Auto Express 1502

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news WHILE bad news may seem to be dominating headlines at the moment, this special double issue is an opportunity for us to celebrate all that was good about the car business in 2017. It started out with consumer confidence on a high and sales to match, yet finishes with both very much in reverse. But that hasn’t stopped this industry that fascinates and excites us in equal measure from delivering some breathtaking new products that have enabled us to fill the pages of Auto Express with some incredible stories. One thing currently unites everyone who works in the motor industry – the feeling that we are in the midst of a golden age for cars. We all agree that we’re going…

“The look of the new car will be traditional MINI, but feature details shown on the Electric concept” First for news every week ■ MINI hatching a secret plan for new small SUV ■ Under the skin is platform that allows electric drive Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler MINI will take advantage of the continuing SUV boom by launching a smaller sister car to the Countryman, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. The new model – previewed in our exclusive images – won’t join the range until 2021 at the earliest, making use of the brand’s next generation of chassis technology – and that means electric power will be a given for the new small SUV. According to a source close to MINI, the new model is likely to be similar in footprint to…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram LAMBORGHINI is no stranger to the SUV market and five years after the Urus concept first made its debut at the Beijing Motor Show, the Italian brand has revealed what it is calling the world’s first super-SUV. Lamborghini claims the Urus, which is named after a large Spanish fighting bull, is the new class benchmark for “power, performance and driving dynamics”, while also mixing in a dose of “design, luxury and daily usability”. It launches next spring and will cost £165,000 in the UK. The Urus is based on the same platform as the Audi Q7, but despite its humble origins, Lamborghini claims it will be more exceptional when it comes to performance and handling. It’s powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 developing 641bhp and 850Nm of torque,…

Daniel_Smith@dennis.co.uk @dsmithgt2 BMW has been flirting with the idea of an open-top i8 since 2012 when it first unveiled the i8 Spyder concept. Five years later, at last week’s LA Motor Show, the German brand finally revealed the production model, the i8 Roadster. The plug-in hybrid soft-top is the only car of its kind and gets a more powerful and efficient version of the i8’s existing plug-in powertrain, plus new styling tweaks. It goes on sale in January priced from £124,730; that’s £12,000 more than the Coupé. The brand has fitted a three-piece folding fabric roof on the Roadster. It’s fully electric and takes 16 seconds to open or close, and can be operated at speeds of up to 31mph. BMW says the hood folds vertically behind the cabin to…

Ultimate Wrangler heads for the rough JEEP revealed its all-new Wrangler at the LA Motor Show, and showed off the range-topping Rubicon for the first time. The most rugged model in the range features improved axle articulation and longer suspension travel to ease progress over rough terrain. Locking differentials, four-wheel drive and 33-inch off-road tyres feature as standard as well. Skid plates protect the car’s fuel tank and transfer case, while the Rubicon also gets steel side skirts to help prevent damage to the bodywork. Jeep boss: UK to get 697bhp Trackhawk ELSEWHERE at Jeep, boss Mike Manley confirmed to Auto Express that the 697bhp Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will be coming to the UK. Set to arrive here some time in 2018, the Range Rover Sport SVR rival features a…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn LEXUS has added an extra dose of practicality to its flagship SUV by unveiling a new seven-seat version, the RX L, at last week’s LA Motor Show. It’ll be the third model in the company’s growing SUV portfolio and will serve as its rival for the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. The new model arrives in the UK in May, and pricing and specs will be announced nearer that date. However, a four-figure premium over the standard RX is expected. To squeeze in the additional row of seating, Lexus has stretched the length of the standard RX by 110mm and fitted a steeper tailgate to ensure those in the back row have enough headroom. The third row is a 60:40-split bench, which, Lexus says, provides as much comfort…