Autocar November 27, 2019

WITH SUV SALES still soaring, car manufacturers are continuing to roll out new versions in all shapes and sizes. Indeed, the covers were whipped off several at last week’s Los Angeles motor show. But don’t forget that other types of car remain hugely popular, including superminis. And it has been a long time since the competition in that segment has been so fierce. The Ford Fiesta, perennially among the UK’s best-sellers, has long been the class benchmark. But it has been narrowly eclipsed as an all-round package by the Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo and, as this week’s road test reveals from page 36, the new Renault Clio is right up there as well. The competition is getting tougher, too, with the new Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, among other cars,…

“It will be powered by Bentley’s W12 engine and produce at least 626bhp and 664lb ft” Bentley is readying an ultra-exclusive model created by its coachbuilding division, Mulliner, and described by insiders as the “ultimate open-cockpit sports tourer”. The model is expected to cost upwards of £1.5 million and will take cues from the EXP 100 GT concept, revealed in July for Bentley’s centenary. As well as echoing the concept’s exterior design, it is likely to use innovative and sustainable materials showcased by the EXP 100 GT – for example, the 5500-year-old naturally felled riverwood. Bentley is hoping the special model will give a nod to its past – the Mulliner division dates from the 1800s – while also demonstrating its future direction, as seen in the EXP 100 GT. Its price and…

The Rolls-Royce Sweptail, a one-off custom model costing a reported £10 million – the most expensive car yet commissioned – is enough reason for any high-end maker to get into the game. In the same way that it suits Rolls-Royce’s clientele, Bentley customers are obvious targets for bespoke models costing upwards of £1m. But Bentley has had a tough few years and has prudently focused on its main product line-up. As CEO Adrian Hallmark told us earlier this year: “Last year was not a great year for Bentley. We’d invested a huge amount of money in the previous five years and then launched the products from that investment. We’ve had to restructure and rethink the way we do things.” The fruits of that labour are starting to pay off, with the firm…

WITH SUV SALES still soaring, car manufacturers are continuing to roll out new versions in all shapes and sizes. Indeed, the covers were whipped off several at last week’s Los Angeles motor show. But don’t forget that other types of car remain hugely popular, including superminis. And it has been a long time since the competition in that segment has been so fierce. The Ford Fiesta, perennially among the UK’s best-sellers, has long been the class benchmark. But it has been narrowly eclipsed as an all-round package by the Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo and, as this week’s road test reveals from page 36, the new Renault Clio is right up there as well. The competition is getting tougher, too, with the new Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, among other…

Audi Sport has unveiled the new 591bhp RS Q8 SUV, powered by a 4.0-litre V8 engine and with styling inspired by the rally-derived Sport Quattro S1, as the ‘spearhead’ of its range. The BMW X6 M rival, revealed at the Los Angeles motor show, is the first large SUV produced by Audi’s performance arm. It joins the recently revealed RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback in a planned line-up of hot crossovers and Audi Sport boss Oliver Hoffmann claims it features “the genes of a true high-performance sports car”. The RS Q8 has received a substantial makeover from the regular Q8, including a revamped single-frame grille and large front air intake. Although the track width is unchanged from standard versions, bespoke trim strips widen the body by 10mm at the front and…

“It will be powered by Bentley’s W12 engine and produce at least 626bhp and 664lb ft” Bentley is readying an ultra-exclusive model created by its coachbuilding division, Mulliner, and described by insiders as the “ultimate open-cockpit sports tourer”. The model is expected to cost upwards of £1.5 million and will take cues from the EXP 100 GT concept, revealed in July for Bentley’s centenary. As well as echoing the concept’s exterior design, it is likely to use innovative and sustainable materials showcased by the EXP 100 GT – for example, the 5500-year-old naturally felled riverwood. Bentley is hoping the special model will give a nod to its past – the Mulliner division dates from the 1800s – while also demonstrating its future direction, as seen in the EXP 100 GT.…