Autocar September 12, 2018

WLTP, THE NEW, more real-world-representative fuel economy test, has given car makers a tough time in trying to get every model in their ranges tested before 1 September. Now that deadline has passed, just how many cars have been taken off sale and by how much the official fuel economy figure has increased for those cars left can now be revealed (p15). Yet the taxation system remains based on the old NEDC economy tests. And some car makers are not publishing figures from the WLTP tests but are instead taking figures from the WLTP tests and converting them back to NEDC equivalents and publishing only that figure. We all know how unreliable NEDC is, yet some car makers are still not letting us know exactly how a car performs in…

“The Turbo S E-Hybrid will have more than 600bhp and a top speed of nearly 200mph” Porsche is preparing to reveal the eighth-generation 911 at November’s Los Angeles motor show, but now the new model, codenamed 992, has been spotted virtually undisguised while testing. Evolutionary design tweaks will be brought in for the revised model, but extensive changes to the powertrain range will feature. For the first time, every petrol engine in the 911 line-up will be turbocharged, marking the end of naturally aspirated units found in more hardcore variants of the current 991.2-generation model. The new 911 line-up will also include two new four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid models, including a range-topping version with more than 600bhp and a top speed of nearly 200mph. Although the Jaguar F-Type rival will be…

The second-generation GLE will introduce two important new technologies to the Mercedes brand: an advanced suspension system, surpassing even that found on the flagship S-Class, and a plug-in hybrid variant with a “particularly long range”, thought to offer over 50 miles of electric-only travel. The new suspension system is a more advanced version of the Magic Body Control found on the S-Class. It is the first on sale where the spring and damping forces are individually controlled at each wheel, counteracting not only body roll but also pitch and squat. Meanwhile, the long-range diesel plug-in hybrid, set to arrive after the launch of the GLE early next year, is a dramatic development of the original GLE plug-in hybrid, which offered a range of up to 18 miles. The BMW X5…

FUTURE ELECTRIC MODELS from Mercedes-Benz will be far more radical in design than the new EQC SUV, according to EQ sales and marketing boss Jörg Heinermann. “The EQC has a close link to GLC, but for some of the future EQ models, you will see more distinct design. We have decided to take a step-by-step approach here,” he said. While some manufacturers (such as Honda and BMW) are creating EVs that look dramatically different from the traditional range, Mercedes has decided to tread carefully to avoid alientating buyers. EQC interior designer Hartmut Sinkwitz said: “[The EQC] is the beginning of the electric family. We felt this is the right amount of revolution to start with for this car. You will see more with other EQ models.” One thing that will…

Will we see AMG EQ or Maybach EQ models? “At this point in time, if a Mercedes is electric, it’s an EQ. The next question is will Maybach and AMG have electric drive and, if so, is it an EQ? If we get to a point where we are 100% electric, we could drop a sub-brand — which would be EQ — and then we will see more. AMG models will become more electrified as well. In the foreseeable future, we will be talking about hybrid AMGs. At some point in time, there will be a full-electric AMG.” How do you think electric vehicle infrastructure is coming along? “[By investing in the Ionity charging network], we thought this would be a catalyst. We see encouraging developments in some parts of…

ASTON MARTIN HAS revealed more technical details of the Rapide E ahead of first deliveries next year. The luxury four-door EV will be powered by two rear-mounted electric motors making a combined 602bhp. That translates to a 0-60mph target time of around four seconds. Torque is set to be 738lb ft. The Rapide E will be one of the first production models to use an 800V electric architecture, allowing the batteries to be replenished to a range of 350 miles in one hour and make use of both 350kW DC chargers and AC home chargers. Aston claims the Rapide E is engineered for repeatable performance without any degradation. The 155mph top speed can be maintained continuously for more than 10 minutes, Aston says. Deliveries of the Rapide E will begin…