82
‘I’ve had “quick projects” for, well, let’s not consider how long’
Issue 6411 | Volume 304 | No 8
NEWS
Porsche 911 Targa 4WD with 380bhp or 444bhp 4 Aston Martin DBX New versions of SUV in pipeline 6 Toyota Highlander Seven-seat hybrid SUV due 2021 8 Mercedes’ AI push Car f i rm chases software profits 11 JLR and lockdown It’s doing business differently now 12
TESTED
Bentley Flying Spur Super-limo in faster, Mk3 guise 18 Volvo XC90 B5 Mild-hybrid petrol, new entry model 22 Mercedes-Benz GLA 220d Punchy yet frugal SUV 23 Lamborghini Huracán Evo RWD ROAD TEST 24 Road test rewind How the Alpine A110 got f ive stars 30
FEATURES Best 50 cars Reviewed, ranked in descending order 33 Julian Thomson Jaguar design director interviewed 46 How to revive Bristol Cars By our team of experts 50 Drivers of Change Innovators wanted, best win £5k 54 Martin Brundle F1 racer turned pundit tells it like it is 59
OUR CARS Vauxhall Corsa Fine engine but how’s the r ide now? 64 Nissan Juke The unexpurgated inside story 65
EVERY WEEK Jesse Crosse 300bhp per litre while using less fuel 13 Steve Cropley Weird physical quirks F 1 drivers know 15 Subscribe Save money and get exclusive benefits 16 Damien Smith Niki Lauda sti l l missed, one year on 56 Motorsport round-up Indy 500 races, Sainz & Son 57 Your Views Lockdown tip and a tale about Bernie 62 Matt Prior How to f in i sh a project in the garage 82
DEALS
James Ruppert Test drives that should top your l i st 66 As good as new Nab a sti l l -fresh Hyundai i 10 for less 69 Spied in the classifieds NSX for £32k, 570S for £83k 70 Used buying guide Mazda RX-8, from as little as £1k 72 New cars A-Z Key car stats , from Abarth to Zenos 74 Road test index Track down that road test here 81
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THIS WEEK
COMMENT
FIRST DRIVE: BENTLEY FLYING SPUR 18
ROAD TEST: LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO RWD 24
IMAGE
HOW WE REVIVED BRISTOL CARS (SORT OF) 50
❝WE'VE BEEN HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR A WHILE. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE❞ F1 TV STAR MARTIN BRUNDLE ON WHY THE RULES MUST CHANGE AND MUCH MORE 59
NEW PORSCHE 911 TARGA: FULL DETAILS 4
Please note, all UK tests and features in this issue were created before the government’s Covid-19 restrictions on movement.
A NEW DESIGN ERA IS UNDER WAY AT JAGUAR
“IT’S TRUE SOME people in my position get misty-eyed and protective, and reluctant to move things forward. But we’re not going to be like that.” The welcome words of Jaguar design director Julian Thomson, almost a year into the job after succeeding Ian Callum. Callum’s impressive era moved Jaguar’s design into the future, with critically acclaimed designs such as the original XF, the XJ and, most radical of all, the I-Pace. Seemingly unbreakable rules were broken by Callum and the results were fantastic.
But however good Callum’s cars are to look at – and to drive – sustained commercial success hasn’t followed. Jaguar has remained a relative minnow on the world stage; Tesla sold more than twice as many cars as Jaguar did last year. Despite Callum’s work, Jaguar still hasn’t shaken its ‘old man’ image. Now, in his interview with Steve Cropley (p46), Thomson promises a new design reinvention at Jaguar. There will be cars created with female buyers and more youthful appeal in mind (“I guess everyone wants young cars, even if they’re 60,” says Thomson), and plenty more rules will be broken, not least with Thomson open to the prospect of creating smaller Jaguars. Due to the roughly three-year lead times of new cars, it’ll be a couple of years yet before we see a beginning-to-end design from Thomson. It’ll be some day when it comes. Mark Tisshaw Editor mark.tisshaw@haymarket.com
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20 MAY 2020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 3