Autocar Online - News

Audi R8 4.2 FSI S-tronic first drive review
Autocar Magazine 23 January preview
McLaren P1 shows off its underside
The myth about four-wheel lateral drive
Nissan Juke Nismo: first drive review
Nissan 370Z Nismo revealed
Government takes hands off approach to electric car growth
Ford Fiesta ST to cost from £16,995
Hotter Nissan Juke Nismo confirmed
Sometimes it is preferable to coast through life
Dacia Sandero Stepway
First drive review: Fiat Panda 4x4 Multijet
Rolls-Royce Ghost coupé to be called Wraith - updated
New cars 2013: what's coming when

Audi R8 4.2 FSI S-tronic first drive review

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 04:01 AM PST

Audi R8 facelift brings a dual-clutch gearbox option to Audi's junior supercar If you're one of our UK readers, it has probably not escaped your notice that this week has not provided the optimum conditions in which to test a new variant of a junior supercar. Still, things on these shores were always thus, and if ever there was a mini-exotic which can deal with, y'know, winter and that, it's the Audi R8. Yes, the engine is in the middle and the Audi comes on 235/35 R19 front and 295/30 R19 tyres, but the R8 has quattro four-wheel drive and at least we've driven one on snow and ice before, when Autocar ran a V10 long-termer.That car was fitted with a manual transmission, which was just as well because the first-generation R8's two-pedal alternative – a single-clutch automated manual – was a bit of a sluggard. It was fine on a track if you were going flat out, when it pushed through changes acceptably (albeit with a jolt) at high revs, but its lack of smoothness didn't seem half so clever on the road. Of the changes made to the R8 for its mid-life facelift, the most significant, then, is the ditching the automated manual gearbox option in favour of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. At £2900, it's also 40 per cent cheaper than the old auto option, yet, conversely, it is a lot more than 40 per cent better.

Autocar Magazine 23 January preview

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 03:03 AM PST

Jaguar saloon scoop; new Mazda 6 road tested; Porsche 944 buying guide; 50 ideas that will change motoring in 2013; premium estate mega-test

This week's Autocar magazine is led by a four-page exclusive on the new baby Jaguar saloon under development. Described by company boss Adrian Hallmark as a "BMW 3-series with a twist", we uncover the technical secrets that give rise to his confidence in a cut-throat section of the market.

The special issue also features 32 new cars, all of which were unveiled at the Detroit motor show. Among the biggest stories are the latest updates for the upcoming Honda NSX; a first look at the Nissan Resonance, which previews the look of the next Nissan Qashqai and Juke crossovers; insight into Toyota's drive to add excitement to its styling and the full details on Mercedes' mooted plans to build an Audi A1 supermini rival.

The new Mazda 6 is subjected to our eight-page road test, emerging with great credit, while our first drives section includes a UK test of the updated but still mighty Audi R8, our first run in Britain in the brilliant Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost, first impressions of the bigger but more expensive Skoda Octavia, plus drives in the diminutive but impressive Fiat Panda 4x4 and decently frugal Honda Civic 1.6 diesel.

Our features section stars an estate mega-test, with the new breed of style-led cars fronted by the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake and Jaguar XF Sportbrake, and the old guard represented by the BMW 5-series Touring and Audi A6 Allroad. They're four cars with very different approaches to the same job, but which is best overall?

We also have an 11-page special feature outlining 50 ideas that will change motoring in 2013. Among the highlights are new car launches such as the Jaguar F-Type and Mazda MX-5, new technology including in-board electric wheel motors and nine-speed gearboxes and influential people including AMG's Ola Kallenius and Anand Mahindra, who is on the verge of buying in to mainstream car manufacturing. Let us know your thoughts on whether we've chosen the correct 50 by emailing autocar@haymarket.com

Our long-term test fleet welcomes a BMW M135i, while we also feature updates on our Jaguar XKR-S, Hyundai i30 and Aston Martin Vantage V8.

Used car buyers can delight in our Porsche 944 buying guide, or take James Ruppert's advice and buy an economical 'green' car not just to save the planet, but also to protect their residual values.

Autocar magazine is available through all good newsagents, and available to download from Zinio and the Apple iTunes store.

McLaren P1 shows off its underside

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 02:51 AM PST

Images show McLaren P1's high-tech underbody aerodynamics for the first time

Potential buyers of the forthcoming McLaren P1 have been given a preview of the car at a private event in Los Angeles, where these pictures were taken as the car was hoisted into the hotel location.

The images reveal some of the P1's complex underbody aerodynamics with what looks like a flat underside made entirely from carbonfibre, and two enormous twin diffuser outlets at the rear. A double diffuser also has a pair of inlets under the car to control airflow more efficiently.

The P1's active aero kit is rumoured to include active flaps in the front of the car, ahead of the front wheels. These will open and close to influence airflow under the car depending on its speed.

Much of the car's exterior is designed to maximise airflow through the vehicle to improve cooling, hence the enormous intakes behind the doors. It is also likely to feature air pumps to push air over areas of the car, and adjustable ride height for track use to improve downforce.

McLaren will reveal the production P1 at the Geneva motor show in March. The finished vehicle is expected to look identical to this "design study" but the interior, hidden by the blacked-out windows, will be visible.

Images: Dirk A Photography

The myth about four-wheel lateral drive

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 02:29 AM PST

If you think you have more cornering grip because you drive a 4WD, think again

You can see the air of superiority on the faces of just about all drivers of 4WD vehicles in this weather, be they Range Rover or Suzuki Jimny drivers. And in one specific sense the owners of 4WDs are right to feel better endowed to deal with the conditions than the rest of us.

Because any four wheel-drive vehicle does indeed generate better traction than its two wheel-drive equivalent, on all surfaces and in all conditions but never more so than when it snows. But more cornering grip outright? Not necessarily.

How so? Lateral grip, in other words the sort that your vehicle generates when it is cornering, is completely different from traction, yet more often than not the average 4WD driver fails, I suspect, to realise the difference between the two.

Bottom line; on any surface but especially on snow, you can get going and you can develop far better traction and initial acceleration in a 4WD than you can in a 2WD vehicle, but when you reach a corner you will NOT be able to get round it any faster. Which means you are every bit as likely to fall off the road once you've got going in a 4WD than you are in a 2WD.

This is because, despite its better traction, a 4WD vehicle develops no more lateral grip than its 2WD equivalent once you are in a steady state of cornering – even though it will generate more traction on the way out.

What does make a massive difference to lateral grip in conditions such as we have now are the tyres you choose to drive on, and the tyres that the average heavy duty 4WD – such as a Land Rover – comes fitted with as standard compared with a more conventional road car. Winter tyres, or better still proper off-road tyres like those of a fully tooled-up Land Rover, are a hugely more significant factor in snow than the ability to send drive to all four wheels, in my opinion.

I'd even argue that a big, heavy, luxury 4WD that's riding on big, fat summer tyres is actually a far less effective tool overall in snow than a small 2WD car fitted with winter tyres. Not merely because it won't generate as much grip in corners than the winter-tyred 2WD car will, but because it will take MUCH longer to stop in as well.

So, the next time you see that mildly smug expression on the face of the person driving the Range Rover that's just blundered past you in the snow, believing that they're invincible, just remember; in reality they're just as likely to fall off at the next corner as you. And at 2.5 tonnes they'll be far less able to stop for something unpredictable that may be lurking half way round that next corner. And their repair bill will be 20 times higher than yours.

Nissan Juke Nismo: first drive review

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:44 AM PST

Nissan's motorsport wing breathes on the Nissan Juke with pleasing results Another success story for the UK car industry: a new kind of hot hatch we can lay claim to as our own. The Nissan Juke Nismo is the go-faster performance version of the smash-hit supermini-sized crossover. More than a third of a million Jukes have been built at Nissan's Sunderland plant (now officially the largest car plant this country has ever seen) since 2010, and now the plant has a flagship performance model to produce.The Juke Nismo is not just built in Britain; a significant amount of design and development for the model has taken place here, with Nissan's Paddington design studio and Cranfield technical centre assisting Nissan and Nismo engineers in Japan.The result of this collaboration is a 197bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-powered Juke, with a host of revisions to the chassis and exterior and interior styling to make it worthy of the hallowed Nismo badge.That Nismo badge also needs an introduction. Short for Nissan Motorsports, Nismo has been tuning Nissans and producing highly successful factory race cars for the best part of 50 years and has become enshrined in popular culture thanks to its presence in the Gran Turismo video games, the first of which appeared in 1997.The thinking behind taking Nismo global now with volume products rather than high-performance niche models or aftermarket upgrades is that the Playstation generation has now grown up and, as now as a 20/30-something with a disposable income, has the funds to buy a car of their own, and a £19,995 compact crossover take on the hot hatch formula seems a good place to start for Nismo.

Nissan 370Z Nismo revealed

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 12:20 PM PST

Nissan 370Z Nismo gets more powerful engine and aero upgrades; on sale this summer

Nissan has revealed its latest Nismo-tuned model, the Nissan 370Z Nismo.

The Nissan 370Z coupe is set to go on sale in the summer with a host of modifications aimed at making it a more focused performance tool.

The 3.7-litre V6 engine's power output has been improved from 324bhp to 335bhp, with torque also said to have been improved by an equivalent amount. In addition, torque will arrive lower down the rev range than in the standard car. No performance claims have been made, but throttle response is said to be improved.

Read our Nissan Juke Nismo first drive

An aerodynamic bodykit has been fitted to the model; it is said to allow the 370Z Nismo to produce as much downforce as a Nissan GT-R.

A large rear diffuser with twin integrated exhausts, fixed rear wing, wider side skirts and a new front end with a splitter are also among the aerodynamic styling changes.

New 19in alloys are fitted with wider 245/40 tyres at the front and 285/35s at the rear. A bespoke tyre compound has been created by Bridgestone for the model.

The Nismo 370Z sits 10mm lower than the standard car, and has updated springs and dampers for a firmer, more focused and more involving drive. Bigger brakes also feature.

Interior upgrades include special Nismo sports seats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and new red and black trim.

Nissan has also confirmed a hotter version of the Nissan Juke Nismo.

Government takes hands off approach to electric car growth

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 10:20 AM PST

Coalition maintains it doesn't need to get involved with charging infrastructure

The Government has rejected suggestions from a Commons select committee to improve the uptake and perception of electric cars in the UK. In a response to the Transport Select Committee's report Plug-in Vehicles, Plugged in Policy?, the Government maintains that it is not necessary to establish targets for electric vehicle sales and that it is not the job of government to standardise charging points, connections and payment schemes.

Currently there are multiple charging schemes and connectors in use across the UK and Europe, and users of the Government's Plugged in Places charging scheme have to register before using schemes in their area. Not all of the eight Plugged in Places schemes across the country are compatible.

Among the Select Committee's recommendations were requests for the Government to explain how it will standardise the infrastructure used for plug-in vehicles, including the physical connections and the financial aspects to make it easier for drivers.

In its response, the Government said that while it sees "there are advantages to a single recharging plug solution… it is our stance that it is for the market and industry to decide what charging hardware and infrastructure will be."

In the report's conclusion, the Committee recommended that the Government "sets targets for the number of plug-in cars it expects to see on the road" by the next spending review. The Committee said this would enable the Government to assess the success of its low carbon vehicle strategy.

But the Government disagrees, citing the uncertainty over what it calls "market penetration" of electric vehicles as a barrier to setting targets.

The Committee also asked for clarification over the Government's decision to increase the company car tax rate for low emission vehicles from 2015, a move that was met with disappointment from Vauxhall, Toyota and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The Committee said that this would create instability in the market, although the Government responded by saying tax issues were a matter for the Treasury, and that there were "continuing discussions within Government… to ensure that the fiscal regime supports the Government's growth and environmental framework."

Ford Fiesta ST to cost from £16,995

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 09:31 AM PST

Ford has announced the Fiesta ST will cost £16,995, while the upscale ST-2 will attract a £1000 premium

The Ford Fiesta ST will cost from £16,995 when it arrives in showrooms at the end of March.

Base-trim ST models are fitted with 17in alloy wheels, ST-style front foglights, cloth-trimmed Recaro sports seats and a Ford DAB radio as standard.

ST-2 models, which are priced at £17,995, feature LED daytime running lights, tinted glass, half-leather Recaro seats, keyless entry and an upgraded Sony DAB radio.

The Fiesta ST will be available only as a three-door model in European markets, but the hot hatchback will be offered in a five-door configuration in North America.

The ST will be powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol engine developing 180bhp. With an overboost function, torque peaks at 214lb ft. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Ford says there are no plans to introduce an automatic variant.

Hotter Nissan Juke Nismo confirmed

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 08:59 AM PST

Nissan has confirmed a more focused performance derivative of its Juke Nismo

A hotter Nissan Juke Nismo is in the pipeline, the company has confirmed. The new model will offer improved performance, a more focused chassis and upgraded brakes.

The Juke Nismo's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine will be tuned to develop around 20bhp more than the standard Nismo's 197bhp, while torque will be increased by 20 per cent to around 220lb ft.

Read our Nissan Juke Nismo first drive

A revised suspension set-up will be fitted, with different springs, shock absorbers and damping rates. The car will sit 20mm lower than the standard Juke Nismo.

The hotter Juke Nismo will be offered in front-wheel drive with a manual transmission, while four-wheel drive will be reserved for CVT-equipped models.

Nissan describes the positioning of the two Nismo models as similar to the Mini Countryman Cooper S to its JCW siblings. The new car is tipped to be on sale by the end of the year.

The expansion of the Nismo range will continue with a more hardcore derivative of the 370Z, the Nissan 370Z Nismo, which will also offer more power, a revised chassis setup and specific body modifications.

Sometimes it is preferable to coast through life

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 08:30 AM PST

The Volkswagen CC on Autocar's long-term fleet is fitted with a coasting function for extra frugality. It is interesting to examine how it works

The mileage of the Volkswagen CC on our long-term test fleet has fairly shot up in recent weeks, and a surprising number of those miles have been covered in neutral (or something approximating it).

That's because the CC's dual-clutch gearbox has a fuel-saving coasting function – a feature that's found on an increasing number of DSG-equipped diesel-engined Volkswagens. It's an interesting development (at least, it is to me), and one that's worthy of some discussion. So here goes.

The coasting function declutches the engine when the throttle is lifted, which means that the car is free from the momentum-hungry shackles of engine braking (such as it is with a modern common-rail diesel) on the overrun. Now, before you write in and say that today's engines have an overrun fuel cut-off which shuts off the fuel supply on a closed throttle, and that an engine coasting on tickover with the gearbox disengaged actually uses more fuel than one coasting in gear on a closed throttle, well, apparently it doesn't.

In short, when you lift off you end up travelling much farther before you have to get back on it, and the subsequent fuel savings outweigh whatever is burnt on tickover while coasting. Touch the throttle or brake while coasting, or move the gear selector from D to its manual shift position, and the gear re-engages. The coasting function can also be disabled via the onboard menu settings, or overridden by keeping manual control over the gearchanges.

But coasting is bad, because you're not fully in control of the car, right? Well, I've thought about this and I'm not so sure. If by 'not in control' you mean that the car slows less than you're used to when you lift off, then perhaps so, but you quickly get used to managing the space in front of you to compensate. Broadly speaking, the rear wheels of a conventional front-wheel-drive car are no more corrupted by a loss of engine braking than the front wheels of a rear-drive car are, so what's the problem?

It's not perfect, though. When you get back on the throttle the engine rev-matches to road speed before engaging the clutch. At low speeds this is barely noticeable, but at 70mph the engine has to spin from 850rpm (tickover) to 2050rpm; at 80mph it has to get to 2350rpm, which can feel like forever. I've quickly learned when to knock the gear selector to its manual position to prevent the coasting function from kicking in when not wanted. Similarly, when pressing on along a twisting B-road, it's best to give coasting a miss if you want to maximise your interaction with the car and the road.

Still, the upshot is that the CC uses impressively little fuel for such a big car, especially on motorways flowing at 50-70mph. I'm averaging 52-53mpg on fast roads, with around-town use knocking the overall average to 48.8mpg. But it's creeping up. And this is the more powerful 168bhp 2.0 TDI, remember.

I could go on, but suffice to say I'm sure the matter is going to stir up some debate, and I'd love to hear your thoughts…

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 07:42 AM PST

Sandero-based crossover offers greater value for money than its hatchback sibling, provided you're not going for a spartan entry-level model The Dacia Sandero Stepway is all about 'more for less'. Although a crossover by name, this jacked-up supermini stops short of the additional complication and expense of four-driven wheels.What it does offer, relative to the standard Sandero on which it's based, is ruggedised 4x4 styling, 40mm of additional ground clearance and a dose of extra standard equipment, all for little extra outlay. It's the kind of niche segment derivative that could end up out-selling its mainstream equivalent.You can count the ways in which this car differs from that equivalent on the fingers of one hand, and mostly from the far end of the car park. Plastic wheelarch extensions? Check. New bumpers with faux underbody protection plates? Check. Roof bars? Present. What isn't so obvious is that, on top of all that, Ambiance-spec Stepways come with fog lamps, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors and metallic paint included; the equivalent Sandero hatch doesn't.Differences on the inside are few and far between, besides some rubber floor mats and slightly different seat trims. The most important difference here is that, because the Stepway rides farther off the ground than the Sandero, it's easier to slide in and out of.The Stepway range is simpler than the Sandero's: there's no 74bhp 1.2-litre engine and no bog-basic Access trim. Which is why the £7995 entry price for an 89bhp three-cylinder petrol turbo, in Ambiance trim, only represents a £600 premium over the like-for-like hatchback. The 89bhp 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel suits the functional flavour of the car much better, though.With CO2 emissions of 105g/km, it will save you £80 a year on your tax disc and, returning a real-world 50mpg, should better the petrol option on efficiency by a considerable margin.Performance will be modest regardless of which Stepway you plump for, but the greater mid-range torque of the turbodiesel makes it the easier, more tractable drive. While adequate, mechanical refinement is poorer than the supermini class average, with vibration detectable through the pedals and the bodyshell, in the diesel particularly. The light and baggy gearshift also speaks of Dacia's uncompromising, 'route one' approach to functionality.The Stepway's ride and handling are better. While its body rolls a little more through fast corners, there's very little outright grip sacrificed by the pseudo-offroader. Directional responsiveness is competitive, and steering feel is quite reasonable, too. Meanwhile, the additional ride height you get with your Stepway only seems to do good things for the operational effectiveness of what must be fairly rudimentary suspension components.The extra wheel travel adds compliance without giving up much in the way of control, and actually makes the Stepway a marginally more comfy car to travel in than the regular Sandero.All of which should lead anyone with a serious interest in buying into Renault's budget brand to one conclusion. Unless you plan on spending between £6000 and £7000 on the cheapest Sandero on the block, the Stepway's actually better value for money, easier to live with and has the broader range of ability.

First drive review: Fiat Panda 4x4 Multijet

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 07:36 AM PST

Italy's unique 4x4 baby hatch-cum-allroader hits Britain just as the weather turns bad — at a bargain price How many cars do you know that have absolutely no class rivals, and have been that way for 27 years? There's only one we can think of, the Fiat Panda 4x4, just launched in the UK in its third iteration.

Rolls-Royce Ghost coupé to be called Wraith - updated

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 02:45 AM PST

Geneva reveal for the new two-door model, which will be the fastest and most powerful Rolls-Royce in history

Rolls-Royce has named its forthcoming coupé version of the Ghost as Rolls-Royce Wraith. The model will be the most powerful in Rolls's history, and is set to be revealed at the Geneva motor show in March.

Speaking at a dealer conference in London this morning, Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said the Wraith would "draw superlatives" when it is revealed in Geneva.

"Expect the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine," he said.

"We will present a model whose starting point is luxury, refinement and exclusivity, traits that have made Rolls-Royce the world's pinnacle luxury good for the last 108 years. This is a car not only defined by a timeless elegance, but one that encapsulates a sense of power, style and drama."

The Wraith name was first used by Rolls in 1938.

Insiders have previously revealed the Wraith will produce as much as 600bhp from its highly tuned twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 engine. Torque will rise by a proportional amount over the engine's state of tune in the Ghost saloon, but insiders insist the famed Rolls refinement will be retained.

The Wraith will have a wheelbase around 180mm shorter than the Ghost's 3295mm, with an overall length of around 5200mm expected. The kerb weight is tipped to be around 2300kg.

Rolls has said it will release a series of teaser images of the Wraith in the build-up to its Geneva launch on 5 March.

New cars 2013: what's coming when

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 03:11 AM PST

All-new models and fresh looks for familiar faces: this year's 164 eagerly anticipated arrivals

This year will see some hugely exciting new car launches. 2013 cars include the McLaren P1, Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI.

And while that's plenty for the performance car enthusiast, some of 2013's best new cars include common-or-garden models that'll sell in vast numbers such as the Audi A3 Saloon, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Mirage and Renault Clio.

The new cars of 2013 will offer something for every taste, budget and need. Here's what to expect and when:

Alfa Romeo 4C, Autumn

Alfa Romeo Giulietta facelift, Winter

Alfa Romeo Mito facelift, Summer

Alpina B3, Summer

Alpina D3, Autumn

Alpina B5 facelift, Winter

Alpina D5 facelift, Winter

Ariel Atom 3.5, January

Aston Martin Rapide facelift, Summer

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Winter

Audi A3 saloon, December