I haven’t been a great fan of hybrids over the years.
This shouldn’t come as any surprise; I’ve never been a fan of stop-gap engineering. And, having driven a Tesla, I can tell you for sure that the hybrid’s days are numbered. Unlike a few months ago, however, I’m now not so sure the whole hybrid thing doesn’t actually deserve a place at the table.
Okay, so I first developed my now-superseded theory on hybrids after driving my first petrol-electric, the Toyota Prius. Now, the Prius might be capable of achieving 3.9L/100km on a test that owes about the same to the real world as I owe to Savile Row, but it’s also heavy, lumpen, slow and can’t carry much gear. Plus it sounds like a Hoover. Did I mention homely?
Let’s go through this step-by-step, shall we. So, hybrids are heavy? Bzzzt, The carbonfibre and aluminium structure of the i8 brings it in at under 1500kg which, considering what’s going on, is not too bad. Don’t forget, the current Porsche 911 GT3 is 1430kg and it doesn’t even have a back seat.
What’s next? Oh yeah, hybrids are lumpen. Hmm, wrong again. And the inherent lightness of the i8 is actually tangible in the way the thing steers and changes direction. It feels absolutely light on its feet and has a side-step like an All Blacks inside-centre.
All right. Hybrids can’t carry much gear? Well, this one’s a bit more debatable, what with the engine sitting in the middle, gobbling up space. Until, that is, you realise the rear seat isn’t for people at all, it’s for luggage, because luggage doesn’t have legs and is, therefore, the only thing that will fit there. Just as well, because the small space under the hatch, behind the petrol motor, ain’t gonna carry a month’s worth of groceries for the Morley clan, lemme tell you.
And finally… Hybrids are homely. Are you kidding? Look at this thing. Okay, so it’s a bit more Buck Rogers than I’d approve of, but I can tell you that I never saw the back of a single person’s head while I was driving the i8.
You know how sometimes people will pull up next to you and shout questions about your car? Well, I swear, in the i8, the two guys in the cars next to each other behind you at the lights will strike up a conversation about the flying saucer ahead of them. It’s true, I saw it happen.
So there it is. I’m chowing down on crow. All I have to do now is get my backside into a McLaren P1 or a Porsche 918. And then it’s off to pick up a Hilton sister.
I have a problem with the Audi S1 and it’s not even the car’s fault.
I’ve driven the car on a number of occasions and have always come away impressed, but for one particular (and, arguably, peculiar) reason I haven’t been able to click with it. The problem is the name.
As Audi’s smallest sports model, ‘S1’ makes perfect sense, however fellow motorsport nerds will know S1 was also the name of Audi’s Group B WRC challenger. That car, particularly in bewinged, flame-belching ‘E2’ guise, was the poster child for rallying’s wildest era.
The S1 target market no doubt couldn’t care less, but for enthusiasts such an iconic badge creates certain expectations; imagine if Ford called its next car the Escort RS1800, for instance.
Squeezing the S3’s EA888 2.0-litre turbo four into the tiny engine bay can’t have been an easy task, though it was probably child’s play compared to sandwiching the Haldex all-wheel drive system into its diminutive dimensions. Combined with a new four-link rear suspension modified from the S3, underbody space is at a premium and forced the regular fuel tank to be changed for a saddle-type arrangement that holds just 45 litres.
Usually, the larger wheels come as part of the S performance package ($4990, includes Nappa leather, BOSE sound system) or the quattro exterior package ($3990, includes Xenon headlights, bodykit and quattro logos), neither of which our car has. Given this very car was wearing 17s at Bang For Your Bucks last year, I suspect the 18s were fitted to make it look better in photos.
Which it does, particularly when teamed with the vivid Vegas Yellow paintwork, one of three solid colours available (the others being white and black). Metallic or pearl effect paint is a $990 option, but I reckon a bright colour – and the contrasting black roof – is a must for the S1, otherwise it looks too much like a regular A1.
We journos like to think we’re fairly familiar with the features of most cars, however it turns out there are all sorts of ‘easter eggs’ to find, particularly at the premium end of the market.
Jamie tells me a regular handover takes around 90 minutes, however more complex models – an A8 for instance – can take up to three hours, though owners aren’t obligated to take part and can call with queries if they prefer.
A hectic pre-Christmas meant that following its pick-up the S1 lay dormant for a couple of weeks, however with a holiday road trip planned, we’ll delve into the driving experience next month.
How do you road test a Shooting Brake? Well, unusually for MOTOR, you start by hopping in the back.
Not a position we’re generally accustomed to, as we like to do the driving, but when the greatest difference between two models is the amount of rear accommodation, it seems a sensible place to begin proceedings.
The wagon bodyshell liberates an extra 42mm of headroom in the rear, resulting in rear seats that can now comfortably house a regular-sized adult (I’m 180cm tall), though the door aperture is a bit of a squeeze and that sexy sloping window line means it’s not hugely light and airy.
Kicking off the range is the economical CLA200, available in both petrol and diesel, however anyone with an ounce of petrol in their veins will be far more interested in the all-wheel drive 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder models, namely the 155kW/350Nm CLA 250 and 265kW/450Nm CLA 45.
Unsurprisingly, on the road an extra 25-30kg and slightly more rearward weight distribution do nothing to alter the fundamental driving characteristics of the sedan at road speeds, though the extra weight does cost the CLA 250 two-tenths and the CLA 45 one-tenth on the sprint from 0-100km/h.
Not so the CLA 45 S/B, which will give an Audi RS4 a hurry-up in the fast load-lugging department. It looks good, too, the extra roofline losing the sedan’s unfortunate resemblance to a taco shell from some angles. The CLA’s slightly softer suspension also pays dividends on Australia’s crappy roads, making it less jiggly than the ultra-firm A45 hatch.
That said, the hatch is still the one we’d buy, as it feels the most ‘AMG’ of all the 45 brood, but if you need some extra space, then the CLA45 Shooting Brake would be next on our list.
4 out of 5 stars
Specs Engine: 1991cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo Power: 265kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 450Nm @ 2250-5000rpm Weight: 1540kg 0-100km/h: 4.7sec (claimed) Price: $89,900
The 2017 Subaru Impreza promises advancements in dynamic ability, ride comfort and safety, thanks to the new platform that will underpin all upcoming Subarus in Australia.
Subaru has opted to shy away from the more adventurous styling of earlier concept cars, though the finished product is not to be sniffed at. Design elements work nicely together across the whole car. Front and rear lights are tied by a character line down the shoulder, rising at the rear.
A restyled interior elevates the Impreza’s feeling of quality. The dashboard, in particular, and Subaru’s choice of materials are improvements. A new infotainment system features on the larger, 8-inch touchscreen.
Subaru states “around 80 per cent” of engine components have been revised to reduce weight. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine has had a bump in power, up slightly to 112kW. There should also be an improvement in fuel efficiency.
A new Sport model will be added to the range, sitting between entry level variants and the rally-bred WRX model. It will feature 18-inch wheels with a polished finish and performance suspension.
Safety highlights include Subaru’s EyeSight system which is being offered in Impreza for the first time. EyeSight features autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. A parking assist system alerts you to obstacles when reversing and can brake for you to prevent a collision.
At this stage we can expect the 2017 Impreza to launch in Australia at the end of this year.
Rare is the vehicle with a name reflective of its intent, but the Lincoln Navigator Concept is a fitting title for one big, fast, nautical SUV.
Ford’s US luxury arm uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine with “more than” 300kW of power to push a gullwing-door, six-seat full-size SUV that takes a wide berth around any suggestions of sportiness.
Lincoln says the Navigator Concept, “reinforces our commitment to give every Lincoln client what we call quiet luxury – vehicles and experiences that are elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene.”
If the Navigator Concept has been to the Nurburgring then its navigation system clearly got things a bit wrong, because the sea inspired this large SUV.
“This influenced everything from the clean, modern lines and Storm Blue paint on the exterior that mimics the grays and blues of sea and sky, to the teak finishes, custom gear and wardrobe management system found inside.”
The only other problems with the Navigator Concept are that it looks rather ghastly, and a Range Rover Vogue has been doing the ‘quiet, fast’ luxury thing for decades and succeeding. But maybe for blingy US tastes this Lincoln will be the more affordable, patriotic option.
No performance figures and kerb weights are given, and that really says it all.
Reservations for the Model 3 will require a deposit of $1,500, and will open one day ahead of its official online unveiling. Tesla will tear the covers off its all-new mid-sized EV on a suspicious April1 date at 2:30pm. This means customers will be laying down a deposit before even seeing the cars final styling.
Production of the Model 3 will begin late next year, with international deliveries following. Unfortunately, deliveries of the car down-under are not expected to arrive until late 2018 or early 2019.
The smaller Tesla EV will sit on a new platform and is expected to be offered in two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive formats. The Model 3 will use similar lithium-ion battery technology to its siblings, although it will likely be outclassed in regards to performance. However, the car should sprint from 0-100km/h in a supercar-esque time of under five seconds before reaching a top speed of 250km/h.
Local pricing won’t be available until the official launch, although Tesla founder Elon Musk has long stood by his commitment to produce a cost-effective electric vehicle.
It is expected that the car will cost around half as much as the lauded Model S, landing the Model 3 in the area of $60-$70,000. This structure would make for good competition against similarly-priced German rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series.
Australian pre-orders will be taken in four locations on March 31:Melbourne Service Centre and Store – Shop 4 650 Church St, Cremorne – 8:00am opening time
Chadstone Store – Chadstone Shopping Centre Melbourne near Myer – 9:00am opening time
Sydney Service Centre and Store – 10 Herbert St, St Leonards – 8:00am opening time
Carindale Display – Carindale Shopping Centre, Brisbane – 9:00am opening time
Need your Tesla fix? Check out the full Tesla range available in Australia here.
Ford’s luxury spin-off brand has unveiled its large show car at the 2016 New York motor show as a precursor to the next-generation version of its Lincoln Navigator luxury SUV.
Lincoln’s concept continues the introduction of the brand’s new corporate ‘face’ – a dominant, Bentley-esque mesh grille. There’s also a strong hint of the Range Rover in the Navigator’s wraparound tinted glass, even if the body-coloured windscreen pillars don’t complete the ‘floating roof’ effect.
The big story is inside – where the concept parades the largest cabin yet for this Lincoln model that is sold only in the US.
Huge roof-hinged doors open upwards and a set of teakwood steps deploy to create easy access into the vast cabin.
Six individual seats – dubbed Perfect Position by Lincoln – offer 30-way adjustment, with the driver’s seat featuring separately deployable thigh bolstering for greater support in corners.
Second- and third-row passengers can entertain themselves by streaming games or other content from their smartphones to headrest-embedded colour screens.
A Revel audio system delivers sound for the entire cabin.
At the rear of the large boot stands a custom wardrobe, featuring separate compartments for hanging jackets or placing shoes and equipment. The Navigator Concept’s arrangement includes clothing and gear “for a day on the water”.
A nautical theme for a vehicle said to be inspired by luxury yachts is completed with the Storm Blue exterior paint that aims to mimic the blues and greys of the sea and sky.
It’s strictly an ‘inboard’ motor for the Navigator, of course – in this case a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 good for more than 300kW of power.
Expect the exterior styling of the concept to be more indicative of what to expect with the production Navigator due in 2017 – unfortunately minus the fantastical doors, staircase and wardrobe.
Almost 40 years after it was made famous in the Burt Reynolds blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit, the legendary black and gold muscle car has been reborn.
However, the modern Bandit mobile is a long way removed from the original Pontiac Trans-Am that was made famous running from the police with Reynolds and co-star (and soon-to-be-partner) Sally Field on board.
While the company does regular Trans-Am modern ‘replicas’ – with revised nose and tail treatments to mimic the original – the Bandit Edition is limited to a run of just 77 cars (a nod to the year the movie was released, 1977).
JEEP boss Mike Manley has confirmed the Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee will go on sale in 2017 – and it’s expected to be called the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
As revealed by Wheels last month, Jeep is well into the development of the new model, which picks up the most powerful V8 production engine ever produced in the United States, a 6.2-litre supercharged V8.
Speaking at the 2016 New York Motor Show, Manley said the Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat would appear around July 2017 in America.
Wheels sources have confirmed the car will be sold in Australia to sit above the Grand Cherokee SRT that is one of the fastest SUVs on the market.
“We talked about launching a higher performance vehicle which we’ll do next year which will feature the Hellcat engine,” said Manley, refusing to detail whether the car would get the full 527kW fury of the 6.2 supercharged V8 fitted to the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger Hellcats.
“It’s going to be plenty powerful.”
Manley confirmed it would not be called Hellcat, with the flagship Grand Cherokee expected to be badged Trackhawk.
It is all about the air-to-weight compromise with the second-generation Audi R8 Spyder unveiled at this week’s New York Motor Show.
As with most cloth-topped versions of coupe siblings, there is a need to balance mass-adding rigidity required for lopping the roof and letting the sun shine in, but without sacrificing performance. Audi has provided some interesting statistics for its mid-engined V10 folding-roof supercar.
Audi claims torsional rigidity has improved by 50 per cent compared with the first generation R8 Spyder that launched in 2010, taking three years to follow the original coupe. The second generation R8 Spyder, which is now 36mm wider and 14mm shorter from nose to tail, has taken less than a year to follow the new one.
The 0-100km/h claim of 3.6 seconds is a tenth slower than the coupe equivalent. Top speed is lowered from 323km/h to a still rather toupee-torching 318km/h.
No doubt Audi will use an opportunity to nab another round of press reports for the R8 Spyder V10 Plus version at its chosen timing.
That would also place the Audi a tenth slower 0-100km/h and $26,000 cheaper than a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.
