Twisted Automotive, known for producing bespoke modified Land Rover Defenders, has announced plans for a new showroom in Silverstone.

Aimed at potential customers in London and across the south of England, the new showroom will display a range of models from the company.

It forms part of grand expansion aims, revealed by Twisted exactly four years to the day that Land Rover ceased production of the original Defender.

At present, UK sales for Twisted’s products are dealt with from the company’s headquarters in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Whilst this may suit the rural image of a Twisted Land Rover, it does mean southern customers face a considerable journey to view products.

Based at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, the location for the new showroom has been chosen to be only 30 minutes by train, or an hour by car, from central London.

Set to open in March 2020, the Silverstone showroom will offer test drives, servicing for existing customers, and also host the Twisted Cafe.

Last year saw Twisted announce an enhanced American division, located in South Boston, Virginia. Creating vehicles especially for American buyers, Twisted’s NA-specification Defenders use supercharged Chevrolet V8 engines with 650 horsepower.

The company has already finished its first North American-spec Defender, a short-wheelbase 90 model, which features air conditioning, electric windows, and central locking in the left-hand drive vehicles.

An accompanying Defender 110 is now being prepared, with Twisted planning to show both models at the New York International Auto Show in April. Prices for the American models begin at a considerable $250,000 (£192,000).

Following on from the North American outpost will be a brand-new Twisted Middle East venture, set to open later in 2020 at a facility in Dubai.

Primarily aimed at appealing to off-road enthusiasts across the United Arab Emirates, Twisted notes that the company has previously sold vehicles to customers in Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait.

The Twisted Middle East showroom and service centre will be managed by Matt Duckett, who recently joined the company from Jaguar Land Rover. Duckett’s previous roles included engineering the stunt vehicles used in the forthcoming James Bond film No Time to Die.

Twisted has also finished building the first of a planned limited edition Lightweight Defender, inspired by Land Rovers used by the British Army between 1968 and 1984.

Painted in Twisted’s own Willow Green, and with a canvas roof, the Lightweight also gains double bumpers and half-height doors. Built from low-mileage stock, the full run of ten examples is scheduled to be completed by summer 2020.

Speaking about the continuing expansion plans, Twisted founder Charles Fawcett commented that it “illustrates the enduring passion” for the classic Defender, and that the company remains a guardian “of the heritage of this British icon”.

Read more:
Land Rover specialists Twisted plan new Silverstone showroom and US expansion

Aston Martin Lagonda have announced Johnathan Hoggard as the 2019 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award winner.

The 19-year-old Briton, from Spalding in Lincolnshire, was awarded the most prestigious honour in junior motorsport during the gala Autosport Awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on London’s Park Lane, on Sunday evening.

Hoggard, who finished runner-up in the 2019 BRDC British F3 Championship with seven victories, earns a full test in an Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, as well as a run in the Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE FIA World Endurance Championship challenger. He also received a cheque for £200,000 presented to him by Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, a full membership to the BRDC and an Arai crash helmet.

Hoggard joins a star-studded list of former winners that includes 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, and several Le Mans 24 Hours class winners including Aston Martin’s Darren Turner. The roll of honour also includes current Formula 1 drivers George Russell and Lando Norris.

To win the Award, Hoggard had to compete against three other talented finalists, Japanese F3 race winner Enaam Ahmed (19), W Series champion Jamie Chadwick (21) and BRDC British F3 race winner Ayrton Simmons (18), in an intensive two-day shoot-out at Silverstone in four 550bhp Motorsport Vision F2 cars, Garage 59’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and a Ligier LMP3 prototype. Moreover, the finalists were subjected to an extensive fitness and simulator assessment at the Red Bull Racing headquarters in Milton Keynes, prior to their on-track examination.

“I’m over the moon and a little lost for words,” said Hoggard. “It’s been over a month I’ve been waiting to find out about this [since the end of the assessment], and it’s been agonising. I’m thankful for everyone who’s helped along the way; family, sponsors, judges and the organisers Aston Martin, Autosport and the BRDC. I knew it was a very tough competition and it’s amazing to have actually won it. It’s a great honour and I’m very proud to have joined such a prestigious roll of honour.”

The judging panel was led by Judges’ Chairman, 1992 World Sportscar champion and former Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick and included Turner, 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning engineer Leena Gade, Garage 59 team owner Andrew Kirkaldy, Jason Plato, Alexander Sims, Ian Titchmarsh, Autosport editor Kevin Turner and Mark Williams. They concluded Hoggard the winner after a fiercely-contested event that shone a bright light on the outstanding talent of all four finalists.

Turner said: “This year witnessed another exceptional crop of talent, with four very strong drivers fighting for the right to be the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year. It was great to see them battling it out of over two days at Silverstone in what were actually quite difficult conditions. Without doubt this year’s winner was phenomenal in his approach, and every time he jumped into any of the cars he was bang on the pace. It’s been a real privilege to be back involved as a judge, and I am very proud that Aston Martin is now a part of the Award because I know how important a role it plays in the development of a driver’s career and what a difference it can make to their future.”

This year marked the first time in the 37-year history of the Award that Aston Martin Lagonda has been the title partner alongside the world-renowned Autosport media platform, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2020 and the British Racing Drivers’ Club, owner of Silverstone, the home of British motorsport and also Aston Martin’s High Performance Test Centre.

Aston Martin Lagonda, President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “We have said all along that the development of British talent is vital to the future of our motorsport industry, whether that be driving, engineering or design. Securing the next generation of British world champions helps shine a light on the thriving motorsport and motoring industry that we have in this country and of course it’s hugely important that continues. Johnathan is clearly an exceptional talent and nothing we saw over the course of this year’s Awards assessments suggests anything other than that he is on the path to a very bright future in the sport and we are hugely proud to be playing a role in his development.”

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Johnathan Hoggard announced as 2019 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC award winner

Aston Martin Lagonda has unveiled its first sports utility vehicle in an attempt to compete in the fast growing luxury SUV car market.

The British company, which supplies cars to James Bond in the 007 films, said it hoped the long-awaited £158,000 DBX model would widen its appeal to wealthy women, as almost all of its current customers are men.

“I can’t emphasise enough how incredibly exciting and significant DBX is for Aston Martin,” said Dr Andrew Palmer, its chief executive. “We have both delivered this model through our expertise, but also by garnering invaluable experience and knowledge from external counsel, including our female advisory board. This is a real landmark for this great British brand and I promise that DBX will reward all who experience it in their everyday lives.”

Perhaps my proudest moment in my 40year career. It’s here… @astonmartin DBX! The first SUV in our 106-year history has been unveiled worldwide and I’m sure you’ll now agree, an SUV can indeed look beautiful… #DBXreveal https://t.co/d4mBlr2uGw pic.twitter.com/3u2xGHvfKG

— Dr. Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) November 20, 2019

Aston Martin hopes the car, which will built in St Athan, south Wales, on the site where the RAF used to house Vulcan bombers, will help the firm halt a decline in sales and the steep drop in its share price since it floated on the stock market in October 2018.

The DBX is designed to compete against Bentley’s £133,000 Bentayga, Rolls-Royce’s £264,000 Cullinan, Porsche’s £101,000 Cayenne Turbo and Lamborghini’s £160,000 Urus.

At the launch event held simultaneously in Los Angeles and Beijing, Aston Martin said the DBX had been “very deliberately created with instant familiarity and ease of use from the start”.

“Each button and dial has been carefully positioned following extensive testing from external counsel, including the brand’s female advisory board and multiple customer clinics with HNWIs [high net worth individuals] of mixed demographic, ensuring the cabin develops a feeling of instant familiarity,” the company said.

A spokesman added: “We do intend to make this car much more female-friendly. Until now our customer base has been predominantly male. Except for China where it is 50-50. We want to broaden that out. We’re not talking about making cars only for women, but rather to make our cars more practical for women and families, as well as men.”

Aston Martin set up its female advisory board in 2015. In an interview with Yahoo Finance this year, Carlee Hardaker, Aston Martin’s senior manager of global customer and market intelligence, said the aim was to bring women “into the inner sanctum of Aston Martin, to understand what drives them at emotional level and understand how we can better engage with that growing group of global customers”.

Hardaker, who said that 94% of Aston Martin’s customers are male, added: “It might be that their husband, boyfriend, or son, comes home and says, ‘I’m going to buy myself a supercar’ or’ ‘I’m going to buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini.’ And the woman says, ‘No, you’re not, it looks like you’re having a mid-life crisis, but you can have an Aston’.”

Some cities across the world are considering banning SUVs because of pedestrian safety and environmental concerns. The mayor of central Berlin has called for them to be prohibited from entering the city centre after the death of four people – including a three-year-old boy and his 64-year-old grandmother – who were hit by a Porsche Macan SUV when it mounted the pavement.

Read more:
Aston Martin aims new British built £158,000 SUV at wealthy women

Honda made several announcements today at 2019 Frankfurt motor show, giving more detail than ever before on its “Electric Vision” strategy for Europe.

Honda’s “Electric Vision” strategy commits the company to electrify 100% of its European automobile sales by 2025. The first step in this plan was the launch of CR-V Hybrid, followed by the unveil of the Honda e Prototype at Geneva motor show earlier this year. Following a summer of appearances throughout the region, Honda unveiled the final mass production Honda e for the first time at Frankfurt.

Katsushi Inoue, Chief Operating Officer and President, Honda Motor Europe, said, “Today, we take the next step towards our Electric Vision with the world premiere of the Honda e…A unique electric vehicle that only Honda could develop – a vehicle with outstanding dynamic performance and new levels of connectivity.”

While Honda e made its first public appearance, Honda Motor Europe Senior Vice President, Tom Gardner took the opportunity to confirm details of the brand’s next key launch, “In 2020, Honda will launch the next generation Jazz and today, we can confirm that this model will be introduced into Europe with hybrid technology as the sole powertrain option.”

But the story didn’t end with just automobiles. At Geneva Motor Show, Honda confirmed its intention to enter the energy business with a range of charging and energy management solutions. Here at Frankfurt, the brand showed how its technology could be used to support vehicle charging not only for users who have off-street parking, but also those who live in built up urban areas who only park on-street.

Honda Power Charger

For users who have the option of charging their EV in an off-street scenario, Honda will launch the Power Charger which allows optimal AC charging. The system consists of a charging system that can be wall or pedestal mounted, with a maximum output of 7.4kW (single phase power supply) or 22kW (three phase power supply). This output allows Honda e owners to charge to 100% capacity in 4.1 hours *, assuming a 32-amp supply, significantly faster than through a standard wall socket.

Urban charging solution in partnership with ubitricity

One of the issues for EV drivers in urban environments is a lack of charging infrastructure. In order to address this problem, Honda, in partnership with charging specialists ubitricity, have developed a solution that allows users to charge in urban on-street scenarios. This technology allows the installation of chargepoints within lamp posts, while a unique cable featuring a mobile metering device allowing charging cost to be linked to the customer’s tariff to remove the need for subscription to several suppliers.

Honda Power Manager Prototype

Honda Power Manager Prototype previews a bidirectional system that connects electric vehicles to a smart power grid. This “vehicle-to-grid” technology enables the collection and distribution of electricity between EVs and the grid to intelligently balance demand and supply of energy and make better use of renewable sources.

The development of these charging functions will integrate electric vehicles further with existing power networks, allowing energy stored in the vehicle battery to power the home, or to flow back into the energy grid during periods of high demand. The vehicle battery can then be replenished at a time when demand is lower, subject to limits defined by the user.

Honda has developed this technology with bi-directional charging specialists EVTEC Trial activity of this technology will continue before future commercialisation in the early 2020s.

A demonstration of the smart grid system on the Honda stand will show how it is possible to efficiently store energy generated by renewable sources and release it back into the home or sell it back to the grid, presenting revenue opportunities for EV owners in the future.

A demonstration project in London is using EVTEC trial units with a local authority. Energy can be used to charge EVs, power the buildings, and feed electricity back into the grid when required.

Read more:
Honda unveils its electric vision strategy for Europe at Frankfurt Motor Show

David Brown Automotive has revealed Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition, a one-of-a-kind performance version of the celebrated city car.

The highly tuned Mini Remastered, to be made on a limited production run of 60 cars to mark the first Mini launching in 1959, will be made in partnership with classic car performance specialist, Oselli.

The performance-enhanced Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition offers customers an engine unit developed by Oselli, with other tuning upgrades added. The powertrain unit is a punchy 1,420cc Stage 3 engine. The uprated engine will be paired with an remastered five-speed gearbox. With 40% more power than the original A-series engine, the powertrain unit will deliver in excess of 100bhp with buckets of torque to make for a thrilling driving experience.

The exhaust system and air intake will be specially engineered to manage the higher power output.

A strong focus on race-ready driving means the chassis is uprated with key suspension enhancements, featuring adjustable SPAX performance dampers. A race-spec brake kit comes in the form of large diameter disc brakes gripped by four piston calipers at the front of the car, and alloy rear drum brakes at the rear. Compared to the standard model, the tyres are wider and are made for performance at high speed. The tyres are fitted to 7J x 13-inch Enkei alloy wheels, finished in gold or silver. The wheels are wider and larger in diameter compared to the standard wheels in order to accommodate the larger brakes and for a more performance-focussed drive.

The styling of Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition has been honed to reflect the highly tuned nature of the rest of the car. Customers have the choice of two main colour ways; with either a primary body colour in off-white paint or dark grey and a choice of a three tier full-length racing stripe and side accents in either Crimson, Royal Blue or Racing Green.

The cast alloy engine cover will be painted to match the exterior stripe and fitted with a unique build plate. Brightware will be darkened in order to reflect the performance feel over the model, to include black wheel arches, black mirrors (including interior mirror) and door handles.

A mesh grille with two white inset LED spotlights adds to the sporty theme of Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition, while the build number is painted onto the grille and on the rear of the car. A monotone bonnet badge denotes the car’s performance ability, a hint to lineage introduced by David Brown Automotive with the same feature on the Speedback Silverstone Edition.

Inside, Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition is available to order either as a two-seater with a rear hand-trimmed roll cage, or as a four-seater car, featuring accent colours to match the chosen racing stripe colour and black accents. The two-seater version is made with hand-trimmed bucket seats and a half-leather roll cage with rear-seat storage and can be equipped with a four-point harness by Sabelt, available in a number of colours. Customers can opt for a standard seatbelt for daily use if preferred. The build number can be displayed on the glove compartment surface, and the steering wheel will be hand-trimmed and finished in Sabalt Alacantara material.

Oselli is a prominent force in the classic car performance and restoration sector, beginning business in the early-1960s and forming a niche to specialise in tuning and enhancing performance for the A-series engine. The expert team at Oselli has a wealth of experience rebuilding and improving engines for a performance experience, as well as preparing, building and racing cars in competitive motorsport events.

Like other models from David Brown Automotive, this new model further demonstrates a commitment to bespoke British handcraftsmanship, combined with modern engineering, technology and conveniences.

“This exciting new performance version of the Mini Remastered is a step forward for our company,” said David Brown, company founder and CEO. “We are thrilled to be working with Oselli and this partnership sets a marker of intent for our ambitions in the performance car sector. We are sure this Oselli Edition will prove a hit with customers looking for a fast classic car, with the Mini Remastered proving so popular in its own right and the ideal platform for performance enhancements.”

In-line with the new model’s race car pedigree, the company is also making a number of personalised matching race suits and helmets as optional extras for owners of the new edition. Pre-orders are open now for the Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition, with first deliveries scheduled for next year. The four-seater version of the car is priced from £98,000.00, while the two-seater car – complete with hand-trimmed roll cage – will cost from £108,000.00 (both prices excluding taxes).

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David Brown Automotive launches their Mini Remastered, Oselli Edition

In the beginning it was the Beetle, or the Type 1 as it was originally known, that was envisaged by the Fuhrer as the people’s car, or volkswagen.

Four decades on from the Second World War, it was the vehicle that most defined the carmaker that became Volkswagen. That was until designers at the German company in the 1970s came up with the Golf, which has dominated VW production for 40 years, as well as global retail trends, prompting a host of rival models.

Now, a little over 80 years from its creation, Volkswagen has unveiled the opening of what it calls its “third chapter”, a new people’s car, the ID.3, for the electric revolution.

The ID.3 is VW’s first purpose-built all-electric car. The company previously has electrified conventionally made vehicles, but this is the first of a new generation where the engineers and designers have had a clean drawing board from which to create a battery electric, zero-emission car from the ground up.

After months of teasers, the new car was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show yesterday. VW presented it as the output of a reborn company. Critics wondered, though, whether the carmaker would have got on this road to Damascus so quickly if it had not become an international industrial pariah for being the first company to be caught, in the United States, cheating diesel emission regulators.

Klaus Bischoff, VW’s chief designer, could not have been clearer: “It’s very important that Volkswagen should be perceived as a new brand with different values. This is a new orientation of the Volkswagen group,” he said.

VW’s industrial muscle — it is Europe’s largest carmaker — will ensure that the ID.3 is on the shopping shortlist of any motorists wanting to convert to electric. At under £25,000 after government handouts, it will compete with similar-sized electric vehicles such as the BMW i3, the Nissan Leaf and the new Mini Electric and positions it substantially cheaper than Tesla’s most accessible, most affordable Model 3, which retails post-subsidy at nearer £40,000.

Yet the Frankfurt show showed the class of the opposition coming to the market. Apart from the Mini Electric going into production in November, there was the Corsa-e, the electric version of the Vauxhall Corsa, one of Britain’s top three sellers over the past decade and, because of motoring school preferences, the car in which many younger Britons learnt to drive.

It, too, will be in the sub-£25,000 bracket and received the endorsement of the biggest celebrity at the Frankfurt show, Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool football manager, who removed the dustsheets. An all-electric Honda has also long been in the headlights after the Japanese carmaker’s avowed plan to go zero-emission, a decision that it says was the reason to cull its Swindon car plant, with the loss of thousands of British jobs, and to concentrate on electric vehicles at plants in Japan. The Honda E may be less stylish than its new rivals, but it is also cheaper.

At the other end of the electric market, Frankfurt launched what many thought might be a contradiction in terms: an electric Porsche. Starting at more than £100,000, it is more expensive even than Tesla’s most exclusive car, the now ageing Model S.

Read more:
VW leads charge in race to electrify market

The long-awaited relaunch of the Land Rover Defender has left potential customers wondering whether the carmaker has abandoned its traditional fan base.

Three years after the Solihull-built Defender was axed after nearly 70 years in production, Jaguar Land Rover launched its successor, with a price tag from £40,000 and a range of luxury gizmos on board, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Gerry McGovern, Jaguar Land Rover’s designer more used to creating luxury Range Rovers, said that the new Defender had kept its integrity as the sort of “vehicle that gets passed down from one generation to another”.

However, the internet was immediately alive with comments from traditional owners of the Defender, which when the model was withdrawn in 2016 could be bought from £23,000. One poster on the Auto Express website complained: “At a ‘very reasonable £40,000’. What planet are these people from?”

The Defender, in two-door or a £45,000 four-door version, will come in four “packages”, for urban, country, explorer and adventurer buyers.

Paul Horrell, car reviewer for Top Gear magazine, said it was a misconception that traditional Defender buyers — farmers, coastguards, roadbuilders, humanitarian agencies — wanted a vehicle like the old one as they had already moved on to rival brands.

“Let’s suppress the clamour for this vehicle to be a reincarnation of the original,” he said. “That’d be commercial suicide. The old [one] went out of production not just because it was dangerous and polluting but because too few people wanted it.”

Read more:
A Land Rover Defender, but not as we knew it

While SUVs dominate the sales charts, new research from What Car? has found MPVs are the superior choice for families with young children thanks to their capacity to accommodate a greater number of child seats.

Although many MPVs and SUVs feature seven seats, not all of them can fit more than two child seats into the rear rows of the car. To find out which is the best for larger families, the UK’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car?, lined up 16 leading MPV and SUV models and tested their ability to accommodate three child seats.

Of the seven conventional-engined large SUVs tested, What Car? was able to fit all three child seats into just two models; the Peugeot 5008 and Kia Sorento. The use of a child seat in the second or third row was prohibited in four of the large SUVs tested, and the one that could take a third seat in the second row wasn’t wide enough to do this. Luxury SUVs outperformed their budget counterparts – with three of the four models tested able to accommodate three child seats.

In contrast, of the four MPVs What Car? tested, all were able to accommodate three child seats with ISOFIX points*. The latest Seat Alhambra and VW Touran models both feature ISOFIX points in all five of their rear passenger seats – a record matched by only one of the luxury SUVs; the Audi Q7.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “This just goes to show how important it is for new parents, especially those with multiple kids, to do their homework when buying a new car. A vehicle may feature seven seats, but if only two can accommodate a child seat, it may not be the ideal choice.”

The Tesla Model X is currently the only electric vehicle capable of accommodating the rear seats with more than two child seats.

To find the best new car deals on SUVs and MPVs, motorists should visit: www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals

Read more:
The UK’s best cars for families with young children revealed

The Toyota Camry has returned to the UK with a hybrid powertrain and company-car appeal

It replaces the Toyota Avensis, and with just one hybrid powertrain, it takes on models such as the Ford Mondeo Hybrid and Volkswagen Passat GTE, along with diesel alternatives including the Vauxhall Insignia, Skoda Superb and Mazda6.

The Camry is a big car with a neat design that’s classy and far more conservative than the more quirky Toyota Prius. That theme continues inside, where the horizontal dashboard is sedate and upmarket enough to avoid putting off executives – its target audience. There’s certainly ample room for adults in the front and back seats too, although taller passengers may find the sloping roof slightly restricts headroom in the rear.

There are just two trim levels: Design and Excel, with both offering the kit and safety features you’d expect in a car costing around £30,000, including standard leather upholstery.

Excel boosts the wheels to 18-inches in size, upgrades the LED headlights and bolsters safety technology. Both cars also come with a seven-inch infotainment display, but this lags behind rivals, with poor graphics, cluttered menus and some missing features like Apple CarPlay.

It shouldn’t take long to choose a Camry, because aside from its colour and trim, there’s just one petrol electric hybrid powertrain. This combines a larger 2.5-litre engine than the 1.8-litre found in the Prius with a powerful electric motor for a combined 215bhp. It’s sent to the front wheels via a CVT automatic gearbox, getting the Camry from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds.

Fuel consumption of up to 53.3mpg is promised on the WLTP cycle, but a CO2 emissions figure of 98g/km is the most critical fact for business drivers. With no 4% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) diesel surcharge to worry about, it qualifies it for a low 23% company-car tax band.

While more refined than most CVT models, revs can still flare under hard acceleration, and the Camry is at its best when driven at a more relaxed pace. In town, its combination of electric and petrol running makes it smooth and near-silent, for an easy driving experience. Its chassis is more than capable enough, with little body lean and precise steering, while still comfortable over rough tarmac.

In countries like the United States – where the Camry is a top-seller – the Toyota has an enviable reputation for dependability, so reliability is unlikely to be an issue. Plenty of safety kit and Toyota know-how should also have been baked into its design to ensure a good safety rating.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Low CO2 emissions should guarantee car’s popularity amongst company-car drivers

Engines, drive & performance

The Toyota Camry has a good chassis, but the CVT powertrain means it’s happiest at a leisurely pace

Interior & comfort

Sturdy and well equipped, but in need of much better infotainment system

Practicality & boot space

Lots of legroom and a big boot but a hatchback would offer more flexibility

Reliability & safety

The Toyota Camry has racked up millions of global sales based on a reputation for reliability and durability

Read more:
Motoring Review: Toyota Camry Hybrid saloon

The Audi S6 is a high-performance version of the Audi A6 large executive saloon.

It used to come with a 444bhp 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, but for 2019 this has been replaced by a 344bhp diesel.

Yet, with performance-boosting mild-hybrid technology and lashings of torque, it’s very nearly as fast, and sharper to drive – even if it doesn’t sound quite as good.

Amazingly, it’s not the fastest A6 variant you can buy – that honour goes to the 552bhp Audi RS6, which still uses a thumping petrol engine. The RS6 is only available as an estate, though, while the S6 comes as a saloon or Avant estate. The S6 is also around £20,000 cheaper than the RS6 and many will prefer its more demure looks.

As long as you can afford to buy and run it, there’s very little not to like about the Audi S6. The similarly powerful BMW 5 Series 540i xDrive has sharper steering and offers more driver involvement, but this is only available as a saloon and does without the added reassurance of four-wheel drive.

While many are turning their backs on diesel, Audi still sees a future for the fuel, including in its more powerful cars designed to cope with longer journeys. Thanks to its new engine and 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the Audi S6 can now cover 600 miles between service stations, which is sure to prove desirable.

It’s still reasonably pricey to run, though, with an official fuel consumption figure of up to 35.3mpg. Meanwhile, CO2 emissions of 171g/km place it firmly in the top 37% Benefit-in-Kind band for company-car drivers. This is despite fuel-saving features like stop-start and coasting as you decelerate.

Road tax will cost £145 a year, but a price tag in excess of £40,000 means a surcharge of £320 will cost the owner £465 in the first five renewal years.

Fuel and tax will be expensive, then, and so will other running costs: tyres, brakes and general maintenance for performance cars like the S6 tend to hit hard, although Audi’s fixed-price servicing plans will make the bills easier to predict.

Engines, drive & performance

The S6 offers staggering acceleration and a huge amount of grip

On all but one type of road, the Audi S6 triumphs. In town it’s docile and easy to manoeuvre, on motorways it’s genuinely hushed, while on A-roads the staggering performance and prodigious four-wheel-drive-enhanced grip ensure few cars will be able to keep up. Going from 0-62mph takes 5.1 seconds in the S6 Avant.

If winding B-roads are your thing, however, you may wish to look elsewhere: the S6 is sharper and more agile than before – especially with four-wheel steering fitted – but it’s a large car and the automatic gearbox can be a bit slow to respond when you demand snappy changes.

This aside, the S6 delights. Put your foot to the floor (or close to the floor) and you’ll be thoroughly pinned back in your seat by the acceleration. The 3.0-litre TDI diesel features an electric compressor that can instantly send boost to the engine, virtually eliminating lag. Instead it surges forward in a manner that would leave most hot hatchbacks trailing behind.

Of course, we miss the exciting noise of the old engine, and Audi has fitted a sound generator to compensate. Unfortunately, it just didn’t sound natural to our ears, and we quickly turned it off via the car’s menus.

Interior & comfort

The Audi S6 feels solid and luxurious, with excellent refinement

The Audi S6 is just as upmarket as you’d expect, with lovely materials adorning the interior and hugging, electric and heated Valcona leather seats. You also get features like four-zone climate control, keyless entry and a dual-screen MMI Navigation Plus system that’s amongst the best in the business.

Refinement is very impressive too, making the S6 a perfect car for long distances. It’s even possible to choose double-glazed front windows but in truth the S6 is quiet enough to cover hundreds of motorway miles without them.

Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit comes as standard, ensuring the S6 feels thoroughly cutting-edge, while an optional flat-bottomed steering wheel lends the car a motorsport feel. Other design touches include stainless steel pedals and aluminium door sills with illuminated S logos.

Practicality & boot space

Just as practical as the regular A6

The whole point of cars like the S6 is to offer sports-car speed with decent practicality. This means you get five spacious seats with plenty of head and legroom as well as a large 530-litre boot (expanding to 1,390 litres), together with split-folding rear seats. Interior oddment spaces and cubbyholes abound, and the Avant offers even more luggage room – between 565 and 1,680 litres.

Reliability & safety

Thoroughly engineered mechanicals and a proven engine encourage

Audi has a good reputation on the whole, and its 16th-place finish in our 2019 Driver Power survey put it well ahead of BMW (25th) and Mercedes (26th) out of 30 manufacturers. A significant 22.3% of Audi owners reported a fault within the first year, however, with engine and electrical issues the most common.

Safety is unequivocally strong thanks to the A6’s full five-star rating from Euro NCAP and all S6s come with upgraded brakes to cope with the extra power. Adaptive cruise control (which will accelerate and brake the S6 based on the speed of the car in front) and autonomous emergency braking are available, although you’ll need to spend on optional extras to get the most advanced safety kit.

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Audi S6 review

As its first all-electric production model, the Audi e-tron represents something of a landmark for the German brand.

It joins an increasingly competitive electric SUV market pioneered by the Tesla Model X but now also containing the impressive Jaguar I-Pace. With further rivalry on the horizon in the shape of the Mercedes EQC, the e-tron needs to stand out.

In some ways, standing out isn’t an e-tron speciality. To look at, the electric Audi seems closely related to its conventionally powered Audi Q5 and bigger Audi Q7 SUV stablemates, with a similarly expressive ‘singleframe’ front grille and a full-width LED lighting bar at the back that salutes the luxurious Audi A7. And, although very nearly as big as the Q7, the e-tron doesn’t look enormous on the road.

At first, the e-tron will be offered in this SUV form alone, with a coupe-style Sportback expected to follow later, along with an e-tron GT saloon with a rather lower profile.

The SUV package provided by the first e-tron model will be welcomed by families – it might not offer the seven seats that conventional SUVs of this size can boast, but there’s plenty of room inside for five adults, and a pretty generous boot.

Those less concerned by the practicalities of family life, meanwhile, might prefer to concentrate on the e-tron’s superb interior design, which borrows heavily from Audi’s flagship A8 saloon.

The e-tron isn’t short on pace, either, with 0-62mph passing in under six seconds, thanks to a ‘boost’ function that allows its 355bhp twin electric motor setup to produce 402bhp in short eight second bursts.

However, despite carefully managed weight distribution, a wealth of driving modes and a clever air suspension system with adaptive damping, the e-tron isn’t a particularly rewarding machine to hussle along a challenging back road.

Although the novelty of its rapid acceleration may soon wear off, the car’s near 250-mile electric range is a far more practical virtue that could allow the e-tron to fit neatly into the daily routines of all but the most determined commuters.

What’s more, its compatibility with 150kW fast chargers will doubtless prove a boon when the UK’s charging infrastructure evolves to make such technology widespread – on the continent, existing 150kW chargers are claimed give an 80% battery charge in a little over half an hour.

The e-tron’s range comes courtesy of a 95kWh battery, and there’s no smaller, lower cost battery option offered. You can choose from any of three trim levels, though – standard e-tron, Launch Edition and Launch Edition 1, with only 30 of the latter being offered to UK buyers. Every model has LED lights all round, 20-inch alloy wheels and electrically-adjustable, heated leather seats. Usefully, there’s a charging port on both sides of the car.

While the Audi e-tron’s battery range is eclipsed by that of lighter, less expensive rivals – such as the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric – it’s a very impressive all-rounder nonetheless. Its approachable, familiar nature will doubtless appeal to Audi fans who are looking to make the switch to zero-emissions electric motoring. It’s a capable alternative to the I-Pace that offers Audi’s classy blend of technology and style in place of the Jaguar’s more sporty nature, and many families will find it slots seamlessly into their daily routine.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Some rivals can beat the e-tron’s 248-mile range, but none can match its fast-charging capability

Engines, drive & performance

Very fast in a straight line, but heavy Audi e-tron is untidy in corners

Interior & comfort

Stunning e-tron interior design combines with uncanny quietness to luxurious effect

Practicality & boot spaceAudi e-tron SUV offers loads of interior space and plenty of luggage room

Reliability & safety

Loads of safety tech, but Audi e-tron reliability is yet unproven

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Motoring Review: Audi e-tron EV review

Infiniti is not a car manufacturer that many will be familiar with, however this luxury manufacturer, aiming for fourth place after Mercedes, BMW and Audi is definitely worth considering.

Given the manufacturers partnership in F1 with champion winners RedBull Racing they really are a manufacturer with impressive pedigree.

This 359bhp petrol-electric M is the fastest accelerating car of its kind on sale today, with 0-62mph taking just 5.5 seconds – rivals from BMW and Lexus need an extra 0.4 seconds.

What’s the 2012 Infiniti M35h like to drive?
The V6 petrol engine in the M is powerful and it makes the car rapid. This is true whether you’re nipping away from the lights under electric power or using the engine at higher speeds. The switch between battery and electric power is very smooth, too.

However the brakes are a little keen for town driving (queuing).

What’s the Infiniti M35h like inside?
The M35h has a classy interior built from a selection of high-quality materials that look and feel great. The model we had featured lots of pale dark wood which dated it slightly, however there are black inset options available.

The biggest downside is the vast amount of space the battery robs from the boot; the standard diesel and petrol models’ 450-litre space falls to just 350-litres, which is a long way short of the class best.

There’s room for four adults inside, but this is definitely a 2+2 as there is a large transmission tunnel eating into rear foot space.

Should I buy one?
We were very impressed and overall this car was better than the diesel Mercedes E Class it displaced for this week long trial. Given the CO2 output of sub 160g/km, the fact that for London users there are Congestion Charge advantages over rivals like the BMW 5 series, and the very personal service you get from owning an Infiniti over its, mainly German, rivals we would seriously suggest taking a look.

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Motoring Review: Infiniti M35h

The Lexus LS600h L is not only the world’s first four-wheel drive hybrid V8 but also the flagship of the luxury brand’s range.

It offers a discreet but strong challenge to its better known German rivals, says Dave Sumner Smith.

How comfortable is it?

The ‘basic’ models of the LS are large, well-equipped and comfortable. Leather upholstery, heated rear seats, electric sunshades and air conditioned front seats come as standard.

The range-topper gets an extra 12cm in length, plus a specification that includes drop-down video screens, air conditioned, electronically adjustable rear seats and a cool box. There is even an optional rear relaxation pack, which adds a massage system to the adjustable Ottoman foot and thigh rest.

What is it like to drive?

It may be large in scale and traditional in style, but the LS600h L is no slouch. Far from it. The 375bhp power of the 5.0-litre V8 and the rechargeable batteries generate 520Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission. The net result is a seamless, smooth delivery of huge power: Brains and muscles combined with seemingly effortless ease.

Will it impress?

Despite its hybrid status, the Lexus is hardly trendy. But it is quietly (and deservedly) winning custom from high status European brands. The fact its hybrid status wins exemption from London’s Congestion Charge and gives more than 30mpg are minor benefits. More impressive are its comfort, sophistication, space and silken refinement.

Does it make financial sense?

The LS is far from cheap. The ‘base model’ starts at £61,540 and the flagship LS600h L cost £87,935. But that is £17k less than a Mercedes S600L, and the Lexus retains its value better, has a superior reputation for reliability and offers superior dealer service. Quotes on contracthireandleasing.com suggest leasing costs only two thirds of the Mercedes’ price at £1300-1400pcm.

What else should I consider?

Obviously its main competitors are the BMW 7-series, Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8. The Maserati Quattroporte offers a different flavour of glamour, while the recently announced Jaguar XJ and Porsche Panamera may also be worth considering.

Any toys and gadgets?

The LS600h L is a toy-lover’s nirvana. As well as flip down screens to watch DVDs, massage seats and thigh and feet supports, it also has a 19 speaker sound system, four zone climate control, rear parking camera, park assist and a pre-crash safety system. For hardcore gadget-lovers there’s even a Smart Card instead of an ignition key.

What does it say about me?

The stretched Lexus is too restrained and understated to be fashionable. Like a finely-tailored suit, it isn’t glamorous. It suggests the owner doesn’t need a badge to bolster their ego and is more interested in sophistication and comfort than appearing ‘flash’.

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Motoring Review: Lexus LS600h L

A rival to the original Austin Mini, the Fiat 500 was one of the first small city cars.

Originally produced between 1957 and 1975, it measured 9 feet in length and had a tiny 479cc engine (hence the name 500).

In 2007, fifty years after the original, Fiat revised this cheeky little car. It’s loosely based on a 2004 concept car, the Trepiuno. Dean Woodward takes one for a spin for us…

Significant others are:
•    BMW Mini
•    Fiat Panda
•    Smart ForTwo
•    Ford Ka

Models and Engines comprise of:
•    Pop, Lounge, Sport and the Abarth
•    1.2 and 1.4 Petrol
•    1.3 Diesel Engine
•    Prices range from £8,100 to circa £11,000 (excluding the Abarth)

Vehicle Appraisal

Styling
Volkwagen began the trend for retro styling with the Beetle, continued by BMW with the Mini and Jaguar with the S-Type. The 500’s styling is its strongest trait. In keeping with the fun feel, there are a multitude of paint jobs, trim and accessory options – 12 colours, 15 types of upholstery, 9 styles of wheels, and around 20 decal sets. With 550,000 potential permutations, a truly unique vehicle can be created

Interior
A quality feel combined with retro style, there’s no skimping on modern technology such as iPod compatibility and Bluetooth. Front passengers will travel with comfort and ease; space is more confined in the rear. Thanks to a higher roof line and a light and airy interior, the 500 appears a little more roomy than the Mini.

Handling/Performance
The 500 darts through city traffic and navigates tight spots – just as the original was intended to do. Engine and wind noise are more noticeable at speed. It’s not as sharp or responsive as the Mini but then not as expensive either. Fiat’s Dual Drive steering system assists the driver at low speeds. It disables itself above about 40 mph, so up to this speed the steering feels a little artificial. With seven airbags, the 500 scores the full five stars in the NCAP occupant protection test. Antilock brakes are standard and electronic antiskid control is an option.

Summary
Cheeky, Stylish and Classic. Step out of the FIAT 500 in the centre of London wearing your Italian designer suit and you won’t lose your street cred.

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Motoring Review: Fiat 500

The 1970’s saw rising demand from European consumers for smaller vehicles now known as superminis. Ford answered this with the Fiesta in 1976.

It was an instant success, with the millionth Fiesta produced 3 years later in 1979.

Now after 33 years, over 10 million sales, the MK7 Fiesta remains one of Ford’s most popular cars. Dean Woodward takes one for a spin for us at Business Matters

Significant others are:
•    Renault Clio
•    Mini
•    Vauxhall Corsa
•    Grand Punto
•    Peugeot 207

Models and Engines comprise of:
•    Econetic, Studio, Style, Style + , Zetec-S
•    1.25, 1.4 & 1.6 Petrol engines
•    1.4 & 1.6 Diesel engines.

Price Range: £9,195 – £14,195

Vehicle Appraisal
Styling
Some thought the MK6 Fiesta was bland and plain. It was a reflection of Ford’s approach to styling during this period with similar design used in the Focus and Mondeo. In contrast to its predecessor, the MK7 Fiesta has caught up with an exterior that shows flair and enthusiasm.

The 3-door looks great. The 5-door is a close second only because the door and window break the continuity of the lines. You can choose some striking exterior colours, but these may not last the test of time.

Interior
The interior is just as exciting as the exterior with a predominant centre console that resembles the facia of a Nokia mobile phone. The two-tone colour of the dash reflects its quality with the upper and lower sections living up to their names.  High sweeping rear windows restrict visibility when reversing; but this is a car that wants to go forward not backwards. Overall, the interior is solid and reflective of larger Ford models.

Handling/ Performance
Fords are renowned for their driving dynamics and the new Fiesta is no exception. Keen drivers will love this little car. It’s well balanced and copes well with bumpy road conditions – you won’t have back problems at the end of the journey. The steering is precise and you feel connected with the road beneath you. With agility you would expect from a supermini, contoured seats hug as you nip through tight bends.

Summary:
Just look at it. You will like the way it drives and drive it the way you like. In a fiercely competitive market sector, the Fiesta has stood the test of time and is a serious contender for the top spot.

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Motoring Review: Ford Fiesta

The latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is probably the most aspirational compact executive saloon on the market and this vehicle will not disappoint you.

Significant others are:
•    BMW 3 Series
•    Audi A4
•    Lexus IS

Models and Engines comprise of:
•    Models: Elegance, SE and Sport
•    Engines: 1.8, 2.5v6 , 3.0v6 & 3.5v6 petrol and 2.0l 2.2l 3.0v6 Diesel

Vehicle Appraisal

Styling

The C-Class comes alive, with a shape that has real road presence and a stature that is more substantial. The twin headlamps are gone, replaced by sleek oblong eyes and a wide retro grill, which is probably the most striking feature on the vehicle! The grills on the SE and Elegance are more subtle than the Sport variant, which hosts a prominent three-pointed star (previously only featured on the C-Class Sports Coupe). More pronounced wheel arches make the C-Class looks like a baby S-Class from the side.

Interior

The interior has the quality feel you would expect, with sound, logical instrumentation where it’s easy to set your preferences without assistance from a gadget-savvy 10 year old. Taller drivers may feel a little cocooned in the cockpit but a panoramic roof option gives a sense of light and space. It also looks great with the Calcite White exterior colour.

Handling/ Performance

Watch out 3-Series, the C-Class has got true spirit. The drive is invigorating, surprisingly light on its toes and precise in the corners. A great blend of sportiness, comfort and quality rolled into a compact saloon.

Summary

The best C-Class to date. The Sport variant looks the business. Colours that complement are black, silver and, making a come-back, white.

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Motoring Review: Mercedes C Class

Unless you have been away from civilisation for the last 30 years you should be aware of the famous Volkswagen Golf.

Few cars have commanded such attention as the Golf, with sales exceeding 25 million over its life span.

Truly egalitarian, whether you’re cruising down the motorway, collecting the kids from school or zipping off to a black tie event, there is no other family hatch that does it better.

Models and Engines:
•    1.4 litre TSI
•    1.6 FSI  petrol
•    1.9 litre Turbo diesel
•    2.0 litre Turbo diesel
•    GTI 2.0l Turbo
•    R32 3.2 250ps
•    Trim levels: S, Match, Blue Motion S, Blue Motion Match, GT Sport

Significant others:
•    Ford Focus
•    Vauxhall Astra
•    Toyota Auris
•    Honda Civic
•    Renault Megane

Vehicle Appraisal
Styling

The fifth generation Golf is not a radical change from its predecessor; evolution rather than revolution has been central to this vehicle’s success.

Dimensionally the largest Golf produced to date, however by far the aesthetically pleasing with its smooth body curves large eyes and deep ‘v’ grill, it appears fast without even moving. Colour coded bumpers and sports wheels finish the package. It even carries off some solid covers where other hot hatches failed.

Interior
A true five-seater hatchback, the Golf provides plenty of room for two large adults in the front, with generous head and leg room. Three children fit comfortably in the rear.

The interior has an air of sophistication, especially at night when the blue backlight instruments are illuminated. Every Golf comes equipped with electric front windows and door mirrors, remote central locking, a CD player and air conditioning. The match trim comes with the addition of alloy wheels, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, rear electric windows and MP3 compatible stereo. The GT Sport variants have front fogs, leather steering wheel, larger alloys and sports suspension and front grill.

Handling / Performance
If fuel economy is a key priority then opt for the Blue Motion. Volkswagen claims that the 1.9 tdi power plant delivers 62.8 miles per gallon and 119 g/km of CO2. It’s cheap motoring for either personal use and as a company car.  Handling is firm, responsive and sharp while providing plenty of grip and minimal under steer from the front wheel drive variants.

The first Volkswagen to achieve a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the Golf has standard safety equipment such as twin front airbags, driver and passenger front side airbags, anti-whiplash protection, three point seatbelts and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.

Summary
The original hot hatch that has been at the top of its game for 30 years, it’s a timeless car which is second to none.

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Motoring Review: VW Golf