Table Of ContentNew Lotus Elise
21 JANUARY 2015 £3.50 | AUTOCAR.CO.UK
‘Thrilling on road and track’
£200k, 600BHP
NEW FORD GT
How reborn supercar is kick-starting a fast Ford revolution
Why Ford’s going after
Lambo and Ferrari
2 James Ruppert’s
1 J
a
n
u
a
ry 20 UDRIlVtENimate Audi R8 NROAeD TwEST Skoda Fabia used car year
15
| Sk
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a F What to buy and when to buy it
a Is this last R8 also the best? Practical but a bit predictable
b
ia
THIS WEEK
NEWS
Ford GT Shock new supercar stars at Detroit 8
Mercedes-Maybach SUV Luxurious GLS ‘likely’ 13
Chevrolet Bolt EV promises 200-mile range 15
BMW M2 Baby M car to join expanded line-up 16
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Set for Geneva unveiling 19
BMW 1-series Facelift brings three-pot engines 20
44
TESTED
Mercedes-Maybach S600 Outstanding limo 24
Lotus Elise S Cup Road-legal race car rocks 26
COVER Peugeot 308 GT 1.6 THP Not without merit 29
STORY
Porsche Cayenne S Twin-turbo V6 replaces V8 31
First generation of Audi’s SsangYong Tivoli 1.6 Small SUV has appeal 33
mid-engined sports car signs
Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE-L ROAD TEST 50
off with the special-edition
R8 LMX. Nic Cackett drives it
FEATURES
34
Ruppert’s used car almanac When to buy what 34
Mind over motor Training young racers’ brains 42
Audi R8 LMX Last of the first-gen R8s driven 44
James Ruppert
on the used cars
OUR CARS
to buy in 2015
NIssan Qashqai Popular crossover signs off 60
20 BMW i3 Range Extender Enjoying the quiet life 63
Jaguar F-type R Why the devil is in the details 65
Full details on the facelifted BMW 1-series EVERY WEEK
Matt Prior Put on your thinking caps 21
‘TheLotusEliseSCupis
COVER Steve Cropley Put your hands up for Detroit 23
STORY
astonishinglyaccomplished Subscription offer Aston Martin racing T-shirt 32
Your views Land Rover leads from the bottom 58
onbothroadandtrack’ Rear view mirror Talbot Horizon revisited 90
DEALS
Matt Prior, p26
James Ruppert Tomorrow’s used cars 66
Used buying guide Drop-tops for £1500 68
New cars A-Z All the latest models rated 70
Road test results Autocar’s data archive 85
Classifieds Cars, number plates, services 87
66
42 Messing with racing drivers’ minds
24
The new cars we’ll soon be buying used
Mercedes-Maybach S600: opulent take on an S-class driven
60 Long-term Qashqai says goodbye
21 JANUARY 2015 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 5
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VIDEO
Toyota GT86 rally car
See the mud-slaying GT86 CS-R3 in action
The Ford GT left
Detroit show-goers
open-mouthed
Say ‘halo’ to a new
era of fast Fords
GALLERY REVIEW
Ford GT Subaru Outback
More pics of Ford’s The rugged off-road
stunning new supercar estate returns
THE FORD GT stopped the Detroit motor show in its tracks
when it was revealed last week. However, the car’s real
significance lies in what it means for the future of the firm’s
new Ford Performance sub-division, which encapsulates REVIEW GALLERY
Audi RS3 Honda NSX
the RS and ST brands, plus its racing activities.
Four-wheel-drive See the new NSX in
By launching the GT, with its Lamborghini-like looks and mega-hatch driven stunning detail
claimed Ferrari 458-rivalling pace, Ford has announced its
intention to invest heavily in a new era of fast Fords in the
most dramatic way possible, one that even the unveiling of
a new Focus RS would not have done.
Here, in the GT, is a halo car that will shower desirability
FIND US AT
over the rest of the range, as well as pioneering production
techniques and technologies that are new to Ford, including autocar.co.uk
carbonfibre construction and active aerodynamics. youtube.com/autocar
To cement Ford’s reputation in this sphere, all that
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New GT supercar sparks fast Ford revolution
n Reborn GT signals a new era of performance Fords n Twin-turbocharged 3.5 V6 with 600b hp-plus
T
he returning GT supercar Shelby Mustang GT350R, officials confirmed to Autocar competing against the top On the engine, Nair said:
is just one of 12 new fast the most powerful normally in Detroit. Its predecessor, the level of supercars, including “There are loads of new
Fords planned from the aspirated Ford yet, and the 2005 GT, had a production run the likes of the Ferrari 458, innovations here, and the
Ford Performance division Ford F150 Raptor, a model of just over 4000 units. Lamborghini Huracán and high-tech EcoBoost engine is a
between now and 2020. billed as its most capable off- “It will be made in a limited McLaren 650S, rather than perfect fit for the car. The 3.5
Autocar understands that road performance vehicle ever. series, even more exclusive sports cars such as the Porsche V6 has more power than the
the GT, the undoubted star of The Focus RS will be the than the 2005 GT,” said Ford 911 and Audi R8. 6.2 V8 and better economy.
the Detroit motor show, will fourth model from Ford technical chief Raj Nair. The GT is powered by a That blend of performance with
be followed by the unveiling Performance, but officials A final price has yet to be 600bhp-plus 3.5-litre twin- efficiency is so important.
of the third-generation Focus refuse to be drawn on plans confirmed, but insiders were turbocharged V6 EcoBoost “There’s a dual-injection
RS at the Geneva motor show beyond that, dead-batting hinting that the car would cost engine mated to new seven- system — both port and
in March. Ford announced last suggestions about models around $300,000 (£200,000). speed dual-clutch automatic direct injection — and electric
month that the Focus RS would such as a Fiesta RS. The GT’s predecessor sold for gearbox. No kerb weight or turbo wastegates. These
make production. However, more details about $150,000 (£99,000), which is performance figures have been all help to improve efficiency
The GT was one of three the GT did emerge at the show. about $180,000 (£119,000) in quoted yet, but Ford has said and response.”
models from the new Ford The GT will go into production today’s money. the GT will have one of the best Another new supercar at
Performance division at the in a run of “hundreds, not As for rivals, officials were power-to-weight ratios the show, the Honda NSX,
show. Also revealed was a thousands” in late 2016, Ford talking of the mid-engined GT “of any production car”. featured an advanced hybrid
8 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 21 JANUARY 2015
DETROIT MOTOR SHOW
Q&A MORAY CALLUM, FORD DESIGN CHIEF
How do you set about redesigning
a classic?
“It was important to us to design a car
that was all about how you’d design a
car with the ethos of the GT40 today, as
opposed to redesigning the GT40. Yes,
we wanted to pay homage to what had
gone before — and there are details all over the car that do
that — but the majority of the car was created to achieve
today’s goals. Above all, it couldn’t be a cartoon of what went
before. Frankly, the availability of materials like carbonfibre
make things possible today that weren’t even close to being
available all those years ago.”
How quickly has the project come together?
“It has come together incredibly quickly. We did a quick scale
model, then a full-size one in foam and then a clay model
really fast. There was a team of seven or eight designers
working on the car in a room that we kept out of bounds. It
was a skunkworks project, and we were having meetings in
the evenings and at weekends to ensure word didn’t get out.
That had the benefit of meaning decisions were made quickly
and by a tight group.”
How early was the powertrain set?
“Very early on, and that helped. We could fix the plan view,
work out the cooling requirements, the frontal area and
proportions and so on. Having an EcoBoost engine also
validates the car; it makes it relevant. But the packaging
is still tight. We’ve had to work very closely with engineering
to meet their requirements, hit the aero targets and achieve
our design goals.”
How close is this car on display to reality?
“Probably 95 per cent. The project is ongoing and developing,
but it’ll be things like the door mirrors and headlamps that
might be refined, nothing more. The intriguing aspect is that
a lot of this car is a genuine test bed for us. We’re learning
so much about construction techniques, material usage,
aerodynamic influences and so on.”
New GT supercar sparks fast Ford revolution
Twin-turbocharged 3.5 V6 with 600b hp-plus n Carbonfibre tub and bodywork n Race-bred suspension n Price around £200,000
powertrain in contrast to the with inboard dampers, as well and also cooling, as these
Aerodynamic demands
petrol-engined Ford. Asked as the engine. The bodywork smaller, power-dense engines
played a vital role in
if Ford had considered hybrid is made of carbonfibre. The needs plenty of cooling.”
the design of the car
for the GT, Nair said: “We’ve 20in alloy wheels are shod in Design chief Moray Callum
a lot of work going on around bespoke Michelin Pilot Super revealed that fewer than 50
electrification, but the GT is Sport Cup tyres and hide people saw the GT before its
all about efficiency. It’s not carbon-ceramic brakes. Detroit unveiling and there
hybrid as it would add too much Active aerodynamic features had been no focus groups to
weight. We chose to reduce include a rear wing that is influence the design.
weight, a real focus as this height and pitch adjustable and Inside, the two-seat GT has
benefits all attributes.” a large rear diffuser. what Ford calls a “purposeful”
The GT is built around a “Aero plays a key role in interior, which is accessed via
carbonfibre passenger cell with efficiency; there’s fully active upward-swinging doors. The
two seats bolted directly to it. aero,” said Nair. “The teardrop steering wheel houses major
At each end is an aluminium shape is very efficient. The controls, Ferrari style, to try to
structure to house a race- body surfaces reduce drag. reduce driver distraction. “This
inspired torsion bar and It’s important to improve is a study [for future Fords],”
pushrod suspension system aerodynamics to aid efficiency, said Nair. Ford’s latest ◊
21 JANUARY 2015 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 9
∆ Sync 3 infotainment system tech is important for future
also features in the GT. Fords. The GT is the flagship
Nair said the new GT was for this innovation, and that’s
being launched now not why we’re building it.”
because Ford is selling cars in Explaining the launch
big numbers again and making and positioning of Ford
big profits, but more because Performance, Nair said:
the technology has matured “Ford Performance is a halo
to the point where such a car under which we will deliver
could exist. performance cars. It will
“Cars like this are embodied increase our engineering
in our DNA,” he said. “I can’t capabilities.
imagine our company not “The cars are being done
producing cars like this. It’s at a new technical centre in
good for us and in our blood.” Charlotte, North Carolina,
The new GT does arrive at which opened last May. Cars
a time when performance car like this created there are a
sales are booming, though. proving ground for passionate
Nair said: “Performance cars engineers. There’s an obvious,
generate great business. Sales large new investment in [Ford]
have been up 70 per cent in the Performance. The real fun
US since 2009 and even more is to watch how these new
so in Europe.” cars will influence future
Nair also said the GT would Ford products.”
have an impact on the rest of Nair wouldn’t be drawn on
Ford’s range, with a drip-down whether Ford will go racing
of technology from it. with the GT, something that
He said. “Performance is would seem likely given that
our passion but, importantly, next year it will celebrate the
innovation with cars like this 50th anniversary of winning
drives the rest of the range. the Le Mans 24Hrs with the
“Innovation and original Ford GT.
performance have always been On that subject, Nair said:
part of Ford. We’ve always “We’re always evaluating
been good at linking in race what’s appropriate, but we’re
programmes with the road. not thinking about new series.
Racing is a key innovation tool. We’re working hard on meeting
“This is the ultimate Ford, the new Nascar regulations
a new halo. It’s the ultimate in particular. We’re always
embodiment of all our evaluating whether a race
innovation — everything from series fits with the technology,
the wheels to aerodynamics vehicles and the brand.”
and the engine. All this new MARK TISSHAW
‘TheGTistheflagshipfor
thisinnovation.That’s
whywearebuildingit’
Bodywork is carbonfibre; low weight was a priority
A clean-looking fascia is enabled by siting many controls on the steering wheel and fitting Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment V6 3.5 EcoBoost has two turbos and over 600bhp
10 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 21 JANUARY 2015
