Category: News

Two “completely new” models are among six RS variants still to be revealed in 2019 as Audi celebrates 25 years of its performance badge.

The German firm has not revealed which of its models will get the RS treatment for the first time, but the most likely would be the Q8. It’s the ultimate form of the firm’s SUV line-up, so would make a prime candidate for a performance version.

The second model is less obvious. The Q7 would make an ideal choice because it’s mechanically identical to the Q8, though a number of the firm’s smaller SUVs could also be in line for RS variants.

Oliver Hoffmann, managing director of Audi Sport GmbH, said: “Every RS model expresses the passion that we put into developing our high-performance cars.

“For 25 years, our customers have been experiencing the RS models as masterful companions for everyday life that convey pure emotion and maximum driving enjoyment.”

The other four new RS models to be released in 2019 include the new RS6, based on the facelifted A6, and the RS7, based on the latest-generation A7, which was introduced last year.

To celebrate a quarter of a century of RS models, Audi has gathered numerous road-going and motorsport versions of its cars at its Forum visitor centre in Neckarsulm, Germany.

The nameplate began in 1994 with the RS2 Avant, which was co-developed by Audi and Porsche. It used a 2.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 311bhp. With high-performance, all-wheel-drive and a practical estate body style, it set the tone for RS models to come.

The government has announced that it is reducing the amount of company car tax that buyers of electric vehicles will be charged in a bid to accelerate the switch to zero-emission vehicles.

For 2020, buyers of all-electric vehicles will be charged zero per cent benefit in kind, with this increasing to one per cent in 2021 and two per cent in 2022.

That means there are potentially massive tax benefits to be had for company car drivers who make the switch – but which EVs are best to take advantage of these savings? We’ve outlined some of our favourites.

Audi e-tron

If you’re looking for a company car, premium appeal, lots of space and a long range are important – and that’s where the e-tron comes in.

Audi’s first vehicle built to be an EV from the ground up has won plaudits for being a great-to-drive electric SUV that doesn’t require compromises to own. With a range of 237 miles and the ability to charge at 150kW, range anxiety should be a thing of the past.

Tesla Model 3

The original EV maker has finally released its volume product. The Model 3 has arrived with admittedly oddball styling, but an excellent range and relatively affordable price tag.

The ‘standard plus’ trim offers 254 miles of range, but the top-spec ‘performance’ promises an incredible 329 miles – as well as a 0-60mph time of just 3.2 seconds. For £40,000-plus, it’s the least expensive entry to Tesla ownership.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan’s hugely popular, game-changing Leaf should be fairly high up your EV shopping list whatever your criteria. It’s relatively spacious, surprisingly quick and has a decent enough range. It even looks quite good, as Nissan fixed the polarising looks of the original model.

There’s a new trim called ‘e+’, which offers more range for more cash. At about £35k it’s certainly not cheap, but with a range of 239 miles it’s a lot more practical than the standard car’s 168 miles. With the BIK price cut, the extra cash for the e+ might be a bit more palatable.

Jaguar I-Pace

The British brand has been having a tough time of it lately, but if there’s one section of its model line-up it has nailed, it’s the I-Pace. It’s about as sexy as an SUV can be, has great range claims of about 300 miles and fast charging capabilities.

At £60,000-plus, again, it’s not cheap, but you’re getting a classy, well-built product that’s at the forefront of a new technology movement. And there’s not much cooler than that.

Kia e-Niro

At the other end of the scale, the Kia e-Niro is more of a working class EV – but it should be no less desirable. There’s massive waiting list right now because sister brands Hyundai and Kia can’t acquire batteries quickly enough to keep up with demand for their EVs, but the e-Niro is worth the wait.

For an affordable crossover EV to promise a range of 250 miles is quite extraordinary. Couple that with handsome looks and generous kit and you can see why people are queuing round the door for them.

Renault Zoe

The Renault Zoe has been around a while now, with its looks only mildly evolving over the years. However, that’s no bad thing, because it has a pretty Gallic charm that can’t be denied.

What has changed is the technology underneath, though. The latest battery updates promise 149 miles of range with pricing starting below £25k. Few electric vehicles offer quite so much bang for your buck.

Volkswagen e-Golf

If you want a practical car the answer is almost always Golf, so it’s no surprise to see that Volkswagen was quick to stick some batteries in its hugely popular hatchback to offer an EV version.

To be honest, it’s not the most appealing option on paper – because it’s an EV converted from a traditionally-powered car, its batteries and motors can’t be fully optimised. Therefore it’s not cheap and its range isn’t extraordinary at 144 miles. But you get the fantastic build quality, badge appeal and practicality of a regular Golf, just with lower running costs.

What is it?

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most iconic nameplates in automotive history. It’s the car that gave birth to the hot hatch genre, and despite a couple of hiccups along the way, has consistently been one of the go-to models in the segment.

However, for this run-out ‘goodbye’ to the seventh-generation go-faster Golf, Volkswagen is aiming to shake free of the GTI’s sensible stereotype. The name says it all – TCR is a nod to the Touring Car Racing motorsport formula, in which a race-prepped Golf takes part.

By referencing a race car in its name, it’s clear that this is meant to be a more hardcore hot hatch, out to take on the best in the segment.

What’s new?

We’ve seen upgraded versions of the GTI before, but this takes it up to 11, offering optional kit from other models as standard and bringing some new goodies, too. There’s more power, no manual transmission option, a mechanical differential lock for the front wheels, perforated brake discs, and a performance-optimised stainless steel exhaust system.

However, perhaps surprisingly, the interior remains fully intact. Often when hot hatches are released in track-focused form the rear seats are removed to reduce weight, with the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R being one of the best examples. Is this a sign that the Golf can’t quite shake its sensible nature, despite the race car pretence?

What’s under the bonnet?

If you know your VW Group performance cars, you’ll recognize this EA888 unit that’s found its way into everything from the Seat Leon Cupra to the Audi S3. Here, performance has been upped considerably over other GTI models to 286bhp and 380Nm of torque, just short of the all-wheel-drive Golf R.

It’ll do the 0-60mph sprint in 5.6 seconds, and promises about 36mpg, which proves just why these models are so popular – pace without bank-breaking bills.

Performance is blistering and puts the GTI on an even keel with some of the more capable and fun-to-drive alternatives. The noise is fantastic, too. Those changes to the exhaust have freed some character as well as performance, both of which are much-needed in regular GTI models.

What’s it like to drive?

From the first time you plant your right foot in sport mode, it’s clear that this GTI is a much more serious proposition than the cars that usually wear this badge. The chunky, grippy Bridgestone tyres work with the front differential to ensure torque steer is largely kept under wraps, catapulting you forward in a cacophony of farty four-cylinder noise.

Attack a B-road and you’ll be met with near-endless grip, giving you more and more confidence to push harder and harder with every corner. It’s not quite as hard-nosed and sharp in its responses as benchmark rivals like the Hyundai i30 N and Honda Civic Type R, though, feeling a little heavier and less-focused.

This is a bit of a shame given the TCR connotations, but the fact that it feels so much more aggressive than its predecessors yet can still fall into its role as a comfortable, premium family hatchback at the press of a button it its real USP.

How does it look?

To the uninitiated this could be any other, well-specced Golf. However, those in the know will realise this particular Golf has been making the most of its gym subscription. It’s no pumped up, flare-arched touring car lookalike, but the TCR-specific bodykit adds just enough muscle to hint at the fiery performance on offer.

The optional sticker pack on our car feels a touch unnecessary when the TCR still leans towards the sensible side of the hot hatch scale, but the Tornado Red paint job, which is a dark, deep shade, looks real quality and only adds to the premium appeal.

What’s it like inside?

It’s a touring car special, so there are going to be hard-backed bucket seats, infotainment delete and a roll cage, right? Well, no. As we’ve now come to expect that name is a bit of a misnomer, but that’s really not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to the interior.

The seats are the same supportive units used in other GTIs, but retrimmed with some Alcantara bits, while the rest of the interior is typical high trim level Volkswagen. There’s an eight-inch infotainment screen, sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel, virtual cockpit and a special TCR red tartan upholstery design.

There’s not much to make it stand out as something overtly sporty, but for people looking for something fairly hardcore that can slot into everyday life too, there are few better.

What’s the spec like?

As you’d expect from a hot hatch that starts at nearly £35k, there’s plenty of equipment to justify the price tag. As standard, it’s available with the aforementioned body kit, 18-inch wheels, and LED headlights on the outside. Inside, there are those Alcantara trim heated sports seats and leather-trimmed steering wheel.

However, our car came in at a whopping £40,674, thanks largely to the addition of the Performance Pack. For an extra £2,900, you get bigger 19-inch black alloy wheels with semi-slick tyres, a derestricted top speed of 164mph, 20mm lower suspension, and Dynamic Chassis Control.

It’s pricey but given the fact that this is the most serious of Golf GTI performance variants, it feels like a sensible option to tick for that full TCR experience.

Verdict

The verdict on the Golf GTI TCR is a tale of contradictions. In some ways, it feels like an opportunity missed, with that touring car nameplate seemingly perfectly suited to a stripped-out, hardcore Golf that could have been up there with the greats of the genre – think Renault Megane RS Trophy R rival.

However, ignore the possibilities and think of this as the ultimate iteration of the GTI formula and the TCR makes perfect sense. It somehow manages to turn the hot Golf up to 11 while retaining the everyday sensibilities and premium appeal that have won it so many fans over the years. It might not be quite as hard-edged as the best in the game, but as an all-rounder, it’s tough to beat.

Toyota is bringing its autonomous vehicle development program to Europe as it announces a 13-month public road trial in Brussels.

A heavily modified LS saloon from sister firm Lexus will make repeated journeys around a fixed route in the Belgian capital, following successful simulator tests and further public road testing in Japan and America.

Gerard Killmann, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) vice president of research and development, said: “Toyota’s ultimate goal is zero casualties from traffic accidents, and the main goal of this pilot is to study complex and unpredictable human behaviour and its impact on automated driving system requirements.

“Responding to the complexity and diverse population of an urban environment like Brussels – the European capital and home to citizens of 184 different nationalities – is key to understanding human behaviour. After successful trials on public roads in Japan and the US, we are now adding European conditions to the technology’s understanding.”

The Lexus LS started life as a standard production model, but Toyota’s engineers have fitted various sensors to the roof that can ‘see’ the road ahead, with the data interpreted by on-board computers that react appropriately.

The LS is fitted with LIDAR (laser imaging detection and ranging), radars, cameras and a high-precision positioning system that work together to create an accurate computer model of the vehicle’s surroundings. A human operator remains in the driver’s seat at all times to take over in case of an emergency.

The research is part of the L3Pilot project, which has been part-funded by the European commission and sees 34 organisations in the automotive industry work together on advancing autonomous vehicle technology.

Electric car charging stations should offer contactless payment by next spring, the government announced today.

It would let people pay for charging their electric vehicle with a credit or debit card, as well as existing methods such as smartphone apps or membership cards.

Michael Ellis, future of mobility minister, said: “The government’s vision is for the UK to have one of the best electric vehicle charging networks in the world, but we know the variety of payment methods at the moment is a source of frustration for drivers.

“It is crucial there are easy payment methods available to improve electric vehicle drivers’ experiences and give drivers choice. This will help even more people enjoy the benefits electric vehicles bring and speed up our journey to a zero-emission future.”

We are adding Contactless payment to all 50kW and 150kW chargers on the @polarnetwork and will be retrofitting it to all existing Polar 50kW Ultracharge units over the next 12 months. https://t.co/uWKxL0Ik1b pic.twitter.com/3atarG4xAK

— BP Chargemaster (@BPChargemaster) July 15, 2019

The government has backed the installation of more than 20,000 public charge points across the UK, including more than 2,000 rapid chargers. There are now more places to charge an electric car than there are petrol stations.

It comes alongside an announcement by BP Chargemaster, which operates the UK’s largest network of charging sites, that it will introduce card payment options on all new 50kW and 150kW chargers from today. In addition, it will be retrofitting UK-made rapid chargers with card readers over the next 12 months.

Chief executive David Newton said: “We support the government’s vision for all new rapid and ultra-fast chargers to support contactless bank card payment.”

The initiative follows the prime minister’s announcement last week that a high-speed electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs to be developed nationally. The government has warned that it is prepared to intervene to ensure a good deal for consumers if the market is too slow to deliver improvements across the entire network.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie has broken cover to lap Silverstone ahead of the British grand prix.

The new hypercar, developed in conjunction with Red Bull Advanced Technology, completed a slow demonstration lap to ceremonially begin its physical development programme after months of digital modelling and simulation work.

Aston Martin’s high-performance test driver Chris Goodwin was behind the wheel. After completing the lap, he said: “I’ve driven this car around Silverstone for countless hours on the simulator at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s HQ and in many other sportscars throughout my career, but to drive Aston Martin Valkyrie here today feels exceptionally special.

“Of course, we still have a lot of development work to go but we can now begin to really push the physical testing process and realise the capabilities of what we have developed over the past months. Putting that aside, today has brought a real smile to my face and I hope that the crowds watching from the stands enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda CEO, said: “Today is a real milestone in not only Aston Martin’s history but for our industry as a whole.

“Aston Martin Valkyrie continues to redefine what you and I recognise as a hypercar, possessing unrivalled levels of performance in a package that is technologically beyond anything else. While Chris’ demonstration today was not delivered at full speed, there is no doubt in my mind that we will one day return to deliver its full potential around this magnificent circuit.”

Last month, Aston Martin confirmed that a race-prepped version of the Valkyrie would compete in the newly developed hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship.

The Valkyrie will feature a hybrid powertrain that boasts a maximum power output of 1,160bhp. It is made up of a naturally aspirated V12 petrol engine and a battery-electric system developed by Rimac.

When electric cars first started appearing on forecourts across the country, they felt like something of a novelty. For the most part, they arrived wearing all-new nameplates rather than established badges, and were often styled rather differently from the rest of the line-up.

This was the case with hybrids, too. For many years, did anything else look remotely like the Toyota Prius, in the Japanese brand’s arsenal?

Now, electric tech has matured, and the idea of creating an electric version of a popular model is less of a risk; it’s edging ever closer to being a necessity.

Here are some of the established, popular models going electric, now or in the near future.

Jaguar XJ

The announcement of increased investment in Jaguar’s electric car manufacturing facilities came wrapped with some surprising news; the XJ, a car that conjures up thoughts of straight-six motors or supercharged V8s, will be going all-electric.

While some will no doubt see this as a shame, the idea of Jaguar’s big, soft flagship gaining the near-silent refinement of electric performance is certainly one that piques our interest.

Vauxhall Corsa

The next Vauxhall Corsa was always going to be a little different, given it’s the first example to be developed with new owners PSA, rather than General Motors.

But, while the Corsa going electric was certainly big news, it perhaps shouldn’t have been a surprise; with the advancement in battery tech, an electric car can do pretty much everything that the likes of the Corsa is usually asked to do.

Mini

It wasn’t so long ago that the news of a hybrid Mini – albeit a Countryman – seemed like quite a big deal, so the arrival of an electric variant of the Mini itself in the model’s 60^thanniversary year was quite the leap forward.

The Mini Electric looks like just the beginning of Mini’s volt forward into the future; a collaboration between parent company BMW and Great Wall Motors is expected to herald further EVs as a part of the German firms’ goal to have 25 electrified cars for sale under its umbrella by 2024.

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen was well ahead of the curve when it came to an electric version of its most popular model.

Even in the 70s, the MK1 Golf was being used to experiment with replacing the internal combustion engine with batteries, and the German marque sold electric ‘CityStromer’ versions of both the MK2 and MK3 Golf.

As such, it probably shouldn’t have shocked anyone when Volkswagen committed its flagship hatchback to an electric model in 2014. The e-Golf has proven to be a very good example of electric motoring, and its reasonable to expect more of the same from the upcoming MK8 Golf.

Smart ForTwo

As soon as a big company took on the idea of a small electric city car for a high-volume production run, novel beasts such as the G-Wiz were never going to be long for the world. When Mercedes-owned Smart rolled out an electric version of the ForTwo in the late 2000s, the moment had finally come.

Today, the electric Smart has a solid share of ForTwo sales, and its own badge – EQ.

Ford Transit

The all-electric commercial vehicle isn’t an entirely new concept, with the likes of Nissan giving businesses an electric option with the E-NV200.

However, the introduction of an electric Transit will likely be something of a watershed moment, as the badge is as synonymous with vans as Hoover is to vacuum cleaners.

Ford has confirmed that the Transit will go electric for 2021.

Peugeot 208

Given the 208’s platform is the same one Vauxhall’s Corsa is built on, there will be no shortage of small electric hatchbacks in the very near future.

However, having never received so much as a hybrid production version before, the arrival of an electric 208 is still pretty big news; and, with an estimated 211-mile range, it should be a very capable EV.

Jaguar E-Type Zero

And now for something completely different.

Jaguar now offers an all-electric version of its classic E-Type for some £300,000, or ‘just’ £60,000 if you source the car for conversion yourself.

And, while many may cringe at the idea of putting an electric motor in this iconic car, fear not; the changes made to create the E-Type Zero are completely reversible.

If other manufacturers follow Jag’s lead with the concept of electrifying classics, perhaps the battery-driven future might look a little more avant-garde than we thought?

With electrification the biggest topic in the motoring industry, and the fact us Brits have long been at the forefront of the automotive landscape, it’s no surprise to learn some of the most cutting-edge machines are built on these shores.

There’s an impressive number of fully-electric and hybrid cars crafted in Britain — and not all are from firms based here, either. We’ve listed the electrified cars built within our borders…

Nissan Leaf

Europe’s favourite EV comes from the heart of Sunderland, in the same plant Nissan builds the Qashqai and Juke crossovers.

The Nissan Leaf has been built on Wearside since heading into production in 2010 for sale both in the UK and across the continent. There seems to be no sign of that changing either, with the second generation of the electric hatch built in the same plant following its 2017 introduction.

Aston Martin Rapide E

Aston Martin has just recently opened a new production facility in St Athan, Wales, which is set to become its hub for EV production going forward. It’s kick-starting that offensive by producing the limited-run Rapide E at the plant this year, with just 155 units slated for production.

Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

One of the crown jewels in the British motoring industry is Bentley (even if it’s German-owned), and it’s a huge bonus for the UK that it builds its only current electrified model here, too. The Bentayga Hybrid has only just joined the firm’s range, but is sure to make a mark on an ever-growing market of electrified SUVs.

Toyota Corolla

In 2018, Toyota revealed that not only would the Corolla nameplate be making a return to its line-up — but that the hatchback would be produced here in the UK at the firm’s manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. Though available without electrification, the Corolla’s best-selling form will be as a hybrid — continuing Toyota’s arguably industry-leading take on hybridisation.

Range Rover PHEV

An icon of British luxury, it’s only right that any electrified Range Rover would be built here too. It’s constructed in Solihull alongside non-electrified variants of the SUV, meaning it boasts the same level of quality and luxury — just with that bonus of emissions-free driving.

Range Rover Sport PHEV

Much like its bigger brother, the Range Rover Sport PHEV is also built in Solihull. The P400e is capable of up to 31 miles on battery power alone. That, combined with a ‘look at me I am better than you’ look and feel, you can feel like a boss on the road while feeling a little bit less guilty about impacting the environment.

LEVC TX

London taxis are a poster child of the UK, and in its latest form it’s made the much-needed switch to electrification. The LEVC TX utilises a diesel generator to power an electric motor for ultra-low emissions duty, and better yet, it’s built in Coventry — just like the iconic black cabs before it.

Focusing on all-electric vehicles could have a detrimental effect on the environment, according to industry leaders.

They added that manufacturers’ huge push towards electrifying their ranges has resulted in battery technology that cannot be recycled or is expensive to recycle, while combustion engines still have less environment impact over the lifetime of the product.

Autocar reports that Neville Jackson, chief technology and innovation officer at Ricardo, which develops technology for both combustion engines and electrified powertrains, told attendees of the Driving the Future event in London: “We are too focused on the only way ahead being electric – and that is a message we have to get across to legislators.

“If you look at the lifecycle analysis of vehicles, which is set to be part of European Commission regulations from 2026, then the analysis of cradle to grave impact is clear: the internal combustion engine still delivers by far the lowest environmental impact.

“We need to avoid the issues of spending huge amounts making batteries that aren’t recyclable, or which are expensive to recycle. There are real opportunities with the technology – let’s not forget we invented the lithium ion cell in the UK – but there are hurdles to overcome that we have to face into in a realistic way.”

Michael Hague-Morgan, commercial director of Autocraft, a specialist engine and battery cell company, agreed, saying: “Whenever you rush into technology you make mistakes. That is already evident in the number of battery packs we are now seeing that have failures.

“Some were even designed as sealed, so you can’t open them and replace or repair them easily. The impact of that on the environment is huge. The focus on pure electric in isolation does not offer the best route – there is some wonderful hybrid technology coming, and it is my belief that will get us further down the path to our targets than pursuing electric in isolation.”

A number of car manufacturers and energy companies are looking at the storage possibilities that ‘second-life’ batteries provide. Battery cells degrade over time, and eventually cannot store enough energy to be useful in an EV and must be replaced.

However, the healthy cells can be recovered and used in stationary storage, such as in the home or business sector. Nissan recently contributed used Leaf cells to a 3MW storage system at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, which is designed to provide back-up energy in the event of a power cut.

The UK government has called on the car industry to find ways to reduce the amount of pollution caused by wear on tyres and brakes.

Despite extensive work to reduce tailpipe emissions, little has been done to reduce the amount of particulate pollution from tyres and brakes because it is so difficult to measure.

However, the independent scientific committee Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG), has warned that tyres and brakes alone could account for 10 per cent of national emissions of PM 2.5 by 2030.

In a new report released today, the AQEG says that “these particles enter the airstream having a detrimental impact on human health for drivers, passengers and bystanders”. It also noted that plastic particles from tyres enter sewers, which can have harmful consequences for marine life.

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said: “The documents published today make clear that it is not just fumes from car exhaust pipes that have a detrimental impact on human health but also the tiny particles that are released from their brakes and tyres.

“Emissions from car exhausts have been decreasing through development of cleaner technologies and there is now a need for the car industry to find innovative ways to address the challenges of air pollution from other sources.”

Mike Hawes, chief executive of industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “The automotive industry is committed to improving air quality and has already all but eliminated particulate matter from tailpipe emissions. Brake, tyre and road wear is a recognised challenge as emissions from these sources are not easy to measure.

“A United Nations global group, including industry experts and government, is working to better understand, and agree how to measure, these emissions. Maintenance of the road surface, as well as further investment in new vehicle technologies, is essential to reducing these emissions without compromising safety and we welcome further research in this area.”

According to government figures, nitrogen oxide emissions have fallen by 29 per cent since 2010, with sulphur dioxide emissions down 62 per cent. A report will be released soon that assesses the impact of microplastics from tyres and clothing on the marine environment.