Autocar August 12, 2020

SO LONG HAS it seemingly been around, it’s amazing to think that until this week we still hadn’t actually driven the Aston Martin DBX (p16) in customer-ready form. Indeed, a DBX concept car was revealed and confirmed for production in early 2015. Yet cars typically take three to four years to develop and remain secret until a few months out from launch. So when you’re the size of Aston, not exactly flush with resources that are also going on building a new factory and replacing the rest of the range, five years in the making is about right. The DBX is one of seven new models originally planned over seven years in Aston’s Second Century plan. The plan gave the firm hope, ambition and direction. It also opened Aston up to massive…

Volkswagen has given the ninth-generation Passat a definitive go-ahead after more than a year of internal debate over the future of the German saloon and estate. The decision comes after Volkswagen Group chairman Herbert Diess had cast doubt on whether the Passat would be replaced. He cited the increasing popularity of the similarly sized Arteon and plans to produce the well-received electric ID Vizzion concept in saloon and estate bodystyles from 2023 onwards as possible reasons not to continue beyond today’s car, which was introduced in 2015. Set for UK launch in 2023, the new Passat will share its platform, drivetrains and electrical architecture with the Skoda Superb – alongside which right-hand-drive versions will be produced in a new greenfield factory to be established by Skoda as part of a major expansion…

Volkswagen has applied to trademark a number of its classic model names with an ‘e’ prefix, indicating that they could receive electrified revivals. Late in June, Volkswagen applied to register the e-Samba name. In the following few weeks, the firm subsequently registered the names e-Beetle, e-Golf Classic, e-Kübel and e-Karmann. The e-Kübel is expected to refer to the Kübelwagen, a light military vehicle from the Second World War that Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess declared in 2017 he desired to resurrect as a zero-emissions utility model. Although unconfirmed, it is expected that these trademarks don’t relate to reborn classics directly built by Volkswagen. Instead, they could concern projects commissioned for German company eClassics, a specialist in converting older models into modernised EVs. Volkswagen backs eClassics, which already makes an electric version of the classic Beetle…

THE NEW KIA Sorento has been priced up for the UK. Available to order now from £38,845, the large SUV is initially available with only petrol-electric hybrid and diesel powertrains, before a plug-in hybrid comes later this year. All are four-wheel drive. Entry-level 2 spec offers the hybrid only. This combines a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a 1.49kWh battery pack for a combined 226bhp and 195lb ft of torque. It promises a 0-60mph time of 8.7sec and 40.9mpg. Standard kit includes LED front and rear lights, seven seats, a digital instrument display, an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring and a substantial suite of active safety systems. In addition to kit upgrades, 3 trim (from £41,245) gets a new 199bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine…

Maserati has fitted a 572bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre petrol V8 engine into the Ghibli and Quattroporte to create new range-topping super-saloons. The Trofeo-badged pair are the fastest series-production Maserati models yet, capable of a 203mph top speed. The BMW M5 Competition-rivalling Ghibli Trofeo, the first Ghibli to feature a V8, can crack 0-62mph in just 4.3sec. The Quattroporte Trofeo, which lines up against the BMW M760Li, takes 0.2sec more. Maserati recently launched a mild-hybrid petrol Ghibli as it gears up for a big electrification push, yet the Italian marque wants to not only protect high-performance petrol variants but also to see them thrive. The Trofeo saloons join the Levante Trofeo SUV, which was launched here last year. It uses the same Ferrari-derived engine and has now had minor updates to match the saloons. Whereas the…

BMW will continue to develop petrol and diesel engines and electrify each of its combustion-engined models over the next two years as part of its multi-powertrain future strategy. The German manufacturer said it won’t pivot completely to electric vehicles, instead offering mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), battery EVs and hydrogen fuel cell EVs until at least 2035. It has developed vehicle platforms that can cater for each powertrain type. Every existing petrol and diesel BMW will be fitted with 48V mild-hybrid technology within the next two years, and these will play a role in BMW’s future alongside alternative propulsion methods. BMW is “not in favour of” so-called self-charging hybrids, claimed corporate affairs boss Wieland Bruch. He explained that if an electrical element can be fitted, the car should “take full advantage of it”…