British sports car manufacturer Longbow has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first ‘Featherweight Electric Vehicle’ (FEV).
Created by a team with experience of developing EVs, including at Tesla, Lucid and BYD, the Longbow will be built entirely in the UK.
With a company motto of ‘Celeritas Levitas’ – translated as ‘the speed of lightness’, the aims of Longbow are clear.
The company’s plan is to channel the spirit of British icons such as the Jaguar E-Type and Lotus Elise, putting driving enjoyment at the heart of the Longbow experience.
Light car, heavyweight performance
The Longbow team is targeting a kerb weight of less than 1,000kg for both the Speedster and Roadster models: exceptionally light for an EV.
A bespoke aluminium chassis underpins the Longbow, with the fully open Speedster version planned to enter production first. This windscreen-free model will weigh just 895kg, putting it on a par with a third-generation Lotus Elise.
Longbow has not confirmed battery capacities or electric motor specifications so far, but it makes some bold claims for the Speedster’s performance.
Accelerating from 0-62mph should take just 3.5 seconds, with the potential to cover an official, WLTP-certified range of 275 miles.
The closed-cockpit Roadster will follow later, with its extra bodywork increasing kerb weight to 995kg – and adding 0.1 seconds to the 0-62mph time.
Shooting from the hip
Prices for the Longbow Speedster will start at £84,995, with production set to be capped at 150 examples.
Those wanting more exclusivity can opt for one of 25 Autograph Edition models, or claim one of the 10 Longbow Luminary 1st Editions.
Owning the less extreme Longbow Roadster will be considerably more affordable, with prices starting from £64,995.
Reservations for both the Longbow Speedster and Roadster are open now, with the first cars expected for delivery to customers in 2026. Sooner than the long-promised new Tesla Roadster, that’s for sure…
Bentley has revealed its latest one-off customer commission for the coachbuilt Batur coupe.
Only 18 examples of the ultra-exclusive Batur will be produced, and ‘The Black Rose’ is one of three cars in right-hand drive.
Each Batur is personalised to its buyer’s chosen specification by the Bentley Mulliner Bespoke Studio. However, this particular car takes individual customisation a stage further.
Along with Satin Rose Gold exterior detailing, the Batur’s cabin features an industry-first demonstration of 3D printing with 18-carat rose gold.
Black and gold
On the outside, a unique ‘Black Rose’ colour scheme uses Beluga Black metallic paint for the majority of the car’s body.
Vast amounts of Satin Rose Gold feature on the dramatic front grille, door mirror caps, lower sections of the body kit and 22-inch alloy wheels.
The so-called ‘endless bonnet line’ is also finished in Satin Rose Gold, as are the lower air intakes and rear diffuser.
The Black Rose’s crowning glory, though, is Bentley’s gold Additive Manufacturing 3D printing technique. This sees 210 grams of hallmarked 18-carat rose gold added to the car’s interior.
All that glitters is gold
A collaboration with goldsmiths Cooksongold, based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the rose gold is used for the drive mode selector dial, organ stop air vent controls and a special insert on the steering wheel.
The remainder of the Batur’s cabin is trimmed in Beluga black leather and charcoal grey tweed fabric. Its dashboard veneers are painted in Black Rose metallic paint to match the exterior paintwork.
Mechanically, the Black Rose is the same as the other Batur coupes. That means a 740hp 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, which is amplified by a titanium exhaust system.
Bentley has not revealed a price for The Black Rose commission, but the starting figure for a Batur is £2 million. The ‘standard’ solid gold interior trim also adds at least £20,000.
Government policy on electric cars is not encouraging British drivers to buy them, says new research undertaken by the AA.
The breakdown company surveyed more than 14,000 UK motorists to discover their views on EVs, and their thoughts about buying one.
More than one in five (22 percent) of respondents said they totally reject the idea of owning an electric car, and will never buy one.
A similar proportion (20 percent) claimed to be neutral on EV ownership, and would likely stick with a petrol or diesel car for as long as possible.
Turning doubters into adopters
Notably, the majority (52 percent) of those surveyed by the AA said they were likely to buy an electric car in the near-future. An additional seven percent already own or drive an EV.
The AA says such responses show that ‘more needs to be done’ to help increase the rate of EV adoption in the UK.
Relying on supply-side interventions, such as the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, to reduce the level of non-EV choice in the market will not be sufficient, in the AA’s view.
Time for an EV intervention?
Instead, the motoring organisation says direct government intervention is needed to make drivers better informed about EVs, while also incentivising them to switch to electric.
Suggested government action should include awareness campaigns, says the AA, citing a survey finding that 73 percent of respondents have no experience of electric cars at all.
The AA also believes the government should intervene to reduce the cost of electric cars, such as via loans or tax breaks for buying them. Cutting the 20 percent VAT on public EV charging to five percent is also suggested.
Other key AA suggestions include battery health passports for used electric cars (to improve trust in the second-hand EV market), plus allowing plug-in hybrids to be sold until 2035.
Standardising signage for public chargers is another important recommendation, with the AA having previously campaigned about the need to make this clearer.
‘More needs to be done’
Jakob Pfaudler, CEO of the AA, said: “From opening the first filling station and erecting the first road signs, the AA has always led on motoring innovation.
“Our message to government is that more needs to be done to make EVs accessible for everyone. Generally, drivers are hesitant, but most are not hostile to the change. The AA is in a unique position to help, as we deal with drivers throughout the driving life-cycle from learning to drive, buying, insuring and repairing their cars.
“Our research shows many people are confused by the transition, which is not surprising as the main catalyst for change, the ZEV mandate, only governs supply but does little to encourage demand for EVs.
“The ambitious goal of the Climate Change Committee that 80 percent of cars and 74 percent of vans should be electric by 2040 shows how much needs to be done to get there.”
New research finds that worries about the public charging network are preventing British business from opting for electric vehicles.
A survey of 2,000 UK fleet operators was undertaken by Vauxhall, with the results published in its new ‘Electric Van Adoption Report’.
Of those questioned, a substantial 90 percent said they plan for their fleets to be fully electric by 2035.
However, nearly a quarter (23 percent) admitted the lack of dependable on-street charging has delayed them from adding EVs to their fleets.
On-street charging a concern
In the UK, 40 percent of households do not have access to off-street parking, meaning they will be entirely reliant on public EV charging.
Among fleet operators, some 90 percent said their drivers would need to make use of residential charging if they switched to electric vans.
This figure highlights the growing trend of van drivers and other fleet users taking their vehicles home, rather than leaving them at a workplace.
Notably, 81 percent of businesses said it wouldn’t be practical for them to install dedicated electric charging facilities at their operating bases.
Fleets see electric benefits
Despite the concerns about charging, 83 percent of fleets that currently use electric vans say they ‘bring positive benefits’ to their business.
An overwhelming 91 percent of businesses also said an all-electric fleet would have a beneficial impact on customer perceptions.
Vauxhall is encouraging businesses and drivers who want to switch to electric vehicles, but lack off-street parking, to register on its Electric Streets of Britain website. This aims to let local authorities, and charging providers, know where demand for on-street charging is greatest.
For those able to charge at home, Vauxhall offers a free Octopus Ohme Pro wallbox, including installation. The incentive is available to small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) customers who buy an electric van.
Morgan has affixed a ‘Supersport’ badge to go-faster versions of its existing cars since 1927. However, after 98 years, the Supersport has become a model in its own right, replacing the Plus Six at the top of the Morgan range.
With bold design, new technology and even somewhere to put your shopping, Morgan hopes the Supersport will appeal to a new breed of customers. “The idea is to broaden our portfolio,” says managing director Matthew Hole. It might even conquer a few sales from the Porsche 911, reckons chief designer Jonathan Wells. Fighting talk from a company that hand-builds around 800 cars a year…
My rendez-vous with the Supersport took place at Morgan Works London, the charming, boutique-style dealership tucked away on a cobbled mews in Kensington. There, I was given a secret preview of the new flagship, plus insight into what comes next for one of Britain’s oldest car companies.
‘Future-focused design’
From its fulsome front wings to its flat, triple-wipered windscreen, the Supersport could only be a Morgan. But look closer and many of its details are unapologetically modern. Jonathan Wells talks about “clashing” between the flowing bodywork and “technical and precise” details, such as the visible satin grey-painted sills or the rear diffuser.
In profile, the Supersport’s purposeful stance and elegantly tapering tail evoke the Morgan Midsummer, last year’s coachbuilt, limited-run project with Pininfarina. As MD Matthew Hole points out, though, the relationship is the other way around: “This car was in development first, so it actually informed the Midsummer’s styling.”
Combining what Wells calls “classic character and future-focused design,” the Supersport is arguably cut from a similar cloth to the new Ferrari 12Cilindri. Both resemble the future as imagined from the past; the Ferrari a radical wedge of supercar from the 1970s, the Morgan a jet-age roadster concept from the 1950s.
Styling the Supersport
Wide-eyed round headlights, a ‘horseshoe’ grille and a centrally-hinged bonnet give the Supersport a familiar Morgan face, but the bonnet’s traditional, hand-pressed cooling louvres are replaced by a 911 GT3-style central vent with a dark matte finish, along with subtle apertures in front of the doors.
At the rear, LED lamps are concealed within a full-width black panel alongside a contemporary take on traditional bumper over-riders, while twin tailpipes jut from the centre of the diffuser. There’s also a ‘Morgan’ script on the tail for the first time – “to help people identify the car on the road,” says Wells. The new font is called ‘HFS’ (after company founder Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan) and inspired by the first Morgan ‘wings’ logo from 1909.
The Supersport rides on 18-inch flow-formed ‘Superlite’ alloys as standard, but you’ll definitely want the optional 19-inch forged ‘Aerolite’ rims seen here. Weighing in at 9.7kg per corner, each wheel is more than 4kg lighter than those fitted to the Plus Six. Either way, they come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 rubber, which provides a good balance of cornering grip and wet-weather performance.
Priced from £102,000
In a process that Wells calls “21st century coachbuilding”, the Supersport’s aluminium body is hand-formed over an ash wood frame. Its new ‘CXV’ platform is an evolution of the ‘CX’ architecture that underpinned the Plus Six, but now 10 percent stiffer and made from 60 percent recycled aluminium.
Customers can spec their Supersport with a manually folding mohair soft-top roof for £102,000, or a carbon composite hard-top for £105,000. Or they can have both for £107,000. The removable hard-top is painted in body colour and has a huge curved rear screen that bathes the cabin in light. Its shape also gives the car a flowing, fastback silhouette akin to the much-loved Morgan Aeromax.
The Supersport still has detachable side screens, but their design is much improved, with more precise fitment and tighter seals to keep out the wind and rain. Even the door hinges are much-modernised. “They feel less like a garden gate and more like a Golf,” quips Wells.
Optional Nitron handling pack
One thing that hasn’t changed is the Supersport’s engine. Its 3.0-litre BMW ‘B58’ inline six is carried over from the Plus Six, and drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox (unlike the smaller Plus Four, there is no manual option). It marks Morgan’s 25th year of using BMW engines – a relationship that began with the Aero 8 in 2000.
Morgan hasn’t quoted any performance figures for the Supersport yet, but having 340hp and 369lb ft of torque in a package that Wells says weighs “1,170kg with a full tank of fuel” means it won’t hang about. For reference, the Plus Six could hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds.
Notably, the new car will be available with the Dynamic Handling Pack that totally transformed how the Plus Four drives. Here, it features compression and rebound adjustable Nitron dampers tuned specifically for the Supersport, plus a mechanical limited-slip differential. “We aren’t trying to make a direct rival for the Porsche 911,” says Wells, “but we do want to offer a credible alternative.”
Craftsmanship with modern tech
Part of that credibility also means offering up-to-date technology. So the Supersport is the first Morgan to offer hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, using three microphones hidden in the centre console. Active noise cancellation means you can have a “clear conversation at 70mph with the roof down”, promises Wells.
There’s also a wireless phone charging tray and a high-spec Sennheiser audio system, complete with decorative speaker grilles and actuators in each seat to “enhance the bass sensation”. The analogue dashboard dials use the same crisp ‘HFS’ font as the boot badge.
Speaking of the boot, this is the first Morgan to feature one in more than a decade. It can be opened remotely using the key fob and is large enough to carry the two side screens – or enough luggage for a week away. As a cool finishing touch, the car’s ash wood frame is revealed when you look inside. “We wanted to create a Morgan that can be used 365 days a year,” adds Wells. That sounds like our kind of challenge…
What’s next for Morgan?
Disappointingly, the new Supersport won’t be sold in the US. “Under the replica car rule, we can only sell 325 cars over in the States each year,” explains Matthew Hole. “And the Plus Four should fill that order bank. The [three-wheeled] Super 3 is homologated as a motorcycle, so that is treated differently.”
As for next steps, Hole says: “The investment needed for plug-in hybrids means they are totally off the table for us, so EVs are the only option. And that effectively means we’re being forced to go electric five years before everybody else” [in 2030, rather than 2035].
However, while Morgan is “committed to going electric eventually”, Hole is confident that an exception suited to Britain’s many small-volume car manufacturers can be achieved. “The government is listening and open to dialogue. It’s a complex issue, but I’m sure we’ll reach a solution.”
In the meantime, it seems only right to appreciate characterful cars like the new Morgan while we can. Come back to Motoring Research for our review soon – we’re hoping to drive the Supersport next month.
Police forces across the UK can now order the revised Skoda Octavia vRS. Following updates made last year, the vRS is the most powerful example of the Czech brand’s hot hatchback and estate.
The fourth-generation Octavia vRS serves up 265hp and 273lb ft of torque from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
With an increase of 20hp over the previous version, the Skoda now matches the Volkswagen Golf GTI for power output.
Back on the beat
Skoda believes this boost in performance makes the Octavia even better suited to life on the beat, with the police-specification vRS now available to order in both hatchback and estate body styles.
All versions of the vRS come with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, along with a ‘VAQ’ electrohydraulic differential. The hatchback can accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, while the estate version requires an extra 0.1 seconds.
In standard production form, the Octavia vRS can reach a top speed limited to 155mph, which should be sufficient for even the most extreme emergencies.
Sports suspension lowered by 15mm is fitted, with the option of Dynamic Chassis Control for police fleets that want a greater variety of handling options.
Ready for police duty
We imagine emergency services fleets will be less concerned about the revised styling on the Octavia vRS, which includes new front and rear bumpers, along with 19-inch ‘Elias’ alloy wheels.
Second-generation LED Matrix headlights with ‘Crystallinium’ elements and 36 individual matrix segments will likely be more important than a revised 13.0-inch infotainment screen, too.
Skoda UK can supply examples of the Octavia vRS fully converted for emergency use, including for the police, fire and ambulance services.
The Octavia vRS Estate, with its 640-litre boot capacity, has already passed MET brake safety tests, and is also approved for police fleets.
Porsche’s EV flagship, the new Taycan Turbo GT, has notched up another record-breaking achievement.
The extreme Porsche EV has become the fastest production electric car around the famous Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
With up to 1,108hp on tap, the most powerful road-going Porsche ever made was clearly the right tool for the job.
Combining it with works Porsche sports car driver – and former F1 pilot – Felipe Nasr made for an unstoppable combination.
‘A real performance machine’
Driven by Nasr, the Taycan Turbo GT managed a lap time of 1 minute 42.1 seconds, slashing almost eight seconds from the previous record. Naturally, this record of 1 minute 49.8 seconds was set by a Porsche Taycan Turbo S in 2022.
“Coming to Interlagos and getting behind the wheel of the Taycan Turbo GT right after winning the 24 Hours of Daytona was an incredible experience,” said Brazilian-born Nasr. “I expected the strong acceleration and torque but, ultimately, it was the overall performance that really impressed me.
“The steering of the Taycan Turbo GT was very precise in the slow corners and remained stable even under heavy braking. The balance, the grip – it’s a real performance machine.”
The Turbo GT has already notched up two records, starting with a pre-production model setting a class best around the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit last year.
Porsche development driver Lars Kern also used a Taycan Turbo GT to set the fastest lap in a road-legal electric car at the Laguna Seca racetrack in California.
And earlier this year, the less powerful Porsche Taycan GTS achieved a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous drift on ice by an electric vehicle.
Many city cars have been discontinued and not replaced in recent years, as requirements for the latest driver assistance systems, coupled with the drive towards EVs, has made them less profitable for car makers. It’s why this list is shorter than it would have been just a few years ago. We’ve even included a few slightly larger, supermini-sized cars to boost the numbers.
On the plus side, the city cars left standing in 2026 are generally very well-rounded and capable. Here are the best ones you can buy right now.
Citroen Ami
The innovative Citroen Ami is a city car in the purest sense. Indeed, with an electric range of 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, you would be brave/foolish (delete as appropriate) to venture much beyond the suburbs.
Priced from just £7,695 – or £100 a month on PCP finance – the Ami is probably cheaper than taking the bus. Its interior is very basic, but you do get a heater, a cupholder and a Bluetooth speaker atop the dashboard.
We said: ‘Like every EV, there are no gears to worry about: just press the Drive button and off you go. Visibility is very good and there’s even a glass roof to maximise the light inside. The Ami isn’t fast, but it’s quick enough for town use. And its manoeuvrability in tight spaces is unsurpassed.
‘Here, we should point out that the Citroen Ami is available only in left-hand-drive form. That’s not quite the issue you might think, because the vehicle is so compact it feels almost like you’re sitting in the centre anyway. Plus, it only has two seats. And, um, no boot. You must stuff your shopping bags into the spacious passenger footwell instead.’
In size terms, the Dacia Sandero is closer to being a supermini than a city car. However, it’s very much priced to compete with others here. The entry-level Sandero Essential comes with a 90hp engine, LED headlights, air conditioning, electric front windows and cruise control – all for £14,200. Even the most expensive model only costs a fraction over £16,000.
You can have your Sandero in crossover-style Stepway guise, with raised suspension and rugged body styling, or opt for a bi-fuel engine. The latter can use either petrol or LPG, for sizable cost savings. At the time of writing, LPG costs around 95p per litre (where available), compared to an average of £1.40 for unleaded petrol.
Driving the Dacia Sandero Stepway Bi-Fuel, we said: ‘Steering is a bit on the heavy side in town, but it’s positive and reassuring once up to speed. It feels natural in a way many small cars today do not. The Sandero Stepway is surprisingly comfortable at motorway speeds, with low tyre noise, excellent stability and a “planted” feel you don’t always get in small budget cars.
‘The turbo engine helps here. It’s ever-responsive, with good pulling power, and takes motorway speeds in its stride. It is refined, paired with a lovely five-speed gearbox, and serves up more than enough performance even over long journeys. The three-cylinder motor revs smoothly, too.’
There are now two versions of the Fiat 500. The first is the traditional 500 that’s been on sale for what feels like forever (albeit with a few updates over the years). It’s now sold solely with a 70hp 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine: good for 0-62mph in a leisurely 13.8 seconds.
Far more exciting is the 500e (pictured here), which features a fully electric powertrain. It’s available as a hatchback or roll-top cabriolet, with prices starting from around £25,000. The 93hp version with a 24kWh battery has an official range of 118 miles, while the 118hp, 42kWh model can manage 199 miles. Either way, the electric 500 is stylish, refined and enjoyable to drive around town.
Driving the 500e, we said: ‘In its segment, where it’s up against boutique small EVs like the Mini Electric and Honda e, the Fiat 500 stands up very well indeed.
‘Its blend of style, quality, comfort, range and price are spot-on – better, in fact, than the dated petrol model. Drive one. You’ll like it.’
It might be a supermini, but with prices starting from £18,500, the MG 3 is cheaper than some of the top-spec city cars on our list. Also, while many small cars make do with a mild-hybrid powertrain, the MG 3 is a proper hybrid, so you can look forward to pure electric driving in town and official fuel economy of 64mpg. That’s an impressive figure for a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a three-speed automatic transmission.
The entry-level SE version of the MG 3 has a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a seven-inch driver display, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control air-con, rear parking sensors and a choice of driving modes. Upgrading to Trophy trim adds the likes of heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, LED headlights and leather-style upholstery.
Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is arguably the best city car you can buy in 2026. It comes with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, the practicality of five doors and a range of efficient petrol engines. The 1.0- and 1.2-litre engines are perfect for the city, with fuel economy of up to 56.5mpg if you drive carefully.
We’re also fans of the i10 N Line, which features styling influenced by the brilliant (and sadly now discontinued) i20 N hot hatchback. Highlights include a distinctive grille, three-piece LED daytime running lights, 16-inch alloy wheels and N Line sports seats. It’s the only i10 to benefit from a turbocharged engine; the 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit serves up a zesty 90hp.
Standard spec across the i10 range includes air conditioning, high-beam assist, cruise control, Bluetooth, a DAB digital radio, a USB port and an eight-inch touchscreen with voice recognition, plus Apple CarPlay And Android Auto connectivity. There is a suite of driver assistance systems, too. The mid-range i10 Premium adds 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control air-con, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, mood lighting and a wireless charging pad.
Kia Picanto
If any city car can rival the Hyundai i10 for excellent value for money, it’s the Kia Picanto. You get an even longer seven-year warranty, although the mileage limit is set at 100,000 miles. That said, few city cars will reach six figures within their first seven years.
The vast majority of Picantos are powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine, which feels perfectly adequate in an urban environment. The racier GT-Line S model is available with a more powerful 1.2 turbocharged engine, giving the Picanto the feel of a junior hot hatchback. There are four trim levels in total: 2, GT-Line, 3 and GT-Line S.
When the basic 1 trim level was available, we said: ‘This is Kia’s cheapest car and therefore the lowest point of entry for that seven-year warranty. The range kicks off with the appropriately named Picanto 1, but we’d upgrade to the 2 for the benefit of air conditioning.’
It might look like an elongated Smart ForTwo that has suffered a mild frontal impact, but the Chinese-made Leapmotor 03 has value on its side. Indeed, at £15,995 – £1,000 less than the equivalent Dacia Spring – this four-seat hatchback is one of the cheapest EVs you can buy.
To drive, the 03 feels brisk and surprisingly mature – albeit without the feedback or fun-factor of the (much pricier) Mini Electric. Its driver assistance systems are also rather over-zealous, while the bluster of wind noise at motorway speeds soon becomes wearing. An electric motor driving the front wheels serves up 95hp and 117lb ft of torque: sufficient for 0-62mph in 12.7 seconds and an 80mph maximum. The 37.3kWh battery provides a WLTP-certified range of 165 miles, which seems acceptable for a city car.
There’s only one specification available and it comes crammed with standard equipment, including air conditioning, a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a panoramic sunroof. Overall, there is plenty to like here, given the low price, but drivers who regularly cover long distances should look elsewhere.
Toyota Aygo X
The previous Toyota Aygo city car had two near-identical siblings: the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108. This time, Toyota has opted to go it alone. The Aygo X looks like a miniature SUV, with big wheels, beefy bumpers and raised ground clearance. However, it’s still impressively compact – and affordable, too. Prices start from around £16,500.
All versions use a 72hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which offers up to 58.8mpg. A CVT automatic gearbox is optional to help reduce the stress of city driving.
We said: ‘This car absorbs potholes rather than letting them assault you. It has a stable, cushioned feel that never gets aggressive. The ‘X’ in Aygo X is actually pronounced ‘cross’. Driving this car makes you anything but.
‘Crossover-spec suspension travel helps here, but this doesn’t mean lots of body-roll in corners. Far from it: this is a lithe and lightweight car that handles in a charming, friendly way. It’s chuckable around town (with a turning circle similar to a black cab) and feels stable and assured on more open roads.’
As its name and the styling suggests, the Abarth 500e is a hot hatch version of the Fiat 500e city car. It uses the same 42kWh battery pack as the Fiat version, but features a 152hp electric motor sending power to the front wheels. As a result, the go-faster 500e can hit 62mph in just seven seconds.
One of the best things about the old Abarth models is their soundtrack, something you’d think would be missing from an EV. However, the 500e features an ‘Abarth Sound Generator’ that mimics the noise made by the tiny tearaway with a petrol engine. With prices starting from £30,000, the Abarth 500e isn’t cheap, but it is a lot of fun.
Dacia Spring
Not only is the Dacia Spring one of the UK’s cheapest new cars, it’s also comfortably the UK’s most affordable EV. Yes, the Citroen Ami is cheaper, but technically it’s a quadricycle, not a ‘proper’ car. Anyway, the Spring costs just £15,000 and offers 140 miles of driving range, a 308-litre boot and a choice of 45hp or 65hp electric motors.
The entry-level Spring Expression features manual air conditioning, a smartphone holder and rear parking sensors, while for an additional £2,000, the Extreme adds a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, front and rear parking sensors and copper/black wheel trims. Pretty basic, then, but this could be a glimpse into the future of electric city cars.
British driver Katherine Legge will race in the highest level of stock car competition this weekend. Guildford-born Legge will join the Shriners Children’s 500 NASCAR Cup Series race, which takes place at the Phoenix Raceway oval circuit on Sunday 9 March.
It marks the first time a female racing driver has taken part in a top-tier NASCAR Sprint Cup event for seven years.
Driver-turned-TV-pundit Danica Patrick was the most recent woman to compete in the Sprint Cup, having raced at the Daytona 500 in 2018.
A truly dynamic partnership
For this weekend’s 500-mile oval race, Legge will be driving the Live Fast Motorsport #78 Chevrolet Camaro, featuring sponsorship from Droplight and Sherfick Companies.
Live Fast Motorsports CEO Jessica McLeod said: “We’re happy to partner with Katherine for this race. The opportunity to have such a versatile and dynamic championship-winning driver join our programme is exciting for everyone on our team.”
During her wide-ranging career, Legge has competed in NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series. She drove four races during the 2018 Xfinity season, followed by a single outing in 2023.
Earlier this year, Legge also took part in the opening race of the ARCA Menards stock car series at Daytona.
A dream come true
Legge’s adaptability has seen her compete in diverse events such as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, along with the famed Indianapolis 500 race.
She became the first female to win a major open-wheel race in North America, and holds the record for the fastest Indy 500 qualifying speed by a woman.
“Entering the NASCAR Cup Series is a dream come true,” said Legge. “I’m excited to team up with Live Fast Motorsports for Phoenix, and to represent our sponsors Droplight and Sherfick Companies. Racing stock cars has been an incredibly fun and new challenge that’s given me a renewed sense of vigour for this sport.
“As always, I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love and am inspired by all of the effort, preparation and behind the scenes work it takes to get here.”
Lotus has announced a revamp for its mid-engined Emira, three years after the sports car went on sale.
More than 10,000 examples of the Emira have now been produced by the factory in Hethel, Norfolk. Now, Lotus has removed the Emira First Edition from its lineup, meaning the range consists of the V6 model and newly introduced Turbo SE.
The latter will be a familiar name for Lotus enthusiasts. ‘Turbo SE’ badging was previously applied to the Esprit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Power now up to 400hp
Powering the Lotus Emira Turbo SE is an enhanced version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplied by Mercedes-AMG.
Peak output for the Turbo SE is 400hp: a 40hp gain versus the previous four-cylinder Emira – and equalling the V6-powered model. Maximum torque has also increased to 354lb ft.
With a Mercedes-AMG eight-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard, the Turbo SE can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds. Top speed has also increased by 11mph, with the Emira Turbo SE now capable of 180mph.
Adding some Special Equipment
Lotus has previously used the SE badge to designate models with higher levels of standard equipment. Its reappearance on the Emira continues this trend.
Sports suspension is fitted as standard, along with cross-drilled and ventilated two-piece brake discs, red-painted brake calipers and a launch control mode for the transmission.
New 20-inch V-spoke forged alloy wheels are painted in satin grey, while Zinc Grey becomes the trademark colour for the Turbo SE elsewhere.
New black Lotus branding and ‘Emira Turbo SE’ badges are also part of the £89,500 package.
A landmark Lotus
The 400hp Emira V6, powered by its 3.5-litre six-cylinder supercharged engine, remains the flagship of the sports car range, priced from £92,500.
Buyers of this model also have the option of a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential, or indeed a six-speed automatic.
Reaching 10,000 examples of the Emira is a significant milestone for Hethel, with the car now having the fastest build-rate of any Lotus model.
Notably, Lotus has already built more Emiras than it did Esprits – despite the latter being produced for almost three decades.
