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Everything you need to know about cars this week: 26 May '19
Honda's 'Ring record falls and we drive the Porsche Cayenne Coupe
Mate Rimac: the big interview
"Some have compared Rimac with Elon Musk, but following him through the endless doorways, an image pops into my mind: he has the spry charisma of Gene Wilder’s original take on Willy Wonka. Substitute electricity for chocolate."
Advertisement - Page continues belowBilly Monger has won his first race since his accident
"Monger took the top spot on the podium at the Pau Grand Prix – the second round of the Euroformula Open Championship – in his specially adapted Carlin Formula 3 car."
Volkswagen Grand California review: the best camper van money can buy?
"In short, this is one of the finest campers money can buy, so if you’re a camping enthusiast, the Grand California should probably be on your lottery win list."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis Mercedes GLE is incredibly safe
"As you might have guessed, this is no ordinary Mercedes GLE. The ESF 2019 is in fact the latest in a long line of Mercedes ‘Experimental Safety Vehicles’, one that aims to give us 'an insight into the ideas that the company’s safety experts are researching and working on'. Some of its tech’ might be in your next car, while other bits are much, much further off.
Fernando Alonso has failed to qualify for the 2019 Indy 500...
"Fernando Alonso will have to wait another year to have a crack at the Indy 500. The Spaniard’s McLaren missed out on qualifying at the Brickyard, after it was knocked out by probably the smallest, newly sponsorless team on the grid."
TRD adds much carbon to the Toyota Supra
"The front spoiler increases downforce at high speed, whilst reducing ground clearance by around 14mm. Will anyone be able to feel that? We doubt it, but at least you’ll be able to tell your mates about it."
Honda's adorable electric car is officially on sale
"Now known as simply the Honda e, there’s still no word on a final price, but expect to pay between £25k and £30k for a range of 125 miles, rear-wheel drive and the ability to fast charge to 80% battery capacity in 30 minutes. This is very much designed to be a city-dwelling run-around. "
Advertisement - Page continues belowNiki Lauda has sadly passed away
"To call him a three times F1 champion is to tell barely half his story. RIP, Niki"
Jamie Chadwick is Williams’ new development driver
"Jamie Chadwick has won many things. The 21-year-old Brit starting karting when she was 11. In 2015 she won the British GT4 Championship, then in 2018 she became the first female driver to win a British F3 Championship race, and the first woman to win the MRF Challenge Championship. "
Advertisement - Page continues belowReview: Porsche Cayenne Coupe
"Leave your baggage about its looks at the door and the Cayenne Coupe is a stupendous thing"
Top Gear remembers Niki Lauda
"If we are sometimes too eager to describe sporting figures as ‘legends’, Niki Lauda, who has died aged 70, more than qualifies. A triple Formula One world champion, he was a passionate, clever and often inspired racer, in the fullest sense of the word."
The Megane R.S. Trophy-R is the fastest FWD car at the 'Ring
"The previous record holder - the Honda Civic Type R - is 3.7 seconds slower over the same 20.6km distance. A BMW M3 CS is only 2 seconds quicker."
Meet the new Land Rover Discovery Sport
"Once again, the Discovery Sport will share a platform with the Evoque, and will get a similar range of engines. Prices start at £31,575 for the 150bhp FWD diesel with a manual ‘box, but most will be sold with an auto, four-wheel drive and more power from the 2.0-litre, mild-hybrid engine."
10 things we learned about the next Vauxhall Corsa
"The new Corsa shares its underpinnings with the recently launched DS3 Crossback. At least it does now. PSA’s takeover happened less than two years ago, at which time Vauxhall/Opel was putting the finishing touches to the Corsa it had developed under General Motors guidance. That was canned, and this new one rushed through in under two years."
Aston has built a Bond-themed DBS Superleggera
"Only 50 of these special edition cars will be made, each costing £300,007 (ah, we see what you did there, AM). Are Astons cooler when the Bond connection is a little more… subtle? Or should we just rejoice in the fact that this is a very, very attractive car with a little hat tip to its silver screen past?"
The BMW Z4’s getting a manual, and so could the Supra
"BMW has confirmed the Z4 roadster is getting a manual gearbox. In the halcyon days of sports cars this would not be news, but as everything goes automated and electronic, a brand new mainstream sports car forcing you to change gear yourself is quite the headline-grabber. Not least because of what the Z4’s closely related to…"
Audi SQ5 TDI quattro review: fast diesel SUV tested
"The SQ5 won’t have you nipping out for a drive just for the hell of it, but you won’t be disappointed when you do. It’s a good size for a myriad of duties, and the extra speed makes it just a little bit fun when the opportunity arises. A solid effort."
Audi S6 Avant (and saloon) review: a baby RS6?
"A car that manages speed and efficiency to give a really good balance between the two is rational, and for once, it really does work well. Props to Audi for bucking the trend. Now send me the next-gen RS6 Avant with 750bhp, please."
Yes, this is a half-million pound Aston Martin V8 Zagato
"There are cheaper ways to celebrate Zagato’s 100th birthday than with Aston Martin’s £6million DBZ Centenary Collection. This is one of them - one of just three prototypes of the Aston Martin V8 Zagato Coupe, now for sale at a British dealer for some £530,000…"
10 things you must know about the new Ford Focus ST
"The engine is pleasingly keen to rev out, despite all the filters and CO2-swallowing gadgets that it must breathe out through. It’s agile, it’s playful, and in Normal mode, the ride is freakishly luxuriant. That alone might tempt plenty of folks to trade up from the boisterous Fiesta."
Check out these lunatic Honda Civic Type R concepts
"Honda’s UK arm appears to have decided, with some delusion, that the 316bhp, spoiler-clad Type R isn’t anywhere near fast or striking enough, and has commissioned two fairly special one-offs. That should help take some attention away from the quick Civic losing its ‘Ring record this week…"
Here's your first official look at the new electric Vauxhall Corsa
"One of Britain’s best-selling (and least interesting) cars has come over all new and exciting, and gone electric. Meet the new Vauxhall Corsa-e. Nope, not the eCorsa, or ECOrsa. It’s a Corsa, but not as we know it, primarily because there’s no engine."
The Wraith Eagle VIII is this week’s special Rolls-Royce
"Welcome to the latest limited edition Rolls-Royce - a Wraith kitted-out to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Why does Rolls care? Because the aircraft that completed said flight in June of 1919 - a modified Vickers Vimy bomber left over from World War One - used twin 20.3-litre, 350 bhp, Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines."
There's a new Skoda Superb, and it's hybrid
"Mere, um, years after its Volkswagen Passat cousin, the Superb saloon and estate have gained petrol-electric plug-in hybrid power, offering up 215bhp and the ability to go around 30 miles emissions-free, contributing to a total range well beyond 500 miles. For a long-distance limo like this, that’s excellent news."
Audi will replace the TT with an electric sports car
"The Audi TT as you know is going to change, and change soon. Speaking at a Very Important Business Meeting, Audi boss Bram Schot announced that 'in a few years, we will replace the TT with a new emotive model'.
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