Toyota has been seen testing what appears to be a plug-in hybrid variant of the RAV4 SUV on European roads. At first glance, the prototype doesn’t seem any different from the standard Honda CR-V rival. However, closer inspection reveals a disguised opening on the right-hand side of the car – the opposite side of where the fuel filler cap resides – a classic tell that a charging port is lurking underneath. The test hack is also towing what looks like dynamometer equipment, another traditional sign of a new powertrain under development. While Toyota is unable to officially comment, it’s most likely that a PHEV RAV4 would continue to use the 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a larger electric motor and lithium ion battery pack. While the Japanese maker already has a PHEV in its arsenal in the form of the Prius Plug-in, that 1.8-litre unit is unlikely to provide sufficient power and torque levels to account for the substantial weight increase usually seen with a plug-in hybrid – for reference, the straight hybrid model already weighs around 1750kg. The TNGA platform underpinning the SUV has been designed to offer a mix of powertrains. Expect an all-electric range target of about 30 miles, allowing a quotable low-CO2 figure to satisfy business users. Toyota has long been an advocate of its so-called ‘self-charging’ parallel hybrid system – used in the Prius for two decades – claiming it’s more convenient than having to plug in. However, all car makers will be forced to drive down their fleet average CO2 rating rapidly or face heavy fines as new EU emission laws come into force in 2020/21. Electrification with a meaningful all-electric range is the most effective way of doing so. As such, expect a plug-in hybrid RAV4 to arrive on the scene in the middle of 2020, rivalling models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Vauxhall Grandland X
Origin: Toyota tests plug-in hybrid RAV4 SUV in new images
Nearly-new buying guide: Skoda Octavia
As a used car, the Octavia hatchback lives up to Skoda’s reputation as a great-value brand. Prices of new ones have been creeping up of late but used examples are much more realistically priced. How about £9490 for a 2016/65- reg 1.4 TSI SE L with 49,000 miles? It has one previous owner and full Skoda service history. Features include a sat-nav, electric windows all round, climate control, leather and suede seats and parking sensors. And that’s before we start talking about the massive, 590-litre boot (1580 litres with the back seats folded) and generous cabin space that come as standard with every Octavia hatchback. The current model was launched in 2013 in five-door hatchback and estate forms. It didn’t look radically different from the version it replaced but it was larger and lighter, some achievement for a car whose predecessor already dwarfed its class rivals. Four engines – two petrols, two diesels – power the regular versions. The 1.6 and 2.0 oil-burners were the most popular. The 1.6 is a little slow and has only a five-speed gearbox, which is why we’d plump for the lustier, six-speed 2.0. A 2014/14-reg 2.0 TDI SE with 60,000 miles costs £7500. Meanwhile, don’t pass on the 138bhp 1.4 TSI petrol. It’s a smooth unit and perfect for average-mileage drivers. More press-on types can choose from a couple of sporty vRS versions: a 217bhp 2.0 TSI (0-62mph in 6.8sec) and a 181bhp 2.0 TDI (8.1sec). Both make entertaining, value-for-money holdalls, with a 2014-reg TSI at 50,000 miles costing £10,500. The TSI’s power rose to 227bhp in 2016 and then to 242bhp in 2017. In 2016, the 1.2 TSI engine was replaced by the 113bhp 1.0 TSI. The seven-speed DSG automatic version is more economical than the manual largely because it shifts gears earlier than is sometimes comfortable. Still, if your idea of motoring is wafting about in a large, practical and understated motor of indisputable quality, it’s worth choosing. Prices start at £9300 for a 20,000-miler. The following year (2017) was facelift time, when the Octavia received a new nose with a larger grille and quad headlights. Inside, the infotainment screen grew to 9.2in on selected trims and the Columbus system, standard on the top-spec model, now boasted a wi-fi hotspot. Across the range, every trim could now claim alloy wheels, touchscreen systems, phone connectivity, air-con and a post-collision braking system. The new, more efficient 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol engine also appeared at this time. From launch to the present day, trims have remained largely the same, with only Elegance getting the heave-ho. They’re underpinned by S, SE, SE L and Laurin Klement. From time to time, SE has been boosted by special versions called SE Sport, SE Business and SE Technology that bring lots of extra kit for next to no additional charge. They’re worth seeking out. Need to know The Octavia GreenLine of 2014, powered by a 1.6 TDI CR 110 diesel engine, has an official economy figure of 88.3mpg in part thanks to its low-rolling-resistance tyres and the stop/start system standard on all Octavias. However, in reality, expect around 55mpg. From 2017, Dynamic Chassis Control was offered as an option on all engines over 148bhp (badged 150 and upwards). It offers Normal, Comfort and Sport modes but don’t pay a premium for it since the standard set-up is perfectly good. Depending on trim, all Octavias came with elements of the Simply Clever range, comprising an ice scraper, a warning vest holder, a rubbish bin and a multimedia holder. It’s worth checking they’re present and not simply missing… Our pick Octavia 1.4 TSI 150 SE L: High-mileage drivers will want one of the diesels but all others should make a beeline for this mid-power 1.4 that blends strong performance with decent economy and impressive refinement. Wild card Octavia 1.0 TSI 115 S: They look mismatched but the 1.0-litre engine makes a good fist of hauling the Octavia. It’s a perky motor capable of 0-62mph in 9.9sec on its way to 125mph. Expect 40mpg. Ones we found 2015 1.6 TDI S 5dr, 104,000 miles, £4740 2016 1.2 TSI 110 5dr, 43,000 miles, £7990 2017 1.4 TSI SE DSG 5dr, 50,000 miles, £9890 2018 1.0 TSI SE 5dr, 18,000 miles,
Origin: Nearly-new buying guide: Skoda Octavia
Fiat Chrysler begins fix for vibration issue on Jeeps
A 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has started replacing a steering component in newer Jeep Wranglers in the wake of a slew of complaints from owners over what one lawsuit calls a “death wobble.”The new steering damper the automaker is fitting to the SUV has a design feature that affords more efficient function, FCA spokesperson Eric Mayne told Automotive News on Monday.Owners of 2018 and 2019 model year Wranglers would be notified beginning August 9, and FCA is still determining the number of vehicles affected, Mayne said.A lawsuit filed in June alleges a defectively designed damping system can cause some Wranglers to experience a death wobble, or a violent shaking at highway speeds. This rarely occurring phenomenon is not peculiar to any one vehicle and is not a safety issue, FCA said in a statement. FCA US strongly objects to any insinuation otherwise.Automotive News notes the lawsuit says steering dampers are a band-aid fix that will only temporarily conceal the problem.The automaker noted the issue comes up most frequently during cold
Origin: Fiat Chrysler begins fix for vibration issue on Jeeps
This speed shop will fit your new Toyota Supra with a manual
2020 Toyota SupraHandout / Toyota Disciples at the Church of Supra cried out in collective anguish when they learned the 2020 version of the Toyota sports car would not be available with a manual transmission.Never mind that most modern boxes can shift gears faster than most humans, it was the loss of driver interaction that was mourned.Toyota knows this and, back at the North American Inernational Auto Show last January, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada told assembled media he was open to the idea of adding a stick (though he’s since gone back against that prospect).One performance outlet in Texas apparently couldnt wait anyway, and decided to engineer its own solution. First reported on at CarBuzz, a Texan outfit called European Auto Group is now taking customer deposits for a 2020 Toyota Supra manual swap.This is the same crew that stuck a gated six-speed manual in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia, so chances are good they know what theyre doing. Theyre also working on a stickshift 458 Italia, by the way.In a Canadian connection, the crew at EAG have tag-teamed with the Canucks at ProTuning Freaks in Ontario for help in offering a power boost in addition to the manual swap. Yes, that ProTuning, the one that works on BMWs. After all, at heart, a Supra shares much with a Z4. According to the report, EAG will source all its parts from BMW, meaning the greasy bits will likely come from Munich. But the madman behind it all says he would enjoy deploying a shift lever like the one found in Toyotas own GR HV Sports Concept, the one shown back in 2017. That would keep its interior appearance all in the family, at least.Cost? Figure on a bill somewhere in the $12,000 range, and to be without your Supra for about a
Origin: This speed shop will fit your new Toyota Supra with a manual
One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
Chevy shocked the aftermarket world when it zapped into SEMA last year with its eCOPO Camaro, a concept car that amped up drag racers across the nation so much it hertz.We all good on dad jokes, now? Cool.At the time, the eCOPO concept was based on the 2019 COPO (and not the hideous 2019 SS, thankfully) and driven by an electric motor providing the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower. With about 600 lb.-ft. of torque, Chevy estimated the thing could pull a quarter-mile in the nine-second range.Now, the works of it is being auctioned off by Russo and Steele as part of the action at Monterey Car Week. The thing is an electrical tour de force, as the electric motor is based on a pair of Borg-Warner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies.Each of them generate 300 lb.-ft. of torque and completely replaces the gas engine. It is connected to a conventional racing-prepared Turbo 400 automatic transmission that channels the motors torque to the same solid rear axle used in the production COPO Camaro race cars.When it was being developed, Chevrolet partnered with Hancock and Lane Racing partly because of the teams success in NHRA drag racing but also its involvement with Patrick McCue. You may recognize that name as a driving force behind the record-holding Shock and Awe electric drag racing car and his Seattle-area Bothell High School automotive technology program.(Its worth mentioning that, thanks to the latter, more than a dozen students participated in the development and assembly of the electrified drag car.)Its the Hancock and Lane connection that likely allows this eCOPO to appear on the auction block. The general understanding is that the racing company, not Chevy, actually owns the car, meaning it may not be GM whos offering it for sale. Russo and Steele plan to auction the eCOPO on Friday night around 8:45 pm, according to its website, and goes on to say the car has many unique parts other than its drivetrain, including a one-off hood and a copious number of special badges.And, yes, the eCOPO does have a real VIN. Just dont try to pull any funny stuff at the
Origin: One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
New McLaren GT Special Operations showcase heading to Pebble Beach
McLaren has unveiled a series of personalisation options open to buyers of its new GT through its in-house Special Operations division. The McLaren GT by MSO will make its public debut at this weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It showcases a range of interior and exterior styling tweaks said to be inspired by iconic British architecture. The model is painted in a newly developed shade of silver that’s exclusive to MSO, with the door skirts, front splitter, wing mirrors, brake calipers, rear bumper and diffuser finished in the division’s graphite grey. Also included is the MSO Bright Pack, which comprises a polished titanium exhaust tip, black diamond-cut alloy wheels and chrome window surrounds. Inside, the seatbacks, sunvisors, door cards and armrest are stitched in a pattern that pays homage to the geometric canopy design of the British Museum in London. The seats are trimmed in white leather, with elements of grey leather throughout the interior continuing the exterior’s design theme. Additional interior features unique to the model include MSO-branded headrests and sills, silver-infused carbonfibre shift paddles and bespoke floormats. The GT by MSO also shows off the optional electrochromic sunroof, which can turn opaque in high-intensity sunlight and shield the car’s occupants from glare. MSO hasn’t modified the GT’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, meaning the special edition model can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.2sec and on to a top speed of 203mph. Ansar Ali, managing director of McLaren Special Operations, said: “We believe that the McLaren GT has class-leading elegance and sophistication and is the perfect car to further personalise, whether it be through an MSO Defined or MSO Bespoke option or, alternatively, a unique, customer-inspired design that MSO delivers a stunning interpretation of.” MSO unveiled a one-off reworking of McLaren’s new 720S Spider at this year’s Geneva motor show. As well as a unique blue-grey colour scheme, the 202mph roadster featured a carbonfibre tonneau cover, a sports exhaust and Alcantara interior trim. Costs for MSO’s range of bespoke GT upgrades are yet to be detailed, but deliveries of the standard model are scheduled to begin this autumn, with prices starting from
Origin: New McLaren GT Special Operations showcase heading to Pebble Beach
Lorraine Explains: Deadly motorcycle crashes, and the drivers who cause them
A motorcycle driving by cars on a city street.Getty Two weeks ago, at 7:30 am, a motorcyclist in Burlington, Ontario suffered life-threatening injuries when a car turned left in front of him. Later that night in the same city, a motorcyclist was killed when an SUV turned left in front of him. The next day, an Oakville driver was charged with making an unsafe left turn, causing a motorcyclist to be violently thrown and severely injured; the rider and bike ended up 40 metres from the point of impact.The same weekend in New Hampshire, seven members of a motorcycle club – the Marine Jarheads, made up of Marines and their spouses – were killed when a pickup towing a flatbed crashed into them on the highway. The 23-year-old driver has been charged with seven counts of negligent homicide, though his driving record was already a disaster. He’d been charged with operating a vehicle under drugs/alcohol in May (cops found a crack pipe on him) and he had a rollover in Texas earlier in June. His licence should have been revoked, and the Registrar of Massachusetts’ motor vehicle division (where the trucking company he drove for operates from) has resigned.Ive taken so many advanced driver training courses over the years, Ive lost count. But the motorcycle training I took remains the most memorable, the most sobering, and the most valuable. You truly understand just how vulnerable you are, no matter how much bike you buy, no matter how much you invest in leathers and safety gear, no matter how much you spend on a helmet. You learn to drive as if everyone around you is going to kill you, because some of them are.As for the idiots who insist on weaving in and out of traffic on their crotch rockets, theres a famed biker adage seemingly lost on the young: There are old motorcyclists. There are bold motorcyclists. But there are no old, bold motorcyclists.Motorcycles have been on our roads about as long as cars have. This is not new. Motorcycles change, vehicles evolve, safety improves everything gets better, it seems, except how we interact with each other.Eight years ago I cut a motorcycle off, and I wrote about it. I didn’t mean to, he was speeding, but it didn’t matter. A life was at stake. I was shaking as I wrote it, and reading it again is still just as visceral as when it happened. I heard from riders around the country, and braced myself for the fallout. Instead, I got thank-yous. Not for nearly hitting one of their own, but for admitting I’d made a mistake and put him in danger. Apparently, riders are not used to drivers owning up to their own mistakes.The first three crashes at the top of this article shook me, too. Any motorcyclist will tell you that someone in the opposite direction making a left turn puts them on even higher alert. Left turns, in general, are one of the most deadly moves we make every day, but they make anything smaller – a pedestrian, a cyclist, a motorcyclist – nearly invisible. A New York City Department of Transportation study sums it up thus: “Left turns are more dangerous than right turns for three main reasons: left turns can be taken at a wider radius, which leads to higher speeds and greater pedestrian exposure; the driver’s visibility is partially obscured by parked cars and the vehicle’s A-pillar; and left turns are more complicated than rights, and require more mental and physical effort (‘driver workload’) than right turns.”Drivers can be so focused on finding their break in a flow of traffic that they fail to see pedestrians in a crosswalk, or other smaller oncoming traffic. I don’t know precisely what happened in those Burlington instances, and the police are asking for witnesses, but the onus to prevent a crash is on the person making the left-hand turn. Unless those bikes were going an excessive speed, one life was needlessly ended and one forever changed. Safe riders will try to maximize their visibility to you. They will ride behind you to the left, so you can see them in your rearview mirror. Multiple riders will ride two abreast.The MTO states, “(a)ll motorcycles must have a white light at the front (headlight) and a red light at the back (rear or tail light) and these must be used at all times of day and night.” You’ll even see some motorcycles with a modulating headlamp – it’s pulsing – in the daytime. It helps makes drivers more aware. Sensors kick in to keep the beam steady at dusk. The slaughter on the New Hampshire highway was just flat-out murder. New Hampshire doesn’t have a helmet law, and their slogan is “Live free or die.” I was there the weekend so many members of that club were wiped out, and it is prime season for motorcycles and RVs. The winding two-lane blacktops throughout that part of the country are spectacular for driving, and we saw countless bikes. The only time I noted a helmet-less head was in town, which was stupid. Those members of that club came from several states, and in every picture posted on the internet of the club (and there
Origin: Lorraine Explains: Deadly motorcycle crashes, and the drivers who cause them
Before the Lamborghini Urus, there was the ‘Rambo Lambo’
SANTAGATA BOLOGNESE, Italy Before Hummer became an American icon for glorious excess, before Jeep started supercharging Grand Cherokees into supercar territory, and positively eons before the Urus was even a twinkle in Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicalis eyes, there was this, the LM002, the worlds first super SUV.It almost wasnt meant to be. Originally concocted as a military vehicle Lamborghini even built a rear-engined HUMVEE-like berm buster called the Cheetah the Rambo Lambo, as it became affectionately known, was never intended to be a civilian vehicle. Lamborghini, in another one of its down cycles, dreamt of military procurement visions of $10,000 toilet seats no doubt dancing like sugar plums in their heads and never intended to peddle the LM (Lamborghini Militaria) to civilians. Indeed, the first prototype, trying to appear practical, was powered by a common, everyday Chrysler V8. Only when it became obvious that armed forces were not going to buy thousands upon thousands of Jeeps from a quirky Italian supercar maker with a reputation for, shall we say, intense maintenance needs imagine, just for a moment, a 19-year-old, fresh-out-of-high-school conscript servicing a Countach in barren Afghanistan for some idea of the ensuing nightmare were dreams of huge Pentagon contracts scuppered. Then those crazy Italians and Lord, let us all give thanks for the lunatics from Lamborghini had a brilliant idea. Why not take the 5.2-litre V12 you know, the one from the mad-as-a-hatter Countach and shoehorn it into the engine bay of their giant Rat Patrol-like desert sled? Then, fit some monster tires, outfit the interior fit for a prince, and then sell the thing for about US$120,000 quite literally a kings ransom in 1986. For a little context here, a Jeep Cherokee of the same vintage started at US$10,336 and was powered by a not-quite-as-inspiring 117-horsepower, 2.5-litre inline four.Everything about the Rambo Lambo was outrageous. With around 450 horsepower, that big, quad-cam V12 would accelerate the LM002 from zero to 100 km/h in about seven seconds and top out at over 200 km/h. Yes, I know the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk destroys those numbers and a modern Urus will drive rings around an LM002. But in its day, the Rambo Lambo was the biggest, baddest, most outrageous vehicle on the planet.Everything about the LM002 was outsized. It weighted about three tons, carbon fibre still the stuff of aerospace lore. It ran on the biggest and rarest Scorpion off-road tires 345/60VR17s Pirelli had ever produced. And it stood some 300 millimetres off terra firma, no doubt the result of its military vehicle roots. No other car no, not even the Countach was considered as outlandish. Now that the entire automotive marketplace has gone fully sport-brute, the Rambo Lambo may seem but a quaint anachronism, but 35 years ago, let me assure you, it was the maddest thing on four wheels. Which makes my first few kilometres behind the wheel an absolute surprise. What I thought would be a fussy, bouncy four-wheeled trial-by-ordeal proved sophisticated, bordering on the, dare I say it, modern. Oh, the steering was heavy and more than a tad ponderous. And Lord save us all from those who remember the glory years of manual transmissions: The Lambos was the very definition of a rock crusher, the throws long, gear engagement temperamental, and the clutch worthy of a Schwarzenegger leg routine.But Lordy, the engine was hell, still is a beaut. For all its fearsome reputation, the Countach-sourced V12 is a pussycat. Oh, a quad-cam, 48-valve, 12-pistoned pussycat that just happens to sound ready for a Formula One grid, but a pussycat nonetheless. Yes, even in SUVd LM002 form, the big V12 screams for revs like an unthrottled racecar, but poodling around town, the LM002s 12 pistons are the model of civility, all delicate throttle control and oodles, just oodles of low end torque. Lamborghini LM002 Handout / Lamborghini Indeed, the engine made the crunchy transmission almost bearable, it being easy to skip first altogether and, if you revved it high enough Clara (Lamborghinis long-suffering PR manager), I was just trying to save the transmission you could skip all the way from second to fifth. I realize this will be considered sacrilege, but you could mate the LM002 to one of those ancient two-speed Powerglide automatics you know, the ones where first gear went all the way to 100 km/h and the big 5.2L would barely notice. My God, what a gem this engine is, by far my most impressive walk down internal combustions memory lane to date.The other big surprise again, considering its fearsome rep is that the big Lambos comportment also borders on the modern. Yes, as I mentioned, the steering was Mack truck heavy. But the actual road-holding? Excellent. There was little wander up front despite riding on the biggest front tires I have ever seen body roll was very well contained and, other than having to
Origin: Before the Lamborghini Urus, there was the ‘Rambo Lambo’
Rolls-Royce unveils ultra-exclusive Ghost Zenith special
Rolls-Royce has unveiled a limited-run Ghost Zenith Collector’s Edition, which will offer the highest level of bespoke features on the car to date. The Zenith will be limited to just 50 examples and the British firm says it offers more bespoke options than any model apart from the 2016 limited-run Phantom Zenith. The special edition is intended as the ultimate version of the current Ghost before the new model arrives next year. The Ghost Zenith features a number of design details inspired by the 2009 200EX concept that previewed the Ghost. They include an ingot in the interior made from the original concept car’s Spirit of Ecstasy. A section of artwork showing technical details of the 200EX has been engraved in the centre console, too. The Spirit of Ecstasy and clock of the Ghost Zenith are both engraved with its name. There are new illuminated door pockets with perforated leather to emit light into the cabin, while the contrasting leather seats feature embroidery inspired by seat details in the 1907 Silver Ghost. The Ghost Zenith retains the model’s illuminated ‘starlight headliner’, but a new ‘shooting star’ design note has been introduced to add “an extraordinary sense of theatre”. It features a gloss contrast two-tone paintwork, available in three colour pairings, and a Silver Satin bonnet as used on the 200EX. The Ghost Zenith will be available in standard- and extended-wheelbase forms and feature the same mechanicals as the regular Ghost, including the twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 petrol engine. Pricing has not been disclosed but is likely to be substantially higher than the £200,958 base price for the current standard-wheelbase
Origin: Rolls-Royce unveils ultra-exclusive Ghost Zenith special
Tennessee dealer building 808-hp US$139,995 Mustangs
There are a few racing liveries etched into the minds of a gearheads: John Player Lotus, Penske Marlboro, Petty STP. One that ranks consistently high on the tribute list? The famed Gulf livery, instantly recognizable for its blue-and-orange colours.A Ford dealer in Tennessee is now marketing new Mustangs painted in Gulf shades to celebrate the brands historic win at Le Mans all those years ago.Oh, yeah did we mention these Mustangs have had their wick cranked to a sky-high 808 horsepower?Brown Lee Ford out of Nashville, smartly cashing in on the upcoming Ford v Ferrari flick starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, isnt new to building hot-rod Mustangs. Theyve been hawking Roush-tuned units for years, but this Gulf creation is something special.Under the hood, a claimed 808 horsepower and 677 lb.-ft. of torque works its way out of a 5.0-litre supercharged V8. That blower is described by the dealer as a 3.0 Liter Stage 2 unit that works in concert with an air-to-water intercooler system.Buyers can row their own or let the car do it for them as this beast is available with either the six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic.Ensuring the Gulf Mustang will stop as good as it goes, the company has also fitted brakes the size of frying pans, measuring 15.1 inches front and rear. Six-pot calipers perform clamping duties on the front stoppers, while four-piston breadloaves hang out in the back. Tires? Theyre Michelin Sport Cup 2s, of course, sized 285/30ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear.Styling cues are obvious and include the likes of a front carbon-fibre splitter and side sills. Gulf logos pepper the sides and rear of these Mustangs, and Gulf racing accents are found inside on the seats as well. We have to say, US$140,000 is a hefty price tag, especially when one considers the mighty GT500 is priced less than eighty grand in the States. Theyre only building 119 of these cars, though, so it stands to reason youll never see yourself on the street corner.Plus, what better way to rock up to the premiere of Ford v
Origin: Tennessee dealer building 808-hp US$139,995 Mustangs
All about car 