Alfa Romeo has officially withdrawn its 4C sports car from sale just one week after it was revealed that the new GTV coupé and an 8C successor have been removed from the future product plan. An Alfa Romeo spokesperson was unavailable for comment, but the Porsche 718 Boxster rival now no longer appears on Alfa’s configurator and was absent from a list of current and future models shown at the firm’s third-quarter earnings report last week. The 4C has consistently struggled to secure a strong foothold in the unpredictable sports car market, selling just 421 units in Europe last year. That compares with 9943 Audi TTs and 8202 Porsche 718s sold in the same period. Last week, Alfa Romeo boss Mike Manley told the company’s stakeholders that its future product portfolio has been “significantly scaled back, with a corresponding reduction in capital spending”. The removal of the 4C will make way for two new SUVs and refreshed versions of the Giulia saloon and Stelvio. The smaller of the two new SUVs, the Tonale, has been designed as a means of entering the competitive and highly profitable compact SUV market. It will take its power from a hybrid system shared with its Jeep Renegade platform partner and be priced to compete with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. There has been no suggestion that a new partnership between Alfa’s parent company FCA and French automotive giant PSA could foster further sports car development, making it unlikely that a replacement for the 4C will appear any time soon. The new alliance is the fourth-largest car-making group in the world, but new CEO Carlos Tavares is known for bringing in drastic cost-cutting measures to improve
Origin: Alfa Romeo axes 4C sports car to focus on SUVs
Focus
Ford Focus prices increased as entry variant dropped
Ford has revised the Focus lineup in the UK, with the removal of the entry-level Style model, a new trim grade added and small price increases on certain models. The dropping of Style trim, a model often ignored by buyers in favour of better equipped trims, means that the Focus now starts from £20,645 for the Zetec grade – £2,100 more than before. That brings it to a similar pricing point as the new Puma, which is available to order in higher trim grades for the time being. A series of small price rises have also been implemented elsewhere in the range, according to the firm’s latest pricing lists which are in the process of being incorporated into the online configurator. All Zetec, Active and ST-Line grades see a bump up of £250, while estates rise by £100 and petrols rise by £500. Two new variants are now available to order, too. Joining the current two-strong lineup of ruggedly-styled Active models is a flagship Active Vignale, available from £27,045, which brings the extensive kit tally from the standard Vignale model onto the higher-riding car. The tweaks follow a more minor revision of the Focus which regards to one model, quietly implemented earlier this year. The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been switched from the multi-link rear suspension to a cheaper, simpler torsion beam setup, leaving only the 2.0-litre diesel models with the multi-link
Origin: Ford Focus prices increased as entry variant dropped
Ford revises Focus range with entry variant dropped
Ford has revised the Focus lineup in the UK, with the removal of the entry-level Style model, a new trim grade added and small price increases on certain models. The dropping of Style trim, a model often ignored by buyers in favour of better equipped trims, means that the Focus now starts from £20,645 for the Zetec grade – £2,100 more than before. That brings it to a similar pricing point as the new Puma, which is available to order in higher trim grades for the time being. A series of small price rises have also been implemented elsewhere in the range. All Zetec, Active and ST-Line grades see a bump up of £250, while estates rise by £100 and petrols rise by £500. Two new variants are now available to order, too. Joining the current two-strong lineup of ruggedly-styled Active models is a flagship Active Vignale, available from £27,045, which brings the extensive kit tally from the standard Vignale model onto the higher-riding car. The tweaks follow a more minor revision of the Focus which regards to one model, quietly implemented earlier this year. The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been switched from the multi-link rear suspension to a cheaper, simpler torsion beam setup, leaving only the 2.0-litre diesel models with the multi-link
Origin: Ford revises Focus range with entry variant dropped
Volvo UK boss: focus is electric XC40 and online sales
Volvo’s new UK boss has outlined a three-point plan focused on electric cars, boosting online sales and improving dealer profitability – while Brexit is lower down his priority list. In his first interview since taking over in June, Kristian Elvefors said his first big challenge is to launch Volvo’s first all-electric model, a variant of the XC40, successfully in the UK from next year while exploiting the plug-in hybrid cars that Volvo now have on every bodystyle. “We are very well placed with electrification and the XC40 will move us into a new, growing segment,” he said. The XC40 is currently Volvo’s UK best-seller, taking over from the out-of-production V40, and the new plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models are likely to further strengthen the compact SUV’s position in Volvo’s UK line-up. In the medium term, Volvo UK will work towards the corporate goal of 50% new car sales of electrified cars – hybrids and BEVs – by 2025, which will inevitably mean a bigger share of those models in the UK. In his first four months in the job, Elvefors has seen how UK consumers are comfortable with online purchasing and sees an opportunity to broaden Volvo sales on the web. “We don’t do Ocado and Amazon in Sweden like you do here,” he said. “That must be an opportunity for us.” However, there is still no firm date to introduce Volvo’s subscription service Care By Volvo to the UK. Care By Volvo bundles all the costs of running a car, including insurance, into a single monthly payment, like a mobile phone contract. “In Europe, we’re trialling it in Germany and the Netherlands,” he said. “If you can make it work in Germany, you can make it work anywhere. But we have to see how it goes before it comes to the UK.” Although Elvefors says Volvo is “prepared for Brexit”, he feels that there is enough uncertainty to remain tight-lipped about Volvo’s end-of-year UK sales. The short-term aim is 60,000 units by 2020 and Volvo already reached 30,000 new car sales in the first half of the year, but a couple of tough months post-Brexit at the end of October, if it happens, could knock the numbers back. “All I can say is that we are happy with our sales volume numbers,” said Elvefors. Elvefors has switched jobs with Volvo UK’s former boss Jon Wakefield and must now keep UK sales percolating while Wakefield has a chance to move Sweden back ahead of the UK. Much of Elvefors’ perspective on the UK market is framed by his successful stint overseeing Volvo’s Swedish sales – where he increased market share to 20.6% and recovered the company’s market position. Increasing fleet sales might be a card Elvefors could play. He’s not planning a blitz on daily rentals, but sees the fleet mix in the UK, about 22%, well behind Sweden, where it’s around 72%. Another approach will be to encourage UK dealers to bring services that they currently outsource in-house. “I want us to capture more of the profits from this sort of business,” Elvefors
Origin: Volvo UK boss: focus is electric XC40 and online sales
New Ford Focus RS comes with free vape because stereotypes
In what could possibly be the ultimate example of a stereotype coming to life, a Ford dealership is offering buyers of a Focus RS on its lot a free vape with their purchase.Prestman Auto of Salt Lake City is offering this used Ford Focus RS for US$25,900, and along with the car, is tossing in, too, the opportunity to try vaping and the culture that surrounds it.Jalopnik got in touch with the dealership to confirm the promotion was, indeed real, and not a joke like we assumed.Yes, there is a vape included in the purchase of the RS. We have a vape store next to our dealership that the buyer can go to and pick out a vape, a rep from the dealership said. We did that because most of the potential buyers for that car come with vape in hand.The Ford Focus RS garners the attention of mostly men in their mid-20s who enjoy something called hooning, saying things like hashtag-save-the-manuals, and then under-steering into a tree in a giant cloud of vape smoke (at least, if the rest of the stereotype is also true).This dealership hopes to offer all of that in one concise buying transaction. In all fairness, the car seems to be in pretty good shape, with only 34,576 miles on the odometer, which means the head gasket probably hasnt exploded yet (but maybe check before purchase). It does feature a six-speed manual transmission; and “Drift Mode,” for extra
Origin: New Ford Focus RS comes with free vape because stereotypes
BMW grille debate should focus on 7 Series, says design director
Debate over BMW’s ‘over-sized’ grille design should be focused on the BMW 7 Series alone, according to the group’s design director Adrian van Hooydonk. Discussions regarding BMW’s controversial grille designs ramped up this year with the launch of the facelifted 7 Series, and grew louder with the reveal of the BMW X7. However, van Hooydonk believes the criticism – led by UK commentators according to BMW’s monitoring – has now incorrectly put a focus on BMW grille designs as a whole. “I don’t think it should be a BMW brand discussion at all, but rather one of the 7 Series alone,” said van Hooydonk. “All of our other cars are world cars, where the various tastes of the market tastes converge with no discrepancies, but the 7 Series sits separately. “In Europe – the smallest market – the buyers are understated, but in the US and China – where most 7 Series are sold – they are younger and more extrovert. When we launched the new 7 Series (in 2015) it was criticised for not looking different enough, so the message for the facelift was clear: make it stand out. And now we have.” However, van Hooydonk predicted that the separation in global tastes would not last long, pointing to feedback that he is increasingly receiving from BMW’s Shanghai design centre. “I hear from them that design tastes in China are developing rapidly,” he said. “Yes, they still want a modern look that pushes boundaries, but they are increasingly calling for subtle too. The gap is narrowing down, so I see the 7 Series design coming together with the rest of the range in a short time.” Asked about the X7’s grille design van Hooydonk argued that it was in proportion to the car and smaller than those found on rival brands, including Range Rover, the Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLS. “Yes, the X7’s grille is bigger than other BMW’s – but so is the X7 bigger than any BMW before it. That one is in proportion. “Don’t worry, I don’t want the brand to turn into an oversized kidney grille brand – but I believe we understand the reasons for what we have done with the 7 Series and that the issue will solve itself thanks to evolving tastes in the markets for which the grille was
Origin: BMW grille debate should focus on 7 Series, says design director
Next-gen safety to focus on rear seat safety
The 2019 Jeep Wrangler undergoing Euro NCAP crash testingHandout / Euro NCAP In recent years, auto manufacturers have been steadily ratcheting up their safety game for vehicle occupants, spurred on by ever-tougher crash tests cooked up by the NHTSA and IIHS. In particular, the new small- and medium-overlap tests put a big push on redesigning some vehicle components so front seat occupants are less likely to be injured in such a crash. But what about those who are sitting in the back seat? According to a recent story in the New York Times, that rear seat area might not be the safest spot in a car anymore. This is contrary to what most of us have been taught for years, that the back seat is definitely the safest place for certain passengers (read: children) in a crash. This likely stems from the days when dashboards were made of metal and the only thing between you and that enormous steering wheel was your face. Advancements for front seat passengers may have started to tip the balance. Those up front generally benefit from the likes of seat belt pre-tensioners and a raft of airbags, not all of which show up in rear passenger compartments of cars and SUVs. The Times reports safety professionals now have new recommendations about what to buy and where to sit, highlighting vehicles whose rear seats have similar safety gear as the ones up front. If seatbelts with pre-tensioning and load-limiting technology aren’t available in the back seat, the NHTSA recommends people aged 55 and older should sit up front. No more relegating grandpa to the back seat, so be prepared to hear more stories about the Pony Express in the name of safety. To be clear, the seatbelts in question meet federal safety standards. Perhaps it’s time for the standards to evolve. Help is on the way for new-car buyers who like to do their research. Within the next three years, the IIHS hopes to have developed a back-seat crash test, allowing buyers to compare new models on this measure. Stay safe out there,
Origin: Next-gen safety to focus on rear seat safety
New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling
BMW has taken the wraps off the new 3 Series Touring and promised it will retain the dynamic handling of the saloon version. The new 3 Series estate will go on sale in late September with a range of petrol and diesel engines. For the first time in the Touring, there will be a plug-in hybrid 330e model, which will arrive in July 2020. As with the 330e saloon, it will feature a 248bhp powertrain, comprising a 181bhp petrol engine with a 111bhp electric motor, and the ability to run 39 miles on electric-only power. At launch, the petrol engine range will start with the 181bhp 320i and the range-topper will be the four-wheel-drive M340i xDrive, which has a 3.0-litre unit with 369bhp and 295lb ft. The M340i xDrive Touring can achieve 0-62mph in 5.8sec. Diesel options will range from the 147bhp 318d to the 261bhp 330d xDrive. All models will have an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. No manuals are offered in the range. The 3 Series Touring also receives a new lift-related damping system for the first time. An M Sport differential is standard on the M340i xDrive and optional on higher-spec models, as is M Sport suspension. Product manager Stefan Horn told Autocar the new Touring will “handle even better” than the old car thanks to a stiffer chassis, lower centre of gravity and weight reduction. Entry-level models will sit on 17in wheels as standard, rising to 19in on higher specs, with full-LED headlights and tail-lights also standard. Horn claimed the objective was to prioritise the car’s looks to increase desirability, as the estate sector declines in the face of SUVs. At 4709mm, the new model is 76mm longer than the previous generation, in part due to a wheelbase that’s 41mm longer, at 2851mm. The new 3 Series Touring is also 11mm taller and 16mm wider. BMW claims it offers extra shoulder and knee room, along with the ability to fit three child seats across the rear bench. The 500-litre boot is wider and five litres larger than before and is accessed via a standard automatic tailgate, which retains a separately opening window. There are storage areas under the main boot floor, and new optional rubber anti-slip rails, which keep smaller loads in place. The rear seats can be folded in a 40/20/40 layout, increasing the storage capacity to a maximum of 1510 litres. In the UK, the 3 Series Touring will be offered in SE, Sport, M Sport and M Sport Plus trim levels. The top level includes M Sport suspension and brakes, 19in alloy wheels and a choice of exclusive colours. Prices have yet to be announced, but expect the base model to start from just under £30,000, with an average increase over like-for-like saloons of around
Origin: New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling
James Ruppert: Ignore the mileage, focus on condition
‘Clocking’ is the ancient art of changing the mileage on used cars, which should be called what it actually is: fraud. Oh, and it seems to be getting much worse. Here is a long-established stat: the car check people at HPI estimate that one in three cars that they check every year has a hidden history. Apparently, used car buyers now have a one-in-14 chance of purchasing a vehicle with a mileage discrepancy, which is extremely concerning. Well, that’s HPI’s take on it. I am so old I can look at something I wrote about this 19 years ago. Back in 2000, the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) said that it could “eradicate this problem once and for all” by logging the miles at every service, MOT and bodyshop pit stop. And yet the problem is still here and at apparently an all-time high. You would have thought that lowering the mileage to boost the value of a used car would have gone away by now. Especially as the 1980s digital dashboards and mileage readouts were supposed to be tamper-proof. Well, it didn’t take long for a criminal with a laptop to work that one out. A radical one-point plan is simply do nothing. Just rename the odometer, or milometer, as the service interval indicator. So when you go and buy a car, look a little further than the row of digits. Concentrate on the condition. In that case, let’s look at these. Avoid the MOT failures, ‘needs work’ and ‘spares or repair’ bunch and seek out a frog-eye 2005 Nissan Micra 1.2 S three-door with 208,000 miles at £400 and apparently in good working order. That’s a wonderful starter car if it all holds together. For a little more practicality, a 2007 Skoda Fabia estate in Elegance trim and a 1.9 TDI PD diesel engine seems to wear its 280,000 miles rather well. Charging £490 for it seems jolly reasonable and it is a dealer part-exchange as well, which often means that it is decent but they struggle to get anything remotely retail with those miles. Oh, and what is it with Skodas these days, which are like old-school redacted Volkswagens? A 2008 Octavia 1.9 TDI Classic with a staggering 318,000 miles and a year’s MOT for £490. Fantastic. If you want something posher, a 2003 Volvo S60 2.4 D5 SE with 250,000 miles and a year’s MOT is just £799. But here is a real head scratcher: a 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDM-2 Veloce with 206,000 miles for £1850. A pattern emerges here in that all these mega-mileage cars are those evil diesels. Okay, they will cost a bit to sort out when they go wrong, but they do seem to be capable of some serious mileage – clocked or not. What we almost bought this week The Accord coupé of 1998-2001 was a stylish and, in 197bhp 3.0-litre V6 guise, potent motor that deserved a better reception than it got. We found a 1999/T-reg with 140,000 miles for £800. With just three owners from new and “no issues”, save for a broken wiper, it prompts the question: what stopped us? Tales from Ruppert’s garage Well, this wasn’t good. It happened rather suddenly one Friday when the Lorry sprang a leak. First thoughts were oil, because it looked very oily. I assumed a seal had gone on the transfer box or something, looking at the location. Oddly enough, I’d been pre-booked to pick up a massively heavy old sofa to add to the old sofas we already have. When I got back, I looked underneath and clearly it was fuel. The flexible part of the line had been holed. It was messy, but packaging wrap and gaffer tape made for a temporary fix. Irritating. A to Z Bangerpedia A is for Audi A3: Here it is, a small quality hatch that you’d be proud to own. There is a great range of engines. Some argue that the petrol 1.6s are not that sporty, but they are more than adequate for most buyers who just want a posh hatch. If you want to get places, though, there is a 2.0 turbo, while the 3.2 V6 is sensationally quick. Buy the five-door if you often take more than one passenger but the three-door is great otherwise. Reliability has been fairly average. Still, a decent 1999 1.9 TDI is £695 with 150k miles and 10 months’ MOT. Readers’ questions Question: I’m replacing a Peugeot 208 GTi. I have £5000, do 8000 miles a year and want something that’s as sporty. It must be reliable and have done less than 50,000 miles. Shaun Riordan, Bracknell Answer: You need a Skoda Fabia 1.4 TSI vRS DSG. With 178bhp, it can crack 0-62mph in 7.3sec and is an agreeable little handler. Being a Skoda, it’s practical and will never let you down. We saw a lovely one-owner 2010 car with 46k miles and full service history for £5k. John Evans Question: Can you fry an EV’s battery by fast-charging it? A lithium battery costs up to £1000 – a considerable expense. Ken Bashorun, via email Answer: Fast-charging a lithium ion battery can cause it significant stress but EVs have systems that help manage the process. In any case, a good-quality fast-charger should match its charge rate with the battery’s ability to absorb it. Check if the
Origin: James Ruppert: Ignore the mileage, focus on condition
US$4 billion class-action leveled at Ford over Focus, Fiesta transmissions
The 2015 Ford Focus.Handout Ford is facing some serious legal drama as consumer fraud cases in the U.S. gather steam, reports the Detroit Free Press. Over 1.9 million people worldwide who purchased a Focus or Fiesta could take part in a class-action suit accusing Ford of lying to move the faulty vehicles, and then not taking ownership of the problem when it arose. The complaints center around the dual-clutch transmissions found in the 2012 through 2016 Focus and 2011 through 2016 Fiesta. Legal filings describe customers experiencing “shuddering, slipping, bucking, jerking, hesitation while changing gears, premature internal wear, delays in downshifting and, in some cases, sudden or delayed acceleration.” In April 2019, Ford’s lawyer Ryan Wu appealed to have the settlement amount lowered to US$35 million from US$4 billion. Judges are in the process of deciding whether to uphold the settlement. “If history is any indication, the situation facing Ford is grim, suggests the Free Press. A California jury awarded Ariel Myers of Los Angeles $550,000 after finding that Ford acted with malice and committed fraud by concealing that the transmission in his 2014 Ford Focus was seriously defective, inducing him to purchase the car, despite a history of massive numbers of transmission failures, according a news release after the April 6, 2018, verdict from the nonprofit Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety based in Sacramento.” Judges are expected to reach a conclusion on the by the end of the year.
Origin: US$4 billion class-action leveled at Ford over Focus, Fiesta transmissions
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