32
List
Everything you need to know about cars this week: 7 Mar '21
A drive in the Audi e-tron GT, a new Volvo EV, plus F1 cars aplenty
Alpina D3 S Touring review: a rare, fast family wagon
"Considering the car buying world’s proclivity for big SUVs, humankind’s propensity for bagging a bargain and the global conscience steeling itself towards electrification, you might call this car… a bit out of touch."
Advertisement - Page continues below236,000 people want a Hyundai Ioniq 5
"You lot were pretty impressed by Hyundai’s new all-electric Ioniq 5. So were a lot of people, by the sounds of things. The company has confirmed that since the car was revealed on 23 February, it’s received a whopping 236,000 “expressions of interest” from potential buyers."
The Toyota Yaris is the 2021 Car of the Year
"The closeness of the result reflects the feeling among jurors of this, the world’s oldest and most prestigious international car award. There were strong cars this year, but none of them were without drawbacks. The Yaris came through as a consistent contender."
Advertisement - Page continues belowAlpine A110 Légende GT review: can a gold-flecked Alpine be worth £60k?
"I’m naturally predisposed to be cynical about rebadged tarted-up cars. Whether it’s a Ford Vignale or a Mercedes-Maybach, there’s always a whiff of the ‘mug-magnet’ about a car – even a very good one like a Fiesta, an S-Class or an A110 – that’s been liberally rolled in cow-hide’n’carbon. That suspicion you’ve been seen coming with your wallet open, and you’re about to be had for a prize chump. Happily, even adding slightly fussier (potentially heavier) rims and the sumptuous peanut-butter interior hasn’t ballsed up what we love about this genius little sports car."
Fancy your Tesla Model 3 with a limited-slip diff?
"The Model 3 Performance of course has Track Mode which activates an electronic torque vectoring system, but this LSD will provide a more efficient distribution of power without using the brakes or stability control and can also be fitted to lesser, RWD 3s."
How cool is this restomodded 1968 Mercury Cougar?
"If you’ve seen their other stuff, you’ll know that Jim and Mike Ring don’t really do understated. Their restomod business Ringbrothers likes to make a splash – check out their 2019 SEMA builds for example."
The Hyundai Bayon is a bold little crossover
"While it’s striking on the outside, it’s welcomely conventional beneath. A choice of two mild-hybrid 1.0-litre turbo petrol engines drive the front wheels through a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic gearboxes. Hilariously, the former gets the same rev-matching tech as the i30N hot hatch. So if your Bayon is in Sport mode, the car will heel’n’toe your downchanges for that whiff of ‘1980s rally driver’ as you brake into the mini roundabout outside Sainsbury’s."
Advertisement - Page continues belowThis is the first of Lunaz’s new electric Bentleys: a £350k+ S2
"This is an impeccably restored, fully electric 1961 Bentley Continental S2 Flying Spur by H.J Mulliner. Not-so-shorthand for that feeling of desire swelling in thine heart. It is the latest creation from British engineering company Lunaz, and it is quite glorious."
This is 2021’s championship-winning F1 car*
"Reveals of 2021’s new F1 cars continue apace with this, the Mercedes-AMG W12 E Performance. This is the car that could win Mercedes its eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship and Lewis Hamilton his eighth F1 World Championship. And you know what? Barring any massive upsets, it probably will. "
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe Volvo C40 Recharge is an all-electric coupe-SUV
"Hot on the heels of Ford and Jaguar, Volvo has promised to go all-electric by 2030. And here we have the first of “several electric models” it’s planning to launch in the next few years as it works towards that target, a coupe-ified version of the XC40 crossover."
Alpine’s new Formula 1 car is quite gorgeous
"With COVID delaying the arrival of big changes to F1’s regulations until 2022, underneath that lovely new livery is an evolution of last year’s Renault R.S.20. The freshly re-branded team has been forced to make a few alterations of course, mainly to the floor and other aero parts in line with the FIA’s rule tweaks, but the car remains a known quantity. "
Review: Mercedes EQA
"The EQA isn't exactly engaging to drive or quick. Its big draw is the hugely refined and reassuring feelgood ambience, and that'll satisfy the fanbase. If perhaps not find new converts"
Review: Lamborghini Sián
"Lambo at its wildest. Supercapacitor technology plays second fiddle to mighty V12, handling more fluent than you might expect"
Review: Audi e-tron GT
"A handsome four-door GT that plays to Audi's strengths, with a blistering turn of pace"
Vauxhall Insignia GSI review: a big, fast-ish hatch
"This is the Vauxhall Insignia GSI, those last three letters simultaneously a) denoting the fast version, and b) yanking the heartstrings of former Carlton, Cavalier and Astra GSI fans. We know you’re out there."
Video: is the Aston Martin Valkryie *really* an F1 car for the road?
The Aston Martin Valkyrie is pegged as an ‘F1 car for the road’. TG investigates, with a little help from Aston Martin’s Otmar Szafnauer, Fraser Dunn, and a big, fat Aston Martin F1 car…
The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is here
"Meet the Taycan Cross Turismo, an off-road ready estate version of Porsche’s Tesla Model S rival. Except in this instance, Porsche is offering something Tesla doesn’t quite. This is a car that appears more reflective of the crossover zeitgeist than a Model X."
The one-off Bugatti Divo ‘Lady Bug’ took two years to finish
"Welcome to an especially outrageous Bugatti Divo, with paintwork so complex the company nearly gave up trying to realise their customer’s request because it was simply too hard to get right. "
Video: driving the 637bhp Audi RS e-tron GT
Is this Audi more than just a Taycan in a sharp suit? TG mag editor Jack Rix is among the first to drive the new 637bhp Audi e-tron GT. Plus, we speak to tech-reviewer Marques Brownlee about his thoughts on Audi’s new offering, and EVs in general.
Review: Jaguar F-Pace SVR
"The F-Pace SVR has a character of its own versus other über-SUVs. Nicely laid back as a daily companion. Unless you deliberately go looking for its sharper side..."
Top Gear TV returns to your screens on 14 March
"The new series of Top Gear TV returns to your screens on Sunday 14 March, and with it comes yet another rational dose of sensible consumer advice and real-world road tests delivered by your hosts, Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris."
Welcome everyone, to Aston Martin’s Formula One car
"Despite having never scored a single point in Formula One as a factory team, the return of Aston Martin to the pinnacle of global motorsport after an absence of over 60 years is a Really Big Deal."
Interview: Aston Martin F1's new driver, Sebastian Vettel
"I know that I’m in a very privileged situation, but it [money] never has been [a motivation] and is not now. I love racing. And I’m really looking forward to the racing this year. And racing means not just racing the car and enjoying the driving, but also working with people who are like-minded, obsessed with finding another couple of thousandths, obsessed with optimising, to think of new ways around a problem."
Trending this week
- Car Review
- Long Term Review
