Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth that the firm’s turnaround programme is firmly on track after it returned to profit in the last financial quarter. Hit by falling sales, the British firm posted a £395 million loss between April and June of this year. But it turned that around in the quarter running from July to September, recording a £156 million pre-tax profit – a £246 million year-on-year improvement. The improved results were driven by Jaguar Land Rover’s revenues rising to £6.1 billion, an 8.0% year-on-year increase. While retail sales dipped by 0.7%, the firm was boosted its performance in China, where sales grew 24.3%. The arrival of the new Range Rover Evoque also helped, with sales of that model up 54.6% compared to the previous year. Range Rover Sport sales rose 17.5% over the same period. Jaguar Land Rover has been undergoing a massive £2.5 billion cost-cutting and restructuring programme, named Project Charge, and Speth said the improved results reflected the success of those efforts. The firm has already achieved £2.2 billion on efficiencies, and is on track to reach its goals by the end of March 2020. It has also invested in new facilities, such as the recentl;y opened Product Creation Centre. “Our people have responded very positively to the challenging circumstances over the past year,” said Speth. “The improved performance this quarter reflects their ongoing passion and
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover returns to profit after revenue boost
returns
De Tomaso returns with a wild take on a ’60s Can Am car
The De Tomaso name has returned to the automotive world for the first time since its departure in the late 1990s with an awesome 1960s-inspired supercar.The De Tomaso P72 is a brand-new design that takes inspiration from one of the automakers early designs, originally created in the early 60s, called the P70.The P70 was jointly developed by Carroll Shelby, Alejandro De Tomaso and Peter Brock.Shelby provided the money and the motor, a 289-cubic-inch V8 bored and stroked to 427 cubes. Peter Brock handled the design, and DeTomaso built the chassis. Due to tensions between the three parties, the car was never officially completed, and, unfortunately, didnt enter a single race. To connect itself to the past further, the P72 has a manual transmission. A real one. It might also win the award for most beautiful shifter of 2019, or perhaps of the last 20 years.Were not sure what engine will be behind the transmission, as details regarding the drivetrain have not been released. What we do know is that the P72 rides on a carbon-fibre chassis shared with the Apollo Intensa Emozione.De Tomaso celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019, and will slowly be bringing back vehicles from its history, such as Pantera and Mangusta. The P72 will be sold as you see it, according to parent company Apollo Automobili.Only 72 examples of the P72 will be built, at a cost of 750,000 ($1.1 million). Thats a lot of money, but the P72 is not just a car, its a piece of history, and is bound to mark the beginning of the next wave of automotive
Origin: De Tomaso returns with a wild take on a ’60s Can Am car
Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
Audi has reintroduced the RS5 to its range of performance vehicles, in both Coupé and four-door Sportback forms, as a limited-run special edition. The two-door has been unavailable for the past year due to delays in the model undergoing the new WLTP efficiency tests, while the Sportback is making its market debut following a launch in March 2018. Just 250 of each bodystyle will be sold, exclusively in Audi Sport Edition trim, which is priced from £68,985. An Audi spokesperson said these 500 units are likely to be the final RS5 models sold before a particulate filter is installed as part of a range update in 2020. For now, the RS5’s twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine produces an unchanged 444bhp and 443lb ft, with drive sent to both axles via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Both models are said to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9sec. Top speed is unconfirmed but likely to remain an electronically limited 174mph. The Coupé manages 30.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and the Sportback 29.7mpg, with corresponding CO2 outputs of 213g/km and 215g/km. In Audi Sport Edition form, the RS5 features Anthracite 20in alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, gloss black exterior trim and a performance exhaust system. Inside, the seats are finished in Alcantara and leather, with LED ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blindspot monitoring and a panoramic sunroof fitted as standard. The return of the RS5 comes as Audi begins to bring its entire range back to market following a 3.5% drop in profits last year as newly implemented WLTP regulations forced the withdrawal of each for testing. The German brand’s range of S-badged performance models has undergone a significant transformation, with the S4, S5, S6 and S7 making the switch to a 48V-assisted, turbocharged diesel V6. Speaking at the firm’s annual press conference in March, board member Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler said that Audi couldn’t “afford to develop cars which do not respond to our customers’ wishes” but remained keen to preserve its “sporty
Origin: Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
600-hp Nissan GT-R returns to Canada for 2020 model year
2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition What is it? It’s not as awesome as the GT-R50 Nissan revealed last year and then decided to build for well-heeled customers, but the 2020 GT-R introduces a 50th Anniversary Edition with heritage colours that pay tribute to the greatest racers to bear the GT-R badge. Why does it matter? Don’t be distracted by the flashy colours and pretty stripes Nissan is showing off for their 50th Anniversary Edition GT-R. The real news is the return of the 600-hp Nismo engine tune under the hood of 2020 GT-R Track Edition cars, not seen since the very brief appearance of the GT-R Nismo in Canada for the 2017 model year. While 600 hp is a wonderful round number to make good headlines, it’s not the only change on the menu for the heavyweight AWD supercar, though it is the most meaningful for performance enthusiasts. Each and every twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 that goes into a GT-R is handcrafted by its own takumi technician, with a signed badge commemorating his work. In standard Premium trim, horsepower is an already robust 565, with 467 lb.-ft. from 3,300 to 5,800 rpm, while the 600-hp Track Edition gets a bump to 481 lb.-ft. from 3,600 to 5,600 rpm. Changes for the 2020 model include new turbochargers that yield quicker responsiveness, race-inspired exhaust manifold designed for easier servicing and potential tuning. Nissan continues to tinker with the transmission refinement, but hopefully they will never go too far and strip away the endearing mechanical orchestra of gears and differentials from the 6-speed dual-clutch. R mode gains more aggressive downshifts, particularly during ABS moments, when it interprets that hard braking as preparation for corner exit. However, both Auto mode and R mode will dial back the aggression based on driving inputs, so if you are just driving around town, it won’t downshift for max rpms every time you brake gently or regularly. and as with every update, the suspension is tweaked to enhance both cornering attitude and comfort to go along with refined steering and braking. With the GT-R climbing the pricing ladder thanks to impeccable performance credentials, Nissan is working to keep up appearances and quality for customer that could just as easily spend their money on a Porsche 911 or Mercedes-AMG GT. While the 8-inch touchscreen and controls are looking a bit dated, the single, seamless piece of leather stitched across the dash and matched by door panel inserts do bring a touch of class to the cabin. However, if you can get your hands on one, the 50th Anniversary Edition is the one to have, with a grey colour scheme Nissan likens to the twilight sky (fitting for a car that is in the twilight of its generation), special embossed seats, and stitched Alcantara headliner and trim. Sadly, the 50th anniversary special is paired only with the Premium trim, so you can’t have your 600-hp track beast in that guise. When is it coming? The 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition will be in dealers this summer. Should you buy it? Well, if you couldn’t afford the GT-R50, then this isn’t a bad way to get into GT-R, especially the Bayside Blue that is as loud and special as the car
Origin: 600-hp Nissan GT-R returns to Canada for 2020 model year
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