Autocar December 24, 2019

ALTHOUGH WE TRY to firmly look forward at Autocar, it is important on occasion to pause and reflect on where we’ve come from, as we do in this, our last issue of 2019. Three trends have emerged among the cars launched this year. First, the rebirth, reinvention or replacement of so many industry stalwarts, such as the Porsche 911, VW Golf and Land Rover Defender, in place of true ‘white space’ vehicles and new nameplates. In these challenging times, that’s no surprise. Second, the growing presence of electric cars, which will accelerate further in 2020. And third, the seemingly unstoppable rise of SUVs, which this year has been fuelled further by more cars like the Audi RS Q8 (driven, p24) being fitted with ever more powerful drivetrains. As one academic group noted…

“Expect a 0-62mph time of around 6.5sec and an all-electric range of up to 35 miles from the Cupra Leon” Seat will launch a bold new Leon in 2020 – which will include a hot 241bhp plug-in hybrid from sub-brand Cupra. As well as a redesign inside and out, the fifth-generation Leon will take its platform, powertrains and technology influence from the recently revealed Volkswagen Golf Mk8. The Cupra Leon hot hatchback and estate will initially be available solely as a plug-in hybrid. The new Leon is expected to be revealed at the 2020 Geneva motor show in March before going on sale very soon after. The model will take an evolutionary approach to its exterior design and retain a shape that’s familiar to owners of the outgoing Leon. Seat sold around 137,000 examples of…

SEAT Mii Electric This version of the practical city car will reach dealerships in February and become Seat’s first fully electric model. Ateca facelift The Nissan Qashqai rival revitalised the brand’s fortunes and will receive a mid-life makeover in mid-2020. El-Born Due at the end of 2020, the MEB-based electric hatch is Seat’s equivalent of the Volkswagen ID 3. CUPRA Cupra Formentor Cupra’s first stand-alone model is an SUV coupé featuring a 242bhp plugin hybrid powertrain and is due late in the year.…

Lamborghini is undertaking research to develop a sound for its electric cars that will ensure maximum driver engagement. The firm has long regarded the sound of its V10 and V12 engines as key to their appeal. “We’ve tested with professional drivers in our simulator and switched the sound off,” said Lamborghini R&D’s Riccardo Bettini. “We know from the neurological signals that when you stop the sound, the engagement falls because the feedback disappears. We need to find the sound of Lamborghini for the future that can allow our cars to retain emotion and engagement.”…

“Supercapacitors are ‘the first step in the roadmap’ to electrified Lamborghinis” Lamborghini’s first series-production hybrid models are set to feature pioneering electric technology, with the supercar firm focusing on lightweight supercapacitors and the ability to use carbonfibre bodywork to store electrical energy. The Italian manufacturer has teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a number of research projects focused on supercapacitor energy stores – which can be charged faster and store more energy than similarly sized lithium ion batteries – and ways of storing energy in new materials. Riccardo Bettini, Lamborghini’s head of R&D project management, said that although it is clear that electric power is the future, the current weight requirements of lithium ion batteries meant that “at the moment, it’s not the best solution” for the firm. He…

McLAREN HAS LAUNCHED a race-spec but road-ready variant to slot into its Sports Series line-up. Called the 620R, it’s limited to 350 examples and priced at £250,000, with deliveries starting in February. The 620R shares much of its chassis and aerodynamic hardware with the 570S GT4 racer but, free from race regulations, its 3.8-litre V8 is tuned to produce 612bhp. Torque is rated at 457lb ft. Combined with a kerb weight drop of about 30kg over the 570S, that allows for a 0-62mph time of 2.9sec, a 0-124mph time of 8.1sec and a top speed of 200mph. The 620R gets the GT4 racer’s lightweight coil-over set-up, with 32 clicks of manual adjustment, which combines with stiffer springs and antiroll bars plus solid stainless steel top mounts for, McLaren claims, greatly improved control and…