Sports car manufacturer Wiesmann has announced plans to launch a radical ‘world-first model’.
Currently branded as ‘Project Thunderball’, Wiesmann promises the new car will be ‘befitting of the modern era’, but retain the brand’s ‘DNA of timeless design elegance’.
Originally founded in 1988, Wiesmann closed due to financial difficulties in 2014. The firm was subsequently purchased by UK-based car enthusiast, Roheen Berry.
Ready to charge
Details of Project Thunderball have yet to be confirmed, although the camouflaged roadster prototype seen here suggests that retro styling cues will continue.
The lack of obvious exhaust tailpipes, along with references to the company having ‘newly recharged ambition’, point to an electrified powertrain.
Wiesmann had previously been preparing a new sports car, codenamed Project Gecko. This was expected to use a BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8, combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
“This is just the beginning”
The company’s association with BMW stretches back to its earliest models, and peaked with the 2008 Wiesmann MF5. This featured BMW’s 5.0-litre V10 engine, offering the potential for a top speed beyond 190mph.
Production of Project Thunderball will be undertaken at Wiesmann’s ‘Gecko’ factory, located in Dülmen, Germany.
Roheen Berry said: “As the automotive industry undergoes its biggest revolution in a century, there can be no better time to announce the return of a refreshed, reborn and recharged motoring icon.
“Thunderball will continue Wiesmann’s reputation for setting the standard for performance, craftsmanship and sheer enjoyment. With its unequivocal style, this is the Wiesmann fit for the 21st century, and this is just the beginning.”
After endless concept cars and teasers, Volkswagen has finally revealed the electric ID Buzz MPV and van.
Inspired by the iconic Type 2 Microbus, the all-new ID Buzz offers practicality with retro styling.
Although its looks recall the 1950s and 1960s, Volkswagen says the technology inside the electric ID Buzz is thoroughly modern.
Is the MPV cool again?
Nostalgia plays a key part in the styling of the ID Buzz. The prominent VW badge on the V-shaped front panel is an obvious nod to the famous original. Two-tone paint options will be available across the range.
Jozef Kabaň, head of Volkswagen Design, notes that: “The ID. Buzz is timeless, sustainable and yet also extremely functional – that makes it unique.”
The vehicles are based on Volkswagen’s MEB electric platform. This will feature a 77kWh battery pack at launch, which is connected to a 150kW electric motor. Just like the Microbus, it sends power to the rear wheels.
The ID Buzz is compatible with 11kW wallboxes, along with DC rapid charging devices. Using the latter allows the batteries to be boosted from five to 80 percent in 30 minutes.
‘Lounge-like ambience’
Volkswagen promises that the MPV version of the ID Buzz will deliver a ‘lounge-like, friendly ambience’, with room for five people inside.
Sliding rear doors will make climbing into the back easier, with access to the boot through a conventional tailgate. With the sliding rear bench in place, the ID Buzz offers 1,121 litres of luggage space. Folding them flat results in a colossal 2,205 litres.
Standard equipment on the ID Buzz MPV will include 10-colour interior ambient lighting, climate control air-con, LED headlights and 19-inch wheels. A digital dashboard and 10-inch multimedia touchscreen will feature, too.
Buyers will be able to specify two-tone interiors that complement the exterior paint colours.
Zero-emissions cargo transport
The interior of the ID Buzz Cargo will be more practical, with Volkswagen fitting a ‘robust’ floor covering in the cab.
Customers have a choice of two- or three-seat configurations, with a special ‘Buzz Box’ creating a space to store a laptop or clipboard.
A fixed partition will separate the load space from the cabin, with room for two Euro pallets to be carried. The ID Buzz Cargo has a maximum payload capacity of 650kg.
Latest technology as standard
Technology will play a key part in the ID Buzz, with Volkswagen installing its latest ID software. This includes a ‘Car2X’ local warning system to spot hazards, plus the option of a memory function for automated parking on saved routes.
The ID Buzz will be compatible with ‘Plug and Charge’ devices, enabling payment simply by connecting a charger. Bidirectional charging will allow the ID Buzz to feed surplus energy from the battery into the customer’s home.
Production of both models will be at Volkswagen’s Hannover plant, which was responsible for building the original Microbus.
An official launch is planned for autumn 2022, with customers in certain markets able to place orders from May.
More details have been announced of the world’s very first Urban-Air Port, due to open in Coventry next month.
Set to become the blueprint for 200 similar sites around the world, construction of Air-One began in February this year. Previously the UK company had only aimed to build 65 sites.
Each Urban-Air Port will provide infrastructure for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger vehicles, along with capacity for unmanned delivery drones.
Brands ready for take-off
The Urban-Air Port project is a collaboration with Hyundai’s Urban Air Mobility division, Supernal, and is backed by Coventry City Council.
Supernal’s first flying taxi is scheduled to enter commercial operations in 2028.
As part of the Urban-Air Port concept, the company wants to use its hubs for pop-up retail offerings. It predicts that global passenger numbers could reach 28 million a year in the next five years, offering an attractive audience for retailers.
A number of brands, including Anatomie, Paul & Shark and Bottega, have all committed to being part of the Urban-Air Port experience.
“More than a landing pad”
Passengers will be able to use the Urban-Air Port smartphone app to order from the various brands. This will include the potential for delivery by drone, from one of the company’s planned CityBox hubs.
Ricky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban-Air Port, said: “Once complete, Air-One – the world’s first fully operational hub for flying taxis and delivery drones – will spark into life an entirely new world of affordable, zero-emission and congestion-free travel. However, this is not just about getting from A to B, it’s about the journey itself.
“Air-One is so much more than a landing pad for flying taxis and delivery drones. It will deliver a world-class interactive customer experience – one that can be replicated right across the world as we build our network of over 200 sites globally.”
The Coventry Urban-Air Port is open to the public from 28 April to 15 May 2022, with tours of the site available.
9WERKS, the UK’s leading online platform and community for Porsche enthusiasts, has announced its inaugural Awards event, which will reward excellence across the Porsche industry.
Businesses and personalities from the world of Porsche sales, servicing, tuning and restoration will be recognised at the black tie event on Thursday 7 April.
Voting will be open to the public, with Richard Aucock and Tim Pitt from Motoring Research among the judges on the expert panel.
Tony Hatter answers your questions
Guest of Honour at the 9WERKS Awards will be former Porsche chief designer, Tony Hatter (pictured above in the one-off 911 Turbo gifted to Louise Piech, daughter of Ferdinand Porsche, for her 70th birthday).
Hatter’s work includes the 993-generation Porsche 911, Carrera GT supercar and Le Mans-winning 911 GT1.
The event, which has limited tickets remaining, takes place in the unique setting of Shorade Accident Repair, an official Porsche Recommended Repairer in Cannock, Staffordshire. Guests will enjoy canapés and drinks on arrival, buffet food and an audience Q&A with Tony Hatter. A licensed bar will also be on-site.
Vote for your winners
There are nine categories in the 9WERKS Awards, with voting split between the public and a panel of qualified experts. To take part, simply sign in to 9WERKS – membership is free – and choose your winners.
The categories awaiting your votes are:
Best Porsche Sales – Specialist
Best Porsche Servicing – Specialist
Best Official Porsche Centre
Best 9WERKS Radio Guest
Best Porsche Tuner
Best Restoration Project
Best International Porsche Specialist
Outstanding Customer Experience
Personality Of The Year
Companies nominated include Paragon Porsche, Wrightune, JZM, RPM Technik, Jonathan Franklin Cars, Shorade Accident Repair and Heritage Parts Centre.
Derek Bell MBE and Mark Sumpter are among the nominees for Best 9WERKS Radio Guest.
By enthusiasts, for enthusiasts
9WERKS founder Lee Sibley said: “The Awards celebrates excellence in our Porsche industry, with 9WERKS seen as the independent bedrock for promoting and upholding these core requirements of quality and customer service expected by brand enthusiasts.”
A limited number of tickets are still available for the 9WERKS Awards, priced at £40 each. Follow this link to reserve your place today.
9WERKS has also partnered with The Moat House hotel in Stafford for overnight accommodation. Call 01785 712217 and quote ‘9WERKS Awards’ for a discounted rate of £120 for a double room or £100 for a single room. Both prices include breakfast. Alternatively, the Birmingham North Holiday Inn is also nearby.
More Porsche content
Look out for news of the 9WERKS Awards winners in early April. In the meantime, visit the website for photos of the forthcoming Porsche 992 hybrid, a video with the radical Panamericana concept and a buying guide for the 991.1 Carrera.
You’ll also find more Porsche news and reviews on Motoring Research, including our verdict on the Taycan Sport Turismo electric estate.
Kia has become the first South Korean car company to scoop the European Car of the Year award, with victory for the pure electric EV6 in 2022.
The Kia pipped the new Renault Megane E-Tech electric and Hyundai Ioniq 5 in a closely-fought contest.
Kia ended up with 279 points, beating the Renault’s 265 points and the Hyundai’s 261 points.
The three cars were well clear of the other four finalists: the Cupra Born, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Enyaq iV.
Six of the seven 2022 finalists were pure electric cars, with the seventh, the Peugeot 308, available as a plug-in hybrid.
The European Car of the Year prize has been running since 1964, with 61 jurors taking part in the 2022 competition.
However, due to the war in Ukraine, the Russian jurors were suspended from this year’s competition, while the Russian flag was removed from the presentation.
Launched in 2021, the third-generation D-Max pick-up has collected numerous awards. However, it is not simply this run of success that has led to long waiting times.
‘Unprecedented trading conditions’
Isuzu admits that, like many other automotive companies, its UK operation currently faces ‘unprecedented trading conditions’.
In particular, the firm notes that ‘a worldwide shortage of key components, semiconductors and materials’ is having a direct impact on its operations. Along with this, shipping delays are seeing customers face much longer waits to actually receive their vehicles.
Isuzu saw record sales during 2021. The brand posted a 16.9 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Pick up the pace
Alan Able, brand director of Isuzu UK, said “We are committed to providing the most transparent sales process possible, and urge any customers who may wish to purchase a D-Max later in 2022 or perhaps into 2023 to start discussions with their local Isuzu dealer as soon as possible.
“Although not impacted as severely as many other manufacturers, we are still working tirelessly with the vehicle production facility in Thailand to minimise customer waiting times.”
Earlier this year, Toyota announced that Japanese buyers of the revised Land Cruiser SUV may have to wait four years to take delivery.
In 2018, Volkswagen suspended UK orders of the Up GTI due to record levels of demand.
Nissan has announced a range of updates for its popular Leaf electric car.
Formerly the world’s best-selling EV, Nissan is keen to keep the Leaf as competitive as possible in this growing sector.
The revised styling is intended to reflect Nissan’s latest corporate identity, while also keeping the Leaf looking fresh.
Wear the badge with pride
The biggest exterior change is the adoption of Nissan’s new badge, ensuring the Leaf matches the rest of the range. This appears on the front grille, boot and alloy wheel centre caps.
New 16- and 17-inch alloy wheel options have also been introduced. These incorporate an elaborate multi-spoke design, with gloss black contrasting against silver details.
Customers also have an expanded range of paint colour choices for the Leaf. Nissan has revealed two new shades of blue, in addition to the existing five monotone and five dual-tone options.
Pearl Blue and Magnetic Blue have previously been seen on the latest Qashqai, plus the forthcoming Ariya electric SUV.
“Hey, Alexa…”
Inside, Nissan has left the Leaf relatively unchanged for 2022. Its ProPilot driver assistance system remains available on selected models, along with Nissan Connect smartphone integration.
The latter includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with certain models allowing the climate control settings to be operated remotely. Customers can also link their Leaf to Amazon’s Alexa service, albeit only on cars built later in 2022.
Battery options remain unaltered, with an official range of up to 239 miles in the Leaf e+ version.
577,000 made and counting
The revised 2022 Leaf will join Nissan’s expanding range of electrified models. The company aims to launch 23 new electrified cars, including 15 EVs, by 2030.
Arnaud Charpentier of Nissan said: “The Nissan Leaf has always been about making advanced technology and the thrill of electric driving accessible to everyone, with over 577,000 customers worldwide. The Leaf has been designed around families’ needs, to offer seamless connectivity and an efficient powertrain”.
Pricing for the revised 2022 Nissan Leaf will start at £26,995, once the Plug-In Car Grant has been applied. Orders can be placed from 1 March 2022, with first deliveries expected in April.
ALSO READ:
AA wants VAT cut for electric car drivers without off-street parking
New figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show the UK has a record number of licensed drivers over the age of 70.
More than 5.7 million people aged over 70 now have a full driving licence, an increase of 10 percent since March 2021.
Fuelling the increase is the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation, defined as those born between 1946 and 1964. It also comes as the number of younger drivers has decreased, a decline blamed on the pandemic.
Centenarians on the road
Analysis of DVLA data by insurance comparison website Quotezone shows the very oldest drivers are growing fastest in number.
The number of drivers aged between 90 and 99 has increased by 12 percent during the past year, with almost 133,000 holding licences. More impressively, the number aged over 100 has jumped by 23 percent. There are now 505 centenarians who hold a licence in the UK, with the oldest aged 108.
DVLA rules require drivers to renew their licence every three years once they turn 70. This is to ensure that any changes in health conditions are recorded.
Premium benefits
There is an added benefit for some drivers aged over 70, according to Quotezone’s research.
Based on average quotes, those aged between 70 and 79 pay £303 for their annual insurance premium. Once drivers hit 80, however, this increases to an average of £436 per year. This is still likely to be lower than drivers in their 50s, though.
Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone, says that older drivers have a number of options to offset rising premiums. These include “switching cars to one with a smaller engine, to help lower costs”.
Wilson adds: “Drivers who are tempted to put younger relatives on their policy should remember that they will not only be paying more, but if the younger person does have an accident in their vehicle, as the policyholder, they could lose their no-claims bonus.”
Dacia has announced a new special-edition version of its affordable Duster SUV.
Called the ‘Extreme SE’, Dacia promises bespoke styling enhancements and features previously unseen on UK-spec Dusters.
The Extreme SE is offered with a wide range of engines, including Dacia’s Bi-Fuel LPG system. Orders will open in April 2022.
Added orange flavouring
The most obvious addition to the Duster Extreme SE is an exclusive Urban Grey paint colour. Dacia offers a choice of seven other colours, but the new hue contrasts neatly with the 17-inch gloss-black alloy wheels.
The Extreme SE’s signature finish is Quartz Grey trim, which is applied to the wing mirrors, roof bars and front grille.
Completing the look is a host of orange detailing, including the ‘Duster’ wording on the roof bars.
Inside continues the same combination, with orange stitching on the charcoal grey seats. More orange highlights can be found on the doors and air vents, with the centre console finished in piano black.
Extreme value for money
Standard equipment for the Duster Extreme SE includes climate control, a surround-view camera, blind-spot warning, an acoustic windscreen and heated front seats. An 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen features satellite navigation and wireless smartphone connectivity.
Buyers can pick from three turbocharged petrol engines, a diesel, or Dacia’s LPG Bi-Fuel option.
Prices start at £17,495 for the Extreme SE TCe 90 4×2 petrol model, rising all the way to £21,645 for the Extreme SE Blue dCi 115 4×4 diesel.
Dacia aims to make the first customer deliveries in May 2022.
Morgan is back on three wheels. Meet the new Super 3: follow-up to the 3-Wheeler – and the British marque’s first clean-sheet design since the Aero 8 of 2000. Exciting, extroverted and eccentric, it’s billed as “the antidote to a daily-driver”.
Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan’s first car was a three-wheeler, built in 1909. His company stuck with the format for four decades before the 3-Wheeler made a comeback in 2011. The ‘Super’ name also has its roots in Morgan’s past, and nods to American popular culture of the 1950s and 1960s.
“It shifts Morgan’s three-wheeler design language from the biplane era to the jet age,” explains senior designer Harvey Fulford. We’re inside a closely guarded workshop at Bicester Heritage for an in-depth preview of the Super 3 before production starts in April. Here’s what you need to know.
Three wheels, three cylinders
Unlike the outgoing 3-Wheeler and its motorcycle-sourced V-twin, the Super 3 uses a car engine. Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder Ford ‘Dragon’ motor drives the rear wheel via the snappy five-speed gearbox from a Mazda MX-5.
“We looked at using bike power again, but that would have meant a sequential gearbox – rather than a traditional manual,” explains Fulford. “We wanted the car to be as analogue as possible.” The Ford engine allows Morgan to meet Euro 5 emissions standards, too.
With 120hp and a modest 635kg to shift, the Super 3 reaches 62mph in 7.0 seconds and a (presumably quite blustery) top speed of 130mph. Morgan also promises plenty of smiles per mile, thanks to its expertise as a ‘global leader in the dynamic behaviour of three-wheeled vehicles’.
The Super 3 has been future-proofed to accept an electric powertrain, if customers or legislators demand it. In time, it could be Morgan’s first electric production car, following the stillborn EV3 concept of 2016.
Back to the future
“Retro-futurism is an expression we use a lot,” says Fulford, walking me around two very different interpretations of the Super 3: one in trad British Racing Green, the other in eye-popping Coral Orange. “This car deliberately challenges the traditional concepts of Morgan design.”
Without a V-twin out front, the Super 3’s face is defined by bug-eyed headlights, pushrod suspension and a mesh grille that clearly reveals the engine within. Fulford points out how the cowl is level with the centre-line of the wheels, like a classic Bugatti. “It means the wheels are always leading.”
Upright sideblades are another striking design feature – and provide a mounting point for luggage panniers if needed. They can be painted in contrasting colours, too.
The aero screens, optionally tinted in yellow, offer some protection, although I’m told most 3-Wheeler drivers wear helmets. You can fit a (detachable) full-width windscreen for longer road-trips.
Morgan goes monocoque
The Super 3 uses the first monocoque chassis in Morgan’s history. This ‘Superformed’ platform offers benefits in terms of rigidity, weight and packaging (yep, there’s even a small boot under the rear clamshell).
Fulford says the distinctive 21-inch alloy wheels are “somewhere between an 1980s rally car and a salt-flat racer”. They’re shod with retro-look Avon Speedmaster tyres that are unique to the Super 3.
You’ll also spot the front mudguards, which extend down to almost ground level. This is so, unlike in the 3-Wheeler, you don’t get a face-full of rainwater whenever you turn a corner…
Ready for British weather
The Super 3’s cabin is rated at an ingress protection level of IP64. In English, this means it “can be hosed down inside”, with even the USB sockets protected against water damage. Recognising that many 3-Wheeler owners stand on the seat base to clamber aboard, the seats and armrests are also trimmed in “military-grade technical fabric” or hard-wearing leather. A storm cover that uses bungee cords to stretch over the whole car is supplied, with a fitted tonneau on the options list
This is the first Morgan with a cupholder, but it’s not all about mod-cons. “We wanted to design in quirks and things you have to learn. Those eccentricities are what make you fall in love with a car,” says Fulford. “The dashboard is a weird balance of different eras. The digital gauges have aluminium surrounds that look like they come from an old aircraft. And the joystick switches underneath are like something from a retro arcade game.”
The Super 3’s seats are fixed, but the pedal box slides and the steering wheel adjusts for tilt and reach. “My knees were around my ears in the old 3-Wheeler,” jokes the 6ft 4in designer. “This is so much more comfortable.”
Tailored and swift
Morgan describes the Super 3 as its ‘most configurable car ever’, with an ‘almost endless combination of options and accessories’. Buyers are encouraged to visit the factory in Malvern, Worcestershire, to see their car being built.
One of the most interesting extras is the minimalist Beeline sat-nav, which clips on above the steering wheel and pairs to your smartphone. You can also specify a Quad Lock phone mount, heated seats, under-seat storage boxes and a luggage rack. Morgan has worked with Malle London on a range of bespoke bags and cases.
And if the Super 3 isn’t head-turning enough, there’s a range of graphics packages inspired by motorsport, aviation and more.
A Morgan adventure
Morgan built around 800 cars in 2021 and will be “pushing towards 1,000 cars a year” once the Super 3 enters production. We’re also told the Super name could be applied to other cars as a new pillar in the Morgan range, alongside the existing Plus models.
Fulford says the company was constantly surprised by how far customers drove their 3-Wheelers: “People have crossed America, one guy drove around India, and several others did a tour of New Zealand.” The Super 3, he hopes, is ready for similar adventures. “Morgans aren’t garage queens, they’re designed to be used.”
We don’t anticipate crossing the USA, but we hope to drive the Super 3 later this spring. The configurator is now live and the car is available to order, priced from £41,995.
