Honda has revealed first official images of its production-ready Honda e electric car, and confirmed the model will have a 136-mile EV range from a single charge.
This figure is from Honda’s own testing ahead of launch, but is likely to be broadly similar to the final WLTP figures required by EU legislation.
The innovative Honda e is being offered with two different power outputs: an entry-level 100kW (136hp) version or a punchier 113kW (154hp) variant.
Just the single 35.5kWh battery is available: a built-in fast-charging system means it will top up to 80 percent charge from flat in half an hour.
Honda doesn’t yet have final performance figures, but estimates a 0-62mph time of around 8.0 seconds.
The electric driving range has been one of the most debated aspects of the new Honda e. Similarly-priced rivals generally have larger batteries giving bigger driving ranges – but Honda insists the 136-mile range is right, because the Honda e is a compact urban EV.
Honda is also building in plenty of tech – such as the ability to lock and unlock using a smartphone app: a ‘digital’ key rather than a physical one.
There’s an onboard Honda Personal Assistant too. Say ‘OK Honda’ and the AI bot will follow your commands. And when you’re away from the Honda e, you can monitor it using the My Honda+ smartphone app.
The new Honda e will make its official world debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Motoring Research will be there: keep coming back for more news from the show.
Another seven cars have scored full five-star ratings in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash safety results. The headline performers are the Mercedes-Benz EQC electric car and CLA coupe, while SsangYong also achieved a brand first.
All seven cars were fitted with a high level of standard safety equipment, including automomous emergency braking (AEB). This meant they could be awarded five-star safety scored with no provisos.
New Range Rover Evoque puts in strong Euro NCAP performance
Sometimes, car makers restrict five-star safety features to more expensive models, but no model in the summer 2019 tests is affected here.
The full list of five-star cars shows a broad range of new-for-2019 models:
Audi A1
BMW Z4
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Skoda Kamiq
SsangYong Korando
“It’s notable that five-star ratings have been awarded to such an eclectic group,” said Euro NCAP board member Matthew Avery, “proving that good safety performance can be realised whatever the category or sticker price.”
Euro NCAP also retested the latest Ford Focus. The previous test highlighted an issue with front seat whiplash protection. Ford has modified the seat design and head restraints, and Euro NCAP now says the Focus “demonstrates good whiplash protection in rear-end collisions.
“The outcome… reaffirms that the Focus is an all-round family car with great safety credentials.”
Other standout cars included the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which scored more than 90 percent across all four Euro NCAP tests, while the SsangYong Korando becomes the firm’s first five-star Euro NCAP car.
The BMW Z4 two-seat roadster scored an exceptional 97 percent for adult occupant protection.
Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: “From these results, achieving five stars may look easy, but to meet test and fitment requirements for technology are very demanding an always updated to incorporate the latest technology development and address priorities in road safety.”
Next year, the Euro NCAP tests will get even tougher, he added, with “another step-change in our rating requirements”.
The Nissan Juke singlehandedly invented the marketplace for small crossover SUVs when it was introduced in 2010. Now, almost a decade on, Nissan has released an all-new second generation version.
With challengers from every major rival, Nissan knows it won’t have things quite so easy this time round. So the new Juke is packed full of technology to give it the best possible chance of success.
Built in Sunderland, the new Juke is on sale now from £17,395. Deliveries begin from the end of November 2019.
All-new landmark
Visually, it’s derived from the original landmark model. But it has grown up, gaining in length width and height. Now over 4.2 metres long, the benefits are found inside, with a vast 5.8cm more rear kneeroom, and 1.1cm more headroom.
The boot, a glaring weakness of the original, is 20 percent larger, with a total capacity of 422 litres. That’s bigger than a Volkswagen Golf.
The curves of the original Juke have been given an edge, and it now appears a sharper, less cutesy design. It has a more planted stance and much more aggressive front end.
Ultra-slim headlights are distinctive and the high-mounted driving lamps of the first Juke have been turned into LED running lights seemingly modelled on a fidget spinner. Every model, even the base car, gets full LED lights as standard.
Much-improved interior
Inside, the plasticky dashboard has become more premium-looking, with a high-mounted touchscreen and greater use of soft-touch trims. The motorcycle-style centre console has been toned down, but we can’t imagine Juke owners minding too much now the novelty has worn off.
The extra space, comfort, technology and refinement will all be a pronounced step on over the nine-year-old current model.
That all-new NissanConnect 8.0-inch touchscreen has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, TomTom Maps and onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. This is fitted to every model above the base Visia.
There’s a remote app so owners can check how much fuel is in their tank from their smartphone, and whether their new Juke is locked or not.
It’s even compatible with Google Assistant. Nissan says owners can talk to their smart device and control lights and central locking, and send navigation destinations via voice control.
Tech fans will also like the Bose Personal Plus optional sound system. This has eight speakers – including two ‘UltraNearfield’ units built into the front head restraints, for “immersive music in ultra-clear definition’.
All-new underneath
The new Juke is built on an all-new platform that’s stiffer and safer than before. Despite being much larger, it’s actually 23kg lighter. At launch, just a single 1.0-litre three-cylinder DiG-T turbo petrol engine will be offered. This produces 117hp and is paired with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT automatic.
0-62mph takes 10.4 seconds and it will do 112mph flat-out. Nissan doesn’t yet know how economical it is, nor what the final homologated CO2 figures will be.
16-inch steel wheels will be fitted to the base Visia model; Acenta and N-Connecta will get 17-inch alloys, with Tekna and Tekna+ featuring 19-inch alloys – among the largest in the small SUV sector.
Nissan ProPilot tech (and the ‘blue button’ on the steering wheel) offers auto-assist steering, acceleration and braking, to make driving less stressful in single-lane highway driving.
This will be the first small SUV to offer blind spot intervention: if the driver attempts to change lane with a car in their blind spot, the new Juke will steer away from danger.
Nissan has sold almost one million Jukes since its introduction in 2010. “The new design and exciting driving experience will appeal to the growing number of customers opting for compact crossovers,” said Nissan Europe product planning boss Ponz Pandikuthira.
“The Juke has grown up, while still retaining the fun-to-drive qualities that have always made it stand out.”
2020 Nissan Juke prices
DiG-T 117 petrol engine
Visia: £17,395
Acenta: £18,995
N-Connecta: £20,995
Tekna: £22,495
Tekna+: £23,895
Premiere Edition: £23,995
(DCT auto: + £1,400 on all grades apart from Visia)
Jim Clark had farming, Niki Lauda had his airline and Lewis Hamilton already has interests in the fashion industry. Now the British champion has invested in a meat-free burger chain.
The business is called Neat Burger, and will use plant-based substitutes for meat. His co-investors are Ryan Bishti, a nightclub mogul, and Tommaso Chiabra, a backer of the US vegan burger maker, Beyond Meat.
Its first outlet opened near Regent Street in London yesterday (Monday, 2 September). Sites in Covent Garden and Kings Cross will follow, along with a US and European launch. A total of £15 million ($18 million) is being raised to fund the expansion.
According to Bishti, Lewis has taken a sizeable stake in the endeavour. As the UK’s richest sportsperson, he can afford to branch out. Meat-free eating is close to Hamilton’s heart, too. He’s a noted public proponent of vegetarianism and veganism.
Beyond Meat has been working with the new chain to develop a plant-based imitation of meat, down to the infusing of beetroot juice so the patty can ‘bleed’. Beyond Meat’s other partners in meat-free food development include Honest Burgers and KFC on the development of a chicken substitute.
“We are not aiming for vegans or a plant-based niche, we are aiming to convert meat-eaters,” Bishti said.
“We are part of a movement happening when you look at the world today in the Amazon with deforestation for crops and agri-farming. This is a perfect way to make a change.”
Meat-free foods are a solid area of investment for Hamilton. This year alone the beef industry has been taking a lot of criticism for its contribution to climate change.
The Vegan Society claims the number of vegans in the UK has shot up from 150,000 to over 600,000 during the last five years.
The Corvette Museum in Kentucky has taken delivery of a new C8 Stingray. The car is a prototype used for powertrain development and will remain on display for the foreseeable future.
It was built in 2018 and used primarily at the Milford Proving Ground in Michigan to record data from the 6.2-litre LT2 V8 engine. To that end, it was kitted out with a variety of sensors to measure efficiency, emissions and performance.
While testing, it wore a good deal of camouflage, which has been stripped off for this display. What lies beneath is a patchwork Corvette, with a white bumper, white sills, black wheels, blackened ‘dummy’ lights and black bodywork.
Joining it will be a 40 percent-scale clay model of the new C8 from 2014. This was for aerodynamic testing, with ink drops used to demonstrate air flow.
The C8 is the most hotly-anticipated Corvette in the model’s near-70-year history. Neither development models will be far from base camp, given the National Corvette Museum is minutes from the Bowling Green production facility.
The mid-engined Corvette has, of course, been a long time coming. Corvette design and race legend Zora Arkus-Duntov campaigned for the engine to move amidships as early as the late 1950s.
American Audi fans have long been denied access to the hottest RS-branded station wagons.
That will change with the new 2020 RS6 Avant but, for those who just cannot wait, Bring a Trailer has a solution.
Up for auction right now is this rare 1994 Audi RS2 Avant, taking advantage of its 25-year-old age to become eligible for import into the USA.
Vorsprung Durch Technik
The limited-edition five-door RS2 Avant was developed in partnership with Porsche, using the Audi 80 sedan as a base.
Production was undertaken between March 1994 and May 1995, with around 2,900 examples leaving the factory. The majority remained in Europe, with a handful of cars escaping overseas. None came officially to the United States.
This particular car was sold new to an Italian buyer, before spending time in Belgium. It made the trip to the U.S. in May 2019, and is currently residing with the seller in Englewood, Colorado.
The joint venture with Porsche resulted in substantial changes to the regular Audi 80 Avant. Styling changes included a front bumper inspired by a Porsche 911, whilst between the rear lights is a strip intended to replicate the rump of a Carrera 4.
Porsche’s 911 sports car also supplied the side mirrors for the RS2 Avant, along with the 17-inch ‘Cup’ alloy wheels, and the upgraded Brembo brakes which hide behind them.
Discreet badges inscribed with ‘RS2 Porsche’ are the other subtle hints that this is not your average Audi station wagon.
The practical Porsche in disguise
Porsche was also involved in upgrading the 2.2-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine found beneath the hood of the RS2. In came a larger KKK turbocharger, combined with strengthened internals for the motor.
Peak output was boosted to 315 horsepower, matched with 302-lb ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission fed this power to all four wheels, using Audi’s iconic Quattro drivetrain.
Performance was suitably startling. 0-30mph was clocked at a record-breaking 1.5 seconds, with 0-62mph taking 4.8 seconds. Top speed was 163mph, making this a seriously quick wagon for the early 1990s.
Interior changes included a pair of Recaro bucket seats in the front, with the ones in this particular car finished in a leather and Alcantara combination.
A three-spoke steering wheel was also added, along with a white-faced speedometer reading all the way to 180 mph.
This car features wood trim in place of the optional carbon fiber finish. The black headliner has been replaced, whilst a new Blaupunkt stereo head unit has also been fitted.
Living the American Dream
Following importation in May 2019, the dealership selling the RS2 has had small dents repaired ahead of sale. Work was undertaken on the air-conditioning system in August 2019 to fix a leaking line.
Servicing records from Europe are provided. These are said to show the belts and water pump being replaced in November 2018, along with engine oil, coolant, and other fluids being changed.
Importantly, the RS2 is registered on a clean Colorado title, along with plenty of documentation from its life in Europe. The odometer currently displays a recorded 89,000 kilometers – equivalent to 55,000 miles.
As the first RS-badged car, the RS2 Avant has established a cult following in both Europe and further afield. The relative rarity, and the incredible performance on offer, makes them a prized purchase.
With news of Audi bringing the 2020 RS6 Avant to the USA, interest in classic examples like this RS2 is only likely to increase.
Bidding on Bring a Trailer is open until Wednesday September 4th, with the car already attracting substantial interest from the hundreds of comments on the website.
Eurotunnel is reassuring travellers that Brexit will not prevent them driving to France – at least in the short term. The message is that whatever happens, the tunnel will stay open.
On its ‘Brexit Promise’ page, it says ‘even in the case of a “no-deal” Brexit, the EU and UK have confirmed we’d continue to have visa-free travel this year and next.
‘Our Brexit promise gives you complete peace of mind, so you can make those holiday dreams reality, and secure the best fares today.’
As October 31 looms. prime minister Boris Johnson insists the UK will depart the EU on this date.
Even your four-legged friends will be safe from the Brexit fallout. They’ll be allowed to accompany you on your travels as before.
Eurotunnel does warn of potential increased traffic outside the docks, though:
‘Eurotunnel cannot control traffic flow outside of its terminals. However, we will continue to work with local authorities to ensure our customers are kept up to date.
‘In the unfortunate event of a build-up of traffic on the motorway which results in customers arriving late, we will as always endeavour to accommodate them on the next available shuttle.’
Booking benefits also remain. These include free amendments up to 24 hours before your departure time, plus free cancellation up to seven days before you go.
‘Our shuttles will be running as usual throughout the year, whatever form Brexit takes,’ the site reads, in bold lettering.
Security around the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show will be increased after protests involving damage to luxury cars.
A group calling itself ‘Rocks in the Gearbox’ is currently being investigated by police in relation to the vandalism. Forty upmarket cars at a dealership in Frankfurt were targeted, including Aston Martins, Land Rovers and Jaguars.
Damage was caused to bodywork and windows were smashed, which the group took responsibility for.
A statement from Rocks in the Gearbox seemingly threatens the Frankfurt Motor Show itself:
“In two weeks Frankfurt will once again launch a propaganda show where the outmoded, climate and environment destroying transportation system is hyped.
“We want to expose this show for what it really is: profits made on the backs of the poorest and at the expense of future generations … We think it is time to throw rocks into the gearbox of capitalist and automotive profit logic.”
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It isn’t just environmental matters that the protests relate to, but working conditions in areas such as precious metal mining for batteries.
The VDA, Germany’s auto industry association, has attempted to calm the situation. Environmental activists from Deutsche Umwelthilfe and Greenpeace will be invited to a panel debate with executives from major German marques such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. They’ll be talking about the environmental crisis and the future of the car.
Visitors to Frankfurt are being warned to expect delays and queues when trying to enter the event, given the heightened security measures.
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With the Frankfurt Motor Show just days away, we’ve taken a look at the most important new cars set to cause a stir in Germany. Among the wealth of reveals and debuts, these are the cars that matter.
Electric power takes a starring role in many of the expected new machines, while the rise of the SUV certainly isn’t over yet. Here’s what’s in store…
Porsche Taycan
The first all-electric Porsche has undergone extensive testing. Recently, it covered 2,100 miles in 24 hours at the Nardo high-speed track. The four-door prototype has also set a lap record around the fearsome Nurburgring circuit.
The launch of the Taycan, which is capable of covering 300 miles on a single charge, will take place a few days before Frankfurt on 4 September. However, with more than 20,000 customers already expressing an interest, it will be a major attraction at the show.
Volkswagen ID 3
Electric vehicles will play a large role at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show more generally. Volkswagen’s ID 3 is the first car to be launched on its bespoke electric ‘MEB’ platform. The brand hopes it will follow the Beetle and Golf in capturing mainstream sales.
Similar to Tesla, a range of battery sizes will be offered, allowing customers to tailor the ID 3 to their needs. Initial pre-order interest in the ID 3 actually broke Volkswagen’s website, with unprecedented demand for the £34,000 1st Edition model.
Land Rover Defender
Ignore the leaked images, Lego models and disguised prototypes testing in the desert. On Tuesday 10 September 2019 we will finally see the finished article. Providing the show floor doesn’t collapse under the weight of expectation, that is.
Land Rover knows it has to win over the purists, and prove the new Defender can live up to the legendary original. To that end, one is being driven from the Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan all the way to Frankfurt.
Audi A3
The original Audi A3, launched in 1996, was one of the first premium hatchbacks. Fast-forward 23 years, and Ingolstadt is adding the finishing touches to its fourth-generation car.
Expect styling changes to be evolutionary, with elements borrowed from the smaller A1. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit system, as seen in the latest Q3 SUV, will also make an appearance. Engine choices will include mild-hybrid technology, whilst a full plug-in hybrid follows later.
Cupra EV concept
Another Volkswagen Group brand means another all-electric new car. Seat’s sporty offshoot Cupra is promising a battery-powered concept with ‘confident exterior design’ and a ‘sculpted yet versatile interior’.
So far, Cupra has only teased us with this exterior image, showing a four-door crossover. Although this is Cupra’s first all-electric road car, it previously produced a battery-powered e-Racer touring car with 500kW of power.
Mercedes-Benz ESF 2019 Concept
Based on the current GLE SUV plug-in hybrid, what will impress about the ESF 2019 concept is an incredible array of experimental safety technology. Level 4 autonomy capabilities are also included, allowing the car to take charge of driving.
Most noticeable are the lights and exterior displays, used to indicate what the car is doing when acting autonomously. This includes a front LED screen that shows pedestrians if the car is slowing down at a crossing. Inside, there’s a range of safety features, including a special carbon fibre baby seat.
Lamborghini hybrid hypercar
Only a cryptic social media message has hinted at the future for Lamborghini. Other than the words ‘something new is on the way’, the Italian company is keeping quiet about what it plans for Frankfurt.
However, all rumours point towards a hybrid version of the Aventador supercar. Not even the iconic V12-powered machine can escape the move to hybridisation, it seems. If it’s anything like the Terzo Millennio concept shown in 2018, though, fans should be excited about this secret project.
Honda E
Two years after the Urban EV Concept wowed crowds in Frankfurt, the finished production Honda E makes its debut. Journalists have already tried the prototype version, with our Richard Aucock suitably impressed by the battery-powered supermini.
In fact, the only remaining changes to the prototype are said to be interior trim tweaks and a working infotainment system. We’ll also get details of the battery range, which Honda has previously stated will be more than 125 miles.
Vauxhall Corsa-e Rally
Vauxhall has already released details of the battery-powered version of the new Corsa supermini. However, the company also wants to prove that electric propulsion can be exciting. On show in Frankfurt will be the first all-electric rally car offered for customer motorsport.
The 130hp Corsa-e Rally will compete in its own ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup in Germany. Priced at around €50,000 (£46,000), normal commuters might prefer the regular road-going Corsa-e, which costs a more palatable £26,490.
New 2020 Audi RS6 Avant
Does anyone need an estate car with 600hp and 800lb ft of torque, capable of 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds? Possibly not, but Audi’s latest addition to its hot wagon line-up is something to be celebrated. Dramatic bodywork, 21-inch wheels and giant oval tailpipes will give it serious Autobahn presence.
The 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 has mild-hybrid technology, allowing the RS6 to coast for up to 40 seconds with the engine turned off. There is an impressive 1,680 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded down, too.
BMW 3 Series Touring
Slightly less dramatic than the Audi, the new 3 Series Touring continues the tradition of BMW’s compact estate series. While many of the details were revealed earlier this year, Frankfurt will mark the first major show debut for 3 Series wagon.
More than 1.7 million examples of the 3 Series Touring have been produced since 1987, and the new model is likely to be very popular. Its redesigned boot is bigger than its predecessor, and the new Touring benefits from the range of technology upgrades seen on the saloon.
Alpina will also reveal a tuned version of the new 3 Series Touring, with the potential for 400hp.
BMW X6
If you were concerned that the existing BMW X6 coupe SUV doesn’t look aggressive enough, worry not. Set to debut in Frankfurt, the third-generation X6 is larger in every direction, including the size of its front grille.
It even comes with an option to have its kidney grille illuminated: helpful to warn-off smaller cars on the road. BMW will also display its incredible ‘Vantablack’ version of the X6, described as the ‘blackest black’ ever made. Its space-age nanotechnology absorbs almost all external light, making objects appear two-dimensional.
Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet
With the demise of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, the new Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is your default choice if you desire a drop-top SUV. Apparently, this is the first cabriolet offered in the crossover class.
The automatic roof can be retracted in just nine seconds, and operates at speeds of up to 19mph. A reinforced windscreen frame and a pop-up rear roll bar ensure the T-Roc cabrio is as rigid as the regular version.
Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic
Like the sound of the new Mercedes-AMG A35 hatchback, but wish it was a compact SUV? Say hello to the new GLB 35 4Matic. GLB production only began in July, but there has been no delay in making a hot version.
Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 302hp. This is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, allowing the GLB 35 to hit 62mph in 5.2 seconds.
Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4Matic Coupe
Hold the phone, there is another new performance Mercedes-AMG SUV making its way to Frankfurt. Alongside the launch of the second-generation GLE Coupe, a hot AMG 53 version will also be on show.
Mercedes promises a greater emphasis on coupe-like styling, along with improved aerodynamics and updated infotainment. The GLE 53 is powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, generating 435hp. Hybrid technology offers an extra 22hp boost when needed.
Hyundai i30N Project C
Hyundai is rightly proud of the success of the i30N hot hatch. Now it has created a limited-edition version, which removes weight to offer more performance. Carbon fibre is used for the body panels, motorsport-derived alloy wheels are added, and the suspension is lowered.
The bad news? Hyundai will not produce any of the 600 units in right-hand drive, denying it to UK buyers. Sorry.
Hyundai ‘45’ EV concept
Along with the i30N Project C, Hyundai will also display a new electric concept at the Frankfurt show. The ‘45’ fully-electric car is said to show the direction for battery-powered Hyundais in the future, and is inspired by the brand’s first car from 1970.
A new electric Hyundai racing car will also be unveiled, although details are limited so far.
Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4
Already available to order for UK buyers, the plug-in hybrid version of the Grandland X SUV makes its public debut at Frankfurt. Priced from £35,590, Vauxhall hopes to lure in a new audience to plug-in hybrid technology.
The combination of two electric motors and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine results in a combined output of 300hp. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just seven seconds, but the Hybrid4 can still achieve a potential 176.5mpg. It can also travel up to 32 miles in all-electric mode.
Seat Tarraco FR PHEV
One of the competitors for the Grandland X Hybrid4 will be the newly announced Seat Tarraco FR PHEV. Combining a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor, Seat aims to offer a sporty driving experience.
Like the Vauxhall, an all-electric range of around 32 miles is available. CO2 emissions are said to be below 50g/km on the WLTP test cycle. FR trim also brings new 19-inch alloy wheels, wider bodywork and sports seats.
Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo
The Kamiq SUV might be one of the newest additions to the Skoda range, but the Czech brand is already offering up sporty trim levels. Monte Carlo branding was seen previously on the Fabia, and pays tribute to the company’s historic success on the Monte Carlo Rally.
Special badges will mark out the Kamiq Monte Carlo, along with black trim for the grille and roof rails. Skoda has also confirmed that the new Scala hatchback will receive the Monte Carlo treatment, with both on show in Frankfurt.
Mercedes-Benz EQV
Touted as the first fully-electric MPV, the production-ready EQV will be on show in Frankfurt. A choice of wheelbases will be offered, and a top speed of up to 100mph is promised.
The headline-grabbing figure is a range of up to 252 miles when fully charged. The 90kWh battery is replenished via an on-board water-cooled charger. Positioned below the floor, the battery pack is also said to have no impact on interior space.
Hyundai i10
Along with electric cars and hot hatches, Hyundai will also use Frankfurt to reveal its latest version of the i10 supermini. This sketch shows a more aggressive and angular design, with a wide front grille and triangular air intakes.
Hyundai also promises the new i10 will offer features such as wireless smartphone charging, a rear-view camera and a range of active safety tech. This will include Driver Attention Warning and Lane Keep Assist as standard.
BMW M8 coupe and convertible
BMW has gone all-out for the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, filling its stand with a wealth of new models. These include the Competition versions of the M8 coupe and convertible. A 625hp output means a 189mph top speed (with the correct options package).
A production version of the four-door M8 Gran Coupe is also expected to take centre stage in Frankfurt.
Renault Captur
Since launch in 2013, Renault has sold 1.2 million examples of the Captur compact SUV. As the most popular car in its class in Europe, Renault has taken its time developing an all-new version.
Styling is evolutionary, but more space can be found inside, along with an optional digital dashboard. Significantly, a plug-in hybrid version will be on sale from 2020.
BMW 1 Series
First revealed in May this year, Frankfurt marks the first proper motor show outing for the third-generation BMW 1 Series. Switching to front-wheel drive may have upset some commentators, but is apparently what customers requested.
The result is greater interior space, with more technology included. Buyers can also specify options such as a head-up display and panoramic sunroof. A 306hp M135i xDrive model acts as the range-topping hot hatch.
Bugatti is officially back as the king of speed. Driving a specially-prepared Chiron, race ace Andy Wallace burst through the 300mph barrier, achieving a top speed of 304.77mph at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test-track.
It beats the official 277mph record that Koenigsegg scored two years ago with the Agera RS.
The 300mph Bugatti
As you can tell by looking at the pictures, this is no ordinary Chiron (if any Chiron could be called ‘ordinary’). It features extensive modifications, both visible and under the skin, to make it a 300mph car.
At such speeds, the air is your enemy. To help defeat it, the Chiron has modified bodywork, including a 250mm longer tail with a reduced cross-section for increased stability.
Stacked quad exhausts protrude from the rear, to keep the hot gasses from interrupting airflow. These were also seen recently on the Bugatti Centodieci ‘EB110 tribute’, revealed at Pebble Beach.
Speaking of interrupting airflow, this is the first Bugatti of the modern era without any sort of spoiler, active or fixed. The Chiron’s hydraulic item has been ditched to save weight. At the front, the horseshoe grille is engorged, along with the flanking vents, to suck in as much air as possible and cool the Chiron’s many radiators.
The front wheelarches evacuate air through new vents in the bodywork. The ones on the top, in particular, are very reminiscent of the EB110 SS.
Those radiators have more work to do than ever. The 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine in this prototype produces 1,600hp. That power goes to all four wheels via the regular Chiron transmission. On the inside, the passenger seat has been removed, although we don’t expect any production version to be a single-seater.
When the Chiron was first revealed, Bugatti seemed nonplussed about speed records. The car could top 260mph, but was electronically limited. It dismissed questions about an attempt, saying tyres were the limiting factor.
Clearly that’s no longer the case. Michelin has been working closely with the marque on the triple-tonne project over the past six months.
As for what this new Chiron actually is, it’s not clear. At the moment, it’s a one-off. Bugatti refers to it as ‘a near-production derivative of the hyper sportscar Chiron’, so we can probably expect a limited run soon, akin to the Veyron Super Sport of 2010.
You can bet Bugatti’s sales team are already fielding phone calls from people whose bank balances have more digits than their phone numbers…
The 
American Audi fans have long been denied access to the hottest RS-branded station wagons. 
The limited-edition five-door RS2 Avant was developed in partnership with Porsche, using the Audi 80 sedan as a base. 
The joint venture with Porsche resulted in substantial changes to the regular Audi 80 Avant. Styling changes included a front bumper inspired by a Porsche 911, whilst between the rear lights is a strip intended to replicate the rump of a Carrera 4.
Porsche was also involved in upgrading the 2.2-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine found beneath the hood of the RS2. In came a larger KKK turbocharger, combined with strengthened internals for the motor. 
Interior changes included a pair of Recaro bucket seats in the front, with the ones in this particular car finished in a leather and Alcantara combination. 
Following importation in May 2019, the dealership selling the RS2 has had small dents repaired ahead of sale. Work was undertaken on the air-conditioning system in August 2019 to fix a leaking line.
As the first RS-badged car, the RS2 Avant has established a cult following in both Europe and further afield. The relative rarity, and the incredible performance on offer, makes them a prized purchase. 
