The original luxury 4×4 has become even more indulgent for 2018. On the eve of the 2017 LA Auto Show, Land Rover has revealed the new Range Rover SVAutobiography, an SUV so upscale, it even has its own Zenith timepiece for the two lucky people in the rear to enjoy. Oh, and a price tag from, wait for it, £167,850.
Joining the rest of the revised-for-2018 Range Rover line, the new SVAutobiography features a redesigned rear cabin that now has power-close rear doors – weary rear-seat passengers can shut them by pressing a button on the full-length console – and even more gorgeous airline-style reclining seats.
It’s also only offered in long-wheelbase guise, providing a full 1.2 metres of legroom, and enough space for the seats to recline down by 40 degrees. There’s a hot stone massage function built in, while both the footrests and calf rests are heated. We told you it was luxurious…
A posh car needs a posh watch: the Zenith clock in the rear is inspired by the Elite 6150 watch (yours for upwards of £4,500), with the driver up front simply getting starter button and gear selector that mimics its knurled bezel.
There’s lots of tech in the back of the hand-finished SVAutobiography, such as dual 10-inch touchscreen entertainment displays, 4G wifi… and a fridge between the rear seats, that can hold two wine bottles, for when work gets all a bit too much for you.
John Edwards, MD of JLR Special Operations, explained: “The SVAutobiography badge identifies our most luxurious vehicles in the same way the SVR and SVX monikers denote our most potent and capable derivatives.”
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover chief design officer, said: “The Range Rover SVAutobiography is the epitome of luxury, comfort and refinement. Our standard-bearer for quality and precision exemplifies the attention to detail and sophistication that has been a hallmark of our most luxurious SUV stretching back almost 50 years.”
Under the redesigned bonnet, and new for 2018, is the addition of a plug-in hybrid petrol-electric version, which can run for up to 31 miles under full electric power, and a power boost for the supercharged V8 up to 565hp. There’s a 4.4-litre SDV8 turbodiesel as well.
The £167,850 model is that aforementioned diesel; the petrol-electric PHEV is £168,015, with the range-topping supercharged V8 retailing for £177,030. Order books, says Land Rover, are open now.
Imagine a world where taxi drivers liked Uber and Uber used Porsches instead of hybrid Toyotas. That’s not as fantastical as it sounds, as Uber-rival Gett has announced a partnership with Porsche that will see 100 of its cars available ‘on demand’ in London from tomorrow.
Don’t get too excited; you won’t be able to race across London in a GT3 RS. Porsche says its models being provided as part of the deal include the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid and the not-yet-available-as-a-hybrid Macan. Unfortunately, they won’t be available via the Gett app to everyone – the deal’s limited to high-value customers who may consider buying a Porsche in the future.
If you are eligible for a taxi ride in a Porsche, Gett is offering a flat-rate fee of £20 for any rides within a certain area of central London. Rides ending outside of central London will be charged accordingly, says the firm.
All drivers will have been specially trained at Porsche’s experience centre at Silverstone, meaning you don’t have to worry about being made travel sick as you’re driven across London.
“We’re delighted that our customers will be able to travel in Porsche cars in central London with chauffeurs,” said Porsche GB general manager marketing, Ragnar Schulte. “This premium travel initiative will last six months with results being used to inform our future strategy for ‘on-demand’, premium transportation. We invite all users to give feedback on this new service.”
The offer will run until May 2018 and will be available for on-demand pick-up in an area of central London between 11am and 11pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and between 3pm and 3am on Friday and Saturday.
How is Gett different to Uber?
As Uber gradually takes over the world of personal mobility, it’s easy to understand why Gett perhaps has perhaps passed by your radar.
Gett follows the Uber business model closely, except in one key area. While Uber will accept almost anyone with a car to drive for them, Gett only uses actual taxi drivers. That brings all of the advantages you’ll get from hailing a black cab: namely being driven by a trained taxi driver who knows the area. But it also means taxi drivers aren’t protesting for Gett to be banned from their cities, and that shouldn’t be underestimated.
A downside of this is that, while Uber uses a clever surge-pricing system during times of high demand, Gett drivers can pick up anyone flagging them down on the street. There’s no incentive to drive out of their way to pick you up, so you may find it difficult to summon a ride during busy times.
The last big motor show of the year is always LA. Automotive chiefs are taking a break from the winter chill and enjoying a few days of sunshine at the annual feel-good event. It always has an end-of-term feel to it, but also serves as a great warm-up for the new cars that will start the year ahead with a bang. Read on to see what we already know will be there in 2018…
Mercedes-Benz invented the modern four-door coupe segment back in 2003 with the CLS. After the slightly humdrum current car sapped some of the excitement of the original, the firm is set to take LA by storm with an all-new third-generation CLS. Using plenty of tech from the E-Class again, we hope the styling has rediscovered the elegance of the original, although we’re happy to bet the drive is going to impress. With a welter of autonomous tech, it could be the CLS back to its best.
Infiniti QX50
The Infiniti QX50 could not be more market-perfect. It’s as spot-on a replacement to its predecessor as the old one was wholly ignorable. Because not only does it look pretty, it also has a brilliant new engine, and we don’t use the adjective ‘brilliant’ lightly. Called VC-Turbo, this is a variable compression unit that can become bigger or smaller, as the needed arises. No engine on sale before has been able to do this. The QX50 looks smart but could also, quietly, be the single most significant new car revealed at LA 2017.
Aria FXE
Not heard of Aria Group? Don’t worry – it’s an expert engineering firm that usually makes the concept cars for big-name manufacturers. Now it’s decided to make one of its own, and the FXE teased here is our first look at the start-up supercar. Yes, we’re excited to see more.
BMW M3 CS
There’s a new BMW 3 Series next year, so this one is trying to go out on a high with a zippy new CS-tuned version of the M3 range-topper. Taking much of the carbon fibre styling addenda from the M4 CS, it also gets a power boost to 453hp and two criminally cool features – a ducktail-style rear spoiler and ultra-lightweight staggered wheels: 19 inches on the front and 20 inches at the rear. The current M3 has always slightly disappointed. Is BMW saving the best until last?
Saleen S1
Saleen is a US performance car firm that used to make its own supercar, but more recently has tuned up versions of other hot cars, such as the Ford Mustang. The S1 was originally revealed in China, as it’s a joint venture development with Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technology Co, and will be built from 2018 for sales in both the US and China. Boasting up to 450hp, it’s an intriguing proposition that we’re keen to see more of.
Land Rover Discovery SVX
Even a standard Land Rover Discovery can pretty much go anywhere. We proved as much on the launch earlier this year. But the way it looks is, well, just a bit too posh and elegant for some to believe it can do all this. Enter the SVX, hand-built by the same Coventry, England division that makes ultra-posh Range Rover SVAs and ultra-fast Jaguar SVRs. Land Rover reckons it’s the most extreme car it’s ever made – yes, more off-road-ready than any Defender – and we’re going to pore over it in LA ahead of its launch in 2018.
Range Rover and Range Rover Sport facelift
The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport have been facelifted and LA show-goers get to see them up-close for the first time. The big news is the introduction of a plug-in hybrid model that can do up to 31 miles in full EV mode, but we’re also looking forward to checking out the new front end in the metal, and the even posher interior in all its leather-laden glory. You don’t even have to stop with the regular Range Rover: Land Rover will also be showing the SVAutobiography range-topper, aiming to redefine – again – just how luxurious you can make a Range Rover.
Genesis G70
Hyundai’s premium division, Genesis, has already caused a stir with its excellent G90 luxury car, a cracking first attempt at taking on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Now it has the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 in its sights. The G70 was only revealed a few months ago, so this is still a relatively fresh first-show. It’s aimed at sports saloon drivers in the U.S. but we’ll be checking it out to see if Hyundai UK should take an interest.
BMW i8 Roadster
How long have we been expecting this? A roofless i8 has been years in the making, but might at last be arriving in LA, and we can’t wait to flip-up the doors and jump straight in on the show stand floor – before possibly being escorted away, depending on the humour of the security guards. Honestly, we’ll take our shoes off.
BMW X7 iPerformance Concept
LA will be another opportunity for us to see the rather large BMW X7 luxury SUV concept. This is BMW’s Range Rover, focused on the Chinese market, and all kinds of massive. LA is so connected, we might take up residence in the back of it and order some takeout once we’ve charmed the security guards.
Jeep Wrangler
While Land Rover dillies and dallies over the new Defender, finding itself in the bizarre situation of phasing out a model without a replacement ready to jump into its shoes, Jeep shows the way to treat an icon with the all-new Wrangler. It’s familiar, of course, but jam-packed with new stuff, to both make it even better off-road and even more connected inside.
Lexus RXL
The sales figures prove how much people love the Lexus RX SUV. But in all this time, it’s remained a two-row five-seater. No more. LA 2017 marks the debut of the three-row seven-seat RX, ingeniously called RXL. If you’re eco-thinking and have three children, each with an inseparable best mate, bingo.
Mazda 6 facelift
You tell us. The Mazda 6 is a marvellous car, a premium BMW rival sold at Ford Mondeo money, but if you can tell what’s different about this one, you have keener eyes than us. Still, we will nevertheless head over to check out and admire the people’s BMW 3 Series.
Porsche 911 T
Yes. This is the one enthusiasts have been waiting for. T means turbo, of course, but T also harks back to the 911’s 1960s heritage, where things were oh-so simple. Here, T means Touring, and Porsche’s made sure it’s a driving holiday with rear-wheel drive, a limited-slip differential and a manual gearbox. It has 20mm lower suspension than a regular Carrera, standard adaptive dampers, and is 20kg lighter thanks to thinner glass, no rear seats and even straps for the doorhandles. Where do we sign?
Porsche 718 GTS
What enthusiasts really want is the return of the six-cylinder Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster. With the GTS… they don’t get it. But they do get more power, 365hp, from the 2.5-litre turbo flat-four, which Porsche reckons will accelerate one from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds if you go for the fast-shifting PDK automatic. Quick enough to knobble a 911 or two, while GTS accoutrements give it a bit more focus in corners too.
Subaru Ascent
Subaru is such a well-loved brand by people who know their cars, so why shouldn’t it too get on the modern SUV bandwagon and try to attract more of those to whom it’s unknown? The good-looking Ascent, pictured here in concept form, is its first three-row seven-seat SUV, thoroughly on-form and set, more than likely, to sell like hot cakes in North America. Those who know their cars would love it in the UK, but would it sell?
Toyota FT-AC
We’ve only seen a teaser of this, and it frankly looks fantastic already. Packed with LED lights and a bulging body, we don’t quite know if it’s an SUV, a pickup, a van or what, but we’re still hoping it’s the cool post-apocalyptic Toyota this image suggests it is. One to keep an eye on.
Mini Electric Concept
We saw this at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show, and now Mini’s showing off the battery electric concept in the market destined to take a substantial proportion of sales. Expected to use BMW i3 electric tech, it will be fast, have a decent range and generally thoroughly Mini-flavoured, just with zero emissions from the (non-existent) tailpipe.
Mazda Vision Coupe Concept
Meet the future of Mazda styling. This is another car we’ve already seen, but it’s still worth a second look because of just how pretty and elegant it is. Who says they don’t make jaw-dropping and achingly beautiful cars anymore? Join us at LA to see yet more lovely pictures.
Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo
The car with the longest name at the show. To decipher it, this is a shooting brake Panamera with a 55 hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, a 140hp electric motor and a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery good for 30 miles on full EV power. But, more importantly, a total system output of 680hp and 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. Not bad for an estate, huh?
Volvo XC40
A Volvo at a motor show is a rarity – the firm has pared back the number of events it attends, preferring instead to do things its own way. Luckily, LA is one of the events it is attending, and lucky for Los Angeles, the XC40 is yet another marvellous modern Volvo. It rivals the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. It is also, according to early drive reports, better than the new Jaguar E-Pace, which isn’t quite what the British firm had planned.
Corvette ZR1
First revealed in Dubai, the monster Corvette now gets its homeland reveal. A production Corvette has never been faster or more powerful car than this: 755hp may even see it dip beneath seven minutes for a Nürburgring hot lap, the firm hints. We’ll join the throng and lust over it in LA.
Lincoln MKC
The posh compact Lincoln SUV gets a new look for 2018, with the same cool front end we’ve seen on the Continental. It’s much nicer than the current setup and the interior is, to follow a bit of a trend of LA 2017, said to be even posher and more luxurious as well.
Learner drivers will have to navigate using a sat nav for 20 minutes as part of the driving test from next week – but a survey has revealed that the new rules are already outdated.
The study of 2,000 motorists by Continental Tyres found that half of young drivers use their mobile phone to navigate rather than a traditional sat nav.
Driving test examiners will provide a TomTom sat nav for the navigation test, which will form part of the independent driving section of the practical driving test. Drivers are banned from using their own sat nav in the driving test, although one in five candidates will be required to follow road signs instead.
The survey also found that 64 percent of people think there should be a greater emphasis on understanding the laws around mobile phones as part of the test, while 57 percent want to see drivers being tested on routine checks such as the minimum tyre tread depth.
“It is clear to see that people want the new test to support improved road safety and deliver good driving practice as well as test skills,” said Continental Tyres safety expert, Mark Griffiths. “It’s good to know people want a stronger focus on safety checks, like how to check tyres, as well as the safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving.”
Infiniti calls it the most important vehicle it has ever launched: certainly the new QX50 mid-size SUV, which debuts at the 2017 LA Auto Show next week, is the one most focused on European customers and competitors. It looks like Infiniti may at last have a match for the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Jaguar F-Pace.
And Infiniti has an ace up its sleeve – the world’s first variable compression ratio engine. Called VC-Turbo, this 2.0-litre turbo petrol puts into production radical tech companies such as Lotus and Saab trialled years ago. The gains were obvious but nobody was quite able to make it a reality. Infiniti has.
The breakthrough engine can alter the compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1, by means of a multi-link system that can alter the reach of the pistons. High compression ratios are efficient, low compression ratios give lots of power and torque. Infiniti thus says it has the punch of petrol and economy of diesel.
“It challenge the notion that only hybrid and diesel powertrains can deliver high torque and efficiency.”
The 268hp engine also does 0-60mph in as little as 6.3 seconds and 143mph flat-out, although Infiniti has yet to test just how economical it is under European drive cycle tests (but is targeting a 35 percent boost in efficiency over today’s car). Take this interesting detail fact in the meantime: capacity varies between 1,970cc when running on an 14:1 compression ratio, and 1,997cc when running on 8:1.
Replacing the forgettable current-generation QX50, Infiniti global vice president Christian Meunier says the new QX50 is “the right vehicle at the right time in one of the world’s fastest growing segments”.
Built on an all-new platform, it’s significantly roomier inside than the outgoing model – best-in-class, reckons Infiniti – and deploys world-first use of Super-High Formability (SHF) high-tensile steel that’s strong, light and gives best-in-class structural rigidity.
It also has autonomous tech called ProPilot Assist, but as “Infiniti’s customers have stated their desire to remain a key element in the driving equation… the brand’s vision for autonomous driving is a step removed from the notion of fully-autonomous driverless motoring embraced by some carmakers”. So there.
Make no mistake, the launch of the new Infiniti QX50 is a big deal. Its VC-Turbo engine is a genuine world-first highlight, and it now looks stylish enough, with the right sort of onboard tech, to finally challenge the European best-sellers.
We’ll be checking it out in detail at the LA Auto Show next week: has Infiniti finally delivered the car to put it on the shortlist of Britain’s premium car buyers?
Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a series of tax changes for new diesel cars, which will see drivers pay more for the first year’s VED (vehicle excise duty).
“From April 2018, the first year VED rate for diesel cars that don’t meet the latest standards will go up by one band and the existing diesel supplement in company car tax will increase by one percentage point,” said Hammond. “Drivers buying a new car will be able to avoid this charge as soon as manufacturers bring forward the next generation of cleaner diesels that we all want to see.”
The vehicle excise duty (VED) supplement will apply to new diesel cars first registered from 1 April 2018, meaning their first-year rate will be calculated as if they were in the VED band above. This will not apply to next-generation clean diesels – those which are certified as meeting new real driving emissions step 2 (RDE2) standards.
The RAC says that diesel car buyers are being hit “relatively light” with the new tax rules announced in today’s budget.
“The chancellor has chosen to be relatively light touch when it comes to taxing new diesel cars,” said the RAC’s head of external affairs, Peter Williams.
“Any new diesel car registered from 1st April 2018 will be hit with a higher first year tax rate unless they conform to the latest real world driving standards. So current beleaguered owners of diesel cars can breathe a sigh of relief that they will not be punished further by the treasury – but they will need to keep their eyes on local authorities who may be introducing clean air zones in the near future.”
Hammond also confirmed that the measures would only apply to cars – so van drivers will not be hit by the measures. He also said that the money raised by the tax increase will go towards a £220 million clean air fund for local areas most effected by pollution.
Company car drivers will also be hit by a tax increase. A diesel supplement for benefit-in-kind tax will be increased from three percent to four percent from 6 April 2018.
Ahead of the budget announcement, speculation suggested that Hammond could increase fuel duty on diesel in a bid to discourage people from driving diesel vehicles. The RAC warned, however, that an increase in fuel duty would not have the desired effect.
“Putting up duty on diesel is not going to stop the country’s 12 million diesel motorists driving any less and ease the air quality problem associated with nitrogen dioxide emissions from the fuel,” said RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams.
“While the Government may think it will further deter people from choosing a diesel as their next vehicle, in the meantime it would unfairly punish existing diesel owners for responding to incentives introduced by a previous Government designed to limit carbon dioxide emissions.”
The chancellor confirmed that he would continue the fuel duty freeze for both petrol and diesel, costing the Government £46 billion since 2010. This makes it the longest fuel duty freeze in a generation.
Vehicle leasing firm Leaseplan UK has suggested that the freeze in fuel duty is not enough to help UK motorists.
“We’re glad that the Chancellor has listened to motorists and the fleet industry, and decided to extend the freeze on Fuel Duty for another year,” said Leaseplan managing director, Matt Dyer. “However, even with a freeze, fuel prices are still rising. If this continues, the Chancellor should consider cutting Duty rates for the first time since 2011.”
£540 million investment in electric cars
Hammond also announced a new £400 million charging infrastructure fund in a bid to improve the UK’s electric car charging network and encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.
It comes as part of his autumn budget, announced today, which also includes an extra £100 million to go towards the plug-in car grant and £40 million in research and development of electric cars.
“There’s perhaps no technology as symbolic of the revolution gathering pace around us as driverless vehicles,” said Hammond.
“I know that Jeremy Clarkson doesn’t like them, but there are many other good reasons to pursue this technology – so today, we step up our support for it. Sorry Jeremy, but definitely not the first time you’ve been snubbed by Hammond and May.
“Our future vehicles will be driverless, but they’ll be electric first. And that’s a change that needs to come as soon as possible for our planet. So we’ll establish a new £400 million charging infrastructure fund, invest an extra £100 million in plug-in car grant and £40 million in charging R&D. And I can confirm today that we will clarify the law so that people who charge their own electric vehicles at work will not face a benefit-in-kind charge from next year.”
Electric vehicle charging firm Chargemaster has described the budget as “good news for the EV sector”.
“We welcome the continued incentives for electric car purchases through the Plug-in Car Grant,” said Chargemaster’s CEO, David Martell. “Of course, these incentives will not be needed indefinitely, and manufacturers predict that the cost of building an electric car will drop below the cost of producing a petrol or diesel car within the next five years. It is also worth pointing out that consumers can buy an electric car for as little as £5,000 in the used market.
“The £400m announced to support EV charging infrastructure is good news for charge point suppliers and operators such as Chargemaster, and we hope that some of this funding will be directed towards preparing network connections and reinforcing the electricity grid where required.”
>NEXT: Diesel fuel duty could go up – but it won’t reduce pollution
It seems no car sector is safe from getting an SUV makeover these days. Not many people demand a city car be tough enough to go deep off road, but the crossover look is still appealing – and Vauxhall’s responded by launching the Viva Rocks.
Based on the regular Viva city car, it gets a raised ride height and a tough set of body cladding, including black plastic bumpers instead of the regular body-colour ones. The wheels are a unique 15-inch design, they sit beneath beefier wheelarches, and it even gets a set of silver roof rails.
There’s just one model of Viva Rocks, costing £11,530. The price is more city car level than full-blown crossover SUV, which will appeal, and Vauxhall says ordering is open now ahead of deliveries beginning in early 2018.
It also gets OnStar and an optional R 4.0 IntelliLink infotainment system that links up to smartphones via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. “Making it among the best connected A-segment cars on the market,” reckons Vauxhall.
What will it be used for? It’s perfect for country lanes and city potholes, believes the firm, and is thus even more ideally suited to the city than the regular Viva. It doesn’t even bother with hill descent control or other SUV driving aids, preferring instead to offer a ‘city’ button that makes the steering fingertip light.
Just don’t expect to win any traffic light grands prix: the 1.0-litre engine has, at 75hp, no more power, so still drifts from 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds. Tough luck for the tough-look Viva Rocks if you want to get ahead of the rest…
With the arrival of the new Aston Martin Vantage, the old ‘Russian Dolls’ approach to styling is consigned to history. From now on, all new Aston Martins will be distinct, and the firm is shouting about this in the most vivid and luminous way with the new Vantage’s dramatic ‘Lime Essence’ launch colour. Aston cherishes its cool understatedness but, just so often, you really do have to shout about things.
The new Vantage, finally replacing the previous 2005-era car, is an all-new car that’s derived from the same architecture as the breakthrough DB11, but boasts 70 percent bespoke parts. It’s a two-seat rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo and McLaren 570S, hits UK roads next spring, and is yours to order now from £120,900.
For the first time, the Vantage has a turbo engine. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 510hp and 505lb ft of torque. It makes this a 195mph Aston sports car, one capable of 0-62mph in a scant 3.6 seconds. The engine is sourced from Mercedes-AMG but it has fully bespoke Aston calibration, as does the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Aston also says a manual version will later follow – one likely to match the 911 in having seven gears.
For now, though, the engine isn’t the story. The design is. This radical new Aston, first teased by James Bond’s DB10, is a bold new sports car look that even goes so far as to eschew the traditional Aston grille. Instead, as a sign of intent, there’s a huge front splitter, inspired by the Vulcan, balanced at the rear by an enormous diffuser that looks to all intents like it’s come straight from a GTE racing car.
Aston boss Andy Palmer calls the new Vantage “our hunter”, one seeking a younger customer than the DB11 (and the old Vantage) through being more aggressive both in looks and drive. Design boss Marek Reichman underlines the newfound aggression: “this is our sports car – the successor to a Le Mans-winning race car.” It’s no coincidence that Aston is revealing the racing version of the Vantage on the same day as the road car.
The new car has a shorter nose and tail than the old one, and a longer wheelbase. “It’s the lowest nose ever on a front mid-engined car,” reckons Reichman. Unlike on the DB11 (and many rivals), there are also no visual aerodynamic features – “the body does all the work,” providing the perfect platform to make a racing car.
Aston stresses the elemental aspects of the new Vantage. The body is shorn of unnecessary addenda and lines – there aren’t even any bonnet vents, because it doesn’t need them. It’s defined by a single side shoulder line, which Reichman describes as being under tension, moving the car forward, like an arrow. Hard lines have been minimised; “it’s like the chassis is pushing itself out.”
The dramatic simplicity is punctuated only by the rear, which “finishes with a flourish” thanks to the eye-catching light bar and amazing stand-proud rear diffuser. Reichman clarifies Palmer’s ‘hunter’ moniker – the Vantage is likely to be hunting down other cars, overtaking them, so the firm’s given a visual treat to those being overtaken with a dramatic rear. “This is the bit everyone will see…”
It has a driver-focused interior, one again completely different to the DB11 – even down to the overall architecture. Instead of a ‘waterfall’ centre console, it’s shorter, with space clearly left for that upcoming manual gearlever. Touch-sensitive ‘haptic’ controls have also been replaced by proper buttons with proper, defined ‘clicks’, presumably at no small expense: such is the intent Aston has to differentiate all its cars. “We’re not making Russian Dolls anymore,” stresses Palmer.
It’s an exciting place to sit, packed with sporty-feel details like cowled dials, kneepads on the centre console, lightweight leather door-pull straps instead of cumbersome handles. Attention to detail is exquisite and it’s spacious too – there’s a 350-litre boot behind the front seats, which you can access through the cabin via a handy shelf. A Volkswagen Golf only has 30 litres’ more space; that’s how roomy the new Vantage is. The latest Mercedes-Benz electronics also give Vantage customers modern-era infotainment and functionality, at last.
It will drive as well as it looks, promises chief technical officer Max Szwaj. Despite the bonded aluminium architecture evolving from the DB11, it’s been tuned from the ground up as a Vantage, even down to getting bespoke Pirelli tyres. This is the first Aston to be fully developed under the guidance of dynamics guru Matt Becker, formerly of Lotus. Expectations are sky-high: it’s already impressed Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen.
The new Vantage has Aston Martin’s first-ever electronic rear differential. The e-diff reacts in milliseconds, giving more precise control over the car’s handling. “It feels more dynamic, gives faster steering, less understeer,” says Szwaj. Even compared to the DB11 V8, it has a totally different character, he says – and with weight from 1,530kg and the boast of overall length being 34mm shorter than a 911 (and 284mm shorter than a DB11), it’s clear which car Aston has in its target.
Palmer calls the new Vantage “a true sports car… (this) is the Aston Martin pure driving machine enthusiasts have bene waiting for. I’m enormously excited by what we’ve created: a new Vantage that’s more explicit in looks and intent, wrapping heart-pounding performance and dazzling dynamics into an everyday, usable package.”
One more thing: the noise. Szwaj promises us it’s going to be stunning. And nothing like a Mercedes-AMG V8. “We have given it an entirely new spectrum, matching it with the noise cues that will be familiar to Aston Martin customers. It sounds amazing.” We can’t wait to hear more: because right now, the 2018 Aston Martin Vantage sounds like it could be one of THE new cars of 2018.
Opinion: ‘I can’t wait to drive the new Vantage’
For seven weeks, potential customers have been seeing the new Vantage in secret at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ. The vast majority of them have subsequently signed up to buy one: having seen it myself, it’s not hard to see why.
There’s no greater signifier that the Russian Doll era is over than this new sports car. It’s more compact than the new DB11, sharper, more purposeful, much more focused. A huge stride on from the old Vantage. With its DB10 cues and dramatic Vulcan front end, adorned not with a grille but a full explosion of race-style aero, it’s little short of stunning.
The interior is gorgeous, more tactile and hands-on than the DB11, and again impeccably finished to the highest standards. It feels good to sit in, with nice, low, cosseting seats, an exciting-looking cabin, racy new steering wheel, paddleshifters that you can reach even with more than a dab of oppo on; even the ‘click’ of the paddles has been tightened up over the DB11.
From £120k, it’s not quite as cheap as it was; it’s going up against the Porsche 911 Turbo, but seems a bargain alongside the McLaren 570S. It’s immediately clear what the extra is buying you, though. This is perhaps the sportiest real-world Aston sports car ever, and if the firm’s promise it’s as good to drive as it is to look at is true, it’s all set to be a landmark.
Volvo Cars has signed a framework agreement with controversial ride-sharing firm Uber to supply it with up to 24,000 self-driving cars.
It comes a year after Volvo revealed its driverless XC90 as part of a $300 million project to bring level five autonomous cars to the roads. So far, around 200 XC90s are already being trialled in the USA.
Volvo’s partnered with Uber to create a driverless car
Uber will buy the adapted vehicles from Volvo, adding its own sensor to the roof and operate them as part of the Uber network. If regulations allow, these vehicles could be operated without any driver.
In a statement released by Volvo today, the Chinese-owned car manufacturer said it would supply base vehicles developed on its in-house Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which underpins the current XC90 and XC60.
The non-exclusive – and non-binding – agreement could see tens of thousands of autonomous Volvos becoming part of Uber’s ‘robotaxi’ fleet by 2021.
“The automotive industry is being disrupted by technology and Volvo Cars chooses to be an active part of that disruption,” said the firm’s president and chief executive, Håkan Samuelsson. “Our aim is to be the supplier of choice for AD ride-sharing service providers globally. Today’s agreement with Uber is a primary example of that strategic direction.”
“This new agreement puts us on a path towards mass produced self-driving vehicles at scale,” added Uber’s head of auto alliances, Jeff Miller.
Uber is currently going through an appeal which could allow it to continue operating in London, after Transport for London concluded it was ‘not fit and proper’ to operate in the capital.
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We’re a nation of unloyal car buyers. No longer do we stick to a favourite car brand – today, most of us swap onto a new PCP every three years and simply go for a car that suits us best at that moment, no matter which manufacturer it’s from.
But Mrs Karin Wilson from York is different. She’s been driving Volkswagens for half a century – clocking up 16 different motors during that time.
It all started with a cream-coloured Volkswagen Beetle bought from North Riding Motors in 1967.
“I loved the Beetle right from the beginning,” said Mrs Wilson. “It was brand new and it cost £585, I remember other Beetle owners would wave at you as they drove past. We drove it to Austria and Germany on holiday. It was slow up the mountain passes, but we knew it would get us there and back.”
Other stand-out Volkswagens for Mrs Wilson include a Danbury Caravette Campervan. “It was a 1968 model and we bought it in the 1970s. We took it on quite a few holidays, my daughters really enjoyed it, too.”
But there’s one model Mrs Wilson always returns to: the humble Polo. She’s owned 10 of them, along with three Golfs and another Beetle. Her current car is a four-year-old Polo R-Line with a 1.2-litre TSI engine.
Mrs Wilson’s local dealer is JCT600 Volkswagen in York, where she was recently invited for coffee and cake to celebrate half a century with the brand. She also received gifts and a letter of thanks from the director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones.
“We’ve obviously known Mrs Wilson for a long time and we wanted to celebrate her landmark,” said JCT600 Volkswagen York’s head of business. “We look forward to seeing her again in the future and I think this is a tremendous example of customer satisfaction. It really illustrates the value for money that we offer to our customers.”
The original luxury 4×4 has become even more indulgent for 2018. On the eve of the 2017 LA Auto Show, Land Rover has revealed the new Range Rover SVAutobiography, an SUV so upscale, it even has its own Zenith timepiece for the two lucky people in the rear to enjoy. Oh, and a price tag from, wait for it, £167,850.
Infiniti calls it the most important vehicle it has ever launched: certainly the new QX50 mid-size SUV, which debuts at the 2017 LA Auto Show next week, is the one most focused on European customers and competitors. It looks like Infiniti may at last have a match for the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Jaguar F-Pace. 
It seems no car sector is safe from getting an SUV makeover these days. Not many people demand a city car be tough enough to go deep off road, but the crossover look is still appealing – and Vauxhall’s responded by launching the Viva Rocks.
With the arrival of the new Aston Martin Vantage, the old ‘Russian Dolls’ approach to styling is consigned to history. From now on, all new Aston Martins will be distinct, and the firm is shouting about this in the most vivid and luminous way with the new Vantage’s dramatic ‘Lime Essence’ launch colour. Aston cherishes its cool understatedness but, just so often, you really do have to shout about things.
