Autocar 28/03/2018

THAT THE TOYOTA Yaris GRMN falls short of the class best in its road test (p32) is secondary to the fact it even exists at all. Turning the most humdrum of superminis into a characterful hot hatch shows just how serious Toyota is about injecting excitement into its brand once more. To his great credit, company boss Akio Toyoda has prioritised bolstering driver involvement in every Toyota and Lexus model. It is an element that has been eroded in recent years; Toyota builds so many different cars for so many markets and too many had a ‘designed-by-committee’ feel to them. The company lost its focus. Now with each new Toyota and Lexus comes evidence that it has snapped out of that. The recent Toyota C-HR and Lexus LC are the most intriguing…

“The 5.0-litre V8 has been tuned to suit the F-Pace SVR’s dynamic abilities” This is the new Jaguar F-Pace SVR, the first high-performance SUV ever made by the brand as it looks to exploit the model’s massive sales success and capitalise on booming demand for fast high-riding cars. The F-Pace SVR is the second Jaguar SVR, after the F-Type, and has been developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. Intriguingly, it has been launched before any high-performance versions of Jaguar’s new saloons, which also underlines the market shift away from such cars. At present, there are no plans to launch an SVR version of either the XE or the XF, besides the limited-run XE SV Project 8 that was made for a Nürburgring record attempt. Powered by a 542bhp, 502lb…

Whereas bigger, wealthier, better-resourced rivals like BMW M, Audi Sport and Mercedes-AMG can afford to create performance versions of everything you probably think they should (and some they probably shouldn’t), Jaguar has to pick its battles wisely. Which is why there’s an F-Pace SVR but no XE SVR or XF SVR: the business cases for the two saloons simply don’t add up. The standard cars themselves are struggling in all but China, and there is not the volumes or demand for performance versions, nor the resources to develop them, however much of a shame that may be. The F-Pace, meanwhile, continues to lead Jaguar’s comeback and a performance version can only add to the car’s kudos and credibility. It’s no underestimation to say that without the F-Pace, Jaguar would be looking over…

Why an SVR SUV and not a saloon? “I’ve been at Jaguar for 18 years and seen the transition in the market and my own life. With modern lifestyles, roads as they are, the usability factor has become important for performance cars over the years. SUVs have been part of that transition, so it makes complete sense to do a performance version of an SUV. It’s the best of both worlds.” What did you benchmark the F-Type SVR against? “My expectation is for Macan-type customers and those of faster estates like AMGs and RS6s. Why do they want them and how do they use them? There was a clear focus on Macan and, to be honest, we quickly surpassed the performance of that with the powertrain we have, so we spent the time…

“The Touareg will launch in the UK with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 282bhp” Volkswagen says the new Touareg represents the “biggest leap forward” in the history of its SUV, as the car maker attempts to push the flagship model further into premium territory. The third-generation SUV, unveiled in Beijing last week, has been redesigned with new technology, road-focused styling and a revamped interior that is dominated by VW’s new Innovision Cockpit. The Touareg will launch in the UK later this year with a 3.0 V6 diesel engine with 282bhp and 442lb ft. A second 3.0 V6 diesel with 228bhp and 369lb ft will follow in the autumn, as will a 3.0 V6 petrol with 335bhp and 332lb ft. Prices will start at about £50,000, an increase of almost £5000 over the current…

That VW’s third-generation Touareg ‘flagship’ was launched in Beijing was no surprise. It’s the Chinese market, which loves SUVs and high-end motors, that has emboldened VW to make the Touareg more ‘premium’. It’s a delicate balance to strike given VW’s ‘People’s Car’ heritage. But if done successfully – and the new SUV certainly looks the part – it could help the brand reach new (and wealthy) customers, in China and elsewhere. It’s interesting to note, though, that VW’s flagship won’t, at least initially, be offered in the US. That could partly be down to the Touareg’s post-Dieselgate US sales slump and VW’s SUV focus on the cheaper sevenseat Atlas. Apparently, it’s hard to convince US buyers to pay more for a smaller car.…