Being a police officer in the UK is tough at the best of times, but it must seem even harder when glancing at the vehicle choices offered to their North American colleagues. 

A diesel Vauxhall Astra estate is no comparison to an all-American V8-powered SUV or saloon. Proving that there is no replacement for displacement, even when it comes to keeping the thin blue line, Dodge has announced a new Police Pursuit version of the Durango SUV.

Powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine, with 360hp and 390lb-ft of torque, this is a true muscle SUV with more than sufficient power to live up the ‘Pursuit’ billing. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, as is the AWD system, making high-speed chases possible whatever the weather conditions might be. It also means forgetting thoughts of extravagant drifting action by cop cars in classic movies, sadly.

The Durango Pursuit also includes what Dodge bills as an exclusive ‘K-9 friendly’ three-zone climate control system, helping out four-legged law enforcers. Sizeable ground clearance, and the ability to tow up to over 3,200kg, should also make the Durango attractive to police departments. 

Dodge has already cornered a substantial stake in the lucrative North American law enforcement market, with the similarly V8-powered Charger Pursuit the current top-selling police car. 

Unfortunately, Dodge makes no mention of any plans to bring either the Durango or Charger Pursuit models across the Atlantic. 

Recalls have been issued for the latest 2018 Volkswagen Polo, plus the new Seat Ibiza and Seat Arona, after a Finnish car magazine discovered a safety issue that could lead to the middle passenger’s seatbelt unbuckling itself.

The issue was found during on-track testing – when steering through an evasive lane-change manoeuvre with five people on board, the outer and middle-seat passenger seatbelt buckles clashed, leading to the middle seatbelt becoming unlocked. 

The magazine repeated this several times, on the Polo, Ibiza and Arona – and the safety issue repeatedly arose. 

Volkswagen Group advised owners of the three cars – all derived from the same platform – not to use the middle seat while the issue was investigated. The car firm has now recalled all models sold to date for a technical fix. 

“There is the possibility,” said Volkswagen and Seat in statements, “that in rare situations (e.g. sudden quick lane changes with five passengers on board) and when the rear centre seat and the rear left seat are occupied at the same time, the left seat belt lock could be unintentionally released.”

There is now a technical solution: “A redesigned belt lock fixture, which will prevent this from happening.”

All three cars are still legally homologated and safe to drive, added VW and Seat: however, they’ve advised customers not to use the middle seat until the fix is made. And this won’t be an immediate repair, either: Volkswagen and Seat are “now addressing the concerned authorities for their final validation in order to implement the solution, both on vehicles in the market as well as on the future series production”. 

The recall campaign will start within the next few weeks: customers will be contacted by letter, for a safety check and, if necessary, the fitment of a redesigned part.

“The check, as well as the implementation of the redesigned belt lock fixture will be free of charge.”

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a cult car with a fanatical fanbase. Every summer, thousands of GTI devotees descend on Lake Wörthersee, Austria – almost all of them in modified Volkswagens. The 37th annual GTI-Treffen witnessed the world debut of VW’s Golf GTI TCR concept, among many other highlights. Join us for a guided tour.

Clean machine

Many cars at Wörthersee are parked with bonnets aloft, showing off super-clean engine bays. This Mk1 Golf Cabriolet boasts gold-plated fittings. Note the wood-effect wrap on the inner wings and scuttle, too.

Supercharge me

In 1990, Volkswagen added a supercharger to the Mk2 GTI 8v. The 160hp Golf G60 was the result – seen here looking stock apart from a set of BBS split-rim alloys. The ‘G-Lader’ engine was also used in the Corrado coupe and limited-edition Golf Rallye.

Hyper hatch

There are plenty of tuner demo cars on display at Wörthersee. This is Oettinger’s 500R – a 550hp Golf that hits 62mph in 3.4sec. Enough to worry a Porsche 911 Turbo…

Peak Golf

Volkswagen has built some pretty extreme Golfs of its own. This Mk2-based prototype raced America’s legendary Pikes Peak hillclimb in 1986. It has two turbocharged 1.3-litre Polo engines producing 250hp each.

Mk1 magic

The Mk1 Golf GTI wasn’t the first hot hatch, but it defined the genre. There’s huge affection for ‘Das Original’ among the fans at Wörthersee and – 42 years on – it remains a staple of the GTI scene.

Back from the brink

By contrast, the Mk3 Golf GTI is the least-loved of the breed. Its plight wasn’t helped by poor reviews and the arrival of a new flagship Golf: the 2.8-litre VR6. Today, it’s making a comeback, with plenty of tidy examples on show in Austria.

Brown sugar

Proof that it isn’t all Volkswagens at Wörthersee: this gloriously retro Audi 80 CD was a star of the campsite. In case the brown paint and alloys weren’t enough, it also has a brown velour interior.

Mark phwoar

A standard Mk4 Golf R32: nothing special there, you might think. But this Deep Blue Pearl car comes from Volkswagen’s Autostadt museum in Wolfsburg, meaning it’s probably the best R32… in the world.

Buggin’ out

The award for ‘most brilliantly bonkers car at Wörthersee’ goes to this rat-look VW Beetle roadster. It has bouncing hydraulic suspension, a chimney for an exhaust and a Pirelli P-slot alloy in place of a steering wheel.

Trailer parked

Another off-the-wall creation was this Mk3 GTI-based trailer. Inside, it offered sleeping space for two, a TV and a beer fridge. Cooler than a caravan, if a tad more cramped.

It’s a wrap

‘Dirty wraps’, as seen on this Audi TT RS, were big at Wörthersee 2018. A car’s paintwork is wrapped in sticky-backed plastic that looks filthy or rusty. Counter-intuitive, perhaps, but it stands out among all the perfect polished paintwork – and we guess that’s the point.

For the chop

Think there’s something a little odd about this second-generation (B2) Passat? Well, you’re right. The roof has been chopped in hot rod-style. With four doors and a hatchback to fit, that’s quite a feat of panelwork.

Yes to BBS

There’s just something about that classic Giugiaro shape. This Mk1 Golf wears an extra-wide side of BBS split-rims – the iconic wheels of the VW scene. It also has smaller steel bumpers, as fitted to early GTIs.

Brits abroad

A Mk1 GTI that’s driven all the way to Austria from the UK. Built by JRS DubGarage, it has a 2.0-litre TFSI engine and DSG semi-auto gearbox, both transplanted from a Mk6 Golf R. Those turbine-style alloys are one-offs, too.

Country life

The Mk2 Country remains one of the strangest special-edition Golfs. It had raised suspension, Syncro four-wheel drive, bull bars and a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate. The original crossover?

Citi life

The Citi Golf was effectively a continuation of the Mk1, manufactured in South Africa until 2009. It was only available with five doors, but a CTI version – launched in 1990 – used the same 1.8-litre engine as the original GTI.

Estate of the art

Are you brave enough to modify your brand new Audi? Some people clearly are, as this ‘slammed’ 2018 RS4 reveals. We’re not sure if the engine has been tweaked, although the standard 450hp and 443lb ft seems ample.

Batteries included

Wörthersee takes over the entire village of Reifnitz and seeing it all demands a lot of walking. These electric mini-GTIs were ideal for little legs and available to borrow at the show.

Porsche patrol

We spotted a few air-cooled 911s among the many, many Volkswagens and Audis. This 964 Turbo nailed the wide-arch look nearly three decades ago. Watch the slideshow below for more photos from Wörthersee 2018.

Read more:

• Race-bred Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR revealed
• 2018 Volkswagen Up GTI first drive: an antidote to the 310hp Golf R
• 2018 Audi RS4 Avant review: the 174mph family estate

Renault has made things even easier for customers configuring a new Clio, Captur or Megane online, by simplifying its model names down to three variants: Play, Iconic, and GT Line.

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The idea is to clarify things for befuddled customers by offering a straightforward ‘walk’ through each model range. The step up in price is clearer, and it’s much more obvious what you’re actually getting for your money.

Renault even has a name for it: EasyLife.

For Clio and Captur (the latter now being Renault’s UK best-seller), it means a five-variant model range has been reduced to three; the Megane has been cut right in half, from six to three.

It’s not only trim lines either: engine choices have also been significantly reduced, with just a single petrol or diesel engine offered on each variant – yes, really: choose from a 1.2 TCe 75 petrol or 1.5 dCi 90 diesel on the Clio, the 1.2 TCe 90 petrol or 1.5 dCi 90 diesel on the Captur, and the 1.2 TCe 130 petrol or 1.5 dCi 110 diesel on the Megane.

Here, we run through each new line-up, outlining prices for each model, and what you get as standard.

2018 Renault Clio line-up

Clio Play: from £13,500, a £445 reduction. Standard kit highlights include 16-inch black alloy wheels, air con, Bluetooth with hands free, R&GO smartphone connectivity (so you can use the sat nav on your device), electric heated door mirrors, hands free Keycard and front fog lights.

Clio Iconic: from £14,700, a £254 saving over the Dynamique Nav it replaces. Highlights include 17-inch black alloys, 7.0-inch touchscreen sat nav, rear parking sensors and dark rear glass. Chrome window surrounds are also a giveaway.

Clio GT Line: from £16,250, a £525 reduction over Dynamique S. It has full LED headlights, climate control, 17-inch GT alloys, chrome rear diffuser, side skirts and dark metal door mirrors.

2018 Renault Clio Play TCe 75 4-year PCP offer

• Monthly payments: £179
• Deposit: £179
• Dealer deposit contribution: £1,893
• APR: 4.9%
• Final payment: £4,404

2018 Renault Captur line-up

Captur Play: from £15,300, a £315 reduction. It now offers two-tone exterior paint, plus 16-inch alloys, R&GO connectivity, air con, front and rear electric windows and cruise control.

Captur Iconic: from £16,500, £405 less than the old Dynamique Nav. It adds climate control, 7.0-inch touchscreen sat nav, 17-inch alloys, auto lights and wipers, more interior chrome, leather steering wheel, ivory upholstery and, new for 2018, extra-tint rear glass and rear parking sensors.

Captur GT Line: from £18,300, a hefty £1,755 less than the old Signature X Nav. It has a more rugged look than other Captur, includes EU-wide TomTom Live ‘connected’ sat nav, auto-fold door mirrors, hand-free parking, blind sport warning, reverse-park camera, Android Auto functionality (but not Apple CarPlay), LED headlights and part-leather heated seats.

2018 Renault Captur Play TCe 90 PCP offer

• Monthly payments: £199
• Deposit: £199
• Dealer deposit contribution: £1,864
• APR: 4.9%
• Final payment: £5,543

2018 Renault Megane (and Megane Sport Tourer) line-up

Megane Play: from £17,315, £475 less than Expression+. It includes 16-inch alloys, 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED daytime running lights, dual-cone climate control and cruise control.

Megane Iconic: from £18,415, £875 less than outgoing Dynamic Nav. Iconic adds 17-inch diamond-cut alloys, R-LINK2 infotainment with TomTom Live sat nav, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster, Arkamys 3D sound system.

Megane GT Line: from £20,215, £575 less than the old GT-Line Nav. Adds sports front and rear bumpers, dark chrome door mirrors, sports seats, extra-tint rear glass and a bigger Volvo-style 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen.

2018 Renault Megane Play TCe 130 PCP offer

• Monthly payments: £219
• Deposit: £3,027
• Dealer deposit contribution: £1,000
• APR: 4.9%
• Final payment: £6,904

It was Rolls-Royce customers that demanded Rolls-Royce build an SUV. Now, here it is: the Cullinan, a model the firm says is “the most anticipated car of 2018”. It’s certainly set to be one of the most controversial.

And this is exactly what Rolls-Royce intends. “In the face of increasingly bland SUV designs,” it says, the contemporary and functional design of the Cullinan “gains iconic status”. Design chief Giles Taylor accuses other SUVs of being “homogenous and ubiquitous”. Not for Rolls-Royce, which instead has gone for “convention-challenging design”.

Rolls-Royce clients, reckons Taylor, couldn’t find what they wanted in the SUV market. “Our customers are the new pioneers, and for them, it’s about their sense of adventure and daring in how they live their experiences.” The Cullinan is a car that literally goes anywhere, he says, in “ultimate luxury and style – Rolls-Royce style”. Hence a Rolls SUV.

It’s the many limitations of rivals that Rolls-Royce believes it has answered with the Cullinan. And boy, it’s not shy in pointing them out. “The majority of so-called luxury manufacturers,” it sneers, “are limited to sharing platforms with mass brands for their SUVs, and so introducing unacceptable compromise.

“Rolls-Royce is uncompromising in only using its own architecture across all its motor cars, whatever the sector.” Take that, Bentley, and your Audi Q7- and Volkswagen Touareg-derived Bentayga.

Rivals are two-box designs, points out Rolls; the Cullinan is the sector’s first three-box car, whose extended rear partition separates passengers from the grime and clatter of stuff in the boot, and the chill/heat blast when someone opens it. Hence the glass screen that can be fitted behind rear passengers, creating a Cullinan cocoon.

Amusingly, the Goodwood firm boasts about “a completely new feature never seen before on a series production Rolls-Royce – a tailgate”.

What’s under the gargantuan bonnet? A 6.75-litre V12 twin-turbo, with 563hp and a massive 627lb ft of torque. Such pulling power is not bad for a petrol, particularly as it’s delivered from just 1,600rpm.

It’s the first four-wheel drive Rolls-Royce ever, and with added capability for the air suspension – larger air struts, strengthened drive and prop shafts amongst them – plus a heady 540mm wading depth, it’s off-road ready. Just like original off-road Rolls-Royce pioneer T.E. Lawrence used to do in Arabia.

Rolls-Royce engineering project leader Caroline Krismer picks up the ‘trash-talk the competition’ thread when discussing what lies beneath. “Unlike other car makers, we have not compromised by either retro-engineering an off-road driving system to suit on-road driving or vice versa. We began with a simple principle – to bring the famed Rolls-Royce Magic Carpet Ride to all other terrains possible, while ensuring class-leading on-road behaviour in the SUV sector.”

It’s all enhanced by one button on the centre console, which Rolls calls the ‘Everywhere’ button. Pressing it will “unleash the full gamut of Cullinan’s off-road capability”, no less. Throw in all that engine torque and a ‘Flagbearer’ stereo camera that reads the terrain ahead and proactively adjusts the suspension, for something that sounds like it reckons it can teach the Range Rover a thing or two.

Taylor says the design of the Cullinan is defined by its commanding stance, aided by a long wheelbase and ultra-long bonnet. The bonnet is set higher than the wings for a tougher look, and the side glass is extremely deep. He’s also proud of the ‘fast’ roofline at the rear that falls quickly away into the bootlid. Rear passengers sit slightly behind the rear windows, for a sense of privacy, although not as far back as in a Phantom so as not to spoil their view out. They also sit higher than those in the front.

It’s all been possible because, unlike rivals, Rolls-Royce hasn’t been forced to use “old-fashioned or shared platforms”… nor has it had to compromise with “old-fashioned or shared platforms, the choice of being good either on-road or off-road, and the relentless drive to make SUVs lower and more featureless.

Other, in short, are “blending in and becoming just another car”. Rolls reckons Cullinan’s the counterpoint to that. 

There’s little jewellery on the Cullinan, emphasising the bits it does have, such as the finisher on the bootlid and the ‘Saxon spear’ metal panel on the lower doors. Wheels? Why, 22-inches, of course. They couldn’t possibly be any smaller.

Brilliantly, Rolls-Royce ‘coach’ doors feature, and the Cullinan auto-lowers by 40mm when you open them, to aid entry. The interior design is modern, and rich, and as elegant as other Rolls-Royce; the ambience is more casual and dynamic than the formality of other models.

This is the first Rolls to have split-fold rear seats, extending the boot from 555 litres to 1,930 litres, meaning it’s time for another bit of fighting from the firm: the 2,245mm load length is, it says, longer than “reputed load-luggers such as the Volvo V90 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class or even a Range Rover Vogue Extended Wheelbase”.

We also like the sound of all the heated surfaces in the Cullinan. Yes, heated surfaces: the door armrests, front centre console lid, lower C-pillar, rear side armrests and rear centre armrest are all warmed up when you switch on the heated seats. How’s that for ultimate luxury?

The styling of the Cullinan, we’ll leave up to you (but we will advise waiting until you see it in the metal, in context, before making a final judgement). What’s certain is that this really is a Rolls-Royce like no other, a new entrant in a new sector for it, that’s seen it do things it’s never done before and approach things in an unexplored way.

This is Rolls getting bold and punchy, and we rather like it. Rolls-Royce is going a bit rogue with the roguish Cullinan. Let the fight of the ultra-posh British SUVs commence.

Mini has been on another Mini adventure – to create a one-off Mini Hatch celebrating the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The car will commemorate the wedding on 19 May, and afterwards be publically auctioned off to raise money for The Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA), one of Harry and Meghan’s chosen charities.

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But why has Mini made a special Hatch for the royal couple? Well, said Oliver Heilmer, Mini head of design, because it’s “an iconic British brand with almost 60 years of history in the UK”. Mini wanted to “mark the royal wedding with this special charitable gift”.

Mini Design says the standout features are the bespoke roof graphic, plus exterior and interior trim details that have been 3D-printed and personalised. There’s special embroidery too, ensuring this is a genuine one-off Mini.

Perhaps some elements are a bit cheesy. We can’t see ‘M hearts H’ making it to the official royal wedding car. But that’s the beauty of Mini’s new personalisation service – you can be a bit cheeky and, if you don’t like it, take it off and replace it with something else.

As you can the puddle light that shines when the door is opened: in this one-off, it currently projects ‘Just Married’ onto the ground…

The one-off Mini is painted in Crystal White. It wears a smart set of dark blue matt metallic alloys, and the surrounds for the headlights are also finished in a blue-black clear coat tint.

Other chromework to be given the blue-black tint include the grille and doorhandles. It’s a neat finish – we wonder if it’s coming to future production Minis?

The standout is the roof. It’s a hand-crafted bespoke design that marries the Union Jack and Stars & Stripes flags. The graphics were applied by hand and then painted by hand over several layers – it’s a real work of art, rather than just a simple wrap.

But the Union Jack tail laps aren’t actually a feature just for the Harry and Meghan special – they’re fitted to all new 2018 Mini Hatch and Convertible models.

And inside? Satellite grey leather is used to highlight all the special features within. These include Harry and Meghan’s name printed on the passenger side accent panel, feature graphics incorporated into the door trim strips and the panel behind the steering wheel.  

Mini’s stitched an abstract Union Flag into one head restraint and a Stars & Stripes into the other, and hand-crafted other elements within the bespoke interior. 

It’s perhaps not what you’d see on an official royal wedding car, but we like what Mini’s done here: have a bit of fun and raise a bit of money for charity at the same time. Indeed, a part of us does rather wish that this modern royal couple could drive away from St. George’s Chapel in this custom modern Mini…

Take a look to see how the Mini designed for Harry and Meghan was created, both outside and in…

Volvo is, for the first time, to share real-time safety alert data with another company. OK, that company is Volvo Trucks, but it’s still another step towards all cars becoming connected and talking to one another.

The service will initially start in Sweden and Norway. Volvo trucks fitted with hazard alert systems will be able to communicate with Volvo cars equipped with the Hazard Light Alert system, and vice versa. A UK launch has not been confirmed, but is expected. 

All data will be communicated live, but it will be anonymised and fully secure, stresses Volvo – so the cloud-based system will be GDPR-compliant.

“Sharing real-time safety data based on our connected safety technology can help avoid accidents,” said vice president of Volvo Cars Safety Centre Marlin Ekholm. “The more vehicles we have sharing safety data in real time, the safer our roads become.”

The safety boost in Sweden and Norway is itself expected to be significant. Volvo trucks and cars represent a “considerable portion” of new vehicle sales in both countries; Hazard Light Alert has been standard on all 90 and 60-series cars there since 2016, and is on the new XC40.

Adding Volvo Trucks will “cover more area, identify more potential hazards and boost overall traffic safety”, particularly on blind corners and over the crests of hills. Drivers, said Ekholm, will “virtually ‘see around the corner’ and avoid an accident before it happens.”

And Volvo is open to speaking with other companies about a safety data-share pair-up. “We look forward to establishing further collaborations with other partners who share our commitment to traffic safety.”

Volvo, remember, invented the three-point seatbelt but then, in 1959, opened up the patent to all other vehicle manufacturers. Estimates put the lives subsequently saved at one million and counting. Could its push for real-time safety alerts lead to many more saved lives in the future?

2018 Ford Fiesta ST prices start from an ultra-competitive £18,995, Ford has announced – and the hot new fast Ford is open for ordering now, with first deliveries expected in the summer.

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The sub-£19k starter price is for the ST-1, which still includes modern-day essentials such as air con, 6.5-inch Ford Sync3 touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Recaro sports seats, 17-inch alloys, cruise control and a full Euro NCAP-approved safety pack.

Pricing the new Fiesta ST from under £19,000 makes the new fast Ford appear very competitively positioned alongside its key rivals – none of which can be bought for less than £20,000.

Ford Fiesta ST: starting prices of its rivals

• Mini Hatch Cooper S 3-door: £20,635
• Peugeot 208 GTI 208: £21,185
• Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo: £20,300
• Vauxhall Corsa VXR: £21,145
• Volkswagen Polo GTI DSG: £21,145

However, the Fiesta ST-2, which costs from £19,995, is likely to prove the most popular new Fiesta ST because of the extra kit included for the £1,000 price premium.

This includes climate control, premium B&O Play sound system, heated Recaro seats, rear privacy glass, an alternative machine-finish 17-inch alloy… and blue front seat belts.

The ST-3 costs £21,495 and sadly loses the blue front seat belts. It does gain larger 18-inch alloys though, plus power-fold door mirrors, auto wipers and auto-dim rear-view mirror, red brake calipers, keyless start, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 8-inch Sync3 infotainment screen.

Seven colours are available: Race Red, Frozen White, Magnetic (a dark grey), Moondust Silver, Shadow Black, Silver Fox and, unique to the ST, Performance Blue. Race Red is free, the others are optional metallics, priced from £495 (Silver Fox and Performance Blue are £745).

All versions can be ordered with the ST Performance Pack, an £850 option that includes a Quaife limited-slip differential (a fast Fiesta first), Launch Control and ‘performance shift lights’. We at Motoring Research already consider this a must-have…

2018 Ford Fiesta ST: fast facts

Prices

ST-1 3-door: £18,995

ST-2 3-door: £19,995

ST-2 5-door: £20,645

ST-3 3-door: £21,495

ST-3 5-door: £22,145

Specs

Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost

Power: 200hp

Torque: 213lb ft

0-62mph: 6.5 seconds

Top speed: 144mph

Fuel economy: 47.1mpg (combined, NEDC)

CO2: 136g/km