The Volvo XC40 compact SUV is now a little more affordable with the introduction of a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine. The range now starts from £27,610 for a 1.5 T3 Momentum.

The new engine is Volvo’s first-ever three-cylinder motor, and joins the existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel line-up. The firm’s billing it as the city-friendly option of the range.

Volvo XC40 is 2018 European Car of the Year

Producing 156hp, 0-62mph takes 9.4 seconds. More importantly, the engine averages up to 45.6mpg and emits 144g/km CO2. It can tow 1.6 tonnes, adds Volvo – and although it’s only offered with a six-speed manual from launch, an eight-speed automatic is coming later.

For those who need more power, there’s also now a 190hp 2.0-litre T4, and the range is headed by a 247hp twin-turbo T5. On the diesel side, a 150hp 2.0-litre D3 joins the 190hp D4.

The trim range has been broadened too. Variants run from entry-level Momentum, to R-Design, to range-topping Inscription, and there are optional tech-packed ‘Pro’ upgrades for each variant. It means there are now 38 different variants of Volvo XC40, the reigning European Car of the Year.

Naturally, in the build-up to the September 68-plate registration, Volvo’s put together some XC40 special offers. The lower entry price of the T3 means the XC40 can now be bought from £299 a month on a four-year PCP, at 5.9 percent APR. All you need to find is a £4,885 deposit.

Monterey Car Week approaches, with the famous Pebble Beach concours this weekend. That means a lot of significant new car debuts – some more significant, to both manufacturer and market, than others. Few can top Automobili Pininfarina in such stakes, though. The debut of its self-made car signifies the realisation of an American dream. 

The PF0 electric hypercar is limited to 150 units and capable of more than 250mph. The Pininfarina name is one of the most revered in the industry, with Battista Farina first journeying to the States in the 1920s to court industry titans and shape his ideas. The gifted pens of his Turin styling house, Pininfarina, sketched the lines of some of the most beautiful cars in history – many of which regularly enjoy the limelight at Pebble Beach.

The company’s ultimate goal, however, was always to produce a car under its own name. Automobili Pininfarina and the PF0 are the realisation of Battista Farina’s original ambition.

“Our American dream was established in the 1920s even before the company was formed” said Paolo Pininfarina.

“My grandfather, Battista, visited Ford and at the end of his tour and had lunch with Henry Ford, who asked him to become their chief stylist. But he had other ideas and the rest is automotive history”.

Michael Perschke, CEO Automobili Pininfarina, is excited by the auctions: “Our time at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and in the Monterey auction houses will also be a highlight. We will celebrate Pininfarina’s unique place in automotive history and undoubtedly pick up further inspiration for our future range of cars from these Italian masterpieces”.

What can we expect of the car itself? Everything we know so far is collated here, although we won’t have to wait long to hear and see more. Of the car’s relation to previous Pininfarina pieces, design director Luca Borgogno said “we are defining a car that is not overdesigned; we want something that is super clean and looks impossibly simple. Whenever you look back at classic Pininfarina cars, these qualities stand out”.

Read more: 

• Priceless French classics on display at Monterey Car Week 2018
• The best car features owners didn’t know they had
• Ford is raffling the world’s only blue Mustang Bullitt for charity

Like the idea of driving a new Audi, but don’t want to commit to buying one? The launch of the Audi On Demand ‘mobility service’ in the UK is your answer.

With prices starting from £70 a day (they range up to £190), motorists can rent an Audi for periods as brief as one hour, up to 28 days. The fee covers everything – including fully comprehensive insurance and roadside assistance – and there’s no mileage limit.

Delivery and collection are free within a 30-mile radius of an Audi dealer, and renters can also collect from the showroom itself.

At the moment, it’s only Audi Manchester (in Oldham) that’s offering the Audi On Demand car rental service, but others will soon follow. Edinburgh and Glasgow are launching this week, with Newcastle, Birmingham and London all launching in 2018.

Longer-term, Audi plans to take the scheme nationwide.

How does it work? First, register on www.uk.audiondemand.com, says the firm. If you’re eligible, you can then choose from a “continually expanding” menu of cars that currently includes:

• Audi A1
• Audi A3
• Audi A4
• Audi A5
• Audi Q3
• Audi Q5

Customers at selected locations will also find they can try an Audi A5 Cabriolet, Audi S3 or Audi A5.

To take delivery of the car, customers need to show a custom QR code, plus photo ID and a valid driving licence. And that’s it – then drive away in a brand new Audi for as long as your loan agreement says.

“Audi On Demand is the premium mobility service with a difference,” said Audi UK director Andrew Doyle. “The traditional model of ownership is constantly evolving and this innovative concept firmly puts Audi UK ahead when it comes to meeting customer demand and transforming into a digital premium car company.”

There are plans to launch a service for business customers in 2019, and roll out yet more mobility products “based around the same mantra of customer flexibility and convenience”.

Read more:

• New Ranger Raptor is Ford’s toughest truck
• Electric dreams and electric shocks: the Tesla story so far
• Rulebreakers: 25 wild hot hatches with a twist

Alfa Romeo is upgrading the Giulia and Stelvio range in time for the September 2018 registration change, with cleaner Euro 6D ‘WLTP-compliant’ engines, new trims, and the introduction of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range.

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The smartphone-linking functionality is part of the 8.8-inch Alfa Connect infotainment system, which also includes standard sat nav on all models.

The Euro 6D upgrade sees AdBlue NOx reduction added to both 2.2-litre turbodiesels – and they both receive a 10hp power boost, so are rated at 160hp and 190hp respectively. In the Giulia, both claim 57.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

The 2019 model year Giulia range, which starts from £32,490, receives an equipment boost for individual models, too. Speciale versions have new 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, rear privacy glass and black brake calipers, while Veloce models get dark-finish five-hole 18-inch alloys, rear privacy glass and a standard auto-unlock Convenience pack.

The fiery Quadrifoglio (pictured above) also gets rear privacy glass, along with anodised black brake calipers and, for the more practicality-minded, 20/20/40 split-fold rear seats with a third rear centre seatbelt.

Alfa has introduced a new model for the 2019 model year, called Giulia Veloce Ti. Priced from £45,500, this is aimed at mixing Quadrifoglio looks with more accessible (and affordable) Veloce 280hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol performance.

The Veloce Ti gets the 19-inch dark five-hole alloys previously reserved for the Quadrifoglio, plus carbon grille and door mirrors, red brake calipers and the choice of optional Competizione Red and Trofeo White. There’s a £1,650 Carbon Pack option too.

(Top tip for spotting it at a glance over the Quadrifoglio? The replacement of the ‘green cloverleaf’ shields on the front wings with a ‘Veloce’ badge – although it doesn’t get the flared arches of the QV, either…)

Inside, Quadrifoglio leather and Alcantara sports seats are fitted, plus carbon interior trim, leather dashboard, black rooflining and illuminated carbon door sills. A Quadrifoglio in all but engine – and the turbo four still does 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, while also returning 40.9mpg instead of barely 30mpg…

And the 2019 Stelvio range? Priced from £36,990, Super models receive Michelin Crossclimate winter tyres, the Speciale has rear privacy glass and black brake calipers, and the Quadrifoglio gets rear privacy glass, anodised brake calipers and 20-inch five-hole alloys in silver.

Alfa Romeo launches five-year warranty

Alfa also reminds us that its cars are now offered with a five-year, 75,000-mile warranty, which is backed up with three years’ free servicing and five years’ roadside assistance. A sign, perhaps, that modern Alfas now appeal to the head as well as the heart?

Ford has built a one-off Mustang Bullitt in BLUE and is now raffling it to raise up to $60,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Instead of the iconic Dark Highland Green (or the Shadow Black alternative that few are expected to option), the JDRF Mustang Bullitt is finished in Kona Blue metallic and comes with bespoke grey wheels.

• Original Bullitt Mustang movie car saved from a life on the scrapheap

The blue exterior theme is carried through inside: the black leather seats and dashboard are stitched with blue thread.

The special Mustang is the star of Ford’s stand at the 2018 Woodward Dream Cruise; it’s on show at the Ford Media Club House at Kruse and Muer, Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak. There, visitors can buy a ticket for the raffle, for $10 a go.

Bullitt comes in two colors: Dark Highland Green or Shadow Black —except for this one.

It’s a one-of-one Kona Blue Bullitt that @Ford will auction off for @JDRF pic.twitter.com/hZ89zLFgEb

— Michael Martinez (@MikeMartinez_AN) August 17, 2018

Ford will later move the JDRF Mustang Bullitt to Mustang Alley at the intersection of 9 Mile and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale.

But although it has a cool new blue paint job, the Mustang Bullitt is unchanged beneath the surface. Which means the 5.0-litre V8 still puts out 480hp, for a top speed of 163mph.

It has the same minimal badging too, and Ford has retained both the blacked-out grille and, of course, the white cue ball gear shifter.

The raffle will close on November 9^th. The winner will be selected on November 13^th.

Can’t visit Woodward Dream Cruise but still want to be in with a chance of winning the blue Mustang Bullitt? You can also buy tickets online – visit: www.onecause.com/jdrfbullitt.

Go on – it’s all for charity. And it could secure you one of the most collectable Mustangs on the planet…

We believe that a true hot hatch should be front-wheel drive, powered by a four-cylinder engine, based on a humble hatchback and have a glass tailgate at the rear. Or, maybe we’re just getting old.

Some of the hot hatches featured in this gallery are pretty conventional, while others bend the rules just a little…

Aston Martin Cygnet V8

Our Ethan Jupp suggested this might be the world’s craziest hot hatch, and he might have a point. Unveiled at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Toyota… sorry, Aston Martin Cygnet V8 boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 371hp per tonne and will hit 60mph in 4.2 seconds. Whether you’d feel safe taking the supermini formerly known as the iQ to its 170mph top speed is up for debate, but you have to admire this crazy one-off.

Renault 5 Turbo

If a V8-powered Toyota iQ with a posh badge stretches the definition of a hot hatch, things aren’t going to improve with the Renault 5 Turbo. It had very little in common with the regular Renault 5 parked on the high street, with its unique parts making it extremely expensive to build. This meant it was also expensive to buy, which is why Renault launched a cheaper Turbo 2.

MG Metro 6R4

The MG Metro 6R4: Austin Rover’s supercar and the most bonkers Metro you’ll ever meet. It’s amazing to think that you could buy the 6R4 rally car off-the-shelf for £40,000. Even more amazing was the fact that this mighty Metro sounded like an F1 car, performed like a supercar and was talented enough to do battle with any contemporary rally car.

Peugeot 205 T16

It took Jean Todt and his team at Peugeot-Talbot Sport just two years to produce a mid-engined four-wheel drive rally car, yet despite the haste, the 205 T16 proved to be a formidable machine on the rally circuit. The competition car and its road-going equivalent were light years away from the regular 205, but the T16 offered showroom appeal by the lorry load. In its day, the four-wheel drive, mid-engined T16 cost £26,999 – the equivalent of £77,770 today.

Volkswagen Golf W12-650

Probably the most outlandish Golf ever made, the 650 in the Golf W12-650 referred to the car’s power output: 650ps. This power was sent to to the rear wheels – so not an authentic hot hatch, then – via a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox. It wasn’t just the power that was pumped up to the max: the bodywork is such that it looks almost cartoon-like, too wild to be a reality. Which, of course, it wasn’t. The W12 remains a concept, which is probably good news for the world’s driving licences.

Audi A1 Quattro

For the ultimate Audi A1, forget the 231hp S1 launched in 2015, what you really need is the 256hp A1 Quattro of 2012. Only 333 were built, each one commanding £41,020 when new, so it’s hardly surprising that only 19 were sold in the UK, especially when you consider that it wasn’t available as a right-hooker. Essentially, the A1 Quattro is an S3 in a supermini suit, which means that it’s super-quick: 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 152mph.

Renaultsport Clio V6

Not content with building the world’s finest hot hatches, Renault decided it could extract even more from its humble supermini. The Clio V6 was the kind of crazy idea that rarely sees the light of day, yet somehow Renault really did remove the rear seats and stick a 3.0-litre V6 into the back of a supermini. The original Clio V6 developed a reputation for being a little lairy, but the Mk2 was more refined, thanks to a little help from Porsche.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S

Volkswagen has a habit of building special editions to mark important milestones in the history of the Golf GTI, and the Clubsport S was its 40th anniversary present. That it broke the official Nurburgring record for a front-wheel drive car is largely irrelevant, but the fact that this thing pumped out a whopping 310hp certainly isn’t. Sure, it’s not as wild as the W12, but the Clubsport S had no rear seats and, more importantly, it made production.

Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R

The Megane 275 Trophy-R is another hot hatch with a Nurburgring lap record to its name and is, as the spiritual successor to the R26.R, one of the most hardcore Meganes you can buy. Renaultsport left no stone unturned in pursuit of weight-saving, removing everything from the rear wiper to the back seats. In return it added Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, Speedline alloys, Recaro bucket seats, Ohlins adjustable dampers, composite front springs and an Akrapovic titanium exhaust to create the ultimate version of one of the world’s best hot hatches.

Dodge Shelby Omni GLHS

Who else but Carroll Shelby would build something as bonkers as the Omni GLHS. Powered by a 2213cc engine mated to a Garrett turbocharger, the 175hp Dodge could hit 60mph in a sports car-taming 6.7 seconds. Mr Shelby added Koni shocks, 15-inch ‘Centurion’ alloys and Goodyear performance tyres to the mix to create an all-American take on the hot hatch formula. The car pictured was owned by Carroll Shelby and sold for $27,500 at Monterey in 2016.

Mazda 323 GT-R

Built for Group A homologation purposes, the Japan-only Mazda 323 GTR was based on the GTX and packed a 210hp punch, stiffer suspension, all-wheel drive, larger breaks and obligatory body enhancements. 

Nissan March Super Turbo

In the case of the March Super Turbo, Nissan isn’t guilty of adding unnecessary superlatives to a car’s name. You see, the 930cc Nissan March – or Micra – featured a supercharger and a turbocharger to create a SUPER TURBO. A lowly 110hp might not seem like a lot, but the twin-charged March weighed less than a bag of sugar, helping it to hit 62mph in 7.7 seconds. Not to be confused with the familiar ex-driving school Micra.

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Until Audi unleashed the 400hp RS3, the Mercedes A45 AMG was the most powerful production hot hatch of the modern era. Three hundred and eighty one horsepower. Think about that for a moment – 381hp @ 6,000rpm. It remains a staggering figure for what is essentially a five-door family hatchback, especially when 300hp seemed like a lot just a few years ago.

AMC Gremlin 401-XR

We featured this AMC Gremlin 401-XR in April when it was listed for sale on bringatrailer.com. Only 21 examples of the 6.6-litre 401-XR were ever built, with Denwerks Vintage Car Shop creating car number 22 four years ago. In true American style, it was more at home on the quarter-mile than it would be on a B-road, but you’ve gotta love the Stateside take on the hot hatch recipe.

Mazda 3 MPS Extreme

Even in their standard guise, the Mazda 3 and 6 MPS models are spoken about in hushed tones, famed for their no holds barred attitude to horsepower. Unveiled in 2007, the 3 MPS Extreme was, ahem… even more extreme, with Mazda squeezing an additional 27hp from the 2.3-litre turbocharged engine. The 282hp Extreme also featured Cootes suspension lowered by 25mm, 19-inch BBS alloys and cosmetic upgrades.

Vauxhall Astra VXR Extreme

Back in 2014, when the Vauxhall Astra VXR Extreme broke cover at the Geneva motor show, a 300hp front-wheel drive hot hatch was a big deal. How times have changed. The Extreme also featured extensive use of carbon fibre, aluminium front wings, six-pot Brembo brakes, Hankook tyres, Recaro bucket seats, six-point harnesses and an Alcantara-clad steering wheel. In Renaultsport style, Vauxhall ditched the rear seats for a safety roll bar.

Volkswagen Golf GTI 16S

Many of the cars featured here need to be viewed in the context of the era in which they were built. This is certainly true of the Golf GTI 16S, which is arguably the factory high-performance version Volkswagen should have built. Some 1,600 were built for the French and Swiss markets, with Oettinger swapping the original 8-valve engine for a light alloy 16-valve. The result was a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 121mph.

Sbarro Super Twelve

The Sbarro Super Twelve – an 80s supercar the size of a Mini. This thing was powered by two six-cylinder 1300cc Kawasaki engines, each with its own five-speed gearbox. With 240hp on tap in a car weighing just 800kg, the performance figures are rather terrifying. A 0-60mph time of 5.0 seconds and a power-to-weight ratio to rival a Lamborghini Countach. What a thing!

Volkswagen Polo R WRC Street by B&B

There have been many wild Volkswagen creations over the years – we could have filled the entirely gallery with Wörthersee special editions or aftermarket creations. The Polo R WRC Street by B&B cost a staggering €41,850, but the performance figures are as astonishing as the price. Total output of 362hp and 376lb ft – more powerful than the Polo WRC rally car!) – provided a top speed of 168mph and a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds.

Audi RS3 Sportback

Remember when hot hatches were slightly unhinged, lightweight and relatively affordable? The Audi RS3 Sportback is light years away from this vision of utopia, with a £44,755 price tag, 400hp and a 0-62mph time of 4.1 seconds. Thanks to its 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, it sounds fantastic, but the driving experience is more large car than hot hatch.

Peugeot 308 R Hybrid

Peugeot unveiled the 308 R Hybrid at the Shanghai motor show in 2015, and while a production version hasn’t been released, this could represent the hot hatch of the future. By pairing a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with a couple of electric motors, Peugeot created a 500hp monster, good enough to hit 62mph in 4.0 seconds. Green credentials are provided courtesy CO2 emissions of just 70g/km.

Renault Twin’Run V6

Renault built the 5 Turbo and Clio V6, so why did it stop short of putting the Twin’Run V6 into production? Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 developing 320hp, the Twin’Run paid homage to the Renault 5 courtesy of its headlights and side decals, while the four LEDs are a nod to the light racks used on night specials.

MINI JCW Challenge

Developed in secret at the MINI Plant in Oxford, the JCW Challenge was approved by BMW, but the Germans acted merely as facilitators, letting the Brits run wild. The result was a race-bred MINI featuring Nitron shocks, Mintex brakes, Quaife limited-slip differential and Team Dynamics wheels. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine was unchanged, with MINI saying: “It’s not about ultimate speed, but how much fun you have between [the corners].” Only 100 were built, each one costing £32,000.

Nissan Micra 350SR

What, another Nissan Micra? Again, the 350SR is a world away from the Micra driven by your gran, with a 350hp Nismo-fettled 3.5-litre V6 powering the rear wheels, along with a host of upgrades under the bonnet. The project took two years to complete and cost around a quarter of a million pounds to build.

Toyota Aygo Crazy

We conclude with a car that’s Crazy by name and crazy by nature: the Toyota Aygo Crazy. Powered by a mid-mounted and turbocharged MR2-sourced 1.8-litre engine, the Aygo Crazy developed 200hp and cost Toyota a rumoured £100,000 to produce. The Yaris GRMN is arguably the Aygo’s spiritual successor.

Policing the mean streets of America is a difficult job. So it means any extra help would be welcomed with open arms.

As a result, picking the Officer Protection Pack when ordering a new Dodge Charger Pursuit car would seem to be an easy choice for fleet managers.

The system makes use of sensors, and a rear-facing camera, to look out for persons approaching the vehicle from behind whilst stationary. Officers working alone, and potentially lost in paperwork, are said to be particularly at risk of attack.

On detecting motion at the rear, the Charger Pursuit acts to alert the officer to the danger. A chime sounds inside the car, and the rear-view camera shows an image of what is going on.

Depending on the policies of the particular law enforcement agency, further automatic responses can also be programmed into the Officer Protection Pack.

Doors can be set to lock automatically, windows to roll up, and various lights to flash. All of these measures are intended to help officers assess potential threats, and react accordingly.

First introduced in 2017, more than 10,000 Charger Pursuits have been specified with the Officer Protection Pack. Expect this number to rise, and the system is now a no-cost option for 2019 model year cars.

The Dodge Charger Pursuit is America’s best-selling police car, taking a substantial amount of the valuable law enforcement market. 2019 versions of the Charger Pursuit are offered with a choice of V6 and V8 engines, the latter available with AWD.

We’re sure officers are excited about features like the Protection Pack, but the chance to drive a 370 horsepower Charger for work sounds rather appealing, too.

This year has also seen Dodge released a pursuit-rated version of the Durango SUV, powered by a Hemi V8 engine.