CAR UK

Ben Miller Editor Few things are changing as fast as the world of cars. But one of them is the way in which CAR covers it. We’ve been digging into the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ for decades and – as we hurtle from combustion engines, private car own-ership and China as an automotive bit player in Europe to who knows what – that remit is in demand now more than ever. The magazine celebrated its 60th anni-versary in fine style last year with three very special issues. That we managed to drive an electric Kia all way to the desolate majesty of Svalbard still feels like a dream, as does the day we drove a perfect ’80s Countach together with Lamborghini’s 2022 reboot. V12 nirvana, no less. In short, we…

Aston Martin’s DBS grand tourer is dead. This new 770 Ultimate edition is, to Aston Martin, ‘an emphatic last word’ for the biggest, swankiest and most opulent of its cars, and it just so happens to be the most powerful production GT in its long history. Just 300 coupes and 199 Volante convertibles are to be made in Ulti-mate specification, which includes a 44bhp power boost, tweaked aerody-namics and a revised chassis. All 499 of them have been sold. With the 770 Ultimate signalling the end of the DBS, and the DB11 set to depart soon, we are about to wit-ness the start of a new era for Aston Martin. And our sources tell us that possibilities being considered include a partnership with US luxury electric newcomer Lucid and a…

JG: ‘I’m sorry, but I’m struggling to remain enthusiastic about Aston. It’s tiring reading (and even writing) endless stories about Aston Martin’s glorious return to insert-daydream-criteria-here…’ BM: ‘I agree, and with hindsight more cynicism should have been applied to the Palmer-era hype. A submarine? Condos? Give us a break. But CAR was rightly critical in its 2020 story, Champagne taste, lemonade budget, highlighting the ways in which “the Maranello of the Midlands” lags behind the real thing. I’m not here saying Aston is, or has ever been, a true Ferrari rival. But I’m saying it could be.’ JG: ‘A true dynamic rival to Ferrari? I’d like some of what Gaydon’s management is smoking – and an explanation of how it’s going to do it. The DBX, for example, is a…

DBX Sharp-steering SUV set to continue for a few more years, competing with the recently updated Lamborghini Urus. Plug-in hybrid variant imminent. Valhalla Originally V6-powered creation by Aston’s own hand, now designed to use AMG’s flatplane V8 from the GT Black Series. Expect to see a production car this year. Valkyrie The first Valkyries are finally arriving, individually specified, along with the track-ready AMR Pro. The V12 shrieks as loudly as its impatient, soon-to-be owners. Vantage Like the DBX, it’s expected to remain on sale for a little longer. It’s due a fairly imminent overhaul, and its replacement is likely to be the first Aston to go electric.…

TARGET MARKET Audi’s ActiveSphere concept is to be the basis of a new production model designed to rival Merc’s EQG, as well as the inevitable electric Defender. ‘I’m a big fan of really rugged SUVs,’ says Audi design head Marc Lichte. ‘There’s potential for us because there are only two premium players – I think there’s space for a third.’ RIGHT ON CUE Lichte says that some of the ActiveSphere’s details will make it into production, including the flared wheelarches and toothed side sills. ‘With our history of quattro and rally successes in the ’80s and ’90s, it will not look like a copy of the Defender, I can promise you,’ he exclusively tells CAR. FACTFILE Powertrain 100kWh (est) battery, twin e-motors, all-wheel drive Chassis Steel and aluminium monocoque Due…

Merc’s new-age profit plan Entry The aim is to sell fewer compact cars but with bigger profit margins. Market share is expected to drop by 25 per cent by 2026. Core EQE central to the brand, like the E-Class before it. Prices up to grow margins. Top end Aiming for a 60 per cent increase in market share. More than half the body styles cur-rently offered by Mercedes are facing the axe, as the company turns its back on staples such as estates and convertibles and instead tightens its focus on a new idea of luxury. The aim is an electric-led line-up that goes big on self-driving and roomier interiors. Merc wants to in-crease production slightly, and in-crease profits hugely, as the average prices of its cars go up. At…