Auto Express 1496

HOW long do you think it takes to launch a new car company? In the case of Polestar – the new electrified performance brand that sits within the Volvo Car Group – it’s just two years. Back in 2015 on a frozen test track in Sweden, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson, while reviewing an early production version of the Volvo Concept Coupe, decided that it shouldn’t wear a Volvo badge – but something different. And Polestar was born. And last week in Shanghai, the Polestar 1 (above) was launched to the world. That all goes some way to explaining why the 1 looks so much like a Volvo – because that’s what it was originally meant to be. But it’s also an important statement for what’s to come from a standalone…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk ▪ Cool new X2 shares mechanicals with X1, but has lower roofline ▪ Full UK prices yet to be revealed; range starts at £33,980 for 20d SE @johnmcilroy BMW is aiming to fill yet another niche within the ever-growing ranks of premium SUVs with its latest creation: the X2. It has now been revealed in full – ahead of its launch next month. The X2 is designed to slot in between the entry-level front-drive-based X1 and the larger X3, as a model that focuses more on style than outright practicality. It shares many of its mechanicals with the X1, as well as the MINI Countryman. That means it uses BMW’s UKL2 platform – a chassis that restricts the car to four-cylinder engines but that offers the possibility of four-wheel…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk ▪ Evolutionary looks, raft of new tech and 48V mild hybrid power ▪ New model goes on sale next year, but UK prices not revealed yet @LobAllan AUDI has finally taken the covers off the new A7 Sportback. Set to go on sale early next year, the Mercedes CLS rival has an evolved exterior look, a raft of new tech inside and mild hybrid powertrains. The latest A7 Sportback follows on from the new A8 by adopting Audi’s MLB Evo platform. At 4,969mm it’s actually slightly shorter than the outgoing model, but it’s nearly identical in terms of width and height. The wheelbase is 10mm longer in a bid to deliver more cabin space. The design is a familiar evolution of the previous version, but a number of detail…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn NISSAN has signalled its intention to launch a fully electric SUV by unveiling the IMx concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Revealed alongside the Leaf Nismo concept, the IMx is said to offer a glimpse into the future of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility; that means how it sees cars integrating with society in the years ahead. The IMx sits on the same EV platform as the new Leaf, but Nissan says it features a re-engineered high-capacity battery for a claimed range of up to 373 miles. Two electric motors, one mounted on each axle to offer four-wheel drive, generate 429bhp and 700Nm of torque. No other performance figures have been issued. The IMx also features a look at the future of Nissan’s ProPILOT driver assistance system, which allows it…

MOTORISTS who cause death by dangerous driving will face life in prison under new Government plans. Drivers causing death by dangerous driving, while speeding, using a mobile phone at the wheel, or while under the influence of drugs and alcohol could now be handed sentences equivalent to those convicted of manslaughter, with the maximum penalties increased from 14 years to life, the Ministry of Justice said. The announcement follows a consultation launched last year seeking to change penalties for the worst vehicle crimes. “Last year there were 1,792 deaths on British roads, up four per cent from 2015” Last year there were 1,792 deaths on British roads, up four per cent from 2015 and the highest number in five years. The same year, 157 people were sentenced for causing death…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer TRAFFIC jams on the UK’s motorways and A-roads cost the economy £9billion a year in lost productivity, according to a new study. Research by traffic analyst Inrix shows drivers encountered 1.35 million jams in the UK in the past 12 months, accounting for more than 3,700 every day. This was estimated to cost the economy billions in lost productivity, wasted fuel and pollution. Although Highways England says 85 per cent of jams are cleared within an hour, some take several hours to fix. The worst traffic jam occurred on 4 August on the M5 in Somerset after two lorries collided. The 36-mile tailback took workers 15 hours to clear and was estimated to cost £2.36million. Other major incidents included three separate accidents on the M6 between December last…