MOTORING Executive saloons from Mercedes Benz.

PERFECTLY FORMED

It’s the smallest of Mercedes Benz’s three executive saloon, but the latest iteration of the very popular C-Class is perfectly formed, with lots of helpful technology and frugal engines...

Words: Rob Davis.

DIAL-UP INTERNET. Betamax Tapes. Music on CDs, house phones and hoover bags... there are few things more certain than death, taxes or the impending obsolesce of the objects we all thought were here to stay. Feeling the heat at the moment is the humble family car. The current generation of the Mercedes C-Class, for example, has sold over 2.5m cars worldwide since its launch in 2014, and even in recent years the car has still sold in volumes of about 50,000 in the UK alone.

And yet, with the indomitable rise of the SUV or 4x4, especially in our part of the world – with our shockingly bad road surfaces – buyers are moving towards taller cars with better visibility and greater ground clearance. Ford has already announced that its family saloon/hatch/estate – the Mondeo – will not be replaced, or at least it’ll metamorphose into an SUV, and similar cars like the bland Vauxhall Insignia, the BMW 3-Series and Volkswagen’s Passat are now somewhat of an endangered species.

But there’s still a case to be made for the compact executive saloon or estate despite their market share being cannibalised by the rise of the SUV, and if you needed more any evidence of that, this is it.

Mercedes Benz’s C-Class is pretty much the best compact executive car you can buy. I owned one and it never missed a beat; reliable, comfortable, well-equipped. >>

>> This new generation will reach showrooms as Pride goes to press, and offers, well, more of the same. It’s style is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, but that’s fine; the saloon is smart and the estate is capacious.

Whilst the estate is the same length as the four door, its ‘rear seats up’ boot capacity is 490 litres, and with seats folded, a whopping 1,510 litres. Unless you’re really sold on saloons, we reckon it’s the one to go for.

Though the boot is gigantic, though, the C-Class’s engines have shrunken, with the C200 powered by a small 1.5 litre engine, with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. For many, the C220d diesel is likely to be the best bet, though a plug-in C350e replacement and a diesel/plug-in will also feature. Christian Früh, Chief Engineer for the car, has promised that plug-ins will have twice the range – about 100km – of previous models, and so, for those still cautious of making the transition to a full electric car, those versions might be a good compromise. A fast AMG version will, follow, too. In the cabin, though, is where the real changes make themselves known. Most notably the C-Class is imbued with technology and luxury directly taken from the firm’s flagship S-Class limo. A large vertical touchscreen now dominates, and has eliminated many physical controls with an easy, responsive system. The car also has the latest MBUX system of digital dashboard. Other highlights include rear-wheel steering, self-parking technology and adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance. More tech, better economy and greater integration of new hybrid/electric technology. If the compact executive is under threat from the rise of the SUV, the C-Class is the best counter argument; a best in class car. n

MERCEDES C-CLASS C200

Price: £39,000 (est, on sale July). Engine: 1.5 litre four cylinder turbo petrol, 9-speed auto gearbox. Performance: 0-62 mph: 7.2 seconds. Top Speed: 149mph. Economy 38.1mpg-43.4mpg. Equipment: Adaptive cruise, 360° camera, self-parking, sat nav, heated leather seats, power tailgate, climate control and electric windows/mirrors. n

Estate of the Art: An alternative to SUVs...

BMW 318i M Sport Touring £36,180: In M-Sport Touring spec, the BMW and Mercedes are an even match for cargo space, seats up or down. 60mph is reached in 8.7 seconds, top speed is 140mph. Drivers are rewarded with an economy figure of 40.4mpg-42.4mpg. Standard equipment includes leather seats, 18” wheels and reversing camera, as well as an infotainment system with BMW’s latest generation OS8. Naturally, a plug-in hybrid powertrain is also available. n

Audi A4 Avant Technik 35 TFSI S Tronic, £33,125: A 2.0 four-cylinder engine yields 60mph in 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Economy figures stand at between 43.5-44.1mpg, and though luggage capacity is a little down on its rivals at 495 litres with seats in place or 1,495 with seats folded, the difference is negligible. Technic spec provides smartphone compatibility, automatic parking and rear view camera, and MMI navigation with virtual cockpit. Top spec Vorsprung models are costly, commanding a £13,000 premium, but add a panoramic roof, driver assistance package, Bang & Olufsen stereo and multi-colour LED lighting. n

Jaguar XF Sportbrake P250 R-Dynamic S £37,190: Jaguar’s XF is set to be phased out alongside the smaller XE and now dearly departed XJ limo, in favour of the company’s new SUVs, including a bunch of new electric models. For now, the estate XF provides a 2.0V4 engine, 60mph in 7.1 seconds, a top speed of 146mph, and generous standard kit including heated leather electrically adjustable seats, navigation and 3D camera. n

TAKING GOLD

Porsche has launched a storming new flagship version of its Cayenne SUV. At £144,000 the Cayenne Coupé Turbo GT provides extra oomph and style to spare thanks to its gold wheels... an acquired taste, or a style statement?

Words: Rob Davis.

THANK GOODNESS. The Porsche Cayenne was a bit lacking in speed, after all. Well, it wasn’t. Still, what’s the expression... more is more and less is much less? At a whisper under £145,000, Porsche’s Cayenne Coupé offers storming performance, plus tuning and handling tweaks in order to extract an extra 89bhp and 50Nm torque from its 4.0V8 engine. Total power output is 631bhp and 850Nm torque, resulting in an unseemly 3.3 second 60mph dash. The exhaust is now a titanium version of the conventional Cayenne’s pipes, and the silencer has been removed, ostensibly to save weight but doubtless to make the GT sound a bit more menacing. Other changes include a reprogrammed eight-speed automatic gearbox providing quicker shifts and a retuned all-wheel drive system with launch control for making a quick getaway. The Cayenne’s air suspension has also been fettled, and it sits 17mm lower. A contoured carbon roof and black wheel arch extensions, together with 22-inch GT Design wheels in Neodyme, dominate its side view. The carbon side plates fitted lengthwise to the roof spoiler are GTspecific, as is the adaptively extendable rear spoiler’s lip, which is 25mm larger than that fitted to the Turbo.

Inside, the car also debuts the firm’s next-generation Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with improved performance and a new user interface. The system allows for in-depth integration of Apple Music as well as Android Auto, which means that all popular smartphones can now be integrated. More power to your Cayenne was hardly necessary, but the style tweaks will doubtless appeal to those already considering a Cayenne, which remains the best handing large SUV on the market. n

PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPÉ TURBO GT

Price: £144,000 (on sale now). Engine: 4.0V8 turbocharged. Performance: 60mph in 3.3 seconds, 186mph. Equipment: Air suspension, 22” wheels, torque vectoring, electric sports seats. n

Thoroughly Modern Mini

LONDON ELECTRIC CARS (LEC) HAS LAUNCHED A CLASSIC MINI EV CONVERSION THAT DOESN’T COST THE EARTH

LEC Proving that electric vehicles conversions don’t have to cost the earth, London Electric Cars (LEC) has launched its affordable electric-powered classic Mini conversion, with prices starting from £25,000 (excluding donor car). The most cost-effective in the marketplace, they are also some of the most sustainable in terms of their end-to-end vehicle lifecycle impact. Based in the heart of London, LEC is the only electric car conversion specialist within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) as well as being the only EV converter based in one of the world’s largest cities.

The base 20 kWh LEC classic Mini conversion, has a projected range of 60 - 70 miles, but owners can install upgraded batteries to provide more range too. n NISSAN Nissan last month revealed plans for a £1bn flagship Electric Vehicle Hub creating a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem. Centred around the record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK, Nissan EV36Zero will supercharge the company’s drive to carbon neutrality and establish a new 360-degree solution for zero-emission motoring. 900 new jobs will be created and will help other manufacturers to have the confidence to make batteries and electric vehicles in the UK too. n

Nissan provides UK car industry with a battery powered boost...

British Motor Show Gears Up

FIRST EVER BRITISH MOTOR SHOW SINCE 2008 PROMISES MODEL LAUNCHES, FAMILY FUN AND CELEBRITIES TOO...

BRITISH MOTOR SHOW The British Motor Show is to make a momentous return this month, the first major international motor show to take place in the UK since 2008. Based at Farnborough International Expo Centre, Hampshire from 19th – 22nd August, the show will feature a variety of content, including the Automotive Careers Expo, The Select Electric Motor Show, Retro Electric Live, two live stages and exhibits dedicated to motorsport and future technology. Adult tickets £18, VIP tickets £100. For more, see www.thebritishmotorshow.live. n

MOTORING NEWS

In Brief

SELF-DRIVING CARS

ARE WE READY FOR SELFDRIVING CARS? NOT QUITE SAYS SURVEY...

The UK public is still yet to be convinced of the prospect of fully autonomous vehicles, a recent CarGurus survey has revealed. While having a car drive itself is still out of many driver’s comfort zones, automated technologies such as automatic emergency breaking and pedestrian detection, that assist a driver in getting from A to B safely, are of significant interest to car buyers. Respondents were evenly spilt when it came to their overall opinion about the development of selfdriving cars, with 30% considering themselves excited, 35% neutral and 36% concerned. This divide was echoed in the near fifty-fifty split in participants who felt the technology was still too new to place their faith in. However many participants were warmer towards the merits of practical assistance instead of full autonomy, and were very or extremely interested in cars with features such as automatic emergency braking (43%), lane keeping assist (36%) and automatic parking (48%). n

PICTURE THIS

The Lagoons of Rutland Water A Stamford Skyscape...

THERE ARE EIGHT LAGOONS AT RUTLAND WATER, EACH AUTUMN OVERLOOKING THE DREAMY SKIES OF STAMFORD, CURATED TO APPEAL TO A SPECIFIC SPECIES OF WATER BIRD TAKEN FROM ALL SAINTS CHURCH IN THE CENTRE OF THE TOWN

EGLETON Alas, this year the birdwatching communities of Rutland & Stamford won’t be able to enjoy Birdfair (AKA ‘The Birdwatchers’ Glastonbury’), as organisers have announced that it’s cancelled due to Covid. Fortunately, an announcement of the dates for 2022’s event is due as Pride goes to press. You can still enjoy the pursuit of self-guided birdwatching though, as Egleton and Lyndon nature reserves are adjacent to nine miles of lagoons on the western end of Rutland Water.

STAMFORD It’s the former home of The sites span 1,000 acres and it is antiquarian William Stukely, and parts of occupied by around 25,000 birds. it date back to the 12th century, although 30 hides allow you to set up your scope much of the stonework is 13th century in or camera and enjoy not only Rutland’s origin. ospreys – thanks to a conservation Located between All Saints Place and project which began in 1996 – but a Red Lion Square, the church was first wealth of other birdlife too. mentioned in the Domesday Book of The reserves are a Site of Special 1086, and services still take place there on Scientific Interest, designated as a a regular basis. European Special Protection Area, Prior to the reformation, Stamford at one and are managed by Anglian Water time contained 13 parochial churches and in partnership with the LRWT. n All Saints Church was originally intended as a daughter church of the long-since demolished St Peters. Extensive additions were made by the Browne family in the 15th century when it was realised that the church was probably a better bet for ongoing repair. Within the church, the organ was built in 1916 by James Jepson Binns and the interior is plastered and painted with exposed stone dressings. Whilst Stukely was vicar from 1730-47 he published his important works on Stonehenge and Avebury. n

Image: www.discover-rutland.co.uk. Dean Fisher, Pride Magazine.