Ford has released a fully electric version of the Puma SUV. It will join the marque’s UK range alongside existing petrol hybrid models.
The new Puma Gen-E is the latest EV launched by Ford in 2024, following the Explorer SUV and reborn Capri.
Last year, the Ford Puma was Britain’s best-selling new car, with some 49,500 examples registered. Its run as a top-seller has continued throughout 2024, too.
The electric Puma Gen-E will enter a competitive market, squaring up to the new Mini Aceman and Jeep Avenger.
Living for the city
Powering the Puma Gen-E is a single electric motor. Driving the front wheels, it produces a total of 168hp and 214lb ft of torque.
The instant torque characteristics of an EV help the Gen-E to accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 99mph.
A 43kWh battery pack is fitted beneath the floor of the Puma Gen-E, providing an official, WLTP-certified range of 234 miles. Used solely for urban travel, this figure increases to 325 miles.
The Gen-E is capable of using DC fast chargers with speeds of up to 100kW. Replenishing the battery pack from 10 to 80 percent can potentially take only 23 minutes.
A more practical Puma
With a ‘GigaBox’ boot storage system instead of the usual ‘MegaBox’, practicality has been enhanced versus the regular Puma. In total, it offers 574 litres of storage capacity, plus a 45-litre ‘frunk’ beneath the bonnet.
All Puma Gen-E models come with a 12.8-inch digital instrument panel, plus a 12.0-inch central touchscreen running Ford’s SYNC4 operating system. Wireless smartphone charging, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are all included on the entry-level Select version, priced at £29,995.
Moving up to the £31,995 Premium adds 18-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, a B&O sound system and a power-operated tailgate.
Ford dealers are accepting orders for the Puma Gen-E now, with the first deliveries expected in spring 2025.
Whatever your views on Jaguar’s dramatic reinvention and rebrand, the appeal of classic models such as the E-Type is undimmed.
This example is perhaps the most famous Jaguar E-Type of all, having starred in all three of the Austin Powers films.
It could also be yours very soon, as the infamous ‘Shaguar’ will be sold by Mecum Auctions as part of its Kissimmee sale in Florida.
It’s got the Powers
Austin Powers director Jay Roach and starring actor Mike Myers knew they needed a British car for the spoof spy movie. However, the duo were unsure of which model to choose.
Ray Claridge, owner of Cinema Vehicle Services, and Josh Hancock, owner of Joshcar, helped narrow down the search to this particular Jaguar.
Built in December 1967, the E-Type 4.2 left the Jaguar factory wearing Opalescent Silver Blue paintwork, combined with a blue convertible top and dark blue interior.
It is worth noting that the iconic Union Jack exterior now worn by the E-Type is not a simple wrap, but a bespoke painted livery. A ‘Shaguar’ badge on the boot lid provided the finishing touch.
Groovy, baby!
Forget any ideas of this being just another replica or promotional studio prop. Mecum Auctions confirms it was the only car used during filming, making its debut in 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
The E-Type then appeared in the two subsequent parts of the comedy trilogy, with Mike Myers behind the wheel each time.
A further outing came in the music video for Madonna’sBeautiful Stranger single in 1999.
Following its life on the big screen, the Jaguar became part of a private collection. However, it was loaned to Jaguar Land Rover on several occasions, allowing the company to use it for promotional events.
“For… $1 million dollars!”
Jaguar Land Rover was responsible for much of this particular E-Type’s restoration during the 2000s. More recently, the 4.2-litre engine has been subject to a comprehensive mechanical update.
Included among the paperwork supplied with the car are letters of authenticity from Josh Hancock and Ray Claridge. The latter was responsible for maintaining the E-Type during its years on-screen, adding to the Jag’s provenance.
The Jaguar will cross the block on Saturday 18 January 2025, as part of Mecum Auction’s huge Kissimmee sale. No guide price has been given, but it should be less than the $1 million dollars demanded by Austin’s nemesis, Dr. Evil.
Orders have opened for the Abarth 600e: a sporty compact SUV and the second fully electric vehicle from the Italian marque.
With two versions on offer, including the limited edition 600e Scorpionissima, the new Abarth aims to combine performance and practicality.
Choosing the celebratory 600e Scorpionissima also puts you behind the wheel of the most powerful road-going Abarth ever made.
However, with dramatic styling and some very bold paint colours, there is no shortage of Abarth character however you choose to specify a 600e.
The most powerful Abarth yet
In standard form, the Abarth 600e comes with a single electric motor, sending all of its 240hp to the front wheels. This means a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, plus a top speed limited to 124mph.
Opting for the Scorpionissima ups power output to a record-setting 280hp, and reduces the 0-62mph time to 5.9 seconds.
Abarth has worked with motorsport suppliers, equipping the 600e with Alcon performance brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.
There is also a TEKT Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, which should help the 600e transfer its 254lb ft of torque to the road.
Inspired by a classic Abarth
For the exterior of the 600e, Abarth says it took inspiration from the bluff face of the classic 850 TC. The design pairs ‘square geometry with strong graphics’, with additional influence from the world of video games.
Lowered suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels and a substantial rear spoiler are also part of the package.
The Abarth 600e’s interior also looks bold, with bright contrasting colours against black trim. A two-spoke steering wheel is clad in a combination of leather and Alcantara, with aluminium pedals for good measure.
Both versions of the 600e come with Sabelt sports seats, although the Scorpionissima features a more sculpted design and Alcantara upholstery.
Making a sporty statement
When it comes to paint colours, the Abarth 600e is not for the shy and retiring. Options include Acid Green, Antidote White, Shock Orange and Venom Black.
The 600e Scorpionissima will be available in Acid Green or the exclusive Hypnotic Purple (seen above). It also gains a gloss black bodykit and painted front brake calipers.
Prices for the Abarth 600e will start from £36,975. To purchase one of 1,949 examples of the 600e Scorpionissima, you will require £41,975.
Orders for the 600e can be placed now at Abarth dealers, with the first UK deliveries expected in spring 2025.
The latest SUV in the Cupra range is now available to order, with prices starting from £37,805.
Slotting into the Cupra lineup above the existing Ateca, the new Terramar enters an increasingly competitive market for crossover-style cars.
Buyers will be able to choose from four engine options, along with four trim levels and two special edition models.
The UK launch of the Terramar follows a recent announcement that the Spanish brand plans to sell cars in North America by 2030.
Cupra’s last combustion car
Engine choices for the Cupra Terramar start with a 150hp 1.5-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol. Sold in front-wheel-drive form, like all Terramars it has a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 1.5-litre petrol is also available in two plug-in hybrid guises, with 204hp or 272hp. When fully charged, its 28.5kWh battery pack provides an electric range of up to 75 miles.
Joining the lineup later will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. This also produces 204hp, but has Cupra’s 4-Drive all-wheel drive system as standard.
The most intriguing option for keen drivers is the 265hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol. The same engine used in the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI, with 4-Drive it can accelerate the Terramar to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.
Strong standard equipment
Starting specification in entry-level V1 trim includes LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera
Cupra will allow buyers to add options such as copper-finished alloy wheels on the pricier VZ trims – along with upgraded Akebono brakes for the 265hp version.
In First Edition form, only offered as a 1.5-litre 272hp plug-in hybrid, the Terramar will cost £51,790.
Standard equipment here includes 20-inch wheels, leather seats and a panoramic sunroof. Adaptive chassis control and a Sennheiser sound system are also on the list.
Up for the Cup
Cupra’s new partnership with the America’s Cup sailing competition has led to a special edition, too. The Terramar America’s Cup Edition is priced from £50,850 and comes with the 2.0-litre 265hp engine.
Painted in Enceladus Grey Matt with 20-inch black alloy wheels, the leather seats feature the America’s Cup logo. The same emblem is on the exterior B-pillars, too.
Other than the 204hp 2.0-litre engine, which will be available in January 2025, all Terramar models can be ordered now.
Marcus Gossen, director of Seat and Cupra UK, said: “We are delighted to announce that Terramar is now available for order in the UK. We thrive on pushing boundaries, and the Terramar is redefining what it means to be a sporty SUV.”
The new Lamborghini Temerario, due next summer, has made its UK debut at a special event in London.
The Temerario slots into Lamborghini’s range beneath the flagship Revuelto and replaces the long-serving Huracan, trading its predecessor’s naturally aspirated V10 for a turbocharged V8 and three electric motors. The headline numbers are 920hp, 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 211mph.
Fittingly, the latest Lamborghini was unveiled at Ladbroke Hall, an art gallery near Notting Hill with an automotive backstory. Opened in 1903, the site was originally home to the Sunbeam Talbot Motor Company – and was Britain’s first purpose-built car factory.
We joined several senior Lamborghini execs – including CEO Stephan Winkelmann – for a detailed look at 2025’s most exciting new supercar, from its design to its plug-in hybrid powertrain. Short of how the Temerario drives, here is what you need to know.
Let’s talk about six
Lamborghini design director Mitka Borkert waited a long time for this opportunity. “I went to the Geneva Motor Show in 2003, when the Gallardo was first presented,” he recalls. “If somebody had told me back then that I’d end up designing its second-generation successor, I’d have said ‘dream on’.”
The Temerario’s wedgy profile draws on every mid-engined Lamborghini since the Countach (“that silhouette is the star in the sky we always follow”), with further inspiration coming from the angular 1974 Lamborghini Bravo concept.
“A hexagon was the starting point for sketches,” says Borkert, drawing my attention to the car’s daytime running LEDs, tail lights, fuel flap and exhaust tailpipes – all of which echo the six-sided shape. “This is an honest design; there’s a combustion engine, so we decided to show it. But a Lamborghini also needs to look like a spaceship.”
As for size, the Temerario remains “compact and agile”. Its wheelbase has grown by 40mm versus the Huracan, but width has only increased by 10mm. Lamborghini’s ‘junior’ supercar is nearly a foot shorter than a Revuelto, too.
Hybrid with hypercar pace
At the heart of a (20 percent stiffer) aluminium spaceframe is the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and dizzying 10,000rpm redline. As chief engineer Rouven Mohr proudly explains: “If we are talking about turbocharged road cars, only the Mercedes-AMG One [a £2.4 million hypercar with an F1-derived V6] can rev higher.”
Mohr stresses the Temerario’s engine was “a clean-sheet project” unrelated to the V8 powering the Urus SUV – nor indeed the V8 in Lamborghini’s SC63 Le Mans racer. “It combines the power and torque of a turbocharged motor with the linearity and crescendo effect of a naturally aspirated one. The best of both worlds, I think.”
According to Mohr, Lamborghini also evaluated new V6 and V10 engines, but decided a V8 was the best fit. Like the Revuelto, it is supplemented by two electric motors on the front axle (providing four-wheel drive) and a third at the rear, sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The resulting 920 horses at 9,450rpm would, until recently, have planted the Temerario’s flag well inside hypercar territory (the Huracan STO, for example, offers ‘just’ 640hp). Maximum torque of 538lb ft is available from 4,000-7,000rpm. Oh, and if you want a quiet getaway, the 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery provides an EV range of around six miles.
Inside the Lamborghini Temerario
Inside, the Temerario looks markedly more sophisticated than the dated Huracan, yet it still evokes the cockpit of a jet fighter, right down to the red ‘bomb switch’ cover on the start button.
There are three screens: a 12.3-inch digital display for the driver, an 8.4-inch central touchscreen and a slimline 9.1-inch readout for the passenger. The graphics are crisp and cartoonish, while some of the car’s functions, such as the security tracking system, can also be accessed via the Lamborghini Unica app.
An on-board telemetry data logger, combined with forward- and driver-facing cameras, means you can record your track day or a special road-trip, too.
Customers get a choice of electric comfort seats or hard-backed carbon fibre buckets. Both headroom and legroom are greater than the Huracan (up 34mm and 46mm respectively) and there is space for two flight cases inside the front boot, plus a few squashy bags behind the seats.
A superbike soundtrack?
We won’t get behind the wheel until next year, but Rouven Mohr confidently promises “the best in class for a driving experience”.
A rear-biased 4WD setup is said to place the Temerario “somewhere between a Huracan Performante and STO” for dynamic balance, while rear downforce is up by 103 percent compared with a Huracan Evo (or 158 percent if you spec the lightweight, carbon-tastic Alleggerita Package).
If the YouTube videos are anything to go by, Lamborghini’s new engine has a very different voice to the bombastic V10: smoother, much higher pitched and more like a superbike than, well, a supercar. A symposer channels extra V8 volume into the cabin, but there’s no artificial enhancement via the speakers.
Using the rotary controller on the steering wheel, you can cycle through Città (front-driven and fully electric), Strada, Sport and Corsa settings. Inspired by the acclaimed Huracan Sterrato, this is also the first Lamborghini to feature a drift mode.
“The difference between the Temerario and Revuelto is much greater than it was between the Huracan and Aventador,” says Mohr. “These cars have their own distinct characters.”
Bullish prospects for Lamborghini
Our afternoon at Ladbroke Hall ends in the company of Stephan Winkelmann, who has headed up Lamborghini since 2005 (with brief stints at Audi Sport and Bugatti along the way).
Highlighting that Sant’Agata is once again on course for record sales in 2024 (exceeding 10,000 cars for only the second time in its 61-year history), Winkelmann also talks about the marque’s motorsport plans. “A Temerario GT3 will compete in 2026, followed by the Super Trofeo version [for Lamborghini’s one-make race series] a year later,” he says. “Neither of the race cars will be hybrid, unlike the road model”
If the Temerario equals the longevity of the Huracan and remains on sale for 10 years, that will take it into 2035, by which time the motoring landscape could look very different. Winkelmann says Lamborghini is often “unexpected”, so the Temerario will doubtless evolve and spawn new variants. Perhaps a hardcore, track-focused version might ditch the hybrid hardware altogether, aligning with the race car? And maybe we’ll see a second-generation Sterrato? Whatever happens, it’s sure to be an exciting journey.
Vauxhall has cut the cost of electric versions of its new Grandland SUV. Prices for the Grandland Electric now start at less than £40,000, following reductions of up to £4,700.
The news arrives in the same week that Vauxhall’s parent company, Stellantis, announced plans to close its Luton van plant.
That decision was said to be in response to weakened demand for electric cars, combined with the potential cost of meeting the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate (requiring an increasing proportion of car manufacturers’ sales to be EVs).
Grandland Electric prices cut
The Vauxhall Grandland Electric range now starts at £37,345 in Design trim, which represents a £3,650 saving compared to the previous list price.
For the mid-range GS model, Vauxhall has cut £4,650 from the cost of the Grandland Electric, taking the starting price to £38,495.
Finally, the range-topping Ultimate model sees the biggest reduction of all. Slicing a substantial £4,700 from the list price means this fully-loaded SUV now costs £40,495.
Vauxhall has not changed prices for the related Grandland Hybrid model, which starts from £34,700. However, the EV savingsare intended to give the two powertrains greater parity.
Tax savings on the horizon
Vauxhall’s decision to reduce the cost of the Grandland Electric follows a trend of cutting prices for its EV models. Earlier this year, the company announced major reductions for electric versions of both the Corsa and Astra.
From 1 April 2025, owners of electric cars will have to pay VED (road tax). New EVs registered after this date that cost in excess of £40,000 will be subject to the ‘expensive car supplement’. This adds £410 in annual VED from the second year of ownership. For the Grandland Electric, all but the Ultimate model will now avoid the extra penalty.
James Taylor, managing director at Vauxhall, commented: “With the recent Budget confirming the introduction of the new vehicle excise duty rules from April 2025, we are pleased to announce that two of our three new Grandland Electric versions, representing around an expected 80 percent of sales, will not attract this new tax – making going electric in our latest family SUV even more attainable”.
Save on EV charging, too
All versions of the Grandland Electric use a 73kWh battery pack, offering an official range of up to 325 miles. Buyers of new electric Vauxhalls can also benefit from the brand’s range of charging offers.
Customers can receive a free Octopus Energy Ohme Pro wallbox with installation included, or the option of £675 credit towards public charging – available when buying online.
Purchasing a Grandland Electric through a Vauxhall dealership means you can also gain 50,000 Tesco Clubcard points, with an equivalent value of £500.
Urgent government intervention is needed to safeguard the UK automotive industry and protect the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) transition, says trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
In a headline announcement, the SMMT has warned car companies are facing a bill of almost £6 billion to meet the controversial ZEV Mandate in its first year of operation alone.
This requires 22 percent of all new cars sold to be electric in 2024. And the figure rises to 28 percent in 2025, then right up to 80 percent by 2030.
However, since the ZEV Mandate was announced two years ago, the assumptions on which it was based have not been borne out. In 2022, for example, the car industry anticipated 457,000 EVs would be registered in 2024, giving a market share of 23.3 percent.
However, so far in 2024, EVs have a market share of 18.7 percent in the UK – 94,000 fewer cars than anticipated.
The shortfall in electric car sales is despite an estimated (and unsustainable) £4 billion in manufacturer discounts, which have failed to stimulate consumer demand to the level required.
With a £15,000 fine for every car sold over target, car firms face an additional £1.8 billion in compliance penalties just for 2024 alone.
Compliance costs will only increase further in 2025. Furthermore, some of the payments UK producers have to make could end up going to overseas brands, such as Chinese firms and Tesla, who don’t build cars in the UK.
Things are even worse for electric vans. Despite a less onerous 10 percent target for 2025, even this is unlikely to be achieved, with a year-to-date mix of just 5.7 percent. Those selling vans are facing further billions in compliance costs.
‘The car industry is hurting’
“We need an urgent review of the automotive market and the regulation intended to drive it,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“Not because we want to water down any commitments, but because delivery matters more than notional targets. The industry is hurting; profitability and viability are in jeopardy and jobs are on the line.
“When the world changes, so must we. Workable regulation – backed with incentives – will set us up for success and green growth over the next decade.”
ZEV Mandate needs adjustment
The SMMT is warning that compliance costs are already so formidable, it could force some brands to withdraw from the UK entirely.
With global manufacturers already making production cutbacks due to weak EV demand, this could lead to some investors “questioning the UK’s appeal as a manufacturing destination”.
An example of this was already seen earlier today, with Stellantis announcing plans to close its Luton van factory. The SMMT therefore wants the regulation to be “urgently” adjusted to meet market realities
It also wants to see rapid action to stimulate demand, which could involve the previously mooted idea of halving the VAT on new EVs.
This would help more EVs to reach UK roads, more quickly, helping the country meet its decarbonisation targets.
For those who find the latest Rolls-Royce Cullinan a touch too subtle, German tuning firm Brabus has a solution.
The Brabus 700 Blue Sky is a radical take on the high-riding Rolls-Royce, leaving no part of the luxurious SUV untouched.
Known for its work on Mercedes-Benz models, this is only the second time that Brabus has modified a Rolls-Royce – following its efforts with the Ghost saloon.
Rolls-Royce makes own Black Badge version of the Cullinan Series II, said to be the car’s ‘disruptive alter ego’. However, the 700 Blue Sky is notably more extreme.
Designed for a ‘one-second wow’
On the outside, Brabus has equipped the 700 Blue Sky with its ‘Widestar’ bodykit, adding huge flared wheelarches made from exposed carbon fibre.
There is a new front bumper, which Brabus says works to reduce aerodynamic lift at high speeds, along with more carbon fibre for the redesigned bonnet.
At the rear, Brabus has installed a large diffuser that (naturally) is shaped from exposed carbon fibre. An extra rear spoiler is fitted beneath the rear window, too.
Although the Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes on 23-inch alloy wheels as standard, Brabus has gone one better with 24-inch rims. To ensure the perfect stance, its suspension is also lowered by 25mm.
A 700hp twin-turbo V12
Brabus could not resist upgrading the Cullinan’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, too. Its output has been boosted to 700hp, combined with a mighty 701lb ft of torque. A sports exhaust is said to deliver a ‘decidedly powerful V12 note’.
Despite the Cullinan’s substantial kerb weight, the Brabus modifications allow the 700 Blue Sky to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.0 seconds. Top speed remains limited to 155mph.
Rolls-Royce has a formidable reputation for crafting exceptional interiors, but Brabus has not been daunted by modifying the Cullian’s cabin. The demonstrator seen here has Blue Sky leather trim, also giving the model its name.
The sky is the limit
Quilted upholstery with a unique shell design is used extensively throughout the Cullinan’s cabin. The same pattern is found on the floor, in the boot, and even surrounding the famous starlight headliner.
Brabus adds yet more carbon fibre trim to the Blue Sky’s dashboard and steering wheel, while even the Rolls-Royce analogue clock has received a Brabus makeover.
Anyone already in the market for a £330,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is unlikely to worry unduly about cost. The complete 700 Blue Sky makeover does not come cheap, though. Brabus quotes a German price of €896,546 (including taxes at 19 percent), which equates to around £748,700.
The number of electric car drivers running out of charge has fallen to a lowest-ever level, statistics from the AA have revealed.
So-called ‘out of charge’ breakdowns are now at a record low of less than 2 percent.
In 2015, the figure was more than four times higher, at 8.26 percent – and has been consistently falling every year apart from 2017 and 2019.
This is despite the huge uptick in new electric cars hitting UK roads.
AA president Edmund King says the figures suggest range anxiety should now be a thing of the past for EV drivers.
“Our figures clearly show that year-on-year, the proportion of EVs running out of charge has dropped dramatically.”
The AA deals with around 8,000 breakdowns each day, yet only around five or six a day are for EVs that are out of charge.
What’s more, “many of the out of charge breakdowns aren’t on zero charge, but are either low on charge or experiencing technical problems such as the vehicle charge point covers sticking.”
AA statistics also show that the top 30 percent of breakdown faults for EVs are almost identical to petrol and diesel cars: tyres, wheels and the 12v battery.
King said the 80% decline in EVs running out of charge is thanks to a combination of more chargers, better chargepoint reliability and charge post support for customers, improved driver education and information – and, of course, the improved range of newer EVs.
“We understand why many drivers have been hesitant about switching to EVs as it is a major change, but it is important their decisions are based on accurate information.
“Once drivers have made the switch, the vast majority enjoy the ride and won’t go back.
Cupra has announced bold plans to sell cars in the United States by the end of the decade.
Originally created as Seat’s sporty sub-brand, Cupra became a marque in its own right in 2018. Since then, the Spanish manufacturer has delivered more than 750,000 vehicles around the world.
Now Cupra has its sights set on cracking the tough North American market, with a target of doing so by 2030.
Coming to America
Cupra’s path to the United States has seen it enter into talks with the Penske Automotive Group. Penske runs dealerships and vehicle logistics operations across North America, so would be a prime partner for Cupra.
Identifying states where Cupra models might be popular is a key part of the project. The company would look to sell electric and hybrid vehicles, along with conventional petrol-powered models.
As part of its strategy, Cupra also plans to produce one of its models in an existing Volkswagen plant in North America. The Volkswagen Group operates numerous factories across the continent, which should make finding a suitable production site straightforward.
Demonstrating the seriousness of the company’s plans, Bernhard Bauer, the former managing director of Cupra Germany, has been appointed as the new MD for Cupra USA.
Global brand ambition
Cupra is no stranger to international expansion, as it recently started selling cars in Australia. It also operates in Mexico, which makes moving into the USA a natural progression.
“Cupra’s ambition is to be a truly global brand, and expanding into the United States represents one of the greatest milestones on our journey,” said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of Cupra.
Griffiths added: “We have great respect for the US market, recognising that a strong distribution and retail strategy is essential for success. By entering into preliminary discussions with Penske Automotive Group, we are exploring opportunities with the best possible partner, one with the right distribution network to introduce Cupra to a new generation of American car lovers.”
The final location for Cupra’s US headquarters, and details of its specific model lineup, will be announced at a later date.
