News

VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC GETS INTO SHAPE FOR 2022

A revised Volkswagen T-Roc SUV has been unveiled for 2022, with subtle design changes, upgraded technology and lightly tweaked engines. The first cars with the mid-life refresh are expected to arrive in UK showrooms in April, costing from just over £27,000 in diesel guise.

There’s a slightly sharper look, and a new set of LED matrix headlights are joined by an illuminated strip across the grille. The rear lights have also been given a darker tint, and clusters with a new graphic signature and sweeping indicators are also available. The bumpers have been reprofiled, there are new designs of 17- and 19-inch alloy wheels, and five new exterior colours will be offered.

Its interior changes are more significant, thanks to a new softtouch dashboard that now houses a standard eight-inch digital instrument panel and a free-standing infotainment touchscreen, measuring 8.0 or 9.2-inches depending on the specification chosen. There are also minimalist touch-sensitive controls for the ventilation system. Fabric quality for areas like the door trims has been improved, and ‘top-of-the-range sports seats’ previously reserved for the flagship T-Roc R will now be available as an option for the R-Line trim, along with plush Nappa leather.

R-Line will sit above Life and Style trim levels, and Style will be distinguished by two-tone paintwork, chrome elements and ambient lighting. The R-Line is said to be ‘based to an even greater extent’ on the R performance model, with unique bumpers, a sports steering wheel and driving profile selection. A Black Style design pack can also be added to Style and R-Line versions to add black exterior and interior trim for a more stealthy look.

Three petrol engines will be offered, and both the 1.0-litre TSI with 109bhp and the 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI manage to emit under 125g/km of CO2. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but the more powerful engine is also available with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The diesel line-up includes a front-wheel drive 2.0-litre TDI unit with 113bhp and a manual gearbox or 148bhp and a standard automatic transmission. There’s also a 4Motion version of the latter, which still manages to have emissions of just 122g/km.

The facelift also includes the T-Roc Cabriolet, and while there’s no diesel for this version, the 1.0-litre TSI manual just squeezes under the EcoCar threshold of 125g/km by 1g/km.

Safety has also been enhanced for the latest version, thanks to more advanced collision avoidance systems, along with IQ Drive Travel Assist and Predictive Cruise Control, which can assist with steering, braking and acceleration on suitable roads, at speeds up to and beyond the national speed limit, where permitted.

FRESH FACE FOR SUZUKI S-CROSS

Suzuki has given the S-Cross a makeover, updating its exterior design, retaining its mild-hybrid powertrain technology and boosting its equipment levels. Produced in Magyar, Hungary, alongside the bigger Vitara, the updated SUV will be available to order in January, costing from £24,999. There’s no shortage of rivals it needs to attract buyers away from, including the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson.

Styling changes include a larger set of wheel arches, with more prominent black plastic cladding, a new roof spoiler and roof rails. The nose has also been treated to a new piano black front grille and a set of ‘three LED’ headlights, which have also been repositioned to help make the S-Cross appear taller.

The interior design isn’t vastly different to before, but now comes with a floating central infotainment display. Two trim levels are offered, with the entry-level Motion including 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, a seven-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, heated front seats and all-round parking sensors. The higher specification Ultra models add a nine-inch touchscreen, polished alloy wheels, leather upholstery, on-board navigation, a 360-degree camera view and an opening panoramic sunroof. Solid white will be standard, along with five optional metallic paint colours.

Power comes from a turbocharged 1.4-litre mild hybrid petrol engine, with 127bhp and a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds. More crucially for buyers in this class, it also has an impressive economy figure of 53.2mpg for the Motion model, with CO2 emissions of 120g/km. Its 48-volt mild hybrid setup uses an Integrated Starter Generator and lithium-ion battery, which can power the lights, audio system and air-conditioning, while also assisting the petrol engine with a 13bhp boost as the car pulls away. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a six-speed automatic available as a £1,350 option, and the Ultra version gets Suzuki’s Allgrip four-wheel drive as standard, costing from £29,799.

S T E L L A N T I S ’ S M A L L EVS GET MORE RANGE

Stellantis has announced that its 2022 small electric models with a 50kWh battery will gain up to 13 miles of driving range on the WLTP cycle, with bigger gains predicted in real-world driving. This will see the Peugeot e-208’s driving range increase from 217 to 225 miles, while the e-2008 will go up from 191 to 206 miles from a full battery. The DS 3 Crossback E-Tense will also get a bump up of 13 miles to 212 miles of range.

The development work behind this includes ‘A+’ rated low rolling resistance tyres and changes to the gearbox ratios to improve range on motorway journeys, reducing the rpm of the electric motor at cruising speeds. Finally, a new heat pump and humidity sensor have been added, to optimise the energy efficiency of the heating and air conditioning system.

In low temperatures, the latter is said to be a particular advantage, as the new technology can more accurately control air recirculation in the cabin to ‘protect the amount of energy contained in the battery’. There’s been no announcement for the Citroën e-C4, Vauxhall Corsa-e or Mokka-e as yet, but as they all share the same powertrain, similar upgrades may well be announced soon.

S U B S C R I B E A N D S AV E

Don’t miss a single issue Turn to page 058 for all our latest special Christmas offers

SKODA KAROQ FACELIFT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE

Skoda’s popular Karoq family SUV has been given an update for 2022, with subtle styling tweaks, updated technology and improvements to reduce its CO2 emissions and make the Karoq more sustainable. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but are expected to begin at less than £28k for diesel models, when it hits showrooms during 2022.

Design changes include a new set of body-coloured bumpers and a wide front lower grille gaining a ‘crystalline mesh’ pattern. There are L-shaped highlights to accentuate new air curtain front intakes, and a fresh front spoiler. Slimmer headlights have also been fitted, along with split daytime running lights, with the option of Matrix LED technology for the first time. At the rear, the lights have been sharpened up, too.

Air curtains – which help smooth airflow along the sides of the car – and aero wheels, are a couple of the changes made to reduce drag. In addition, there are optimised fuel tank undertrays for four-wheel drive versions that also cover the rear axle. SportLine and SE L trims get an extended bodycoloured spoiler, with side ‘finlets’ inspired by aircraft design to smooth airflow at the rear of the car. Together, they result in a 9% reduction in drag, cutting the Skoda’s co-efficient to 0.30 Cd.

The interior will be offered with an Eco pack, which swaps the seat upholstery for vegan-friendly materials composed of recycled PET bottles. Softtouch elements like armrests are made from Suedia, which is a man-made microsuede material. There’s also ‘Nisha’ decorative trim on the doors, enhanced with LED ambient lighting with ten colour options. Passenger comfort has been improved, with electric adjustment and memory functionality available as an option for the front passenger seat from SE L trim upwards. VarioFlex rear seating is still offered as well, with three individual rear seats that split and fold in a 40:20:40 fashion.

Two digital instrument displays are available: an eight-inch standard setup, or a 10.25-inch display standard on higher versions or available as an option. The touchscreen infotainment display is eight inches as standard, or 9.2 inches for the top Columbus system, and all feature wireless updates, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

As before, there’s a choice of two diesel engines, both with the same 2.0litre capacity and either 114 or 148bhp on tap. They’re offered with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional seven-speed DSG transmission, although the latter does reduce torque output slightly for the automatic. A ‘twin dosing’ AdBlue exhaust gas treatment system and two catalytic converters are fitted to reduce tailpipe emissions.

Safety has been improved with added driver aids, including predictive cruise control that uses data from the forwardfacing camera and navigation system to adjust for speed limits and corners. Traffic-sign recognition and semiautonomous driving in traffic have also been improved, too.

2023 FORD RANGER LOOKS TOUGHER AND MORE VERSATILE

Britain’s top-selling pick-up truck has been renewed for its fourth outing, with a tough new design, fresh engines and a heavily updated interior. The all-new Ford Ranger will have a hard act to follow, with the outgoing model setting a year-to-date sales record in Europe of 45,539 units, which is an impressive 40% market share.

At least the Ranger will have fewer rivals, thanks to Mitsubishi and Nissan recently leaving the market. The Volkswagen Amarok will be a sistervehicle to the latest Ranger, thanks to an agreement between the car giants to work together on commercial vehicles. Order books for the Ranger will open in late 2022, with the first customer deliveries in early 2023.

The Ranger’s design looks closer to the American F-150, with a larger grille featuring a horizontal bar that runs across its nose, surrounded at its flanks by C-shaped headlight clusters and daytime running lights. It’s physically bigger too, with a 50mm wider track and 50mm longer wheelbase. There are new integrated steps at either side of the rear bumper to improve access to the load bed. A hydro-formed nose structure has also created a bigger engine bay for larger powertrains, helping ‘future-proof the Ranger for other propulsion technologies’.

Ford has conducted over 5,000 interviews with owners, coming up with ideas like making the tailgate a mobile workbench, with an integrated ruler and clamp pockets, allowing tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts to measure, grip and cut building materials at the rear of the pick-up. Plastic cladding is designed to protect the bodywork, and there’s also a 400watt inverter for using electric tools and devices. A series of individual dividers can be used to help secure loads, from timber to toolboxes, or create smaller compartments to store objects that would normally need to go in the cabin, using spring-loaded cleats that clip into rails.

The interior is dominated by a new 10.1- or 12-inch portrait touchscreen in the centre console, loaded with Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment software. It sits alongside a digital instrument display, which can be customised to show the most useful information. There’s also an embedded FordPass modem, for online connectivity and a remote connection via the FordPass app. Equipment will also include a 360-degree camera to aid easier parking and safer off-roading.

A 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine will be offered for the first time, satisfying customers who want to tow heavy loads and enjoy ‘extreme off-roading’ according to Ford. It will sit above an evolution of the current 2.0-litre diesel powerplant, which will be available in single and bi-turbo configurations, with the latter providing increased power without sacrificing fuel efficiency.

It will also be the first Ranger with two types of four-wheel drive system: a more affordable setup which can be switched between rear- and fourwheel drive, and an advanced full-time system that’s electronically controlled. Approach angles have been increased, and the rear suspension dampers have been moved outboard of the frame rails, to improve the ride comfort on- and off-road.

Pick-up fans will have XLT, Limited and Wildtrak versions to choose from at launch, with a new Raptor flagship model expected to be revealed in 2022.

GENESIS ELECTRIFIED GV70 MAKES CHINA DEBUT

An all-electric version of the Genesis GV70 SUV has been unveiled at the Guangzhou motor show in China, with a range in excess of 310 miles. The Electrified GV70 shares technology with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, and is likely to reach Europe in late 2022, costing around £60,000.

Unlike Hyundai’s more affordable models, its luxury offshoot’s Electrified GV70 is fitted with dual motors and four-wheel drive as standard, giving it 483bhp and 516lb ft of torque. This should propel the SUV from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds in its ‘Boost Mode’. Rapid-charging and an 800-volt architecture also means the Genesis can charge from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes, at a speed of 350kW.

As well as being able to ingest electricity, the GV70 also features V2L (Vehicle to Load), which can provide 3.6kW to external sources, such as electrical appliances, anywhere the vehicle can travel. Other clever technology includes the Disconnector Actuator System (DAS), which automatically connects and disconnects the motor and drive shaft to switch the car from two- to four-wheel drive, reducing power loss for better efficiency until more traction is needed. There’s also something called ‘i-Pedal’, which stands for ‘intelligent pedal’, that allows one-pedal driving, but also takes into account driving habits, navigation information and road conditions to adjust the amount of regenerative braking applied.

From the outside, the Electrified GV70 doesn’t look radically different, but its grille has been subtly blanked off to reduce drag, and there are new air vents designed to smooth airflow along the sides of the car. There are no tailpipes at the rear, and a few new paint colours (including the unique ‘Atacama Copper’ finish) and low-drag 20-inch alloy wheels help the EV version stand out.

The show car has a Glacier White interior, which is constructed using a variety of eco-friendly materials. It should also be quiet, thanks to active noise cancelling technology that uses four sensors and eight microphones to analyse road noises and create inverted sound waves to help reduce their effect. Meanwhile, Preview Electronic Control Suspension uses the front camera and navigation system to look out for large bumps and adjust the suspension accordingly.

POLESTAR 5 TEASED

The forthcoming Polestar 5 has been teased in a new video from the electric vehicle manufacturer, providing the clearest look yet at the production version of the earlier Precept concept. The sleek all-electric fastback will be a rival for the Audi e-tron GT, Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S when it arrives on sale in late 2022.

It appears to retain the concept’s overall aesthetic, albeit with slightly smoother lines and the appearance of conventional rear door handles, that indicate the Precept’s suicide rear doors and the lack of a B-pillar won’t make it to production. Polestar’s individual lighting graphic with a fullwidth rear light bar can be clearly seen, and there’s also a glimpse of the split-level front lights from the concept.

The Precept’s minimalist interior may well arrive almost intact, although its four-seat layout is likely to be swapped for a conventional rear bench as standard, even if individual rear sports seats are offered as an option. A Mercedes-Benz S-Class rivalling wheelbase should ensure occupants have plenty of interior space and legroom, and the Polestar 5 is likely to get a range of more than 310 miles.

HYUNDAI IONIQ 7 PREVIEWED BY SEVEN CONCEPT

Hyundai’s large Ioniq 7 electric SUV has been previewed by the Seven concept car, unveiled at the LA motor show. It’s a distinctive take on the seven-seat EV formula, with the same mixture of retro and futuristic styling seen in the Ioniq 5.

Its nose is dominated by a ‘Parametric Pixel’ design of LEDs, that both sweep across the nose of the car, and sit in vertical bands flanking its lower grille. Another band of pixels spans the tailgate, beneath a glass screen.

The interior has been designed to harness the advantages brought by autonomous driving, with front seats that can turn to face the rear, and a sofalike back seat. This is one area where the concept is likely to deviate from the production Ioniq 7, which will probably get conventional three-row seating. Interior space should be very generous, thanks to a huge 3.2 metre wheelbase, that’s far larger than the 2.8 metres of a Hyundai Santa Fe, and a flat floor. Access is via ‘coach doors’ which open away from each other and have no B-pillar, creating a large side opening.

A retractable ‘control stick’ is hidden when not in use, and there are integrated screens for a ‘loungelike experience’. When facing each other, the Seven becomes a space where owners can ‘experience quality time alone or together in the glow of sidedoor ambient light’ and there’s even a mini fridge to provide chilled refreshments, along with shoecare compartments that can refresh your footwear. When occupants leave the vehicle unattended, ‘UVC Sterilisation’ activates, using UVC lights to kill any bacteria or viruses inside the cabin.

It sits on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, the Seven is said to be able to charge at up to 350kW, taking its battery from 10 to 80% in around 20 minutes. Hyundai also says it is targeting a range of over 300 miles for its largest SUVw.

KIA CONCEPT EV9 IS THE BOXY SEVEN-SEAT SUV OF THE FUTURE

Kia is gearing up to launch its electric large SUV, and the Concept EV9 gives the best indication yet as to how it will look. With almost no design elements carried over from the Kia Sorento, it’s a bold concept that fans of boxy looks and flat surfaces will love.

At the front, there’s a radical new take on Kia’s family face, with a closed grille and array of ‘start cloud pattern’ small LEDs called ‘Digital Tiger Face’. It’s surrounded by large chrome elements, behind which the bonnet slopes to emphasise the Concept EV9’s height, before plateauing in a large flat surface beneath an upright windscreen. Its flanks feature almost flat doors, which go out sharply to accommodate boxy wheel arches and large 22-inch three-spoke alloy wheels.

At the rear, there’s an upright tailgate, with a sharp crease at the same height as the shoulder line, above which sits Kia’s new badge. The boot is bordered by vertical taillights, while a chunky black and silver bumper marks the car out as a tough SUV.

It might not look it, but the shape has been honed to be aerodynamic, with new front air vents to reduce the ‘frontal mass’ of the vehicle. At the base of the windscreen, there’s also a solar panel to help recuperate energy, and its roof rails retract when not in use, improving airflow over the vehicle. Furthermore, cameras replace traditional door mirrors.

At 4,930mm long, 2,055mm wide and 1,790mm in height, the seven-seat EV9 is similar in size to the Kia Telluride that’s popular in the USA, but the EV9’s 3,100mm wheelbase is even longer, providing more interior space for occupants and their luggage. The interior is dominated by a 27-inch ‘ultra-wide’ display, which is the ‘nerve centre’ of the car according to Kia. Instead of a traditional steering wheel, there’s a ‘pop-up steering pad’ that’s seamlessly integrated into the interior.

As Kia embraces autonomous technology, it’s also shifting the anticipated purpose of the interior. The Concept EV9 has three ‘interior’ modes. Active Mode is when the car is on the move, while Pause Mode makes the interior more like a first-class lounge, with front and third-row seats that face each other, while the middle row becomes a table. In stationary Enjoy Mode, the interior becomes a ‘downtime breakout space’, with an open tailgate that allows occupants to take in the outdoors from the comfort of their fully electric SUV.

Based on the same E-GMP platform as the Kia EV6, the brand’s largest electric SUV is expected to get 350kW charging – for topups in around 20 minutes – and a range of close to 300 miles. It isn’t expected to necessarily be sold in the UK.

MAZDA LAUNCHES

YARIS-BASED 2 SUPERMINI

The next Mazda2 supermini’s design and specifications have been announced, and it looks an awful lot like the Toyota Yaris. And that’s because for this generation, the car is the result of a collaboration between the Japanese manufacturers, resulting in the latest 2 being a rebadged Yaris Hybrid.

Due to arrive in the UK in April 2022, the 2 will be the brand’s first fullhybrid, with the same 90bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine, 79bhp electric motor, and small battery pack as the Toyota, with a total output of 114bhp. This will allow it to return up to 74mpg, with CO2 tailpipe emissions of between 87 and 93g/km, depending on specification. Acceleration to 62mph takes 9.7 seconds, with a top speed of 108mph.

The Mazda2 Hybrid always starts in its EV mode, and can drive with zero emissions for short distances before the petrol engine kicks in. Energy is added during deceleration and braking, where kinetic energy is recovered and stored in the battery. The engine can also add power to the battery, and the ‘Self-Charging’ system never needs plugging in.

The Hybrid’s interior will be virtually identical to the Toyota’s, save for the new badges, and is said to provide space for five adults and a 286-litre boot for their luggage. It will also share the Yaris’ safety kit, and therefore benefits from its five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the Yaris it’s based on has a starting price of £20,210 here in the UK. In Europe, the Mazda2 Hybrid will be offered in Pure, Agile and Select trim levels, though these are expected to change for the UK market. While the Mazda2 Hybrid is all-new and will be built by Toyota at its European factory, the recently updated mild hybrid Mazda2 will continue to be sold alongside, meaning that, rather confusingly, two different small hatchbacks will be on sale in Mazda showrooms, both wearing Mazda2 badges.

PLUG & GO PLEDGE BY VAUXHALL

Vauxhall has launched a ‘Plug & Go’ offer to make switching to electric easier. The deal includes a free home charging wallbox, eight years’ roadside assistance and a battery warranty lasting for the same duration, along with free servicing, and this applies to all plug-in hybrid and pure electric models.

Other notable perks include a free sixmonth subscription to BP Pulse, one of the UK’s largest charging networks, with more than 7,000 charging points across the country. Customers can choose between a PodPoint Solo 3 or Hive EV Charging wallbox, which includes free home installation, and is worth around £800.

A further perk is three years of free servicing. Vauxhall’s eight-year/100,000 mile battery warranty will also be transferable, and guarantees that the battery should retain at least 70% of its charging capacity during the period. Plug & Go is available to buyers of the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, New Grandland Hybrid-e, Astra Hybrid-e, Combo-e Life, Combo-e, Vivaro-e and Movano-e.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors, said: “Vauxhall is helping to move Britain into the electric era with our Plug & Go offer that aims to remove the barriers to making the switch to electric and simplify the electric vehicle ownership experience. Switching to electric is now an even better choice for Vauxhall customers with an easy, all-inone package covering home and public charging, warranty, roadside assistance and servicing. Vauxhall is committed to making electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle ownership as simple as possible, as we continue to progress towards becoming a 100% electric brand by 2028.”

737BHP PHEV BMW CONCEPT XM

BMW has taken the wraps off its Concept XM, a plug-in hybrid performance SUV from BMW’s M performance division, that’s set to make its debut in production form in late 2022. It’s only the second time In M’s history it has launched a standalone model, with the first being the low-slung M1 sports car from the late 1970s.

The Concept XM is powered by a new M Hybrid powertrain, adding an 111bhp electric motor and 24kWh battery to BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine. Thanks to the petrol engine – which is shared with the BMW M5 – the SUV has a combined output of 737bhp, which will make it BMW’s most powerful car to go into series production. The XM should have an EV range of up to 50 miles.

It’s also said to preview a new face for BMW’s next generation of luxury models, which is described as a ‘progressive and distinctive take on BMW X model design’. There’s a large set of kidney grilles with angular illuminated edges and filled with horizontal bars. Ultra-slim headlights sit in the crease beneath the leading edge of the bonnet, and a discreet, blacked out bumper makes the grille appear as if it’s floating.

Large wheel arches and chunky 23-inch alloys give the XM a tough SUV stance, and its flanks are characterised by a black crease line flowing back from the headlights and kicking up at the rear of the glasshouse. The rear design is bold as well, with a cut-out roof creating a shallow tailgate that features an etched BMW roundel that’s a nod to the M1. A set of thin LED rear lights wraps around the rear of the car, and a deep diffuser is flanked by vertically stacked quad tailpipes.

Inside, there are elements of the iX electric SUV, but the interior has been given a sporting makeover, including bespoke M elements for the iDrive operating system. There are red accents on the steering wheel, the ‘driver cockpit’ is trimmed in brown leather, but this contrasts with the ‘lounge-like ambience’ in the rear of the cabin, that’s trimmed in velvet upholstery. There’s also deep-pile carpet with a diamond pattern for a more exclusive look.

A gentleman’s agreement with Citroën means that the German company is free to use the XM nameplate when the production car goes on sale.

BMW i7 LUXURY EV

TESTED TO EXTREMES

BMW has shown off its upcoming i7 limousine during winter testing, confirming that the German manufacturer’s first allelectric luxury saloon will be arriving in 2022. The MercedesBenz EQS rival is expected to sit alongside the 7 Series in the brand’s line-up.

Despite cladding and a disguise, it’s easy to make out that the i7 will retain a more traditional saloon shape than the futuristic EQS. However, the BMW is also likely to gain a bold kidney grille, along with slim new headlights.

BMW has also confirmed the i7 will use its fifth-generation of eDrive technology, which has already been seen in the iX SUV. This means the i7 is likely to get the same 71kWh and 105.2kWh battery sizes, providing around 400 miles of range between top ups in the flagship version. The iX xDrive40 and xDrive50 provide 322 and 516bhp respectively.

The interior has been kept under wraps, but the widescreen infotainment system featured in the iX can also be anticipated, running BMW’s latest software.

ASTRA SPORTS TOURER ESTATE REVEALED

Vauxhall has announced the Astra Sports Tourer estate, with more space for families thanks to a boot that’s almost 50% bigger than the hatchback. Available to order from early 2022 and expected to arrive with customers from next summer, the Sports Tourer will cost from around £26,500 in diesel guise, while the plug-in hybrid will be priced from approximately £35,000. Petrol editions will be the cheapest to buy, starting from £25,000.

It shares the striking ‘Vizor’ family face seen on Vauxhall’s latest models, which is a gloss black piece of trim between the headlights, disguising the car’s forward-facing sensors. The biggest changes for the Sports Tourer include a stretched roof complete with roof rails and a black rear spoiler. There’s also a wide set of slim LED rear lights, and body coloured rear bumper.

A reduced front overhang means the estate is 60mm shorter than the outgoing model, yet it has a 57mm longer wheelbase. Its boot measures 608 litres behind the rear seats, or 1,634 litres when the 40:20:40 back seats are folded down, resulting in a ‘completely flat’ surface to make loading long and bulky items easier. A lithium-ion battery pack reduces luggage volumes slightly for the plugin hybrid, but figures of 548 and 1,574 litres are still competitive.

Petrol and diesel versions can be fitted with an ‘Intelli-Space’ moveable floor, which can be adjusted into high, low or tilted (at a 45-degree angle) positions with one hand. A retractable parcel shelf can also be stowed under the floor in either of its heights. Emergency tyre repair and first aid kits can also be accessed from either the boot or rear seating area, making it possible to take them out without fully unpacking the boot at the roadside.

Diesel power will come from a 1.5litre four-cylinder engine producing 129bhp, with the choice of either a six-speed manual or eightspeed automatic transmission as standard. Plug-in hybrid versions have a combined output of up to 221bhp from its petrol engine and electric motor, and Vauxhall is yet to announce official efficiency figures. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on the plugin hybrid editions, which can travel for around 30 miles with zero tailpipe emissions. Completing the line-up are a range of 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engines developing 109 and 129bhp. In the hatchback line-up, they duck under the 125g/km CO2 barrier that EcoCar adopts, but it isn’t known whether the Astra Sports Tourer will be similarly efficient.

Three trim levels will be on offer, in Design, GS Line and Ultimate editions. The diesel engine is available with all three versions, while the plug-in hybrid is reserved just for the GS Line and Ultimate models.

TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS GUNNING FOR QASHQAI

The Toyota Corolla Cross has been confirmed for the UK in 2022, slotting into the gap between the C-HR and RAV4. The five-seat SUV will be built in Japan, and features new hybrid technology for the brand, along with debuting its latest infotainment system. Prices haven’t been announced, but the Cross is expected to start from under £30,000 when it arrives in autumn next year.

With more conventional styling than the C-HR, the Corolla Cross will give Toyota a direct rival to the NIssan Qashqai, as it’s a few centimetres longer. Based on TNGA underpinnings, power will come from Toyota’s fifthgeneration hybrid setup. This uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine, along with a 111bhp electric motor for a combined output of 195bhp. As standard, this is sent to the front wheels, getting the SUV from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, but a four-wheel drive version will also be available. Here, a 41bhp rear motor is added for all-wheel drive traction, but the total power output and its acceleration figure remains the same.

The new ‘Europe-specific’ infotainment setup includes a 12.3inch instrument screen and 10.5-inch central touchscreen, with all-new hardware and software. Described as the ‘largest in its segment’, the instrument panel is said to increase space for ‘content, flexibility and customisation, to personalise the presentation of data such as fuel consumption, hybrid system operation and navigation.’

It uses a faster processor, enabling real-time traffic information, cloudbased navigation, over-the-air software updates and the ability to control functions using voice commands. It’s also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Owners will be able to interact with the car remotely using the ‘MyT’ smartphone app, including checking on door locking and setting the climate control.

Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of technology has been updated to include its Pre-Collision System with ‘acceleration suppression’ at low speeds, along with improved collision detection at junctions.

ALL-ELECTRIC LEXUS RZ CROSSOVER TEASED

Lexus has issued teasers for an upcoming clean-sheet EV which is set to be named RZ. We won’t have long to wait, because the crossover is planned to arrive in Lexus showrooms in the first half of 2022, based on the design of the LF-Z Electrified concept that made its debut in 2021.

The RZ will be based on the same e-TNGA platform as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, and it’s likely to be the sportiest version of the trio, as Lexus intends for the RZ to define the driving characteristics of its battery electric models.

It uses ‘Direct4’ technology, with fine control of electric motors on each axle to adjust torque spending on steering and throttle inputs, along with road conditions. It will also have steer-by-wire, eliminating a physical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. This can work with Direct4 to improve agility and enable U-turns with less input from the driver.