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The all-new 2023 Lexus RX will be revealed on June 1 Car News

The all-new 2023 Lexus RX will arrive on June 1 as the top of the range of newly expanded SUVs from the premium Japanese brand.

Coming on the heels of the smaller second-generation Lexus NX and the brand’s first bespoke electric vehicle, the Lexus RZ 450e, the fourth-generation RX will be heavily upgraded inside and out in a bid to better rival his all-conquering German. rivals, the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

A preview image released by Lexus suggests the design overhaul is more substantial for the RX than it was for its subtly restyled NX sibling. Striking new headlight designs, prominent air intakes and a new interpretation of the brand’s ‘Spindle’ grille are among the defining features.

Overall, however, it’s likely that Lexus designers will have pursued a similar evolutionary approach aimed at maintaining the continued popularity of the RX (it’s the company’s most popular model in the US) while putting the emphasis on the brand’s renewed desire to promote the dynamic appeal of its models.

This will carry over to the interior, where the RX will host the latest – and much improved – generation of Lexus’ infotainment system, operating through a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while adopting a new driver-focused layout designed according to the ‘Takuna’ (reins of a horse) ethos.

It is also expected to switch to the latest generation of parent company Toyota’s GA-K architecture, as used by the similarly sized Toyota Highlander, which paves the way for the RX to follow the NX by being offered with hybrid power. plug-in, although Lexus has yet to confirm powertrain details.

The planned Lexus RX 450h+ will no doubt use a variant of the configuration found in the technically identical NX and Toyota RAV4. This combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a 180hp EV motor on the rear axle and a 54hp one up front for a combined output of 305hp. An 18.1kWh battery provides 43 miles of electric range – but that would likely decrease in the larger RX unless Lexus uses the extra floor space to install a larger battery.

More familiar full-hybrid models using either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6 are also expected to be offered.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-18 16:34:38

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Tesla to expand some UK superchargers to other EVs Car News

Tesla has announced it will extend its charging network to non-Tesla electric vehicle owners at select locations in the UK, as part of a pilot program to “accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy”.

Some 158 devices at 15 Supercharger stations across the UK will be open to non-Tesla drivers. Drivers can access the Supercharger network through the Tesla smartphone app.

The 15 sites that will initially be open to non-Tesla owners are: Aberystwyth, Adderstone, Aviemore, Banbury, Birmingham St Andrews, Cardiff, Dundee, Flint, Folkestone Eurotunnel, Grays, Manchester Trafford Centre, Thetford, Trumpington, Uxbridge and Wokingham.

As part of the pilot program, Tesla will monitor site congestion.

Current Tesla owners will get the lowest prices, while new users can upgrade to a monthly subscription costing £10.99 per month to get slightly lower prices. Non-members, meanwhile, will be charged an average price of 60p per kWh, although rates vary by site.

“Our ambition has always been to open up the Supercharger network to non-Tesla electric vehicles and, in doing so, encourage more drivers to go electric. More customers using the Supercharger network enables faster expansion,” Tesla said in a statement.

“Our goal is to learn and iterate quickly, while continuing to aggressively expand the network, so that we can eventually accommodate both Tesla and non-Tesla drivers in every Supercharger in the world.”

Drivers will be able to see if a charger is compatible with their non-Tesla electric vehicle, as well as site availability. Tesla chargers have two cables, but non-Tesla cars can only use the CCS connector.

Much of the appeal of Tesla cars comes from the exclusivity of the Supercharger network. There are around 25,000 devices at 2,500 stations around the world, including around 600 in the UK and Ireland.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk initially revealed plans to open the network in July 2021, with plans to bring Tesla charging to all countries “over time”.

Autocar asked Tesla if non-Tesla electric vehicles will be able to charge at the maximum available rate of 150 kW.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-18 12:01:22

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The Land Rover Defender 130 will debut on May 31 Car News

The Land Rover Defender 130 will be fully unveiled on May 31, when order books for the model also open.

At 5.1m in length, the Defender 130 will be the largest body in the model’s range. It will join the 90 and 110 models as well as the Hard Top utility vehicle variant.

Land Rover has remained tight-lipped ahead of the 130’s full debut, but has confirmed it will feature eight seats in a 2-3-3 layout, along with advanced integrated chassis technology already seen on other Defender models.

The company presented the 130 with an official image of it climbing a sand dune, highlighting its all-important off-road capabilities.

It positions itself as the ‘premium explorer’ of the range, meaning it’s likely to command a significant price premium over the 90 and 110.

The 130 will challenge the Audi Q7 and BMW X7 in Europe, and the Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer in the United States.

The original Defender 130 had an extended wheelbase, but this new model gains 342mm over the current 110’s overall length due to its wider overhang. It is also 227mm longer than its Mercedes-Benz G-Class rival.

Several engines are likely to be available. Last year, a disguised prototype model was pictured with a 3.0-liter mild-hybrid inline-six petrol engine.

Another version was seen with quad exhausts, suggesting it could also get a powerful V8 in top-end form.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-18 10:09:50

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WRC Rally Portugal preview: Can Rovanpera stand up to the Sebs? Car News

The return of the two most successful rally drivers in history, Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier, will complicate Rovanperä’s hopes of a better result in Portugal. The two French legends fought an epic duel for victory on the Monte, with Loeb finally claiming first place (and his 80th WRC victory). Since then, both have tried their hand at circuit racing: Loeb in the DTM and Ogier in the World Endurance Championship.

Their away time gives them more favorable road positions for Portugal, although M-Sport Ford driver Loeb is remarkably still fourth in the standings, with Toyota’s Ogier eighth. After years of arriving in Portugal as one of the championship leaders, Ogier in particular is relishing a golden opportunity to aim for a record sixth victory in the country, with a useful starting position.

Both Sebs are well placed to triumph in the battle of generations, but Rovanperä has the siege time advantage in the complex new Rally1 machinery. With Portugal being the first gravel event for all drivers in their new cars, the ability to be straight-in on Friday might be even more important than the starting point in the road order.

But there is another man who could spoil the party for all, with an even better starting position than Ogier. Ahead of the season, Elfyn Evans was named as the Championship favourite, having come close in the previous two seasons. He quickly got up to speed in his new Toyota, but the more powerful and heavier cars are harder to drive than their predecessors, and mistakes in Monte Carlo and Sweden proved costly in terms of points.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-17 23:01:23

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Excerpt from the archives: that day in 1972 Car News

Inflation is hurting us all right now, but thank goodness it’s not stagflation, as Britain suffered in the early 1970s: a spike in the cost of living and economic stagnation.

This meant that in 1972 even the Ford Escort cost a “remarkably high” £802 (although this equates to just £8062 in modern money).

So it was time for us to compare the four cheapest cars on sale: the Citroen Dyane (£637), Fiat 500 (£531), Honda N600 (£637) and Hillman Imp (£642).

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The Fiat was painfully slow, hitting 60mph a minute behind, at 83.2 seconds, although it was no longer frugal, with each car doing around 125 miles per £1 of petrol (78p a litre).

Still, “if you really want smallness in size and price, the Fiat trumps all its rivals,” we were told. The Honda impressed by being “compact enough to squeeze through city traffic and capable of beating cars twice its capacity”.

We couldn’t understand why the Hillman wasn’t more popular, “convenient and great fun to drive” as it was

But the Citroën was the only one that could “carry a full-size family and all its luggage” and better still was “a happy car, which you can laugh at the world about as you tumble past the windows”.

Excellent new Alfa sedan

The Alfasud family saloon broke with Alfa Romeo tradition by having a dead rear axle, and this continued on the Alfetta, which slotted in between the popular Giulia and the sumptuous 2000. yet easy to drive” and it had “some valuable points worthy of criticism,” we reported.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-18 04:01:23

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First ride: Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro review Car News

I am doubly blessed. Or maybe doubly cursed. Because I once took a ride in a Valkyrie, sitting next to Aston CEO Tobias Moers, who later died, in one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​last year. It was hugely exciting, but it went at a pace suited to the wet conditions and the car’s lack of traction control. But in Homestead the sun is blazing and the TC apparently works. Despite this, the naturally aspirated Cosworth V12 will be in its 800bhp setting – plenty for the short straights of the inside course, Priaulx reckons – but still 200bhp from full power.

Entry is an inelegant process, and once in the snug cabin, I’m forced to adopt an offset position so that Priaulx still has room to turn the yoke-like steering wheel. But, unlike Goodwood’s car, the Pro’s air conditioning at least tries to work, and the view through the screen isn’t obscured by multiple display screens. It’s not comfortable, but I doubt there will ever be a shortage of volunteers willing to cram in to watch the show.

The AMR Pro starts rolling under pure electric power, with the V12 kicking off with a bang when the car hits around 15 mph. There’s a brief chance of experiencing a low-end buzz as we exit pit lane, but from then on he spends the entire four-lap stint close to his red line of 11,000 rpm. Predictably, the noise is wild, even through a tight-fitting helmet, but there’s less vibration than I remember from the regular Goodwood car.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-17 23:01:23

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The new 2022 BMW 3 Series brings a redesign and tech upgrades Car News

The BMW 3 Series has been updated inside and out, just over three years after it hit dealerships, in a bid to push back the new Mercedes C-Class.

Representing a whopping 14% of BMW’s global sales, the crucial G20-generation 3-Series will remain on sale in this fresh guise until around 2025, when the company is expected to usher in a similarly positioned EV sedan as the first model at the top. . its radical new Neue Klasse architecture.

For now, the 3 Series is largely mechanically unchanged, continuing with a choice of pure petrol, diesel (now with 48V mild hybrid functionality) and petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrains, ranging from 182hp in the entry 320i to 369 hp in the warmed-up M340i and with the option of four-wheel drive. The previous entry-level models, the 318i and 318d, are no longer listed. Prices now range from £36,670 to £52,965.

The facelifted 3 Series sedan and Touring station wagon, entering production in July, are obviously distinguished from those currently on sale by a revamped front end, which accommodates thinner LED headlights with an L-shaped DRL signature, a resculpted grille and shiny black. brake cooling vents.

At the rear, reshaped bumpers and color-coded trim elements aim to give what BMW calls a “particularly sophisticated” look.

The M Sport cars are distinguished more overtly by a distinctive hexagonal lower air intake in the front bumper and a large diffuser in the rear. There is also a choice of new M-Performance exterior upgrade options, including a carbon fiber rear diffuser, bespoke wheel designs up to 20 inches in diameter and, for the sedan, a large rear spoiler. .

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-17 22:16:23

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Porsche GT4 E-Performance is a 1072 hp electric racer Car News

Porsche has unveiled the GT4 E-Performance, an electric race car that hints at what the next generation of all-electric Cayman will look like.

Based on the chassis of a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with parts from the Porsche 911 RSR GTE car, the GT4 E-Performance predates the previously revealed Porsche Mission R Concept, but shares a number of components, including engines electrical and battery technology.

In full-fledged qualifying mode, the GT4 E-Performance is capable of producing 1072bhp, with power delivered by one motor to each axle. However, power can be reduced to 603bhp to hold the charge for around 30 minutes – the duration of a current Porsche Carrera Cup race.

A 900V fast-charging system allows the 82kWh batteries to be recharged to 75% in just 15 minutes, while a bespoke oil cooling system regulates temperature and helps ensure the car produces a constant power over time.

Due to the addition of the battery and electric motors, the car weighs around 1600 kg, which is just over 200 kg more than the combustion-powered 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Porsche claims the car is as fast as the current 992-generation 911 GT3 Cup, indicating a top speed of around 180 mph. The Mission R concept claimed a 0-60 mph time of under 2.5 seconds, and the E-Performance no doubt followed suit.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-16 10:27:45

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The new Audi RS4 and RS5 Competition 2022 gain in handling Car News

The Audi RS4 Avant and Audi RS5 have been dialed in to deliver improved dynamics and a louder soundtrack in a new limited edition Competition version.

The new hardcore variants of the sports estate and its coupé sibling will arrive in German dealerships in July, but Autocar understands Audi is still weighing whether or not to bring the newcomers to the UK.

The upgrades bring unique styling touches to each and a set of mechanical upgrades, with the costlier Competition Plus pack being the most heavily differentiated from the standard cars.

The competition cars are marked by black badging, matte carbon-effect exterior trim and optional black wheels in a bespoke design, which can be wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

The interior is also adorned with black trim elements.

It’s the chassis modifications that most obviously set the Competition apart.

The ride height is lowered by 10mm compared to standard and can be lowered manually by a further 10mm. Spring rates were increased, stabilizers reinforced and three-way adjustable dampers fitted to “enhance the overall driving experience and help shorten lap times”.

Audi says an upgraded differential further improves handling performance, thanks to a modification to the power unit that sends more power rearward through corners.

Power from the cars 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 remains at 444bhp, but straight-line pace has been subtly improved as the gearbox has been tuned for quicker gear changes.

The RS5 Competition sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds – an improvement of 0.1 seconds – while the RS4 Avant Competition cuts its sprint time by 0.2 seconds, to 3.9 seconds.

Rounding out the package is a bespoke RS sports exhaust with matt black tailpipes, which is less isolated from the cabin and thus “provides a ‘more intense sound pattern’.

A by-product of this is a small weight loss of 8 kg.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-17 10:01:25

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Lamborghini confirms its entry into the LMDh for 2024 Car News

The company’s Head of Motorsport, Giorgio Sanna, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Lamborghini is taking the next step in our motorsport journey, the step towards LMDh and the highest level of sports car racing.

“LMDh will play a special role in Lamborghini’s motorsports strategy, giving us the unique opportunity to expand our customer racing activities to new platforms and strengthen our long-term partnership with customer teams and drivers. “

Sanna’s words suggest Lamborghini will not be directly responsible for racing cars, with the company likely continuing its current strategy of supporting customer teams by loaning out factory drivers.

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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-17 11:44:30