Off-road versions of the Porsche 911 are increasingly popular, with safari-spec conversions of classic models available from companies such as Kalmar Automotive and Tuthill Porsche.
Even Porsche itself has got in on the act, launching the rugged 911 Dakar last year. Click here to read our review.
For those on a smaller budget, or who don’t have a driving licence yet, Playmobil has an alternative. Joining the growing ranks of officially licensed models is its rather impressive Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Offroad.
Ready to off-road
Original 911 Carrera 2.7 RS rally cars are rare, and using a desirable road-going version to create a safari-ready machine would be sacrilegious to many Porsche enthusiasts. However, Playmobil has no such concerns.
The company has taken its existing Carrera 2.7 RS model, increased its ride height for better ground clearance and then fitted chunky off-road tyres. Just like with a proper safari conversion.
There is also a substantial front bumper with underbody protection and extra driving lights, plus a roof rack carrying four more large spotlights.
A jerry can and spare wheel are also stored on the roof rack, along with a shovel and a sand ladder if the going gets tough.
An affordable classic Porsche
The roof of the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS is removable to access its detailed interior. The engine cover opens to reveal a replica air-cooled flat-six, complete with its prominent central fan.
Measuring just over 25cm in length, the safari-spec Playmobil Porsche 911 will be aimed at children aged five and older when it reaches the shops later this month.
A price tag of £59.99 certainly makes it more affordable than the $2.5 to $3 million (£1.9 to £2.3 million) estimated for this 911 RS rally car at auction last year.
Every year, freezing winter weather wreaks havoc on Britain’s under-resourced roads. The destructive effects of ice, snow and rain water leave some roads resembling the surface of the moon.
According to the RAC Pothole Index, drivers are now 50 percent more likely to suffer a pothole-related breakdown than when the organisation first started collecting data 15 years ago.
So how are potholes formed? Put simply, all roads are constructed in layers. The top layer is water-resistant and curved to drain water off the road. Over time, cracks appear due to the stresses caused by traffic, but also through constant heating and cooling. The road expands during the day, but contracts overnight.
These small cracks allow water to seep below the surface and into the underlying layers of the road. During cold nights, the water freezes and expands. This ice thaws during the day, with the water flowing into a different section of the road. The pavement contracts and leaves gaps in the surface, where water can be trapped.
Traffic causes these cracks to widen, allowing even more water to seep in and freeze during the night. This constant freeze-thaw cycle weakens the road surface. As the material breaks down, a pothole is formed.
The hole story
Potholes cost Britain’s motorists an estimated £4 billion in repairs every year. Hit one, and you risk damaging your car’s wheels, tyres, steering, suspension or even bodywork. If you have been affected, click here for advice on how to potentially claim compensation from your local council or National Highways.
A company called Roadmender Asphalt has developed an Elastomac product that has been adopted by some councils. It’s a flowable material made from 70 percent recycled products, including road surface shavings and car tyres.
Elastomac welds itself to the road and delivers a totally waterproof and permanent repair. Its maker says that by eliminating the need to excavate the patch, the process requires 80 percent less material, with no waste to carry away. Contractors are able to complete five times more pothole patches per day.
The UK ranks 37th out of 141 countries on the World Economic Forum’s most recent road quality index. Singapore is in first place, followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Japan.
More details of the forthcoming Lotus Emeya have been announced, including prices for UK customers.
Described as the British company’s first ‘hyper-GT’, the electric saloon is said to offer world-class performance and handling.
Lotus has also released an online configurator for potential buyers to create their perfect specification – and place an order ahead of the Emeya reaching showrooms this summer.
Its pricing and specification will see the Lotus challenge sporting and luxurious EVs such as the Porsche Taycan and BMW i5.
Premium prices and performance
Prices for the Lotus Emeya will start from £94,950. The entry-level model comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, active air suspension, four-zone climate control and a KEF premium audio system.
The standard Emeya has a power output of 603hp, and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.15 seconds. A top speed of 155mph cannot match the infamous Lotus Carlton from the 1990s, however.
Priced from £107,450, the mid-range Emeya S adds 21-inch wheels, upgraded brakes with six-piston calipers and privacy glass.
The flagship Emeya R will set you back £129,950, but offers a power output of 905hp. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 2.78 seconds, with top speed increased slightly to 159mph.
Intelligent EV navigation
When it comes to electric range, Lotus says its cell-to-pack layout helps boost battery performance by up to 20 percent.
Choosing either the Emeya or Emeya S means owners can cover between 310 and 379 miles when the car is fully charged. The more powerful Emeya R provides a smaller range of 270 to 301 miles.
Making use of a compatible DC 350kW rapid-charging device, the Emeya can recharge its batteries from 10 to 80 percent in only 18 minutes.
The standard 15.1-inch HD OLED Lotus Hyper OS infotainment system incorporates intelligent EV routing. This can learn individual journeys and patterns, helping to maximise battery range.
“Electric cars do not have to be boring”
Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said: “Electric cars do not have to be boring. We are combining our rich sports car heritage with the latest cutting-edge technologies to redefine what it means to drive an electric vehicle.
“Emeya seamlessly blends exceptional ride and handling with world-class luxury, performance, comfort, connectivity and range – bringing drivers the ultimate grand tourer package with the unrivalled driving experience of a true Lotus.”
Lotus launched the Emeya for the Chinese market earlier this year. British and European buyers will have to wait until the third quarter of 2024 to get their hands on finished cars.
A homage to one of BMW’s most recognisable Art Cars has been unveiled at the Frieze Los Angeles event.
The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana is intended as a tribute to the 5 Series Art Car from 1991, created by Esther Mahlangu.
One of South Africa’s best-known artists, the distinctive style of 88-year-old Mahlangu’s work has been combined with modern technology to create a new Art Car. The one-off electric i5 takes its ‘Nostokana’ name from Mahlangu’s first son.
A cutting-edge canvas
Esther Mahlangu was the first woman, and the first African, to create an Art Car when she painted the BMW 525i in 1991. Using elements that reference her Ndebele heritage, the brightly coloured 5 Series has been displayed around the world, including at the British Museum in 2017.
For its innovative tribute, BMW has used E-Ink technology on the body of an i5 saloon. Almost 1,350 sections of E-Ink film, which can be separately controlled, have been applied to the sides, roof, bonnet and boot of the i5.
This allows for the colour and pattern shown to be changed by varying the electrical current applied, similar to an e-book reader.
The result is a constantly changing pattern in the style of Mahlangu’s painting, combined with sounds that increase in intensity as the artwork evolves on the car.
‘Technology itself becomes art’
BMW has demonstrated its E-Ink technology before, using it on the iX Flow concept in 2022. This could transform from having white to black bodywork instantly. Multi-coloured E-Ink was also used on the BMW i Vision Dee concept.
It points to a future where owners could rapidly change the exterior colour of their car.
Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, commented: “The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana honours the history of the BMW brand and continues the story of our global cultural engagement in a unique way. It combines art and design through progressive technology. Here, technology itself becomes art”.
Esther Mahlangu added: “It is fascinating to me to see how modern technology can expand my art and make it accessible to a completely new audience”.
With the i5 Nostokana on display in Los Angeles, the company will also show the original 1991 5 Series Art Car in Cape Town as part of an exhibition dedicated to Mahlangu’s work.
Following on from the new GranTurismo, Maserati has added the head-turning GranCabrio convertible to its refreshed range.
The open-air GT is said to be dedicated to driving enthusiasts who ‘demand the greatest levels of comfort and style’.
Much is shared with the GranTurismo coupe, including the same V6 petrol or fully electric powertrain options, along with all-wheel drive.
‘Grand tourer par excellence’
In contrast to the regular GranTurismo, Maserati has dispensed with entry-level Modena trim for the GranCabrio.
That makes Trofeo spec the starting point for the spyder model, with an upgraded version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 ‘Nettuno’ petrol engine and an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox fitted as standard.
A power output of 550hp, along with 479lb ft of torque, allows the GranCabrio Trofeo to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds. A top speed of 196mph also makes the al fresco Maserati only a fraction slower than its fixed-roof sibling.
Aflagship 761hp electric Folgore model will join the range soon, with a likely price tag of close to £200,000.
Rapid performance, rapid roof
Designed to be a genuine four-seater, the GranCabrio has a fabric roof to save space and weight versus a folding hard-top. It can be opened in 14 seconds and operates at speeds of up to 31mph.
A three-stage neck warmer heating system is standard, while buyers can also specify an optional Windstop device to reduce turbulence inside the cabin.
The opening roof does sacrifice some boot space, however. The GranCabrio offers a luggage capacity of 172 litres, compared to 310 litres in the GranTurismo.
Bespoke options available
Following the reveal of the GranCabrio, the Trofeo version can now be configured to your dream specification through the Maserati website.
Alternatively, orders for the GranCabrio can also be placed via Maserati dealers. Prices start at just under £169,500, but diving into the extensive options list – such as paint from Maserati’s bespoke Fuoriserie range, for example – could ramp up this total considerably.
Success on race circuits around the globe in 2023 has given Aston Martin buyers a new favourite paint colour.
Motorsport-inspired Racing Green has become the brand’s most chosen option, based upon new car retail data.
Last year, Aston Martin found that almost one quarter of customers (24 percent) picked from one of nine shades of green for their new supercar or SUV.
Among these, the distinctive Aston Martin Racing Green, offered in either a gloss or satin finish, was the top choice for buyers.
Nine shades of green
Aston Martin Racing Green now accounts for 12 percent of new models sold, up from seven percent the previous year. The colour was only added to the brand’s palette in 2021, intended to celebrate Aston Martin’s return to Formula One.
Peak interest in the green paint colour coincided with Fernando Alonso taking a historic podium finish for the Aston Martin F1 team.
Alonso’s third place in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix created a 29 percent increase in traffic to the Aston Martin website, along with a spike in orders for Racing Green-painted cars.
The success of Aston Martin Racing Green has seen traditional favourite colours slip down the popularity rankings. Xenon Grey was the second most popular colour in 2023, followed by Magnetic Silver.
The Fernando Alonso effect
Aston Martin’s Formula 1 involvement has already proved to be a positive influence for sales. Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of those buying F1-inspired special editions were new to the brand.
In addition, Aston Martin experienced a 20 percent increase in online configurations sent to dealers on race weekends, compared to non-race weekends in 2023.
Marco Mattiacci, chief brand and commercial officer at Aston Martin, said: “Our presence on the grid has propelled the brand onto the global stage, but also captured the imagination of loyal and new customers who are specifying more cars in green than ever before.
“Just as James Bond made the Silver Birch paint tone synonymous with DB5 and the brand more broadly, 60 years on, Aston Martin’s on-track success is putting Racing Green at the forefront of customers’ minds when purchasing their Aston Martin.”
More than 30 years have passed since Britain’s first-ever speed camera was installed on Twickenham bridge in London
The Gatso (short for Gatsometer) was the first fixed speed camera to gain official approval from the Home Office. Trials began in 1988, before they were pressed into use as enforcement devices from 1992. A Gatso camera uses radar to measure speed, then two static images of the passing vehicle for use when issuing a ticket.
Gatso speed cameras – officially called ‘safety cameras’ – were originally painted grey, but a change in the law stipulated that all cameras must be easily visible to drivers. In the early days, they also featured removable film, which had to be checked by operators. Digital versions that don’t rely on film arrived in 2007.
You’ll know if you’ve been caught by a Gatso, because a flash will illuminate the car and its number plate. Crucially, the photograph also captures the white calibration lines painted on the road.
Are road markings required?
There are two types of white lines – sometimes known as ‘dragon’s teeth’ – used for speed cameras. Some are painted in the centre of the lane, while others are found at the edges of the road. Some Gatso cameras have no road markings next to them, either because the camera housing is a dummy, or because the road has been resurfaced.
As this Freedom of Information (FOI) request highlights, ‘there is no laid down distance [for road markings] and [they] can vary by both area and site’.
If the speed camera is to be used within Section 20 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act, the lines or some other distance reference need to be present, so a secondary check can be carried out. The lines on the road are normally set at five feet, six feet, one metre or two metre intervals.
This is an important point, because Gatso speed cameras DO NOT require road markings for the speeding ticket to be enforceable. The lines are there to make it easier for safety camera partnerships to provide the necessary evidence. Using the lines is a more effective secondary check.
Alternatively, other fixed features can be used to assess the distance travelled by the vehicle between the two images in the evidence. An example could be the road markings in the centre of the road.
Slow down and stay safe
We contacted a road safety partnership for clarification. We were told: ‘If no lines are present an offence could still be prosecuted’.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) guide for the operational use of speed and red-light offence detection technology sheds more light on the subject.
Section 16.2.2 of the guide states: ‘HOTA [Home Office Type Approved] unattended automatic devices will have a second independent method of checking the primary speed measurement. One such method offered by manufacturers is the taking of two photographs of the offending vehicle at a known time apart, which can be compared with the distance travelled within that time interval to drive at the speed of the vehicle. Only approved methods of secondary checks should be utilised.’
No markings for average speed cameras
Modern speed cameras do not rely on road markings to catch speeding motorists. Take the SPECS digital cameras (pictured above), which measure the average speed between two cameras. These are commonly found on A-roads, or to enforce temporary speed limits on motorways.
The fact is, speed cameras have never needed painted road markings, they were simply there for evidence and enforcement purposes. However, that’s not to say that the markings can’t be used by motorists who feel a speeding ticket has been issued unfairly.
If in doubt, don’t speed. If you see a camera, assume it is operational and that you will get caught if you speed past it. In all senses, the risk simply isn’t worth it.
McLaren has lifted the lid off its plug-in hybrid supercar. The new Artura Spider promises more power, ‘no compromise’ dynamic performance, a spicier soundtrack and option to go al fresco.
Priced from £221,500 – a premium of around £20,000 over the Artura coupe – the Spider is available to order now, with first deliveries expected this summer.
We visited McLaren’s futuristic factory in Woking for a secret preview of the Artura Spider, followed by a chat with the senior engineers who developed it. Read on for everything we know so far.
Open to the elements
There is more to the Artura Spider than just a new roof, but that’s the headline news here. Powered by eight electric motors, it disappears acrobatically and near-silently beneath the rear deck in 11 seconds – and at speeds up to 31mph.
The roof itself is made from unpainted carbon fibre composite, with an optional electrochromic glass panel that goes from opaque to transparent at the touch of a button.
Made in Sheffield, the Spider’s ultra-rigid ‘MCLA’ carbon fibre chassis requires no extra strengthening to compensate for its opening top. However, the roof motors and mechanism mean 62kg of added weight.
McLaren quotes a lightest dry figure of 1,457kg, plus a kerb weight of 1,560kg: measured with all fluids and the fuel tank 90 percent full. “Either way, we have the lightest convertible supercar in its class,” says chief engineer Andy Beale.
More power, more range
The Artura Spider also gains an extra 20hp, bringing total output to 700hp at 7,500rpm. Key performance stats are identical to its coupe sibling: 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 205mph.
Achieved via a software tweak for the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6, the extra power makes its presence felt between 4,000rpm and the 8,500rpm redline. Maximum torque is unchanged at 531lb ft, but the axial flux motor contributes an instant 166lb ft for electrified throttle response.
McLaren has also reworked the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, introducing a new ‘pre-fill’ function that pressurises the hydraulic fluid to reduce shift times by 25 percent. And proving that you can, occasionally, have your cake and drive it, the Artura offers a longer zero-emissions range: up from 19 miles to 21 miles with the powertrain in fully electric E-Mode.
Thank you for smoking
We’ll come to the cosmetic differences in a minute, but there are further changes beneath the Spider’s skin. New damper valving and improvements to its innovative ‘ethernet’ electronic architecture make the adaptive suspension up to 90 percent quicker to react. “We’ve increased the bandwidth of the car,” explains Andy Beale, a veteran of 21 years at McLaren. “It combines a more supple ride with better body control.”
Beale also highlights the new brake cooling ducts, which provide “greater stopping power and consistency at high speeds”, and the retuned exhaust system with its “cleaner tone” and greater crescendo as the revs rise.
Oh, and if all that sounds a bit serious, a new “spinning wheel pull-away” function complements the existing launch control, allowing you to blast off in clouds of dramatic tyre smoke – and probably vaporise a pair of Pirelli P Zeros in the process. Note: don’t try this at the drive-thru.
The future is orange
With the technical briefing complete, Artura programme manager Michael Norrington takes us for a walk around the first pre-production Spider. Resplendent in Papaya Spark – a pearlescent version of McLaren’s trademark bright orange, seen above – it outshines even the sparkling white tiles of the factory’s inner sanctum.
Unsurprisingly, most of the design changes are focused around the Spider’s rear end. The ‘hot vee chimney’, which vents heat from the hybrid powertrain, has moved backwards by around 200mm to avoid scorching the folded roof, and now has additional air intakes on either side.
Unique to the Spider are shapely rear buttresses made from motorsport-style clear polycarbonate. “They were a real engineering challenge,” admits Norrington, “but they have two functions: improving visibility and channelling cold air into the engine compartment.”
Look closely and you’ll also spot small gurneys on the windscreen header rail, designed to deflect air over the cabin, plus the new vertical rear window. The latter drops down electrically so your ears can enjoy unfettered access to the snarling 120-degree V6, even on a wet day in Woking.
Get yourself connected
McLaren CEO Michael Leiters says the Spider offers “even higher levels of connection, without any compromise in everyday driving.” We’ll test that claim at the launch in a few months’ time, but the regular Artura has already set a high bar. Our review described it as ‘a multi-faceted and very modern kind of supercar… efficient and unobtrusive when you’re not in the mood, then riotously fast and entertaining when conditions allow’.
In the meantime, the good news is that most of the improvements made to the Spider will be carried across to the coupe, as part of a 2025 model-year update.
Existing Artura owners can also visit their McLaren dealer to receive the 700hp power upgrade free of charge. The electric range extension won’t be offered, however, as doing so would contravene homologation rules and require the car to be re-registered.
A Jaguar I-Pace bought personally by King Charles III will head to auction next month.
The 2018 I-Pace is the first fully electric car owned by the British royal family – and an early example of the battery-powered SUV.
Its famous first owner will likely make the Jaguar a desirable lot when it appears at the Historic Auctioneers sale, taking place at Ascot racecourse on 2 March 2024.
Leading the charge
The former Prince of Wales is well known for his interest in environmental issues, and ordering a Jaguar I-Pace saw him lead the way in electrifying the royal fleet.
The range-topping I-Pace EV400 HSE was purchased in September 2018, and initially ordered with Eiger Grey paintwork. However, the car is said to have been returned to Jaguar, then finished in Loire Blue instead.
As a non-standard colour, it remains the only I-Pace to be painted in this hue. Rather fittingly, the interior is upholstered in Light Oyster Windsor leather.
A Jaguar fast charger was installed at Clarence House to ensure the I-Pace’s battery could be easily topped up.
An EV fit for a king
Driven by the King until December 2021, other members of the royal family such as Queen Camilla were also transported in the unique Jaguar.
After racking up around 3,000 miles, the I-Pace was returned to Jaguar and later sold by a dealership in Oxford. Understandably, the original number plate was replaced, and the royal provenance wasn’t mentioned in the advert.
Karen French, the current owner of the I-Pace, was told of its former keeper after she had purchased the car. French has added 30,000 miles since , but has now decided “that it was time for a change”.
The ‘most significant’ I-Pace
As a car bought and driven personally by His Majesty King Charles, the pre-auction estimate for the I-Pace has been set at between £55,000 and £70,000.
Historics’ head of auctions, Mathew Priddy, talked up the car’s collector status, saying: “We are thrilled to bring this royal icon to auction. It’s an unrepeatable piece of electric motoring history.
“With the Jaguar I-Pace being discontinued ahead of Jaguar’s re-launch in 2025, this will remain surely the most significant example, which will be reflected in its increasing value.”
The Historic Auctioneers sale will be held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 2 March, although bids for the Jaguar can also be placed online.
Volkswagen has announced a new estate version of ID.7 fastback saloon, as the company expands its ID range of fully electric cars.
The ID.7 Tourer is partly inspired by a concept car, the Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion, which was first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2019.
The latest entrant in a growing electric estate market, the ID.7 Tourer offers an alternative to an SUV for those who want battery-powered practicality.
Rapid charging, chilled attitude
As one of its flagship models, Volkswagen has made the ID.7 Tourer’s interior feel suitably luxurious. An augmented reality head-up display will be fitted as standard, along with an in-car ‘Wellness’ application.
The latter connects with a phone app to change background lighting colours, air-con settings and seat massage functions, as part of three pre-configured programmes.
Battery options for the ID.7 Tourer allow a range of up to 425 miles when fully charged. Compatibility with rapid charging at speeds of 200kW means the battery can go from 10-80 percent capacity in 30 minutes.
Carrying antiques quietly
Volkswagen is keen to stress the ID.7 Tourer’s practicality. With the rear seats in place, it provides 605 litres of luggage space. Drop them down and the ID.7 Tourer will hold a more-than-respectable 1,714 litres when loaded up to the roof.
For comparison, the recently announced Volkswagen Passat Estate can carry up to 1,920 litres of luggage with the rear seats folded down.
However, the ID.7 Tourer beats the new BMW i5 Touring in the battle of the most accommodating electric estate car.
The ‘perfect estate model’
Following the reveal, Imelda Labbé, member of the Volkswagen board of management, said: “The new ID.7 Tourer is a perfect estate model, especially for families and long-distance drivers. With plenty of space and a high level of comfort, it impresses fully electrically with long ranges.”
The ID.7 Tourer seen pictured is referred to by Volkswagen as a ‘near-production vehicle’. However, any major changes seem unlikely before the car begins rolling off the production line at Volkswagen’s ‘electric mobility’ plant in Emden, Germany – where it will be assembled alongside the ID.7 fastback saloon and ID.4 SUV.
