The Frankfurt motor show is traditionally one of the biggest events on the motoring calendar, and this year is no exception, with game-changing unveilings expected from Porsche, Volkswagen, Land Rover and more. Especially notable this year is a heightened emphasis on new electric cars. As well as the Volkswagen ID 3, we’ll also get a look at the Honda E, Porsche Taycan, Peugeot e-2008 and others as manufacturers hit the ground running with plans for universal electrification. That being said, there will no doubt be quite a crowd gathered around conventionally fuelled new cars like the Land Rover Defender, Audi RS7 and BMW X6. We’ve been getting ready for the show, and have compiled a list of all the important models we’re expecting to see when the doors open on 12 September. We’ll be updating it as we learn more, so keep an eye on our complete rundown to ensure you don’t miss a thing: Audi RS6 Audi Sport’s flagship wagon will retain its twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 as it moves into a fourth generation for 2020, with power upgraded to around 605bhp to take on the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and BMW M5. Expect visual differences over the standard A6 to include trademark chunkier wheel arches, larger air intakes and bigger wheels. RS7 Sportback The new RS7 Sportback will be the hero car for Audi Sport’s range of performance models, sharing a 600bhp-plus V8 with the RS6. As with the outgoing variant, power will be sent to all four wheels by way of an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while an 80kg weight loss should bring subtle performance gains. A3 Audi will introduce the fourth generation of its popular A3 in 2020 and is expected to show off the Volkswagen Golf rival at Frankfurt. Its launch has been pushed back due to Audi’s struggles with WLTP emissions testing and a heightened focus on EV development, but the company promises the new A3 will be the most advanced car in its segment and set new standards of refinement. S8, SQ8 and Q7 facelift We’ll also get our first in-the-metal look at the S8 performance saloon, one of only two models in Audi’s S range to retain a petrol powerplant, as well as the new SQ8 hot SUV and facelifted Q7 seven-seater. BMW X6 The recently revealed third-generation X6 will make its public debut in Frankfurt before it enters UK showrooms, priced from around £63,000. The coupé-style high-rider’s looks have been brought into line with the brand’s current design language, and a refreshed range of powertrain options is headed up by a 523bhp 4.4-litre petrol V8 yielding a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.3sec and a limited 155mph top speed. Vision M Next The Vision M concept is BMW’s idea of what a comeback for the M1 supercar of 1978 might look like. Previewing a production sports car tipped to arrive before 2025, the Vision M packs a 591bhp petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain that’s also destined to appear in more mainstream BMW M performance models further down the line. Cupra Electric concept Seat’s newly hived-off performance brand Cupra will show off a concept version of its first EV, which will take the form of a coupé-style SUV based on the Volkswagen Group’s universal MEB architecture. Previews show a rakish roofline, angular front end and distinctive headlight design, implying it will be a performance-oriented reworking of the Seat el-Born electric hatchback. Honda The Honda E electric city car was first revealed in 95%-production-ready prototype guise at the Geneva motor show in March, but it’s finally ready to emerge in its final form before customer deliveries begin next year. Expect little to change in the way of styling, with more than 6000 UK buyers alone having already expressed interest in buying an E. Hyundai Electric racer Frankfurt will see the unveiling of Hyundai’s first all-electric race car, which has been developed in Germany and previewed in a series of videos posted to the firm’s Twitter feed. Details remain scarce, but the new model is likely to be based on the existing i30 N TCR customer racer. Last year, rival firm Cupra revealed early details of the 670bhp Seat Leon-based e-Racer, to enter an upcoming electric touring car race series, which Hyundai is also expected to support. i10 Heavily disguised prototypes of Hyundai’s new i10 supermini maintain the Volkswagen Up rival’s compact footprint and appear to show a subtle evolution of its design, rather than a radical overhaul. It’s not yet known whether Hyundai is bringing a production-ready model or a concept to Frankfurt, but we expect the new i10 to share a platform with the latest Kia Picanto and offer a range of small-capacity petrol engines. Lamborghini Hybrid hypercar Lamborghini is readying a replacement for its Aventador flagship for 2020, and reports suggest it will be previewed by a low-volume, £2 million hybridised hypercar being revealed at Frankfurt. Prospective buyers got a look at the new model last year,
Origin: Updated: Frankfurt motor show 2019 preview
All-new Renault Clio: UK prices for advanced supermini revealed
The new fifth-generation Clio is Renault’s most advanced supermini to date, and is now available to order in the UK from £14,295. The Vauxhall Corsa rival is available in four trim levels, the cheapest of which, Play, comes equipped with air-conditioning, DAB radio, intelligent speed limiting software, 16in alloy wheels and advanced driver assistance systems as standard. Iconic trim starts at £15,295, and adds a 7in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as keyless entry, rear parking sensors and tinted rear windows. The Clio S Edition receives electric rear windows, larger alloy wheels, climate control and automatic windscreen wipers and headlights, and is expected to cost from around £16,200, though prices are yet to be officially confirmed. Heading up the Clio range is RS Line trim, which takes styling influence from Renaultsport performance models like the Mégane R.S. 280. RS Line Clios gain a wider, more aggressive front grille and a faux diffuser for the rear bumper. They also receive a larger exhaust and bespoke alloy wheels, while much of the chrome-effect exterior trim panels will be replaced with Renaultsport-specific gunmetal grey versions. Standard fitment at this level are a rear-view camera, front parking sensors and 17in alloy wheels, while optional Luxury and Techno packages add features including heated leather seats, wireless phone charging and a 360deg camera. RS Line cars also receive black and red interior trim accents throughout the cabin, including on the rear seats. First customer deliveries are expected to take place at the end of October. The Clio, which was announced earlier this year and made its debut at the Geneva motor show, is smaller outside yet roomier inside, with a lighter body built on the CMF-B platform – Renault’s first car to do so. At 4048mm long, it is 14mm shorter than before, with a 6mm-shorter wheelbase and a roof that’s up to 30mm lower. The body-in-white is 22kg lighter, with higher-strength steel for improved passive safety, and an all-new electrical architecture for additional assistance systems. The Clio can be equipped with a 75bhp 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, as well as the 1.0-litre turbo already seen on the new Nissan Micra with which it shares a platform. The turbo is available in 99bhp form with either a manual or CVT automatic gearbox, or as a 129bhp version available solely with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. A 1.5-litre diesel will follow with a choice of 84bhp or 114bhp. In 2020, though, it will become the first Renault to use a hybrid powertrain. The system, known as E-tech, will use an 89bhp petrol engine mated to a 40bhp electric motor and 1.2kWh battery. The brand claims it will drive “like an EV” and be 70% electrically powered in town, with three driving modes and regenerative braking. The same drivetrain but with a 9.8kWh battery will make the Captur SUV the first B-segment plug-in hybrid, with an electric-only range of 25 to 30 miles. As to whether a full-bore Clio RS was on the way, Renault’s spokesperson would only confirm that the turbocharged 1.8-litre engine seen in the Megané RS would ‘physically fit’ inside the new CMF-B platform – although the presence of Renaultsport programme director Michael Grosjean at the pre-launch preview gives a good indication of Renault’s future plans. Renault says the new Clio has been developed along three lines: evolutionary exterior design, revolutionary interior design and innovative technology. Across its four previous generations, the Clio has become Renault’s best-selling model. Unusually, the Clio 4 increased its sales every year from 2012 to 2018 to become the second-best selling car in Europe, largely thanks, Renault thinks, to its design. “The top reason buyers give for choosing Clio is always design,” said Vincent Dubroca, the Clio’s product manager. “Way more than in other market segments, but also against its direct competitors.” Senior vice president of design Laurens van den Acker, whose first Renault was the fourth-generation Clio, said: “When I arrived at Renault, it (the Clio) was looking for its soul. This time, we have so much to build on it would be a shame to throw it away.” From a design perspective, then, the fifth-generation Clio seems to pick up from where the old car left off, even though it’s actually entirely new. The interior is where the bigger changes take place. Van den Acker accepts Renault “dramatically needed to improve perceived quality” and reckons 70% of the time he spent with the new Clio was on its interior. Of the Clio 4, he said: “The hard plastic was in your face. Now what’s soft is close and what’s hard is far away. We’ve benchmarked against our competitors, but we’re reaching towards premium-segment cars”. The dashboard is now finished in soft-touch material and is more driver-oriented, with the raised centre console bringing the gearstick closer to the driver. A new airbag
Origin: All-new Renault Clio: UK prices for advanced supermini revealed
Autocar readers visit Bentley HQ for exclusive concept viewing
The histories of Autocar and Bentley have frequently intertwined over the past century, but the Crewe-based luxury car maker set an entirely new standard earlier this month by treating 30 Autocar subscribers, plus their friends and partners, to an exclusive concept car world premiere of their own. A few days earlier, the company had invited a strictly limited group of the world’s automotive journalists to Crewe to see the wraps come off the EXP 100 GT, a magnificent electric four-wheel drive luxury saloon concept, intended to show what luxury motoring could be like in 2035, from the points of view of styling, interior design, flexible accommodation, convenience and new materials that might be available. Similar in length (5.8m) to the longest Bentley Mulsanne limo in production, the 100 GT was configured both for autonomous and normal driving, under the theme of “extraordinary journeys”, either with the steering wheel retracted and the car in full self-driving mode, or with the driver taking charge on enjoyable roads. Bentley board member Astrid Fontaine explained the thinking behind the car to our Autocar group, while head of exterior design JP Gregory talked about the key design cues of the EXP 100 GT. Afterwards, both took part in a QA involving Autocar and Bentley people. The audience, who stayed for lunch, showed a keen appreciation of the car’s magnificent styling, and a passionate interest in the whole subject of electrification and the part it will play in 2035 motoring. But questions ranged far and wide, even including one reader’s forthright criticism of the shape of the current Bentayga SUV. Bentley’s diplomatic answer: it suits the customers who choose it, sir… All attendees – readers (two of whom brought Bentleys of their own), Crewe staff and Autocar writers – enjoyed this special occasion, which is fortuitous because right across its long history, Autocar has set out to be more than a magazine (and lately a website) but also the centre of a thriving, like-minded, car loving community. We’re already hatching plans to stage more of these events, one of the first likely to be an Autocar visit to Plant Oxford, the Mini factory. Keep reading the magazine and website and we’ll publish full
Origin: Autocar readers visit Bentley HQ for exclusive concept viewing
New Hyundai i10: sketch shows design revamp
Hyundai has revealed a preview sketch showing the design of its third-generation i10 city car ahead of it’s reveal at the Frankfurt motor show in September. The sketch shows a new design direction for the Volkswagen Up rival, with a new wider front grille reflecting the firm’s current styling. As with the current i10, the car’s daytime running lights are located within the grille. It also hints at what Hyundai calls an ‘X-shaped C-pillar’, which was first teased in a single preview image released by Hyundai last month. Hyundai says the model will be designed, developed and built in Europe. While it hasn’t revealed any technical details, Hyundai does say the car will feature a “range of new connected car and safety features”, including smartphone connectivity, a reversing camera and a range of driver assistance systems. A heavily disguised i10 test mule has previously been spied undergoing winter testing. That car retained the familiar smaller footprint and upright stance of the outgoing i10 but had significant body cladding, including over the C-pillar, which appears to rise in the same way as that in the preview image. Details of the interior are yet to be seen, but the Korean manufacturer is expected to boost perceived quality as well as introducing the promised advanced technology. Interior space isn’t likely to increase significantly, because the current i10 is only fractionally shorter than the latest Kia Picanto, with which the new model is expected to share its platform and mechanicals. Engines are expected to include the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol units, with a turbocharged 1.0-litre triple likely to make its way over from the range-topping Picanto. Expect prices to rise slightly to reflect the improvements and changing
Origin: New Hyundai i10: sketch shows design revamp
New Corvette C8 will ditch the chrome wheels
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8Chevrolet The Corvette is no stranger to criticism, but among all the gripes, the wheels have never really been one. Until now.While perusing the C8 Corvette configurator on Chevrolets website, Car and Driver noticed one glaring omission: an option for chrome wheels. At first thought to be a glitch, the automaker, specifically Corvette head engineer Tadge Juechter, confirmed to the outlet that the super-shiny rims were intentionally left out.The decision was deliberately made to attract younger buyers to the Corvette brand, ones who might find the chrome tasteless, and to distance the new mid-engined Corvette from its traditionally Jurassic-aged drivers, even if they are completely loyal to the brand.Their loyaltys likely to run out about now anyway, what with news the C8 would not be offered with a manual transmission; would have the engine behind the driver; and wouldnt come with four round taillights. Add on the lack of chrome wheels a polished rim is as close as it gets and more and more older buyers are liable to step away from the C8. Corvettes have, unfortunately, always been the stuff of dreams for retirees and Dads whose kids have finally finished college and gotten a real job. While theres nothing really wrong with following your dreams of owning the sports car you worked your whole life to enjoy, the owner stereotype of a guy in jorts, New Balance shoes and a ball cap with Corvette wings on it doesnt exactly scream serious driving machine to the general public.So if youre feeling discriminated against, just remember the C8 still fits a set of golf clubs in the back, take a big deep breath, and everything will be
Origin: New Corvette C8 will ditch the chrome wheels
GMC’s rumoured Bronco-fighter reportedly shelved
Fords planned Bronco revival is making a lot of manufacturers step their game up in the 44 department, but one rival has reportedly already given up.According to Muscle Cars Trucks, citing unnamed sources inside GM, plans for a new GMC-exclusive SUV that would have gone toe-to-toe against the upcoming Bronco and set the brand apart from sibling Chevrolet have been axed.The new vehicle could have even been called the Jimmy, reviving a classic name from the brands history to create a halo model, but, yes, thats reportedly all off the table now, too.The vehicle would have rode on a new body-on-frame platform dubbed 32XX, which would have also underpinned the next-generation of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon small pickup trucks, but that platform has been cancelled.Instead, the next-generation of those trucks will use a heavily revised version of the 31XX platform, called the 31XX-2. GM is undergoing massive changes, and the death of a Bronco-buster is just one of the byproducts of the North American restructuring plan.GM is cutting costs like its slicing a Sunday roast, idling four U.S manufacturing plants, ending production of some of the biggest nameplates in the brand, and even possibly taking the Camaro off of the list to receive a new platform. A planned Z/28 trim for the current Camaro has allegedly also been written out of history.The only thing that could provide some hope is the possibility of the Bronco rival moving toward GMs battery-electric platform, which will underpin an upcoming pickup
Origin: GMC’s rumoured Bronco-fighter reportedly shelved
Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
Audi Sport will significantly broaden its line-up in the next year, with a new preview image showing the number of new RS models due to launch before 2019 is out. The darkened shot shows six models set to wear the performance flagship badge. The first two from the left are Audi’s prominent Frankfurt motor show debutants: the new generation RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. We will also see RS versions of the new Q3 and Q3 Sportback, alongside a facelifted version of the RS4 to round out the 2019 A4 range, and a range-topping RS Q8. Stirred into action by the success of performance SUV ranges from rivals BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, newly appointed managing director Oliver Hoffmann previously confirmed that Audi Sport will begin offering range-topping RS versions of nearly every SUV model in the Audi line-up, starting with the heavily anticipated RS Q8. He said: “We have to stretch our portfolio and the SUV segment is the segment with the most growth. There is high demand from our customers for high-performance SUVs. The RS Q8 we will launch this year. There is really, really high demand for this type of car.” The Q3 Sportback, a coupe-styled version of the Q3, will also join the RS6 and RS7 as an RS variant at September’s Frankfurt motor show. Expectations are that it will retain the inline five-cylinder unit of Audi’s smaller RS models, putting out around 400bhp and making the SUV capable of 0-62mph in around four seconds. Hoffmann, who was recently promoted to the position of managing director after a stint as engineering boss following the departure of CEO Michael-Julius Renz, indicates driveline electrification will play a key role in enhancing the performance of Audi Sport’s RS SUV models. “If you have the SUV segment with the higher weight, it’s easier to implement a hybrid drivetrain. It’s easier because of the packaging and the higher weight,” he said in an interview at the recent Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. He added: “For sure, we will increase electric for our RS models in the
Origin: Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
SUV Review: 2019 Nissan Qashqai
2019 Nissan Qashqai SL AWD PlatinumJonathan Yarkony OVERVIEW Small and simple, a good little crossover on a budget PROSEasy to drive, all the latest driving safety tech CONSFuel consumption was strangely high despite being underpowered and slow VALUE FOR MONEYPretty good unless you load it up WHAT TO CHANGE?Make ProPilot Assist available on SV trim HOW TO SPEC IT?SL AWD I hope you can forgive me for thinking that with a weird name like Qashqai and the established Rogue across the showroom, Nissans mid-compact crossover wouldnt set the Canadian sales charts on fire, but hey, nobody bats 100 per cent. Instead, Nissan sold almost 10,000 Qashqais in its first half year, and then almost 20,000 in its first full year on the market last year and is poised to do so again this year. And it hasnt come at the expense of the Rogue, which might be down a couple thousand, but its getting old anyway, so that was bound to happen. Not only that, but the smaller Kicks has chipped in nicely, replacing the Jukes ugly face in showrooms and greatly surpassing its volume in the sales charts.Anyhow, it was that success of the Qashqai that prompted me to pick up the phone and book one. Ive been impressed by the Rogue since this generation gifted it with passable driving manners and superb practicality and efficiency, so I wanted to see for myself if the Qashqai was a bona fide Rogue Junior, ably fulfilling family duties while providing economical and easy commuting. Well, Im happy to report that it succeeds in the practicality department, but is something of a disappointment on the efficiency side. As its efficiency is my biggest complaint, Ill start with that. Weighing in at over 1,500 kilograms, its not particularly light for a car this small and it has a meagre 141 horsepower and 147 lb.-ft. of torque. On top of that, the CVT and throttle do it no favours when getting going, feeling slow and lazy, which in yours truly prompted heavier and heavier applications of throttle, whipping that poor little 2.0L four cylinder into a frenzy of whining and groaning, without much in the way of improved acceleration. While it may not have yielded superior acceleration, the aggressive throttle certainly kicked back plenty of fuel, ending my week at a whopping 12.5 litres per 100 km. Now, in its defense, it was during colder weather, and I do tend to drive aggressively, but in comparable vehicles like the Subaru Crosstrek or Hyundai Tucson, Ive easily had my efficiency under 10 L/100 km, which is what I would expect from the Qashqai considering it is rated at 9.1 L/100 km city, 7.6 hwy, and 8.4 combined by Natural Resources Canada. 12.5 is what I typically see from midsize SUVs like the Mazda CX-9 or Kia Sorento. As ever, though, driving habits are king, and you may find your fuel consumption more reasonable if you learn to to live with its lack of pace in your daily commute.If you can accept that one large hurdle, the rest should be much to your liking. Its a perfectly acceptable daily driver, the CVT making the driving experience smooth, all-wheel drive standard on our SV trim to get you through the winter, and a well-sorted suspension that offers impressive comfort despite 19-inch rims and decent handling for a small crossover. Its the kind of quiet, forgettable drive that allows you to enjoy your tunes or podcasts on the way into the office. The SV trim also brings peace of mind to the commute with a whole array of driver safety aids, Nissans ProPilot assist providing a more proactive approach to the virtual safety bubble around your car. Even without the intelligent cruise control set to match speeds, with the ProPilot suite on the Qashqai will prompt just a hint of braking or throttle cutoff when encroaching on another vehicles personal space control freaks would likely hate this, but day dreamers will appreciate this early intervention so its not a sudden alarming, blaring beep and lockup braking, just to avoid stuffing into someones rear bumper. Its size is at the very smallest end of the proper compact crossover pool, smaller even than the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, but larger than most subcompact crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and Nissans own Kicks. Its closest competitors would be the Jeep Compass and Subaru Crosstrek, and while space is a bit tight in the back seat, its plenty spacious enough for kids and easy to get in and out of. Although cargo space is not massive, the standard Divide-n-Hide cargo organizer makes the most of the space allowing a lower floor in standard five-seat configuration with 648 litres or a flat load floor with the 60/40 split rear seats folded yielding 1,730 L. On top of that, the two panels double as cargo walls to keep various items separate or as a cover for hidden storage if you find the standard cargo cover insufficient to keep belongings safe from prying eyes. Its not earth-shattering, but its a little thing that becomes very useful in
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 Nissan Qashqai
236mph Tushek TS 900 H Apex is ‘lightest hypercar’
Low-volume Slovenian manufacturer Tushek will show its new TS 900 H Apex hybrid hypercar in the UK next month. The company claims that with a kerbweight of just 1410kg, the TS 900 is the lightest car in its segment. By comparison, the recently revealed Lotus Evija weighs 1680kg and the new Ferrari SF90 Stradale tips the scales at 1570kg. Like the Lotus and Ferrari, the TS 900 is built around a lightweight, high-strength steel spaceframe and a pre-impregnated two-seat carbonfibre tub, but it also features a removable targa-style roof panel and striking scissor doors. The TS 900’s hybrid powertrain comprises a rear-mounted 4.2-litre V8 and a pair of electric motors driving the front wheels, good for a combined 937bhp and 1033lb ft. Power is sent to the rear through a six-speed sequential racing gearbox weighing just 62kg. Tushek claims the hypercar will sprint from 0-62mph in 2.5sec – 0.3sec quicker than the McLaren Senna – and on to a top speed of 236mph. Its electric-only driving range is claimed to be more than 31 miles. The TS 900 will be sold as standard with BBS forged alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli Trofeo Series R performance tyres. Stopping power comes courtesy of large ventilated brake discs and Brembo calipers. Tushek says the electric technology used on the TS 900 will inform development of a future all-electric model that which will “have a touch of sportiness” but be “focused on sustainable and safe electric travel”. Tushek was founded in 2004 by ex-racing driver Aljoša Tušek and became known in 2008 for producing Slovenia’s first supercar, the TS 500 Renovatio. That model’s successor, the TS 600, followed in 2014. Prices for the TS 900 are yet to be confirmed, but can be expected to far exceed the £275,000 launch price of the company’s first model. The new hypercar will join the Puritalia Berlinetta and Austro-Daimler Bergmeister ADR 630 Shooting Grand at Blenheim Palace’s Salon Privé in
Origin: 236mph Tushek TS 900 H Apex is ‘lightest hypercar’
Ontario man shot in the face over road-rage middle-finger-flip
A young man stopped in his car at an east London, Ontario intersection was shot in the face after giving another motorist the finger in what police now say is a case of possible road rage.Investigators on Thursday announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the attempted murder case that has gone unsolved for nearly two months.A man, 21, had left work and was driving a Volkswagen in the area of Royal Crescent and Wexford Avenue around 4 p.m. on May 11 when he encountered a Chevrolet Cruze being driven aggressively, police said.The man gestured toward the Cruze driver friends of the victim say he gave the middle finger before proceeding to the intersection at Admiral Drive and Trafalgar Street, where the Cruze driver pulled up beside the Volkswagen and shot the driver before speeding away, police said.It appears that it may well be an incident of road rage, Det. Sgt. Alex Krygsman said.We know from what this young man was able to tell us, and also from citizens who came forward, that this (Cruze) was seen being driven in an erratic manner in the neighbourhood and that this young man simply encountered this vehicle on the street as he was minding his own businesses.The bullet shattered the passenger-side window of the Cruze before going through Volkswagens open window and striking the driver in the left side of the face, shattered two of his teeth and fracturing his vertebrae, before exiting the right side of his neck, Krygsman said. The suspect drove away west on Trafalgar Street and then south on Marconi Boulevard, said police, who released three images of the Cruze that showed damage on the drivers side, a smashed-out front passenger window and possible damage on the bumper.Four days after the shooting, police seized a Cruze without a front bumper from a home on Bowcott Crescent, south of Trafalgar Street and west of Veterans Memorial Parkway. The resident and the vehicles owner both spoke with investigators, Krygsman said.The suspect, who wasnt previously known to the victim, is described as in his 20s with a slim to average
Origin: Ontario man shot in the face over road-rage middle-finger-flip
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