Mercedes-Benz updates lineup with refreshed entry-level GLA

Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 4MATIC (Kraftstoffverbrauch kombiniert 7,5-7,4 l/100 km, CO2-Emissionen kombiniert 171-170 g/km) // Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption 7.5-7.4 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 171-170 g/km) Mercedes-Benz is updating its lineup with the introduction of the refreshed 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA, the entry-level SUV in the brands successful family of SUVs.The new Mercedes-Benz GLA is ten centimetres taller than its predecessor, to offer more headroom for the driver and passenger; legroom has been improved in the rear as well.The rear seats can be moved fore and aft, and the bench is a 40-20-40 split-folding type.The front section of the GLA is upright, while the overhangs have been made shorter to allow for more off-road prowess, while simultaneously making it easier to park. The wheelbase has been lengthened to 2,729 millimetres, 30 more than the previous generation. Under the hood of the GLA is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 221 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is sent to either the front or all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.Opt for the AMG 35 version of the GLA, and that powerplant delivers 302 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission for the A35 is an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, which helps it get to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. Top speed is an electronically limited 250 km/h. All versions of the vehicle have a fun party trick carried over from the full-sized GLS called Car Wash Mode, which folds the mirrors and closes all the windows, including the sunroof, and also turns off the rain-sensing wipers so they arent triggered by the water.The GLA is set to arrive in Canada by summer of
Origin: Mercedes-Benz updates lineup with refreshed entry-level GLA

Ford is upgrading Sync and offering full over-the-air updates

Fords SYNC3 features high-speed performance, an easy-to-use smartphone-like touchscreen and clean graphical interfaceAndrew McCredie / Driving Tesla has made much of the fact all its cars can be updated via over-the-air (OTA) upgrades. Now Ford is doing the same thing for legacy automakers. And although the company says that the process is a little more difficult the time it takes to download and upgrade is critical since traditional cars have but a puny 12-volt battery that is easily depleted virtually everything software-related in 2020 and later Fords, bumper-to-bumper, says said Don Butler, executive director of Fords Connected Vehicle and Services, will be upgrade-able remotely.That means that, on top of updates to infotainment and creature-comfort subsystem, new Ford engines, transmissions and even brake systems will be OTA-repairable. For instance, glitch shifting on new eight- and ten-speed automatics a common consumer complaint can now be fixed while you car is in your driveway.In fact, since Fords latest controllers can store the updates in the background, John Vangelov, Fords modem feature manager, says you can even program updates to occur while youre asleep.Meanwhile, in its steady progress from what was the worst infotainment system in the biz the original Sync to what is now one of the segment leaders, Ford is introducing the fourth generation of its infotainment system. Besides a whole bunch of new screens from the current 8-inch screen to a whopping 15.5-inch monstrosity and even a landscape-oriented version Ford is pushing cloud connectivity and machine learning even deeper into its architecture.So, says Ford, Sync 4s voice recognition is now conversational, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is now cord-free and machine learning means the system now learns your restaurant and entertainment preferences faster. On the largest 15.5-inch display, Sync will now let you run six different functions simultaneously, their controls displayed in something called Adaptive Dash Cards, Ford-speak for tiles.Whatever you call them, each of these little cards can remain minimized with basic controls or they can become the main display with full functionality. Its pretty slick and should keep Ford at the leading edge of dashboard man-machine interfaces. Ford says that accessing the cloud also increases the speed and accuracy of the built-in navigation system with up-to-the-minute updates and a wider range of information including things like parking spot availability and pricing to name but one advantage.Theres even a digital owners manual on-board that will include in-depth information on vehicle features and streamable how-to videos and more all through a searchable database.Look for Sync 4 as redesigned 2020 models arrive in Ford
Origin: Ford is upgrading Sync and offering full over-the-air updates

Audi updates RS4 Avant with more aggressive styling for 2020

Audi has given its RS4 Avant performance estate a facelift, including a reshaped grille and flared wheel arches, just two years after the current generation was launched. The mild redesign follows on from the recent refresh of the standard A4 and is limited mostly to a revised front end design and enhanced interior technology. The RS4’s front grille, bumper and lower splitter have been overhauled to further distance the performance variant from the standard model and bring it into line with the new RS6 Avant, which sports a notably more aggressive stance than the outgoing RS4. The gloss black honeycomb grille featured across Audi Sport’s range of top-rung RS models has been designed without a frame to sit flush with the bumper. The model’s LED headlights have also been reshaped and can now be specified with darkened bezels. As is tradition with Audi’s sportier models, the wheel arches are substantially flared to accommodate wider wheels and tyres, the RS4 measuring a full 30mm wider overall than the standard A4 at the front and rear. Inside, the facelifted model receives a new 10.1in infotainment touchscreen, equipped with Audi’s new MMI acoustic response technology, in place of the outgoing car’s rotary controller. A new digital instrument panel can display drive system component temperatures, g-forces, tyre pressures, power output, lap times and acceleration measurements. It also features a shift light display to assist the driver with gearchange timings. There are no changes to the RS4’s turbocharged 2.9-litre V6, which still produces 444bhp and 443lb ft – enough to give the car a 0-62mph time of 4.1sec and top speed of up to 174mph. The new RS4 Avant will make its public debut at this weekend’s DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring, ahead of sales beginning later this month. UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, but a European starting price of €81,400 suggests we’re likely to see a slight increase over the current model’s £67,585 price
Origin: Audi updates RS4 Avant with more aggressive styling for 2020

Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog, updates and pictures

Welcome to Autocar’s extended coverage of the Frankfurt motor show, one of Europe’s major motoring events and the place to see an extensive list of new cars make their debut. Traditionally the world’s largest motor show, Frankfurt sees the automotive industry descend on the city every two years to see new metal for the first time. This year is no exception, with game-changing unveilings from, Volkswagen, Land Rover and more. Electric cars promise to be big news at this year’s show, with the Volkswagen ID 3 having made its global debut, along with the Honda E, Porsche Taycan, Peugeot e-2008 and more all making an appearance. That said, there will no doubt still be quite a crowd gathered around conventionally fuelled new cars – especially the reborn Land Rover Defender, which is almost certain to dominate proceedings. We’re on site in Frankfurt to bring you every single reveal, so be sure to follow along with our live blog, and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels for up-to-the-minute news and images. Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog 07:15 Tuesday 10th September First announcement of the morning comes from Hyundai, with the 1970’s-inspired 45 Concept. Expected to eventually enter production, the electric crossover uses strong angles and lots of LEDs to make a visual statement while the interior hints at an autonomous future. Even before last night’s big ID 3 reveal, it was clear this year’s Frankfurt show was going to heavily feature electrification. With tough new emissions targets about to be introduced, car firms are having to push EVs and alternative powertrains like never before, argues Hilton Holloway. Environmental protestors have pledged to picket the show for weeks now, and it appears Greenpeace are leading the way this morning at the event entrance in Frankfurt. Further demos have been pledged throughout the day, with more disruptive protesters having hinted at picketing some of the press conferences. Kudos then to VW Group boss Herbert Diess, who went head to head with one of the protest group leaders in a live web debate on the subject, outlining why he believed a world without personal transport was unviable, how cars like the ID3 can be part of the environmental solution. 07:00 Tuesday 10th September Welcome back to our Frankfurt coverage. The show floor officially opens this morning, and we’ll be there to see all the new reveals. Overnight saw Audi announce the redesigned RS7 Sportback, which shares its 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 and 48v mild hybrid powertrain with the RS6 Avant. In the RS7, it results in a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds and 189mph top speed if you opt for the derestricted Dynamic Plus pack. “The beauty and the beast” is how Audi Sport managing director Oliver Hoffmann descries the new RS6 and RS7. Which one’s which, you ask? Anything and everything appears to be on the cards for Audi Sport as part of its expansion plans – even an RS8. “We have the S8, but there’s no decision yet on an RS8,” said Oliver Hoffmann. Nothing has been ruled out at Audi Sport for now. 21:00 Monday 9th September With all the covers at VW’s Group night now removed and all the cars on display, we’re nearing the end of the first day at Frankfurt – but there’s plenty more to come. Make sure to set your alarms as tomorrow morning sees new metal from BMW, Audi and Hyundai. It’s Land Rover that’s almost certain to steal all the attention, though. It is set to reveal the all-new Defender at 9am BST. We’ll have all the details here on the site, and you can watch the livestream right here: 20:30 Monday 9th September News editor Lawrence Allan says he is “certainly impressed by the cabin tech of the ID 3”, but thinks the material quality (traditionally a VW hallmark) doesn’t seem up to Golf standards: “There’s more hard plastics and plain surfaces than I expected – but maybe that’s the price to pay for an EV offering of relative value. Hey, it’s worked for Tesla…”. 20:15 Monday 9th September The Volkswagen ID 3 was the big star of the traditional pre-show VW Group Night, but once the new EV had its starring moment, those in attendance got to glimpse some of the other new machines from the group’s various brands. They included the new Porsche Taycan, which was revealed last week but is making its public debut in Frankfurt. Also on display was the new Audi Sport RS7, which hasn’t actually been officially revealed yet. So while we can show you a picture, we can’t give you full details yet (we suggest you keep an eye on autocar.co.uk for full details soon. 20:00 Monday 9th September Hybrid and electric car customers typically need more support from retailers before they commit to a purchase, according to Mercedes-Benz’s head of sales and marketing Britta Seeger. “While many are very well informed, we take the time to identify if the car really suits their needs,” she said. “These are big changes, and it is right that customers take their
Origin: Frankfurt motor show 2019: Live blog, updates and pictures

Lotus updates 2020 Evora GT with a laundry list of performance goodies

2020 Lotus Evora GTLotus Lotus has taken its flagship light sportscar, the Evora 410, and added more of everything that makes a sports car great to create the Evora GT more lightness, more downforce, and more power.To reduce weight, the rear bumper, front fenders, rear wheel arch vents, Sparco bucket seats, and side sills are carbon fibre, and if you want it even lighter, you can spec the door sills, rear diffuser, and rear trunk hatch in carbon fibre as well.With all that extra weight taken off, Lotus added a new front splitter and rear diffuser, giving the Evora GT an extra 141 pounds of downforce to keep it stuck to the ground. The side of the car is also sculpted to reduce drag, and front wheel arch louvres and carbon fibre ducts behind the rear wheels vent away high-pressure air. Power comes from a Toyota-sourced V6, and although that doesnt sound that interesting at first, 416 horsepower from 3.5 supercharged litres should change your mind thats an extra six horsepower over the Evora 410. The engine sits behind the driver and is paired to a six-speed manual, letting the Lotus hop from zero to 96 km/h in 3.8 seconds a tenth of a second quicker than the available automatic. As for torque, 317 lb.-ft. is available on manual cars, while the automatic gets 332. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are wrapped around 19-inch forged wheels, and lightweight two-piece disc brakes bring it all to a halt.As Lotus gears up to release the Evija and trigger the beginning of the end of its gasoline-powered sports cars, the Evora GT surely be remembered as one of the greats. Well be sad to see it go, but well love to watch it leave.Canadian pricing has not been announced, but in the U.S., the Evora GT will start at
Origin: Lotus updates 2020 Evora GT with a laundry list of performance goodies

Revised BMW 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

Prototypes of the facelifted BMW 5 Series have begun testing on public roads ahead of a planned introduction in mid-2020. Although it’s still heavily disguised, the updated executive model will clearly receive a bolder look in keeping with styling developments brought to both the latest 3 Series and facelifted 7 Series. The move is part of a broader strategy at BMW that aims to give each model its own individual appearance. Among the new design elements expected to be brought to the 5 Series are a more prominent kidney grille, redesigned headlights and a more heavily structured front bumper that incorporates newly designed air vents, including vertical air curtain ducts at the outer edges. Changes at the rear are likely to be less significant, although the plastic wrap adorning the spied prototypes hints at styling revisions to the tail-lights, rear bumper, tailpipes and area around the numberplate. Inside, the 5 Series is expected to receive new digital instrument graphics as well as a revised central display housing the infotainment functions. Today’s 5 Series will get BMW’s latest iDrive 7.0 operating system as part of a running change from this month onwards, suggesting the 2020 model will carry this on until the introduction of an iDrive 7.5 system in the eighth-generation 5 Series model due in 2023. The prototype shown here is propelled by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, shown by the mandatory identification on its front doors as well as the flap for the charging port integrated into the front-left wing. The current G30 5 Series is already sold with a plug-in hybrid setup in the 530e. This has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor developing a combined 248bhp and providing an electric-only driving range of up to 40 miles. As part of a push to take its plug-in hybrid drivelines into the performance car class, BMW is said to be planning a new 545e model running the same set-up as the 745e. This would use a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine and electric motor making a combined 388bhp and yielding an electric-only range of up to 36 miles. In further developments, BMW plans to equip all petrol engines with a particulate filter, while the diesels will receive new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, according to Munich
Origin: Revised BMW 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

Revised 5 Series to get bold design updates, arrives 2020

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: Live updates and pictures

Welcome to Autocar’s extensive coverage of the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. One of the UK’s most hotly anticipated motoring events opens its doors today, with hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to arrive over the weekend. The covers have started coming off all manner of supercars, classic metal and upcoming new releases, and we’re here throughout the weekend to bring you all the announcements. Be sure to follow along here, and on the Autocar Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get a first look at some of the industry’s most important and exciting new cars. This year’s event has seen some changes to the Festival layout, with the Supercar paddock relocated to make room for the Arena, a new showcase of the extreme end of motorsport: think stunt driving, drift cars and daring motorcycle displays, with some of the biggest stars of each discipline set to appear. The Goodwood Central Feature, an always impressive monument, is this year dedicated to Aston Martin, in honour of the 70th anniversary of the brand winning its first race at Goodwood. Some of the world’s rarest, most valuable and most exciting Astons are on display to mark the occasion. This year’s event is also celebrating the career of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, with team-mates, former rivals and a collection of his most iconic Formula 1 cars coming together in one place. Watch the Goodwood live stream If you aren’t able to make it to the Festival of Speed in person, don’t worry: Goodwood will be streaming all the action, so you don’t have to miss a thing. Every burnout, every drift, every attempt to smash the hill climb record – it will all be broadcast live. You can watch it all right here: All the cars revealed at Goodwood 2019 One of the biggest reasons so many people come to Goodwood every year? The huge list of new models on show, either on static display or being driven flat out up the hillclimb. Here’s a list of everything revealed so far, as well as what’s due to make an appearance across the weekend: Airspeeder flying car Developed by Australian start-up Alauda Racing, the Airspeeder is a vision of what the world’s first flying car race series could look like. The Mk. II Speeder will perform its first public display at the Goodwood Aerodrome, while the company’s new Airspeeder Mk. IV, the world’s first piloted octocopter, will appear at the festival as a vision of the world’s first flying sports car. Alfa Romeo is celebrating its return to Formula 1 with two special-edition variants of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The limited-run ‘Alfa Romeo Racing’ versions of the performance saloon and SUV gain a red and white livery and come with the brand’s Sparco carbonfibre-shell bucket seats fitted as standard. The 503bhp 2.9-litre V6 remains the same, however. Aston’s presence at Goodwood 2019 will be bigger than ever, as the brand celebrates the 50th anniversary of its fabled 1959 Le Mans victory with an extensive display of its most revered models. The new DBS Superleggera Volante will head up Aston’s collection, and will make its dynamic debut on the hillclimb. Revealed in May, the £250,000 model features a 715bhp 5.2-litre V12, with Aston claiming a “sensory overload” thanks to the electric folding soft-top. Also on display will be the recently launched hardcore Rapide AMR, and its seven-speed manual gearbox stablemate, the Vantage AMR. The firm’s new Rapide E will put its 602bhp all-electric powertrain to the test on the hill, before we get our first chance to hear the upcoming DBX SUV driven in anger. Making its UK debut is the newly completed DB4 GT Zagato Continuation (fresh from its first public appearance at Le Mans last month), which will sit alongside the Vulcan AMR Pro, Aston’s current World Endurane Racing Vantage GTE, and a selection of Vanquish Zagatos. It’s been eight years since Cheshire-based Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) first launched the Mono single-seater. Now, at long last, the company is turning up the wick with a new version heading to Goodwood. It’s set to be unveiled on the Thursday, with preview images showing that it doesn’t look dramatically different but sports a newly modified engine to make it faster. We’ll learn more about it at the show. Bentley revealed the new Flying Spur late last month, and it’ll be shown in static and dynamic form at Goodwood. The luxury four-door is taking aim at the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost. Based on the platform of the Continental GT, it is the first Bentley to feature all-wheel steering – while it promises to offer the firm’s most tech-laden cabin yet. Citroen is celebrating its centenary at the 2019 Festival of Speed. Alongside what’s expected to be a huge variety of iconic classics spanning its history, we will be seeing the UK debut of two concepts. The first is the Ami One, a quirky, budget two-seater that meets Europe’s quadricycle regulations and could be
Origin: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: Live updates and pictures

Renault updates big-selling Captur with new platform and interior

Renault has followed up its strong-selling Captur crossover with a second-generation model that features a similar dramatic interior revamp as the Clio – and will also be offered as a plug-in hybrid. The French maker claims to have sold more of the outgoing Captur last year than when it first launched in 2013. To continue that success, the new Seat Arona rival adopts an evolutionary approach to the exterior design that Renault describes as “more modern, more muscular and more expressive, with more SUV design cues”. LED head and tail-lights are also now standard across the range. Set to go on sale at the end of this year, the new crossover is significantly larger than its predecessor, with 100mm added to its length – with a 33mm longer wheelbase – and a 19mm increase in width. The result is claimed class-leading rear seat space, aided by a sliding bench that can be adjusted by up to 16cm, and a 536-litre boot that is 81 litres larger than the outgoing car. The Mk2 Captur sits on the same CMF-B platform first used for the latest Clio. It’s said to weigh “about the same” as the old car despite its increase in size and equipment levels, thanks to details such as an aluminium bonnet and plastic tailgate. The interior of the new car, like the Clio, has had a more substantial overhaul than the exterior. Renault claims it offers “a new dimension of quality and comfort rivalling models from the class above” with extensive use of higher-grade materials and newly designed seats. There’s also a new floating centre console, freeing up additional storage and space for wireless phone charging. The infotainment is a big upgrade, with an optional 9.3in central screen – larger than in the bigger Kadjar – combining with standard customisable 7in digital instruments (a 10in display is available on higher grades). A greater range of standard safety assist kit is offered, too. Renault is also going big on customisation: there’s a total of 90 exterior colour combinations and 18 interior configurations. From launch, the Captur will be offered with three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels, all new to the car. The base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TCe unit puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque, while a 1.3-litre four-cylinder makes 128bhp and 177lb ft in ‘130’ form, and 153bhp and 199lb ft in ‘155’ form. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in 94bhp and 113bhp form. Depending on the engine, five- or six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered. The Captur will gain a plug-in hybrid E-Tech model in the first quarter of 2020. The system, for which Renault has filed over 150 patents, blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors, linked to a new ‘multimode’ continuously variable transmission, claimed to feel like a dual-clutch set-up. Renault says it can run for 28 miles on battery power alone at up to 83mph, while a braking system taken from the firm’s EV range allows strong brake regeneration for a ‘one pedal’ driving technique. Performance and efficiency figures have not yet been released, but engineers tell us it puts out around 150bhp and “substantially” more torque than the regular petrol
Origin: Renault updates big-selling Captur with new platform and interior

Autocar confidential: Volkswagen plans wireless updates, Audi gives us the heads-up and more

In this week’s wander through the backstage area of motoring, we find out why Hyundai engineers need to get off the bus, how Audi’s changing cockpit design, and more. VW’s breath of fresh air Volkswagen’s ID range of electric cars have been designed to be upgradable during their lifespan but, while over-the-air remote updates are possible, VW sales boss Jürgen Stackmann says such upgrades will probably be done at a dealer to begin with. “We need to be absolutely sure of (over-the-air upgrades),” he said. “We are not a start-up company, so we can’t take those risks.” The future of Audi’s dash design Audi’s signature Virtual Cockpit will eventually be replaced by an augmented head-up display and voice control, according to design boss Marc Lichte. Hinted at on the Q4 E-tron concept, which will make production in 2021, Lichte said: “Virtual Cockpit will become much smaller and we will have an augmented head-up display. Maybe in 10 years we’ll have less displays because HUD will control everything by voice.” Hyundai-Kia stops the bus “Too many of our engineers come to work on the bus,” says Hyundai and Kia design boss Luc Donckerwolke of his colleagues at the Namyang research and development centre. He says it limits their experience of driving the products they develop. Polestar times it right The shift to electrification has opened a window of opportunity for new brands to establish themselves – but it will only be brief, according to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. “There is often a moment between launching too early or too late, but it is only a moment and the way the market is developing I’m more convinced it is right now,” he
Origin: Autocar confidential: Volkswagen plans wireless updates, Audi gives us the heads-up and more