Mason Gibbons

A first glimpse at Range Rover PHEV highlights its rough edges, but with some polishing it will add a much needed string to Land Rover's bow There aren’t too many more refined and luxurious ways to travel than in a Range Rover. Yet there is a way of making a Range Rover more refined and luxurious: electrify it.The early days of the electrified car have been quite unusual in terms of which cars have got the technology first.Normally, it’s the big expensive cars that get the big and expensive new technology first before dripping down to the rest of the market as it becomes more affordable and widely available.Yet that’s not been the case with electric and plug-in hybrid models, for we’ve seen the likes of £30,000-plus city cars that no one has bought and that have hindered rather than enhanced the inevitable switch to electrification.Which is even more odd given just how refined, quiet and premium an electric drivetrain is, making it perfect for a big and expensive luxury car in the...

The Porsche 718 Boxster is already a compelling car, but a few tweaks on the dynamics and power fronts make the GTS almost the perfect roadster Here is the Porsche 718 Boxster GTS, the latest incarnation of a car that's held in very high regard here at Autocar.Revealed to the public at the Los Angeles motor show, the new open-top roadster is set for UK delivery in mid-December. With a starting price of £59,866, it's priced £1861 below its fixed-roof sibling, the 718 Cayman GTS, with which it shares its upgraded mechanical package.Over the years, Porsche has reserved the GTS name for some very memorable models. Again it has on this occasion. The 718 Boxster GTS slots into the line-up above the 718 Boxster S, bringing with it a number of subtle styling changes, a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine and detailed changes to its chassis.  Among the more important changes brought to the car's 2.5-litre flat-four is the adoption of a larger intak...

Is the faster Cayman GTS the car to convince purists of a four-cylinder Porsche? You’ll be familiar with the premise of Porsche’s GTS models by now: take any car in the range, add the options most buyers opt for anyway, tickle the power output and charge less for it than it would cost to add the options individually. Oh yes, and don’t forget some natty new wheels and black detailing.Familiar it may be but the GTS models are consistently successful too, adding additional dynamism and performance to already potent vehicles. For this turbocharged Cayman power is up 15bhp to 361bhp, with torque now at 317lb ft thanks to a new turbo and intake system. Standard on the GTS that would be optional on the S are Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package, a mechanical limited-slip differential and PASM – Porsche’s adaptive damping system.Note as well the 20-inch wheels and black accents outside, plus swathes of Alcantara inside. The Cayman doesn’t deviate from the GTS copy book then, but on previous experie...

Step aside, Chevrolet Bolt EV. There's a new king of the (sort of) affordable electric-car segment. Well, maybe the Bolt EV can stay right where it is for two main reasons. First, there are very few Model 3s on the road at this point due to Tesla's problems with "production hell." Second, no early buyers will see a price anywhere near the $35,000...

The Volkswagen brand grabs a lot of the headlines surrounding VW Group's electrification plans, but Porsche will also help lead the way forward. In fact, Porsche is so confident in its electrified future that it believes half of its total sales will encompass plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles by 2025. Porsche currently offers six...

Mercedes-Benz created the four-door "coupe" segment with the CLS-Class more than a decade ago. Now that stylish segment is chock full of competitors including the Audi A7, BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, Porsche Panamera, even the Kia Stinger, plus a number of other fastback-inspired sedans. Now Mercedes-Benz is ready to launch the third-generation CLS...

Only one image of the Uniti city car has been shown so far Swedish start-up pledges to modernise urban mobility in a “sustainable manner” A Swedish start-up called Uniti will reveal an all-new electric model next week with the promise that it can “reinvent the modern city car”. The company, which has partnered with German tech giant Siemens for the project,  has ambitious plans to produce up to 50,000 units per year once the car arrives on roads from 2019. CEO Lewis Horne said Uniti’s small EV, developed as part of a three-year programme, is made from recyclable carbonfibre and organic composite materials to reduce its environmental impact. Horne explained that these materials can be manufactured via a fully automated process. He describes the car’s structure as “scalable”, with two- and four-seat variants planned for production. BMW i8 Roadster unveiled with 369bhp The autonomous-capable car, which is classed as an electric heavy quadricycle like the Renault Twizy , h...

What’s in a name? Well, for Lincoln, it’s a lot. We’re looking at the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus now, and also the luxury automaker’s future. And we mean it this time. In reality, the Nautilus is an updated MKX with a new nose. From some angles we see a lot of styling elements directly from the MKX. Inside, it’s more of...

Do you ever head out in your Chevrolet Camaro, punch the gas, and wish you had more traction? That's a plausible scenario. Especially if you've purchased one of the more powerful Camaro variants, or you've modified your car so it makes more horsepower. You could go with larger, stickier tires. You could upgrade the suspension. Or, if you're United...

The wait is finally over. The 2018 Jeep Wrangler is here, and even if it’s the worst-kept secret, it’s still everything we hoped for—and more. The looks haven’t changed. The interior feels like it can still be dipped in mud. And just look at it: just climb a friggin mountain in it already. DON'T MISS: 2020 Jeep Wrangler...

Our sister title's annual competition opens again on 1 December with 12 presents up for grabs It's that time of the year again when Autocar's sister title Pistonheads opens its 12 Days of Christmas competition, offering you the chance to win a prize every day. Open to readers of Autocar and/or Pistonheads who have an account on either site, all you have to do to stand a chance of winning is check back on this page (or Pistonheads) every day and enter your details on the form included (it'll be added tomorrow). Below, in no particular order, is an overview of the prizes and the very generous companies that have donated them. As for which prize will be up for grabs on which day, well, you’ll just have to check back and see. Good luck! Tuition by Reg Local Car care by Autobrite Haymarket magazine subscription Experience at Bookatrack In car electronics by Pioneer Machine polishing by Dodo Juice Car hire by Morgan Detailing and more by PRO Detailer Magazine in...

You might know that there's a physical difference between race car brakes and street car brakes. The size of the rotors, the materials used in the pads, and the brake lines are all going to be upgraded to handle the rigors of motorsport. But that's only part of the story. Did you know that more is going on under the skin of the vehicle as it...

Aston Martin has ramped up plans to enter Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2021 by recruiting ex-Ferrari F1 engine chief Joerg Ross and starting work on its concept

Maseratis are already stylish vehicles, but you can now up the wow factor just a tad more with a styling package called Nerissimo. Maserati announced the package on Thursday at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, presenting it on a 2018 Levante and Quattroporte. It will also be available on the 2018 Ghibli. It adds Nero black paint for the body...

Crossovers get a lot of attention on the roads these days. Infiniti could use that kind of attention. But not just any crossover will do. Only one that's packed with plenty of "firsts" to stand out from the crowd will turn heads. The highlight reel for the new 2019 Infiniti QX50 reads like an engineer's dream. There's a new front-wheel-drive...

BMW is working on new generation of its X5. The latest testers are wearing barely any camouflage gear, suggesting the reveal can’t be far. Jeep has finally put all the rumors to rest by confirming that its recently revealed JL Wrangler will be available as a plug-in hybrid. The hybrid option will be launched for 2020. Hyundai has a new...

LA MOTOR SHOW STAR CARS We've picked our favourite new models on display at the year's last motor show. Scroll through the gallery to see our choices... Autocar staffers pick their standout machines from the halls of the Los Angeles show This year's Los Angeles motor show features a variety of new metal, ranging from dinky electric city cars to tarmac-stretching V8 supercars, with a few quirky LA show-specific models thrown in for good measure. Now that Autocar's team has ogled every new offering and the press days are coming to a close, we pick our favourites and reveal why they caught our attention. Let us know what your show stars are in the comments below. LA motor show and gallery - full report and gallery Steve Cropley - Chris Bangle's  Redspace eletric city car Chris Bangle’s extraordinary new Redspace is my LA star car, not because I think we’ll all be driving such outlandish cars in the short term but because I know of old how influentia...

The real transformation begins as the Volvo wheels go on. It's not as easy as it first seems, though... The Lupo is one of the biggest causes of stress in my life right now. There, I said it.  It’s the wheels, mainly. Find below the heavily abridged process. Abridged because “those bloody wheels”, as they became known, were a soul-destroying, heartbreaking saga. With a happy ending, at least. See, I didn’t choose wheels that would be easy to fit. I chose Volvo Libra wheels; aluminium wheels from the C30, S40 and V50 DrivE models from a few years back. Not matching the Lupo’s 4x100 bolt pattern whatsoever, I might add, being of 5x108 pattern. Adapters were needed, as were tyres. Adapters were easy to find; the forums helped me find a company in Bulgaria that makes custom adapters for obscure wheel combinations. Translation issues aside, these arrived within a reasonable time – although without the correct bolts.  Bolts sourced (after a lot of searching, stress and next-...

1935 FORD SHOP TRUCK: Purchased by Gene Winfield, this 1935 truck was originally restored in March 1960. It was then sold in 1965 "to a guy named buddy who lived in Oregon", and lost for years, before being found and restored in 2008. There are plenty of stars cars on display in the Los Angeles convention centre - and some decidedly odd ones Motor shows aren't all about new cars, or even purely about machinery that you'll see on the road during your daily commute. And that was proven by some of the machinery on display at this year's Los Angeles motor show . Los Angeles motor show - full report and gallery From restored classics and barn finds, to wacky one-off creations - with a few weird 1970s dragsters and custom forklift trucks thrown in - there was bizarre machinery spread throughout the Los Angeles convention centre. In between shooting all of the new cars , out intrepid snapper Luc Lacey took plenty of shots of his favourite oddities. Check them out ...

Lincoln will board the car subscription bandwagon as it announced on Tuesday at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show a pilot program that will launch in early 2018. Lincoln will launch the unnamed subscription program in California. It will include access to a car along with insurance, maintenance, roadside assistance, and vehicle pickup, all in a...

Ford is one of 10 automotive brands seeking to reduce its resource usage BMW, Daimler and Ford are three of eight car and lorry makers aiming to reduce their impact on the planet Eight leading car brands and two lorry manufacturers have joined forces in an attempt to reduce the amount of raw materials they use in production. BMW , Daimler, Ford , Honda , Jaguar Land Rover , Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group and Volvo Cars have linked with Volvo Group and Scania in an initiative called Drive Sustainability. Drive Sustainability has been working to improve the efficiency of industry supply chains, which include resource extraction, processing and production, for five years. The objective for the new partners is to reduce the amount or improve the sustainability of new materials needed to produce vehicles. This is seen as important because vehicles, while often vastly more sustainable than before, are still extremely resource intensive. Research shows that, on avera...

Hyundai’s Veloster is a great deal of fun for buyers on a budget. It offers agile handling, punchy performance and decent space, all for a reasonable starting price of around $18k. Soon, a sharp-looking successor will arrive on the scene. The new Veloster is due for a debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show taking place in...

The Subaru Ascent SUV contains 19 cup and bottle holders The new Subaru Ascent SUV features a whopping 19 cupholders. But what do you do with so many drink receptacles? The new Subaru Ascent , revealed at the Los Angeles motor show , is a very American sort of SUV. Which is to say it’s big (it’s the largest Subaru ever), practical, comfortable, can house up to nine people and can tow big things. There are vast chunks of America where such things matter. Los Angeles motor show - full report and gallery As car firms do when launching most new large, practical SUVs, Subaru made much of the Ascent’s practicality, highlighting the multiple seating configurations, safety features and plentiful storage space. And descriptions of that storage space included one stat that really stood out to me: the Ascent has 19 cup and bottle holders. Nineteen. Nineteen ! Subaru Ascent SUV launched at LA motor show That’s a lot of cupholders. Enough, according to my rudimentary maths, to hold 19 cups....

Sebastian Vettel says the "fair beating" Ferrari got in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix shows just how much work the Formula 1 team has to do ahead of 2018

Our first drive of the E34-generation BMW 5 Series came in the range-topping, 3.5-litre six-cylinder 535i model The E34 BMW 5 Series was the executive saloon to beat during its decade of service and noted for its exemplary reliability. The third-generation model made a great leap over the E28 which preceded it, having been developed in parallel with the E32 7 Series , with it echoing the larger model terms of both styling and engineering. As Autocar put it on 25 May 1988 this was, "a combination that answers many of the criticisms levelled at previous 5 Series and in all but one respect – cabin room – provides BMW dealers with a solidly improved new model". The E34 was longer, wider and more rigid than its predecessor (some things never change) while its low nose, wedge-shaped profile and coupé-like rear provided an 18% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. Over the car's life there were to be myriad engine variations – some developed from those used in the E28,...

With the arrival of the 2019 Volvo XC40 in showrooms next spring, car shoppers will have a new option for payment. Volvo is introducing a subscription-based payment system called Care by Volvo, and on Wednesday at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show we learned exactly what it will entail. The XC40 is the first car available via Care by Volvo. The cost...

SUV concept majors on tech and off-road ability; it features removable cameras and lights and can livestream videos of journeys online Toyota has created this Future Toyota Adventure Concept to show how a high-tech SUV can be used to support active lifestyles. The one-off model, on display at the  LA motor show  and also referred to as the FT-AC, applies Toyota design language to a rugged, off-road-capable platform that features removable infrared cameras, lights that can be attached to bicycles and wi-fi connectivity. This tech enables the car to be linked to a user’s smartphone, tablet or laptop, to transfer journey footage or livestream it directly to social media. Toyota North America vice president Jack Hollis said this makes the FT-AC “perfect for those outdoor enthusiasts who want to dial up the adventure on their weekend getaways”. In order to enhance the FR-AC's off-road abilities, it features skidplates to protect its underside, wheel arch protectors and ...