Autocar magazine 13 May - on sale now
This week: Alfa’s first EV detailed, New Defender gets the road test treatment, riding shotgun in the 2020 Golf GTI and much more
Alfa Romeo has finally signed off on its first EV, and we’ve got all the details.
Set to launch in 2022, the electric model will be a small SUV similar in size to the Audi A2. The maiden electric vehicle will be crucial for Alfa in a difficult market. For more details and analysis, pick up a copy of this week’s magazine.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
The Italian marque has been busy this week, having rolled out a series of enhancements for its Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio performance line-up. Both gain technology, design and safety upgrades as Alfa Romeo seeks to take the fight to the BMW X3 M.
Elsewhere in Italy, Lamborghini has revealed its the latest drop-top Huracan. The Evo RWD Spyder retains the full-throated V10 of the rear-driven coupe, with 602bhp providing plenty of open roof thrills.
Mercedes will take inspiration for its new SL from the 1954 original, but without going too retro, Honda’s rugged new SUV, the Jazz Crosstar, will pave the way for other SUV derivatives, and Citroen is readying its first global saloon model in eight years. Vincent Cobee, the French marque’s CEO, fills us in.
Meanwhile, Pininfarina is feeling positive. Not only is production of its Battista hypercar going to plan, but development of other, future EVs may be accelerated by new tech partnerships. The PSA Group has given its brands free rein to decide their EV strategies.
-Reviews-
Alfa Romeo isn’t the only firm preparing to pop its EV cherry - Skoda is almost ready to its first, purpose-built electric car, the Enyaq iV. Skoda says it blends driving range, value and practicality. Time to hand a prototype to the Autocar road testers.
Next, we buckle down for a drive in the low-slung Caterham Super Seven 1600. It’s retro styling (even by Caterham standards) is sure to charm, although would speed freaks be better with a more ‘modern’ variant?
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 then returns with more power - and presence - which gains our nod of approval. The Volkswagen Up impresses with its price and usability, while Mazda’s latest MX-5 gains fuel-saving tech and, with it, greater everyday appeal.
Road test time. This week, we’re delivering our authoritative verdict on Land Rover’s new Defender. Few cars have weightier legacies, so there’s no shortage of pressure for the reborn 4x4 to deliver the goods. Does it? We find out.
-Features-
To prepare for the launch of the eighth-generation Golf GTI, its dynamics chief puts a prototype through the wringer around a top secret VW test track - and we hitched along for a ride.
Then, Autocar’s writers get sappy as they reminisce about their first loves. Don’t worry - this isn’t some budget romance segment. We’re talking, of course, about cars.
Jesse Crosse is out to dispel the old chestnut about EVs being rubbish for long distances, as he takes a Kia e-Niro up to Edinburgh - or tries to - before Andrew Frankel goes in search of drivers car’s that fit the Goldilocks brief (not too cold, not too hot).
In this week’s motoring section, Damien Smith kicks things off with an interview with Formula E ace Sébastien Buemi. Then, James Attwood rounds up five of the most memorable one-off F1 wins and we take a look at rallying’s new lifeline idea. Finally, we explore why the Formula 1 World Championship, aka the pinnacle of international motorsport, is so appealing to car manufacturers.
Opinions
Some people turn to music or religion for solace. Steve Cropley? A binge on the configurator. Other ways our columnist soothes his soul while trapped in lockdown include driving topless (again, we’re talking about cars!) in a Mazda MX-5 to a Gloucester supermarket, and pondering his next big car purchase. In this week’s tester’s notes, Matt Prior is thinking whether the coronavirus-induced pause on flying could see a rebirth of the cross-continental grand-tourer.
-Deals-
James Ruppert, meanwhile, is trawling the classifieds to find a cheap-as-chips Porsche. But do they actually exist? In our nearly new guide, we take a look at the BMW i3, which will give even those hostile to EVs something to think about, for it couldn’t be further from the cliche that electric cars are dull to drive and look boring. Finally, we aim for the sky in our used guide. That is, we're on the hunt for a good Nissan Skyline R34.
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