Toyota is bringing the long-defunct Camry back to the UK, with a hybrid version of the top-selling US executive saloon. However, Japanese rival Honda has no plans to follow suit and revive its old Accord nameplate by importing the latest American version.
Phil Webb, Honda head of car, told Motoring Research that while it was never say never, Honda is not contemplating bolstering its larger car range by bringing back the Accord. “Sales numbers wouldn’t justify the expense of homologating it for Europe. There’s simply not a business case for it.”
Even the fact Honda offers the Accord as a hybrid is not enough to swing it – despite the US Accord Hybrid offering similar performance and fuel economy to its Camry Hybrid arch-rival.
The firm will instead concentrate on the launch of its all-new CR-V, which goes on sale in September as a petrol, with a hybrid following in early 2019.
Honda is bringing one overseas-built saloon car to Europe, though: the four-door Civic is coming later this summer. This is likely to sell in the hundreds, rather than thousands, said Webb.
The Turkish-built model is being introduced to offer a new alternative to Honda’s traditional customer base, although Webb said he also thinks it has potential in the corporate sector.
Honda’s global range is huge, said Webb, “and we are always investigating the potential to bring new models over here.” It’s a process that’s a little easier these days, as many cars are now built on Honda’s common global platforms.
“It all comes down to whether there’s sufficient demand for it. The numbers have to add up.” They do for the Civic saloon – but for now, it seems, Webb believes that for the Accord, they do not.
Buy this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and you’ll gain access to one of the world’s most exclusive clubs. However, it doesn’t come cheap, with RM Sotheby’s slapping a $45 million (£34 million in the UK) pre-auction estimate on what is described as the “holy grail” of classic and collector cars.
What makes it so valuable? Aside from its jaw-dropping beauty, the 250 GTO was effectively the final evolution of the 250 model, which debuted in 1953 and ended with the last GTO in 1964. Just 36 GTOs were ever built, all of which survive today.
This is car number three – chassis no. 3413 GT – which began life as a factory car and was driven by Phil Hill in the 1962 Targa Florio. Its first owner was one of Ferrari’s favorite customers, Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi, who entered the GTO in 10 races in 1962, winning all but one.
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In 1963, Lualdi-Gabardi sold the GTO to fellow racing driver Gianni Bulgari, the former chairman and CEO of the Bulgari jewellery company. Under his ownership, the car competed in and finished a further 20 races, avoiding any accidents in the process.
Microsoft, excelled
Today, it retains its original engine, gearbox and rear axle, as well as its factory Series II body. With such originality and provenance, you can see the pieces of the jigsaw contributing to the eye-opening pre-auction estimate.
Having passed through an unbroken chain of ownership in the hands of the world’s preeminent Ferrari collectors, ‘3413’ ended up in the care of Dr Greg Whitten, chairman of Numerix and former chief software architect at Microsoft.
In Dr Whitten’s custody, the GTO has competed in events around the world as well as four of the fabled GTO anniversary tours. These gatherings, which take place every five years, are a celebration of the GTO and involve driving on some of the world’s best roads and dining in the finest establishments. As you’d expect, entry is restricted to GTO ownership. If your name’s not down…
Access to the club can be bought. The price: whatever the Ferrari 250 GTO sells for at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale in August. You have two months to find the necessary $45 million. May we suggest starting with the back of the sofa and going from there?
Shelby Myers, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s is understandably thrilled at the prospect of the GTO going under the hammer, saying: “Due to the evolution of technology and safety regulations that followed, the GTO was essentially the final true road racer, marking the end of an era when drivers really got their hands dirty. This was the last car that you could park in your garage, drive to the track, win the race, and then drive home.”
“This marks just the third time that a GTO has been offered for public sale in the new millennium. I can think of no better place than our flagship Monterey event, an auction that has borne witness to the record-smashing sale of some of the most important cars in history, for the presentation of such an exceptional example of Ferrari’s most successful racer and the world’s most sought-after collector car, full-stop.
“The fact that the GTO exists as it did in period, along with Dr Whitten’s long-term, enthusiastic ownership, only adds to the car’s impeccable pedigree.”
The RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale is held during the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance motoring week in August, with the auction taking place on the 24 and 25 August 2018. Time to cash in your Premium Bonds?
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Dacia has revealed PCP finance offers for the new Duster value-priced SUV. And with payments starting from £129 a month, the brand’s sheer affordability seems as strong as ever.
The Duster finance deals are based around the Dimensions PCP scheme, and all are over three years, at 5.9 percent APR. Dacia also throws in a £250 deposit contribution to all deals.
It’s the £9,995 Access 1.6 SCe 115 that is offered for the bargain £129 price, with a customer deposit of £612. But as this model is pretty basic, lacking air-con or even a radio, most buyers are expected to enter the range with the Essential 1.6 SCe 115.
This is priced from £11,595, and comes in at £159 a month on PCP, with an £892 customer deposit. The better-stocked Comfort is £13,195 on the road, or £179 a month with a £1,074 deposit. And the range-topping Prestige 1.6 SCe 115 is £14,395 or £189 a month.
Diesel models start from £13,595 with the 1.5 Blue dCi 115, which costs £179 a month. A Comfort is £199 a month and a Prestige is £209 a month. Buyers can also choose 4×4 versions of the petrol, but not the diesel. Dacia expects the petrol to comprise the majority of sales.
Around two in three Duster buyers choose higher-end variants, head of Dacia UK Louise O’Sullivan told Motoring Research; very few customers pick the sub-£10k Access.
PCP deals on the new car have been kept competitive, she explained, despite a small increase in prices, thanks to a significant uplift in retained values. The Duster’s better quality, stronger equipment levels and ever-greater market awareness have all helped here.
“Customers trading up from the old one may find they have lots of equity still left in the car. Factor this in and some of them might be paying as little as £100 a month to trade into the new model.”
They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression. That might be true if you’re appearing on Love Island or taking house buying advice from Kirstie Allsopp, but car manufacturers often get a second bite of the cherry. Here, we round up a selection of cars that shined bright like a diamond the second time around.
Ford Cortina Mk2
Launched under the banner of “New Cortina is more Cortina”, the second coming of the Ford Cortina represented a marked improvement over the original. More powerful engines, more room in the cabin, more glass, more luggage space and more comfort – just a few elements contributing to the feeling of getting more for your money. It might have lacked the styling purity of the Mk1, but the Cortina Mk2 laid the foundations for Ford’s family car dominance throughout the 70s and 80s.
Vauxhall Astra Mk2
The Astra Mk1 was a good car, helping to kickstart a huge sales drive by the company and cementing Vauxhall’s position as Ford’s chief rival. But the Mk2 moved the game on, thanks to its ‘pear drop’ styling and excellent value for money. It scooped the Car of the Year award in 1985 and spawned a range of variants, including estate, convertible and hot GTE and GTE 16v models. It was by far the most aerodynamic car in its class and it looked good, even after the arrival of the Mk3 in 1991.
Volkswagen Polo Mk2
The Bertone-designed Volkswagen Polo Mk1 was undoubtedly pretty, but it started life as an Audi. Without wishing to sound patronising, it was a great first attempt at building a supermini by a company with little experience in the segment. The second Polo was genuinely innovative, with Volkswagen adopting a ‘breadvan’ approach, complete with a surprisingly low 0.39 drag coefficient. Saloon, coupe and sporty G40 versions followed.
SEAT Ibiza Mk2
We love the original SEAT Ibiza. Based on a modified Fiat Ritmo (Strada) platform, styled by Giugiaro, and with input from Karmann and Porsche, it looks and feels like the car the Volkswagen Golf Mk2 should have been. Hashtag controversial. But there’s no room for misty-eyed nostalgia in this gallery, because the fact is the second-generation Ibiza was a more rounded car with universal appeal. Volkswagen’s input, including the use of the Polo platform, may have played a part.
Jaguar Mk2
“The changes made for 1960 without doubt represent together the greatest improvement so far achieved between a Jaguar model and its predecessor – short of a wholly new design.” The Autocar review of 1960 should provide all the evidence required to secure the Jaguar Mk2’s place in this gallery, with a host of interior and exterior changes combining to create one of the most iconic cars of the 60s. The Mk1 was good, but the Mk2 was in a different league.
Honda Civic Mk2
The original Civic was a game-changing vehicle for Honda, putting the Japanese giant on the automotive map. Despite appearances, the Civic Mk2 represented a wholesale repackaging of the Mk1, being longer and wider than its predecessor and boasting a much improved cabin.
Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2
Timing is everything. When Vauxhall launched the Cavalier in 1981, it probably expected to continue playing second fiddle to Ford in the sales chart. But nobody was banking on the Ford Sierra’s shock and awe styling, which resulted in conservative buyers switching to Vauxhall in their droves. When the dust settled, the Sierra propelled Ford back to the top of the tree, but the Cavalier was part of the UK street furniture throughout the 80s, spawning two-door, three-door, five-door, estate and even convertible versions.
Triumph 2000 Mk2
The original Triumph 2000 was a fine executive car, built at a time when Britannia ruled the waves in the segment. But if the Mk1 looked like a comfortable sweater, the Mk2 was a sharp Italian suit, complete with redesigned nose, longer tail, smart instrument cluster and better trim. The last of the big Triumphs, the 2000 and 2.5 PI were superseded by the Rover SD1.
Suzuki SJ410
The Suzuki LJ10 was designed to access the tight spaces that were off limits to larger 4x4s of the time, and its lightness made it a willing companion on the rough stuff. The second-generation SJ410 represented a shift from basic practicality to a greater focus on leisure and lifestyle, as well as providing the springboard for the Jimny you can still buy new today.
Ford Escort Mk2
In the Anglia, the Ford Escort Mk1 of 1968 had a tough act to follow, but it hit the ground running, becoming a million seller and spawning a number of legendary performance versions. The second-generation Escort arrived in 1975 and offered many improvements over the outgoing model. The classic ‘Coke bottle’ styling had gone, but the new Escort was more refined and more economical, despite being about the same size and weight as its predecessor. The performance models were pretty tasty, too.
Toyota Prius II
The original Toyota Prius – along with the Honda Insight – might have been a pioneering hybrid, but it was far from the finished article. The second-generation Prius of 2003 felt like a leap into the future, offering increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions, wrapped in a larger body. It also received the European Car of the Year award in 2005 and consistently scored well in reliability surveys.
Honda Jazz Mk2
“The 2008 Jazz takes everything people loved about the old Jazz. Then takes it all a couple of steps forwards.” Not our words, Lynn, but the words of Honest John. And that’s about as good as things get in the car world. HJ is right, of course, because the second Jazz was bigger, more comfortable and better to drive. Wave your Jazz hands in the air like you just don’t care.
Volvo XC90 Mk2
The first-generation XC90 was a hugely successful car for Volvo, transforming the brand’s image and becoming a hit with soccer moms across the globe. Little wonder, then, that the seven-seat SUV remained in production for a dozen years. The current XC90 had a tough act to follow, but has spearheaded a complete brand and product overhaul for the Chinese-owned manufacturer. As an aside, there have been no driver or passenger fatalities recorded in an XC90 since records began in 2004.
Porsche Boxster 987
The Type 987 or second-generation Boxster arrived in 2005, with Porsche using eight years experience with the Type 986 to deliver a much improved sports car. The styling was updated and the interior was upgraded, while the second Boxster also spawned a coupe version in the form of the Cayman.
Honda Legend Mk2
How do you follow in the footsteps of a Legend? If your name’s Honda the answer is simple: create another Legend. The second-generation Legend of 1990 was larger, smoother and more powerful than its predecessor, with more purposeful styling that seemed to take aim at the BMW 5 Series. The Legend progressed while the Rover 800 faltered, with the Mk2 800 merely a facelift of the old model.
Ford Fiesta ST
We’re cheating a little here, because this isn’t so much a Mk2 as a performance version of two generations of Fiesta. But hear us out, because it’s easy to forget that the previous Ford Fiesta ST wasn’t the first. The ST of the noughties was powered by a 2.0-litre Zetec engine and it provided an interesting alternative to the all-conquering Clio RS. But the second Fiesta ST was on a different level, catapulting Ford to the top of the hot hatch tree. By all accounts, the new turbocharged ST is even better.
Nissan Leaf Mk2
As the first mass-market EV, the Leaf did a huge amount for the electric car segment, not to mention Nissan’s sales figures. There are now more than 300,000 Leaf models on the road, giving Nissan a huge advantage over its EV rivals. The new Leaf is even better. Our verdict: “The 2018 Nissan Leaf is exactly the car it needed to be. It’s better all round, and crucially, more normal too. The EV aspect is exceptional, from the brilliant refinement, to the punchy and classy performance, to the extended range. It rides and handles with more European polish, and it’s even pretty good fun.”
Honda Prelude Mk2
We could point to the pop-up headlights as evidence of the Prelude Mk2’s superiority over its predecessor, but there’s more to it than that. For a start, it looks more appealing than the Mk1, with its wedge-like styling and, yes, the pop-up lights. But the new Prelude was also larger, more powerful, better to drive, only marginally less efficient and packed with cutting-edge tech, such as anti-lock brakes. Cool car.
Vauxhall Viva Mk2
The original Vauxhall Viva was a plain and rather conventional small car, but the Mk2 was different in so many ways. “In the case of the new Viva the new model is much, much more than just a new body. Some of our staff thought it so different from the previous one that a new name for it would have been justified.” The words of Autocar in 1966.
Ford Focus RS Mk2
Few would argue that the Focus RS has evolved and improved with every new generation, but we maintain that the Mk1 was the best looking. It was also a successful halo car for Ford, although the Blue Oval lost money on every one it sold. It had its faults, many of which have become characteristics with the passing of time, but the Mk2 was a more rounded product with a delightful 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Mercedes-Benz is reported to have lost £1.44 billion on the A-Class, so bosses would have been pleased to see the back of it in 2005. Many owners were equally unhappy with MB’s small car, with the A-Class beset with quality and reliability issues. The Mk2 A-Class was hardly an all-time great, but it was a far better resolved product.
Every summer, the streets of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea erupt with the sound of supercars – many flown in from around the world. Armed with a camera, we spent several days in London, photographing these wild beasts in their favoured habitat. We’ve included the Instagram tags of owners where possible.
Remember the Audi-engined Gumpert Apollo? Meet its successor. The 789hp Apollo IE (Intensa Emozione) has styling from science fiction, along with a tuned Ferrari V12 and sequential manual gearbox. Despite a £2 million+ price tag, all 10 cars have reportedly been sold.
Not merely a ‘standard’ Veyron, this is a one-of-30 Super Sport. Bugatti upped output from the 8.0-litre W16 engine from 1,001hp to 1,200hp, increasing top speed to an electronically-limited 258mph. This Veyron belongs to Afzal Kahn – the founder of car customisation company, Kahn Design.
Ferrari F12 TDF
The ferociously quick F12 TDF (Tour de France) is a hardcore version of Ferrari’s former flagship. It packs a 780hp front-mounted V12 and hits 62mph in 2.9 seconds. Perfect for cruising the King’s Road, then.
Porsche 911 Turbo S
Porsche 911s are a common sight in many London postcodes, although a Turbo S remains a relative rarity. This is the current ‘991.2’ iteration, with a 580hp flat-six – 40hp more than the regular Turbo. Performance? Try 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and 205mph.
Back in 2016, we said: “the new Audi TT RS hits 62mph from standstill in 3.7 seconds. That’s quicker than a Ferrari F40, Porsche 959 or Jaguar XJ220. It’s also just 0.2 seconds slower than Audi’s flagship R8.” This stealthy black TT belongs to Jake: @insideoutnback on Instagram.
Nothing screams ‘supercar’ like a bright yellow Pagani Zonda. Launched in 1999, the Zonda was continually updated over 18 years in production – and there are numerous special editions. This Zonda F – owned by @zondamd – is one of 25 made, with exposed carbon fibre on the lower half of its bodywork. Power comes courtesy of a 602hp Mercedes-AMG V12.
The Huayra (say it ‘why-ra’) is Pagani’s second supercar, launched in 2012. The track-focused BC followed in 2016, with 755hp and a kerb weight of just 1,218kg (a 1.5-litre Ford Focus weighs 1,363kg). Note the exposed carbon fibre – a special ‘Triax’ compound claimed to be 20% stronger and 50% lighter.
The 640hp Huracan Performante laps the Nürburgring seven seconds quicker than its big brother, the 750hp Aventador SV. It also blitzed the 12.9-mile circuit faster than an 899hp Porsche 918 Spyder. Even at more sedate speeds on Sloane Street, the Lamborghini’s naturally-aspirated V10 sounds utterly feral.
The owner of this Aventador SV Roadster – @rana65556 on Instagram – has just bought a Huracan Performante Roadster, too. The SuperVeloce (literally ‘super fast) blasts to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a two-piece carbon hard-top that slots into the front boot. Huge ‘SV’ decals on the rear wings complete the look.
We’ve not seen a better-looking 675LT than this – photographed on Sloane Street. Its bright blue finish is actually a vinyl wrap from Dub Customs, with unpainted carbon fibre for the spoilers and side skirts. The twin-turbo V8 675LT remains the fastest car around the original Top Gear test track.
This extreme, one-off Pagani Zonda is named after the owner’s son. Its huge, split-level rear wing is designed for maximum downforce, while its 7.3-litre V12 is boosted to 760hp. Oliver was apparently nine years old when the car was commissioned. He’ll be one lucky boy when he inherits this.
Ferrari 488 GTB
Cruising London in a supercar doesn’t always go to plan – particularly if you have no insurance. This Ferrari 488 GTB is being hoisted onto a flatbed truck – bound for the council compound. No doubt its owner faces a hefty fine.
Another yellow Aventador, but those ‘fangs’ in the front grille indicate this is the latest S version. Its mighty 740hp V12 offers plenty of straight-line speed (0-62 mph in 2.9sec, 217mph), while four-wheel steering improves cornering agility. Selectable drive modes, from Strada (street) to Corsa (track) were also introduced.
Giving the TT RS a run for its money is this BMW M2, owned by @l666xox. The 370hp coupe is smallest and arguably most exciting of the current M-car crop, with a lively rear-drive chassis and a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed semi-auto gearboxes. Long Beach Blue paint – the M2’s signature shade – helps this car stand out.
‘XS’ indeed. This a Koenigsegg Agera XS – one of just two made. Beneath that less-than-subtle carbon bodywork is the 1,340hp twin-turbo V8 from the Koenigsegg One:1, capable of accelerating this Swedish supercar beyond 250mph. An active rear wing generates 450kg of downforce at 155mph.
There are acres of exposed carbon fibre on this Huayra and, if you look closely, you’ll notice the stripes in the weave line up perfectly between body panels. That’s a reflection of Horacio Pagani’s obsessive attention to detail, which includes having every screw laser-etched with the Pagani logo – at a cost of £65 each.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S isn’t a supercar in the traditional sense – not with four doors, five seats and subtle styling – but its performance is right up there: 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and 186mph. As per the personalised plate, this E63 S belongs to @shahidd89.
Back in 2015, Motoring Research’s Richard Aucock reviewed the McLaren 570S, concluding: “[It] is unquestionably a five-star car, without doubt a new sports car great. Just like the Audi R8 at launch, it’s a new take on the super sports car, one that’s thoroughly McLaren and, because of the supercar richness it delivers for £140k, will have Porsche holding special engineering meetings to dissect it.” Nuff said, really.
Looking like a bona fide Batmobile in black, this drop-top version of the Aventador S shows off its trademark ‘scissor’ doors at the kerbside. The car belongs to @mapesbury_co and was spotted in convoy with an Audi R8.
Enzo Ferrari never lived to see the car that bore his name (yes, technically all his cars bore his name) but it’s likely he would have approved. When launched in 2002, the 660hp Enzo was the closest thing to a road-legal F1 car. It has a carbon fibre chassis, ceramic composite brakes, pushrod suspension and a semi-auto gearbox with shift lights on the steering wheel.
Here’s that R8 again: a current-generation V10 Plus with the same 610hp V10 as a Lamborghini Huracan. Quattro four-wheel-drive means 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, while the interior boasts Audi’s neat Virtual Cockpit display. We do wish you could still have an open-gate manual gearbox, though.
Snapped in Chelsea, here’s Japan’s very own ‘Godzilla’: the mighty Nissan GT-R. The purple/orange colour combo of @musgtr’s car won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the Skyline successor pulls no punches when it comes to performance. Zero to 62mph times as low as 2.7 seconds have been recorded.
This first-gen ‘991.1’ GT3 also rocks the orange wheels look – and boasts a full Brooke Race Exhausts stainless steel system. Andrew Brady described the updated (991.2) GT3 as “the best supercar on sale” when he reviewed it for Motoring Research earlier this year.
OK, this certainly isn’t a supercar, although the 381hp Mercedes-AMG A45 is more than a mere hot hatch. Indeed, a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds means it’s snapping at the heels of far more exotic machines. The soundtrack is special, too, the exhausts belching and banging with every gearshift.
Ferrari 458 Italia
Last but not least, a Ferrari 458 Italia: a car that sums up everything a supercar should be. Beautiful to look at, exhilarating to drive and achingly desirable, it’s far better suited to the Stelvio Pass than Sloane Street. Somebody should arrange a convoy…
Aston Martin is opening a new test and development centre at Silverstone, as momentum builds further in the company’s ‘Second Century’ business plan for new cars.
The Silverstone Test Centre will augment the firm’s high-speed test centre at the Nürburgring in Germany, and will at last give the Gaydon-based company a dedicated UK testing facility once again.
Under Ford ownership, Aston was able to share access to the test track next to its HQ, but the growth of Jaguar Land Rover in recent years means the British brands have effectively usurped Aston from the circuit next door.
Silverstone, just a few miles down the road, is the perfect substitute.
Aston’s chief of vehicle attribute Matt Becker said: “Every company needs a reference circuit and I can think of none more suitable than Silverstone. It is the perfect location to develop the next generation of Aston Martins.”
Aston president and CEO Dr Andy Palmer said he was “pleased that we can now call Silverstone home for dynamic testing and development”.
Stuart Pringle is managing director of Silverstone: “Automotive brand centres have always been a big part of Silverstone’s diversification plans,” he explained, “and I am delighted to be in a position to announce that Aston Martin have chosen Silverstone as the location to open their new testing and development centre.
“Our two brands have such a rich British motorsport heritage and I look forward to working closely with the team at Aston Martin to build on our relationship and ensure the partnership helps deliver on key business objectives for both parties.”
Aston Martin will carry out prototype vehicle testing at Silverstone, with a focus on chassis dynamics and high-speed handling. The circuit is known as one of the fastest and most challenging on the F1 circuit (and one of the most well-loved by drivers), so should provide the perfect playground test centre for Aston’s development drivers.
‘A leading UK automotive employer’
The firm also announced plans to create a new Central London office, which it will use for meetings and events with customers and investors. The new site will complement its brand centre at London’s posh Dover Street.
Aston Martin’s total UK workforce should reach 5,000 by 2022, added Dr Palmer. “The company is now investing for growth across the Aston Martin and Lagonda brands.
“Aston Martin will soon become one of the leading automotive employers in the UK. We are currently one of the largest automotive recruiters in the UK, investing approximately 10 percent of the total automotive investments in the UK, creating exciting new opportunities across engineering, design, manufacturing and commercial operations.”
Aston Martin Lagonda’s 10 UK sites
Chase Point: Purchasing, body-in-white assembly
Gaydon: Global HQ, design studio, sports car manufacturing, commercial operations, research and development
London (Dover Street): Brand centre, event space
London (Soho Square): Commercial operations, event space
Milton Keynes: Aston Martin Red Bull Racing joint projects, design studio, commercial operations
Newport Pagnell: Aston Martin Works, continuation series manufacturing
Silverstone: Testing and development
St Athan: Large platform vehicle manufacturing, research and development
Wellesbourne: Special Vehicle Operations, prototype development
The new Volvo S60 has been revealed at the firm’s first U.S. manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina – and it’s not only the first American-built Volvo, it’s also the firm’s first car in decades not to feature a diesel engine.
It’s a bold move by Volvo, because the S60 is competing in the same sector as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This is a marketplace dominated by diesel.
It’s also one dominated by sales to company car fleets, though, and Volvo will be hoping the ultra-low emissions of its S60 diesel alternative, the S60 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, will easily sway them.
BMW has already seen demand exceed supply for its 330e iPerformance plug-in hybrid, suggesting the sector is primed to switch from diesel by reputation-conscious companies who want to be seen to do the right thing.
The diesel-free S60 range, which goes on sale in the UK from early 2019, is part of Volvo’s commitment to completely phase diesel out: it’s already said it will not develop another range of diesel engines, and from 2019, every new car it introduces will, like the S60, be electrified.
Exciting S60
“The new S60 is one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “It is a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the U.S. and China saloon markets, creating more growth opportunities for Volvo Cars.”
The saloon version of the new Volvo V60 estate, it will be offered with regular T5 and T6 petrol turbo engines, but the star powerplants will be the two turbocharged and supercharged plug-in hybrids. The T6 Twin Engine AWD produces 340hp, and the T8 Twin Engine AWD puts out 400hp – which can be tweaked further, to 415hp, by a Polestar Engineered engine upgrade.
Polestar will also do over the wheels, brakes and suspension to ensure the S60 can handle the extra power…
All S60s should drive well, though. The car uses Volvo’s acclaimed Scalable Product Architecture, or SPA, which helps make cars such as the V90, XC60 and XC90 so impressive.
Volvo R&D senior vice president Henrik Green reckons it will be “one of the best sports saloons on the market… the active chassis and drive modes deliver excellent control and an engaged performance that makes this a driver’s car”.
Needless to say, it will be one of the safest cars in its sector too – if not THE safest.
Volvo will even let you subscribe to it, if you don’t want to buy it. The Care by Volvo offer provides a car for no down payment, with the flat-fee monthly subscription taking care of everything apart from fuel. It “makes having a car as transparent, easy and hassle-free as having a phone,” reckons Volvo.
Toyota withdrew the U.S.-focused Camry from the UK market almost a decade and a half ago, through lack of interest. Now, the model is making a surprise return in 2019 – newly reinvented as a fuel-efficient hybrid.
The Camry is the world’s best-selling saloon and has been a hit in North America for years, but struggled in the UK because it was seen as too dull and not very fuel-efficient.
But the latest eighth-generation design has solved the former grumble by reinvigorating the Camry, and now Toyota’s ticking the fuel-efficiency box by installing its latest all-new 2.5-litre hybrid-electric powertrain.
The new Camry Hybrid effectively replaces the Avensis, for which interest has itself faded in recent years. The UK plant in Derby has now stopped building the large saloon and estate range as it gears up to start making the all-new Auris.
Toyota is thus to maintain its place in the large executive saloon sector with the Camry, which will be built on the acclaimed Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform which underpins models such as the well-received C-HR (and, indeed, the new Auris).
Bosses are promising segment-leading quality, reliability, quiet running and “superb ride quality”. The driver will enjoy a wraparound dashboard and the rear seats will be enormous. The suspension will also be tuned for the European market, to improve handling.
The relaunch of the Camry in Europe will further bolster the already heady sales of the current car: Toyota’s sold 19 million of them since launch in 1982, and currently makes more than 700,000 of them every single year – that’s almost 20 percent of the entire UK new car market!
Prices, performance, equipment and economy will all be announced nearer to the Camry’s on-sale date in 2019.
Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has issued a warning about expected earnings.
The primary reason for the drop in potential profit comes from the growing trade battle between the United States and China. Following the imposition of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Chinese government retaliated with increased import duties on a variety of goods.
Specifically, the Chinese import duties apply to vehicles produced in the United States. Mercedes-Benz has multiple factories and offices throughout the USA, including a production facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which builds SUV models including the GLS and GLE.
Daimler states that as not all of the cars produced in the Alabama factory can be redirected to be sold in other markets, this will have an impact on profits, should demand be reduced. The tariffs themselves will also have an effect, as the company says the full cost of these will not be passed on to customers.
Other problems for the company have come from complying with the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) rules regarding fuel consumption and emissions. Other manufacturers have also been affected by this, with Volkswagen making plans to reduce production output to manage the changes.
The Mercedes-Benz Van division is also likely to see reduced profits, following the need to recall Vito models due to emissions from diesel engines.
During 2017, Daimler AG recorded net profits of €10.9 billion, representing a 24 percent increase from the previous year. Estimates for 2018 now put profits “slightly below” that achieved in 2017.
Hyundai has surveyed 2,000 British car buyers to see what they find most important when it comes to buying a new car.
The survey found that price was the most important factor that determined car buying choices, with 71% of those asked saying cost mattered most. Those in the North East were most concerned about price, while Londoners were least likely to be bothered by it.
After cost, reliability was the second consideration that affected buying choices. With the average owner keeping a car for more than five years, over 50% of those asked said dependability would be a top concern.
How slowly a car accelerates, how easily it attracts marks and scratches on the paintwork, and how much it costs to fill with fuel were the main annoyances for British drivers. Badge snobbery is also still alive and well, with the make of car a particularly important factor as drivers get older.
A key part of the survey was what equipment and features British car buyers look for in a new car. Hyundai has compiled the top 20, so join us as we count them up.
20. Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
First on the list is one of the newest features to break into the car world. As a nation seemingly obsessed with our smartphones, continuing that dependency while in the car is important to British drivers.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow apps from a smartphone to be used directly through the multimedia system of a car, permitting music streaming and text messages to be read out, for example.
19. Remote start
Common in colder parts of the world, remote start systems are becoming more common on new cars. Being able to pre-heat the interior, or demist windows from the comfort of your home, certainly has appeal on a chilly day.
18. Heated steering wheel
There’s a noticeable theme to this list, with the British weather a factor in many of the items included. Offered by many car manufacturers as an optional extra, a heated steering wheel keeps your fingers warm in winter, removing the need for those string-back driving gloves.
17. Cup holder
We imagine most UK buyers aren’t thinking about quaffing champagne from the rear seats of a Bentley, but a more humble cup of coffee or bottle of water. Some of the latest cars feature cup holders that can heat or cool your drink container, while Skoda has a special holder that allows bottles to be opened with one hand.
16. Leather seats
Freezing cold in winter, and red hot in summer, yet British buyers are still keen to have the feel of supple leather beneath them while driving. Perhaps it is the air of luxury that makes cow hide so appealing, even if many manufacturers now make use of man-made substitutes. Others, like Tesla, even pride themselves on vegan-friendly upholstery.
15. Panoramic sunroof
We’re not talking about a classic pop-up sunroof here, but gigantic swathes of glass stretching across the entire roof. British buyers seem to love the idea of watching the sky above them, or letting extra light into the interior on a gloomy day. Full panoramic sunroofs can be a costly option, possibly explaining why they don’t appear higher on this list.
14. Lumbar support
Nobody likes a bad back, and if you’re spending many hours behind the wheel of your car then you’ll want to be comfortable. Despite the progress made with many areas of new car technology, adjustable lumbar support is still relatively rare as a standard feature.
13. Cruise control
Once the preserve of luxury cars, cruise control can be found on even the most humble city car today. Perhaps it is the ever-present sight of average speed cameras and roadworks that has made the feature even more important to British buyers.
With the latest adaptive cruise control systems able to match speed to other traffic, these may be the first steps towards British motorists experiencing a form of autonomous driving.
12. Sound system
Modern car multimedia systems are far more than just simple CD players. With the ability to stream music from smartphones, or even directly via apps such as Spotify, getting in-car acoustics correct is big business.
Premium manufacturers now offer varying levels of sound performance. Volvo’s fancy Bowers & Wilkins system, for example, is able to recreate the sensation of being inside the Gothenburg Concert Hall in Sweden.
11. Parking cameras
With cars getting ever bigger, being able to see out the back gets ever harder. The new-found British love of SUVs and crossovers is also likely to be driving this trend for rear-view cameras, as their raised height makes it difficult to see what is directly behind.
Some manufacturers have adapted their parking cameras to be even more useful. Mercedes-Benz offers a setting to make hitching a trailer to a towbar easier.
10. Bluetooth
Avoiding the need to look like a headset-wearing minicab driver, factory-integrated Bluetooth connectivity is of major importance to those who like to take calls while on the move. Given the number of reports of drivers being driven to distraction by their phones, at least British drivers are concerned about staying within the law.
9. Heated seats
Another reminder of Britain’s less-than-stellar weather, heated seats creep inside the top 10 of desirable features. Perhaps it’s those with a love of leather upholstery who favour the additional heating on cold mornings, or maybe it’s to help out with all those lumbar issues? Either way, a large percentage of British drivers want to be in the hot seat – literally.
8. Automatic braking system
A more recent innovation, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) helps stop the car when it senses a collision might occur. AEB is now standard on many new cars, with safety experts hailing it as one of the most important innovations for a generation.
Euro NCAP crash tests now include whether AEB is fitted as standard as part of their score, and some insurers offer discounts for cars thus equipped.
7. Heated mirrors
British car buyers certainly don’t like the idea of having to demist their own exterior mirrors, with this being a strangely high-placing feature. Given the pace of development in the new car market, we imagine it would be quite a challenge to find a model without heated mirrors today.
6. Digital DAB radio
Forget relying on just AM and FM, modern British motorists want the audio quality of DAB radio along with its additional choice of stations. A neat reminder that streaming and digital downloads may be big news elsewhere, but the radio still matters when it comes to getting behind the wheel.
5. Spacious boot
Modern life dictates that British motorists need to fit more junk in their trunks. Cue the need for cars with sizable boots to accommodate everything. Men were noted in the survey to be more concerned about how spacious a car was inside, whilst female drivers reported being worried as to how manoeuvrable it would be when parking.
4. Satellite navigation
Younger generations may wonder how we ever managed to find our way to places, relying on road maps and making use of street signs to get us there. Now, sat nav reaches the top five of the most desirable features, with most manufacturers at offering it as at least an option across their ranges.
The latest sat nav systems incorporate the ability to adapt to traffic conditions, or can show imaging from Google Maps to help make locations easier to identify.
3. Electric windows
Other than the most extreme of lightweight sports cars, it would hard to conceive of a contemporary motor fitted with wind-up windows. British buyers clearly feel the same way, pushing electric windows all the way up to the dizzy heights of third place on this list. Despite a nation seemingly ever more obsessed with exercise, nobody wants keep-fit windows.
2. Parking sensors
Crash testing has forced manufacturers to create cars with bigger crumple zones, sturdier door pillars and narrower windows. With visibility reduced, it makes sense that many motorists rely on parking sensors to avoid incidents when manoeuvring. They might result in a driving population unable to judge how big their car is, but at least they should prevent us bumping into each other.
1. Air conditioning
A whopping 42% of buyers surveyed ranked air conditioning as a ‘must have’ when it came to their next car. Less than two decades ago, air conditioning was either an expensive option, or found as standard only in premium vehicles.
Fast-forward to 2018 and air conditioning in cars borders on being considered a human right. Maybe we can blame it on climate change, but whatever the reason, it seems British drivers are unable to live through our short summers without the benefit of air-con to keep them chilled.
Toyota is bringing the long-defunct Camry back to the UK, with a hybrid version of the top-selling US executive saloon. However, Japanese rival Honda has no plans to follow suit and revive its old Accord nameplate by importing the latest American version.
Dacia has revealed PCP finance offers for the new Duster value-priced SUV. And with payments starting from £129 a month, the brand’s sheer affordability seems as strong as ever.
Aston Martin is opening a new test and development centre at Silverstone, as momentum builds further in the company’s ‘Second Century’ business plan for new cars.
The new Volvo S60 has been revealed at the firm’s first U.S. manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina – and it’s not only the first American-built Volvo, it’s also the firm’s first car in decades not to feature a diesel engine.
Toyota withdrew the U.S.-focused Camry from the UK market almost a decade and a half ago, through lack of interest. Now, the model is making a surprise return in 2019 – newly reinvented as a fuel-efficient hybrid.
