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Autocar UK - 2023.03.08
Autocar UK - 2023.03.08
IMAGE
IMAGE
F I R S T F O R N E W S A N D R E V I E W S E V E RY W E E K
Est. 1895 | autocar.co.uk | 8 March 2023
P U R O SA N G U E D R I V E N
8 – 15 March 2023
THE VERDICT IS IN!
£4.75
ASTON VALKYRIE
8 March 2023 | Volkswagen Multivan
F ROM
8 years in the making (but worth the wait) £3K
N E W L O T U S SA L O O N T H E T OYO TA S T H AT A R E N ’ T A S T H E Y S E E M
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FERRARI PUROSANGUE: THE SUV THAT ISN’T 42 autocar_official
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OFFICIAL PICTURES
British brand to launch bigger SUV, all-new hatch and EV-only crossover
T
he reimagined Mini dealerships, the brand wants
Cooper hatchback will to grow its electric sales split
provide the foundation from 15% now – it currently
for a “revolution” of the offers only the Mini Electric
BMW-owned brand’s wider hatchback – to 50% by the
line-up as it pushes towards middle of 2025.
full electrification by the The new era will kick
end of the decade. off with the launch of the
Along with the Aceman Countryman (in electric and
crossover – Mini’s first ICE forms) next February,
electric-only car, positioned followed by the electric
to take on the upcoming Jeep Cooper in May 2024, the
Avenger – and the larger ICE Cooper in July 2024 and
new Countryman SUV, the the “ticks-all-the-boxes”
freshened three-car range is Aceman in January 2025.
a statement of intent for new More potent John Cooper
Mini boss Stefanie Wurst, who Works variants will follow
took over from Bernd Körber “around six months to a year”
in February 2022. after the standard cars are
“It is the beginning launched, in both electric
of a new era. Mini’s 100% and combustion variants.
electric range has to start Although Mini is targeting
somewhere. This is a bridge new markets and a higher
for us to go fully electric,” electrification mix, Wurst
Wurst told Autocar at a confirmed the company won’t
recent preview event, where be gunning for volumes.
the trio was shown under Instead, it will be aiming for
heavy camouflage ahead production numbers just
of a succession of reveals above those of, for example,
over the next 12 months. Porsche and Land Rover.
Once the new range is in WILL RIMELL
`
With the new range, Mini wants
to grow its electric sales split MINI COOPER
to 50% by the middle of 2025
a
4 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 8 MARCH 2023
IMAGE
COUNTRYMAN
ACEMAN
MINI COOPER
T
esla’s keenly anticipated As it turned out, Musk was “an electrified economy will included batteries both in and the potential for other fuel
2023 Investor Day event less focused on showing new require less mining than the out of electric cars, at a ratio types to transform the mobility
was uncharacteristically vehicles than he was in recent current economy”. of around one to eight. industry, saying: “Hydrogen
short on game-changing years, with the Cybertruck, The all-out switch to electric His battery ambitions are will not be meaningfully
announcements and new-metal Roadster, Robotaxi and Semi road vehicles will cut fossil- in line with a conviction that used in transport.”
unveilings, but it did provide still yet to enter production (or fuel usage by 21%, according “as we improve the energy
a first look at important new volume production) several to Tesla. Musk said: “All cars density of batteries, you will Simpler production process
production processes – and years after announcement. will go to fully electric and see all transportation go fully Tesla engineering boss Lars
confirmed that a new electric Investors didn’t take kindly autonomous. Driving a non- electric”. He also condemned Moravy said the Model 3
car platform is inbound. to the dearth of product autonomous [ICE] car is going
Taking to the stage at the announcements, which caused to be an allegory for riding a Ambitions for new
Texas Gigafactory to give Tesla Tesla’s value to dip 5.9% the horse and using a flip phone.” platform bring many
stakeholders, fans and owners day after the presentation. He spoke of the need for a potential benefits
a wide-reaching update on the Instead, Musk outlined massive increase in battery
company’s strategy, CEO Elon his vision for a cleaner global production and storage
Musk was expected primarily economy in the post-ICE age. capacity – the latter of which
to outline a long-mooted new Musk said: “There is a clear path he estimated the world
platform that is tipped to to a fully sustainable Earth, with ultimately needs 240TWh.
underpin an ‘affordable’ entry- abundance.” He added that “This is a lot of batteries but
level car sitting beneath the this can be achieved without a very achievable amount,” he
big-selling Model 3 saloon. “austerity” and predicted that said, explaining that the tally
VW-BASED FORD SUV DUE IN TWO WEEKS ASTON OPTIMISM AFTER £6.6M PROFIT
Ford will unveil its crucial new electric Aston Martin posted profits of £6.6 million for the
crossover – a US-influenced five-seater based final three months of 2022, stirring hopes that the
on Volkswagen’s MEB platform – on 21 March. struggling firm can turn around a prolonged loss-
It will replace the Fiesta at the firm’s factory making spell. It hailed a higher average selling
in Cologne, Germany, later this year. price for its cars of £184k, up from £152k in 2021.
Cybertruck confirmed – finally Roadster axed – quietly Motors made more efficient – cleanly
The long-delayed Cybertruck pick-up Conspicuously absent from a Tesla Upgrades to motor technology have
will enter production later this year, product roadmap was the Roadster. resulted in a 75% reduction in silicon
having been shown in production form A concept was shown in 2017 and Musk, carbide. Tesla powertrain boss Colin
at Investor Day more than three years much later, confirmed plans for a 2023 Campbell said that while the latest-
after its headline-baiting reveal. It was launch. But there were only two products generation motors use 75% less silicon
originally due to launch in 2021, and Tesla under sheets in the new Tesla preview: carbide than previously, the next-
claimed to have received 200,000 orders the affordable ‘Model 2’ and a more generation motor will not use any
as early as November 2019. upright, larger, shuttle-style vehicle. rare earth metals at all.
TATA EYES UK FOR EV BATTERY FACTORY HONDA CREATES 800BHP CR-V HYBRID
Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors is reported Honda has revealed an extreme Indycar-spec
to be seeking upwards of £500 million in support version of the new CR-V with an 800bhp hybrid
from the UK government for a new British EV V6. Devised as a “rolling laboratory”, the hyper-
battery factory. The Financial Times says Tata has crossover will help Honda to experiment with
narrowed location choices to Spain or Somerset. new electrification and e-fuel technologies.
Bigger, plusher
new Kona arrives
with focus on EV
SUV moves up in size and perceived quality; EV the star, ICE and hybrid also offered
New materials and
extra tech aim to lift
the cabin ambience
T
he new second-generation wider and 20mm taller and the room and that comes alongside console and “curveless” bench screens. There is also an
Hyundai Kona has been wheelbase has been stretched a major focus on increasing the seat in the rear. The boot has optional 12.0in head-up display.
“taken to the next level” by 60mm. This makes it slightly perceived quality of the trim grown by 92 litres to 466 litres. Two powertrains will be
through a focus on the smaller than the closely related and materials. The driver controls have offered in the Kona EV. The
electric version and learnings Kia Niro EV, leaving the Bayon The new EV features a been relocated from the centre standard version has a 154bhp
from the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. as Hyundai’s smallest SUV. flat floor – rare in a multi- console to a steering column motor and 48.4kWh battery
Already on sale in Korea A larger platform means powertrain model – which stalk, while the dashboard (up from 134bhp and 39kWh),
and due to land in Europe this there is much more interior allows for a large centre features a pair of 12.3in while the long-range model
summer, the new Kona arrives
just six years after the original.
It will continue to be offered
with petrol, hybrid and electric
W H AT A BOUT A HOT KON A N V ERSION?
powertrains – but whereas the All three Kona models will be “We’re having to focus our
first-gen Kona was developed offered with a sporty N Line resource and energies where
as an ICE car, the EV was the trim, but there are currently we think there’s a much
priority for the new model. no plans for a new version bigger N story to tell, which
The EV accounted for around of the high-performance is electrification.”
40% of first-gen Kona sales in Kona N. “Kona N has
Europe and that proportion will done okay. It was
increase sharply in the future. never going to do
The Peugeot 2008 rival big volume for us,
switches to a new multi- and when we looked
powertrain platform and has at the new Kona, it
grown substantially. Hyundai wasn’t ever part of
refers to it as being “upscaled”. the initial plan,” said
At 4355mm, the new Kona Hyundai’s Europe First-gen Kona N “has done okay”
is 175mm longer than its CEO Michael Cole.
predecessor. It is also 25mm
Seats
“The interior space of a car
is becoming a new living
space – so let’s do the
interior more like furniture
rather than traditional
Aerodynamics automotive design. It’s
T
he Lotus Type 133, a 1990) will be given a name But Windle said last year:
highly anticipated rival to starting with ‘E’ before it “It will be the Lotus ethos in to its launch was more about He said those systems have
Porsche’s Taycan electric reaches showrooms, Autocar that car. It’s a bit more refined, “benchmarking the platform”, been “package-protected”
saloon, has been seen understands, but it won’t be further towards the luxury end rather than the car itself, with for “everything we want to
in public for the first time as the widely rumoured ‘Envya’. of what we’re trying to do with a view to then rolling out the do” with future electric cars,
testing begins in earnest. The Type 133 will be similar in our performance luxury brand.” skateboard – known as Electric suggesting the Type 133 will
A development mule was size and shape to sibling brand The highly strung Eletre R Premium Architecture (EPA) – follow suit with a similar set-up.
spotted driving on ice and Polestar’s 5 (see right), which is electric SUV, with 893bhp, will to the Type 133 and future “Our type of car – that we
snow alongside other near- due on sale around a year later, be the second-most-powerful Type 134 crossover. want to drive as well as it looks –
production cars from Lotus in 2024. However, the two cars car that Lotus has ever put on Kershaw referenced the requires all that technology,”
parent company Geely, with will be tangibly differentiated in the road (after the Evija electric suspension technologies – said Kershaw, hinting that
prominent badging hinting that all important areas, according hypercar), and it’s likely that a “active roll control, CDC the ‘lifestyle’ positioning
its unveiling will form part of to Lotus boss Matt Windle. similarly potent version of the [continuous damping control], of the EVs built by Lotus
the marque’s 75th anniversary Lotus hasn’t yet confirmed Type 133 is in development. air-sprung independent active Technology – a separate
celebrations this year. whether the Type 133 will be Gavan Kershaw, Lotus’s rear steer and active aero” – as division based in Wuhan,
Lotus’s first saloon since the available with the 5’s range- director of attributes and features that most obviously China – won’t come at the
legendary Carlton (a Vauxhall- topping 874bhp four-wheel- product integrity, previously mark the aluminium EPA out as expense of driver engagement.
based BMW M5 beater from drive powertrain. told Autocar that dynamic the more dynamically oriented FELIX PAGE
OFFICIAL PICTURE
ABARTH 500E ON SALE AT £39K
Abarth’s first electric car is also
its most expensive yet, with the
152bhp 500e hot hatch touching
down in the UK at £38,695.
That price is for the limited
Scorpionissima launch edition,
which can be had in vibrant
Acid Green and Poison Blue and
is equipped with 18in alloy wheels,
a panoramic roof and steel pedals.
12 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 8 MARCH 2023
NEWS
Distinctive Type 133
looks similar size to
successful Taycan UNDER NO PRESSURE, BUT IS IT TIME WE
THE SKIN SWITCHED TO AIRLESS TYRES?
JESSE CROSSE
Michelin says
airless technology
could save 200 million
tyres a year from an
early grave due to
punctures.
B
ritish technology and very specific, said CEO comes despite Oxbotica having Last year, major makers
firm Oxbotica is leading Gavin Jackson: “Our vision a proven pedigree in developing pulled back on investment. funding, mostly from existing
the charge towards is to unlock the value of self- tech that works on public Most prominently, Ford and shareholders BP Ventures,
autonomous vehicles, driving technology but where roads – as was demonstrated the Volkswagen Group ended Ocado and ZF – all of which
which it believes we could there are the most pressing by participation in the UK their backing for autonomous will benefit from different
see out and about “over the and urgent requirements.” government-backed Project vehicle developer Argo AI to applications of its tech.
next number of years”, but it Jackson added that the Endeavour in 2021, in which focus instead on their own Jackson said: “You will see
isn’t focused on cars, instead Oxford-based firm has adopted level-four Ford Mondeos were driver assistance tech. smaller vehicles doing specific
looking at “where the world a more strategic approach to trialled in Birmingham, London Meanwhile, there is clearly tasks for the likes of BP on solar
needs [autonomy] the most”. self-driving, which it terms and Oxford. But it mirrors the an appetite for autonomous farms, wind farms, refineries
This includes jobs that “universal autonomy”. industry trend, the allure of tech away from public roads. and suchlike, where there are
are dangerous, mundane This move away from cars self-driving cars having faded. In January, Oxbotica secured requirements for surveillance,
Geely to take on establishment with luxury model line GEELY HAS ANNOUNCED Volvo and already underpins
OFFICIAL PICTURE a new luxury sub-brand, Geely cars including the Polestar 2
Galaxy, to showcase its latest and Volvo XC40 Recharge.
technological advancements. The first Galaxy EV, the E8,
Galaxy, described by the will also go on sale this year. It
Chinese giant as a “high-end will use what Geely has called
electrified product series”, is a “dedicated smart electrified
planned to offer seven cars by architecture”, expected to
2025: four long-range plug-in be derived from the SEA
hybrids and three EVs. platform that underpins EVs
The first of them, the as varied as the Lotus Eletre,
Galaxy L7, is a plug-in hybrid Smart #1 and Zeekr 001.
SUV scheduled to go on sale The E8 is likely to be the
in China this summer. It will car previewed by the Galaxy
be followed by the L6 PHEV Light concept (pictured), a
saloon in the autumn. fastback similar in profile to
Geely Galaxy Light
All Galaxy PHEVs will be the Porsche Taycan, featuring
EV concept previews
based on the E-CMA platform, a tech-laden interior and
E8, coming this year
which Geely developed with rear-hinged butterfly doors.
Jim Holder
autonomy where the needs
Oxbotica will deliver trucks are greatest”.
“We see passenger cars
that do the dirty, dangerous, and robotaxis as being a viable
application in time; it’s just not
mundane and challenging work the first,” said Jackson. “But
you will certainly see vehicles
I N S I D E I N F O R M AT I O N
What role would cars
a on public highways driven by play in the ideally
for example. The application Jackson considers the Oxbotica that carry humans. designed city?
of autonomy will mean that tech that Oxbotica offers to “The most urgent need for
no human needs to waste be an operating system with human passengers in urban
their time driving up and many different applications, centres is shared mobility –
down a solar farm. citing Microsoft’s Windows so the form factor of those
“You will see shared mobility as a comparison. vehicles will be shared mobility,
shuttles here in Europe and “We’ve been developing the microbuses and shuttles
in the US driven by Oxbotica general platform for different that will leverage existing
with companies like NEVS applications,” he said, “which infrastructure like bus lanes.”
[the Sino-Swedish company means that we can time-order Jackson expects Oxbotica
that rose from the ashes of the applications that are going to play an integral role as
Saab], ZF and others. to deliver value first and the development of vehicle
“And you will see groceries fastest. And that’s typically autonomy continues. But he
delivered over the next number off public highway to start feels that even two decades
of years as well [with Ocado].” with, on public highway in from now, we are unlikely to
Another partner is Wenco, very limited terms and then see the sort of self-driving
a Canadian firm that manages over time gradually getting utopia that some people once B8G%H*H) " !)
fleets for heavy industries. more and more complex.” envisaged for public roads. I ) ' #'#
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are doing the dirty, dangerous, of transport applications, continue to solve many, many , +J)
mundane and challenging including cars. However, the more complex challenges. The " ((
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hieves who had been
stealing high-value cars
are now targeting and
stripping smaller cars
in a major region of the UK
as demand for parts grows.
A dearth of spare parts,
due to supply problems caused
by the pandemic and the war
in Ukraine, has fuelled this, the
head of West Midlands Police’s
Vehicle Crime Taskforce
(VCT) told Autocar.
In January alone, nine
cars parked in the Birmingham
area – including three Citroën
C1s – were pillaged, with parts
including body panels taken.
At least three more cars had
been targeted in the months
leading up to Christmas.
Among the most recent
victims was Samantha Rose,
a nurse, whose Renault Clio’s
bonnet, lights and other parts
had been taken from outside
her Selly Oak house in the early
hours of 30 January. Two other
cars had been targeted in the
same area that night.
Many of Rose’s colleagues
had also been victims. Drivers are returning
She said: “It’s being done in to parked cars to find
broad daylight [in the hospital them in states like this
car park] while they’re doing a
13-hour shift. They’re coming
out at night and their cars During just one week in for a vehicle that had to be
have been stripped.” February, the team arrested written off when its entire
This surge in car crime
IS CAR PARTS THEFT A NEW THING? more than 50 suspected car dashboard was stolen.
has been brought on by the We have seen this before. criminals across the region. LV said thieves are selling
growing demand for spare Car parts thefts first came Although it’s most prevalent stolen parts to garages who
parts, according to detective to national attention in 2013 in the Birmingham area, parts then offer them to customers
superintendent Jim Munroe. when Vauxhall Corsas were theft is rising across the UK, at significantly lower prices
Munroe, who leads the VCT, targeted, leading police according to LV General, which than equivalent new ones.
said: “What we’ve seen over the to coin the term ‘Corsa has seen an increase in motor LV underwriting director
last 12-24 months is an increase cannibals’ to describe the insurance claims associated Alex Hammond-Chambers-
in vehicle crime, particularly thieves. They believed with the theft of parts. Borgnis said: “We’re seeing an
theft of motor vehicles, and demand for the stolen parts struck again with a spate of It said that since 2017, theft increase in the theft of spare
that is being caused by what we was being fed by young and parts thefts in Solihull. of steering wheels has risen by parts by opportunistic thieves
believe to be a parts shortage inexperienced drivers in Over one weekend, 133%, with demand for airbags, keen to make some extra cash.
and supply issues after the need of cheap parts for their thieves stripped bonnets, gearlevers and dashboard This is also being fuelled by the
pandemic and because of cars following accidents. grilles and headlights from components also doubling. fact that car parts are currently
the war in Ukraine.” The phenomenon died four Corsas, bringing the The average claim cost for in very high demand as a
Since being formed last away until summer 2018, total number of reported a steering wheel and airbag result of global supply
September, his taskforce has when the Corsa cannibals offences in the period to 11. is around £7000. The most chain disruptions.”
recruited 35 officers and staff. expensive claim was £41,000 JOHN EVANS
MY WEEK IN CARS
Electroflight’s Targett
with the record-setting
Spirit of Innovation
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steve.cropley@haymarket.com @stvcr
MOTORSPORT
R AC I N G L I N E S
Félix da Costa
rediscovered star
quality in Cape Town
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F I R ST D R I V E S N E W C A R S T E ST E D A N D R AT E D
TESTED 7.2.23, BAHR AIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT PRICE £2.5 MILLION ON SALE SOLD OUT
`
Even on an empty track, getting to
full throttle feels like an adventure
a
Duff gets the lowdown on all the controls before his first run
Price £2,500,000
Engine V12, 6499cc, petrol,
plus electric motor
Power 1140bhp (engine 1001bhp at
10,600rpm, motor 141bhp)
Torque 682lb ft at 7000rpm
Gearbox 7-spd sequential, RWD
Dry weight 1270kg
0-62mph 2.5sec
Top speed 220mph
Economy na
CO2, tax band na
RIVALS Mercedes-AMG One,
GMA T50
Lights, indicators, action: turn repeaters use periscope optics for expediency Naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 makes 154bhp per litre and revs to 11,000rpm
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BENTLEY FLYING SPUR SPEED
" ') )8# # V Nose of this majestic sports saloon
$( $( ! !, _I,( might just be the most appropriate
(#L9! 5 " ! 9 ! ( place for the W12’s retirement party
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$ ( ! " ") A #1 Price £208,700
I , )! ><//( Engine W12, 5950cc, twin-
6#O0? $( F( O/( #5 turbocharged, petrol
) "( #! 9 Power 626bhp at 6000rpm
1.. (: :) Torque 664lb ft at 1350-4500rpm
# # ( Gearbox 8-spd automatic, 4WD
.> ) "" ( 4# Kerb weight 2437kg
! # .)< # " " 0-62mph 3.8sec
>.9- # ( Top speed 207mph
( " " " Economy 19.1mpg
"7 ) ( " ) (" )# CO2, tax band 337g/km, 37%
$( , !) ",G@$ RIVALS Mercedes-AMG S63, Rolls-
( " , #A #!$( Royce Ghost Black Badge
! 9( !#! !! 9)
TESTER’S NOTE
Five years after
its debut, Bentley’s
rotating dashboard
remains a joyful
flourish. Hiding the
touchscreen brings an
extra layer of bliss. SD
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" it’s a supercar on loose terrain
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D \<. ( E# # ! Price £58,900
(" G " A !(! ( ! Engine V6, 2956cc, twin-
'J9 E) " I 9 ! , turbocharged, petrol
,! ( () ! !! Power 288bhp at 5500rpm
0)/,G\( # I 9: 6 ") Torque 362lb ft at 2300rpm
(" !# I!( 5 " Gearbox 10-spd automatic, 4WD
, ( # ) 2<0\0 ./.@ Kerb weight 2454kg
.@@!(#, ( # D../@ 0-62mph 7.9sec
P//!( ( ! E#1" () Top speed 111mph
#! " A ( %( Economy 20.4mpg
( ) ! -# ! ! !# " CO2, tax band 315g/km, 37%
>/,( !( ( A ) ( " A# RIVALS Isuzu D-Max AT35,
.P<P Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
" " D" "%( )A )( ( !! )
LEXUS RX 350H
Regular hybrid could be the Lexus large SUV of choice for most private buyers
# " ! ! %`
No 5614
Volkswagen Multivan
PHOTOGRAPHY LUC LACEY
The latest in VW’s long line of Transporters is car-based but still capacious
MODEL TESTED 1.4 eHYBRID STYLE
Price £59,545 Power 215bhp Torque 295lb ft 0-60mph 8.4sec 30-70mph in fourth 10.5sec Economy 38.0mpg CO2 emissions 41-43g/km 70-0mph 52.8m
max
m
m
0.30
950m
1020m
m
1080m
715mm
469-
1907mm
1844-
ax 715mm
m mm 3672
1070 litres
2050mm
2260mm (with mirrors) z Make the interior look however you like, but know that the seats are quite heavy if
3775mm you are looking to remove them.
W H E E L A N D P E DA L
ALI G N M E NT
A thick brake pedal is just
about dead ahead of the 5mm
driver and the throttle a
steady distance to the side. 135mm
The steering wheel is straight Width 1200-
and centre and is widely 1300mm
adjustable. There’s bags of
free flat floor space to rest
your unused foot on, too.
Height 460-
H E AD LI G HTS 1160mm
The automatic headlights
work terrifically well, creating
a small gap where they don’t
blind anyone. They are pretty Length 2300mm
good on conventional
main or high beam, too.
Centre z The luggage panel is quite short, leaving not a lot of space beneath, but that’s to
be expected in a car with this seating arrangement.
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z Rear sliding doors can be opened and closed from z The steering wheel has retained good old physical z The digital instrument pack is bright and clear. There
these buttons on the dash. If that’s an essential part of buttons rather than the haptically responding versions are plenty of choices of background colours, plus the
your routine, you will want the higher-spec trim level. on other VWs, and is much – much – the better for it. information you want is retained front and centre.
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AC C E L E R AT I O N
Volkswagen Multivan 1.4 eHybrid Style (8deg C, dry)
Standing quarter mile 16.6sec at 88.5mph, standing km 29.7sec at 111.9mph, 30-70mph 7.1sec, 30-70mph in fourth 10.5sec
30mph 40mph 50mph 60mph 70mph 80mph 90mph 100mph
3.6s 4.8s 6.3s 8.4s 10.7s 13.6s 17.3s 22.1s
0 10s 20s
Volkswagen Transporter Sportline Kombi SWB Black Edition (2022, 8deg C, damp and windy)
Standing quarter mile 17.3sec at 82.7mph, standing km 31.3sec at 103.4mph, 30-70mph 9.0sec, 30-70mph in fourth 10.4sec
30mph 40mph 50mph 60mph 70mph 80mph 90mph 100mph
3.1s 4.6s 6.6s 9.1s 12.0s 15.8s 20.6s 27.1s
0 10s 20s
B R A K I N G 60-0mph: 3.30sec
Volkswagen Multivan 1.4 eHybrid Style (8deg C, dry)
30mph-0 50mph-0 70mph-0
10.5m 27.3m 52.8m
0 10m 20m 30m 40m 50m
Volkswagen Transporter Sportline Kombi SWB Black Edition (2022, 8deg C, damp and windy)
30mph-0 50mph-0 70mph-0
9.0m 24.3m 47.1m
0 10m 20m 30m 40m
EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
17in alloy wheels
Climate control T E C H N I C A L L AYO U T
Heated windscreen This VW’s car-related platform means that, like the first Type 2 camper, there’s a
Keyless entry/start large similarity between the T7 and the firm’s popular cars. The engine is up front,
Heated seats/wheel mounted transversely and driving the front wheels with help from an electric motor
Electric front seats between the engine and gearbox. MacPherson struts are at the front with a torsion
Memory seats beam at the rear and coil springs all round. The battery lives under the cabin floor.
Metallic paint
Massage seats £1500 ENGINE ECONOMY
Panoramic sunroof £1050 Installation Front, transverse, TEST MPG Track 22.4mpg
Discover Pro nav/infotainment £294 front-wheel drive Touring 37.9mpg
Harman Kardon hi-fi £1080 Type 4 cyls in line, 1395cc, Average 38.0mpg
Duo-tone paint £2700 turbocharged, petrol
Power 148bhp at 5000-6000rpm CLAIMED Combined 156.9mpg
Options in bold fitted to test car Torque 184lb ft at 1550-3500rpm Electric range 29-31 miles
= Standard na = not available Compression ratio 10.0:1
Hybrid assist Synchronous motor Tank size 45 litres
(114bhp, 243lb ft)
Battery type Lithium ion TEST RANGE Electric 14 miles
Battery capacity 13.0/10.0kWh Combustion 366 miles
(total/usable) Total 380 miles
Total system power 215bhp
Total system torque 295lb ft E M I S S I O N S & TA X
Power to weight 96bhp per tonne CO2 emissions 41-43g/km
Torque to weight 132lb ft per tonne Tax at 20/40% pcm £154/£308
0
Lux Pack
MATT
SAUNDERS
Two-tone paint
turns the heads
of enthusiasts,
but apparently
adds months to the
Multivan waiting list.
Spec advice
We would want to prod
the Life’s infotainment
for a bit to see if it’s
VERDICT notably better or
R OA D 1 2 3 4 5
TEST
R I VA L S
VOLKSWAGEN MULTIVAN 1.4 VOLKSWAGEN ID BUZZ SWB CITROEN SPACETOURER MERCEDES-BENZ V220D FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM 2.0
Verdicts eHYBRID STYLE 77KWH STYLE PRO BLUEHDI BUSINESS LOUNGE LONG AMG LINE 130 TREND
on every Car-based architecture means Subject of a road test not long Van first and car second but Premium badge on the outside, Not as swish as the Multivan, but
new car, van-based practicality, for a ago. All-electric variant majors pleasant to drive. Peugeot and not too shabby on the inside. An nine seats are available. Look for
p72 smooth, refined drive. on range and style – at a price. Vauxhall offer EV alternatives. old-school and pricey RWD van. the new electric Transit, too.
AAAAC AAAAC AAABC AAACC AAACC
o V 1 2 , b u t w h at a bout
it s b e a t in g he a r t an atm
e r m e a n t to b e h a s a s
ra l h a b it at to fi n d out
v u
The car that was ne r t e s ts Mara n ell o ’s fi r s t S U V in its nat
u l? M at t P r io
a Ferrari so
Y M A X EDLES TON
PHOTOGR A PH
FERRARI PUROSANGUE DRIVE
`
With winter tyres on snowy gravel
tracks, it has a surplus of hoon
a
`
It slides and skips
and yumps with
supreme ease,
then settles again
with the deftness
of a stage-ready
rally car
a
THE PUROSANGUE’S
S E C R E T S AU C E
I’ve looked at the diagrams, I’ve read
the descriptions, I’ve even had two
different engineers talk me through it
piece by piece, and I’m still not totally
sure I get it. But right, here goes. At
each corner of the Purosangue is a
suspension unit built by Multimatic – so
there are nice stickers that say ‘Ferrari,
Made in England’ all around it. Each
unit comprises a coil spring over an oil
damper. So far, so straightforward.
On the wheel end of the suspension is
a lot of other gubbins. Relatively simple
to explain are two spool valves (two
bronze/black round bits adjacent to the
main shaft). Each of these is a cylindrical
plunger, through and around which oil
pathways run, allowing travel in one
direction – so one valve for compression,
one for rebound. As the valves adjust,
so the amount of flow through them
changes, hence so does the damping
rate. This is clever in its own right.
Most Dakar rally cars use these ‘DSSV’
dampers, as do F1 cars and GT racers.
Now the even cleverer part is that
there’s a 48V motor on the wheel end
of the unit too – the bigger blue cylinder
that’s offset again. That drives a gear
on its end, via another, and another, to
a threaded shaft that runs through the
middle of the damper. As weight shifts
on the car (under braking, acceleration,
through bumps or whatever), the `
suspension compresses or extends; but
as the shaft rotates, it effectively pushes
or pulls against those movements
It’s taut, controlled and agile for
to offset pitch and roll, shortening
or extending the coilover while still
allowing the spring and damper to
move as normal and cushion blows.
a car this heavy. And boy, it’s fast
So there’s no need for an anti-roll bar.
Sigh. Hold on, show me one last time… a
They never really had
much in common at
family gatherings
Ferrari
maintains that Clever damping tech
only 20% of all its smooths roads and
output will be allowed boosts body control
to be the Purosangue – so
there’s no way that, as at
Bentley, Lamborghini and
Porsche, the SUV will
take half or more
of sales.
FERRARI PUROSANGUE
The SUV that isn’t an SUV. Actually,
I believe it. It’s more like a jacked-up
GTC4. And a great piece of kit
Rating AAAAB
Price £313,120
Engine V12, 6496cc, petrol
Power 715bhp at 7750rpm
Torque 528lb ft at 6250rpm
Gearbox 8-spd dual-clutch
`
automatic (rear), 2-spd
automatic (front), 4WD
Kerb weight 2033kg
a
Performante
The liberty of a race track is a seductive prospect for any car lover, but attending
a track day for the first time can be equally as intimidating. Here, experienced
helmsman Andrew Frankel offers some top tips and words of encouragement
W H I C H C A R S H O U L D YO U TA K E?
If you’ve chosen the right circuit and the right event, From there, get something designed for the job: a
there’s no need to turn up in something fast. On the modestly powerful Caterham will be more fun than
contrary, you will learn much faster, have more fun most supercars and, in decent hands, little slower.
and scare yourself less in something with decent Whatever you take, though, you need to know
but not extravagant performance. You could take that it and its tyres are up to the task, because a
anything, but a car with at least faintly sporting mechanical failure on track is at best inconvenient,
credentials will be a much better tool for the job. at worst severely prejudicial to the health of your
Anything from a lukewarm hatchback upwards. wallet and possibly yourself too.
As the broadest rules of thumb to which there are
many exceptions, front-driven cars tend to be more
forgiving and easier to control in the wet, but rear-
drivers are usually better balanced and offer the
option of power-on oversteer – skidding, basically.
Mazda MX-5s are the de facto choices for novices,
because they’re cheap to buy, cheap to run, reliable, Overtaking is done
plentiful and great fun. If you want a bit more get-up- courteously, never
and-go, a Nissan 350Z or 370Z is well worth a look. in a racing fashion
`
We can expect more of this
pragmatism, and never mind
the muddying of brand purity
a
T IS… A TOYOTA?
a vengeance. But why? Richard Bremner examines the phenomenon of badge engineering
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7 ( LETTER OF THE WEEK
: ./..
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Janette Howell
Via email
How often will A110 need to visit garage?
!
HOUNSLOW BEXLEY
RICHMOND WANDSWORTH LE
LEWISHA
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UPON THAMEES
M25
M3
KIINGSTON
UPON
THAMES
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BROMLEY
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Massimo Fumarola Battery materials SYNDICATION ENQUIRIES
Tel +44 (0)1962 867705
Contact Simon Fox (simon@foxsyndication.com)
8(# Morgan has a new Just how clean and LICENSING ENQUIRIES
(<P,<O9 )
JB Cook boss and we have green is EV battery Contact Lydia Curtis (lydia.curtis@haymarket.com)
Via email
" *2 3 $
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CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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EV gets more power and torque, plus It will be off sale forever soon. Here’s No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
chassis and suspension tweaks why you should buy a used one now transmitted in any form except by permission. The publisher makes every effort
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SUBSCRIBE autocar.co.uk/subscribe or see p22 With regret, competitions and promotional offers, unless otherwise stated,
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!
Get behind
ON THI9S30DAY the wheel
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KRIS CULMER
The simple business of maintaining your car British cars beat Blue Train
If as a new driver you did intend to maintain your car’s mechanicals yourself, Rail had for decades been the way to
there was far, far more to know about and to keep on top of than there is today. do big distances, and one of the most
Most cars had nipples on their spring shackles that needed lubricating every famous services was Le Train Bleu,
300-500 miles, and you had to grease the steering parts, the front wheels’ inner which took the rich from Calais to
hubs, the brake connections, other moving parts under the car and the starter the Riviera. So what better publicity
motor. You had to drain and refill the oil in the sump every 2500 miles and that in stunt for a car maker than to outrun
the gearbox and rear axle every 3000 miles, plus some cars required periodical Bonnet mascot astrology it? In January 1930, Rover triumphed
lubrication of their propshaft bearings and universal joints. The front and rear Mascots were a common accessory where several had failed with its new
brakes and handbrake needed adjusting every 3000 miles, you had to keep the in 1930; we estimated that 20% of Light Six, arriving 20 minutes ahead
battery topped up with distilled water as it evaporated and you had to check the cars bore one. “Even among hard- after 20 hours almost non-stop. Two
tyres’ pressures periodically and rotate them about the car as their treads wore. headed businessmen there is a vein months later, a margin of two hours
Under the bonnet, the carburettor’s main filter needed frequent cleaning; of superstition,” we explained. “The was achieved by an Alvis Silver Eagle.
you had to fit new spark plugs every idea is that the magical properties of And then, most famously, a Bentley
10,000 miles; the cylinders needed images and emblems are expressive Speed Six arrived in London minutes
decarbonising every 5000-8000 of certain active principles in nature, before the big loco reached Calais.
miles; valve clearances had to be and when use is made of such things,
kept track of; the fanbelt wanted they become a focus for the rays
tightening every now and again; of the heavenly bodies and infuse
the clutch needed adjusting after vibrations of their nature into the
1000 miles; the distributor had to atmosphere of the owner.” Quite.
be lubricated; the oil filter needed Mascots were matched to your
GETTY IMAGES
ALPINE A110 CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS ORA FUNKY CAT PEUGEOT 308 RENAULT MEGANE SKODA ENYAQ iV vRS TOYOTA YARIS CROSS
BUYER BEWARE
CHECK THE OWNER TOO INSURANCE AND SERVICING
These cars are built to be driven hard, Although the Limited Edition falls
so don’t be immediately put off if you into insurance group 41, the regular
find one that has been. That said, Type R is in group 38. This is on a par
it is still well worth looking for signs with hot hatches of its calibre. Honda
of careful ownership – such as an offers fixed-price servicing and
Its front seats are
owner who allows the car to warm Type R plans tend to hover around
ace: supportive
up before using full throttle. £350 (for a single service).
and comfortable
USED CARS
James Ruppert
KICKING TYRES
Not all used cars are
par for the course just
now, such as a 940
S CLUB HEAVEN
If you want a world-class limo for £3000, Oliver Young says to reach for the star
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H OW TO G ET O N E
IN YOU R GARAG E
Progress in an
S-Class is quiet,
relaxed and easy
An expert’s view
N I C K YO U N G , S O U T H A M P T O N
EXTERIOR
Some owners report finding
CHAU FFEU R H I RE corrosion and blistered paint, so look
“The S-Class has always been a over the car carefully before buying.
chauffeur car at the top of its game. I
progressed from the very competent
E-Class to the fifth-generation
S-Class (and subsequently the
Also worth knowing
You’ll want a long-wheelbase S-Class
sixth). I had a S350 L and I found if you plan on chauffeuring. Perhaps
its 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine to be obviously, these cars are denoted by
capable and good on fuel, while the an ‘L’ in their name. Fortunately, they
long-wheelbase body provided lots are very common and don’t always
of passenger leg room. It came with come at a premium. Versions range
all the bells and whistles of the time, from the S320 L to the S65 L.
completing the luxury experience
essential for all clients who want the
highest-rated chauffeur service and
are prepared to pay the premium.
How much to spend
£3 0 0 0 - £ 4 9 9 9
Ensure it’s all in Mine was reliable and, though not Early cars in S320 CDi guises.
working order, as a performance car, great to drive. Mileages of around 150,000.
repair can be pricey I have no notable complaints.”
£5 0 0 0 - £9 9 9 9
More of the above, with some S350
Buyer beware
G E AR B OX
CDi and S500 cars in the mix.
Mileages get closer to 100,000.
Make sure the service regime has
been followed. This includes changing £10,000 - £14 ,999
the oil in the seven-speed automatic Facelifted S350 L examples
gearbox every 40,000 miles. Check in diesel form. Some S500 L
that shifts are smooth as well. and S600 L cars.
SUSPENSION £ 1 5 , 0 0 0 - £ 1 9, 9 9 9
Pay attention to the suspension on Mileages drop to around 50,000 and
your test drive, because it should conditions become very respectable.
keep the car flat when cornering. If
not, a new pump could be required. £2 0 , 0 0 0 - £2 4 , 9 9 9
Early S63 L cars enter the fold.
INTERIOR
The Comand sat-nav system allows £2 5 , 0 0 0 - £ 4 0 , 0 0 0
you to enter only a four-digit More S600 L and S63 L cars in good
postcode, but Mercedes can upgrade nick, plus the S65 L.
it to seven-digit functionality. If this
WHAT WE SAID THEN hasn’t been done, it could be worth
14 FEBRUARY 2006 asking for the work to be completed
“Pretty it ain’t, but the S320 before agreeing to buy the car.
CDi is still a tour de force. Fast and #
frugal, luxurious yet rewarding, " ! ) ENGINE
it incorporates brain-melting $ " ,( With the diesel engines, listen for
technology into what remains L excessive rattling at idle. This could
conceptually a traditionalist’s P/(##! " indicate a stretched timing chain and,
luxury car. It is the new class G@ G>. if left unchecked, this can result in a
benchmark.” ./() catastrophic engine failure.
9
!" !
()
ELECTRICS
Electrical problems are common
One we found
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 L,
'$( # #$,7 and repairs can be very expensive. 2006, 108,000 M I LES,
6 ! !# Among the most prevalent issues are £ 12 , 9 9 5
# " ! " failed amplifiers, broken inflating seat A 5.5-litre V12 for the price of a new
( ) ) bolsters and faulty keyless entry. Use Dacia Sandero? Count us in. True, this
## H ! " a trickle charger to keep it topped up S600 has done its fair share of miles,
, " if you plan to leave the car standing but it’s had only one owner from new.
I I " ) for a long period, as a flat battery can It’s also a long-wheelbase car – a
)I 5 play havoc with electrical systems. great spec in general, actually.
( "" )
ROAD TEST
21.4.21
M4 CSL AAAAC 16.11.22 Wrangler 2.2 M’Jet-II Ov’d AAAAC 10.4.19 Funky Cat 48kWh First Ed’n AABCC 1.2.23 Swift 1.0 SZ5 AAABC 17.5.17
5 Series 520d M Sport AAAAB 31.5.17 Across 2.5 PHEV E-Four CVT AAAAB 7.4.21
m 545e M Sport AAAAC 20.10.21 KIA PEUGEOT
ed h fro m M5 AAAAB Rio 1.0 T-GDI 3 Eco AAABC 208 e-208 Allure Premium AAAAC 6.5.20 TESLA
INDEX
e p e 18.4.18 1.3.17
sp we
r 2m rqu fro
To
p
Po 0-6 To CO 2 M5 CS AAAAA 14.7.21 Ceed 1.6 CRDi 115 2 AAABC 29.8.18 308 1.2T Puretech 130 GT AAAAC 25.5.22 Model 3 Standard Range Plus AAAAC4.9.19
6 Series GT 630d xDrive AAABC 18.11.17 Proceed 1.4 T-GDi AAABC 27.2.19 508 GT BlueHDi 180 AAAAC 24.10.18 Model S P90D AAAAB 20.4.16
7 Series i7 xDrive60 AAAAB 15.2.23 Xceed 1.4 T-GDi AAABC 20.11.19 Hybrid 225 Allure SW AAAAC 8.7.20 Model Y Long Range AWD AAAAC 23.3.22
8 Series 840d xDrive AAABC 16.1.19 Niro EV 3 AAAAC 7.9.22 PSE Hybrid4 SW AAAAC 5.5.21 Model X 90D AAAAC 15.2.17
M8 Competition Convertible AAABC5.2.20 EV6 77.4kWh GT-Line RWD AAAAB 12.1.22 2008 e-2008 GT Line AAABC 30.9.20
M8 Competition Coupé AAABC 3.6.20 Sportage 1.6 HEV 2WD AAABC 15.6.22 3008 1.6 BlueHDi GT Line AAABC 18.1.17 T OYO TA
i3 1.3S Range Extender AAAAC 21.2.18 Sorento 1.6 HEV G-TDi 2 AAABC 20.1.21 5008 2.0 BlueHDi GT Line AAABC 1.11.17 Aygo X Limited Edition AAABC 11.5.22
! 4M
A (
((M
" Bugatti Royale 12.8 litres
(( Whether we can call seven cars a production run is a moot point, but the Type 41 Royale deserves more than a mention.
) Its 12.8-litre engine was derived from a design penned for the French Air Ministry but never used. The straight-eight motor
"!, came with three valves per cylinder and produced 300bhp. However, those valves needed regular regrinding and that was
!) an engine-out job. The engine drove through a three-speed gearbox mounted in the centre of the chassis and, depending
"! # on the coachwork fitted, the 3175kg Royale could top 100mph. Ettore Bugatti (pictured) planned to make 25 of them, but
( " ( ) the Great Depression put paid to that idea. The Royale engine was used in the mid-1950s by 79 railcars built for SNCF.
ALISDAIR SUTTIE
Dodge Ram 8.3 litres Cadillac Eldorado 8.2 litres Chevrolet Suburban 8.1 litres
The Ram SRT-10 was a pick-up with a V10 The Eldorado line began in 1953 and engine Born in 1934, the Suburban is the world’s longest-
purloined from the Dodge Viper. The engine capacity steadily grew as it progressed into running nameplate. In 2001, GM decided to fit
was simple, with only two valves per cylinder the 1960s. It reached its zenith in 1970 with the the SUV with its 8.1-litre Vortec V8, or L18 in
and natural aspiration. When it arrived in 2004, 500cu in (8.2-litre) V8 that produced a relatively Chevy-speak, delivering 340bhp in the weightier
the Ram SRT-10 had 500bhp on tap and could lazy 400bhp. This capacity was achieved by using 2500HD and 3500HD models. Chevrolet also
deliver 0-60mph in 4.9sec as well as achieve a a different crankshaft to increase the V8’s stroke. used the engine in marine applications and to
154mph top speed. The shorter-cab version The 1970s’ malaise-era emissions regulations power a number of large motorhomes because
came with a six-speed manual as standard, but gradually strangled it and it made only 190bhp in of its prodigious torque of 440lb ft from low revs.
the five-seat Quad Cab model had a four-speed 1976, although optional electronic fuel injection However, fuel economy concerns killed it off when
auto transmission as its only option. boosted this to 215bhp. the 10th-generation Suburban arrived in 2007.
Bentley 8-Litre 8.0 litres Rolls-Royce Phantom II 7.7 litres Lincoln Continental 7.6 litres
This 1931 Bentley’s 220bhp straight-six engine Its 7.7-litre straight six was an impressively Lincoln’s fourth-generation Continental arrived
featured an iron block made in a single piece with smooth and refined engine that owed its relaxed in 1961, but Ford extended its 7.0-litre V8 to 7.6
non-detachable cylinder heads for strength, and running to seven main bearings and also featured litres in 1966 to create the biggest-engined car
four valves per cylinder, and it had rubber mounts a one-piece cylinder head cast in aluminium. the Blue Oval had produced up to that point.
that were unusual for the period. The same The Continental model had racier camshafts as Good for 341bhp, it enjoyed only a three-year
economy that hit the Bugatti also did for Bentley: an option to increase power. The factory never life in the Continental, but the 7.6-litre version
Rolls-Royce bought it out of bankruptcy and disclosed outputs but some people estimate remains the most sought-after by classic car
quickly cancelled the 8-Litre after 100 around 120bhp for the standard model. A total of fans for its rarity and appeal as the grandest
examples had been produced. 1681 Phantom IIs were made from 1929 to 1935. engine used in the Continental.
£69.99
ALCOHOL B R E AT H A LYS E R
+33(;33('31