The BMW M135i xDrive hot hatchback has received an array of improvements for the 2022 model-year.
Having been on sale since May 2019, BMW has opted to give the range-topping 1 Series a mid-life refresh.
The current M135i is accused by some of being a little uninspiring, so BMW hopes its changes will offer more driver engagement.
Geometry in action
The biggest difference for the M135i comes via detailed tweaks to the suspension setup. Camber values for the front wheels have been increased, with a new hydromount used for the front wishbones.
New mounts for the rear suspension are also fitted, while the choice of spring and damper rates is modified.
BMW says these improvements bring greater steering feel and a more involving drive.
For those after more excitement, the bold Sao Paulo Yellow paint colour from the BMW M4 Competition becomes an option. It is joined by new Frozen Orange metallic and Frozen Pure Grey.
No extra power-ups
Unusually for an updated hot hatch, BMW has left the M135i xDrive’s powertrain alone.
This means the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine continues to offer 306hp, sending power to all four wheels. BMW has left the eight-speed automatic transmission unaltered, too.
However, the twin-tailpipe exhaust system is tuned for less back pressure. Making a modern turbocharged four-cylinder engine sound exciting is a tough task, but the new setup is claimed to provide a ‘characterful acoustic accompaniment’.
Prices for the revised M135i xDrive have yet to be confirmed, but cars will arrive in the UK next year.
The government has underlined its ambition to make motoring electric and end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 with a Net Zero Strategy plan.
This will include a ‘zero emission vehicle mandate’ that will reinforce the commitment to only selling new electrified cars from 2030.
The car industry has welcomed the announcement – which includes almost £1 billion in fresh funding to help motorists and car manufacturers go electric.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes said the extra funds for electric vehicles “will help ensure affordability”.
The government is investing £620m in grants for electric cars and on-street charging points.
However, Mr Hawes warned charging point funds must be bound to regulations, in order to unlock private sector investment and boost consumer confidence in chargers on residential streets.
AA president Edmund King said the EV charge point funding is a welcome step “targeted at the eight million households without dedicated off-street parking”.
The government has also announced an extra £350 million to help the automotive supply chain make the move to electric.
“By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles,” said prime minister Boris Johnson, “whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.
“With the major climate summit COP26 just around the corner, our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero.”
Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate
The Net Zero Strategy’s “ambitious zero emission vehicle mandate [will] show that we’re leading the world on the switch to EVs,” said transport secretary, Grant Shapps.
It is the first commitment of its type in Europe, and will include a requirement for car firms to sell a proportion of green cars each year.
Similar schemes have operated in North America where, said Chargepoint director of policy Tanya Sinclair, “they have significantly built up availability and consider confidence of electric vehicles”.
It will also boost confidence of those investing in the UK’s EV charging sector.
Vauxhall MD Paul Willcox has also welcomed the mandate, saying it will “provide clarity to the UK motor industry and the rest of the electric vehicle ecosystem”.
The SMMT’s Mike Hawes said the automotive industry “is putting zero-emission vehicles on Britain’s roads at a pace beyond all forecasts, such is the choice and appeal of those new models.
“A well-designed, regulatory framework could help maintain or even increase this pace to ensure we deliver on our shared decarbonisation ambitions.”
However, the AA’s Edmund Kind said it is “probably unnecessary.
“Manufacturers are already taking big steps in order to meet the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans, but bringing in this ‘red tape’ exercise could harm car production plans already in place.”
Six cars will compete for the prize of AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe 2022.
The Dacia Spring, Hyundai Bayon, Renault Arkana, Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris Cross and Vauxhall Mokka-e will undergo final tests by 32 European jurors in the coming weeks – including your UK writer.
Two of the six – the Dacia Spring and Vauxhall Mokka-e – are pure electric cars, while the Renault Arkana and Toyota Yaris Cross are only available as hybrids.
“We will continue in our endeavour to offer to millions of car consumers the best assessment about the Best Buy Car in Europe,” said AUTOBEST founder and chairman Dan Vardie. “But also about the best people, companies and technologies we have in the industry today.”
Europe’s largest
The jury members hail from 32 different countries. This makes AUTOBEST the largest independent motoring jury in the world, according to the number of nations represented.
The awards follow a ‘one country, one juror’ policy.
Alongside the AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe award, eight other prizes are voted on: Manbest, Companybest, Ecobest, Designbest, Technobest, Safetybest, Smartbest and Sportbest.
Recently, car design legend Frank Stephenson has agreed to lead a new initiative, the AUTOBEST Think Tank.
“Through this, we will more deeply explore the future of mobility, giving to all the people better visibility and understanding of what is going to happen in the coming years,” said Mr Vardie.
The Volvo now moves onto the semi-final round of the competition, with the chance to be immortalised as a scale miniature.
Devilish performance
The highly-modified Volvo P1800 Gasser is owned by Somerset-based Lee Johnstone. Under the JD Racing name, it is raced by Lee and his three daughters: Ellie, Tori and Sarah. Lee’s wife, Sue, is also a supportive member of the team.
Called ‘Ain’t No Saint’, its nickname is a nod to the P1800 driven by Roger Moore in The Saint TV series. Moore’s Simon Templar character, however, made do with rather less than the 600hp supercharged 454 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 that powers the Volvo dragster.
Johnstone purchased the Volvo as a bare shell, then worked to turn it into the Gasser. It is now capable of running a quarter-mile in 10.01 seconds, hitting a top speed of 133mph.
On learning of the Volvo’s win, Johnstone said: “As a team, we were ecstatic to hear our car was chosen. We never thought it would be named against some of the other entries”.
He added: “Everyone always says it looks just like a Hot Wheels and maybe it will now become one!”
Super-scale Swede
The Volvo was picked unanimously by the UK judging panel. It was said to meet all the Hot Wheels criteria of ‘performance, authenticity and garage spirit’.
“This is a beautiful example of a gasser – a drag racer with street car form,” said judge Ian Callum. “Often with dragsters, the chassis is so important that the body gets overlooked, but this example is fabulous, with great attention to detail. It’s a super quality, beautifully built car. And it completely hits the Hot Wheels brief.”
‘Ain’t No Saint’ will now move onto the semi-final round of the Legends Tour, set to take place on 4 November. It could then reach the Global Final on 13 November.
Should it win, the car will be recreated as a 1:64-scale die-cast car, and sold around the world.
New research by Skoda has uncovered the scale of damage to alloy wheels across the UK.
A study of 2,000 drivers found more than one-third of motorists could be driving cars with mangled wheels.
Skoda highlights that, along with affecting the looks of the car, damaged wheels can be linked to tracking issues and steering vibrations.
An imperfect circle
Of those surveyed, more than half (56 percent) admitted that their alloy wheel damage had come from a kerb impact. This made it the single largest factor in causing wheel-related issues.
Trends for wider cars, bigger wheels, lower-profile tyres and diamond-cut finishes have only exacerbated the problem.
Based on Skoda’s calculations, there could be more than 13.1 million kerbed alloy wheels in the UK. With an average repair price of £67.50, fixing them all would cost £890 million.
British drivers were at least ready to admit blame. Some 83 percent of those asked said the wheel damage was caused by someone in their household.
Technology to the rescue
Despite parking being a leading cause of wheel damage, a third of those asked claimed to be ‘very confident’ when parking. However, some 45 percent said they prefer to avoid the kerbing risk by opting for bay parking where possible.
Only 18 percent of drivers asked said parallel parking was their preferred choice.
Skoda’s survey coincides with the launch of the new fourth-generation Fabia supermini. Officially on sale from this week, the Fabia can be specified with Park Assist 3.0.
The system can steer the Fabia into a space, automatically braking to avoid hazards, and keeping a safe distance from those nefarious kerbs.
Eco-friendly routing is coming to Google Maps, allowing motorists to prioritise fuel-efficient routes over the most direct or fastest ones.
The eco-friendly route option will automatically be displayed as an alternative to the fastest one, if the default route isn’t also the greenest.
Both fuel savings and the difference in estimated time of arrival (ETA) will be shown, so motorists can make a decision which route to use.
Google’s new fuel-saving mapping tech has been developed using AI and insights from the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Jeff Gonder from the centre for integrated mobility sciences at NREL, said: “Not only does Google Maps’ eco-friendly routing bring NREL’s fuel-efficient technology from the lab to the road, but it has huge potential to significantly lower emissions and save drivers money on gas — something that’s good for both people and the planet.”
The company has calculated it has the potential to cut CO2 emissions by more than one million tonnes per year – the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road.
It is launching now in the US on Android and iOS. Europe and the UK will follow in 2022.
And for those who want to ignore the new eco-friendly routing and always see the fastest route, Google will include an override in the map’s settings.
The seven-seat Land Rover Discovery range has gained a new, fully-loaded special edition.
Badged as the Metropolitan Edition, Land Rover promises a ‘suite of technologies to enhance the comfort and convenience’ of the Discovery SUV.
It’s the new range-topper in the Discovery line-up, and boasts generous equipment inside and out.
Ready for the metropolis
Land Rover has based the Discovery Metropolitan Edition on the existing R-Dynamic HSE trim level.
A Bright Atlas finish is used for the front grille and ‘Discovery’ badge lettering, with Hakuba Silver detailing on the lower bumper. Metropolitan Editions also gain a set of 22-inch Diamond Turned alloy wheels, featuring Gloss Grey inserts.
Black Land Rover-branded brake calipers, privacy glass and a sliding panoramic sunroof are included, too.
VIP Disco experience
On the inside, all Metropolitan Editions have interior trim finished in titanium mesh. Standard equipment includes a head-up display, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and four-zone climate control.
Buyers can choose from petrol or diesel engines. Both the D300 Ingenium diesel and P360 Ingenium petrol come with 48-volt mild hybrid technology.
The Metropolitan Edition’s £73,250 price tag cements its place at the top of the Discovery range. Orders for the most-expensive Discovery can be placed now.
The Commercial, capable of carrying 2,024 litres of cargo, can now be ordered in R-Dynamic specification. This includes gloss black detailing for the front grille, smoked rear lights and standard 20-inch alloy wheels.
Internally, R-Dynamic trim means seats finished in Ebony with contrasting trim, a black headlining and bright metal paddles for the auto transmission.
The mid-life refresh is aimed at keeping the family favourite on trend, with electrified drivetrains and bold infotainment upgrades inside.
Different trim levels will gain more distinctive styling, making use of Ford’s “human-centric” design philosophy.
An updated Focus ST model benefits from bespoke changes, including a new Mean Green paint option.
Design details with a human focus
Changes to the outside of the new Focus are relatively restrained. A new bonnet increases the overall height of the nose, and sees the Blue Oval Ford badge added to the grille itself.
LED headlights are now standard across all models, with fog lights integrated into their design. Darkened tail lights are intended to add a premium look, with updated LED units for high-spec models.
Connected series and Titanium models use a wide front grille with a chrome surround, with the sporty ST-Line getting a bespoke honeycomb item. Side skirts, a rear diffuser and a rear spoiler are all included on the ST-Line, too.
Ford will now offer the premium Vignale package for Titanium, ST-Line and Active models. Along with a luxurious interior, these cars will benefit from satin grilles and unique alloy wheels.
Vignale is no longer a standalone model.
Mild hybrid technology expands
Focus buyers will now be able to combine Ford’s seven-speed Powershift automatic transmission with its range of EcoBoost Hybrid petrol engines. A six-speed manual can be chosen for those who still want to shift their own gears.
Matching a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol with 48-volt mild hybrid technology, the EcoBoost Hybrid engines can achieve up to 51.4mpg. An integrated starter/generator can recharge a lithium-ion battery from braking, and deploy power to help in-gear acceleration.
A non-hybrid EcoBoost petrol engine, producing 125hp, remains available.
Diesel drivers have not been forgotten entirely. The 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel remains, offered with 120hp. It can be combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and returns up to 56.5mpg.
Multiple drive modes, including a Slippery option for the Active model, are all included.
Bigger screens, fewer buttons
Making a major change inside the new Focus is Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system. Originally seen in the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, SYNC 4 uses machine learning to note individual driver preferences.
Key to SYNC 4 is a class-leading 13.2-inch central touchscreen. It uses graphics that look far more modern compared to the existing SYNC 3 display, and works wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Controversially, Ford has followed the route of other manufacturers by ditching physical buttons where possible.
Heating and ventilation settings for the new Focus will now be operated through the central touchscreen.
Connected services and more safety
Online services will be a central part of SYNC 4, with FordPass app users able to access an array of digital services. Ford Power-Up wireless software updates will allow changes and upgrades to be made to the Focus remotely.
The FordPass app will allow drivers to check fuel levels, start their Focus remotely, and get security notifications. Connected Navigation, using live data from TomTom, can predict traffic information and warn of severe weather events.
Blind Spot Assist becomes available on the Focus for the first time. Unlike a simple warning, it can take action to guide the car away from potential danger.
A Rear Occupant Alert should stop drivers from unintentionally leaving pets and children in their Focus. If the rear doors are used at the start of a journey, a reminder will be given to check them at the end.
Practical upgrades for the Focus wagon
Extensive customer feedback has resulted in helpful changes to the boot of the new Focus estate model. Research found that 98 percent of estate owners were not aware of the features found in the rear of the previous version.
It means Ford has added a simple quick guide to all the new functions found in the boot.
The adjustable load floor is now centrally hinged, letting it divide the boot in two. A water-resistant wet zone is now included, with a removable liner aimed at storing wetsuits or wellies.
Meaner and greener: New Focus ST
A new Focus ST performance hatchback and estate are also part of the revised lineup.
Bespoke exterior details include a honeycomb front grille, extra aerodynamic features, and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. An attention-grabbing Mean Green paint option delivers an extra dose of aggression.
A 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivers 280hp, and comes with an electronic limited-slip differential. A six-speed manual gearbox, including rev-matching technology, is standard. Buyers can opt for a seven-speed paddle shift automatic, too.
New front seats, developed by Ford’s own Performance engineers, are said to provide support and even promote spinal health.
The Porsche development centre at Weissach has celebrated its 50th anniversary. Home to 6,500 designers, engineers and test drivers, the world famous ‘think tank’ is where every Porsche journeys from initial design sketch to road-going or racing reality.
The Weissach story actually starts in 1960, when Ferry Porsche, son of company founder Ferdinand, agreed a deal with the local Black Forest mayor to build a test track on open fields.
This 200-metre circular skid pad is where the first Porsche 911s were put through their paces – and was quickly followed by rough-road tracks for testing suspension, then a high-speed Can-Am circuit in 1971.
Introduction to forced induction
That same year, the Entwicklungszentrum Weissach officially opened its doors. One of its earliest projects was the original 911 (930) Turbo, which adopted turbocharging technology from motorsport to boost Porsche’s flat-six to 260hp.
A rival for the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari 512 BB, it was arguably Germany’s first supercar.
At the same time, Porsche engineers were inventing a new type of axle – named after its birthplace. The Weissach axle debuted on the 928 in 1977, and used rubber bushes to make the rear wheels point inwards when cornering. This made the V8-engined coupe impressively stable and easy to drive – quite the opposite of a 930 Turbo, in fact.
Moulded by motorsport
Weissach expanded in the 1980s, leading development for the space-age Porsche 959 and gaining a wind tunnel and crash-test facility.
Since then, additions have included a temperature chamber that simulates from -40 to +90 deg C, an acoustic tunnel with 600 microphones, and a pit-stop practice area for motorsport teams.
In recent times, the development centre has become its own sub-brand. Weissach Package editions of the Porsche 918 Spyder and previous 911 GT3 RS offered less weight and aggressive aero for ultimate track performance.
Expect to see the Weissach name writ large again when the new 911 GT3 RS debuts in 2022.
A Toyota Mirai has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered by a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.
On a single tank of hydrogen, the Mirai managed an impressive 845 miles during a two-day Californian road trip.
Battling traffic, and the height of the summertime heat, makes the Mirai’s achievement even more impressive.
California cruising
Toyota did benefit from a pair of drivers with experience of Guinness World Records and ‘hypermiling’ (driving as efficiently as possible).
Wayne Gerdes has previously set records for the lowest fuel consumption driving to the 48 contiguous US states. He also achieved the lowest fuel use driving across America from coast to coast.
Gerdes was supported by his co-driver, Bob Winger, with the duo setting out on 23 August 2021.
Leaving Toyota’s technical centre in Gardena, California, Gerdes and Winger headed through Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Malibu. Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, they managed 473 miles on the first day.
Highway hypermiler
The second included loops of the highway system, hitting the fearsome rush-hour traffic around San Diego. With another 372 miles achieved, the Mirai returned to the Toyota Technical Center empty of hydrogen.
A total of 5.65kg of fuel was consumed during the journey, with the only emissions being water vapour. In comparison, an average internal combustion engine would have emitted 301kg of CO2.
Witnessing the journey was Guinness World Record adjudicator, Michael Empiric. After the run he commented: “I’ve had the opportunity to witness incredible attempts, including several distance-related feats.
“The Toyota Mirai’s journey without the need to refuel showcases the power of fuel-cell electric technology. This technology and the design ingenuity by the team at Toyota led to a history-making moment.”
