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Everything you need to know about cars this week: 21 Jun '20
Mini GP takes on Megane Trophy, plus a solid ten minutes of Chris Harris drifting
BMW 220d Gran Coupe M Sport review: the best small BMW?
"A refresher: this is the booted, saloon version of the latest 1 Series. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is a rival to the Mercedes CLA and the less curvy Audi A3 saloon. It’s based on a front-wheel drive platform sharing oily bits with Minis. All the engines are turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder units. It’s mainly targeted at the US and Chinese markets, which shun hatchbacks, but this diesel version won’t be doing much business over there."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis astonishing Bugatti-themed watch costs $580,000
"The latest watch to emerge from Bugatti’s partnership with Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co is called the 'Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+', and it’s ridiculous. Costing some $580,000 (around £467,000) and set to be built in a limited edition of just three examples, the watch is inspired by Bugatti’s 300mph longtail Chiron."
Say hello to the facelifted Seat Ateca
"Far as crossovers go, the Seat Ateca is pretty good. One we’d recommend over and above many others. It’s a good thing, then, that the new one isn’t much different. Don’t fix what isn’t broken, et cetera."
Advertisement - Page continues belowWhere would you put Chevrolet’s new 7.0-litre crate engine?
"Essentially, the LS427/570 (catchy name) is an enhanced version of the production-based LS7 small-block V8. The 7.0-litre LS7 was first used in the C6 Corvette Z06 before going on to feature in the fifth-gen Camaro Z/28 – so it’s a well-known and well-used engine."
Twin test: Mini JCW GP vs Renault Megane RS Trophy-R
"Is the new 300bhp Mini GP a worthy challenger to the most hardcore hot hatch in history?"
The Ford Transit Trail wishes it was a Raptor
"Don’t worry, Ford hasn’t just stuck the Ranger Raptor’s grille on any old Transit. Well that’s what it claims, anyway. The new Transit ‘Trail’ is aimed squarely at the kinds of businesses that need to get things places an ordinary van might not reach."
This modified 700bhp Audi RS Q8 is a subtle, dignified SUV*
"In literally no way whatsoever. This is called the Lumma CLR 8 RS, and it is a modified Audi RS Q8. Because a 2.3-tonne, 592bhp-as-standard mahoosive SUV needed just that little bit more."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 will pull 2G in the corners
"This JD70 – built in honour of Donkervoort founder Joop’s 70th birthday – will pull 2G through the corners. Might want to keep a towel handy to wipe the remnants of your face from the side windows."
The new Citroen C4 is now a crossover
"Ordinary, mainstream cars sell of course, which is why they exist, and Citroen wants to be a key player in that market, going up against the likes of the Ford Focus and new VW Golf. So it’s decided to rise above them. Literally. It’s a crossover, because of course it’s a crossover."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis tuned Tesla Model Y lapped a track quicker than a 997 Turbo
"In the process, it managed to lap the southern Californian track in 2m 1.92s. To put that against some context, a 997-generation Porsche 911 Turbo managed a 2m 2.1s lap at the same track, while a 997-gen 911 GT3 managed a 2m 1.5s time. An electric SUV, sandwiched between the pinnacle of Porsche’s last-gen 911s?"
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 hides a 480bhp V8 punch behind an angry face
"Behind the new grille, and its faux foglight blanks, lives the uprated V8 from the Mustang Bullitt. A new intake manifold and cooling apparatus from the GT350 lift power by a modest 29bhp and 30lb ft. Not big numbers, but we’re not talking about a modern turbo-boosted hypercar here. This is more old-fashioned tuning, and are we really going to sit here and argue about a 473bhp, 5.0-litre V8 sending all its power to the rear wheels being ‘not enough?' We hope not."
Check out these wild future-of-Formula 1 renders
"Just look at that. What a thing. The most obvious change is the use of a glass canopy over the cockpit rather than the current halo safety device, but there’s also big wheels, a sculpted rear wing and seriously swoopy lines."
AMG’s new electric turbocharger eats lag for breakfast
"Mercedes will now use an electric motor to keep the turbo spinning, even at low RPMs when the exhaust gases are low, to increase response and further reduce emissions."
Rezvani is making an armoured 6x6 pick-up called HERCULES
"As with the Tank, the Hercules will feature a steel body on frame construction (most likely on the same Jeep platform, just with an extra axle) and a chunky suspension setup from the good folk at Fox. Plus, it’ll also be available as a Military Edition with the same bulletproof glass, body armour and safety systems as on the Tank. And by safety systems we mean features like EMP protection and electrified door handles. Blimey."
Americans, this is your new Lexus IS
"Europe’s obsession with crossovers and SUVs has claimed another victim. Yep, the Lexus IS – Japan’s answer to the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4 – will no longer be sold in the UK or Europe. Which is a shame, because while the outgoing car is soundly beaten in almost every regard by rivals from Germany and Sweden, Lexus promises much of this new, (or rather, facelifted) one."
VW Golf review: base-spec diesel tested
"It remains spacious, though not the most spacious in its class, largely well-made and comfortable. But Volkswagen has done away with most of the physical buttons, switches and knobs. A few remain on the doors and steering wheel, but elsewhere the new Golf relies almost entirely on touch-sensitive panels."
The Mercedes-AMG E63 is back with a new face
"Clearly, Mercedes-AMG is pretty happy with the E63. Because, after more than three years on sale, it’s decided that the 600-odd horsepower V8 bruiser will… well, retain its aforementioned bruising V8, as well as the nine-speed gearbox that sits behind it, the 4MATIC system that sends power to all four wheels (or just the rears, if you’re in the 63 S and are also very, very brave) and roughly everything else we’ve come to love about the current one."
Watch 10 minutes of Chris Harris drifting a load of supercars
"What he does have is a very particular set of skills. Skills acquired over a very long career. He will look for it. He will find it. And he will slide it."
Someone has chopped an NSX in half to take their dog on holiday
"Three years ago, his dream came true; picking up his first Honda NSX… on Valentine’s Day. We told you it was true love. Since then, he has bought two more NSXs (must be a polyamorous relationship), one of which he has strapped a roof box and tent to, while the other has been chopped in half to make a trailer."
Top Gear’s Top 9: throwback wheels on new cars
"Obviously a retro car will suit retro wheels. We’ll see that again later in a more… American application. But the same goes for a cutesy little Euro town car. The 1975 Edition pays tribute to the year the original Cinquecento launched, and basically got Italy motoring. Just need a set of whitewall tyres to finish it off."
10 run-out specials that said goodbye to their generation
"When a sporty car is about to be replaced, it’s time to break out the ultimate final edition"
The best family cars for some really specific circumstances
"It looks like an SUV, it has the ride height and all-wheel-drive of an SUV, but it’s a secret wagon. Ssshh. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. Actually, don’t put cats in bags in the first place. Surely the RSPCA has something to say about that practice."
Here's what racing drivers did next after they'd finished racing
"The rapid switch from 0–200mph to 9–5 must be a difficult change to make, especially when your former office holds variety, excitement and the potential to crash into a wall at any moment."
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