Porsche has revealed the interior of its first electric production car, the Taycan, ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month. The Tesla Model S rival’s cabin takes the brand’s design and technology to a new level. It’s based around up to four digital displays, including a curved, freestanding 16.8in configurable driver’s display – Porsche’s first fully digital instrument binnacle. To the right of that the Taycan features a 10.9in infotainment screen where navigation, music and connectivity functions are handled. To the right of that – uniquely for Porsche – is an optional screen of the same size for the passenger. It can’t control driving functions, but allows them to programme the sat-nav and media features independently. Finally, there’s an 8.4in portrait layout screen on the centre console, set at an angle with a touch trackpad below to help control the upper screen. Unlike the upper two touchscreens it offers haptic feedback to improve usability on the move. Over-the-air updates – traditionally a big draw for Tesla buyers – are also possible in the Taycan. Buyers will also receive a free six month subscription to Apple Music, with Apple CarPlay integration also included. Android Auto functionality is not available, however. Despite the distinctly high-tech approach, classic Porsche features such as the dash-top analogue clock still feature. Porsche has been building up to the launch by releasing snippets of information about the Taycan. A pre-production version of the machine recently completed 2128 miles in a 24-hour endurance test run at the Nardò high-speed test track in Italy. Porsche claims that, in temperatures of up to 32deg C, the electric performance saloon averaged speeds of between 121 and 134mph. Minimal stops were made, with the Taycan only pausing for driver changes and battery top-ups. The Taycan’s battery size is yet to be confirmed, but it’s said to offer around 270 miles of range on the WLTP test cycle. In order to maximise mileage, the test car was charged using Porsche’s 800V ultra-fast chargers, capable of delivering 249 miles of range in 15 minutes. The machine will be the first mainstream production car built using 800V technology, allowing for the use of fast-charging stations. The car made its public dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in lightly disguised form, driven by ex-Formula 1 driver Mark Webber. The Taycan has previously been previewed with official camouflaged images (below) and has also been spotted testing numerous times in prototype guise. The Taycan’s styling is heavily influenced by the original Mission E concept, which was designed by Porsche’s former head of exterior design Mitja Borkert, now head of design at Lamborghini. Details include a retractable rear spoiler, advanced regenerative braking system and Tesla-style retracting door handles. The Taycan is the first in an extended line-up of electric models being developed in a programme budgeted to cost up to £5.3 billion through to the end of 2022. It marks a radical departure from Porsche’s traditional line-up, bringing zero-emissions running together with the promise of what the new car’s lead engineer, Stefan Weckbach, describes as a “typical Porsche driving experience”. When it goes on sale in the UK, the Taycan will be positioned between the £55,965 Cayenne SUV and £67,898 Panamera five-door coupé in a move that will set the scene for the introduction of other new electric Porsches, including a mid-engined sports car in the mould of the existing 718 and an electric Macan. Porsche UK boss Marcus Eckermann told Autocar earlier this year that the Taycan is “the beginning of a new era” for Porsche, and is attracting many conquest customers. “We have a lot of interest in the car – and a lot of new customers. Based on the expressions of interest, there are more new people to the brand than existing customers.” While he declined to give expected sales figures, the Taycan’s share of the line-up is set to be considerably higher than the overall EV market share in the UK, which is below 1%. Porsche has previously said it expects to produce 25,000 Taycans worldwide annually, which is about 10% of its current sales. In the UK last year, Porsche sold 12,500 cars, so we can expect at least 1250 sales of the Taycan per year. The Taycan will be offered in two bodystyles, with the standard saloon planned for right-hand-drive delivery in Britain in early 2020 and a higher-riding estate-cum-crossover model, previewed by the Mission E Cross Turismo concept, arriving in showrooms in 2022. Taycan rivals include Tesla Model S Among the key rivals for the new Porsche is the Tesla Model S, which was used as an initial benchmark during the early phases of the Taycan’s development. However, Weckbach acknowledges the model will also compete against a host of other upcoming electric offerings, including the E-tron GT from sister brand Audi and
Origin: New Porsche Taycan: electric four-door’s interior revealed
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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
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
2019 Audi A4: pricing for facelifted executive car revealed
The updated Audi A4 range is due to go on sale soon, and pricing has appeared on some company car lists. Although it hasn’t been officially announced by the brand, an industry source confirmed to Autocar that the 2019 A4 will start from £30,725 in base Technik form with the 35 TFSI petrol engine. The 188bhp diesel is automatic-only and priced from £34,480. Those figures represent an increase of around £1500 over the previous entry-level SE spec. However, technology and kit upgrades will help justify the list price increase, as will competitive leasing costs. The non-RS range flagship at launch will be the newly diesel-powered S4. That’s priced at £47,295 in standard trim, with higher-spec Black Edition and Vorsprung models also available. In an attempt to keep pace with rivals such as the new BMW 3 Series, the compact executive saloon has received an exterior and interior revamp to bring it in line with Audi’s current design themes. The firm says the changes are more substantial than is usual for a facelift, and include a range of hybridised engines. The revised A4 will be available with three 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines featuring a 12-volt mild hybrid system and ranging from 148bhp to 241bhp, along with two diesels: a 188bhp 2.0-litre and a 241bhp 3.0-litre. A 12-volt mild hybrid 2.0-litre diesel unit, with 134bhp or 161bhp, will follow after the launch. The S4, a rival to the Mercedes-AMG C43, will be offered in Europe purely as a mild-hybrid diesel, with a 3.0-litre engine mated to a 48-volt integrated starter/motor for a total output of 342bhp and 516lb ft of torque. The S4 will be offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with sport suspension as standard and a sport differential and suspension with damper control available as options. The entry-level 35 TFI and 40 TDI will be offered after launch with a manual gearbox as standard. All other models will be automatic as standard. Seven and eight-speed ’boxes will be used, with a six-speed manual following as an option. Entry-level A4s will be front-wheel drive, with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system available on higher-spec models. The A4 will be sold with standard and sport suspension, with two adaptive systems available. Those systems work with damper control and feature a Comfort mode that lowers the ride height by 10mm and a Sport setting with a 23mm reduction in the ride height. As for the design, the A4 will now feature a wider and flatter grille, with a revamped side profile that has sharper, more sculpted shoulders and clearly defined lines. Audi’s design team has also introduced more bespoke styling elements on the S line, S4 and Allroad quattro variants, including bespoke grille designs, in order to give each a more distinctive identity. The revised interior is built around the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system, featuring a 10.1in touchscreen. That screen can be operated by using touch or voice control. Audi has scrapped the rotary controller that appears in the outgoing model. A full 12.3in digital driver information display and head-up display are available as options. The revised A4 will be offered with a number of driver assistance systems, grouped into three packs. Options will include automatic cruise control, which, Audi says, can use ‘car-to-x’ navigation data from external devices such as traffic signs to increase accuracy. The rugged Allroad quattro model, as before, features an extra 35mm of ground clearance, additional underbody production, a wider front and rear track and optional Allroad-specific suspension. QA with Amor Vaya, Audi exterior designer What did you focus on with the redesign? “The A4 is a well-proportioned car, but the old one was occasionally called a little boring. We’ve put a lot of life and energy into it. We didn’t want to change the design principles, but we wanted to make a statement.” How did you do that? “The design is now a lot richer, more expressive. We’ve focused on the detail, with the use of 3D design elements, chrome parts and other small things that can make a big difference.” What are the challenges of doing a facelift design? “The fixed points were all designated six or seven years ago, so we have to work around that. That gives some limitations, but we’ve evolved the A4’s design substantially.” Why focus on differentiating the S4 and Allroad quattro? “We wanted to give each variant its own character. We’ve been criticised before for making every model and variant look similar, so now each model has its own character, and every car inside that model family does,
Origin: 2019 Audi A4: pricing for facelifted executive car revealed
New 2019 Audi A4: UK pricing for facelifted exec revealed
Audi’s major mid-life upgrade of its A4 range is due to go on sale soon, and pricing has appeared on some company car lists. Though not official announced by the brand, an industry source confirmed to Autocar that the 2019 A4 will start from £30,725 in base Technik form with the ’35’ TFSI petrol engine. The 188bhp diesel is auto-only and priced from £34,480. Those figures represent an increase of around £1,500 over the previous entry-level SE spec. However, technology and kit upgrades will help justify the list price increase, as will competitive leasing costs. The non-RS range flagship at launch will be the newly diesel-powered S4 TDI. That’s priced at £47,295 in standard trim, with higher-spec Black Edition and Vorsprung models also available. In an attempt to keep pace with rivals such as the new BMW 3 Series, the compact executive saloon has received an exterior and interior revamp to bring it in line with Audi’s current design themes. the firm says the changes are more substantial than is usual for a facelift, and include a range of hybridised engines. The revised A4 will be available with three 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines featuring a 12V mild-hybrid system and ranging from 148bhp to 241bhp, along with two diesels, a 188bhp 2.0-litre and a 241bhp 3.0-litre. A 12V mild-hybrid 2.0 TDI diesel, with 134bhp or 161bhp, will follow after the launch. The S4 model, a rival to the Mercedes-AMG C43, will be offered in Europe purely as a mild-hybrid diesel, with a 3.0-litre TDI mated to a 48V integrated starter/motor for a total output of 342bhp and 516lb ft of torque. The S4 will be offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with sport suspension as standard, and a sport differential and suspension with damper control available as options. The entry-level 35 TFI and 40 TDI will be offered after launch with a manual gearbox as standard. All other models will be automatic as standard. Seven- and eight-speed ’boxes will be used, with a six-speed manual following as an option. Entry-level cars will be front-wheel drive, with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system available on higher-spec models. The A4 will be sold with standard and sport suspension, with two adaptive systems available. Those systems work with damper control and feature a Comfort mode that lowers the ride height by 10mm and a Sport setting with a 23mm reduction in the ride height. As for the design, the A4 will now feature a wider and flatter grille, with a revamped side profile that has sharper, more sculpted shoulders and clearly defined lines. Audi’s design team has also introduced more bespoke styling elements on the S line, S4 and Allroad quattro variants, including bespoke grille designs, in order to give each a more distinctive identity. The revised interior is built around the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system, featuring a 10.1in touchscreen. That screen can be operated by using touch or voice control. Audi has scrapped the rotary controller that appears in the outgoing model. A full 12.3in digital driver information display and head-up display are available as options. The revised A4 will be offered with a number of driver assistance systems, grouped into three packs. Options will include automatic cruise control, which, Audi says, can use ‘car-to-x’ navigation data from external devices such as traffic signs to increase accuracy. The rugged Allroad quattro model, as before, features an extra 35mm of ground clearance, additional underbody production, a wider front and rear track and optional Allroad-specific suspension. QA with Amor Vaya, Audi exterior designer What did you focus on with the redesign? “The A4 is a well-proportioned car, but the old one was occasionally called a little boring. We’ve put a lot of life and energy into it. We didn’t want to change the design principles, but we wanted to make a statement.” How did you do that? “The design is now a lot richer, more expressive. We’ve focused on the detail, with the use of 3D design elements, chrome parts and other small things that can make a big difference.” What are the challenges of doing a facelift design? “The fixed points were all designated six or seven years ago, so we have to work around that. That gives some limitations, but we’ve evolved the A4’s design substantially.” Why focus on differentiating the S4 and Allroad quattro? “We wanted to give each variant its own character. We’ve been criticised before for making every model and variant look similar, so now each model has its own character, and every car inside that model family does,
Origin: New 2019 Audi A4: UK pricing for facelifted exec revealed
Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV
Audi has revealed the E-tron 50 as a cheaper and lighter version of its flagship electric SUV. Due to arrive in the UK in early 2020, the new variant weighs roughly 120kg less than the 2565kg E-tron 55, primarily as a result of its smaller battery pack. The E-tron 50’s 71kWh pack – likely to be the lowest-capacity battery Audi will offer in the E-tron – enables it to achieve a range of up to 186 miles on the WLTP test cycle. That’s 55 miles fewer than the 95kWh E-tron 55. By comparison, the E-tron’s main rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQC, has a WLTP-certified range of 259 miles in its standard 400 form. A future lower-spec variant could be expected to offer less than 200 miles. While the E-tron 55 is compatible with 150kW chargers, the E-tron 50 can only accept up to 120kW. It can still, however, be charged to 80% in approximately half an hour at a rapid-charging station. The E-tron 50 is also less potent than the E-tron 55. It employs the same twin-motor setup, but maximum power is down from 402bhp to 308bhp and maximum torque is down from 490lb ft to 398lb ft. The E-tron 50 has a 0-62mph time of 7.0sec and an electronically limited top speed of 118mph. Regenerative braking technology recuperates energy in more than 90% of brake applications, working alongside an electrohydraulic brake assistance system that activates when braking force exceeds 0.3g. Audi says this “results in short braking distances in all situations”. The E-tron 50 will be built alongside the more powerful version at Audi’s EV production facility in Forest, Belgium. Exact pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the E-tron 55 can be expected to cost around £10,000 less than the E-tron 55, which starts at £71,520 before government grants. Audi isn’t the only manufacturer to offer a range of battery sizes across its new family of electric vehicles. Tesla has long employed this strategy, while the new Volkswagen ID 3 hatchback will be offered with three different units when it launches later this year, with range rising from 205 miles in the entry-level model to 342 miles at the top of the
Origin: Audi E-tron 50 revealed as value version of flagship EV
New Renault Megane RS Trophy-R: UK prices revealed
Renault has revealed pricing and specs for the limited-run Mégane RS Trophy-R. Just 32 examples are destined for the UK, starting at £51,140. That price includes special Öhlins shock absorbers and an Akrapovic exhaust, alongside Brembo brakes, while a carbon bonnet and diffuser are part of a comprehensive weight reduction programme to offer increased performance. It’s far from the most expensive Trophy-R on offer, however. A £63,140 ‘Carbon wheel pack’ variant is offered, which receives for Carbon Revolution alloy wheels, reducing unsprung weight by 2kg a corner. That’s not all, however. The most extreme version offered is the Nürburgring Record Pack, priced at £72,140. For that you get a car claimed to be the same spec as the car that set the hot hatch lap record at the fearsome German circuit. That includes sector-first carbon ceramic brakes, with large 390mm discs and golf finished callipers. A straight-feed dynamic air intake is also included. The new range-topper features the same highly tuned 1.8-litre turbo engine as the Mégane RS 300 Trophy, which produces 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque. The 0-62mph time drops 0.3 sec from the standard car to 5.4sec, while the top speed increases by 2mph to 163mph. Renault says that the Trophy-R is 130kg lighter, due to a weight saving programme led by Renault Sport, which developed the new model with the same approach taken on a racing car. The Trophy-R is claimed to feature improved aerodynamics and a reworked chassis drive axles to boost performance. That maintains the ethos of previous generations of Trophy-R, which have been focused on extracting performance through handling and dynamics, rather than purely relying on power. The model has also benefitted from development work undertaken by Renault Sport’s partners; it features Brembo brakes, an Akrapovic exhaust, track-focused Bridgestone tyres, lightweight Sabelt bucket seats and Öhlins shock absorbers. Renault claims to have set a new front-wheel-drive production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a high-specced Trophy-R. According to Renault, the car lapped the 12.80-mile Nordschleife in 7min 40.10sec on 5 April, and also posted a time of 7min 45.39secs on the full 12.94-mile layout. It has previously been spied in action on the German race track. The front-wheel-drive production car record at the Nürburgring was previously held by the current Honda Civic Type R, which lapped the track in 7min
Origin: New Renault Megane RS Trophy-R: UK prices revealed
New Vauxhall Astra: UK prices and specifications revealed
Vauxhall has revealed prices and specification details for its revised Astra line-up, which will be available to order from £18,885 on 1 August. Launched in 2015, the Astra is one of the older models in Vauxhall’s line-up, meaning it was designed and engineered under GM ownership before the brand was taken over by PSA. It’s not possible to install the French firm’s engines in the Astra platform, so separate units bespoke to the Astra have been brought in. The overhauled range kicks off with a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine in 108bhp, 128bhp and 143bhp forms. The former variant makes 143lb ft of torque, while the latter two put out 166lb ft. All are mated to a six-speed manual and manage between 51.4mpg and 54.3mpg on the WLTP test cycle. Emissions levels range from 94g/km for the 1.5-litre diesel Sports Tourer to 120g/km for a 1.5-litre hatchback with an automatic gearbox. Also available – and not from the usual PSA stable – is a 1.4-litre three-cylinder also putting out 143bhp, but with torque up to 174lb ft, mated exclusively to a seven-step CVT transmission. Diesels are all 1.5-litre units making from 103bhp to 119bhp, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a new nine-speed automatic. Vauxhall claims up to 64.2mpg combined for the most frugal variant. The range opens at £18,885 for SE trim, with a choice of all three engines and transmissions. SE prices rise to £21,985 for a car equipped with a 1.5-litre diesel unit mated to the nine-speed automatic gearbox. The Astra hatchback can be specified in six further trim packages, with prices ranging from £19,585 for Business Edition Nav to £29,310 for range-topping Ultimate Nav trim with the 1.5-litre diesel unit and automatic gearbox. The Astra Sports Tourer estate is available from £20,355 for SE trim with the 1.2-litre unit, rising to £26,920 for a 1.5-litre diesel-equipped car in SRi Nav trim. Entry-level trim comes equipped as standard with 16in alloy wheels, a 7in colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, air conditioning, cruise control and tinted windows as standard. Business Edition Nav trim adds an adjustable armrest, while SRi gains a front camera system and 17in wheels. On top-spec models, the standard equipment list is much longer, with sports front seats, LED headlamps and an alarm system fitted from mid-range SRi Nav upwards. Top-spec Ultimate Nav gains leather seats, a Bose sound system, heated windscreen, wireless charging and a parking assist package. Across the range, there are mild exterior upgrades aimed at improving aerodynamic performance, including a new engine cover, grille with automatic shutters and “underbody optimisation”. The interior upgrades are focused on improving available kit rather than visual changes. Three new infotainment options, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, are said to be smarter, faster and more intuitive to operate. Safety kit has improved, too, with a new digital front camera allowing greater recognition of hazards and pedestrian detection for the autonomous braking system, while the traffic sign recognition system is enhanced. Deliveries of the new Ford Focus rival are set to begin in
Origin: New Vauxhall Astra: UK prices and specifications revealed
Lotus Evija: electric hypercar to be revealed later today
Lotus will reveal its groundbreaking all-electric Evija hypercar later today. It will be shown at an exclusive event in Central London this evening, barely a few months after Autocar first revealed the project. Pronounced “eh-vi-ya”, meaning ‘the living one’, or ‘first in existence’, the Evija is shaping up to be the most ambitious car in the firm’s history. Lotus recently confirmed for the first time exactly how many examples will be produced. 130 are planned to be made available to own, up from previous estimates after “several hundred potential owners came forward to express their interest in the new car”. It will be built in Norfolk alongside the rest of the maker’s range. The Evija will be Lotus’s first all-new production car since 2008. Lotus also claims it will be the first fully electric hypercar built and to go on sale from a British manufacturer. A preview image has been released showing a side profile of the new car, and Autocar was recently given an exclusive walk-around of a full-size clay model at the firm’s Hethel base. The model’s previous Type 130 moniker was a reference to a number of innovative models that have appeared throughout the Norfolk brand’s 71-year history, beginning with the Type 14 Elite in 1957 – claimed to be the world’s first composite monocoque production car. The most recent, the Type 111 (the world’s first aluminium and bonded extrusion construction road car) became the Elise. As the official picture suggests, the Evija is low and wide. Lotus design director Russell Carr, who showed the model to Autocar, says it is a similar length to the existing Evora – which is 4.4 metres long – but will sit closer to the ground and be nearly two metres wide. It uses a carbonfibre structure and will be built in Hethel away from the company’s main production line. The cabin is tightly proportioned and adopts the teardrop form familiar from hypercars like the Ford GT40, to better allow airflow to pass around it. The most impressive feature is one that isn’t hinted at by the official rendering – two substantial air tunnels in the rear bodywork which have the tail light elements integrated around their exists. It’s a detail that Carr says has been inspired by the venturi tunnels of LMP sports prototype racing cars. The battery pack will be positioned entirely behind the passenger compartment, with drive sent to all four wheels. No other details are forthcoming at the moment, beyond the fact – as previously reported – that the powertrain is being developed by Williams Advanced Engineering, making this a collaboration between two of the most famous names in Formula 1 history. Lotus boss Phil Popham promises an “entirely appropriate” level of performance for the Evija’s target market and what will be a seven figure pricetag. The total system output is tipped to exceed 1000bhp. It is also set to offer a range of more than 250 miles. Both the battery pack and the pushrod-operated rear suspension will be visible beneath a transparent cover, with Carr saying the plan is for the huge aero tunnels to also incorporate lighting elements. The rear licence plate surround will be removable to help improve performance when the car is used on track. Downforce will be generated from a substantial underbody diffuser and there will also be moveable wing elements and a drag-reducing DRS system. Inside the cabin will feature plenty of carbonfibre and a digital instrument pack, but will also have conventional switchgear rather than a touchscreen interface. “You want to be able to find things without taking your eyes off the road in a car like this,” Carr said. Carr also claimed there will be more room and shoulder space than in a Ford GT or Aston Martin Valkyrie, with moveable seats rather than moveable pedals. “We’re trying to get the balance between prestige and luxury right,” Carr said, “but also to make clear that it’s a very high performance car. We don’t want people to think it’s a stripped-out track day monster, it will be much more practical than that. But equally we don’t want to make a Bugatti either, it has to be a Lotus.” Other neat details include a camera rear view system which will use deployable pods that motor out of the scissor-opening doors, and which relay images onto display screens. It’s a very similar system to the one the forthcoming McLaren Speedtail will have. “We were frustrated when we saw those,” Carr admits, “we’d been working on them for some
Origin: Lotus Evija: electric hypercar to be revealed later today
Mini Electric revealed
Mini Electric revealed The new EV from Mini has been a highly anticipated model The Mini Electric has been revealed at the brand’s 60th anniversary celebrations in Oxford. The new pure-electric hatchback will have the performance of a Cooper S, with zero-tailpipe emissions, and a range of up to 144 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. Mini’s highly-anticipated EV will be able to complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds, thanks to a 135 kW (184 hp) motor producing 270 Nm of torque. A 32,6 kWh battery – of which 28.9 kWh is usable – allows for the range, which is low by current mass-market standards, but there is a trend developing for premium, compact EVs designed primarily for urban driving. The Honda e will be a clear Mini Electric rival, though is expected to cost more, with reports around the £30,000 mark. Mini by contrast has priced the Electric hatch pretty keenly, at £24,400 (inc. Plug-in Car Grant). Charging will be possible at up to 11 kW AC, and 50 kW DC, with Mini fitting a CCS inlet to the Mini Electric, sitting behind what would be a conventional fuel filler flap on the car’s off-side rear three/quarters. The battery has been developed to be a T-shape, fitting in the car’s floor between the front seats and beneath the rear. The Electric is only 145 kg heavier than a petrol-powered Mini Cooper S three-door with automatic transmission. Driving modes will see Sport, Mid, and Green – with added Green + – settings available, and Mini’s famous handling set-up is expected to be retained. It is this combination of ‘go-kart feel’ (as Mini puts it) and instant electric response that makes the Electric such an exciting arrival to the UK’s EV market. A new digital driver’s instrument binnacle has been added to the range, designed for electric-focused displays. The standard 6.5-inch central touchscreen remains from the rest of the Mini line-up which includes navigation, Apple CarPlay, and status update displays. Order books are open now, with customers able to place a £500 deposit for a new Mini Electric. Deliveries are expected in March 2020, with production in Mini’s Oxford plant starting late in 2019.
Origin: Mini Electric revealed
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