The wait is finally over with further details and prices revealed for Land Rover’s hot new Defender Octa.
Land Rover has revealed prices and further details on its new Defender Octa.
The Octa is the most powerful Defender ever to go on sale and has reworked chassis components to enhance its on and off-road capabilities.
Under the bonnet will feature a 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 engine with mild-hybrid technology. It will produce 626bhp and up to 750Nm of torque – allowing it to go from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph.
There are quad-exit exhausts and a 68mm wider stance than on the standard model. (Land Rover)
On the outside, the ride height has been raised by 28mm, the wheel arches have been extended and the stance is wider than on a standard Defender by 68mm. The bumpers have been redesigned and there is underbody protection to help with rugged off-road capabilities.
There are new grille designs allowing for better airflow under the bonnet and there is a new rear bumper with a quad-exit exhaust system.
Inside, features sports seats. (Land Rover)
Inside, features performance seats with a choice of cloth or PU leather, which is 30 per cent lighter than the standard material and there is something Land Rover call ‘body and seat soul audio technology’ which has been collaborated with music industry experts Subpac and Coventry university enabling the driver and passengers to feel as well as hear the music.
The Octa Edition one will be limited and will come with Faroe green paintwork, carbon fibre detailing and Defender bonnet script, front wing surrounds, bonnet vent surrounds and on the front seat backs and centre console.
The Edition One will be available for the first year of production. (Land Rover)
Mark Cameron, Managing director of the Defender said: “With the new Defender Octa we have been able to unlock the full potential of Defender. It is the very definition of breadth of capability, and a testament to what we can achieve utilising the very best technologies and talents within our engineering division. With its powerful V8 engine, ground-breaking 6D dynamic suspension technology, exquisite finishes and unique detailing, it is rare, incredibly tough and inherently desirable.”
Order books open soon, with a starting price of £145,300. The Edition one will be available for the first year of production and will cost £160,800. The Octa will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – which takes place on July 11 to 14.
Vauxhall owner Stellantis may have to stop sales of petrol and diesel models later this year in order to meet the government’s strict zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
Speaking to Car Dealer Magazine, Stellantis’s UK group managing director, Maria Grazia Davino, said the carmaker would not pay punitive fines for failing to meet the mandate, which would therefore mean taking petrol and diesel models off sale.
Not only would British brand Vauxhall be affected, but the axe would fall on petrol and diesel models from other marques within the Stellantis empire, including Peugeot and Alfa Romeo.
The government’s ZEV mandate requires 22% of a manufacturer’s new vehicle sales this year to be EVs. Failure to meet this will mean a £15,000 penalty on every non-electric car and £18,000 per non-electric van.
Current legislation sees the threshold rising to 28% next year, 33% in 2026, 38% in 2027, 52% in 2028, 66% in 2029 and 80% in 2035.
In May, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said carmakers were not on course to meet the targets.
Maria Grazia Davino told Car Dealer Magazine that it was “trying not to” restrict sales of petrol and diesel models, and was “trying to protect” customer cars.
“But this will be an immediate consequence,” she added. “I dream of a situation where we have the fullest elasticity.
“Fines are not an option for me and that’s the reason [to reduce ICE volume]. We can’t be fined, it’s not ethical and it’s not the way we are set up. We will not pay fines.”
Along with Vauxhall, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo, Stellantis operates the Citroen, Fiat, Jeep, Abarth and DS Automobiles brands in the UK.
The Stellantis UK chief’s words echo earlier sentiments expressed by former Ford of Europe executive Martin Sander, who said the Blue Oval might have to restrict new petrol cars in the UK to boost sales of new EVs.
Peugeot CEO vows French firm will still have sporty credentials in the future.
Peugeot is pondering how it can still be faithful to its performance car legacy in a world of pure-electric cars in the near future.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson explained that the French marque is debating how it can instil the sporty image it has traditionally been known for into its future electric cars.
Linda Jackson attending the 24 hours of Le Mans 2024. (Peugeot)
“We are absolutely a sporty brand and intend to remain so because it’s in our DNA,” she said.
“If we want to retain the DNA of Peugeot, we have to find a way to give driving pleasure. Everybody remembers the 205 GTi and why was it so popular? Because it was fun to drive and that’s what we need to hold onto.”
Jackson admitted the brand, which is part of the mammoth Stellantis empire, currently doesn’t have the answer to how electric cars in the future can uphold the firm’s sporting legacy.
(Peugeot)
“A Peugeot is all about the pleasure of driving – this is so, very, very important. But then there’s the question that we are reflecting on and that is how do you give this pleasure of driving to electric cars? To be honest with you I haven’t got the answer yet, but we are thinking about it.”
She added: “We’ve got PSE (Peugeot Sport Engineered) currently, but that’s about performance and driving pleasure – we need to find a way that combines driving pleasure with electric.
“Everybody says, ‘oh yeah, but driving electric cars is not like driving a Peugeot 205 GTi’. But, from memory, that car had 130bhp and did 0-62mph in around 6.5 seconds – the current e-208 [electric supermini] has 154bhp. So, we need to find out what performance is [in the electric era].”
(Peugeot)
Jackson was speaking to PA at this month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race where Peugeot fielded two of its 9X8 hypercars in the top tier, battling with the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Lamborghini and Cadillac for class honours.
Peugeot’s sporting production models have traditionally been linked to its endeavours in motorsport, but it currently only has the 508 PSE saloon and estate models in its range that link to its racing activities.
The firm was expected to roll-out its high-performance PSE sub-brand to a wide range of models, but has so far been cautious to proceed with this plan.
Earlier this year, Peugeot confirmed it will work with its Peugeot Sport division on a range of performance models in the future, as the firm intends to only offer pure-electric cars in Europe from 2030 onwards.
As polling day edges ever closer, we look at key party pledges and how they affect UK motorists.
On July 4, voters up and down the country will be heading to the polls in order to cast their vote on which political party pushes through its policies that will help shape the future of the UK.
With key pledges on how to tackle the economy, health, the environment, immigration, housing and much more, the main party manifestos are understandably detailed and some of the most pertinent policies buried within the pages.
With that in mind, we’ve analysed documents provided by the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party to highlight their key pledges to UK motorists and how each one plans to navigate the road towards greater electrification, improved infrastructure and reducing the financial burden on the modern motorist.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives for a visit to Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre, Grantham in East Midlands, while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Monday June 17, 2024.
Conservatives
The Conservatives have long promised to ‘back drivers’, announcing its specific ‘Plan for Drivers’ last year, which included opening up bus lanes to motorists when not in use and making it legal for all motorcycles to use bus lanes.
There was also a promise of £30 million to upgrade traffic signal systems, replacing unreliable and obsolete equipment to improve reliability, as well as increasing fixed penalty notices to utility companies whose roadworks overrun to avoid unnecessary congestion.
The 76-page 2024 manifesto built upon this plan with the announcement that it would seek to reverse the London Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion plans, ruling out top-down blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones, stating that any new schemes would have to be put to a referendum.
On top of this, the party stated that it will remain against a pay-per-mile road tax model.
Despite a heavy focus from rival parties on electric (EV) and new energy vehicles (NEV), the Tories chose to largely ignore the subject and instead said it would cement its commitment to PumpWatch – a scheme that would legally require all fuel stations across the country to share real-time price information with an appointed organisation in order to give greater transparency win fuel prices.
Thanks to the scrapping of the second phase of HS2, the Conservative Party said it would invest £36 billion in ‘local roads, rail and buses to drive regional growth,’ which would include an £8.3 billion fund to ‘fill potholes and resurface roads’.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘Although the previously announced £8.3 billion of reallocated HS2 funding for resurfacing 5,000 miles of local roads is welcome, it’s important to realise this only represents 3 per cent of all council-run roads in England.
‘Spread over an 11-year timeframe, that funding sadly doesn’t scratch the surface of country’s pothole problem. We would have liked to see a commitment to ringfencing some general taxation to pay for local road maintenance, which would give councils the ability to plan long-term programmes to bring their roads back up to a fit-for-purpose state.’
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer visits an on-shore wind farm near Grimsby in Lincolnshire where the Labour leader announced he will expand on the Party�s plan for clean power by 2030, which includes doubling the amount of onshore wind farms and quadrupling the amount of offshore wind farms in the UK by the end of the decade. Picture date: Thursday November 10, 2022.
Labour
The Key takeaway from from the 2024 Labour Party manifesto was that it would reaffirm its commitment to the ban of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 in a bid to increase the adoption of electric vehicles – a scheme that was postponed to 2035 under the Conservatives.
Accelerating the rollout of electric vehicle charging points is also high on the Labour Party’s agenda, as well as supporting buyers of second- hand electric cars by ‘standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries’.
This could come in the form of a mandatory ‘battery passport’ scheme, something the EU will implement by 2027 and one that the likes of Volvo and other Chinese EV makers have already adopted.
The scheme would require all new electric vehicles to arrive with easily accessible information on the origins of raw materials, the amount of recycled content and the vehicle’s overall carbon footprint, as well as easy to access data on the health of the battery pack.
Labour also pledges to fix an additional one million potholes across England in each year of the next parliament, funded by deferring the A27 bypass, which the party says is ‘poor value for money’.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey (left) arrives at Victoria Park Tennis, Newbury, Berkshire while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Saturday June 8, 2024.
Liberal Democrats
The Lib Dems arguably focussed more than any other party on electric vehicles and helping to smooth the transition to new energy vehicles. Its 117-page manifesto stated that it will cut VAT on public charging to 5 per cent, effectively reducing the cost of topping up EV batteries via the public charging network.
The Lib Dems will also require all charging points to be accessible with a bank card, as well as roll out ‘far more’ charging points, including residential on-street points and ultra-fast chargers at service stations.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘The promise to end the VAT charging disparity is particularly welcome, as currently those charging at home pay just 5 per cent in stark contrast to those using public chargers who are hit with a 20 per cent rate.
‘This is something we, along with the FairCharge campaign, have long been calling for as it creates an unnecessary barrier to switching to an EV for those who can’t charge at home.’
Similarly to Labour, the Lib Dems will also reverse the delay of the petrol and diesel ban, bringing it back to its original deadline of 2030. This will be assisted by ‘reintroducing the plug-in car grant’, although the party didn’t go into detail about how much this will be or how the policy would be funded.
Finally, should Lib Dem leader Ed Davey be elected, his manifesto promises to support the introduction of new charging points with an upgraded National Grid and a step-change in local grid capacity to ensure it can cope with increased demand.
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer speaking during the Green Party General Election campaign launch at St George’s Bristol. Picture date: Thursday May 30, 2024.
Green Party
Not surprisingly, the Green Party manifesto looks to ‘shift the transport system away from cars and roads’ in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.
As a result, Green MPs have pledged to restore the fuel-duty escalator, which would push the price of petrol and diesel up, as well as introduce road-pricing that would see Road Tax based upon the wight of the vehicle.
What’s more, the Greens have said they will oppose all new road building plans and bring forward the ban of all Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars to 2027.
To ensure this policy runs smoothly, the party has also stated that more government support is needed for ordinary car users and small businesses to replace their vehicles as diesel and petrol engines are phased out. Although the manifesto didn’t lay out specific budgets, initiatives or timelines.
Instead, money would be committed to new cycleways and footpaths, built using sustainable materials (£2.5 billion a year), with a frequent flyer levy on those that take regular flights helping to fund sustainable initiatives.
Finally, the Green Party takes an opposite stance on speed limits to the Conservatives, pledging to commit to 20 miles per hour to be the default speed limit on roads in all built-up areas, allowing children, the elderly and disabled people to walk and wheel safely.
Crossovers may be all the rage today, but small hatchbacks still have a say in the car market.
Crossovers and SUVs might be the go-to choice for British car buyers, however, the familiar hatchbacks can still win the hearts of a lot of people.
Hatchbacks still offer the same number of seats and impressive practicality of their high-riding cousins, but, with a more familiar driving experience and often better dynamics.
There are still plenty of offerings from European, Korean and Japanese car makers on the new market for hatchbacks.
Here is our guide to the best family hatchbacks on sale in the UK today.
Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 is one of the best looking small hatchbacks on sale. (Credit: Mazda Media UK)
The Mazda 3 is a great car to drive with sharp handling, a stylish exterior and a smart interior. It scores well with practicality, too, while running costs are low thanks to all versions getting Mazda’s M hybrid technology which lowers CO2 emissions.
Not only that, but Mazda’s always score well for reliability and after two decades and four generations of the 3 later, it’s a tried-and-tested platform.
Honda Civic
The Civic is great to drive and has one of the biggest boots in this sector. (Credit: Honda Media UK)
Now over 50 years old and into its 11th reincarnation, the Civic is one of the best hatchbacks you can buy today. Its cavernous boot space and class-leading driving dynamics make it one of the most appealing and entertaining cars in this segment.
All standard Civics now are hybrid only which should be good when it comes to running costs.
Additionally, you can also get a Type R variant with 319bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox, making it a perfect choice for the motoring enthusiast.
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus has been one of the best-selling hatchbacks in the UK ever since the original went on sale in 1998. (Credit: Ford Media Centre)
Sadly, next year, the Blue Oval is killing off one of its much-loved models – the Focus. But, for now, we’ve still got it and are making the most of its excellent driving experience thanks to sharp handling and well setup chassis – plus you can also get petrol or hybrid powertrains.
Furthermore, not only is the Focus a practical hatchback, but you can also have the option of an estate version as well.
Interior space is also impressive with decent leg and headroom for four adults and you can get an ST model that has a 2.3-litre turbocharged engine and 283bhp.
Vauxhall Astra
The Astra is good to drive and affordable to run. (Credit: Stellantis Media)
Like the Focus, the Astra is a very popular car here in the UK and since its first generation appeared over 40 years ago, it has gone on to become a very grown-up and likeable car.
The latest Astra went on sale in 2021 and shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Peugeot 308. Available in electric, petrol or hybrid format, the Vauxhall has affordable running costs across its range and if you want even more practicality, you can get it as an estate, too.
Skoda Octavia
The Octavia has class-leading interior and boot space. (Credit: Skoda Media UK)
The Octavia is a great all-rounder and that’s because it does everything so well. Its boot is one of the largest of any hatchback at 600 litres while the estate increases to 640 litres. It’s comfortable to drive and is very well made with a smart and easy-to-navigate dashboard.
A hot VRS model also gives more power and grip and is a lot sharper to drive, while still being able to carry passengers and their luggage in comfort. Its underpinnings are shared with the Volkswagen Golf, but the Octavia offers more interior space and luggage capacity.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is a great all-rounder. (Credit: Toyota Media UK)
A famous name that has rejoined us within the last five years is the Toyota Corolla. Once called the Auris, the familiar Japanese hatchback has been around since 1966 and in that time it has been known as one of the world’s best-selling cars.
The current generation is good to drive, offers ultra-low running costs and has a classy cabin – while maintaining Toyota’s reputation of making solid, dependable and reliable cars. An estate version called the Touring Sports is available as well as a Commercial version which is perfect for business users.
Volkswagen Golf
The Golf is the bench setter for small hatchbacks. (Credit: VW Press UK)
The Golf is seen as the benchmark of all the small family hatchbacks and that’s because of the image it has made for itself over the last 50 years. Available in hatchback or estate forms, the Golf has always been the vehicle of choice for those looking for a sensible and sedate car that does everything you could ever want a vehicle to do.
It’s well made, reasonably good to drive, has a solid cabin and an upmarket feel and there are performance-oriented models available including the GTi, R and Clubsport versions.
Audi A3
The A3 has a premium feel with low running costs. (Credit: Audi Press UK)
The A3 is virtually the same car as the Golf but with a slightly more premium badge. The interior quality of the Audi is one of the best in class and you can get a variety of different powertrains including petrol with mild hybrid technology, plug-in-hybrid and sporty S3 and RS3 versions.
Furthermore, the A3 can be had in either hatchback form or even as a compact saloon – giving buyers plenty of choice.
BMW 1 Series
The 1 Series may be front-wheel-drive now, but it’s still got great driving dynamics. (Credit: BMW Press UK)
The current 1 Series is the first iteration in its 20-year history to come with front-wheel-drive, but don’t let that put you off. The change in drivetrain still makes the BMW great fun to drive with direct steering and decent performance.
Space in the back may not be as spacious as a Golf or Civic but the 1 Series should be relatively affordable to run and own thanks to decent fuel economy and low emissions.
Peugeot 308
The 308 has bold exterior and interior styling. (Credit: Stellantis Media)
The 308 shares its running gear with the latest Vauxhall Astra, but the Peugeot has a much bolder exterior and interior look. Not only that but the Peugeot can be had with an electric version and a plug-in-hybrid variant to help with keeping running costs to a minimum.
While the backseats are a little snug for passengers, it makes up for that by offering a very large boot capacity.
The five-door Mini will start at £24,000 and be built alongside the three-door at the Mini plant in Oxford.
Mini has revealed the latest addition to its Hatch range with the five-door Cooper.
This newest model will be available with two petrol engines and the choice of three trims levels.
The Cooper C five-door offers 153bhp from its 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and sprints from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds. The top speed is limited to 140mph.
(Mini)
A more powerful Cooper S, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, delivers 201bhp and produces 300Nm of torque, which means it can achieve a 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds and maxes out at 150mph.
The five-door Cooper is available in three different trim levels. The entry level Classic starts at £24,050, while the mid-range Exclusive comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, Vibrant silver front grille and dark interior headliner, although pieces have yet to be confirmed.
A top-of-the-line Sport model will cost £28,450 and boasts steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts to operate the automatic transmission, a gloss black hexagonal patterned grill surround, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and black brake callipers.
(Mini)
The height and width are almost identical to the outgoing model, but the five-door increases rear passenger space, as the wheelbase is 172mm longer than its three-door sibling – and 72mm longer than previous generations.
Mini’s latest OLED display carries over from the three-door version, featuring a 9.4-inch screen and all vehicle functions can be operated via the touchscreen or voice control.
(Mini)
There are seven different driving modes including Core, Green, Go-Kart, Personal, Vivid, Timeless and Balance. When each mode is selected, the backgrounds on the OLED screen feature a unique design and the driver can personalise their own via the ‘Mode App’ inside the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
Additionally, the Mini personal assistant, dubbed ‘Hey Mini’, is included as standard and it allows the driver to then use their voice to control functions, such as the navigation, entertainment and telephone.
The new five-door Mini Cooper is available to order now with first deliveries expected in August of this year.
The Grande Panda will be a ‘global’ car for the Italian manufacturer and will be the first car based on its new multi-energy platform.
Fiat has revealed its new Grande Panda which will arrive in either hybrid or electric format and will be less than four metres long.
The Panda has been one of the most successful models in Fiat’s history, falling just behind the car it shared its chassis with — the 500.
The exterior styling is funky and fresh. (Stellantis Media)
On the outside, the new car features a lot of square and angular lines that give the body of the vehicle a distinctive look. At the front, there’s a gloss black front grille and a skid plate at the lower central part of the bumper while the headlamps are made up of opal-coloured cubes.
Hybrid and electric powertrains will be on offer. (Stellantis Media)
The side profile incorporates grey plastic wheel arch extensions and lower body mouldings, and an engraved ‘Panda’ emblem running down the doors of the vehicle paying homage to the original Panda 4×4.
At the rear, it features more grey cladding, rectangular rear lights with LEDs and three-dimensional badging as well. Details of the interior are yet to be revealed.
Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO and Stellantis Global CMO said: “This compact car is based on a global platform, giving the brand the opportunity to expand its global reach. With the Grande Panda, Fiat now begins its transition to global common platforms that cover all regions of the world, passing on the resulting benefits to its customers worldwide.”
Details of its powertrain and specifications are yet to be announced, with more being revealed nearer the car’s launch.
New hypercar marks the Spanish brand’s 120th anniversary and has an electric powertrain.
The Spanish brand Hispano Suiza has unveiled its third hypercar – the Carmen Sagrera.
Marking the manufacturer’s 120th anniversary, it’ll come with an electric powertrain weighing 612kg that uses the brand’s second generation of batteries and will carry a 103kWh battery pack.
Improved technology means it’ll have a claimed electric range of 298 miles, with its four electric motors each producing around 271bhp. The combined 1,085bhp and 1,160Nm of torque mean it can reach 60mph from zero in 2.4 seconds.
Meet the Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera, our new all-electric hypercar designed and produced in-house. Handcrafted for the boundless driver of the future, it redefines sportiness.
This reveal initiated the new era of Hispano Suiza, merging at midnight with our 120th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/qTThE3QAAu
The Sagrera’s suspension features adjustable shock absorbers and extension settings as well as coil springs that can be altered in hardness and height.
Additionally, carbon-ceramic brakes and single-block brake callipers ensure that the car gets the best braking performance alongside enhanced cooling to enable them to operate at temperatures of up to 1,000C degrees.
It also features a pointed front grille that pays homage to the Hispano Suiza XIII sports car of the early 20th century and it has redesigned bonnet vents that flow seamlessly towards the rear ones.
Hispano Suiza
The rear has undergone some changes including a large spoiler, which improves airflow, and there is a rear diffuser that has integrated copper accents.
Francesec Arenas, Head of Design at Hispano Suiza said: “To uphold the brand’s sporty legacy, drawing inspiration from iconic designs such as the Alfonso XIII and from the original the Gentlemen Driver Concept. I dare say that with the Sagrera, we have refined the concept of sportiness, while maintaining our tradition of excellence and setting the stage for future designs, fulfilling the desires of our customers.”
(Hispano Suiza)
Inside is a new centre console and infotainment system alongside alcantara with black and leather detailing.
The Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera will make its UK debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in mid-July, with further details including pricing to be announced.
The future of Fiat’s successful 500 will involve a new hybrid version.
Fiat has announced that big plans are in the works for one of its most successful models – the 500.
The city car is a firm favourite here in the UK. It’s available in electric and hybrid setups and while the former might be based on a brand-new platform, the latter sits atop a design that has been in production for over a decade.
The new hybrid version, called the Ibrida, will be released between late 2025 and early 2026 and will be produced at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. Produced alongside the electric 500e, it’s expected that this new-generation hybrid 500 will use the platform of its battery-powered stablemate.
The current combustion-engined 500 is more of a mild hybrid. (Credit: Stellantis Media)
The new model will be developed, designed and tested in Turin with Fiat investing €100m (circa £85m) to help improve the electric version even further with a new platform and next-generation battery technology to make it more affordable to customers.
The firm has also introduced a new special edition of its city car – the 500e Mirafiori.
The 500e Mirafiori will not be sold in the UK. (Credit: Stellantis Media)
The model commemorates 50 years of the workforce at the Italian manufacturing plant after the debut of the 131 Mirafiori in 1974.
The special edition will come in cabriolet format and will have the choice of two battery options – with either 42kWh or 23.8kWh packs available.
Painted in Celestial blue, the 500e Mirafiori also boasts a 360-degree camera, a 10.25-inch touch screen with navigation, a JBL sound system and premium soft-touch seats.
Unfortunately, the Mirafiori edition will only be sold in Italy. However, the new Ibrida hybrid will be coming to the UK, with prices, specifications and more on its design and platform to be revealed nearer the car’s launch.
Hyundai has revealed prices and specifications for its updated Bayon crossover SUV.
Hyundai has revealed its updated Bayon compact SUV, which features revised exterior styling, more driving assistance systems and a greater array of exterior colours, with prices starting at £22,480.
The brand has kept things simple under the bonnet, with just a single engine offered across the trim levels. The 1.0-litre turbocharged T-GDI petrol engine produces 98bhp and 200Nm of torque, while a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearboxes are on offer.
On the outside, revised Bayon has received new LED headlights and horizontal daytime running lights, a new front grille and redesigned bumper. At the rear, there is a fresh LED taillight signature and an updated rear bumper, as well as four new paint finishes that include Vibrant Blue Pearl, Meta Blue Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic and Lumen Grey Pearl.
Buyers will have the choice of three trim levels, starting with the entry-level Advance model that is priced at £22,480 and comes specified with 16-inch alloy wheels, electric heated folding door mirrors, automatic lights, LED headlights, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 10.25-inch driver’s instrument cluster.
The updated Bayon will be available in nine different exterior colours. (Credit: Hyundai Newsroom)
In addition to the exterior revisions, Bayon receives a new suite of driver safety and assistance systems as standard across the range that include Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, as well as rear view camera and parking sensors, with additional front parking sensors on Premium and Ultimate models.
Moving up to the Premium trim level starts at £23,880 and boasts automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic wipers, automatic dipping rear view mirror, privacy glass and front parking sensors.
Top-of-the-line Ultimate has prices starting from £25,280 and that secures a Bose premium sound system, wireless phone charging, keyless entry with push button start, as well as an electric tilt and slide sunroof.
Customers can also part with an additional £800 on Premium and Ultimate models to receive Smart Cruise Control, an updated Forward Collision Avoidance assistant (FCA 1.5) that detects pedestrians and cyclists, as well as Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist.
The updated Bayon is available to order from today and deliveries are expected to arrive later this year.
