Autocar magazine 25 May 2022: on sale now
This week: New Range Rover in the UK, Mercedes-AMG's vision for the future, Smith Oletha driven and more
We’ve finally had the chance to test the new Range Rover on British roads.
This long-awaited SUV has been years in the making, and we were impressed with it on the smooth highways of California earlier in the year. But how does it hold up on our much bumpier roads?
Read our verdict in the newest issue of Autocar - on sale now.
*News*
The Mercedes-AMG Vision AMG concept has been revealed, showing us the firm’s vision of a future Porsche Taycan rival. This sporty electric four-door saloon will arrive in 2025 with cutting-edge battery tech - we’ve got all the details in our latest issue.
Meanwhile, BMW has brought back the famed CSL name for a new version of the M4. With 542bhp and 100kg less weight than the normal car, will this super-coupe be one for the history books?
We also take a look at the reborn Renault Senic and Gordon Murray’s SUV plans, while Renault Group boss Luca de Meo tells us why he thinks Euro NCAP testing needs a revamp.
*Reviews*
The popular Kia Niro EV has been completely redesigned for 2022. With more tech and fresh styling, can this funky family SUV pick up where the last one left off?
Elsewhere, we drive the BMW iX M60 - the M performance version of the firm’s audaciously-designed facelift. Is there more to it than meets the eye?
We also try the Caterham Seven 420 Cup, the Peugeot 308 SW and the Volkswagen Multivan 1.4 TSI eHybrid, while the Peugeot 308 takes on the Autocar road test.
*Features*
When is a BMW Z4 not a BMW Z4? When it’s a Smit Oletha, that’s when. You might not have heard of this retro-styled beauty, but with a BMW V8 under the bonnet, Matt Prior reckons you definitely should have. Join him as he takes this BMW 507-inspired cruiser for a drive along the California coast.
Meanwhile, the wheels are well and truly turning for Bicester Motion. This former airfield in Oxfordshire has made waves throughout the UK car community since it opened in 2017, but there’s much more to come. Steve Cropley drops in for a visit.
Elsewhere, Piers Ward heads to a warehouse in Surrey. That might not sound too exciting on the face of it, but this is no ordinary location - it houses a simply astonishing collection of McLaren Formula 1 cars, spanning all eras. Join him as he investigates every nook and cranny, and finds out why a Porsche is hiding in there.
Finally, car clubs have been bringing UK motorists together for as long as people have been driving. John Evans decided to tag along with the Abarth Owners’ Club Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire for their Easter meeting in an Abarth F595C to see what all the fuss was about.
*Opinions*
Matt Prior wonders why he tends to be more excited by sports cars than supercars these days, while Damien Smith focuses on the vital, but often overlooked, work of the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Trust.
Elsewhere, Steve Cropley tells us why he’s absolutely smitten with the new Range Rover , and catches up with Dacia’s sales and marketing director, Xavier Martinet.
*Used cars*
The Chrysler 300C heads up our used section this week, starring alongside the Volvo C70 and the Mitsubishi I.
Meanwhile, the L322-generation Range Rover is this week’s cult hero, while the Ford S-Max is our nearly-new pick of the bunch.
Where to buy
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