The current MOT system is to be scrapped from May 2018 – with a new, more challenging test taking its place.
From 20 May, all cars being put forward for their annual test of roadworthiness will be examined under strict new rules. These will see faults graded depending on how dangerous they are, and greater emphasis placed on diesel car emissions.
Currently, all cars on UK roads between three- and 40-years-old must be MOTed annually by an approved garage. Any major faults will result in a fail: these include things like tyres below the minimum tread depth, or CO2 emissions above a certain level.
Other faults, classed as ‘advisories’ include things like worn tyres (but not below the 1.6mm minimum tread depth) or rust that doesn’t affect the structural integrity of the vehicle. The idea is that car owners should consider fixing these issues – especially as they may get worse over time – but they don’t prevent the vehicle being roadworthy at the time of the test.
The new rules essentially rename ‘advisories’ as ‘minor faults’. They work in the same manner – issues that they owner needs to be aware of, but things the tester has no qualms over allowing the car’s owner to drive away with.
However, other faults will now be split between ‘dangerous’ and ‘major’ faults. The former will include things that make the car dangerous to drive away from the garage – even if it’s to be repaired or if the existing MOT is still valid. Major faults, meanwhile, will trigger an MOT fail but won’t be flagged up as dangerous.
The changes, which are being brought in to meet a new EU directive, have attracted criticism from motoring organisation the RAC.
“While on the surface this change seems like a sensible move, we fear many motorists could end up being confused by the new categories which give an indication as to the seriousness of vehicle defects identified in an MOT test,” said RAC spokesman Simon Williams.
“Rather than MOT failures simply being black and white, the new system creates the potential for confusion as testers will have to make a judgement as to whether faults are ‘Dangerous’, ‘Major’ or ‘Minor’. This will surely be open to interpretation which may lead to greater inconsistency from one test centre to another.
“Motorists may also struggle to understand the difference between ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Major’ failures. The current system ensures that any vehicle with a fault that doesn’t meet the MOT requirements is repaired appropriately before being allowed back on the road.”
There will also be new rules for diesel cars which could make it more difficult to pass the MOT test. Vehicles emitting ‘visible smoke of any colour’ will be issued with a major fault and therefore an instant fail, while cars with diesel particulate filters that have been removed or tampered with will also fail. That’s unless the owner can prove that amendments have been made to clean the filter.
Lister will launch the fastest, most powerful and luxurious car it has ever built at next month’s Historic Motorsport International, staged at London’s ExCeL.
The Jaguar F-Type-based Lister Thunder uses the showroom 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine to deliver a devilish 666bhp, enough to send the firm’s first modern-day road car since the Storm of 1993 to a top speed of 208mph. The 0-62mph sprint is polished off in just 3.2 seconds.
It won’t come cheap: Lister is asking £139,950 for the thunderous F-Type, and the Cambridgeshire-based company will build just 99 examples. Lister hopes to use its heritage and cars like the Thunder to become synonymous with tuned Jaguars.
A new era of vehicle tuning has arrived in the form of the Lister Thunder. 208mph, 0-60 in just over 3 seconds and a devilish 666bhp. Watch the launch video here: https://t.co/9ZOZLCDjL0pic.twitter.com/lN4Pf3LXBp
Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Lister Motor Company, said: “Like Brabus and AMG with Mercedes and Alpina with BMW, we are hoping to become synonymous once again with tuning Jaguar vehicles, giving customers new enhanced, bespoke performance and design alternatives to Jaguar’s acclaimed model programme.
“Although we are not directly affiliated with Jaguar Land Rover, Lister has a Jaguar tuning heritage dating back 65 years. Our new Lister Thunder is the fastest and most powerful Lister ever created, with a 208mph top speed and 0-100 time of just 6.8 seconds. I am utterly proud of what we have achieved, and the Thunder is just the beginning!”
The firm already builds continuation models at its factory in Cambridge, including the Stirling Moss Edition: an exact replica of the super-lightweight Lister Knobbly driven to victory by Moss at Silverstone in 1958. But the Thunder is more in-line with the V12-engined Storm of 1993 and the Le Mans of 1986.
Lister will release the full specification of the Thunder at the car’s unveiling in February, but the company has confirmed some details. The carbon fibre front bumper is custom-made and includes an extended splitter for added downforce. Lister vents adorn the bonnet, while the grille centre, decals and callipers match the customer’s desired interior combination.
The rear bumper is also carbon fibre and houses enlarged carbon exhaust tips that are said to deliver a “thundery note when pressed”. The rear badge is made from solid brass and chromed, presumably because that’s what customers expect from their 208mph F-Type.
The Thunder’s cabin is finished in Bridge of Weir Nappa leather, available in 36 colours, with Lister logos stitched into the headrests and seat pattern, matching the front grille.
Lawrence Whittaker has high hopes for the future, saying: “We came to the inaugural ExCel show last year and it was one of the best shows we have attended, quickly selling a new Knobbly whilst on the stand!
“That is why we have chosen this year’s follow-up event at ExCel to launch the exciting new Lister Thunder, which will mark the first car from our revised Jaguar tuning programme.”
What else can we expect from Lister? With the popularity of crossovers and SUVs, would tuned versions of the F-Pace and E-Pace be a stretch for a brand steeped in motorsport history? Don’t bet against it.
First, the bad news. Fewer cars were built in Britain during 2017, the first decline in UK car manufacturing for eight years, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal . A total of 1,671,166 cars were made here last year, 3 percent down on 2016 – but in more positive news, this is still the second-highest total in 17 years.
It’s British car buyers who are to blame for the decline. Last year, we bought almost 10 percent UK-made cars, and worryingly, the decline accelerated to almost 25 percent in December 2017. Exports were also down, but by a lesser 1.1 percent – although these too fell over 9 percent in December.
8 in 10 British-built cars are exported: in 2017, that equalled 1.3 million new cars. So which cars did Britain build most of in 2017? Here’s the countdown of the 10 most popular…
10: Land Rover Discovery Sport
Built at Halewood in Liverpool, Land Rover’s seven-seat SUV is doing solid business, although is still not as popular as its ageing premium Range Rover sibling, up next…
9: Range Rover Evoque
But how long can the Range Rover Evoque continue to defy the odds? Since its introduction in 2011, Halewood has operated 24/7, but Land Rover recently announced this is drawing to a close, as sales start to slow ahead of its replacement.
A new Range Rover Evoque is expected to be seen later in 2018, and hopefully the flat-out operation of the giant JLR plant near Liverpool will recommence…
8: Jaguar F-Pace
Jumping into eighth place is a Jaguar! The firm’s incredibly popular F-Pace is becoming the most successful, most significant Jag ever, and has at last put the brand on the map. It’s built in Solihull and this facility too is operating around the clock to meet demand.
It’s the reigning 2017 World Car of the Year, which boosted its success in 2017, and demand still shows little sign of tailing off in 2018.
7: Range Rover Sport
Said to be Jaguar Land Rover’s single most profitable model, the Range Rover Sport thrived for another year in 2017. It was facelifted later in the year and a plug-in hybrid is now available, further boosting the aluminium-built model’s green credentials.
6: Nissan Juke
Nissan builds the Juke at its massive Sunderland plant, but the supermini-sized crossover is ageing badly, and demand is tailing off. We expect to see a new Juke in 2018 which again should restore the car’s fortunes – provided Nissan again gets the design right, that is.
5: Vauxhall Astra
There’s much concern over Vauxhall’s Astra production plant in Ellesmere Port. A second round of redundancies has been announced as the facility ramps up efforts to prove its sustainability. The latest Astra is a good car, but the malaise of the brand is having a big effect on sales.
The future of this car plant is one to watch carefully – it’s probably the most under-threat automotive factory in Britain right now…
4: Toyota Auris
The ageing Auris is nearing replacement. Toyota has already announced its Burnaston, Derbyshire factory will make the new one, which is good news. This means there won’t be too much concern about dropping behind a Japanese arch-rival in the UK car production stakes…
3: Honda Civic
The latest Honda Civic is proving to be a huge success, which is great news for the plant in Swindon. Half of all production is exported to the United States, such is North American demand for the new Civic, and the factory is back to operating at near-capacity.
2: Mini
Mini enjoyed a solid year in 2017. Production was up slightly, and a new electric model was confirmed for the Plant Oxford factory, bringing sustainable models to its future roster.
1: Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai continued its reign as the car Britain builds in greater numbers than any other. A facelifted model was seamlessly launched in 2017 which, like all other Qashqais, was designed at the firm’s Paddington studio and engineered at its base in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.
That the Qashqai continues to be one of the best-selling cars for British buyers means it’s a success story both here and abroad. Long may it continue…
2017’s biggest car makers in Britain
So that’s the top 10 cars – how did that leave the brand rankings? Well, fittingly, Jaguar Land Rover came out top, as the car firm building most cars in Britain. It was down marginally, by 2.3 percent, as was the next-largest car firm, Nissan.
Mini was third, with a modest production increase, and Honda was boosted by over 22 percent by the success of the new Civic. Derbyshire’s Toyota, in contrast, was hobbled by the ageing Auris and Avensis – although Ellesmere Port’s Vauxhall has no such excuses, as the Astra is a relatively new model. Just what is going wrong at Vauxhall?
1: Jaguar Land Rover: 532,107 cars – DOWN 2.3 percent
2: Nissan: 495,206 cars – DOWN 2.4 percent
3: Mini: 218,885 cars – UP 3.8 percent
4: Honda: 164,160 cars – UP 22.4 percent
5: Toyota: 144,077 cars – DOWN 20.1 percent
6: Vauxhall: 92,164 cars – DOWN 22 percent
7: Specialists: 24,567 cars – DOWN 9.4 percent
The British car exporters
So where are all the cars built in Britain exported to? The EU is Britain’s single biggest trading partner, taking more than half the 1.3 million cars built here in 2017. The next biggest market is the US, although as the figures show below, this is way down on around 15 percent of cars made here…
Top 10 markets for British-built cars in 2017
1: 53.9% – EU
2: 15.7% – US
3: 7.5% – China
4: 2.9% – Australia
5: 2.6% – Turkey
6: 2.6% – Japan
7: 2.1% – Canada
8: 1.6% – South Korea
9: 1.2% – Russia
10: 0.9% – Israel
Britain in Europe
Which were the top EU countries for British cars? Leading the way is Germany, which is fitting, because many of the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars are actually built in Germany. Surprisingly, more British-built cars go to Belgium than the much larger market of Spain.
And what was the best-selling car in the best-selling country for British cars, Germany? Why, the Vauxhall Astra…
1: Germany
2: Italy
3: France
4: Belgium
5: Spain
The powerhouses of Britain
It wasn’t just cars built in Britain last year – and this was a real production highlight of 2017. 2.72 million of them were made in 2017, the biggest total ever, thanks to growth of 6.9 percent on 2016.
Big engine plants include Ford’s Dagenham and Bridgend, Toyota in Deeside BMW at Hams Hall and, of course, Jaguar Land Rover’s huge factory in Wolverhampton.
It’s back… but not just yet. The BBC hasn’t confirmed the official air date for the next series of Top Gear, but with The Grand Tour finding its groove, the broadcaster will be keen to ensure it doesn’t get forgotten.
“The world’s biggest motoring show is back!” proclaims the press release, which appears to be a direct response to Jeremy Clarkson’s introduction to a recent episode of The Grand Tour, in which he declared it be “the world’s most exciting motoring show”.
But let’s not turn this series preview of Top Gear into a battle of handbags and a steak-infused fracas. Instead, let’s look forward to an old favourite returning to our screens on a Sunday evening. It’ll sure as hell be a welcome break from Strictly Come Ice Skating Midwives.
The BBC is calling it series 25 of Top Gear, which is a bit like the Premier League claiming there was no football before 1992. But, it is the 25th series since Clarkson and co. gave the show a much-needed reboot in 2002. Sorry Woollard, Goffey, Edmonds and Rippon.
So, what can we look forward to when Top Gear returns at some point in the spring? Quite a lot, if the teaser images and video are anything to go by. They have a lot to cram into six hour-long episodes.
The group tests look interesting, with Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid driving across Utah in a Ford Mustang GT350R, Jaguar F-Type SVR and McLaren 570GT, and tackling the Burghley Horse Trials in an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Volvo XC60 and Range Rover Velar.
We’ll also see Chris Harris taking a sumo wrestler for a ride in Japan, Matt LeBlanc getting up to mischief with Ken Block (again), and Rory Reid dancing in a car.
“Who says we don’t do serious car reviews?” asks Matt LeBlanc at the beginning of the trailer, before we’re treated to 60 seconds of dirt, tyre smoke, hijinx and a Roller slamming into a fruit and veg stall. Oh, and not forgetting The Stig.
When is it back? Well, the final episode of series two of The Grand Tour airs on 16th February, so our guess would be 25th February at the earliest.
Clarkson, Hammond and May have hit some real high points in this series – the Lancia vs Audi feature is a good case in point – so the BBC has some catching up to do. Over to you, Le Blanc, Harris and Reid.
The European new car market experienced modest growth in 2017, reveal latest figures from JATO Dynamics – and would have been better still if it weren’t for the declining UK market and a fast-growing distaste for diesel cars.
Overall, 15.57 million cars were sold in Europe last year, a 3.1 percent increase on 2016. Thank Southern and Eastern Europe for this: the UK, in contrast, remains a “concern” and dragged down the otherwise-solid overall results. Britain is, remember, Europe’s second-largest new car market, behind Germany.
Other trends were more universal. Just as in Britain, diesel market share fell by 7.9 percent (and a whopping 20.5 percent in December 2017): across Europe, it’s down to 43.7 percent, the lowest in a decade. Europe, don’t forget, is the world’s leading market for diesel cars. If the declines here continue, the fuel’s entire future may soon be in doubt.
Petrol sales were boosted as a result – 760,000 more of them (growth of almost 11 percent) were sold in the EU last year. But that’s nothing compared to the growth of SUVs. 4.56 million were registered in Europe last year, almost a 20 percent rise on 2016.
As for alternative fuel cars such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs, they were up 46 percent, to take 4.8 percent of the overall European market.
Along with the headline numbers, Europe’s favourite new cars of 2017 have been revealed. Using data supplied by JATO Dynamics, we run through the top 25 best-selling cars in Europe, along with figures that tell us if the cars are on the up or on the way down. The data is presented in reverse order.
Audi A3: 164,045 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 13.9%
A3 registrations were down 13.9 percent in 2016, but Audi’s volume hero just manages to hold on to a place in the top 25. A new-generation A3 will arrive in 2019, with Audi confirming that the three-door variant will be axed from the range.
Peugeot 3008: 166,784 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 554.9%
We’re not going to pretend that this is anything other than a list of cars you’ll probably see on your European travels in 2018, but there are some genuinely impressive figures. Take the Peugeot 3008, which has seen registrations increase by 554.9 percent. Having an all-new and much improved model certainly helps.
Renault Megane: 168,132 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 12.9%
The current Renault Megane arrived in 2016 as a long-overdue replacement for the ageing Mk3 Megane. The coupe and cabriolet versions are long gone, but you can still buy the five-door hatchback and Sport Tourer estate models in the UK, along with a four-door saloon in other European markets. The Renault Sport version will finally join the range in 2018.
Vauxhall/Opel Mokka: 170,384 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 3.5%
The PSA Group has plans to make Vauxhall and Opel profitable, and cars like the Mokka X – along with the smaller Crossland X and larger Grandland X models – will be key to that success. In the UK, the Mokka X is priced from £19,000, but you’ll pay £27,000 for the Ultimate model.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 176,705 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 0.2%
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the ninth most popular car in the UK in 2017, and the 21st across the whole of Europe. It’s a terrific result for a car with a premium badge and in a segment supposedly struggling in the wake of the continued rise of the crossover and SUV.
Skoda Fabia: 180,136 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 2.1%
Skoda will unveil a new Fabia at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, but the outgoing model continues to put on a good show of strength. Since 1999, more than four million Fabias have been sold worldwide, with the current model accumulating sales in excess of 500,000. Amazingly, it’s not even Skoda’s most popular car.
Peugeot 2008: 180,868 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 2.6%
The Peugeot 2008 was launched in 2013 and given a mid-life facelift in 2016. It must have worked, because registrations are up 2.6 percent to 180,868 in 2017. Prices start from £16,495, but you’ll pay upwards of £18,645 for the recently released Allure Premium trim, which offers £1,400 of equipment over the Allure model at a price increase of £800.
Volkswagen Passat: 184,123 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 11.6%
Sales of the Volkswagen Passat are on the decline, which is hardly surprising for a car that dates back to 2014 in Europe. Volkswagen’s SUV offensive might also play a part, with the German manufacturer offering no fewer than four models, namely the T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg. In this company the Passat feels so last year.
Fiat Panda: 187,322 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 2.1%
Of all the cars in the top 25, the Fiat Panda is the one in need of a refresh. Amazingly, the current model dates back to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, although we should see a facelift in 2018. For now, the Panda continues to punch above its weight, especially in Italy, where it has been the best-selling vehicle for six years in a row.
Fiat 500: 189,928 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 3.5%
Meanwhile, the Fiat 500 is the fourth best-seller in Italy and the 16th in Europe as a whole. The popular city car was given a facelift in 2017, which has played a part in a small but significant increase in registrations.
Dacia Sandero: 196,067 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 15.6%
Good news: Dacia Sandero registrations are up 15.6 percent, which is proof that Europeans love a good deal. The Sandero was given a facelift at the tail end of 2016, but the headline price of £5,995 remains.
Toyota Yaris: 199,182 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 3.1%
In 2017, the Toyota Yaris was awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, scoring 83 percent for adult occupant safety and 80 percent for child safety. Registrations fell just short of the 200,000 mark, but were up 3.1 percent year-on-year.
Citroen C3: 207,299 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 54.2%
The new Citroen C3 arrived in UK showrooms in January 2017, so it had a full year to accumulate strong sales. It hasn’t disappointed, with registrations up 54.2 percent, which is the second highest figure in the top 25. Sales in 2018 will be bolstered by the arrival of the C3 Aircross.
Renault Captur: 212,768 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 1.8%
It’s not great news for the Renault Captur, which records a 1.8 percent fall in registrations. That said, it remains the best-selling B-segment SUV in Europe for the second year in a row. It’s also Renault’s best-selling car in the UK.
Ford Focus: 214,661 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 4%
A new Ford Focus will be unveiled in the spring, ahead of its launch in the summer. Ford has circulated an image of a test car wearing a #TimeToFocus hashtag as it builds some hype ahead of its arrival. Sales remain strong, even with a new version just around the corner.
Vauxhall/Opel Astra: 217,813 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 13.8%
This is a miserable performance for the Astra, with registrations down 13.8 percent. It’s a thoroughly decent car, but it’s hard to see an improvement in 2018, not when a new Focus is being launched and the Volkswagen Golf continues to sell in big numbers. How long before the Astra slips below one of Vauxhall’s SUVs?
Skoda Octavia: 230,116 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 0.5%
Skoda delivered more than 1.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2017, the fourth time in a row the company has sold more than one million cars in a year. China was the most successful market, with Skoda shifting 325,000 units, while the UK was the fourth best with 80,100 registrations. Octavia sales were actually down 3.9 percent globally, but up 0.5 percent in Europe.
Vauxhall/Opel Corsa: 232,738 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 12%
We’ve got a while to wait before the launch of the all-new Corsa in 2019, so Vauxhall’s best-seller must soldier on for another year at the very least. The arrival of the new Ford Fiesta will have focused the minds of the people in charge at PSA.
Volkswagen Tiguan: 234,916 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 30.6%
What a difference a new model can make. The launch of a new Tiguan has resulted in a 30.6 percent increase in sales for the popular Volkswagen SUV, and we suspect the arrival of the more practical Tiguan Allspace will have a positive impact on registrations in 2018. Unless it simply robs sales from the standard Tiguan.
Peugeot 208: 244,615 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 1.7%
Six of the cars in the top 10 saw a fall in registrations in 2017, including the Peugeot 208, which remains the brand’s best-selling car. UK prices start from £14,630 for the three-door Active, but a number of trim levels and personalisation packs are available.
Nissan Qashqai: 247,939 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 6.2%
Into the top five, where we find Europe’s most popular crossover: the Nissan Qashqai. Even in the face of some fierce competition, the Qashqai goes from strength-to-strength, with registrations up 6.2 percent.
Ford Fiesta: 254,539 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 15%
Britain’s best-selling car has to settle for fourth place in Europe, with registrations down 15 percent. The shift from the old to the new Fiesta would have played a part in the slump, so it will be interesting to see how the supermini does in 2018.
Volkswagen Polo: 272,061 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 11.6%
It’s no surprise to find the Volkswagen Polo on the slide, as many buyers will have been waiting for the all-new and much improved model. The new Polo is on sale now, with prices starting from £13,855.
Renault Clio: 327,395 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: up 4.1%
The Renault Clio didn’t even appear in the top 20 of the UK’s best-selling cars in 2017, so it might come as a surprise to find it performing so well in the rest of Europe. According to the Best Selling Cars Blog, the Clio is the best-seller in France for the 19th time in the past 26 years. It has been number one for seven years in a row, which is the longest run since the Renault 5 in the 70s and 80s. Go Clio!
Volkswagen Golf: 483,105 registrations
Change 2016 vs 2017: down 1.7%
But the runaway leader, by a country mile, is the Volkswagen Golf. Even with a slight downturn in registrations, the Golf is some 155,000 units stronger than the Clio, and it’s hard to see anything dethroning the evergreen Volkswagen in 2018.
Meet the most controversial car of 2018. The Lamborghini Urus certainly isn’t a sports car – and it sure ain’t pretty – but this 650hp SUV promises to double Lambo sales.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Urus – including our video tour from the exclusive London launch.
Lamborghini and university boffins create futuristic electric supercar
Video: Lamborghini Urus UK debut
Lamborghini has form with 4x4s. The original ‘Rambo Lambo’ was the LM002 of 1986, a road-legal military vehicle powered by a Countach-sourced V12.
The Urus is more Daniel Craig than Sly Stallone: a sporty crossover coupe, not a mud-n-guts off-roader. Its rivals include the Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Cayenne Turbo – plus the forthcoming Ferrari SUV, due in 2020.
Right-hand-drive deliveries start in late summer, with prices from around £165,000.
Angular and aggressive
The Urus is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB Evo platform, which underpins everything from the Audi A4 to the Bentley Bentayga.
Its styling owes much to Lamborghini’s Huracan and Aventador supercars. Angular and aggressive, it’s a riot of sharp creases, muscular bulges and gaping air intakes, riding on huge 23-inch alloys with bespoke Pirelli rubber.
A tapering roofline augments the visual drama, although the Urus still has five doors: note the awkward placement of the rear door handle atop the wheelarch.
The first turbocharged Lamborghini
Sadly, the Urus doesn’t use the Huracan’s screaming, naturally-aspirated V10 – or indeed the Aventador’s majestic V12. But don’t worry, there isn’t a diesel version… yet.
Instead, this is Lamborghini’s first turbocharged production car. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
Outputs are 650hp at 6,000rpm and 627lb ft of torque at 2,250rpm. In a car weighing a not-inconsiderable 2,200kg, that translates to 0-62mph in 3.6sec and a 189mph top speed. Fortunately, huge carbon-ceramic brakes are standard.
As for fuel economy and CO2 emissions, those figures haven’t been released yet. Reckon on 20mpg and 300g/km and you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Six drive modes, from racetrack to snow
The Urus accommodates four, with a split/fold rear seat and 616 litres of luggage space. We’re not convinced the boot’s suede lining is entirely practical, though.
Drivers are offered a choice of six modes, from Corsa (track) to Neve (snow) and Sabbia (sand). Air suspension boosts ground clearance by up to 90mm in the off-road settings – perfect for those lofty Kensington kerbs.
The 4WD system has a sporty, rearward bias in normal conditions, with a Torsen differential to shuffle traction around when needed. Electromechanical anti-roll bars and rear-wheel steering should also help it handle like a Lamborghini.
Backwards step or brave new world? Look out for our first drive of the Lamborghini Urus later this spring.
Car insurance premiums are on the up – again – and many of us are searching for ways to save cash on our renewal. Of course, there are the usual answers: using comparison sites, adding named drivers and even buying a lower-risk car; but one firm claims that its motor excess insurance could be a further way to save cash.
Essentially, motor excess insurance is an extra policy on top of your standard car insurance policy. While you’d usually have to pay a hefty insurance excess if involved in a crash deemed your fault, motor excess insurance will pay out in such a scenario to cover your excess, leaving you nothing more to pay (except, perhaps, increased premiums next year).
So how will paying more for an extra policy save you cash at renewal time? Ramping up your optional insurance excess will reduce your premium and, according to Questor Insurance, using its motor excess insurance cover could work out cheaper than simply reducing your excess.
It provides some examples, based on a policy for a 2016 Fiat Punto insured on a fully-comprehensive policy.
Example one is a 17-year-old driver with a £250 excess quoted at £2,005.85. If the excess amount is increased to £1,000, the insurance premium reduces to £1,742.92, equating to a 13 percent saving (£262.93). Insurance excess cover costs just £45.21, and will reduce that £1,000 premium to nothing.
Another example, involving a 60-year-old driver, saves more than £250. Seems pretty good on the face of it, doesn’t it?
The best way of deciding whether this ‘trick’ works for you is to get a few quotes and varying your excess. We can’t vouch for Questor Insurance, nor its motor excess insurance cover, so do your research and read the small print.
What is 2018’s best new car in the world? We’re now a step closer to finding out as the finalists for the 2018 World Car Awards are revealed.
From a longlist of more than 30 vehicles (which included a lot of SUVs), 10 of the best newly-launched models will now go forward into another round of voting to decide the best of the best. Contenders for the World Urban Car, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will also be voted on.
The results will be announced at the 2018 New York International Auto Show in April. Between now and then, the jurors need to decide: which of these cars deserves a 2018 World Car Awards gong?
The big prize is the World Car of the Year trophy. This year, 82 jurors from across the planet will decide the winner – it genuinely is a ‘world car’ prize. All cars must be on sale in at least two regions across the globe.
Last year, the Jaguar F-Pace was awarded the 2017 World Car of the Year prize. Since then, F-Pace sales have rocketed: car manufacturers see this award as one of the biggies, given its global recognition.
Which of these 10 cars deserves to win in 2018 though? Read on to see the contenders – and, as a World Car Awards Juror, also see my thoughts on why I think each car is in with a shot.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa’s sporty four-door rival to the BMW 3 Series is increasingly looking like a bit of a star player for the Italian firm. One of the keys to its big relaunch in the U.S., the Italians needed this car to be competitive, and it is. But can it go one better and win the overall 2018 World Car of the Year prize?
My thoughts: MiTo, Giulietta, 4C. Three contemporary Alfa Romeos, all of which are disappointing. The Giulia is different – a car that’s more than a match for its able German competition. Such is the emotional appeal of the brand, it’s in with a shot of a WCOTY gong. Just imagine Alfa’s cheer if it won…
BMW X3
The first X3 looked good but had a cheap interior and intolerable ride quality. The second one was forgettable. At last, BMW’s got the X3 right, with all-round appeal making it a very strong family SUV contender. Third time lucky.
My thoughts: The new X3 is a commendable all-rounder, and the xDrive40i – the first ‘hot’ X3 – is a fun thing. There’s an all-electric version coming too. I just wonder if BMW couldn’t have been braver still with the styling.
Kia Stinger
A quite extraordinary Kia surprise, one filling a niche normally occupied by cars such as the Audi A5 and S5 Sportback. Kia’s big four-door coupe looks smart, has a cracking interior and, in V6 turbo guise, drives with real verve. It’s a car that’s hard to fault, and one that’s certainly in with a shot of winning the WCOTY 2018 prize.
My thoughts: The Stinger didn’t disappoint. It’s as fun to drive as it is ravishing to look at. Kia paid big money to get the guy who used to make BMW M cars handle. His influence on this car is obvious and very, very welcome.
Land Rover Discovery
The big Land Rover Discovery has, for 2018, found some newfound Range Rover-like style. It’s now even more ferociously capable off road, and the classy interior is worlds apart from the old one. Practical enough for seven people, it’s just a pity aspects of the styling have proven controversial.
My thoughts: The new Land Rover Discovery provides a timely lesson to Land Rover. It replaced the boxy old Discovery 4 (LR2 in the U.S.) and immediately confused some with its softer styling and offset rear licence plate. It’s far from cheap either, although its all-round abilities go some way to justifying this.
Mazda CX-5
The previous Mazda CX-5 didn’t strike many people as a car in need of replacement. That didn’t stop the car-loving Japanese doing just that though, giving us a CX-5 even sharper, roomier, more refined and more fun to drive than before. No matter what continent you’re on, the CX-5 is a great five-seat mid-size SUV.
My thoughts: I drove it in LA and was impressed by its engaging handling, stylish looks and practical interior. Then I came back to the UK and swapped the North American petrol engine for a turbodiesel. It was, if anything, better still. This one’s definitely a contender.
Nissan Leaf
One of the most important new cars to launch this year, full stop. Nissan launched the affordable electric car sector with the original Leaf, and this second generation one aims to address everything it’s learnt about EVs to further extend its lead over rivals. The firm looks to have done just that, and more.
My thoughts: The original one had quirky, oddball styling. This one looks much more normal, with a crisp exterior and appealing cabin. The range is longer, it drives with greater engagement, is faster, charges up faster, has a bigger boot – yet somehow costs even less than the original. Bravo, Nissan.
Range Rover Velar
A Range Rover surprise. We didn’t expect the firm to launch an all-new model last year, but the Velar has slotted in neatly between posh Evoque and entry-level Range Rover Sport. The standout is how it looks, both outside and in, but it drives with easygoing elegance as well, with the refinement to back up its classy style.
My thoughts: Land Rover calls it a ‘white space car’. But it’s no mere white goods transport. OK, it doesn’t quite have the sparkle of the related Jaguar F-Pace behind the wheel, but its ultra-contemporary styling and brilliant interior makes up for this. Pity about prices that very quickly get very, very expensive indeed…
Toyota Camry
The North American best-seller gets a radical new look that gives it newfound attitude. The Camry backs it up with a tight drive as well, all enjoyed from a nice cabin.
My thoughts: The Camry’s done good. It’s no longer dull, formulaic three-box transport for those bored by anything to do with cars. But will its obvious focus on North America restrict its appeal in the rest of the globe?
Volkswagen T-Roc
Volkswagen’s SUV frenzy continues. Fitting in below the Tiguan, and above the Golf, is the new T-Roc, a crossover billed as the modern-day SUV-themed interpretation of the original Scirocco coupe. It looks fantastic, has a typically sound VW interior and is an accomplished machine to drive.
My thoughts: I like the T-Roc, a lot. It’s not the biggest of family-sized SUVs, but should still be big enough, and the fact this has helped keep prices in check means I expect it to be a top-10 best-seller in key markets sooner rather than later. It’s that good.
Volvo XC60
The replacement to the original and very long-running XC60 is a car designed very much in the modern Volvo way. But looking like a downsized XC90 is no bad thing, not least when it means you can charge more attainable prices so more people might be able to consider one.
My thoughts: Tight looks, a brilliant interior, family-friendly space for five and a drive that’s up there with the best of them, it’s not hard to see the appeal of the XC60. It’s a formidable challenger to an arch-rival that also appears in this top 10, the BMW X3. Any bets on which will come out on top?
But what about the other awards? Here are the finalists in the other World Car Awards gongs up for grabs.
2018 World Urban Car
The World Urban Car was a new award for 2017. It’s focused on compact, practical, city-friendly all-rounders that are small but not too small, wieldy for the town but still decent on a longer run. This year’s shortlist sees regular supermini small cars do battle against B-SUV crossovers.
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai Kona
Nissan Micra
Suzuki Swift
Volkswagen Polo
2018 World Luxury Car
We can’t all be lucky enough to sit in a decadent Bentley, but some of us are still able to afford our own luxury car. Which are the top new arrivals in 2018? Here are the five contenders for the World Luxury Car prize.
Audi A8
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
Lexus LS
Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Panamera
2018 World Performance Car
For many, this is the most exciting category of all. Car makers are forever pushing the boundaries of performance and the front-runners for the 2018 prize are typically all machines that no enthusiast would turn down…
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Audi RS 3 Sedan
BMW M5
Honda Civic Type R
Lexus LC 500
2018 World Green Car
The importance of good green cars grows with every year. And so does car makers’ ability to build ever-more accomplished ones. Here’s what’s in the running for the 2018 World Green Car prize.
BMW 530e iPerformance
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Nissan Leaf
2018 World Car Design of the Year
The World Car Design of the Year is judged from a shortlist of five cars picked by a panel of renowned car designers. In the running this year are five standout new car designs.
Citroen C3 Aircross
Lexus LC 500
Range Rover Velar
Renault Alpine A110
Volvo XC60
What’s next?
Jurors now head into another round of voting, based upon more detailed testing of the finalists. The top three finalists in each category will be announced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, before the winners being revealed at NYIAS in April.
Land Rover has announced plans for a luxury SUV coupe to take on the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE.
Set to be launched at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the SV Coupe will be “a dramatic addition to the Range Rover portfolio”, says Land Rover.
2004 Range Stormer: the first Range Rover Coupe was a retro concept
The ‘SV’ in its name is short for Special Vehicle Operations, the team at Land Rover that recently gave us the £150,000 Defender V8.
The Range Rover SV Coupe will be hand-assembled at the SV technical centre in Warwickshire, with production limited to just 999 for worldwide distribution. Going by the Defender V8’s price tag and the SV Coupe’s limited numbers, we reckon it might be a fair bit pricier than the likes of the BMW X6. Indeed, with the SVAutobiography starting at £167,850, could the coupe even take on the Lamborghini Urus?
Of course, Land Rover is keen to emphasise its heritage with the new SV Coupe. The Range Rover was originally available as a three-door model in 1970, and the more recent Range Stormer concept of 2004 was a three-door.
“Land Rover created the luxury SUV sector with Range Rover almost 50 years ago,” said Land Rover’s Special Operations managing director, John Edwards. “In launching the new Range Rover SV Coupe, we will offer clients an alluring combination of peerless luxury and rarity. Unveiling this special vehicle at Geneva International Motor Show in March, during Land Rover’s 70th Anniversary year, will be a defining moment for Land Rover, the Range Rover portfolio and Special Vehicle Operations.”
The only teaser pic revealed of the Range Rover SV Coupe so far shows a luxurious four-seat cabin, with an upmarket wooden centre console running alongside the transmission tunnel.
Design chief Gerry McGovern said: “The Range Rover SV Coupe is a highly compelling design with peerless refinement and uncompromised sophistication from its breathtaking exterior proportions to its sumptuous, beautifully appointed, interior. This is a vehicle that will resonate on an emotional level.”
We’ll see the Range Rover SV Coupe in the metal for the first time at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which kicks off on 6 March. Motoring Research will be reporting live.
Renault has launched a new special edition Clio called the Urban Nav. It’s based on the popular Dynamique Nav model, so includes TomTom sat nav as standard, but also adds 16-inch grey alloy wheels, full LED headlights and rear parking sensors.
The Urban Nav is finished in a special body colour called, fittingly, Urban grey.
Prices start from £16,225, which is £575 more than a Dynamique Nav – but Renault calculates the extra equipment is worth £1,265.
There’s more. Renault’s also pulled together a 0 percent finance PCP package; in return for a £5,030 deposit, customers can pay £149 a month for three years, with a final payment of £5,831. If they’re aged 21-75, they’ll also get a year’s free insurance.
The Urban Nav is available with a 0.9-litre TCe 90 turbo petrol engine for the £16,225 starter price. The 1.5-litre dCi 90 costs £17,625, and if it wasn’t for the fact it was also available with an auto (for, deep breath, £18,995), we’d question Renault’s logic in offering it at all.
Few people buy diesel superminis, yet alone in the current down-on-diesel climate. Besides, even the petrol does 60.1mpg.
Deliveries of the new Urban Nav begin in March – just in time for the new 18-plate registration.
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Renault has launched a new special edition Clio called the Urban Nav. It’s based on the popular Dynamique Nav model, so includes TomTom sat nav as standard, but also adds 16-inch grey alloy wheels, full LED headlights and rear parking sensors.
