Auto Express 1603

DO you ever get the feeling that the car industry might be, well, having a bit of a laugh? A week ago, these pages featured a new Ford Mustang that is an electric SUV, plus the latest Aston Martin – a crossover capable of wading through half a metre of water. And now, in this issue, we feature the scarcely believable Tesla Cybertruck and a prototype from Hyundai that shows how serious the Korean brand is about developing a mid-engined supercar to rival Lotus and Porsche. Yes, really. If we’d run these stories on our news pages even 18 months ago, you’d have accused us of making it all up. But here’s the thing: all of these vehicles are entirely credible – even the Tesla. Elon Musk unveiled his vision of a pick-up…

● Based on long-serving platform ● Future electrification is key FEW cars have demonstrated the process – and benefits – of evolution more than the Volkswagen Golf. Over 45 years, this stalwart of the family hatchback market has been honed and improved to the point where you almost feel sorry for the engineers tasked with making the next one even better. But now it’s time to judge the latest efforts in that area, because the eighth generation of VW Golf is here, and we’ve had our first spell behind the wheel. First, a basic guide to how this Golf has evolved. Like the Mk7 and ‘Mk7.5’ before it, this car is based on the VW Group’s ubiquitous MQB platform. As a result, VW has left some substantial components relatively unchanged, and the dimensions…

DO you ever get the feeling that the car industry might be, well, having a bit of a laugh? A week ago, these pages featured a new Ford Mustang that is an electric SUV, plus the latest Aston Martin – a crossover capable of wading through half a metre of water. And now, in this issue, we feature the scarcely believable Tesla Cybertruck and a prototype from Hyundai that shows how serious the Korean brand is about developing a mid-engined supercar to rival Lotus and Porsche. Yes, really. If we’d run these stories on our news pages even 18 months ago, you’d have accused us of making it all up. But here’s the thing: all of these vehicles are entirely credible – even the Tesla. Elon Musk unveiled his vision…

1 REAR SPACE With only millimetres of difference between the Mk7.5 Golf’s chassis and body and those of the Mk8, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that cabin space remains basically the same. This is no bad thing, though; the Golf’s trademark roofline means decent amounts of headroom for grown-ups. 2 PRACTICALITY VW has placed the lithium-ion battery used in the mild-hybrid Golfs under the front passenger seat, so boot space is unaffected by the electrification. As a result, the capacity stands at 380 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,237 litres with them folded down. That’s decent, but trumped by Skoda’s latest Octavia. 3 INTERIOR The biggest area of change in this Mk8 edition. Huge shift away from physical switches makes for a tidier, classy-looking fascia. But it’ll take owners some time…

● Based on long-serving platform ● Future electrification is key FEW cars have demonstrated the process – and benefits – of evolution more than the Volkswagen Golf. Over 45 years, this stalwart of the family hatchback market has been honed and improved to the point where you almost feel sorry for the engineers tasked with making the next one even better. But now it’s time to judge the latest efforts in that area, because the eighth generation of VW Golf is here, and we’ve had our first spell behind the wheel. First, a basic guide to how this Golf has evolved. Like the Mk7 and ‘Mk7.5’ before it, this car is based on the VW Group’s ubiquitous MQB platform. As a result, VW has left some substantial components relatively unchanged,…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk ● Vision T unveiled at LA Show previews Hyundai’s new design ● Company says it will strongly influence a new car we see in 2020 HYUNDAI used the Los Angeles Motor Show to preview a next-generation C-segment SUV that will arrive in 2021 with plug-in power and an appearance that’s “muscle car in SUV form,” according to one of the brand’s chief designers. Called the Vision T concept, it is, in essence, an early glimpse at the next-generation Tucson (which has already been spied testing on public roads), although Hyundai has yet to confirm as such. The concept has been envisioned with plug-in power, but no details have been released. Instead, it’s all about showcasing the design direction Hyundai will take next. SangYup Lee, head of Hyundai’s Global Design Centre, walked Auto Express through the…