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Everything you need to know about cars this week: 21 Feb '21
New plug-in hybrid McLaren, new 911 GT3 and Ford & JLR announce electrification plans
Review: Vauxhall Insignia
"Ticks every cost-effective box, and quite refined. Still tricky to be enthusiastic about, though"
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis is a one-off Bugatti Chiron Sport
"As presents go, this certainly trumps ‘last-minute-petrol-station-flowers’ and a novelty card. This is a one-off Bugatti Chiron Sport – the harder, lighter, track-honed Chiron – “ordered by a husband as a gift for his wife”. Yup, that is what you’d officially term A Good Gift."
Gaming review: Destruction All-Stars offers cheap PS5 thrills
"This ain’t your pappy’s destruction derby. Rather than huddling in the rain at the local dog track watching previously loved Vauxhall Cavaliers slamming into each other, Destruction All-Stars is all fireworks, neon lights and extremely silly hats. This PlayStation 5 exclusive is free to PlayStation Plus subscribers until early April and it’s a good job too, because while Destruction All-Stars is entertaining enough in short bursts, it’s about as substantial and satisfying as an all candy floss diet."
Advertisement - Page continues belowAudi boss says A1 might not survive, A2 and R8 EVs possible
"A year ago a new boss, Marcus Duesmann, arrived from BMW. He’s not just the boss, he’s got specific charge of R&D too. And now, when Top Gear asks him whether Audi will be a technology leader again, he’s clear."
Official: Jaguar will only offer electric cars from 2025
"The new boss of Jaguar (and Land Rover) Thierry Bolloré has today announced a big, shiny new plan with a really big, shiny new headline announcement: from 2025, Jaguar will only sell electric cars."
Americans, this is the new Chevrolet Bolt EUV
"Big news from across the pond, Chevrolet has facelifted the Bolt EV hatchback. Plus, in perhaps even bigger news from across the pond, Chevrolet has introduced an all-electric small SUV based on the aforementioned Bolt EV. Fancy a guess at what they’re calling it? Correct – it’s the Bolt EUV. How very inventive."
This is McLaren's AMG-powered Formula One car
"Meet McLaren’s new Formula One car. And perhaps more excitingly, McLaren’s new Formula One driver line-up. Before you is the MCL35M plus its drivers: Lando Norris and his new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo."
Advertisement - Page continues belowPolestar 2 review: is it any good without the Performance Pack?
"The car we tested first had an optional £5,000 Performance Pack. We’ve just learned that for almost everyone, that’s a bad way to spend good money."
Will Jaguar’s new electric utopia still have room for sports cars?
"From 2025, Jaguar will only build electric cars, and it’s not clear whether things like the F-Type – sports cars – will have room at the inn. Especially when such sacred cows like the XJ replacement have already been sacrificed."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis is what Lotus thinks endurance racers will look like in 2030
"Essentially, it’s a rendered tech showcase for Lotus Engineering and features a number of futuristic (and possibly unrealistic) touches. Take the ‘morphing’ body panels on the delta-wing profile that deliver minimum drag on the straights and maximum downforce in the corners. Very nice."
The Alpha JAX is a 250-mile all-terrain EV
"Technical details are scant. Presumably because neither this thing, nor the car on which it’s based, actually exist yet. But anyway – looks like the JAX gets a proper roof rack, two arrays of spotlights, sturdy front/rear bumpers and chunky off-road tyres accommodated by enlarged wheel arches."
Petrolheads, assemble: it's the new Porsche 911 GT3
"Petrolheads, assemble: it’s a new Porsche 911 GT3. Which is basically like saying ‘it’s a new Bowie album’ to the music nerds. This is benchmark sports car, the one by which the steering feel, chassis composure and engine response of every other supposed supercar on the market is measured against."
This is the new 671bhp McLaren Artura, and it's a hybrid
"Up to now, the hybrids – P1 and Speedtail – have been the apex of McLaren’s range at squillionaire prices. No longer. The Artura is in effect a replacement for the 570S. You know, the McLaren for the people. The GT will continue, and the 720S. The Artura’s price and power output neatly split those two. "
Could synthetic fuel save the Porsche 911 GT3 from turbos?
"There’s a new Porsche 911 GT3. And as ever, it uses a flat-six engine free of turbochargers and able to sing its way to 9,000rpm. As naturally aspirated sports cars drop like flies around it – even within the Porsche range – it keeps bravely flying the flag for atmospheric engines. But for how much longer?"
The Land Rover Defender pickup could make a comeback
"The pickup, with removable hardtops or canvas tilts or running naked, was always an important part of the old Defender range for farmers and other working owners. There was a lot of criticism at the new Defender’s launch that it had turned into a high-spec luxury 4x4 that is leaving these people behind."
Check out the all-electric Vanderhall Navarro
"It’ll be based on Vanderhall’s existing ‘Matrix’ platform and will apparently be a full EV. Wow, that’s one way to make them cool. The Utah-based firm has previous with electric power of course – its Edison 2 is a 138bhp, 635kg three-wheeler that features twin electric motors and a 28.8kWh battery for around 200 miles of range."
Shock! Ford is latest carmaker to announce all-electric future
"Already, many of Ford’s core hatchbacks – like the Fiesta and Puma – are sold with mild-hybrid 48-volt boosters. This momentum is only going one way: Ford says by mid-2026, 100 per cent of its passenger vehicles in Europe will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid."
The Mitsubishi Outlander has gone full Stormtrooper
"The Mitsubishi Outlander has been one of Europe’s best-selling plug-in hybrids for YEARS. But last summer Mitsubishi announced it had “resolved to freeze the introduction of new models to the European market” to cut costs, meaning that unless Mitsubishi has a change of heart, we’ll not be getting this new one."
Review: Suzuki Swace
"Far from the most exciting thing, but a sensible and affordable option"
Here's what it's like riding Rimac's electric bike
"Little known fact: Rimac has sold more bikes than it has cars. This is hardly surprising given that so far its only production contribution to the automotive sphere is the Concept 1 (the C_2 is due within the next few months), of which a mere eight were built. But still: bikes?"
Ford Transit Trail review: a van with a Quaife diff
"There’s no steering feel, which can be a bit disconcerting when you’re turning into corners (VWs are more connected), but once into them it’s good news. The Custom is planted, stable and enjoyable. Better ride control than any rival I’ve driven, even unladen."
This is Honda’s new hybrid-only HR-V crossover
"If the new Nissan Qashqai just doesn’t do it for you, try this on for size. It’s Honda’s new HR-V – a Qashqai rival that, for this third-generation, is going hybrid only as part of its maker’s commitment to electrify all of its “mainstream” models by 2022."
Woah, the Morgan Plus 8 GTR is a special project V8
"In a week where seemingly everyone’s been fighting to say ‘but we’re going electric, too’, some relief from the Worcestershire countryside. This is the Morgan Plus 8 GTR, and it’s a V8 sports car with an even hairier chest than the Malvern company’s norm."
Uwe Gemballa’s son is building an off-road Porsche 911 Turbo S
"The car, nicknamed “Project Sandbox”, is set to be revealed this spring. All ten launch edition models have already been sold, but with Marc Philipp planning a total production run of 40 cars, there are still plenty left. No word on price."
Raid the piggy bank! You can buy one of Ken Block’s rally cars
"Since parting ways with Ford earlier this year, Ken Block has been freed from the contractual shackles of the Blue Oval. This is good news. As it means his non-Ford cars that have been locked away for years are starting to come out of the woodwork. Cars like his 2006 world-record beating, Monster-Energy branded Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Better than that, he’s putting some of these cars up for sale. "
Check out the new Nissan Qashqai’s face
"This is it. The all-new, third-generation Nissan Qashqai unmasked for the very first time. Striking, isn’t it? Nissan says it’s more “muscular, sharp and modern” than before. We just can’t get over how many creases there are. Is that four on the front wheel arch alone?"
Extreme E’s floating paddock has set sail
"Extreme E’s ‘floating paddock’ the St. Helena has set sail for Saudi Arabia. Yep, the all-electric off-road cousin of Formula E is actually happening people. Get ready."
Sebastian Vettel is selling a glorious set of road cars
"Unless you’ve been living under a rock with no WiFi for the last few months, you’ll be well aware that Sebastian Vettel will race for the new/rebranded Aston Martin F1 team from the 2021 season onwards. Perhaps as a result of that, the German is selling off a collection of his supercars that he keeps in Switzerland. Think of it like throwing out an ex-partner’s stuff after a break-up (only with less Adele at full volume, we presume)."
A six-wheeled, Mini-sized rover is currently parked on Mars
"Big news, space fans! There’s a new six-wheeled, one-tonne exploratory rover the size of a Mini Cooper parked on Mars. Yep, last night, at 8.55pm GMT, NASA pulled off one of the most audacious parking manoeuvres in history so we can find out more about the Red Planet. Which – with a bit of Top Gear logic – means we’re now one step closer to the inaugural Mars GP."
Review: Volkswagen Golf R
"The supreme hot hatch all-rounder. No sharp edges, and more rewarding than you might expect"
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