Motoring News
Yesterday, 12 June 2016New Volvo hybrid T5 engine means less diesel cars will be produced
New plug-in petrol and electric hybrid powertrain and tougher diesel emissions standards will lower the manufacturer's diesel output
Volvo's new three-cylinder T5 plug-in hybrid powertrain will significantly reduce the number of diesel cars it produces as it reacts to increasingly tough diesel emissions standards.The new T5 hybrid system was shown in Gothenburg last month, alongside two 40-series concepts, and it will appear for the first time in the production XC40 next year. It uses a 74bhp electric motor that can power one of the shafts of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox alongside a 180bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre three-pot petrol engine.Electrical power comes from a 9.7kWh battery pack, which will give around 30 miles of electric-only range. According to Volvo’s head of R&D, Peter Mertens, the set-up is more efficient than rival hybrids and easier and cheaper to produce.“It is a very attractive alternative to a diesel engine,” Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said in Gothenburg. “It offers much lower CO2 levels but more or less the same performance in both horsepower and torque. On cost, I would say that within a couple of years, we will see a crossover, the diesel getting more expensive and the [hybrid system] going down.”Volvo hasn’t released any emissions or economy data yet, but insiders indicate the T5 will manage substantially better than 95g/km on official tests and deliver diesel-rivalling economy in real-world use.When asked if diesel cars will still be on sale in 10 years’ time, Samuelss
read more2016 Renault Mégane RS 275 Cup-S - why it marks the end of an era
Production of the current Renault Mégane RS ends imminently, but the 275 Cup-S celebrates the dusk of a memorable model
The Renault Megane RS 275 Cup-S is the run-out edition of Renault Sport’s hot Mégane in its current form.It represents one last turn of the product crank handle Dieppe has been enthusiastically turning since 2004. Potentially, given the division’s track record (and its eagerness for actual track records), the final version could have been another skeletal masterpiece in the Trophy-R vein, perhaps divested of passenger seat and dashboard this time and tickled even closer to 300bhp – a front-drive racing car in all but name.But it’s not. It would take time and money to fine-tune such a car, and with Renault shutting down production in July, the Cup-S is a final, volume-generating throw of the dice rather than a last-gasp effort for yet more kudos. Which is perfect for two reasons.Number one, simplicity has made the Mégane cheap – really cheap. The starting price for a Cup-S is £23,935. For that, you get air-con, cruise control, a stereo, Bluetooth, an alarm, some RS cloth upholstery, the RS kickplate and dials, the bodykit look and a set of 18in alloys.There’s no infotainment touchscreen, though, and no DAB, no sat-nav, no climate control, no Recaros or Alcantara. But it does have the stiffened Cup chassis, which means you get the limited-slip dif
read moreVW set to unveil post-scandal strategy
Cost-cuts and more electric cars, but not governance reform
read more2016 Toyota Hilux vs the sand dunes of Namibia
The supposedly invincible Hilux is said to be more comfortable and sophisticated than ever. How does it fare in the toughest of environments?
Being known as a practically unbreakable, go-anywhere tool would be enough for most vehicles in the motoring world.The new Toyota Hilux, though, is attempting to have its cake and eat it by not only remaining as tough as they come, but also appealing to a much wider audience by adding a more comfortable ride, a more SUV-like driving experience, a higher-quality and more gadget-laden interior and a more economical engine.That's quite a brief – one with a significant dose of ambition, with Toyota aiming to develop a vehicle that you can enjoy and get the best out of without having to own a game reserve in Namibia.Ah, Namibia. The southern Africa country is the second least populated on earth (after Mongolia, fact fans) and, as such, is home to some extreme, isolated driving locations and conditions. You can go days being able to count other gravel road users without using all your fingers and toes, and you barely get past your thumb if you’re counting the number of houses you pass at the same time.Conveniently, Namibia is our venue to see if the Hilux is not only as indestructible as ever,
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