70 years after it first started racing, the famous Brabham brand is back – and the reveal of a 700-horsepower track-only supercar called the BT62 at the Australian High Commission in London helped launch its comeback with a bang.

The company was originally founded by Jack Brabham and partner Ron Tauranac in 1948: it’s Jack’s son, David Brabham – himself a former F1 racer – who’s leading the rebirth of Brabham. It’s no one-product company either; the intention is to roll out a line of specialist supercars, to compete with other motorsport-infused brands such as McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche.

There are even plans to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Brabham BT62 is a ground-up fresh design, powered by a Brabham 5.4-litre V8 engine that, thanks to a kerb weight of less than a tonne, gives a power to weight ratio of 730 hp per tonne.

MD David Brabham said: “It’s with great pride that I honour and continue my father’s legacy in revealing the next chapter in the evolving Brabham story.” This, he explained, is the culmination of a 12-year project to bring back Brabham.

“The team we have in place, and the vision it shares, provides a solid platform for Brabham Automotive to execute its long-term business strategy. Our first step to deliver on that strategy is the Brabham BT62, a car truly worthy of carrying the iconic Brabham name.”

We won’t have long to wait, either: first deliveries of the BT62 will begin later in 2018.

Brabham BT62: in detail

The BT62 is a carbon fibre supercar that will cost £1 million plus taxes. The reborn company plans to build just 70 of them – and the first 35 will come in an exclusive range of retro liveries inspired by Brabham’s title-winning 35-year run in Formula 1 racing.

Jack Brabham remains the only man to have won the F1 World Championship in a car bearing his own name, and Brabham’s most recent world titles were scooped by Brazilian Nelson Piquet.

Video: Brabham BT62 revealed in London

An aggressive aerodynamic package means the BT62 produces way more downforce than it actually weighs – over 1,200kg, says the new company. Michelin racing slicks give it ample traction and Brabham Automotive says it’s working closely with the tyre firm to “ensure the continued performance of its vehicles to the very highest levels”.

The mid-engined car is rear-wheel drive, with a race-spec gearbox mounted at the back. Cool details include a motorsport-spec air jack system, plus carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers front and rear. Interestingly, although it’s left-hand drive in the images, right-hand drive is available on request.

Brabham Automotive director of technology and engineering Paul Birch said” “Created from a blank sheet of paper, our first car takes Brabham into an exciting new era, whilst honouring and upholding the marque’s glorious past.

“Using contemporary materials, processes and technologies, and following a rigorous two-year engineering and development programme, the resulting BT62 is a car that demands total engagement and commitment from its driver, delivering immense reward and satisfaction.”

70 cars for 70 years

Production will be limited to just 70 cars – one for each year since Sir Jack Brabham lauchced his racing career –  with the first 35 liveired in tribute to each of Brabham’s F1 Grand Prix victories.

Owners will be invited to join a tailored driver development and experience programme, to enable them to get the best from their 700hp track star. First delivers are expected later this year.

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The MPV isn’t history quite yet – but the art part of the Citroen C4 Picasso’s name is. The French firm has ditched the Picasso name (and the licence payments to the Spanish master’s estate) and renamed the five- and seven-seat people carrier range Citroen C4 SpaceTourer and Grand C4 SpaceTourer instead.

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The name change, says Citroen, means the five- and seven-seat mid-size MPV models can be brought in line with the original large van-derived SpaceTourer, which seats between five and nine people. All share the same ‘SpaceTourer’ tailgate badge and typography.

Benefitting from the C4 Picasso’s mid-life facelift that introduced extra comfort and more features from the Citroen Advanced Comfort programme. This includes softer suspension, plusher seats and other things to help with occupant wellbeing.

Three trims are offered, the familiar Citroen lines of Feel and Flair, plus a better-value Touch Edition entry spec. All have a decent haul of kit – and, mindful of the car’s family-friendly pretensions, the top-spec Flair now has a standard Safety Pack which includes active safety braking, driver attention alert plus speed limit recognition.

There’s a new gearbox coming from June, too: the eight-speed automatic EAT8, which will be paired with the BlueHDi 160 diesel. Prices start from £27,550, or £29,250 for the Grand C4 SpaceTourer.

C4 SpaceTourer

Grand C4 SpaceTourer

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The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is the firm’s latest second-generation plug-in hybrid, with even more economy and electric range to back up its greater performance and dynamism. The claimed EV-only range is now up to 27 miles – and if you’re less worried about zero-emissions distance, it can drive at speeds of up to 83mph fully electrically too.

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Porsche claims the new Cayenne E-Hybrid has an electric boost strategy matching that of the 918 Spyder hypercar. Its 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine delivers 340hp and an additional electric motor puts out 136hp; combined, the total system power is 462hp. That’s good for 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 157mph.

The 918 Spyder boost strategy is new. It means that the instant you press the accelerator pedal, you have access to the car’s full 516lb ft of pulling power. In Sport and Sport Plus mode, the Cayenne E-Hybrid will unleash virtually all of the battery’s energy – and it’s automatically recharged to give another boost as soon as you demand it.

Other modes place more of an emphasis on economy and efficiency…

Speaking of fuel economy, all are good, but exactly how good depends on wheels (and where you drive it). Choose big alloys, and the official NEDC average is 83.1mpg. Choose more sensible rims and the official figure rises to 88.3mpg.

And if you live in town and mainly do short journeys in between charging points, you could see over 100mpg, thanks to the ability to drive so far on electric power.

Battery capacity is up 30 percent, to 14.1 kWh, and it’s still stored beneath the boot floor. Charging takes just under eight hours on a domestic supply, and just over two hours with the optional 7.2 kW fast charger are used.

The rest of the Cayenne E-Hybrid is largely the same as other new versions of Porsche’s large luxury SUV. One figure that did stand out to us was the fact it’s still capable of towing a full 3.5-tonne load, although while Porsche has introduced a 22-inch alloy wheel option in Europe, it’s not yet decided when these are coming to the UK.

Ordering for the new Cayenne E-Hybrid is now open, with prices from £67,128, and first delivers will begin in late May.  

Builders and delivery van drivers, the Ford Focus RS you’ve long dreamt of may have now gone out of production, but the blue oval is now offering you the opportunity to go one better – with your very own MS-RT Transit Custom ‘RS van’! On sale this spring, prices start from £32,995 (plus VAT).

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Developed by Ford’s WRC partner, the M-Sport Ford Works Rally Team, the new MS-RT has been honed with a series of technology and aerodynamic upgrades that are, quite literally, inspired by motorsport.

It’s even hand-built here in Britain, at the MS-RT factory in Pontypool, South Wales.

MS-RT founding director Ed Davies reckons it’s going to become “the hottest property on the van market.

“The new MS-RT Transit Custom takes an already excellent van and turns it into something really special, which owners are bound to cherish, and which businesses will use to make their brands really stand out.

“We’re extremely excited about the launch of the new Custom and what it means for MS-RT, as well as our many loyal customers. In addition, it’s also great news for the British economy, as every single vehicle is hand-finished in our factory in Pontypool, South Wales.

So what’s changed over the regular (and itself very able) Transit Custom? For starters, there’s a bespoke set of 18-inch OZ Racing alloys, finished in Anthracite. Eibach performance lowering springs have been added on, which give it a hotter stance without, says MS-RT, affecting the payload capacity.

Technicians have then fitted a full-fat bodykit: all-new front bumper and grille with built-in fog lights, front diffuser, rear diffuser, rear spoiler and a set of wide wheelarch extensions and side sill extensions to join it all up.

There’s also a dual-exit sports exhaust system (a British-made setup to boot), plus ample MS-RT branding and decals.

Inside, hand-made, nappa leather and Alcantara-trimmed MS-RT sports seats and steering wheel feature, as does an array of carbon fibre inserts and more MS-RT branding for the floor mats and even the dials.

There’s a welter of standard equipment too: Ford Sync3 infotainment (with sat nav), HID headlights with LED daytime running lights, reversing camera, heated windscreen, 230v power convertor and ultra-bright LED loadspace lighting.

And unlike the Ford Focus RS, it’s not one size fits all. Indeed, the MS-RT Transit Custom is offered in panel van or double cab guise, in regular or long-wheelbase form, and the 170hp 2.0-litre Ecoblue diesel engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Van fans, take your pick from this little lot…

You’ve heard of the Festival of the Unexceptional, well Top Marques Monaco is the very antithesis of that event. It’s billed as “Monaco’s third most popular event”, which showcases the world’s finest automobiles, watches and jewellery. Here are some images from this year’s extravaganza, which uses the famous Grand Prix circuit to allow “high calibre visitors” to take the ultimate test drive.

Shmee150

Hi guys, it’s Shmee…

Smile for the camera

A Twisted Land Rover Defender and many cameras.

Twisted Land Rover Defender

Another Kodachrome moment from Top Marques Monaco.

Maserati Ghibli

Ah, this is more like it. Arguably one of the finest grand tourers of all-time, the Giugiaro-designed Ghibli was the flagship of the Maserati range and a genuine rival to the Lamborghini Islero and Ferrari Daytona. In the UK, the press ad headline was simple and to the point: “Maserati Ghibli. 174mph.”

Lamborghini Huracan Avio

This is the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Avio: a limited-run special edition dedicated to the Italian Air Force. Only 250 units were built, each one powered by a 5.2-litre V10 engine developing 602hp and 413lb ft of torque. On the door you’ll spot an L63 logo, with the L for Lamborghini and 63 for the year in which the company was founded. The Italian Air Force roundel is placed between the L and 63.

Carbon Champagne

You know you’re at Top Marques Monaco when there’s a bottle of Champagne Carbon left lying about. The magnums, which retail for around €3,000, are used at the end of each F1 race. Ideal for when you’ve just placed a deposit on a new Danish supercar in Monaco.

Alfa Romeo 4C Centurion 008

German tuning company Pogea Racing has been doing naughty things with the Alfa Romeo 4C since 2013, and this is one of its latest creations: the Centurion 008. If Cadbury made Italian sports cars…

Alfa Romeo 4C Centurion 008

Here’s another view of Pogea Racing’s Centurion 008. The company started working on the project in October 2016, using a red Alfa 4C as the base. The paintwork was completed in January 2017, with Pogea using a super-matte finish based on a mother-of-pearl shade by Lamborghini. Pogea calls it Royal Mystique.

Eadon Green Zeclat

“The new Eadon Green Zeclat exudes an easy calm and evokes comparison with cars of the past that now look more at home in automotive museums than they do on the roads of today.” That’s according to the British company behind the car based on the platform of a Chevrolet Corvette. It’s like an Art Deco Morgan with a 6.2-litre V8 ‘Vette engine.

Apollo IE

Sticking with a purple theme, this is the €2.3 million Apollo IE hypercar, complete with 780hp naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 engine and a top speed of 208mph. Amazingly, the entire chassis, including the monoque and the front and rear subframes, has a total weight of just 105kg. Only 10 will be built. The name, in case you were wondering, stands for Intensa Emozione.

Corbellati Missile

It’s not purple, but Corbellati claims that it will be very, very quick. Like, really quick. “The fastest hypercar in the world is coming,” proclaims the jewellery company behind the Missile, which is powered by a 9.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine producing 1,800hp. It’ll hit 500km/h, says Corbellati, which is about 310mph. Hmm.

Chevy Black Knight

If Alandi Performance is anything to go by, the car modification scene in Moldova is far from subtle. “Alandi’s first credo is to make something than it is from the factory,” says the company. Beneath the Chevy Black Knight – with its “Robocop-style” grille – you’ll find a Camaro SS. Better than the factory original?

Supervette project

“Corvette is dangerous, cheeky and salient due to its defiant ‘face’ with a sarcastic look of the headlights.” Even allowing for the translation from Moldovan, that’s a sentence you’re unlikely to read in a brochure for a new compact crossover.

Porsche 918 Spyder

The Top Marques show encapsulated in one photo: a Kuwait-registered Porsche 918 Spyder in Monaco.

Renntech AMG GT R

Renntech has grown from a company specialising in the servicing of AMG cars into one of the world’s preeminent tuners of AMG and Mercedes-Benz products. Based in North America, Renntech also has a research development centre at the Nürburgring, meaning it’s well placed to develop cars such as the GT R.

Arash AF10

If you arrived at Top Marques hoping to get a test drive in a new Hyundai i10, you would have been disappointed. On the other hand, if you were in search of hypercars with circa 2,000hp and a 0-60mph time of 2.8 seconds, your luck would have been in. Newmarket-based Arash Motor Company will sell you an AF10 Hybrid Racer for £1,200,000.

Porsche 911 Turbo S Stinger Felix Ferro Edition

This is the Porsche 911 Turbo S Stinger Felix Ferro Edition, complete with 21-inch rims, upgraded brakes and exhaust system, and an engine tweaked to deliver 750hp.

Lamborghini Diablo

The Springboks Club organises scenic drives and events for the supercar elite. There were many Springboks cars on tour in Monaco, including a Bugatti EB110, Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari F40 and this Lamborghini Diablo.

Top Marques Monaco

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Porsche Classic and Porsche Cars GB have opened a unique ‘pop-up shop’ for retro Porsche fans at the fast-growing Bicester Heritage classic motoring hub. Run by Dick Lovett and Porsche Centre Swindon, it aims to be a showcase for all things old Porsche, from 356 to 996 911. 

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The concept is similar to the ‘Porsche Life’ shops that have been popping up around the UK. ‘Porsche Classic Life’ follows a similar concept – showing off parts and accessories for older Porsches, along with the experts who can advise and guide owners in the right direction. 

Porsche’s expecting the Bicester Heritage base to be a prime location for the site, although it adds that it’s not just for owners. Porsche enthusiasts are also welcome, and the relaxed, informal setting will hopefully encourage newcomers to learn more (and buy stuff). 

The customer lounge and parts shop isn’t the only element of the new Porsche Classic Life shop, though. There’s also an inspection ramp, which technicians from Porsche Centre Swindon can use to check the health of visitors’ classics, before then ordering the necessary parts (and Porsche Classic Genuine Parts lists over 52,000 of them) back inside. 

Porsche opened the Classic Life pop-up during the Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble last month, staffed by Dick Lovett experts. It’ll continue to open its doors throughout 2018: if you’re keen to visit, email Porsche Swindon’s Stephen Brown on stephen.brown@porscheswindon.co.uk, or give him a buzz on 07773 948516.

Look at that company car driver, relaxing in his office chair, wearing the face of someone who is at peace with the world. It’s the face of a man who has joined the FCA Drivers Club, a new initiative dedicated to those who have chosen a Fiat Chrysler Group car for work.

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Open to drivers of FCA cars, which in the UK means Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth and Jeep (but not, ahem, Chrysler), the scheme offers the opportunity to experience FCA products at special events, such as track days and off-road adventures. The Drivers Club is also open to drivers of competitors’ cars obtained for business use.

Members will be invited to attend Company Car in Action, the UK’s largest multi-brand fleet test-driving event, which is usually restricted to fleet managers. FCA will also be offering tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Farnborough Air Show, along with access to the company’s vehicle demonstrator fleet without a visit to a dealer.

Fit weeks of vehicle testing, discussion and analysis into just one day at #CCIA18.

Make sure you don't miss out on this unique opportunity by registering for your free pass now: https://t.co/WqJKyX3Ryo pic.twitter.com/HqUrmmmuSt

— Company Car In Action (@CCIA_UK) April 27, 2018

In addition, FCA is offering discounts on genuine accessories and privilege purchase schemes for second cars. There is even a welcome gift for drivers of FCA vehicles, which might explain why our suited friend is looking so happy.

“The company car is one of the most exciting perks of a job but, whether it’s a benefit of status or an essential business tool, choosing the right car for the job is an important decision. This is especially true if you’re going to spend several years in that vehicle or going to undertake serious mileage,” says Simon Wheeler, national fleet marketing manager, FCA UK.

“Choosing a company car is an important decision so the objectives of the club are to help drivers in their selection when considering a Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Abarth or Fiat Professional vehicle, adding value to the ownership experience by rewarding loyalty. We also want to incentivise company car drivers of competitor products to get to know the FCA product range and give our cars a try.”

Company car drivers can register via the FCA Drivers Club website.

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Skoda Connect is the firm’s clever smartphone app that allows owners to remotely check on their car – and it can now be used ‘hands-free’ via Amazon Alexa. 

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Alexa owners who add the Skoda Connect Alexa Skill, and then link it to their Skoda Connect account, will be able to access real-time information about their car’s status or whereabouts, which Skoda describes as vehicle interaction “on a completely new level”.  

Using it is child’s play. Simply say out loud commands such as, “Alexa, ask Skoda how far I can drive with the current fuel level”. The app checks how much you’ve got left in your tank, and then replies with a distance in miles – and it’s a real time figure, based on the current mpg of the car. 

There are a total of 12 different parameters at launch, which allows owners to do things such as check whether they’ve left their lights on, remind themselves where they’ve parked and check whether the doors are locked. 

More services will be added in time. 

Skoda Connect is currently available across the range, on the Fabia, Rapid, Octavia, Karoq, Superb and Kodiaq. It’s not just about Amazon Alexa functionality either; it also includes Infotainment Online (providing, amongst other things, a wifi hotspot within the car) and Emergency Call (which auto-dials the emergency services, and locates you, in a crash). 

There’s no need for any dealer visits to get the Amazon Alexa upgrade. Skoda’s done all the hard work at its end, so owners simply need to add the Alexa Skill to their device in order to activate the new virtual personal assistant aid. 

Renault Sport fans, you have no time to waste: only 15 Clio R.S.18 limited editions are coming to the UK, and each is going to cost £24,295. Oh, and it’s on sale right now.

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Carrying the same name as the 2018 Renault Sport Racing F1 car, the Clio R.S.18 was originally only offered for European buyers – but hefty public demand from Renault hot hatch-loving Brits has encouraged the firm to bring just 15 cars over here.

This will make the R.S.18 “one of the most exclusive Renault Sport versions to have ever been sold here”.

It’s based on the Clio R.S. 220 Trophy, itself a pumped-up version of the regular 200hp Clio, and each car will wear a Deep Black and Liquid Yellow paint job. Only R.S.18 Clios have the Renault diamond, R.S. logo and rear diffuser painted in Black Gloss, and the R.S.18 decals on the rood and doors are also unique.

Contrasting all the black are Liquid Yellow highlights for the front blade, wheel centre caps and bodyside mouldings.

Inside, there are Renault Sport floor mats, Alcantara steering wheel, carbon fibre-effect air vents and a numbered kick plate.

The fancy hardware from the R.S. 220 Trophy is all carried across, including a fruity Akrapovic exhaust, Hydraulic Compression Control suspension dampers and uprated brakes. Performance? 0-62mph takes 6.6 seconds and the 1.6-litre turbo R.S.18 will do 146mph flat-out (and average 47.9mpg if you take it steady).

Like all Renault Sport models, the cars are sold through 20 specialist dealers – and Renault has announced 11 of them, listed below, will each be granted one R.S.18 to sell (lucky Renault Enfield gets two).

The remaining three cars? They’ll be spread across the entire Renault UK network. Keep the fighting clean, Renault Sport fans…

• Renault Enfield
• Lookers, Newcastle
• John Banks, Cambridge
• Pentagon, Lincoln
• Rawlinson, Bury St Edmunds
• Bristol Street Motors, Nottingham
• Harratts, Wakefield
• Martins, Basingstoke
• Arnold Clark, Hillington
• Renault Solihull
• Masters of Beckenham

The potent new Renault Megane R.S. is now on sale with prices starting from a competitive £27,495 – and for those able to order in May, Renault Sport dealers will throw in the £1,500 Cup Chassis Pack for free as an added incentive.

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Boasting Britain’s most powerful 1.8-litre turbo engine, the 280hp Megane R.S. price compares very keenly to alternatives such as the 275hp Hyundai i30 N (from £28,010) and 230hp Volkswagen Golf GTI 5-door (from £29,120).

Although the Honda Civic Type R boasts more power, at 320hp, it also costs rather more: prices start from £30,995, £3,500 more than the Renault (or £5,000 once Renault’s May Cup Chassis Pack offer is factored in). Confirmed prices are also lower than Renault’s original estimates of £29k.

Offering “world-first” 4Control four-wheel steering as standard, Renault is offering the new Megane R.S. with a choice of both manual and EDC dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, both offering the same 280hp and 297lb ft of pulling power.

Both will do 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, and offer a fairly brag-worthy top speed of 158mph. The manual averages 39.7mpg, with the EDC improving to 40.9mpg; CO2 dips from 161g/km to 155g/km.

At £29,195, the Megane R.S. 280 EDC is £1,700 more than the standard car.

The free Cup Chassis Pack combines stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bar with a limited slip differential, plus red brake calipers for extra on-street kudos. Other options include 19-inch alloys for £950, Brembo bi-material brakes for £900, and three different paint options – metallic is £550, Renault i.d. metallic is £650 and Renault Sport i.d. metallic is £1,300.

As standard, all 2018 Megane R.S. come with sat nav, climate control, rear parking sensors, Nappa leather steering wheel and R.S. Vision full LED lighting complete with those distinctive ‘chequered flag’ driving lights.

If you want the free Cup Chassis Pack incentive, you have until the end of May to order, with first deliveries due in July. Renault expects the UK to be a key market for the Megane R.S., as we are for all Renault Sport models.

And in case you’re wondering how many Renault Sport Meganes the firm has sold since revealing the first one at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, wonder no longer. The currently tally is up to more than 53,000, and counting.