Autocar magazine 11 March - on sale now
This week: three new Jaguar Land Rover EVs, AMG A45 S road tested, supermini mega test and much more
The all-new XJ electric saloon will be joined by a J-Pace SUV and highly anticipated ‘Road Rover’ as the first fruits of Jaguar Land Rover’s £1 billion investment in its historic Castle Bromwich plant and Solihull factory.
All three will be EVs and, according to Autocar sources, are set to roll off the production lines this year. Meanwhile, Castle Bromwich and Solihull will be overhauled in preparation for an all-new platform. We’ve got all the details in this week’s issue.
*ALSO IN THIS ISSUE*
The Geneva motor show may have been cancelled, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers setting out stalls - well, taking phone calls. First, we quiz Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius on EV strategy, F1, Smart, CO2 targets and more. We also get the lowdown on Porsche’s stance on an electric 911, say hello to Koenigsegg’s Gemera 1700bhp plug-in hybrid, and hear why Lawrence Stroll’s investment will transform Aston Martin into the ‘British Ferrari’.
From supercars to superminis: Toyota reveals pricing for its 257bhp GR Yaris, the new Vauxhall Mokka is spotted for the first time and Peugeot teases the return of its hot GTi badge on a performance e-208.
Finally, we introduce our all-new motorsport section, bringing you six pages of news, insight and opinion from the world of motor racing. Damien Smith ponders the fine line between innovation and ‘cheating’ in F1, David Coulthard on Hamilton, Vettel and McLaren’s glass ceiling and more.
*Reviews*
This week’s drives begin with the Volvo XC40 T5. This twin-engined curiosity is charged with lowering the Swedish brand’s fleet average C02 emissions. However, we’re interested in how it drives. Should you plug and play this compact hybrid SUV? Simon Davis passes judgement.
Then, we got for a spin in the Volkswagen Up GTI, which returns to tempt entry-level enthusiasts, before Greg Kable steps into the BMW X5 M Competition, finding an explosive, but pricey 4x4. In the luxury SUV bracket, you’d be better off with the latest GLS or Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo. Both impress our testers with their blends of luxury, speed and drivability.
The Audi RS6 Avant receives a battery of innovative new tech in its latest guise. But what effect does this have on the driving experience? We put Audi’s flagship performance estate through its paces in the crucible of the Autocar road test.
*Features*
Soft tops and winter aren’t naturally bedfellows - or so ancient learning goes. Mike Duff, however, reckons otherwise, and takes a Porsche Boxster T along the North Coast 500 to prove it.
Next, we round-up our favourite car parts - spanning innovative game-changers to subtle features - ponder what motorists can hope for in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s first budget and take a look at the finest manual gearboxes - James Mills picks out ten incredible transmissions where manual labour is a labour of love.
How does a Tata Harrier fare on the busy streets of Mumbai? Mark Tisshaw carves a passage in India. Meanwhile, Matt Prior visits the UK specialist behind Lotus’s next-level configurator, which the British brand has debuted for its Evija hypercar.
*Opinions*
Steve Cropley was set to drive four Bentleys to Geneva, but the coronavirus put paid to his plans. Fortunately, Bentley’s events team are magicians and in short order, our man was en route to the Crewe-manufacturer’s HQ, rolling happily in a Flying Spur. A dash in the Bentayga and others followed, before returning to the office for the start of the Geneva motor show - its virtual reincarnation, anyway. Matt Prior pulls on his art critic’s cap and ponders the merits of the Mansory Rolls-Royce Cullinan Coastline. Aquaman on wheels or an underappreciated masterpiece? Prior’s view might come as a surprise.
-*Deals*-
Used cars now, and our resident High Priest of Bangernomics, James Ruppert, has pulled out some crackers. An £8000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible is the pick of the bunch (as long as you can tolerate a - whisper it - diesel). In our used car buying guide, we’ve got our eye on the F Word. No, we’re not talking about Gordan Ramsey’s hit TV show - we mean the BMW-chasing Lexus IS F. The Mk4 Range Rover rolls under the limelight in our nearly new guide, offering high-riding luxury for a gratifyingly affordable price.
*Where to buy*
Never miss an issue – subscribe to Autocar magazine today.
Autocar magazine is available through all good newsagents. You can also buy one-off copies of Autocar magazine from Newsstand, delivered to your door the morning after.
Digital copies can be downloaded from Zinio and the Apple iTunes store