 127 days to complete the challenge.

The next Eco GP race will take place in Spain on September 15.

Everybody loves a laugh every now and then, and so it is in the world of cars, with automotive PR departments unable to resist the occasional giggle by sending out a humorous press release for April Fools’ day.

With the stress of major events such as the Geneva and New York motor shows barely out of their memories, car manufacturers often let their hair down and take one of two routes with their joke. Some go for pure ridiculous hilarity, while others take the time and often put in a great deal of effort to make their April Fools’ press release as convincing as possible.

Some past efforts are certainly memorable – who could forget Honda’s emoji number plate, Peugeot’s personalisable car horns, the BMW M3 pickup truck or Mercedes’ AMG Sprinter?

Read on for the best jokes that the UK’s automotive press teams came up with for April Fools 2018.

Seat Arona Copper Edition

We have too many pennies around, says Seat – so why not put them to good use? That’s the thinking behind the new Arona Copper Edition, which adds a coin slot to the compact crossover making it ideal for the penny-pinching petrolhead.

The Spanish manufacturer points to proposals by HM Treasury to scrap the 1p and 2p, which would leave the country with over 15 billion redundant coins. “Seat has found a way to keep these soon-to-be historical artefacts motoring on for years to come,” it says.

MG’s Alpaca-powered crossover

With the pushback against diesel fuel, what alternatives are there to power the millions of cars on British roads? Petrol and electricity are both sound options, but MG thinks it has the answer – alpaca dung.

Daniel Gregorious, head of sales and marketing at MG UK, said: “We look forward to the day when people resign horsepower to the history books and refer to alpaca power. It really packs a punch.”

Honda CR-V Roadster

Honda pulled out all the stops with this one – or rather, it pulled out the angle grinder from the garage and gave it to a team of enthusiastic press officers. Created by slicing off the entire roof at the pillars, what’s perhaps most remarkable is how natural the CR-V looks as a rival to the Range Rover Evoque Convertible.

The team, however, notes that the prototype does suffer from its total lack of a convertible roof, making it somewhat unsuitable for the UK’s two-day summer, while the loss of structural rigidity makes it ‘completely undriveable.’ Shame.

Hyundai’s Cacao Corner

The Hyundai i30 N is a remarkably close rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTI – remarkable as it’s a first effort at a hot hatchback from traditionally staid and sensible Hyundai. How did the team develop such a brilliant car on its first attempt? With Cacao Corner, obviously.

The biodegradable and viscous material of Cacao Corner (located at Hyundai’s test track and paved with just cocoa, butter and milk) enables the brand to capture tyre prints for later analysis. Remnants of the track are, the brand says, responsibly disposed of during Easter.

Aston Martin Project Sparta

Aston Martin’s motorsport division is branching out, fielding a challenger in a sport it’s never attempted before. Codenamed Project Sparta, it’s a radical direction for the company to take – who would have associated Aston Martin with monster truck racing?

Fitted with a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, it will produce 1,100bhp and go head to head with some of the most famous trucks out there such as Grave Digger, Big Kahuna and Jailbird.

The covers are off, the pictures have been taken and the mysteries have been revealed – the 2018 New York International Auto Show press days have come to a close. Of course, the vast majority of the cars featuring at the show in the Big Apple are destined to only arrive in the U.S., but there are certain vehicles that will be heading to the U.K, too.

Here, we look at some of the standout, U.K-bound models to be featured at this year’s New York motor show.

Mercedes-AMG C63

AMG’s ballistic version of the popular executive C-Class has long been a hit with car enthusiasts, and in New York the German firm revealed a mildly refreshed version. The latest C63 has been given some subtle exterior design changes, but the really interesting stuff is in its dynamics. The suspension, adaptive damping system and dynamic engine mounts have been ‘elaborately retuned’ and a limited-slip differential is now standard.

There are still two versions available – the standard C63 gets a 469bhp version of the 4.0-litre V8 engine, while the C63 S gets 503bhp. Prices for the standard model start at £64,000 and increase to £73,000 for the S.

Mini Classic Electric

Mini is working on an all-electric version of its popular three-door model, and to get buyers excited at the prospect of a zero-emission Mini it has built a one-off version of its classic model.

Details of what’s underneath are thin on the ground, but the iconic exterior has been fully restored with bright red paint, and a white roof and bonnet stripes. It’s likely this unique model is powered by the electric powertrain from a BMW i3, as that is what is expected to go under the bonnet of the new production Mini when it goes on sale next year.

Maserati Levante Trofeo

If you’re in the market for a high-performance Italian SUV, then this is your latest option — the Maserati Levante Trofeo. With a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 under the bonnet, this is one fast 4×4 – and Maserati claims that it’ll hit 60mph in under four seconds thanks to an advanced all-wheel-drive system that is able to accurately get the power onto the road.

Maserati claims that the V8 features the highest specific output of any engine it has created, and with 750Nm of torque on tap it should certainly feel brisk enough to live up to this.

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations division is tasked with creating high-performance and limited-run version of the British firm’s cars, and now it’s turned its hand to the F-Pace SUV. Under the sculpted bonnet sits a 5.0-litre V8 making a healthy 542bhp and 680Nm of torque.

With all-wheel-drive aiding grip that makes it good for 0-60mph in just 4.1 seconds, while the top speed is 176mph. It also gets an aggressive body kit with large air intakes to improve cooling, and costs from £74,835.

Toyota RAV4

The new Toyota RAV4 made its first appearance at this year’s show, marking the return of a popular name in the compact SUV segment. Available with two powertrains – a 2.5-litre hybrid unit as well as a 2.0-litre petrol – it’s been designed to be more dynamic and better to drive than the outgoing model.

In addition, 30mm has been added to the wheelbase, increasing the levels of interior space. Despite this, the front and rear overhangs have been shortened, giving the RAV4 a more dynamic look out on the road.

Audi RS5 Sportback

We’ve already seen the regular RS5 Coupe, but this is the first time that the Sportback version has broken cover. It’s there for people who want the performance of the two-door, but with the added practicality only afforded by a five-door.

Under the bonnet sits a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which sends power to all four wheels via Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel-drive system. The German manufacturer claims that the sprint to 60mph can be dispatched in just 3.9 seconds.

Wheel arches extended by 15mm help give the RS5 Sportback a commanding appearance on the road, while a lower ride height thanks to sports suspension should mean that it corners well too.

It wasn’t too long ago the Ford Mustang was finally put on sale officially in the UK – having arrived here in 2016 for the first time in the iconic model’s 44-year history. Demand has been huge on this side of the pond, with the firm claiming to have sold more than 33,000 units since arriving in Europe.

It’s not sitting around on that initial success though. For 2018, the Mustang has been refreshed with more tech, fresh looks and increased power in an effort to carry on that success. We take a closer look at what’s new.

A fresh face

The new Ford Mustang carries over the core look of the outgoing model, but it does bring a number of tweaks to keep it up to date.

At the front there’s a revised lower front grille, the addition of a front splitter for more downforce and new bonnet with integrated air intakes to help keep the engine cool. As for the rear, a redesigned bumper and diffuser feature while a new optional boot spoiler is also available.

A way to keep your neighbours happy (or to annoy them)

If you want to take your muscle car out for a drive in the early hours, but don’t want to disrupt your neighbours, the Mustang’s new active exhaust has the solution for you.

Dubbed ‘Good Neighbour Mode’, there’s a configurable timer on the system that keeps it in ‘quiet’ mode between selected hours – so not to disturb the peace around you.

Alternatively, there’s also a ‘race track’ setting, which lets the 5.0-litre V8 engine scream at the top of its voice. That’ll teach Gareth next door not to badly play Muse’s Hysteria on his car boot sale electric guitar at 3am.

Even more power

The 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine might be something of a dinosaur in modern terms, but that hasn’t stopped Ford taking it up a notch for 2018.

There’s more power from the brute – up to 444bhp from 410bhp – which has resulted in a quicker 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds and a 155mph top speed. It’s still not exactly efficient, returning 22.8mpg on the combined cycle, but who cares when it sounds so good?

Rev-matching technology that makes you look like a pro

If you’re struggling to perfect the heel-toe technique on your downshifts, then this new gadget on the Mustang has you covered.

Rev-matching technology works by “blipping” the throttle during downshifts, resulting in a smoother gear change that allows you to carry more speed through corners.

It’s not an entirely new thing in the motoring world – previously appearing on the likes of the Nissan 370Z, a number of Porsches and the Ford Focus RS – but this is the first time we’ve seen it on a Mustang.

A 10-speed automatic gearbox (Yep, 10)

Ok, 10 gears may sound absolutely ridiculous on any car – let alone a muscle car – but this new transmission has proven to be a fantastic addition to the Mustang.

Derived from the Ford F-150 Raptor (yes, it comes from a pick-up truck), this automatic box is far from sluggish – great for performance driving – and the addition of two extra gears means cruising at motorways speeds is more comfortable and more efficient than before.

Clever new suspension

If you fancy paying an extra £1,600, you can have your Mustang fitted with seriously clever ‘MagneRide’ suspension.

It’s a complicated thing, using a fluid that can be magnetically stimulated to change the resistance of the dampers, but the end result is a car that can do it all. Switch to Sport+ mode, and the suspension will firm up to deliver an uncompromised driving experience – which can then be switched up to a more relaxing ride for motorway miles at the touch of a button. We’d definitely spec this on our Mustang.

Improved safety

Ford has been on a mission to take the Mustang from two stars to three for Euro NCAP’s safety ratings, throwing more tech at the car to do so.

This means the ‘stang now has Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Keeping Aid, along with the existing Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto Emergency Braking systems. You can cruise along in your new muscle car with an eased mind.