Automobile Blog

Range Rover may get V12

A 450bhp Aston Martin-engined Range Rover is still under tentative development, according to Land Rover boss Matthew Taylor. Taylor told a US website that the German-built V12 has been fitted into a prototype, ‘although the battery is on the front seat’. Aston boss Ulrich Bez has given his blessing to the potential tie-up and is happy to supply engines.

However, the project has not been given the green light because Taylor reckons that allocating engineering resources would mean another, possibly more important, project suffering.

But with a greater emphasis on super-high-performance 4×4s – especially in the US – the V12 Range Rover can’t be ruled out completely. It would also have to be a more road-biased car, as it would be very difficult to modify the Aston engine for serious off-road use.

Vauxhall goes one on one with Golf GTi

Vauxhall’s fastest-ever Astra is likely to cost £18,995 when it goes on sale in September.

Company sources have hinted that the Astra VXR three-door hatchback will undercut the Volkswagen Golf GTi by £1000. Like the Golf, the Astra VXR is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, but the Vauxhall produces 237bhp – 40bhp more than the VW.

This will make the Astra VXR one of the hottest hatches on sale, with a sprint time of 6.5sec to 60mph and a top speed of 150mph.

The VXR will top the Astra hatchback range, above the 170bhp SRi at £18,145, and the 197bhp SRi, which costs £18,445 and comes in five-door form only.

Green power from Lexus

Lexus has unveiled the world’s first petrol-electric-hybrid sports saloon.

Combining a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and a high-output electric motor, the GS450h is claimed to rival a 300bhp 4.5-litre V8 vehicle for pace. Lexus claims the car can sprint from 0-60mph in less than six seconds.

Lexus claims that the car will deliver around 30mpg, the fuel economy of a 2.0-litre family car. The GS should also have one of the lowest emissions ratings in the world. (more…)

R-Class from Mercedes

This is the Mercedes R-Class, the German car maker’s effort to create a luxury crossover mixing the best bits of an off-roader, MPV and estate car.

Officially dubbed a Grand Sports Tourer, it was unveiled at this week’s New York Motor Show but is not due in UK showrooms until early next year. (more…)

Fastest-ever A4 on sale in autumn

Audi’s super-saloon, the RS4, will go on sale in the autumn from £49,980 and is available to order from dealers now.

The 414bhp car uses a more powerful version of the 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine from the Audi S4. This powers the RS4 to 62mph in just 4.8sec and on to a limited 155mph.

The saloon’s impressive performance is helped by its light weight: the RS4’s suspension, bonnet and front wings are made of aluminium, and the cabin gets ultra-light seats. (more…)

Smallest Ferrari costs more

The Ferrari F430 Coupe will replace the 360 next month, but it will be significantly more expensive.

The first buyers will take delivery in mid-April and pay £118,500, which is £12,750 more than the 360.

A soft-top F430 Spider will arrive in late summer and will cost £12,400 more than the convertible 360 at £127,050.

Those not already on the waiting list will have to wait two-and-a-half years for the Coupe and three years for the Spider.

The F430 is powered by a 490bhp 4.3-litre V8 engine, which is a significant power increase over the 360’s more modest 400bhp 3.6-litre V8.

This is enough to propel the F430 Coupe to 60mph in 3.9sec and on to a top speed of 196mph. The heavier Spider’s top speed is 3mph slower than the Coupe’s but it only takes 0.1sec longer to reach 60mph.

Volkswagen to launch new Corrado

Volkswagen’s focus on niche markets has led to this surprising new model – a four-door coupé along the lines of Mercedes-Benz’s controversial CLS. Although still at a very early stage of development, Wolfsburg insiders say this new car, described as a modern-day Corrado, already has the full support of chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder, who is keen to see Volkswagen project a more sporting image, as is clear by the recent re-creation of the Golf GTi as a proper driver’s car.

Details remain sketchy, but Autocar understands Volkswagen’s secret new coupé has been designed to sit on the same basic platform as the Beduin – as well as the production version of the Concept C and the next Audi TT. (more…)