The 10 things you need to know about new cars this week

When do we get it? Summer 2016, for the bargain sum of, um, £285,450

What we say: “As well as that devilish 666bhp produced at 7,100rpm, it makes 516lb ft of torque. Churning through McLaren’s seven-speed double-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels, that’s good for a 0-62mph of 2.9 seconds – a time identical to the 675LT hard-top – with 124mph reached 5.2 seconds later. By any standards, that’s heroically, ridiculously quick.

“Because the 675’s carbon tub is so strong, McLaren says no extra reinforcement was required for the convertible. Which means the 675LT Spider remains light – with a dry weight of 1,270kg, it’s some 100kg more lissom than the not-very-heavy-at-all 650S Spider, and just 40kg heavier than the 675LT Coupe. Thank extensive use of carbonfibre for the bodywork.”

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When do we get it? Hopefully soon, although it hasn’t yet officially been confirmed for production.

What we say: “While the R Hybrid is very grippy and inspires lots of confidence, it will also indulge a bit of frivolity too: lift off the throttle into a corner like you might in a classic French hot hatchback and it will act in a similarly (albeit less scarily) oversteery manner.

“But that’s not the only talking point. The gearbox is worth a mention, too. It’s a six-speed robotised manual, operating through two pedals and paddleshifters. As you change up a gear, the electric motors fill the very brief interruption in torque, so you get completely seamless gearchanges, something even the smartest twin-clutch gearboxes don’t offer.”

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When do we get it? Next year.

What we say: “The GLS might not get you as far off-road as a Unimog, but unless you count Alaskan logging among your weekend activities then you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

“It’s spacious, too, the seven-seat billing genuine, the rear (electrically operated) pews actually fitting adults in relative comfort. Fold them all and you could live in the rear space, while a 3.5-tonne towing capacity will haul weekend playthings like boats and race cars as if they’re not there.”

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When do we get it? Within the next four years.

What we say: ”Sure as night follows day, Volvo is ready to follow BMW, Mercedes and Audi with an X1/GLA/Q3-sized SUV of its own.

“It’ll be called the XC40, and arrive within the next four years amid an unprecedented rush of new cars for the Swedish safety enthusiasts.”

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When do we get it? Now, but only 200 will be built.

What we say: “The Taraf has 540bhp, and despite its more overtly luxurious remit, it still moves and feels like an Aston powered by an impressively voluble V12 with a ‘here-I-come’ exhaust bypass valve.

“It doesn’t ride as well as its rivals, but despite its size and physical presence, it handles better than you’d expect. The ‘Touchtronic III’ eight-speed ZF ’box is as smoothly capable as ever, and everything feels perfectly well tied down.”

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When do we get it? We’ll see it in Detroit in January, and it’ll go on sale next March.

What we say: “There are no official dimensions yet, but we’re told it’s longer, wider and lower than the unloved S80, placing it towards the larger end of the A6/5 Series/E-Class spectrum. Need to channel your inner Lovejoy? Fear not, a gargantuan V90 estate will follow in the first half of 2016.

“Propulsion duties are left to the same four-cylinder ‘Drive-E’ family as the XC90, and a choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes.”

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When do we get it? 2017, hopefully.

What we say: “Lamborghini’s Urus SUV will almost certainly debut at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, ahead of full production at a newly expanded facility in Sant’Agata.

“That gives diehard Lambo fans around 18 months to get used to the big news: the Urus will use a twin-turbocharged V8, the company’s first blown engine.

“According to Lamborghini R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani, the decision is dictated by the unique requirements of an off-road vehicle.”

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When do we get it? Now, with first UK deliveries at the end of January 2016.

What we say: “The 911 Turbo is already one of the fastest-moving land-based objects on earth, yet as well as tweaking the styling and electronics, Porsche has added yet more power. Because that’s what it needed.

“The engine is the same basic 3.8-litre twin-turbo lump as before, but power is up by 20bhp across the board. That means 533bhp in the Turbo and 572bhp in the Turbo S courtesy of modified inlet ports, new injection nozzles and higher fuel pressure, plus larger turbos in the ‘S’.

“That gives the 911 Turbo S a 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 205mph – improvements of 0.2 seconds and 7mph respectively.”

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When do we get it? Not for a long time yet.

What we say: “Bob Laishley, Nismo’s programme director, also thinks that a bespoke supercar – or that kind of direction – is the right place for Nismo to aim for. “I would like to aspire to that,” he says. ‘Whether we can, or whether that’s what the next GT-R should be… it’s a question of where we take it.’

“TG points out how AMG started out – just like Nismo, tuning factory models - before becoming a fully-fledged factory outfit and then unleashing the mighty SLS. Bob nods. ‘AMG are a good benchmark for us. It’s an interesting road and journey that they’ve been on.’”

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When do we get it? We’ll see the finished version in March next year.

What we say: “Bugatti claims the Chiron will be ‘the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car.’ So bet on at least 1,400bhp, a minimum of 270mph, and a still-hefty kerb weight given luxury is high on the agenda.

“More than 100 orders have already been received, all from ‘selected customers’ which Bugatti invited to exclusive preview events, none of which involved actually driving the car. The Chiron is currently in its final stages of development, see, a process described as the most stringent and comprehensive of any supercar.”

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