\aew era tales slaje.|e new CLS S|oot|ng 8ra|e |s |||e not||ng you've everseen belore. lt un|oue|y coub|nes t|e sty|e and sport|nessol a coupe w|t| t|e versat|||ty ol an estate.Liacover more.mercedea-benz.co.uk/cIaahootingbrakeALuimler8rund0mciul government luel conaumption ngurea in mpg (litrea per 1uukm) lor the new CLS Shooting 8ruke runge: urbun 2u.2 (14.u) - 44.8 (.2), extruut 6,9u.uu on-the-roud including optionul Leaigno Vugno Allunite 0rey puint ut 2,uu.uu, und optionul electric gluaa aunrool ut 99u.uu (on-the-roud price includea vAJ, delivery, 12 montha' Roud lund Licence, number plutea, nrat regiatrutionurbun 2.2(7.8) - u.1(4.7), combined 28.u(1u.1) - 62.2(6.2). C02 emiaaiona: 226-129 g/km. Vodel leutured ia u Vercedea-8enz CLS Shooting 8ruke 26u CLl 8lueLlllClLlC AV0 Sportlee und luel). Pricing correct ut time ol print.DEALSNew cars A-Z All the latest models rated 158Road test results Autocars data archive 175Classifieds Cars, number plates, services 180Bumpers for goalposts: Our 16-car, 10-nation world cup decides the best hot hatch of all timeBattery power vs horsepower: which one of these is pony and trap?64NEWSPorsches 5-series rival Junior Panamera planned 10BMW M6 GranCoup Sleek four-door targets CLS63 12Mini Paceman JCW Hot all-wheel-drive coup coming 15Range Rover Sport New look and seven-seat option 16Maseratis 911 rival Alfa 4C-based sports car planned 19Spotlight BMWs cut-price carbonfibre revolution 20TESTED Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi AWD Titanium Bigger is better 28Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI SE Refined third-gen hatch 30Vauxhall Adam 1.4i Steers one they made earlier 33BMW 120d xDrive Four-wheel drive enhances hatch 35Dacia Sandero Stepway 1.5 dCi Cheap and rugged 37Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evo CHRISTMAS ROAD TEST 80FEATURESTop 20 cars of 2012 Our road testers favourites 41Your cars of the year Autocars readers favourites 63Hot hatch world cup International all-comers contest 64Cobham services Its more than just a petrol station 72Heroes of 2012 Autocars men of the moment 74Race2Recovery Injured servicemen tackle the Dakar 78Karting challenge Teenage champ vs road test editor 88Taki Inoue interview F1s least talented driver talks 94Bring back the trolley bus Why its ripe for a return 98Reins vs mains Nissan Leaf vs horse and carriage 100Bloodhound SSC Counting down to 1000mph 108Review of the year The stories behind our top stories 110Web wonders What floated your boat at autocar.co.uk 114Video top 10 Autocars most-viewed videos of 2012 117Photos of the year Our snappers pick their top pics 118The Autocar Almanac Preposterous predictions 126The 12 used cars of Christmas Festive buying guide 130OUR CARSA year on the Autocar fleet Long-termers rated 148 EVERY WEEKSteve Cropley A year in cars, and with great people 22Steve Sutcliffe The ups and downs of 2012 24Alan Henry Highlights of a season to be savoured 26Your views Belt and braces approach to parking 146Colin Goodwin Dear Santa Claus 147Richard Bremner BMW Z1 remembered 186THIS WEEKCOVERSTORYCOVERSTORYCOVERSTORYMeeting the slowest man in Formula 1 We choose our top 20 cars of 2012 94 41100126 Whats going to happen in 2013. Not 108 Latest update from the Bloodhound SSC teamRupperts secondhand stocking fillers130 The new Ford Kuga is a better car overall and a cheaper one, tooCOVERSTORYCOVERSTORY Young pup teaches old dog new tricks Mind your head: 2012s best photos Why we need more trolley busesMitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution Christmas road test: the electric car just got interesting88 118 9880Matt Saunders, p28\|| | nJJ-::, .J:-nJ:: -x-:|J: :J :-:-|-J |:-:|J:,|- :--|:J-: . - :-. :J:J .|| .|J-: -|-.|J: J.J|JJ: .|-n-, JJ.|.:--: |::Jn-: .|, -:|:.-J JJ|J-n, .Jnn:J J:|v|:g J||J: :J J|Jn -|:gFREELANDER 2landrover.co.ukJfreelanderTPE CALMBEFDRE, DURINCANDAFTERTPE STDRM.*325 per month reIers to the Freelander 2.2d TD4 GS Manual. Model shown is the Freelander 2 TD4 GS includes optional metallic paint which costs Irom 550.Representative 5.% AFR Land Rover Freedom is available on new Freelander models, registered between 1st October and 31st December 2012. Fromotionsare not available Ior used cars. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Land Rover Finance, FO BOX 445, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 0RW. WithLand Rover Freedom you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the Inal payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annualmileage (a charge oI 12p per mile Ior exceeding 10,000 miles per annum in this example) and being in good condition. We work with a number oI creditors toprovide Inance to our customers, including Land Rover Finance.OIIcial Fuel Consumption Figures Ior the Freelander 2 range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 32.5 (8.7) 3.8 (7.1)Extra Urban 48.7 (5.8) 52.3 (5.4) Combined 40.4 (7.0) 47.1 (.0) CO2 Emissions:185 158 g/km.From 325 per montb*n rhe Foac Frice 27,250Deposir ConrriLurion 2,000Cusromer Deposir 5,53c Monrhly paymenrs 325GMFv (prional Final Faymenr)(ncluces 25 lee) 10,18Amounr ol Crecir 1,255Toral Amounr FayaLle Ly Cusromer 2,884Durarion ol Conrracr 37 monrhsFare ol inreresr (Fixec) 5.28%Fepresenrarive 5.% AFFPepresentative exampIeFreeIander 2.2d TD4 G5 ManuaIMagic moments of a year in motoringJIM HOLDER EDITORjim.holder@autocar.co.uk @Jim_HolderMY CAR OF the year? The Toyota GT86, for the sheer thrill of it living up to the hype, and for being so good that other car makers have been forced to look at similar projects.My drive of the year? The TwinAir-powered Fiat Panda. It just felt so right as a no-nonsense city car, and I rather enjoyed the fact it bloodied the nose of the Volkswagen Up.My moment of the year? Being at Brooklands to see 21 cars on the banking for our Best of British photo shoot, a production that Autocar always seems to do so well.You, no doubt, will have memories of many different moments, some of which will be jogged by this years bumper Christmas issue. In 2012 the car industry has, as ever, thrilled, surprised and shocked in equal measure.The roller-coaster will begin again in the new year with our next issue, on sale on 2 January. The magazine will feature two new columnists: Matt Prior, our road test editor of five years, and Joe Saward, a veteran of more than 25 years in the F1 paddock. Steve Sutcliffe takes on a new role writing features for the magazine and autocar.co.uk. Exciting times, I hope youll agree. THIS WEEKIssue 6028 | Volume 274 | No 12THREE THINGS WEVE LEARNT THIS WEEK Production of the Citron C6 ends today (19 December). Read Hilton Holloways thoughts on the French executive car at autocar.co.uk.Vehicle manufacturing in the UK is still rising as the year ends. The number of cars built went up nearly 10 per cent between January and November. Troubled Peugeot-Citron is to cut 1500 jobs by 2014, on top of the 8000 job cuts announced in July. Workers who leave the company wont be replaced.FIND US ATautocar.co.ukautocar.co.uk/forumsyoutube.com/autocarautocar.co.uk/facebooktwitter.com/autocarapps.autocar.co.ukDownload our Fast Car and Car Pics apps to your iPad autocar.co.uk/magDownload the digital edition of Autocar wherever you are in the world every WednesdayAutocar magazine is also published in China, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Egypt, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Middle East, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.10 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012THIS WEEKPorsche set to take QAll-new junior Panamera poised for green light Q Tipped to be a five-door liftback QRear ILLUSTRATION BEN SUMMERELL-YOUDENews to share? Call 020 8267 5782/5796 e-mail mark.tisshaw@autocar.co.ukPorsche is poised to give the green light to a direct rival for the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class after more than a year of research and debate, according to company insiders.If the project is rubber-stamped, Porsche would for the first time be entering a mainstream market segment, albeit a premium sector dominated by the German big three. If the model gets the go-ahead, it will hit showrooms in 2016 at the very earliest, but it is still considered part of Porsches plan to sell 200,000 units annually by 2018.Michael Mauer, Porsches styling chief, was recently quoted as saying that a road car smaller than the Panamera was a possibility. Its thought that Mauers design team have recently been able to spend serious time on the 5-series-sized concept, now that the Macan SUV and Panamera facelift are both heading for the showroom.Most expect that the Pajun (a nickname derived from Panamera junior) will be a five-door fastback, like its bigger brother. A Mercedes CLS-style sportwagon version is also pencilled in, with a two-door coup possible in the next decade. Its also thought that V8 and four-cylinder engines have been ruled out.Most industry sources expect the Pajun to be built on the VW Groups next-generation MSB platform. Porsche is developing this rear-drive and all-wheel-drive architecture for use under the next-generation Panamera, Nearly all future Bentleys, among other high-end VW Group models, will also use it. Porsche could have used If the project is rubber-stamped, Porsche would for the first time be entering a mainstream segmentTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 11 on 5-series drive and AWD Q Estate and coup e to follow QDue 2016 Hilton Holloway Porsche can go mainstreamTWENTY YEARS AGO, BMW was a relative minnow, albeit highly respected. The firm realised that the global car market was about to go through a period of radical change, and SUVs and smaller cars for urban use were a big part of the future.However, it felt that it couldnt expand under the BMW badge. An upmarket SUV or front-drive city car could never be a real BMW. Buying Rover Group to get access to Mini, Range Rover and Rover itself proved a disaster. Today, the BMW badge is about to be used for a three-pot, front-drive mini-MPV.Its now well recognised that premium brands are far stronger than they once thought. When a respected brand expands into a new area, as long as the execution is convincingly premium, the result is readily accepted by consumers. Who would have imagined a Porsche off-roader the Cayenne would become the companys biggest seller?More important, premium status is no longer attached to numerical exclusivity. BMW, Mercedes and companies such as Apple show that a premium product doesnt lose its lustre by being mass-produced. Porsche will continue to expand on the back of this phenomenon.Audis next-generation mixed-materials MLB architecture, which will also underpin its upcoming Macan SUV, as well as all future Audi models from the A4 to A7. However, the MLB is a natively front-wheel drive platform, so all versions of an MLB-based Pajun would have been all-wheel drive. A front-wheel-drive Porsche is considered unthinkable.According to figures from IHS and Credit Suisse auto analysts, the global market for premium E-segment cars which includes the 5-series, E-class and Audi A6 will this year be about 970,000. That figure is projected to bounce along at about the same level until 2017, when a growth spike will take it to about 1.3 million units by the end of 2019. So this is fertile new territory for Porsche.This market segment promises substantial profit margins. Its not as profitable per unit as the market for big, premium SUVs (which Porsche is already exploiting with the Cayenne), but sales volumes are bigger. This is why Maserati is also looking to exploit this market with its new Ghibli (see p19). Its easy to understand why the more exclusive premium brands see the potential to shake up a segment dominated by the 5-series, E-class and A6. These three models account for about 70 per cent of global sales in the sector.The premium E-segment market is underperforming compared with other premium segments, according to Credit Suisse analyst George Galliers.We believe this is part of the ongoing trend towards other vehicles [such as SUVs], said Galliers. The growth opportunity in this price range/vehicle size is likely to come from comparable products which do not conform to the traditional three-box saloon, in our view. Presumably, this is the opportunity which Porsche also sees. We presume that any product which they would offer would most likely have a hatchback configuration as per the Panamera.HILTON HOLLOWAYA BMW like this was once unthinkable12 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012M6 GranCoup targets CLS63BWM M divisions four-door coup gets a 552bhp V8 and hits 62mph in 4.2sec; on sale in the springRS7 (below) and Q3 RS (left) are expected next year BMW is taking aim at the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG and upcoming Audi RS7 with its new 552bhp M6 GranCoup. The sleek twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8-powered saloon will cost around 100,000 when it reaches the UK in the spring after a Detroit motor show debut next month.The latest M-car will broaden the scope of the existing M6 line-up and provide added practicality and comfort. The 4.4 V8 engine and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox are the same combination as found in the M5 and M6 coup and cabriolet models. Torque swells to a maximum 502lb ft between 1500 and 5750rpm. Economy is rated at 28.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 232g/km.At 1950kg, the GranCoup weighs a mere 5kg more than the M5, endowing it with a power-to-weight ratio of 283bhp per tonne some 23bhp per tonne less than its keenest four-door performance car rival, the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG.BMW claims its new super-saloon is marginally faster than the CLS63 on the run from 0-62mph, with an official time of 4.2sec versus 4.3sec. Top speed is nominally limited to 155mph, but buyers can increase it to 189mph with an optional drivers package.The M6 GranCoup is based around a high-strength steel platform that boasts the same 2964mm wheelbase as the M5. As is customary for all M-cars, its tracks have been widened significantly over the standard 6-series GranCoup, at 1631mm and 1612mm front and rear respectively.The M6 GranCoup is distinguished from lesser versions of the 6-series GranCoup by a series of M division styling cues, including deeper front and rear bumpers, widened front wheel arches, deeper sills, a rear diffuser, quad tailpipes and a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic roof panel. The alloy wheels are 20 inches in diameter. GREG KABLE AUDIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE RS arm will launch four new models next year, including an RS7 and its first high-performance SUV, the Q3 RS.Quattro GmbH chief Stephan Reil confirmed the number of new models planned but did not detail them. Autocar understands, however, that in addition to the recently revealed RS6 Avant and RS5 cabriolet models, the RS7 and Q3 RS will be launched next year.The RS7 is tipped to be shown as soon as next months Detroit show. Its likely to be mechanically identical to the RS6, meaning power will come from a 552bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. A top speed of 190mph is also expected.The swoopy four-door saloon-cum-coup RS7 is expected to be offered instead of a saloon version of the RS6. A similar strategy is employed with RS4/RS5 models, where there are estate and coup versions respectively but no saloon.The Q3 RS was previewed at the Beijing show in April. Reil hinted that a production version would be shown at the Geneva show in the spring. The concept used a tuned version of the TT RSs 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine with 355bhp.Four potent new Audi RS models due next yearFIAT SETS PANDA 4X4 PRICES The Fiat Panda 4x4 will cost from 13,950, while front-drive Trekking models start at 12,450. The 875cc TwinAir is the entry-level engine, while the 1.3 MultiJet diesel attracts a 1000 premium. First deliveries are due in mid-January.UK TO GET AUDI A3 SALOONA saloon version of the new Audi A3 is coming to the UK, with a likely on-sale date of late next year. The three-box A3 is tipped to be shown in production form in the spring, at either the Geneva or Shanghai motor shows.OFFICIALPICTURESTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 13YOU CAN ARGUE that the world doesnt need the M6 GranCoup, but youd be wrong. It should bring something important to BMWs M portfolio that the M5 failed to deliver: true super-GT style and desirability combined with saloon-like usability. While the M5 has a superb chassis and a mighty engine, it looks and feels like a humble 5-series. Its the classic understated German performance saloon. The M6 four-door, meanwhile, gives M division an opportunity to ramp up the richness and exoticism, and really have a pop at the likes of Maserati and Aston Martin with a more usable GT. With no M-badged 7-series, Id say it deserves that chance.In these continuing tough economic times, cashing in on cars like this means giving a small but rich customer base a reason to come back that bit more often. So instead of selling two M5s to different customers, you simply sell the same bloke an M5 followed by an M6 GranCoup. MSDo we need an M6 GranCoup?Cabin is larger and more practical than the two-door M6sA larger XK will focus more on its luxury GT credentials M6 GranCoup shares its powertrain with the M5 saloonA NEW ENTRY-level sDrive18i has joined the BMW Z4 line-up as part of a series of mid-life changes to the roadster.Power for the model comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 154bhp and 177lb ft. That is enough to propel the six-speed manual sDrive18i from 0-62mph in 7.9sec and on to 137mph. Combined fuel economy is rated at 41.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 159g/km. An optional eight-speed automatic is also offered.The engines in the other Z4 models sDrive20i, sDrive28i, sDrive35i and sDrive35is continue unchanged.Cosmetically, the changes to the facelifted roadster are minor, the revised LED headlights being the stand-out change. New alloy wheel options are offered, while there are minor exterior trim detailing changes.Other changes include the option of a new Design Pure Traction styling pack, which adds contrasting black and orange trim to the cabin. The interior also features new gloss black trim for the air vent and iDrive surrounds as standard. Leather trim is also standard for the sDrive28i models and above, with a Fineline Anthracite wood finish available as an option.The M Sport package comprising bespoke suspension settings, alloy wheels and exterior and interior trim is again offered, with a more focused version of this pack available on the sDrive35is range-topper.The revised Z4 is due to reach the UK in April. THE NEXT-GENERATION Jaguar XK is set to grow in size following the introduction of the F-type. Design director Ian Callum said Jaguar was going through a lot of discussion about how the XK should evolve.No final decision has yet been taken, but Callum said there was an opportunity to allow the car to become a bit more special than a GT.It could grow into the luxury market, and grow in size, he said. Whether it stays the same as a two-plus-two or becomes a two-plus-more-than-two has not been committed to yet.The F-types launch removes the need for the XK to act as out-and-out sports coup and luxury GT. With the F-type becoming Jaguars dedicated sports car, theres scope for the XK to focus on its luxury GT credentials. While a shift in strategy for the XK seems likely, the XJ is set to remain as a conventional saloon in its next generation, despite the declining market for such luxury four-doors.Sales of large luxury SUVs are now dwarfing luxury saloons, but Callum believes its the state of the global economy rather than a shift in market trends that is to blame for dwindling luxury saloon sales. I think the market will come back, he said. Were strong in China and big cars are also always going to be popular in the US.Callum didnt confirm the existence of a large Jaguar crossover to sit alongside the XJ in its line-up, but said the firm had to take notice of the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs.New 2.0-litre turbo joins refreshed BMW Z4 line-upJaguar XK to grow as F-type takes sports car roleUPDATED i10 ON ITS WAYA new Hyundai i10 is set to be revealed at next years Frankfurt show. It is expected to stick to the current models successful formula, with subtle styling changes, interior quality updates and more efficient 1.0 and 1.2 petrol engines. RINSPEEDS MICRO-MINIBUSThe MicroMAX is Rinspeeds latest outlandish concept. Designed around themes of personal and public transport, the concept is just 3.6 metres long and 2.2 metres wide, yet it has enough space for five people plus bulky items.OFFICIALPICTURESTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 15Paceman gets JCW boostMinis 215bhp, all-wheel-drive Paceman John Cooper Works promises hot hatch thrills; due in MarchRENAULT-NISSAN IN LADA DEALThe Renault-Nissan Alliance now has a majority stake in Russias largest car maker, Avtovaz, which is known internationally as Lada. The alliance, as part of joint venture with the Russian state, now owns 74.5 per cent of Lada.MG 6 GETS BTCC MAKEOVERMG Motor has marked its first year in the British Touring Car Championship with a BTCC Edition MG 6 saloon. The 16,995 model gets gloss black exterior trim, BTCC graphics and 18-inch wheels but no extra power for its 158bhp 1.8 petrol engine. Minis new Paceman coup has been given a potent 140mph John Cooper Works range-topper. The Paceman JCW promises to be one of the most focused Mini models yet thanks to its all-wheel-drive sports chassis and 215bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine.The Paceman JCW uses the same engine as the Countryman JCW on which it is based. The highly tuned 215bhp 1.6 produces 207lb ft of torque from 1900rpm to 5000rpm. An overboost function can provide a further 14lb ft for short bursts between 2100rpm and 4500rpm. These are sufficient reserves to propel the Paceman JCW from 0-62mph in 6.9sec, regardless of whether it is fitted with the beefed-up six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed automatic. Thats 0.1sec quicker than the Countryman JCW can achieve. The Paceman JCWs top speed is 140mph for the manual version and 139mph for the auto, the same in both cases as the Countryman JCW.A sports chassis is fitted to the Paceman JCW, making it sit 10mm lower than standard models. Larger anti-roll bars and optimised spring and damper rates are among the suspension upgrades.A Sport button features on the centre console of the JCWs cabin. When engaged, this sharpens the throttle response, alters the exhaust note and stiffens the steering. On JCWs equipped with the automatic gearbox, shift times are also made quicker.The all-wheel drive system sends 50 per cent of drive to the rear wheels in normal conditions through an electro-magnetic centre differential, and it can send up to 100 per cent rearwards in extreme conditions.The look of the Paceman has also been overhauled for the JCW version, with new 18-inch alloy wheels (19s are optional) and an aggressively styled aerodynamic body kit. The Paceman JCW will make its debut at the Detroit motor show next month. It will reach UK showrooms in mid-March, priced from 29,535.MARK TISSHAWHONDA SKETCHES JUKE RIVAL Honda will unveil a concept version of its new baby SUV at the Detroit motor show next month. The Urban SUV Concept will spawn a production version that is expected to go on sale within the next three years.The new car, which is widely tipped to be based on the next-generation Jazz, will rival the Nissan Juke. Honda is targeting sales of up to 400,000 units a year in the US and Europe for the new car.Honda is giving its global regions freedom to develop the Jazz to suit local tastes. The European version is expected to be built at the firms plant in Swindon.Paceman JCW has a new body kit and a lower ride heightUrban SUV Concept will be unveiled at DetroitPrice 29,5350-62mph 6.9secTop speed 140mphEconomy 38.2mpg (combined)CO2 172g/kmKerb weight naEngine 4 cyls, 1598cc, turbocharged, petrolPower 215bhp at 6000rpmTorque 207lb ft at 1900-5000rpmGearbox 6-spd manual MINI PACEMANJCWOFFICIALPICTURES16 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012Bolder look for new Ran New Range Rover Sport will be given more personality than the current car in a bid to put greater visual The new Range Rover Sport will have much greater visual differentiation from the standard Range Rover than before, design director Gerry McGovern has revealed.The second-generation Range Rover Sport is due to be revealed in the middle of 2013 before going on sale at the end of the year.McGovern said the new car would be given more personality than before and it would be separated a bit more from the Range Rover.Insiders have revealed that the new Range Rover Sport line-up will include a seven-seat option for the first time, a model that should sell particularly well in one of the Range Rover Sports biggest markets, North America.McGovern didnt confirm it for production but said it would be a challenge to make a seven-seat Range Rover Sport. Its a sporty car with a sleek profile, he said, so creating it would be a challenge if it is successfully to carry extra seats.Under the skin, the new Range Rover Sport will be closely related to the new Range Rover. The two will share Jaguar Land Rovers Premium LAND ROVER ENGINEERS have started work on the new Freelander 3, as these spy shots of the Evoque-based mule show. The longer wheelbase and increased ride height reveal this as an early engineering prototype, probably being used to test new suspension components and suspension geometry.The Freelander is currently Land Rovers best-selling model. It was launched in its current form in 2006 and given a mild makeover for 2013. The third-gen model is expected to go on sale in early 2015. It promises to be a significant step forward from the current Freelander, offering greater wading depth, better interior packaging and improved boot space. The new Freelander is based on the same LR-MS platform as the Evoque. It was developed from the Ford EUCD platform that underpins the current Freelander, although Land Rover says 90 per cent of the parts are new.The Freelander 3s wheelbase is expected to be more than 150mm longer than the Evoques and is expected to open the way for a seven-seat version. It will be fitted with JLRs all-new, super-frugal Hotfire four-cylinder engines, which will be built at a new plant near Wolverhampton.The new Freelander is expected to be made from a mixture of materials, with nearly all of the platform and upper body made from high-strength steel. The roof and bonnet will be aluminium and the front wings and tailgate are likely to be made from composites. The entry-level, front-wheel-drive Freelander 3 is expected to have a CO2 rating of as little as 119g/km.More space inside for bigger third-generation FreelanderFreelander 3 test mule is hidden under Evoque bodywork disguiseEvoque convertible: decision within weeksTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 17gie Sport distance between it and the Range RoverTHE FORD KA is highly unlikely to see a third generation. According to Ford of Europe design boss Martin Smith, the city car produces absolutely no profit and doesnt fit in with the firms global One Ford ambitions.It wont pass a US crash test, it was designed too narrowly to suit European tastes and its only built in one place. Itll get a light mid-life refresh but, as things stand, I cant see a life for the car much beyond that, he said.However, Smith did hint that there was a great deal of interest internally in a more diverse range of superminis that could be used to return Ford of Europe to profitability.[Ford president and CEO] Alan Mulallys favourite kinds of car of the moment are small cars with global reach that we can create a high yield from, Smith said. The Ecosport is the perfect example: its simple, cheap to make and could sell the world over. A DECISION ON whether to put a convertible version of the Range Rover Evoque into production will be taken in the coming weeks, according to Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern.The Evoque convertible concept was well received at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, and McGovern said there was a desire within the company to see it through to production.Although the concept looks more likely than not to make production, McGovern said it would be signed off only if the business case could be proven.Ka wont be replaced, says design bossMERC CLA GETS 4WD IN THE UKFour-wheel drive will be offered on the Mercedes CLA when it hits the UK next summer. Mercedes 4Matic drive system has been redesigned for transverse engines. It will be an option with most engines and standard on the CLA45 AMG.FREELANDER SPECIALSLand Rover is to make 600 special Black & White editions of its revised Freelander. Based on the S model, Black & White trim adds gloss black exterior detailing, 17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and Bluetooth. Two colours are offeredConfidentialTHE NEXT RENAULT Twingo, due in 2014, will be available with lots of customising options, in the style of the Mini and the Fiat 500. Renault insiders admit that the firm has been slow to capitalise on demand for customising small cars.PETROL ENGINES WILL never displace diesels in some continental markets, reckons Renault marketing boss Stephen Norman. Diesel is so well rooted in some places that it will never go in the other direction, and well never see a shift to petrol engines in line with what theyre capable of, he said.THE BMW i3s interior simplicity will carry into production, according to i-car design boss Benoit Jacob. He describes the cabin of the i3 Concept Coup as a little loft on four wheels, suggesting a simple cabin doesnt mean losing on quality. The concept features extensive use of natural fibre trim. Sustainability is central to the car, which is why fast-growing eucalyptus has been used in the dashboard.AMG IS SET to sell 35 per cent more cars this year than last, thanks to a raft of new models and increased global demand. About one-third of all AMGs are sold in the US.VW R&D CHIEF Ulrich Hackenberg is so enthusiastic about the Polo R WRC road car created by his department and VWs rally team that hes got his eye on one for himself. At the cars launch in Monte Carlo, Hackenberg explained that hed driven the 151mph car during hot-weather testing in South America. With more than 200bhp in such a small car, its quick and handles well, he said.Lightweight Architecture (PLA), a riveted and bonded aluminium monocoque that should help shave about 300kg from a base V6 diesel, taking it to about 2160kg.An even lighter kerb weight would be achieved by fitting a four-cylinder diesel engine. Insiders have confirmed that this option is under evaluation for the new Range Rover Sport (but not the Range Rover).Despite the close relationship under the skin, a greater visual differentiation between the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will come from a more sharply raked roofline, shorter rear overhang, deeper body sides and more aggressive treatment for the front and rear detailing.Launch engines are likely to include a 255bhp V6 diesel as the entry-level unit, and a 334bhp twin-turbo V8 as the most potent oil-burner. A 503bhp V8 petrol is likely for the Supercharged variant.The economy champion will be a V6 diesel-electric hybrid, which should have a claimed combined 333bhp, a 0-62mph time of 7.4sec and CO2 emissions of just 169g/km.MARK TISSHAW THE NEW DEFENDER can do to the Land Rover badge and image what the smash-hit Evoque did for the Range Rover. That is the view of Land Rovers design director, Gerry McGovern.It is now over a year since Land Rover revealed the DC100 concept and began touring it worldwide at shows, getting feedback. The concept got the thumbs-up, said McGovern, and 90 per cent of the 250,000 people we spoke to loved it.McGovern said design work on the Defender replacement had progressed and various different concepts had been looked at internally in addition to the DC100, ahead of a planned introduction in the middle of the decade. He believes the new Defender can do for Land Rover what the Evoque did for Range Rover, bringing a new, more style-conscious buyer to the Defender and the Land Rover brand.Although style is promised, it will not be at the expense of function. We need a new Defender for a new generation, said McGovern, so it has to be relevant and desirable to a modern audience, but it has to have the essence of the Defender.James Bond needs to be able to kick the hell out of it and it will still be able to get up for more.McGovern understands the sensitivity of the new Defender project due to the current cars staunch fan base, but he said it couldnt be developed through rose-tinted spectacles.He said: A like-for-like replacement for the Defender would not be appropriate and wouldnt be legal with safety legislation. We can still capture the essence of the past but in a modern way.New Defender can do an EvoqueKa doesnt fit with the One Ford philosophyTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19Maserati plans 911 rivalMid-engined Maserati sports car based on Alfa Romeo 4C underpinnings could be on sale by 2015VITARAS NEW YEAR REFRESHSuzukis Grand Vitara has been given a minor cosmetic nip and tuck for the new year. The 127bhp 1.9 DDiS engine has had its CO2 emissions cut to 174g/km and economy improved to 42.8mpg. The switchable four-wheel drive system remains.500L DRESSED TO ESPRESSOA built-in coffee machine is on the options list for the new Fiat 500L, which is on sale now priced from 14,990. The base 500L Pop Star gets a 1.4-litre petrol engine, one of four engine choices in the mini-MPV. Deliveries will start next March. Maserati looks set to launch a mid-engined rival for the Porsche 911 by 2015. It will be offered with both V6 and V8 power and will get a chassis based on that of the forthcoming Alfa 4C.Although Maseratis 4C has yet to be confirmed, company bosses have hinted that such a model is essential if it is to reach its future growth targets.We are currently represented in just 21 per cent of the luxury sports car market, Maserati boss Harald Wester told Autocar. But by 2015 we will have 100 per cent representation. That market coverage would not be possible without a Porsche 911 rival.The new mid-engined Maserati will play a crucial role in the companys intended plans to sell 50,000 cars a year worldwide by 2015, up from the 6159 cars it delivered last year. Maserati aims to achieve this through the new Quattroporte, a new BMW 5-series rival called Ghibli, the new Levante SUV and the still-to-be confirmed 911 rival. Speculation about the name of the new mid-engined Maserati suggests it might be known simply as the GranSport. Whatever it is called, power will come in the form of either a twin-turbo V6 or a twin-turbo V8, with approximately 450bhp and 550bhp on offer.The target kerb weight is said to be less than 1400kg, and although the V6 model is destined to have rear-wheel drive, theres a possibility of the V8 being offered with the option of four-wheel drive, just as the Quattroporte is in certain markets.Given the close relationship between Ferrari and Maserati, a dual-clutch auto gearbox also seems probable although under no circumstances will the car be priced or engineered to rival Maranellos own mid-engined V8. That means a price tag of less than 100,000 and a slightly more luxurious character than that of a Ferrari.STEVE SUTCLIFFERenault says new Alpine sports car will be here by 2015Summer reveal for aggressive GhibliMASERATI SOURCES HAVE told Autocar that the forthcoming 5-series-rivalling Ghibli saloon will be a much more aggressive car than the Quattroporte, in both its engineering and in its design.The Ghibli will be based on a shrunken Quattroporte platform and is due to be revealed next summer before going on sale in the autumn.Sources have also confirmed the Ghibli will be the first Maserati to be offered with a diesel engine, likely to be a high-performance V6. RENAULT WILL LAUNCH its Alpine sports car, to be built in a joint venture with Caterham, within three years, giving the firm until the end of 2015 to finish the project it started in earnest last year. Renault marketing boss Stephen Norman confirmed that the car would not take four years to appear, as had been speculated. He also hinted at the sort of character the car would have, describing it as not soft. It wont be more hardcore than a Mazda MX-5, he said. What we do will not be soft, but not hardcore like a Peugeot 106 Rallye. You cant betray the DNA of Alpine. Thats a third of what the car will be. Norman described that DNA as French and not German. It must be light and look different, and have a touch of French dash, he said. Its not a car for dandies, though. We know who the buyer is: hes either French or a Francophile. And the car has technical innovation as part of its DNA. The new Alpine will be a clean-sheet design and create a rival for the Porsche Boxster and high-performance versions of the Audi TT. It will be priced at less than 50,000 and will use a Renault engine with around 250bhp. Renault looked seriously at reviving Alpine in 2007, but the recession meant the project had to be shelved. By the time the market had recovered, the original design was considered too old. Alpine sports car wont be soft, says RenaultSPY SHOTGHIBLI ITALY20 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012SPOTLIGHTMaking carbonfibre for the massesCarbonfibre is an expensive material, but producing more of it is vital to the success of BMWs range of electric i-cars. Stuart Milne reports on a global operation thats changing how the material is producedThe latest carbonfibre technology is core to the first two models in BMWs i-series, which go on sale at the end of next year. Extensive use of the lightweight material in the range-extended, hybrid and electric models is needed for BMW to hit its CO2 targets. But without addressing its high production costs, it cant build the cars profitably.Carbonfibres benefits are manifold, once the problems of its mass production have been overcome. The key issue is obtaining a consistent weave to ensure consistent strength, but once that is achieved the material is extremely durable. It is half the density of aluminium and 30 per cent lighter, it can absorb high levels of energy in a crash and is resistant to corrosion, acids and solvents. It could even be possible to strip away worn components and build a new car around the i3s carbonfibre frame at the end of the vehicles life.Nevertheless, carbonfibre remains a niche product for niche applications. Last year just 40,000 tonnes of it were produced, compared with four billion tonnes of steel, 1.5 billion tonnes of aluminium and 4.9 million tonnes of glassfibre. When BMW and carbonfibre specialist SGL, which has experience in the defence and aerospace markets, announced a joint venture in 2010, it was the final piece in a plan to enable BMW to produce lightweight zero or low-emissions models. BMW says the deal brings lightweight competence to the BMW Group. The factory in Moses Lake, Washington state, is the second link in a chain that connects production and development from Japan to the US and on to Germany, and it has the benefit of using cheap, naturally sourced power.The Moses Lake plant has the capacity to produce 3000 tonnes of carbonfibre per year about 7.5 per cent of global production. If the i project is a success, SGL says it can expand the site six-fold.If all goes to plan, thats likely to be the case. SGL is already working on deals with other car makers, and last year Volkswagen purchased an eight per cent stake in the company. Long term, the chances are that BMWs i3 and i8 will be seen as carbonfibre pioneers. And as use rises and prices drop, many of us will be driving cars using the material.Carbonfibre is half the density of aluminium and 30 per cent lighter SWITCHING ENERGY SUPPLIERSThe BMW/SGL site is powered by electricity generated from the Wanapum Dam on the Colorado River (below). Electricity is the biggest cost in carbonfibre production, most of which is used for the oxidation and carbonising processes. Electricity from Wanapum costs three cents per kWh, compared with 15 cents per kWh in Germany. BMW says reducing the environmental impact of its i-cars, along with a desire to reduce cost, was behind the move to Moses Lake.BMWS WORLDWIDE WEBA global production network isnt considered to be a significant cost. The base precursor material is made from a blend of chemicals and crude oil by Mitsubishi Rayon in Japan. Precursor ribbons are sent to Moses Lake, where they are turned into rolls of fabric, then shipped to BMWs Wackersdorf plant and stitched into cloth. Total global transfer energy costs are estimated to be around one per cent of the cost of the carbonisation process in Moses Lake.19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 21THIS WEEKBAKED TO PERFECTIONAt Moses Lake, a never-ending 5cm-wide strip of precursor is pulled from its containers and fed into a series of ovens ranging from 230 to 290deg C. The fibres change through a series of ever-darkening colours as their chemical structure alters. The fibres are then 95 per cent carbonised in a 750deg C furnace before being blasted with 420 amps, helping them to bond with resin. The fibres are then rolled onto 9kg spools like giant cotton reels.KNIT ONE, PEARL ONEThe BMW/SGL joint venture claims to be at the forefront of changing the approach to carbonfibre production. In their process, the end product is knitted, rather than woven, using a heavier tow. This means around 50,000 fibres are bundled together rather than 10,000-12,000 in a conventional carbonfibre tow. The process creates a smoother finish and is estimated to cost around one-third that of traditional carbonfibre production methods.Steve Cropley22 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012A year in cars A snapshot album from 12 months of living life in the Cropley laneITS OVER, AND Im not pleased. Amid the festive spirit, it strikes me that theres room for a tinge of melancholy. Weve had such a wonderful motoring year; can one hope for anything half as enjoyable next year? And living the privileged life I do, have I made the most of my opportunities?THIS YEARI reckon the answer to that second question is a conditional yes. You can always do better, but my resolution this time last year to happy-snap cars, people and events of significance through the year lasted all the way to last months Classic Car Show at the NEC in Birmingham (see pictures, far right). It also brought me an affirmation that all good car stories are about people.NEXT YEARthe economys not going anywhere, but we can still depend on the motor industry to build more and better cars. Next year were getting a new Range Rover Sport, Jaguars F-type sports car, a Maserati SUV and Porsches hybrid 918 Spyder. And thats just scratching the surface.We also look forward to seeding the increasingly powerful autocar.co.uk with fascinating stuff, and producing 51 classy issues of the magazine. But none of it is half worth doing without continuing support from you, our loyal readers. We all send seasons greetings, heartfelt thanks for past support, and hopes that youll see fit to continue the relationship in the happy new year. Love this 1960s Simca 1000 shape; had to be restrained from buying this racer at Nogaro, France, while watching Renaults Carlos Tavares racingOn hand to watch Renault chief Carlos Tavares race this 600bhp all-carbon single-seater at Nogaro. No messing: he scored a first and a second Lotus expert Paul Matty organised a great day at Shelsley Walsh to celebrate the marques anniversaryStan Papior gets strapped into a Ford filming rig Want to drive a DAF? asked the organisers at Cholmondeley. Regular driver cant come. Turned out to have March suspension and 450hp Rover V8THIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 23Cant resist a healthy Flathead Ford V8 specialOpel GT styling surely a decade ahead of its timeJim Clark won his first sprint in a DKW like thisUnimproved Commer heading for restoration What did Citron bosses say when they saw this? Drove one of these to Alice Springs. Not quicklyCLASSIC FAVOURITESFuture cars pose at Cholmondeley. Renault Twizy in my care (centre) was a nightmare. Everyone and their kids wanted to get in and drive it awayYears highlight was a Range Rover drive to Marrakesh, where an original model I drove snapped its throttle cable. No problem for a local repairman, though Ford GT poses beside another arrival at a wet Goodwood Breakfast Club, run under the eye of organiser and muttering rotter Barry Wiseman (right)Steve Sutcliffe24 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012Quick thinking The things that made 2012 good, bad and slightly sadHIGHSOWatching the Brazilian GP. I dont think Ive ever enjoyed watching a GP more than the one at Interlagos this year. Normally theres a good 10 minutes when not much happens during a GP, when theres time to make a cup of tea or do the washing up, or simply fall asleep with a belly full of recently roasted meat and potatoes. But in Brazil there wasnt so much as a second that was missable. I wonder how badly Lewis Hamilton will miss being at the sharp end in 2013, or how long hell be able to sit it out on the sidelines before asking Ron for his old job back.ODriving the Pagani Huayra. The world would be a much duller place were it not for the likes of Horacio Pagani and his thoroughly insane but also quite wonderful Huayra. Any car with 720bhp and rear-wheel drive needs to come with a reasonable-size health warning, but when that power comes at you via two turbochargers that also have a fair bit of good old-fashioned lag which means you go from 100bhp to 700bhp in half a heartbeat the excitement factor goes through the roof. As does your pulse rate the moment you climb aboard this extraordinary car. Hopefully well road test it in the UK next year, and maybe some of the Veyrons records will be rewritten as a result.ODrifting the Renault Twizy until its battery ran out. This happened only after about the 87th lap of the wet steering pad at MIRA, before which I had about as much fun sliding the Twizy as I did in any car all year. Whoever said EVs are boring was flat wrong, and I reckon the Tesla Model S will confirm this when we test it next year.OUsing the configurator on Jaguars website to spec my long-term XKR-S convertible. Its a lovely way to spend an hour or so, working out which colours to pick, which wheels to go for and so on. In the end I went for black everything, which is the spec favoured by Jags design boss, Ian Callum. When the car arrived a couple of months later, it looked even better than Id imagined. It will absolutely kill me when they come to take it away.OThrashing the Toyota GT86. This 25k rear-drive sports car is conclusive proof that you dont need to be going all that fast to have fun big, proper, grown-up fun. The best thing of all about the GT86 is that it emanates from a global mega-company. You just dont expect such intimacy in a car like this from a company like Toyota, but if they can repeat the formula in future with a new Supra, perhaps itll be good news for everyone, but most of all for the genuine enthusiast.ODriving a BMW M3 CSL around Brands and realising that the legend remains intact. It wasnt quite as fast as the V8 M3 that was also present, but that didnt matter because in the areas that count (steering, handling balance, rear axle feel) the CSL showed the latest car how its done. Which is good news for the next M3 if BMW is true to its word and produces a modern interpretation of this car for 2014.OMatching this years lap record around MIRAs wet handling circuit in the small and exceedingly white Audi A1 quattro and demolishing the Nissan GT-Rs time in the process. Never before have the benefits of narrow tyres, not too much power and a low kerb weight seemed so relevant. There wasnt a thing the 542bhp GT-R could do to stay with the Audi on that particular circuit, on that particular day, to a point where it eventually fell off the track in the attempt.LOWSOThe death of Lola. I always had a soft spot for this small, seemingly efficient racing car company from Cambridge, founded by Eric Broadley in the late 1950s. For a long time they were a shining light of British innovation and engineering. When the administrators turned up, half the cars that have raced at Le Mans suddenly had no ancestral home.OBurying a Caterham Seven R500 so deep into the trees on the Millbrook hill route that I thought, just for a moment, that this might actually be it.OWatching the decline of the WRC. Its is a shame because not long ago I was an unashamed fan of this mad sport. Have a fine Christmas and a happy new year. See you in 2013, although no longer in this part of the magazine. After five years, Im handing over and moving on to produce more online content for the magazine instead. Next up in this space is road test editor Matt Prior. I wish him the very best of luck, knowing full well that hes one of the safest pairs of hands in the business. Arrivederci! Got an opinion? Email us at autocar@haymarket.comAn armful of opposite lock will always put a stupid smile on Sutcliffes faceeven if its at the wheel of a 17bhp Twizy. Steve did this until the battery went flatE46 CSL proved that faster and newer doesnt always mean betterThe World Rally Championships appeal has sadly dwindledTHIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 25The world would be a duller place were it not for Horacio Pagani and his HuayraAudi A1 quattro made a GT-R look silly in the wetThe demise of race-car maker Lola was a sad dayToyota rediscovered the purity of driving with the new GT86Alan Henry26 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMEBR 2012Racing lines In a season that went down to the wire, these were the F1 highlights1 GENIUS AT WORKThe 2012 world championship had much to commend itself in terms of raw racing, but if you glanced more closely behind the scenes, there was also much unqualified genius on regular display. Sebastian Vettel launched a statistics-busting assault on the record books, stepping up to the plate magnificently during the course of seeing off the equally tenacious Fernando Alonso, who worked miracles at the wheel of a below-par Ferrari and very nearly pulled off the impossible dream as the clock ticked away through the nerve-wracking finale at Interlagos last month. 2WILLIAMS BACK ON TOP OF THE PODIUMNominating Vettels best race of the season proved a thankless task; none stood out as being shaded by another. Not so in the Williams ranks, where Pastor Maldonado had the beating of Fernando Alonsos Ferrari in a straight fight to Sebastian Vettel showed exceptional ability all seasonMaldonado put Williams back on top, for one week only Abu Dhabi winner Kimi Rikknen didnt need to be told what to doalan.henry@autocar.co.uk @f1alanhenryLATedge out the Ferrari star and return Sir Franks team to the top of the podium for the first time since 2004. This dearth of success had been going on for too long, but the interruption endured for only one weekend, because neither Maldonado nor team-mate Bruno Senna managed to duplicate it over the balance of the season. Maldonado clearly had the spark but lacked consistency. Senna has his late uncles gregarious charm but precious little of his potential. Before the end of the year, he received his marching orders.3KIMI RAIKKONEN STILL STARSIf Bruno Sennas career has probably peaked as far as F1 is concerned, Kimi Rikknen bounced back on to the grand prix scene with such a casual insouciance that it was difficult to believe he had taken two seasons out in order to try his hand at world championship rallying. Put simply, Rikknens return season was as dazzling as his rally exploits were inconsequential. The Finn still had plenty of tactical nous and had also retained his breathtaking speed, as his THIS WEEK19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 27Why cant all the drivers reflect the same unalloyed enthusiasm as Button?After a 28-year absence, Texas raised its hat to F1Button ended the season with two pieces of good newsSchuey failed to add to his tally of wins. Unlike VettelLewis Hamiltons decision to move to Mercedes for 2013 is bafflingwinning performance in Abu Dhabi so graphically proved. Hell, at one stage in the season there were some in the pitlane who began confidently to muse that he might gatecrash the battle for the championship. Next year, perhaps?4F1 RETURNS TO TEXASBernie Ecclestones long struggle to revive F1 in the US was launched with huge success on the brilliant Austin circuit in Texas, 28 years after the sport had made a single visit to the Lone Star State and all it lacked was an American driver as a rallying point for the amazingly enthusiastic crowd, who packed the grandstands to capacity. More please!5JENSON BUTTON KNOWS WHEN HE IS WELL OFFAs Jenson Button put his feet up to celebrate his victory in Brazil, he must have thought all his birthdays had come together. Team-mate and rival Lewis Hamilton will be exiled to Mercedes next year and his incoming team-mate, Sergio Perez, will need to shape up dramatically if he is to compete in Buttons company and smartly. PS: why cant all the drivers reflect the same unalloyed enthusiasm for their chosen vocation as Button does, rather than look so miserable as they trot off to the bank?6TOLD YOU SOTo the regret of Michael Schumacher and Mercedes, in real terms their performances in 2012 left the seven-time champion even further away from the pace than he had been in the previous two years of his comeback campaign. To Schumachers credit, he never overtly moaned about the car and he became almost philosophical about the entire project well before the end of the year. Schumachers efforts were akin to trying to row upstream, and after the final chequered flag had been waved in his face he looked like a man at ease with himself, but possibly one left wondering why the hell he took on such a project in the first place.7AN UNFATHOMABLE DECISIONNo, I didnt say unfashionable; I did actually say unfathomable. How else could one describe the decision of 27-year-old Lewis Hamilton to turn his back on McLaren in favour of Mercedes from the start of the 2013 season? Two expressions come to mind. The first is: dont these drivers have agents? And, assuming the answer is yes, why the hell dont those agents give their clients a bit of advice: tell em to bite the arm off any postman arriving with a large envelope postmarked Woking. Then get the bloke to sign it and exchange it for a large cheque. Simples!THE YEAR IN STATS How the season unfolded (according to Pirellis number crunchers)1139Number of overtaking manoeuvres in 2012215Top speed in mph hit in 2012 (Kimi Rikknen, Monza)2.31Fastest pitstop time (McLaren)31,800Number of Pirelli tyres supplied to teamsAverage number of pitstops per driver 1.9 secondsCaption here and here and herexx xx xxx xx xxx28 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012FIRST DRIVESFord Kuga 2.0 TDCi10.12.12, Cannes Ford targets European SUV dominance with a bigger, sportier Mk2 Kuga THERES A REAL sense of gravitas about the new Ford Kuga. Within three years, Ford plans to dominate the growing SUV sales charts here. This mid-size 4x4 will be vital to the attack, alongside the 2014 Ecosport supermini SUV and the larger Edge, which will also come to Europe.Responsibility rests on the shoulders of this car, and while some of the original Kugas compact distinctiveness may have been lost, its also brought with it new-found quality, refinement and practicality.The second-generation Kuga shares the originals wheelbase but is 81mm longer and offers a bigger boot. The extra length changes the Kugas market positioning a little. Visually, the car belongs less to the band of crossovers desperate to unseat the Nissan Qashqai from its top spot, and more to the band of SUVs grouped around the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Thats partly because this car will also be sold in North America as the Escape. A bit of extra heft was an An 81mm increase in overall length frees up space in both the rear cabin and the bootunavoidable consequence although most examples of the new car are actually lighter than previous ones.Buyers can choose between 2.0-litre turbodiesels and 1.6-litre turbocharged Ecoboost petrols. The cheaper 138bhp diesels and 148bhp petrols will be front-drivers. But if you want either the 180bhp petrol Kuga or the 161bhp turbodiesel we tested, itll come with Fords new all-wheel drive system. The automatic gearbox option on the diesel is provided by Getrags Powershift dual-clutch transmission; on the headline petrol its delivered by a more old-school torque converter gearbox intended, one suspects, to keep America happy.The Kugas cabin has lost some of the old models ostentation, but theres no denying the gains made on space, smartness and perceived quality. The architecture is more or less identical to what youll find in the C-Max MPV, and theres little wrong with that. Materials are tactile and attractive and, but for a slightly intrusive fascia that eats into driver kneeroom, ergonomics are good.Big strides have been taken to improve the Kugas on-road manners, and they pay off. The turbodiesel of SO GOODNO GOODTESTERS NOTEQMechanical refinementQAthletic handlingQImproved practicalityQImproved cabin qualityQFirm low-speed rideQAnonymous designHigh-end Kugas get a powered tailgate opened by waving your foot under the rear bumper. MSFIRST VERDICTPractical and refined with sporty and impressive car-like handlingAAAACThis weekssssssss nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssMANUFACTURERS CLAIMED FIGURESPrice 25,5450-62mph 9.9secTop speed 123mphEconomy 47.9mpg (combined)CO2 154g/kmKerb weight 1692kgEngine 4 cyls, 1997cc, turbodieselInstallation Front, transverse, 4WDPower 161bhp at 3750rpmTorque 251lb ft at 2000-3250rpmGearbox 6-spd manualFuel tank 60 litresBoot 456-1653 litresWheels 8.5Jx17inTyres 235/55 R17FORDKUGA2.0TDCI AWDTITANIUM19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 29The second-generation Kuga is bigger than the previous model, but its firmer and more agile and feels sportier to driveSmarter, higher-quality cabin shares its architecture with the C-Max MPV. Centre console intrudes into drivers kneeroomour test car was smooth and quiet, and wind noise was well controlled through new double door seals and new foam baffles for the B-pillars.New dampers and hydraulic bushings have allowed Ford to ramp up the Kugas chassis rates without bringing harshness to the secondary ride. There is one word of warning, though. The cars low-speed ride may be quiet, but it will be a little too firm for some; the muscular tussle and check of the suspension over bad town roads makes for a more stark contrast with the softness of some SUVs than the original Kuga struck. If you like your 4x4s comfy, this probably isnt the car for you. But at higher speeds the Kugas handling precision is more impressive than ever, aided not only by a 4WD torque vectoring system that fights early-onset understeer effectively, but also by great dynamic balance and taut yet supple body control. This could be a regular, low-rise five-door hatchback, given the way it arcs accurately towards apexes and hangs on mid-corner. Its true that the Kuga has lost some of its exuberance, but the new one is a more serious car that must earn its keep globally. And while its a bit less distinctive, its a better car overall and a cheaper one, too. Ford has lopped around 1000 from like-for-like prices, as well as improving spec levels. That fact, plus a healthy dose of Fords sporting brio, should be enough to return the Kuga to the top of our class rankings.MATT SAUNDERSQUICK FACTSPRICE 25,545ON SALE JANUARYMatt Prior Please all of the people, all of the timeMMMMPPGONE ARE THE days when Ford could afford the Mondeo to fail in the US and the Explorer to be largely ignored in Europe. And now that Ford, or anyone else, can less and less afford the luxury of creating different cars for different regions, it stands to reason that the Kuga a medium-size SUV has been developed for all markets. Engineered with both sides of the Atlantic in mind, theres no reason it shouldnt do well anywhere, provided the right engineers get the right jobs. That the Kuga is bigger overall is no surprise; that its less distinctive is a pity. But the impression Im particularly keen on is that quality and refinement are up. Premium models aside, thats not usually a trait common to transatlantic cars, but its a welcome and necessary one to make the Kuga popular over here.QUICK FACTSPRICE 25,545ON SALE JANUARYCaption here and here and herexx xx xxx xx xxx30 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012Skoda Octavia11.12.12, Prague The all-new, bigger Octavia takes the old cars strengths and improves on themTHE MK3 SKODA Octavia is based on the new MQB platform that will underpin future Volkswagen Group front-wheel-drive models ranging in size from the Polo to the Passat. Compared with the outgoing model, the new Octavia is 90mm longer and 45mm wider and has a 108mm longer wheelbase. Skoda claims that this car has interior space comparable with that of a model from the next class up; it can carry a 240cm flatpack with the rear seats folded. Fold the front passenger seat and that goes up to 274cm. The boot is even bigger than before, at a vast 590 litres. The exterior styling is a sharper and crisper take on the current model, with the tail shaped to look more like a saloon than a large hatchback. Inside, the finish of the plastics is a notch back from those youll find in the new VW Golf, but the whole interior is a festival of restrained good taste, clarity and slick assembly. All of the controls are neatly drawn and QUICK FACTSPRICE 18,995 (EST)ON SALE MARCHRear seats are spacious; drop the seatbacks and the boot can take a 2.4m-long loadnicely weighted, but theres no great design flair, either. With the adoption of the MQB architecture comes more in the way of sophisticated options, including active cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Traditionally practical touches include a doubled-sided (carpet and rubber) boot floor. While the entry-level Octavia petrol engine is the new-generation 1.4 TSI, next up in the range is this 177bhp 1.8 TSI unit. In this test car, it was hooked up to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Push the starter button (which sits where the ignition key used to be) and the motor spins up into a subdued idle. Pull the (very slick-action) lever into D and the Octavia pulls away with remarkably little mechanical intrusion.This drivetrain is exceptionally smooth and refined, with the transmission worthy of a special mention, such is the instinctive way it interacts with the engine. The car has a handy turn of speed, too, partly thanks to it being 85kg lighter than the outgoing model.Theres a great delicacy and SO GOODNO GOODTESTERS NOTEQVery smooth engine and transmission combinationQSensitive and accurate steeringQImpressive interior spaceQUK mix will be higher prices/more kit, not cheaper/lower specIts a great pity that the multi-link rear axle is standard on only the higher-power Octavias. HHFIRST VERDICTRoomy, practical and, in this turbo petrol guise, satisfying to driveAAAAC19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 31With the multi-link rear suspension fitted to higher-powered models, it offers a good balance of sweet handling and a smooth rideThe cabin architecture will be familar to drivers of the new Golf; the spec is decent and the quality of plastics good, if not Golf gradeMANUFACTURERS CLAIMED FIGURESPrice 18,995 (est)0-62mph 7.5sec (est)Top speed 139mph (est)Economy 49.5mpg (combined)CO2 132g/kmKerb weight 1200kg (est)Engine 4 cyls in line, 1798cc, turbocharged, petrolInstallation Front, transverse, FWDPower 177bhp at 4500-6200rpmTorque 184lb ft at 1500-4500rpmGearbox 6-spd dual-clutch automaticFuel tank 50 litresBoot 590 litresWheels 7Jx17inTyres 225/45 R17SKODA OCTAVIA1.8TSI DSGSE PLUSaccuracy to the steering that shone through even on the very uneven and snow-packed B-roads outside Prague. This car can be driven through the fingertips and rewards precise inputs. The ride is excellent, too, doing a fine job of rounding off ridges and short bumps. The car is flat and stable on the motorway; high-speed cruising is notable for the calm in the cabin, marred only by the noise from our test cars winter tyres. Interior space is as impressive as Skoda claims, without having to suffer a car as unwieldy as todays Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. The boot is vast, being both deep and long, without affecting the cars styling, which avoids the Octavias previously tail-heavy look. In this petrol turbo form, a smooth, sweet transmission is matched by what, even on very poor, ice and snow-covered Czech back roads, is an equally sweet-handling, smooth-riding chassis. Its the sort of car that would be ideal for a precise and thoughtful driver. The only Octavia-shaped caveat is that this model has the multi-link rear suspension and a motor thats a good 60kg lighter than in the diesel Octavia. I suspect that the entry-level, beam-axle, oil-burning version wont be quite as impressive.HILTON HOLLOWAYBeam me upTHE LOWER-POWERED Octavias get a rear beam axle, which is cheaper to make and saves 16kg over the more sophisticated multi-link unit. It is a completely new design, using a stiff, U-shaped section tube (with the open end of the U facing downwards) between the trailing arms. According to Skoda engineers, it also has a new mounting system, which uses two pivot points under the floorpan that are mounted parallel to the axle line. The previous beam axle used angled mounts positioned closer to the wheel hubs. The engineers say this new set-up gives better geometrical characteristics as the wheel rises.FIRST DRIVE19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 33SO GOODNO GOODTESTERS NOTEQLooks will delight manyQDecent driving position QSteering much improvedQRear room not in Pandas class QBetter-equipped models look a bit priceyAdams gearchange now seems nicer than test originals. Lets hope this one was typical. SCFIRST VERDICTNew baby car is much improved by steering settings developed in UKAAACCSteve Cropley and Vauxhalls Gerry Baker (in car) discuss the Adams steering foibles before uploading another setting to tryWHEN WE FIRST drove the new Vauxhall Adam, due in UK showrooms next March, we werent happy. The ride seemed lumpy and the engine thrashy and old-tech, but the big mismatch was between electric power steering that seemed at once ponderous and unpredictable, and a sporting ride quality (our Slam-spec test car was on sports suspension and 18-inch wheels) that surely demanded crisp, intuitive steering. However, Opel-Vauxhall is fast developing a tradition for retuning the electric power assistance of its cars for the UK market (its biggest in Europe). And following our adverse reaction and others, this is what it firmly decided to do. In co-operation with Opel chassis engineers, Vauxhall chassis guru Gerry Baker conducted some wide-ranging tests to set the car up in a way that would please local customers. The setting was signed off weeks ago on some pretty narrow and badly surfaced roads around Vauxhalls Millbrook proving ground, and Autocar was allowed to try it.In fact, we tried five different iterations, starting with the original European set-up and ending with the one signed off for the UK. Just the fact that this was possible simply because Bakers laptop could talk for a few minutes to the cars computer shows the great versatility of electronic power steering. In the old days, Baker was quick to point out, it would have taken a couple of hours to swap systems, assuming the right one was available; it took days if it wasnt. By this time, much of your memory of the original fault would be gone.We tried the Euro system (by my judgement, dead at the straight-ahead, with an overly quick assistance build-up away from it) plus three systems developed on the way. It became clear that the way assistance builds up as you move the wheel away from straight-ahead, the actual amount of assistance supplied at different speeds (the system swaps MANUFACTURERS CLAIMED FIGURESPrice 13,4750-62mph 12.5secTop speed 110mphEconomy 51.4mpg (combined)CO2 129g/kmKerb weight 1135kgEngine 4 cyls, 1398cc, petrolPower 86bhp at 6000rpmTorque 96lb ft at 4000rpmGearbox 5-spd manual VAUXHALL ADAMSLAM1.4iVauxhall Adam Slam 1.4i6.12.12, Bedfordshire Style-led city car gets revised, UK-specific steering tune to correct its flawsQUICK FACTSPRICE 13,475ON SALE MARCHbetween 16 levels of assistance) and the shot of extra assistance you can get when you suddenly swing the wheel think of it as a kind of overboost, designed to kill any feeling of delay is what governs decent steering. Bakers settings varied between pretty good and deliberately comically bad.Then we tried the new UK settings. This was the same steering wheel, in the same car, yet suddenly its responses seemed natural and intuitive. When a looming Transit appeared at a crowded apex, my hands knew exactly what to do. I found myself driving the Adam with comfort and commitment yet considerably faster than before. It was a little heavier, but mainly it was entirely predictable.The Adam still isnt the perfect car. Its pricey for the performance, and its 1.4 engine still feels crude. But now it has nice steering. Thats an essential ingredient and a big step forward.STEVE CROPLEYFIRST DRIVE19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 35SO GOODNO GOODTESTERS NOTEQAdds security in poor conditions QTempers rear-drivers understeer habitQEconomy sacrifice is smallQStrained, industrial engine noteQRide can be patteryFor snow-drifting fun, the 120d xDrive ran rings around the M135i xDrive auto we tried. RWFIRST VERDICTFour-wheel drive gives the 1-series winter safety and dynamic interestAAAACAll-wheel-drive 1-series shares its cabin with the rear-drive model; confidence-inspiring xDrive brings little in the way of penaltiesUK ORDERS FOR the BMW 320i xDrive have been encouraging since the book opened in June. In Germany, most models can be had with xDrive, including the 1-series hatch, which is now destined to come to the UK in all-wheel-drive guise. It joins an expanding xDrive range that already accounts for a third of BMWs global sales. Germany, the US and China all buy more xDrives than Audi quattros, and that clearly leaves room for improvement in the UK.BMWs xDrive models use a multi-plate wet clutch to apportion torque fore or aft from the default 40 per cent front, 60 per cent rear setting. BMW claims the system is the most quick-witted, anticipating wheel slip and reacting in 0.1sec.Otherwise, the 120d xDrive is largely the same as its rear-drive counterpart. A slightly higher kerb weight (by 40kg or so) and friction increases bring a 4g/km CO2 penalty (theoretically adding 70 to the road tax bill on the smallest wheels), while fuel economy drops by less than four per cent to a still-superb 60.1mpg. Performance is barely affected and BMWs chassis engineers have aimed to maintain the rear-drivers sporty-yet-supple set-up using revised springs and dampers.The sensible money banks on both winter tyres and four-wheel drive, and thats how our test car was equipped for a stint in the Alps. On snow, the xDrive system is hamstrung by the Dynamic Stability Control, which continually cuts the power. But with the Dynamic Traction Control set to permit some slip, understeer can be tamed with an increase in rear-bound drive. Unless DSC is fully engaged, unchecked oversteer would cut doughnuts in the snow all day. Similarly, on the driest road we found, the 120d xDrive showed signs of overcoming the rear-drive models tendency to understeer. The steering, meanwhile, is accurate and uncorrupted and the brakes inspire confidence.MANUFACTURERS CLAIMED FIGURESPrice 25,015 (est)Top speed 140mph0-62mph 7.2secEconomy 60.1mpg (combined)CO2 123g/kmKerb weight 1500kgEngine 4 cyls, 1995cc, turbodieselPower 181bhp at 4000rpmTorque 280lb ft at 1750-2750rpmGearbox 6-spd manualBMW120DXDRIVEBMW 120d xDrive14.12.12, Khtai, Austria All-wheel-drive version of the 1-series hatchback is on its way to the UKQUICK FACTSPRICE 25,015 (EST)ON SALE MARCHBody control is taut, but the ride is disappointing over broken surfaces, the new suspension settings seemingly reprising the 1-series tendency to fidget despite sensible wheels and tyres.The engine, though gruff, remains a wonder of power and economy, and the xDrive system distributes its considerable torque ably. A more secure, surefooted 1-series certainly has appeal. German buyers pay around 2000 extra for an xDrive 1-series, but wed probably fork out more like 1535; thats the premium charged for the 320i xDrive, aligning closely with Audis 1600 supplement for the A3 quattro.RICHARD WEBBERFIRST DRIVEFIRST VERDICTJacked-up treatment enhances the appeal of mid and high-spec modelsAAABCROUGHTY-TOUGHTY OFF-ROAD flavour works well for Dacia. It makes the Duster a singularly unpretentious and likeable machine. And on the Sandero Stepway, loosely termed a crossover supermini, it only seems to enhance the simple, functional value.Mechanically, there isnt much that differentiates the Stepway. This is ostensibly a standard Sandero hatch with plastic wheel arch extensions, faux plastic scuff plates, roof bars and an extra 40mm of ground clearance (to make 207mm in all). Theres no entry-level 1.2-litre engine with the Stepway, and no pared-down Access trim. Prices start from 7995, but you also get more for your money with the entry-level 898cc petrol-engined Ambiance-spec Stepway, which gets front fog lamps, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors and metallic paint.The range-topping 1.5-litre diesel we tested adds rear parking sensors and sat-nav, offsetting more than half of the 1000 premium youll pay versus the equivalent hatch. And its a marginally more appealing and obliging machine than the regular model, with chunkier styling, easier entry and egress, handling that shows little compromise on accuracy or MANUFACTURERS CLAIMED FIGURESPrice 10,7950-62mph 11.8secTop speed 103mphEconomy 70.6mpg (combined)CO2 105g/kmKerb weight 1083kgEngine 4 cyls, 1461cc, turbodieselPower 89bhp at 3750rpmTorque 162lb ft at 1750rpmGearbox 5-spd manualDACIASANDEROSTEPWAY1.5DCI 90LAUREATEcontrol and a slightly more fluent primary ride. The diesel engine only really becomes noisy above 3500rpm and generally performs strongly albeit not quite as efficiently as the 70.6mpg claim suggests.The bottom line is that, if you insist on spending 9000 or more on a Sandero, the Stepways probably the car to spend it on whether you want a crossover or not.MATT SAUNDERS Dacia Sandero StepwayQUICK FACTSPRICE 10,795ON SALE JANUARYTop-spec Stepway comes with sat-navHundreds of cars endured the scrutiny of our road testers this year. Most were decent, but these 20 newcomers, in no particular order, were something specialAUTOCAR TOP 20CARS 201242 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012play the traditional big Ferrari. It can still be docile enough to ease away 500 miles in a sitting, dampers in soft mode, gearbox working away imperceptibly, engine mumbling quietly at a calm cruise your nerves entirely unjangled. That breadth of ability isnt just rare; its nothing short of a masterstroke.MATT SAUNDERSPrice 239,7360-62mph 3.1secTop speed Over 211mphEconomy 18.8mpg (with stop-start)CO2 350g/km (with stop-start)Kerb weight 1630kgEngine V12, 6262cc, petrolPower 730bhp at 8250rpmTorque 509lb ft at 6000rpmGearbox 7-spd dual-clutch autoFERRARI F12 BERLINETTA FERRARI F12 BERLINETTAThe day that Ferrari handed us the keys to its new F12 may have been the longest Sunday in history. It didnt start particularly early, but for one frazzled soul, at least it finished at 3.47am on Monday morning. It didnt really finish at all, come to think of it. I had time for 42 minutes of rest before getting up and leaving Maranello to board the early flight home.Eleven amazing hours in the car and in front of a video camera were followed by six hours at the keyboard and a brush with a printers deadline that left absolutely no margin for error. The one thing that made it all possible: a car so monumental that the story all but wrote itself.The F12 is a landmark a paradigm shift. It will have an influence far greater than its sales reach might imply. It rewrites the rulebook on conventional super-GT design the class made up of the grandest of grand touring coups. Cars with front-mounted V12 engines and 2+2 seating, which Ferrari made its own with the 1968 Daytona. Because the F12 proves that practical, long-legged exotics neednt be so big. They neednt be so heavy. In fact, they can be as razor-sharp, fast and rewarding as a full-blooded supercar and still be supremely usable.The F12 is the first 12-cylinder model ever made by Ferrari to be smaller than the car it replaces, regardless of which way you measure it. Its also significantly lighter and stiffer but, at the same time, more spacious than a 599. Its more powerful than a McLaren F1 and, according to official figures, faster to 62mph. It has incredible active aerodynamics; it produces actual downforce from as little as 70mph, but it still has a drag coefficient to rival a family saloons. Dont ask me how thats possible, but I believe it.And when you drive the F12, your sense of awe only increases. This car steers with the directness of a single-seater. Its a front-engined V12 that just doesnt know that understeer or body roll exist. Its capacity for grip and high-speed stability in Race mode is almost as spine-tingling as its appetite for slip angle when you turn it all off. It represents as much of a full-on challenge on a circuit as a stripped-out track special like a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Its not supremely easy to get on terms with, but you wouldnt want it to be. Because, when you get it right, the F12 can lap a track as quickly as anything in the world. Its quicker around Fiorano, Ferraris own test track, than an Enzo.And besides all of that, it can still DRIVEN 1.8.12730bhpThe colossal power output from the F12s V12 engine packs more grunt than a McLaren F1.19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 43FORD FOCUS STSECOND OPINIONMATT PRIORFords test track, Lommel. A passenger ride I was allowed to write about, and a drive I wasnt. Mid-corner, change of camber, a lift and hello, lots of oversteer. You think it oversteers too quick, too much? asked the engineer sitting next to me. I laughed. He laughed. No, I said. From that point, I knew this would be a great car.THE NEW FORD Focus ST wouldnt have had to be good for it to stick in the mind. Fast Fords, teased from the firms vast machinations only sporadically, are event cars in Britain. No other brand of hot hatch, save the VW Golf GTI, extracts as much ink from us, and no other brand, save perhaps Renault, earns as much praise. The ST was different in that it wasnt solely intended for the enthusiastic UK market. The car was largely developed in the US, and rather than throwing its considerable weight behind trick chassis items, Fords SVT division kept the Focus ST relatively simple and the costs small. The result is a 22k body blow to its rivals. For the same money that buys a new 1.4 TSI Golf, you can have a 247bhp ST that seats four and hits 62mph in 6.5sec and 154mph, yet managed 40.2mpg on our road test touring run. But figures, no matter how heart-warming, dont do the Focus justice. Ford has cast its abilities wide, yet somehow managed to prevent them from spreading thin. Strong-willed but soft-edged is how we described it at our Britains Best Drivers Car event (where it was the only front-wheel-drive model deemed worthy of a place) and that almost says it all. Theres mega-hatch pace and dauntless, dynamic handling at one end fired by 250lb ft of torque from 1750rpm and a zealous variable steering rack and considerate, tightly manipulated comfort at the other. Under the road test microscope, the beguiling mix earned it 4.5 stars. With any luck, the other half star will be where the next Focus RS goes.NIC CACKETTBody roll is absent on sinuous roads yet its ride remains pliantThe ST possesses dynamic handling as well as usabilityThe 240k required to sit here as owner is money well spentIts not an easy car to master but it rewards its driverDRIVEN 12.9.12 AUTOCAR TOP 20CARS 201244 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012VOLKSWAGEN GOLFPrice 23,500 (est)0-62mph 8.4sec Top speed 131mphEconomy 60.1mpg (combined)CO2 109g/km Kerb weight 1288kgEngine 4 cyls in line, 1395cc, turbo, petrolPower 138bhp at 4500-6000rpmTorque 185lb ft at 1500-3500rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch autoVOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.4 TSI 140 GT DSG 5DRPeople stopped in the street for this car. I had far less reaction in the new Mercedes SL or Audi RS4 this year, so it seems the Mk7 Golf is a real head-turner. On three different occasions while floating around the scenic edges of Sardinia in it, putting a video together, passers-by stuck their head through the window and said, Nuovo Golf? Then they proceeded to talk some more in Italian, but since they werent ordering coffee or pizza, I couldnt understand them. Suffice to say that the hand waving and admiring noises suggested they were seriously impressed. And rightly so. The new Golf is painfully well executed. Its bigger but lighter, more efficient but faster, more heavily equipped but no more expensive. Of course, it is still predictably evolutionary. Its a Golf, after all. But it does feel of the class above, at least in the maxed-out spec of our 1.4 TSI GT test car. In particular, the optional eight-inch colour touchscreen, which senses your hand movements before youve even touched it, gives the impression of a real, upmarket, executive car finish. It does things that only the Mercedes S-class & Co would have done a couple of years ago, including offering a wi-fi hotspot in conjunction with your smartphone. And if all that isnt enough to earn it acclaim, the powertrain certainly is. I played a game for a full hour where I tried to find the flaw in the fuel-saving cylinder deactivation technology. I never managed to; it is almost irritatingly good. And the tech also serves to further improve refinement, which is a truly outstanding element of this car and another characteristic stolen from one or two classes above. It doesnt stop there. You even get adaptive dampers on the Golf. It doesnt transform the ride and handling, but I came away convinced that it is a good thing on a car used in such a broad variety of countries. What it doesnt do is suddenly make the Golf hugely entertaining. I wasnt thrilled by its scintillating handling, more in awe of its capability overall. So the Golf is still a little dull, but its less anodyne than it was. And it is even more faultlessly complete than I had expected the Swiss Army Knife of everyday cars, with desirability, attainability, efficiency and outstanding refinement all wrapped up in a subtly sharper design.You could almost resent Volkswagens relentless success if only it didnt make such good cars.VICKY PARROTTThis a classy, accomplished all-rounder60.1mpgThe 1.4-litre turbo engine runs on two cylinders when driven gently to improve fuel economy.DRIVEN 3.10.12SECOND OPINIONSTEVE CROPLEYFor Golf, read consistency. Youre talking to someone who vividly remembers the original models fresh appeal and logical design when it was launched nearly 40 years ago. In this seventh iteration it has the same feeling of fitness for purpose and its still the class leader. 19/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 45MCLAREN MP4-12C SPIDERFIAT PANDATHERE ARE THOSE whove accused the regular McLaren MP4-12C of lacking a certain something when it comes to soul. They claim that it has neither the styling flamboyance nor the aural appeal of its equivalent Ferrari, and that it isnt as exciting to drive as a result.BOLD, LOVEABLE, AGILE and peppy, we said in our road test verdict. Everything a city car should be. More often than not, such statements are built on quicksand correct and concrete for the week in which they are written, before sinking into three feet of shifting ground, waiting to be downtrodden and downgraded by a successor. But But these people need to drive the Spider version of the 12C before declaring it to be lacking beside its nemesis from Maranello, because in the Spider which is louder, looks sexier and is a touch faster and more furious than the coup the new McLaren has found its mojo. the current Panda, already, after only eight months of exposure, feels like it might just be one of those cars whose reputation continues to swell over time rather than contracting. Why? Well, those adjectives, what we think a city car should be, are not going to change until the planners rip up our towns and start again. The successful criteria are set in stone, Were you working for Ferrari right now, youd have to be that little bit more concerned about the progress that Woking has made, especially since McLaren Automotive, the company, has yet to celebrate its second birthday and has another, rather more outrageous new car thats due to be unleashed next year.Its not just the extra noise that makes the Spider seem so much more alive than the coup. The engine and gearbox have been upgraded, too. Theres more power from the twin-turbo V8 engine, sweeter gearshifts and more response all of which will make their way into the coups for the 2013 model year. Most impressive of all, perhaps, is that dynamically the Spider gives away precisely zero to its coup sibling. Other than carrying an extra 40kg (because of the electronic system that operates the hard roof), it is identical to drive in every way.Except that it isnt, of course, because its better not just louder but more exciting somehow, too. No wonder McLaren expects more than 80 per cent of 12C customers to choose Spiders from now on. STEVE SUTCLIFFEand the Panda ticks them off with relish. Its inexpensive, is cheerily robust inside, swallows four adults, is cheap to run and looks cute. Most important, it drives with a singular sense of itself. It doesnt aspire to be a scaled-down saloon car like the VW Up; its a rough n tumble tyke with nimbleness and attitude to overcome its rivals po-faced refinement.Fiats boss has called the new model the official car for doing whatever the hell you like, and that sentiment rings true again and again. Certainly, the year ends with us having driven objectively better cars, but very few were as attainable or as easy to enjoy in a crowd as Fiats future classic. NIC CACKETTSpider is every bit a match for a 458DRIVEN 17.10.12DRIVEN 25.4.12Its the official car for doing whatever the hell you like AUTOCAR TOP 20CARS 201246 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 19/26 DECEMBER 2012TOYOTA GT86GT86 shows what can be achieved by purity of purposeDRIVEN 4.7.1219/26 DECEMBER 2012 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 47SECOND OPINIONMATT PRIORIts not all about the rear-end breakaway. Okay, its mostly about the rear-end breakaway. But before that, there is the 30-second test: how a car feels in its first few moments. GT86? Control weights, perfect; driving position, spot on. Later, Id find the engine a bit thrashy and the ride noisy, but the good work had already been done.Price 24,9950-62mph 7.6secTop speed 140mphEconomy 36.2mpg (combined)CO2 181g/kmKerb weight 1275kgEngine 4 cyls in line, 1998cc, petrolPower 197bhp at 7000rpmTorque 151lb ft at 6400-6600rpmGearbox 6-spd manualTOYOTA GT86Tucked away in the intestines of Autocars offices, in an utterly anonymous stairwell, there are shelves groaning under the weight of a 100-year archive. They are bound in huge, pulpit-style books, covered in dust and inked in history. They are the independent automotive record of the past century. All new models are recorded and ranked among the pages, of course, but very few become a reference for the future or worthy of revisiting in subsequent decades. This year, 2012, has produced a handful of such cars at the most. The GT86 is one of them.And not just because of the way it drives, although well come to that. Not because it received a rare five stars in our road test or earned the coveted Britains Best Drivers Car title, even though both accolades usually guarantee a lasting prestige. No, its because the GT86, a car summoned into being on the basis of delighting its driver, was not designed and engineered by Porsche or Lotus or Ferrari; it was coaxed from the benign, dour leviathan that Toyota has become, with the help of the conglomerate backwater that is Subaru.The senior partner in the deal had shown recent previous, perhaps, with the introduction of the freakish Lexus LF-A in 2010, but that was lunacy contained within the padded cell of a 330,000 price. The GT86 is intended as an entry point for the general public for mass production, the domain of numbers, scale and discipline. Possibly that is why it