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‘Embossed on the engine block is an image of a tyrannosaurus rex chomping on a velociraptor’
THIS WEEK
Issue 6485 | Volume 310 | No 4
NEWS
Lancia Delta, Opel Manta Both set to return as EVs 6 Ford Focus Full details of big overhaul, including ST 8 Porsche e-fuels Aim: to keep ICE as long as possible 10 Mercedes-Benz EQE Tesla Model X rival due in 2023 13 VW’s autonomy push Plans for self-driving EV trials 14 Breakdowns and EVs Are rescue services EV ready? 16
TESTED
Tesla Model Y SUV take on the Model 3 driven in UK 20 Chevrolet Corvette Mid-engined, with new ambition 26 Volvo C40 Recharge Rakish new EV packs 402bhp 30 Ferrari SF90 Stradale Mighty, extraordinary coupé 32 Ram 1500 TRX Wild rival to F-150 Raptor pick-up 34 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Hot track-focused upgrades 37 Seat Leon Estate And now for something sensible 37 BMW 545e M Sport ROAD TEST 38
FEATURES Fiat 128 vs VW Golf Front-drive test spans the eras 46 If JCB ran a school… Actually, it does and it’s great 52 New-age London to Brighton Veterans out, EVs in 56 W Series decider Powell, Chadwick preview finale 63
OUR CARS Volkswagen Golf GTI Final verdict on Mk8 hot hatch 68 Kia Sorento PHEV tries some off-roading in a quarry 71
EVERY WEEK Jesse Crosse UK firm advances in-wheel e-motors 15 Jim Holder Road pricing tax is on its way. Surely… 17 Steve Cropley The things a snapper will do in a Lotus 19 Damien Smith F1’s title race; epic rally in Mongolia 58 Motorsport round-up BTCC, rallycross, F1, WRC 59 Subscribe Save money and get exclusive benefits 60 Your Views EV life; Goodwood Revival; BMW iX looks 66 Matt Prior May the Delta force be with you, Lancia 90
DEALS
James Ruppert Fuel-sipping bargains from iQ to 159 72 As good as new How to bag a new-shape Mazda 6 75 Spied in the classifieds Fast fun hatches from £2k 76 Used buying guide Expert info on original Defender 78 New cars A-Z Key car stats, from Abarth to Zenos 80 Road test index Track down that road test here 89
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IMAGE
OPEL MANTA SET FOR ELECTRIFYING COMEBACK 6
BMW’S POTENT 545e PHEV: FULL ROAD TEST 38
FIAT 128 AND GOLF FRONT UP FOR DNA TEST 46
COVER STORY
❝THE FERRARI SF90 IS POSSIBLY THE FASTEST POINT-TOPOINT ROAD CAR IN THE WORLD❞
RICHARD LANE STRAPS INTO THE 986BHP FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE PHEV IN SNOWDONIA 32
JUST HOW GOOD IS TESLA’S NEW MODEL Y? 20
COMMENT
WILLIAMS SHOWS HOW TO KEEP F1 RELEVANT
THE WILLIAMS F1 team’s announcement of a plan to achieve climate positivity by 2030 could be seen merely as the praiseworthy, rather impressive sort of goal that any modern business should be setting itself – but it’s far, far more than that.
It’s the first tangible affirmation that one of Formula 1’s key protagonists reckons the whole sport of grand prix racing can remain relevant into the electrification era without going fully electric itself.
Better still, it means the powerful technical lead F1 has often provided for our rapidly changing road cars will be available as far ahead as we care to look. That gives the sport, which currently has the best on-track racing in a generation, a vital purpose and makes supporting rather than questioning F1 the only sensible thing to do.
It’ll be fascinating to see just how, and how quickly, the rest of F1 embraces Williams’ initiative, and what the organisers do about it, beyond their main commitment thus far to work towards using fully synthetic fuels. Williams is already committing to going further. Others must do so, too. Any claim of a zero-emissions sport on the track when so many millions more emissions are produced in getting the global show on the road in the first place will not sit comfortably if F1 is to find its place in a world beyond 2030.
Mark Tisshaw Editor mark.tisshaw@haymarket.com
@mtisshaw
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20 OCTOBER 2021 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 5
