Autocar September 2, 2015

BANG FOR BUCK: getting the most of the former for as little of the latter as possible is the delicate equation that underpins many car enthusiasts’ purchases. Although the ‘bang’ is primarily a byword for heady performance, it could also apply to other car attributes, such as deft handling, stunning exterior styling or a plush interior. Our ‘New vs Used’ comparison tests, which start on p36, pitch four box-fresh motors against second-hand dream cars that are now available for comparable money but started out costing significantly more when they left the showroom. Is the thrill of driving a pristine, delivery-miles-only car outweighed by the satisfaction of knowing that buying second-hand puts even more desirable machines within reach and that someone else’s wallet has already taken the biggest hit of depreciation? If you’ve made a…

GALLERY Salon Privé Best images from motoring’s most exclusive show REVIEW New 911 GTS AWD Porsche’s 424bhp GTS gets AWD. Good move? REVIEW Merc GLE Coupé We try Mercedes’ BMW X6 rival in 350d form NEWS BTCC Latest shots and results from Rockingham event BLOG Matt Saunders The story behind our Junior Handling Day FIND US AT autocar.co.uk youtube.com/autocar autocar.co.uk/facebook twitter.com/autocar at the Apple App Store Download our Car Name Game and Car News apps autocar.co.uk/mag Download the digital edition of Autocar wherever you are in the world every Wednesday Autocar magazine is also published in Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Middle East, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. autocar.co.uk/subscriptions For all our latest subscription offers…

Mercedes-Benz is promising supercar-like performance, an opulent driving experience and unmatched levels of interior luxury with its S63 4Matic Cabriolet — the 577bhp twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8-powered, four-wheel-drive model that spearheads its new S-Class Cabriolet line-up. Pictured here ahead of a planned Frankfurt show debut, the 2110kg four-seat rival to the Bentley Continental Speed Convertible is claimed to hit 62mph in 3.9sec, placing it ahead of many performance-orientated open-tops for off-the-line accelerative ability. The car, which also produces 663lb ft, returns 27.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 244g/km. As sister model to the new S-Class Coupé, the S-Class Cabriolet is the sixth and final member of the S-Class line-up. It is the first four-seat luxury drop-top model from Mercedes since the 112 series, which ceased production in 1971. The S-Class Cabriolet adheres closely to the look…

MERCEDES-BENZ IS set to expand its newly formed Maybach sub-brand lineup to include a plush new extended-wheelbase version of the upcoming fifth-generation E-Class. The new range-topping E-Class, caught here testing in prototype form ahead of a likely unveiling at next year’s Beijing motor show in China, is set to form part of a three-model Mercedes-Maybach line-up alongside the recently introduced extended-wheelbase S-Class and a luxurious new Range-Rover-rivalling GLS Maybach due for launch next year. Autocar understands the new E-Class Maybach is set to be powered by a 417bhp version of the AMG-developed twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, as recently launched in the facelifted G500. Other ppowertrain options are also planned, including a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid set-up offering a zero-emissions range of up to 31 miles, according to sources at the German car…

PSA Peugeot Citroën’s DS brand has given the DS 4 a major makeover. The model gains a freshly styled nose, new headlights with xenon and LED technology, a freshened engine line-up and more paint and trim options. In addition, DS has created two models out of one. In place of the original single variant, there’s now a choice of two distinct versions: the standard-issue five-door hatchback, which has a normal ride height, and the new Crossback, which rides 30mm higher and has more rugged styling, including larger wheels, cosmetic skidplates and roof bars. Both versions of the new 4 will be front-wheel drive only and the engine range is made up of three turbocharged petrol engines and three diesel motors. A six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed torque-converter automatic are the two…

THE DS 3 WAS launched in 2009 as a rather effective rival for the Mini and Fiat 500. Citroën quickly followed that up with the DS 4 and DS 5. Both were based on older-generation PSA Peugeot Citroën platforms — and they suffered for it. When the DS brand was officially spun off as a standalone company last year within the PSA combine, it looked a bit confused and hastily executed. However, DS has accounted for 508,000 sales up to August this year and the future looks a lot better organised. By 2020, there will be six DS models on sale and five of those will be all-new. DS has a long way to go, but with PSA’s excellent EMP2 platform to play with and an impressive engine line-up, it might yet manage to…