Sommaire pour October 2017 de CAR UK

Canvas meets carbonfibre ‘The weather forecast was good, I wanted to be flexible ’ on when and where we stopped and, well, budgets aren t what they used to be ’ , so I knew editor we Ben ’d need of his the 1000 hotel -mile allowance camping for trip super unleaded, says in the Huracan Performante. Makes perfect sense… ‘Escapism’, p76 Poking Smile! That is the ‘fish out of water’ half-grin from a bloke who actually doesn’t know what the concours-condition car is behind him. We shot staff writer Jake out of a cannon in a westerly direction towards California to cover all things Monterey Car Week. Little did he know he’d have to scrub up on his classic car knowledge and celebrity schmoozing beforehand! Still,…

Seat Leon Cupra R Here’s the latest hot Leon, which turns out be the most powerful production Seat in history. The regular Cupra’s 2.0-litre turbo is boosted to 310PS (or 306bhp) and connected to a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive for tyre-scrabbling launch starts. If you like the orange metallic bits on the outside, good news: bits of interior trim are finished in the stuff to complement carbonfibre and alcantara detailing. What is it with copper detailing? First it was Bentley’s EXP concepts, then the Velar First Edition and now this Cupra R. There must be a stockpile now plumbers use plastic pipes. NEED TO KNOW > What is it? Limited-run, copper-clad hot hatch and most powerful Leon yet > Key tech 306bhp four-pot, massive Brembos and beefier air intakes…

1 This looks familiar… Version 2.0 of Crewe’s luxury GT is evolution over revolution in styling terms. Remember the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept? Mix that, some Bentayga creases and a bit of old Conti. Crystal decanter headlights, rifled exhausts and the EXP’s oval brake lights all feature. 2 So, what has changed? The aluminium body is 80kg lighter, air suspension is standard and the 48-volt electrical system is part of the Panamera-derived underpinnings. The Dynamic Ride system should keep body roll in check and there are drive modes available for gentle wafting or hard charging. 3 Sounds sporty… Indeed. The engine is a 6.0-litre W12 that kicks out 626bhp and 663lb ft. Top speed is 207mph. There’s launch control, and a BMW M4 CS-beating 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds.…

IMAGINE A combustion process that could produce the precise quantity of torque needed at any given moment – no more, no less – and in the process reduce C02 by up to 15% and reduce engine vibration. Such alchemy would be wondrous to the fathers of the petrol or diesel engine, but it appears this breakthrough has been achieved – thanks to technology developed by a former Silicon Valley digital signalling processing expert. Dr Adya Tripathi took his knowledge of working with audio amplifiers to investigate whether the science of frequency content could be applied to controlling the internal combustion engine’s compression cycle. Tula’s unique Dynamic Skip-Fire Cylinder (DSF) deactivation combines advanced digital signal processing with sophisticated powertrain controls and Delphi’s Deactivation Roller Finger Follower (DRFF) valve control system. DRFF…

THE NEW POLO is, in essence, a slightly smaller and more affordable Golf. Although it isn’t offered with the bigger engines, hybrid power-train or electric motor available with the current Golf, the new Polo adopts its DNA. It’s a proper Volkswagen, solid and competent, made to last and failsafe, a little bland but a great all-rounder. Globally, the Polo is VW’s best-seller. It’s strong in Europe, big in South America and huge in China. The sixth-generation model aims to consolidate or even extend this lead. To do so, the ancient PQ platform has been replaced by the stiffer and trimmer modular MQB architecture. Although the MQB upgrade hits VW to the tune of €400-€500 per car, most costs should be absorbed via enhanced synergies and bigger volumes. While the price…

THE VOLVO XC60 T8 Twin Engine does not have two engines. Instead, the range-topper pairs a super- and turbocharged 316bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine driving the front wheels with an 86bhp electric motor that drives the rears (and eats a little luggage space). That brings you 401bhp, with 134.5mpg and 49g/km on the EU cycle. Caveat: after 600 miles with two charges, we averaged 27mpg. Shorter commutes should make more sense, because you can plug in to the mains and waft silently for up to 28 miles, and because the petrol four is smooth and refined at a canter the switch between electric and fossil fuel is subtle; it roars more at high revs, although not harshly. But the real proof that this is no ordinary four comes when you floor…

> VIA EMAIL Much as I enjoyed the feature with the trackday cars in the September issue, they are very much the exception rather than the rule in being light, simple and focused on driving pleasure. Elsewhere in the same issue I found myself disturbed and intrigued in equal measure by your two big Insider stories. The Tesla Model 3 offers some hope for those of us who enjoy driving: clean and exciting and relatively inexpensive. But it’s not light. And the Audi A8 looks very clever, albeit very expensive. But it’s heavier than the previous A8, which was quite heavy enough thank you. Why can’t the designers and engineers involved in projects like the A8 and Model 3 be given a brief that severely limits the weight of the…

IN 1997, it took AMG’s engineers just 126 days to design and build the awesome, barely street-legal CLK GTR. Two decades later, the gestation process of the Project One hypercar has been a more long-winded affair, and it began with AMG’s divorce from McLaren. That split meant that, sooner or later, Mercedes’ performance division would have to come up with an in-house replacement for the SLR. True, the AMG GT did accomplish its volume sales and brand-shaping objectives, but even the GT R version – 577bhp, 198mph – isn’t a hardcore supercar, let alone a hypercar capable of shifting the class benchmarks. AMG had to deliver nothing less than a black hole of awesomeness. A machine more outrageous than even the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari, and the ultimate fusion of…

What’s normal about a car comprising little more than a 631bhp V10 and the means to have it propel you across the face of the Earth? 1.17pm Wednesday Automobili Lamborghini, Sant’Agata Bolognese Simone looks at my bags. I look at Simone. For a little too long neither of us says anything. Then, without a word, he ducks out of the bright, heavy heat of the August afternoon and into the cool, dark cockpit of the delivery-mileage Huracan Performante. He prods a button and up pops the luggage hatch in the shockingly orange nose. We move around to the front of the car and stand gazing solemnly upon the strikingly small space, like builders inspecting a water main they’ve just broken. ‘These are not the definition of slim bags,’ he says. He…

THE CAR SITS up on stands without its wheels, glazing, bonnet or headlights but still its shape takes my breath away. The lean detailing, conspicuous aerodynamic proficiency and thudding V8 are pure Le Mans racer, while its just-so proportions, wieldy size and self-evident lack of mass adhere to the timeless blueprint of the great British sports car. It’s a potent blend. Quite apart from how it promises to drive, to these eyes the new Griffith looks sensational. It might lack the extravagance of the Sagaris, the swansong creation of TVR’s last era, but just as you try to classify it is as cute you’re floored by an evil-looking, full-width diffuser and a yawning pair of side-exit exhausts. ‘Cute’ is suddenly entirely inappropriate. TVR is not cute. And now the Griffith’s…

‘The solution was to use twin turbochargers, as we did for 1979. The result was magic’ Jean-Pierre Jabouille ‘MANUFACTURERS COME AND go,’ said former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2009, following the mass exodus of BMW, Toyota and Honda from the sport. ‘There’s very little loyalty; they enter F1 when it suits them and they leave when it suits them – often leaving teams in the lurch.’ Except that’s only partly true. Ferrari has been a cornerstone of the world championship since 1950 and, bar a couple of tactical seasons on the sidelines rebuilding its strength, Renault has been bringing la difference for 40 years. It’s worth noting that Renault has done it without the vast financial incentives of the Scuderia, too. Renault’s always maintained that its participation in…

IN EARLY AUGUST I raced at Snetterton. Since trailers are expensive, the circuit just a couple of hours from home and the Seven road legal, I drove to and from both the Friday test day and Saturday’s qualifying session and race. This is, I tell myself, the stuff of legend. Proper grassroots, keeping-it-real motorsport. But it’s also about engineering as many opportunities as possible to drive and enjoy what is an addictively brilliant road car. We’re all busy people. The time to sneak out in the Caterham for thrills alone is rarer than lithium in Elon Musk’s back garden. So why not use the car for every journey you have to make? When the alarm goes at 5am it’s easy to find yourself questioning the above logic. A long, early…

SO THIS IS EV progress. Meet the second-generation Nissan Leaf, the world’s best-selling electric car, with a claimed range of 234 miles. Rewind seven years, and the brand-new Mk1 mustered a mere 100-mile range – and that was achievable only by fingers-crossed hypermilers. The original Leaf launched with a 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which took about eight hours to charge from 240v mains. The new car’s cells occupy identical space in the floorpan, but produce a 40kWh energy density. Charging takes about five-and-a-half hours from a 32amp wallbox. Nissan has a higher-capacity battery pack up its sleeve too. An aerodynamic makeover also helps improve the range, with drag reduced by four percent and stability enhanced so the Leaf doesn’t blow away. The centre of gravity is lower too, reducing roll.…

It’s a huge global seller Since Renault lit the touchpaper under the Romanian company in 2004, Dacia sales have boomed. Of the 4.5m Dacias sold since 2004, 1m have been Dusters. The rugged SUV may have sold initially on price, but it kept on selling because its reputation for reliability and practicality went viral. The new model – available next summer in right-hand drive – fixes problems identified by owners: seat comfort, stowage space, sat-nav speed, safety gear, fit and finish. More rugged outside The front and rear lights are closer to the corners, giving the illusion that the car is wider. The grille is new and the sides have been reshaped to give chunkier proportions (less glass, more metal). The windscreen is bigger, and starts 100mm further forward on…

ILLUSTRATION: SENOR SALME ALEJANDRO MESONERO-ROMANOS makes an unlikely Red Adair. The design chief displays very little ego or drama, despite holding together a design reinvention while Seat burned cash year after year, and CEOs came and went. Then this March, Seat announced its first operating profit since 2007. Mesonero-Romanos’ design vision has been a cornerstone of this turnaround, with four production cars in five years. From 2012 Leon hatch to 2017 Arona baby crossover, four cars built on a consistent aesthetic of triangular lamps, crisp lines and strong proportions. ‘Yes, the cars look similar but to [change too early] is a risk. We are putting Seat on the map, and design plays an important role,’ he says in his gentle Spanish-accented English. ‘We are a young brand and, to be…

Porsche Design Chronograph 911 Turbo S and GT2 RS £8700/£8250 Founded by Butzi Porsche in 1972, Porsche Design has now been more closely integrated with his grandfather’s car maker and has just issued its first watches directly inspired by Porsche cars: the new 911 Turbo S Exclusive and the 911 GT2 RS. Like the Breitling below, both Porsche watches feature novel titanium and carbonfibre construction, inspired by the materials used in the cars. Both have a sophisticated ‘flyback’ chronograph movement designed and made in-house by Porsche Design: as with car makers, the best watchmakers make their own engines. The Turbo S watch shown here will be customised to match your car’s colour scheme, features the same double stripe of exposed carbonfibre that runs over the length of the car, and…

The SPCCI petrol engine starts with spark ignition, with the seamless switch-over to compression ignition not happening at a set point but once certain conditions – temperature, pressure, engine speed and load – are met. Then the spark creates an expanding fireball which provides additional squeeze to the normal geometric compression ratio of approx 15-16:1, triggering the switch to compression ignition, on which the engine runs until demand changes. The air-fuel mixture is created by splitting injection to two phases: during the intake stroke and the compression stroke. A strong swirl is created in the combustion chamber to create an uneven distribution of fuel density with a lean mixture around the periphery for compression ignition and a relatively rich air-fuel mixture around the central spark plug, for creating the fireball.…

IT WOULD BE interesting to be back in the FIA World Endurance Championship. We left five years ago, the PSA Group was unprofitable, it had been done, and we wanted to win the Dakar. We’ve won the Dakar twice now… > THE FIA AND ACO are cutting costs with new WEC regulations due in 2020, while still keeping the battery electric technology and plug-in fast charging that will come to road cars in the next few years. There’s a proposal for a standard flat-underfloor, one-aero configuration for the season, and a limit on wind-tunnel time and tests days, but we think there’s a possibility for more standardisation, as in Formula E. For the spectator I don’t think it’s important that the battery cells are different for each team. We must…

THE OLD JAGUAR XF Sportbrake had an innate coolness. Perhaps because you could have one with a mad bodykit and socking great V8 engine, or because it was regularly seen in the Tour de France covered in carbonfibre racing bikes. Maybe it’s the name – estates are always full of flat-packs and garden waste, but a Sportbrake on the other hand sounds like something a professional wakeboarder would drive. That was all well and good in 2012 when Jaguar didn’t make any SUVs, and the XF had the big-booted-Jag thing all to itself, but in 2017 when you can have an infinitely more #lifestyle F-Pace SUV, is there room for an XF Sportbrake? Elegantly athletic styling helps its cause, with a tapering roofline lengthened by an extended rear spoiler, aiding…

WHEN WORK BEGAN on a four-cylinder Jaguar F-type, chief product engineer Erol Mustafa’s biggest fear was the soundtrack. The V6 and V8 versions, after all, sound sublime, and Porsche had taken flak with its four-pot 718 Cayman/Boxster. ‘The sound was the thing we debated most,’ he admits, ‘but as soon as we started producing that engine, I knew we had to do this car.’ ‘That’ engine is the new Ingenium 2.0-litre turbo petrol, designed by Jaguar Land Rover and produced at its new engine manufacturing facility in the West Midlands. The case for the all-aluminium, direct-injection motor is convincing: at 296bhp/295lb ft it gives up just 39bhp/37lb ft to the base V6 (which remains in the line-up) but contributes to a 52kg saving and returns 39.2mpg and 163g/km, gains of…

1 HGV PARKING AREA This beautiful beast took an interest in CAR on my recent trip to the wonderful Elephant Sanctuary near Plettenberg Bay in South Africa. ROGER BULL 2 WELL-READ RAG CAR proved a valuable companion on my summer holiday in Andalusia. The picture was taken outside the bullring at the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería in Seville. DJAMEL HAMEL 3 LITTLE ITALY My family and I went on holiday to Portmeirion in North Wales during a break in my dad's chemotherapy. While we were there a Fiat 500 rally appeared and looked perfect in this setting. ALASTAIR WILSON 4 GREAT SCOTT! Back to the Future lands in a Lidl car park in Petersfield. My son Tom (okay, mostly me) was thrilled to see a…

SUVs are becoming sports car substitutes in some markets, lusted after more than a flat-six 911 FROM OLD VELAR, the concept that turned into a production car, to new Velar, the production car that looks like a concept. From dual-purpose 4x4 aimed at country folk, to road-biased SUV bought by everyone (but mostly townies). From functional to fashionable, from the shires to Shanghai. The evolution of Range Rover, the brand, mirrors that of SUVs, the breed. The first 1970 Range Rover – prototypes of which were badged Velar – was also the first modern SUV. It was equally good on the bridleways and the motorways. There were some earlier big American 4x4s also designed for on-road and off. Except they weren’t very good at either. That first Range Rover was…

AS A FAMILY of four, the Big Scenic’s carrying capacity suits us perfectly – plenty of room for all, including the hairy dog. But last month’s first real seven-up test didn’t go particularly well. Squeezing two children in to the two rearmost seats, and a trio of adults in to the second row proved expletive-inducingly difficult. Time then to borrow some smaller bodies for part two. Enter Innes, Oakley and Chester, children of family friends John and Amanda. Arguably more impressed by the offer of ice creams at the end of the day than an afternoon of scrabbling into the Renault, the trio, along with my daughters Amelia and Jemima, gamely took up the role of back-seat drivers. So, first the good stuff. All three liked the full-length sunroof and…

SO AN EMAIL pinged into my inbox from CAR contributing editor Ben Whitworth: it turns out he’s in the market to downsize his Alhambra MPV for a crossover, and wants to try the Ateca for a few days. The Seat’s temporary disappearance helped hone my conclusions ahead of its finite departure. Big question #1: after five diesel cars in a row, how did a teeny turbo petrol engine cope with the life McNamara? Chugging around in Whitworth’s diesel Grand Scenic, I missed the 1.4 EcoTSI’s silent idle and motorway hush. And while the Renault dCi rolls on a wave of easy torque, the Ateca’s four pot does a useful imitation of that surge above 1900rpm: beware a hollow spot at lower crank speeds. Note that the engine didn’t suit CAR’s…

I HAVE A confession to make. I’ve held my driving licence for six years now, driven for all of that time and been behind the wheel of plenty of cars in this job but I’ve, er, never owned one. Yep, that’s right – a young lad who’s loved cars all his life and writes about them for a living hasn’t (yet) had one in his name. Go figure. So, our new Suzuki Swift long-termer is the closest I’ve got to living with an actual car of my own. It’s definitely a good demographic fit; the Swift has always been a simple, honest and good value option in the supermini class and one that’s great for first car owners. Our new Swift arrived on the CAR fleet hoping to maintain that…

Raising the roof Portofino’s folding hardtop is a new design, and now lighter. As before, you can raise and lower it at low speeds. New wind deflector cuts cabin air disturbance by a claimed 30 per cent. More Prancing Horses 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 is closely related to California T’s, but gets new pistons, conrods and intake system. Good for 592bhp, 39bhp more than the Cali. THIS IS MORE like it. The outgoing California played a huge role in Ferrari’s global success, marking the entry point for many buyers and slotting below the spectacular 458/488 supercars. But it was an awkward collection of compromises as a result, with looks sacrificed in order to provide a folding metal roof and a boot big enough to swallow golf clubs. And while always fast,…

1 Ooh, looks like a new Mini... It is, of sorts. This electric concept previews the zero-emissions Mini due in 2019. The production EV is spun off today’s Mini, but this concept feels fresh. It’s amazing what ditching the black plastic wheelarches and wraparound chrome can do... 2 Dare I say more contemporary? Thank the matt silver paint, revised body panels and exaggerated bodykit. These fibreglass parts are designed to help the Mini Electric slip through the air, enhancing range. The hexagonal radiator grille is also blanked off to reduce drag. 3 How far will it go on a charge? Tech details are wafer thin. Execs promise a powerful electric motor and a focus on preserving Mini dynamics. Insiders suggest the cut-down i3 battery pack is mustering only a 90-mile…

The planet’s most legendary cars roll by in one massive convoy JETLAG IS CRUEL. But trundling into Monterey, California during the afternoon rush hour was enough to keep it at bay. The picturesque coastal town is known for its Pacific views and fishing history, but for one week of the year it and the surrounding peninsula is consumed by all things car. Spending just five minutes watching traffic go by racked up a mental dollar value in the millions. Monterey Car Week is a US car fan’s ultimate pilgrimage, with events ranging from the simple to the silly and the exuberantly luxurious. I’m here to take in the sights, sounds and high-octane smells of this petrolhead shindig. Supercar owners can show off their pride and joy at Exotics on Cannery…

WHATEVER AUDI can do, Porsche can do better. Stuttgart has taken the Q7’s MLB Evo platform, 48-volt electrical system and air suspension and Porsche-ised it. So the third-generation Cayenne not only has all that, but a raft of extra tech only Porsche could do. The Panamera’s 4D Chassis Control is lifted across to iron out the road ahead, as is the space-age touchscreen cabin with the massive widescreen infotainment system and 4G LTE wi-fi hotspot. It still looks like a Cayenne (ie slightly frumpy), but the rear end now brandishes Stuttgart’s rear light bar first seen on the 718 Boxster and Cayman, then the Panamera. Other than that, it’s a feast for spot-the-difference fans looking for a challenge. Rear-wheel steering makes its way onto the options list, and Porsche’s latest…

1 What? A Disco off-road? Who’d have thought it, eh? It might be one of the most capable 4x4s money can buy but the closest most owners get to the rough stuff is watching Bear Grylls on catch-up. That hasn’t stopped JLR’s SVO division getting their hands on Disco 5 to create this: the Discovery SVX. No Subaru relation intended. 2 So it gets some flashy paint? It’s called Satin Tectonic Grey actually, with Rush Orange highlights, but it’s not just for show. The towing eyes are marked out in orange so that they’re easy to find when you’re knee-deep in it, and are rated to six tonnes. Plus the matte paint cuts reflections, and the bonnet in particular gets an anti-glare coating. 3 Won’t Defender owners laugh? They’ll have…

AMID ALL THE excitement over Mercedes’ latest evolution of its autonomous driving systems in the revised S-Class, it’s easy to overlook the other big innovation: you. More precisely, the S is set up to offer encouragement, information and incentives to help you drive more smoothly and more economically. Crucially, it can be ignored and over-ridden, leaving you to decide whether your priority is economy at any given moment. The latest, upgraded version of Eco Assist is available on the S450 (not a UK model) and S500 – the only cars using new beltless inline-six petrol engine with 48-volt electrics and an integrated starter-generator (ISG) instead of an alternator. Eco Assist works by combining several features. Connectivity and sensors: The car knows where you are, where you’re going, and what’s happening…

VW’s Transparent Factory in Dresden once produced the Phaeton and Bentley Flying Spur. The idea was that the glass-walled factory would let you see your car being built and encourage a spirit of openness. After a period when it served as a concert venue and education centre focusing on future mobility, it now has a second lease of life. As well as housing the e-Golf production line, it’s the venue for the ‘start-up incubator’ project. You what? Somewhere between Love Island and The Great Egg Race, it’s a competition designed to tackle some of the challenges of future mobility. For 200 days, six teams will work up their future-mobility ideas. All the teams get VW funding and some expert support, and the projects that look most promising after 200 days…

ON MAY 13, the all-electric Nio EP9 set a Nordschleife record of 6min 45.9sec. Two days later, the same car arrived at Bedford Autodrome to give CAR an exclusive first drive in the world’s fastest and quietest torture rack on wheels. The seat is a naked nonadjustable carbonfibre bucket, and the meat in this hard-baked composite sandwich is 6ft 8in of Kacher – and that’s before the helmet and HANS system are in place. This should be fun. Nio is not a household name, but the Chinese-backed company has four bases around the world: China, Germany, USA and the UK. The UK arm is responsible for the EP9, and for the NextEV Nio Formula E team, which took Nelson Piquet Jr to the inaugural championship. Before I can drive, I’m…

NOTONLY has the 2018 model-year F-type spawned a whole new four-pot model (left), but this limited-run 400 Sport model has joined the party, too. It sits above the V6 R-Dynamic but below the howling V8 Rs. It will only be available during the 2018 model-year cycle. Aside from badging liberally sprinkled inside and out, and a few yellow details, the V6 powerplant has been uprated from 380hp to 400hp – hence the name – or 395 regular Church of England brake-horsepower. Jag’s Super Performance brakes, a limited-slip differential and the electronic Configurable Dynamics system are all standard equipment, too. There’s no manual gearbox option, unlike other V6 models, but you can have your 400 Sport in either coupe or convertible body styles, and with rear- or all-wheel drive. It’s the…

UNDER PRESSURE? Oh yes. There’s the unenviable task of replacing the flagship hot hatch in your range, and then there’s the pressure of replacing what is nothing less than the class benchmark. Rival machines might be faster (Ford Focus RS, BMW M140i) or more well-rounded (VW Golf GTI and R), but for excitement and pure driving pleasure, the outgoing RS Megane is still the king; even now, after nearly seven years in production. It’s one of the best-handling, most exciting front-wheel-drive cars of all time. And now Renault Sport must deliver a worthy successor. Which it will, of course. Won’t it? Worryingly, there are a few on-paper reasons why the new Megane RS could turn out to be something of a duffer. Renault Sport’s last all-new hot hatch, 2013’s Clio…

‘With the M-developed xDrive system there was no further need for rear-wheel drive’ M Division’s Frank van Meel HEAVY-TRACTION HARDWARE All-wheel drive is masterminded by the Central Intelligence Module (as opposed to the CIA). Its tools are the transfer ’box and the Active M Differential unit, which sits in a meaty subframe at the rear of the car. System analyses streams of data, including steering and throttle position, before working out the best place to put the V8’s force. DOESN’T DO FLEX G30 5-series bodyshell is a fine start point, but for superior dynamics the M5’s rear axle’s been pinned down with heavy additional bracing. Up front, a new bulkhead reduces flex at the front struts. Both aim to provide a more rigid platform from which the M-fettled suspension can…

The old Fiesta’s success must have given Ford’s New Fiesta Person sleepless nights AS TOUGH ACTS to follow go, the old Fiesta is right up there with the current monarch and Elvis Presley. Not only was it the best-selling car in its class, the last Fiesta was the bestselling Ford and the best-selling car in the UK full stop. It did this for seven consecutive years, up to its final full year on sale in 2016. That kind of success can give you sleepless nights if you happen to be New Fiesta Person at Ford. But here it is. Trust us – we’ve not accidentally parked a late-reg old model in front of the camera. Ford has previous when it comes to designs almost imperceptibly different from the outgoing model,…

RAPID, AGILE, understated, practical… the Volkswagen Golf GTI is the default hot hatch for good reason. But for almost every generation of GTI, Volkswagen has taken things one step further, creating faster, more exclusive, more expensive high-performance Golfs that slot in at the very top of the price range. Given the GTI’s metronomic consistency, these halo models have taken surprisingly diverse forms: front- or all-wheel drive, four- or six cylinders, supercharged or turbocharged, and wearing all manner of badges. We’ve selected five of what we consider the best buys for this month’s Icon Buyer: the box-arched Mk2 Rallye, a homologation special designed for Group A rallying; the Mk4 R32 that combined all-wheel drive with a V6 engine; the highly collectible Mk5 GTI Edition 30, with its useful power boost over…

FOR WHATEVER REASON learning how to drive economically isn’t sexy. Drift school? Sexy. Being taught how to shave tenths off your lap time by a slick-haired sunglasses display unit in Nomex underwear? Sexy. But no, there I was in leafy Epsom to get properly schooled in the art of using bugger all fuel. I’d been doing okay off my own bat, but if anyone could teach me a thing or two it would be Richard Seymour. As technical and product expert for Toyota GB he knew the intricacies of the Prius’s hybrid set up better than most, but he’d also competed for the home team in economy marathons; terrifying competitions where basic human needs such as the lavatory and regulating body temperature under 40degC are sacrificed in the name of…

IN WHAT MIGHT look like a slightly demented manner, I’ve become obsessive about figuring out the subtleties of the Civic’s active safety technology. I’ve almost cracked the big one: distinguishing between Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Keeping Assist. But then someone else will nab it for a couple of days and when they return it they have NO interest in talking about Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation or Lane Keeping Assist. Instead, they say stuff like this: Steers really nicely, doesn’t it? Neat little gearchange action. Love the way it rides. Engine’s got a good spread of power for a turbo four cylinder, hasn’t it? Or in James Taylor’s case, the boot. Most unusually for a car of this modest size, its boot is big enough,…

FROM RUNNING a Seat to an Alfa Romeo, the brand Ferdinand Piëch always yearned to buy when he ruled Volkswagen Group – probably with fatal consequences for its Spanish outpost. But would the VW of Piëch and Winterkorn have created this beautiful demon, the Guilia Quadrifoglio? Not a chance. First up, the Giulia project went from zero to world premiere in 26 months – years ahead of the industry norm. Can you imagine the rational Germans throwing processes out of the window, of taking quality risks by moving so fast? Let alone the fact that there was no compact, rear-drive -saloon architecture in the group. Aha, but that didn’t stop Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler CEO. Sensitive to two decades of front-wheel drive Alfa duffers, Marchionne plucked engineer Philippe Krief out…