Latest news with #Autocar
Auto Car
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Largest, most luxurious BMW lives on for a second generation
BMW has started testing the next iteration of the X7, weeks after confirming the luxury SUV would live on for a second generation. A heavily camouflaged prototype has been spotted on public roads for the first time, revealing key details. For example, it wears a set of functional exhaust pipes, confirming it will stick with combustion power – although an EV is also on the cards. It also appears to share key hardpoints such as its C-pillar with the current X7, suggesting that it will be a major update for the current car (launched in 2019) rather than an all-new car. Autocar understands that it will be underpinned by an upgraded version of the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) structure that is used for the existing X7, as well as the 7 Series and i7 saloons. It also appears to retain the current split-headlight design of the current iteration, but adopts the same gloss-black front fascia that will become a signature of the brand's upcoming Neue Klasse cars. These include the 3 Series, X3 and 5 Series. BMW has yet to indicate when the new X7 will arrive, but documents sent to US dealers previously suggested it would launch in 2027, a year after the new X5. 'We are in a phase where flexibility is required,' BMW R&D boss Frank Weber previously told Autocar. 'We have to detach ourselves from how we have perceived platforms up to now. 'There is an increasing realisation that the art of mastering diversity in your portfolio lies in how you use and network major components – engines, motors, battery cells, on-board computers, control units, app functions, and software upgrades.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Future VW Golf R EV Could Use Radical In-Wheel Motors
Volkswagen is said to be working on a hot version of the ID 2 small hatchback, likely to be known as the ID 2 R. While VW doesn't sell a hatchback smaller than the Golf in the United States, the ID 2 R could pave the way for the future all-electric Golf R, and VW seems to have come up with a clever way of integrating electric motors. These plans were revealed by Autocar, with its sources suggesting the ID 2 R will use electric hub motors situated in the rear wheels. As we'll see, this layout has multiple benefits. VW is already expected to debut the electric in 2026, but the new ID 2 R will be a lot more advanced. In addition to the front-mounted electric motor in the GTI, the R model will get independently controlled motors within the rear wheels, dramatically increasing performance and enabling all-wheel drive, which has traditionally been associated with the Golf R. By not going the more conventional dual-motor route, VW will be able to save weight and reduce the impact on trunk space, both important considerations in a compact car. Whereas the ID 2 GTI will make around 286 horsepower, a more likely output in the three-motor ID 2 R will be about 400 hp. This, together with the torque vectoring made possible by the hub motors, should make for a shockingly quick and agile hot hatch. Even more performance could be extracted from the larger Golf R EV with the same setup. While hub motors have many advantages, they can also increase unsprung mass - the weight of the components not supported by the suspension - which can negatively impact handling and grip. On the upside, the ID 2 R's tech has the potential to filter through to other small VWs with all-wheel drive. It would also allow cars with FWD, RWD, and AWD to be more easily built on the same platform, reducing costs and complexity. For now, the Golf R will soldier on as a potent ICE hatchback with its 328-hp turbo engine, snappy dual-clutch transmission, and dependable AWD system. But the potential of an electric successor looks bright - don't expect it to arrive much earlier than 2029 or 2030, though, especially with multiple brands backtracking on their EV plans. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Britain's most popular car brand is launching groundbreaking hot hatch with 4-wheel drive & blistering 400bhp engine
BRITAIN'S most popular car brand has announced plans to create a groundbreaking new hot hatch. The 4-wheel drive car has a ferocious 400bhp engine, injecting some power into your drive, while Volkswagen takes on some stiff competition in the market. 4 Volkswagen have become known over the years for their dependable motors and relaxed driving experience. Vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf have seen overhauls over the years but have largely remained similar with each new model. That model has allowed Volkswagen to become the UK's favourite car brand, selling 166,000 models in Britian in 2024. However, the German manufacturer has announced plans to shake-up its slow-and-steady reputation. Executives are exploring giving a green light to producing the high-performance ID 2 R. The car would be the brand's first model to use in-wheel motors and would come fitted with a blistering 400bhp engine. Having two additional electric hub motors, alongside the standard ones within the rear vehicles, will boost the cars performance - without sacrificing boot space. According to Autocar, the German manufacturer is considering using a Balkan partner to develop the ID 2 R. It will also use dynamic drive modes, brake-based yaw control and predictive torque distribution. Volkswagen's R division hopes to ensure that the car remains light and responsive, despite the added weight. The hothatch would be going head-to-head with the turbo-charged Renault 5 Turbo 3E in the market for high-powered family cars. Inside the Volkswagen ID Renault's Turbo 3E can reach 60mph in just 3.5 seconds and can reach high speeds of 168mph. When announcing the high-end vehicle, a spokesperson for the brand said: "In 1980, Renault 5 Turbo was the 1st French production car with a turbocharged petrol engine, delivering 160 hp. "In 2025, Renault 5 Turbo 3E gives the legend a boost with a dual 540 hp¹ electric powertrain and far superior performance. "Precision engineering, responsive handling, and next-generation innovation: the turbo spirit is back. 1,980 cars produced globally, with extreme customisation options, right down to tailor-made solutions from our designers." It is also an EV, meaning it emits far fewer emissions than most vehicles. Volkswagen have been approached for comment by The Sun. 4
Auto Car
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
New keyless car theft law 'won't stop the criminals'
Key hackers can now be jailed – but experts say issues go much deeper Open gallery More than 61,000 vehicles were reported stolen last year – and around 40% were taken without their keys Stolen cars are often taken to 'chop shops' to be broken for parts | Image: Greater Manchester Police Some stolen cars are shipped abroad, never to be recovered | Image: Thames Valley Police Close A new law intended to counter the UK's rise in keyless car thefts won't solve the problem, a leading figure in vehicle security has said. Last year, more than 61,343 vehicles were reported stolen, the third-highest figure in the past decade and double the 2015 total. And around 40% of those were stolen without their keys, by methods including relay attack, which tricks a car into believing the owner's key is present. In 2023, Autocar reported that one website was selling devices – costing from £2500 to £30,000 – capable of taking control of cars including Range Rovers, Ferraris and Lamborghinis via their on-board 'can bus' system (which enables the micro-controllers and processors to communicate with each other). Previously, prosecution for handling these and other devices used to steal vehicles was only possible if it could be proved by the police that they had been used to commit a specific crime. Under the new law, anyone who is found in possession of such a device or found to have imported, made, adapted or distributed one could receive a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. The owner of the device must prove that they were using it for a legitimate purpose to avoid being prosecuted. Diana Johnson, minister for policing, crime and fire prevention, said: 'These new laws will prevent these devices from getting into the hands of thieves and organised crime groups. 'We will also continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs' Council, which brings together the police and manufacturers to clamp down on vehicle crime.' But Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, a company that locates stolen cars with the help of the police, doesn't believe the new law will stop the criminals. 'In terms of countering electronic compromise, it's a step in the right direction, but it won't resolve the issue of keyless thefts,' he said. 'The support we get from the police in tracing stolen cars is magnificent and is why we have a 95% recovery rate. However, I believe there are elements in the judicial system who believe car theft is a victimless crime and that insurers will settle. They may think this way when sentencing. 'Bringing a car crime offender to justice and knowing full well that at court the sentence won't reflect the time and effort [used on] bringing them to justice is challenging for the police when their resources are stretched.' Wain added that while finding the 'chop shops' where stolen cars are broken for parts can look like a victory, their discovery is just the tip of an iceberg. He said: 'Chop shops are appearing up and down the country. However, very often the people arrested at the scene are not the orchestrators of the theft or operation. Instead, those people are often overseas. The people in the chop shop are just being paid to steal cars and break them up. So even if they're pursued through the courts, you're missing the top end of the organised crime group. 'Investigating those people uses resources that could be used elsewhere on the thin blue line. It's very difficult.' Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at Inn Track, another vehicle tracking company, believes a lack of co-operation between police forces could also undermine the new law. 'Cross-border investigations are very challenging, and if a car goes to another police area, recovery can be very inconsistent,' said the former detective superintendent. 'Recently, we were told that a Mercedes CLA had been stolen without the keys being present from a car park at Stansted airport in Essex. We tracked the car to a street where it had been parked up to 'cool off' while the thieves waited to see if it had been tracked. It had been stolen from the Essex Police area but found in the Metropolitan Police area. The Met told us to liaise with Essex, who said they had to ask the owner if they wanted their car forensically examined. They didn't, and so it was returned to them. The point is that, during this time, valuable opportunities to examine the car were lost and we don't know how it was stolen.' A spokesman for the Met couldn't comment on this case but said it has longstanding arrangements with neighbouring forces, notably Regional Organised Crime Units that work with the National Crime Agency, forces and other partners. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Audi RS6: V8 to live on alongside new EV
The 2026 Audi RS6 won't ditch its V8 engine but it will gain a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system and be sold alongside the electric RS6 e-tron, marking the first time the Audi Sport division has offered both electric and combustion-powered RS6s. According to Autocar, the next RS6 is expected in European showrooms in 2026 with Australia following shortly after, and Audi has been testing a V8 PHEV powertrain – much like that employed by the rival BMW M5. The move comes after a previous decision to make the next RS6 full-electric only was reversed after slower than anticipated sales for electric vehicles (EVs) saw the company ditch plans to sell only EVs by 2033. The strategic rethink also saw Audi confirm it would develop a new line of internal combustion engines to play a role in expanding its lineup of hybrid vehicles. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Instead of ditching the electric RS6 e-tron in favour of a hybrid version, however, Audi will offer customers both. The 2026 RS6 e-tron, like the A6 e-tron it's derived from, will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings, with the 2026 RS6 hybrid using the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture like the new-generation Audi A6 it's based on. The ability to produce both is helped by other brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Porsche, continuing to offer internal-combustion-engine hybrids alongside EVs, splitting development costs across more models. While the RS6 is a rival to the BMW i5 M60 and BMW M5 PHEV, given its similar size and price, the move more closely resembles the decision by BMW's M division to introduce both EV and hybrid models of the next BMW M3 on different platforms. Further hedging its bets, Audi will offer the RS6 in sedan and wagon body styles – reintroducing the sedan for the first time since 2010 – according to Autocar. The next RS6 is set to be the most powerful RS6 yet with the hybrid version expected to use a further developed version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – used by Porsche and Bentley – which makes 453kW/850Nm in the current RS6. Teamed with plug-in hybrid tech including an electric motor integrated into the transmission and a lithium-ion battery, power will jump to as much as 575kW/100Nm – the output the powertrain makes in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This endows the Panamera with a 2.9-second 0-100km/h time and 325km/h top speed. Those sorts of figures, if achieved in the RS6, would outmuscle the latest G90 BMW M5's performance, which sees 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a 305km/h top speed from its 727kW V8 PHEV. The RS6 e-tron is expected to build on the current Audi S6 e-tron – due in Australia this year with a 405kW/856Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain – by some margin and will be offered with the same 94.8kWh battery as the standard A6 e-tron. Audi's current high-performance EV is the RS e-tron GT performance, which produces 680kW and does the 0-100km/h dash in 2.5 seconds. A source told Autocar, however, that the RS6 e-tron is unlikely to be as powerful though there will be a "solid increase" over the S6 e-tron. Both petrol-hybrid and EV RS6s will look the part, with pumped-up body work, larger front air intakes as well as large alloy wheels housing high-performance brakes. More details are expected ahead of the 2026 Audi RS6's official unveiling, expected sometime later this year. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Audi RS6 won't ditch its V8 engine but it will gain a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system and be sold alongside the electric RS6 e-tron, marking the first time the Audi Sport division has offered both electric and combustion-powered RS6s. According to Autocar, the next RS6 is expected in European showrooms in 2026 with Australia following shortly after, and Audi has been testing a V8 PHEV powertrain – much like that employed by the rival BMW M5. The move comes after a previous decision to make the next RS6 full-electric only was reversed after slower than anticipated sales for electric vehicles (EVs) saw the company ditch plans to sell only EVs by 2033. The strategic rethink also saw Audi confirm it would develop a new line of internal combustion engines to play a role in expanding its lineup of hybrid vehicles. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Instead of ditching the electric RS6 e-tron in favour of a hybrid version, however, Audi will offer customers both. The 2026 RS6 e-tron, like the A6 e-tron it's derived from, will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings, with the 2026 RS6 hybrid using the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture like the new-generation Audi A6 it's based on. The ability to produce both is helped by other brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Porsche, continuing to offer internal-combustion-engine hybrids alongside EVs, splitting development costs across more models. While the RS6 is a rival to the BMW i5 M60 and BMW M5 PHEV, given its similar size and price, the move more closely resembles the decision by BMW's M division to introduce both EV and hybrid models of the next BMW M3 on different platforms. Further hedging its bets, Audi will offer the RS6 in sedan and wagon body styles – reintroducing the sedan for the first time since 2010 – according to Autocar. The next RS6 is set to be the most powerful RS6 yet with the hybrid version expected to use a further developed version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – used by Porsche and Bentley – which makes 453kW/850Nm in the current RS6. Teamed with plug-in hybrid tech including an electric motor integrated into the transmission and a lithium-ion battery, power will jump to as much as 575kW/100Nm – the output the powertrain makes in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This endows the Panamera with a 2.9-second 0-100km/h time and 325km/h top speed. Those sorts of figures, if achieved in the RS6, would outmuscle the latest G90 BMW M5's performance, which sees 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a 305km/h top speed from its 727kW V8 PHEV. The RS6 e-tron is expected to build on the current Audi S6 e-tron – due in Australia this year with a 405kW/856Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain – by some margin and will be offered with the same 94.8kWh battery as the standard A6 e-tron. Audi's current high-performance EV is the RS e-tron GT performance, which produces 680kW and does the 0-100km/h dash in 2.5 seconds. A source told Autocar, however, that the RS6 e-tron is unlikely to be as powerful though there will be a "solid increase" over the S6 e-tron. Both petrol-hybrid and EV RS6s will look the part, with pumped-up body work, larger front air intakes as well as large alloy wheels housing high-performance brakes. More details are expected ahead of the 2026 Audi RS6's official unveiling, expected sometime later this year. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Audi RS6 won't ditch its V8 engine but it will gain a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system and be sold alongside the electric RS6 e-tron, marking the first time the Audi Sport division has offered both electric and combustion-powered RS6s. According to Autocar, the next RS6 is expected in European showrooms in 2026 with Australia following shortly after, and Audi has been testing a V8 PHEV powertrain – much like that employed by the rival BMW M5. The move comes after a previous decision to make the next RS6 full-electric only was reversed after slower than anticipated sales for electric vehicles (EVs) saw the company ditch plans to sell only EVs by 2033. The strategic rethink also saw Audi confirm it would develop a new line of internal combustion engines to play a role in expanding its lineup of hybrid vehicles. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Instead of ditching the electric RS6 e-tron in favour of a hybrid version, however, Audi will offer customers both. The 2026 RS6 e-tron, like the A6 e-tron it's derived from, will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings, with the 2026 RS6 hybrid using the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture like the new-generation Audi A6 it's based on. The ability to produce both is helped by other brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Porsche, continuing to offer internal-combustion-engine hybrids alongside EVs, splitting development costs across more models. While the RS6 is a rival to the BMW i5 M60 and BMW M5 PHEV, given its similar size and price, the move more closely resembles the decision by BMW's M division to introduce both EV and hybrid models of the next BMW M3 on different platforms. Further hedging its bets, Audi will offer the RS6 in sedan and wagon body styles – reintroducing the sedan for the first time since 2010 – according to Autocar. The next RS6 is set to be the most powerful RS6 yet with the hybrid version expected to use a further developed version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – used by Porsche and Bentley – which makes 453kW/850Nm in the current RS6. Teamed with plug-in hybrid tech including an electric motor integrated into the transmission and a lithium-ion battery, power will jump to as much as 575kW/100Nm – the output the powertrain makes in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This endows the Panamera with a 2.9-second 0-100km/h time and 325km/h top speed. Those sorts of figures, if achieved in the RS6, would outmuscle the latest G90 BMW M5's performance, which sees 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a 305km/h top speed from its 727kW V8 PHEV. The RS6 e-tron is expected to build on the current Audi S6 e-tron – due in Australia this year with a 405kW/856Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain – by some margin and will be offered with the same 94.8kWh battery as the standard A6 e-tron. Audi's current high-performance EV is the RS e-tron GT performance, which produces 680kW and does the 0-100km/h dash in 2.5 seconds. A source told Autocar, however, that the RS6 e-tron is unlikely to be as powerful though there will be a "solid increase" over the S6 e-tron. Both petrol-hybrid and EV RS6s will look the part, with pumped-up body work, larger front air intakes as well as large alloy wheels housing high-performance brakes. More details are expected ahead of the 2026 Audi RS6's official unveiling, expected sometime later this year. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Audi RS6 won't ditch its V8 engine but it will gain a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system and be sold alongside the electric RS6 e-tron, marking the first time the Audi Sport division has offered both electric and combustion-powered RS6s. According to Autocar, the next RS6 is expected in European showrooms in 2026 with Australia following shortly after, and Audi has been testing a V8 PHEV powertrain – much like that employed by the rival BMW M5. The move comes after a previous decision to make the next RS6 full-electric only was reversed after slower than anticipated sales for electric vehicles (EVs) saw the company ditch plans to sell only EVs by 2033. The strategic rethink also saw Audi confirm it would develop a new line of internal combustion engines to play a role in expanding its lineup of hybrid vehicles. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Instead of ditching the electric RS6 e-tron in favour of a hybrid version, however, Audi will offer customers both. The 2026 RS6 e-tron, like the A6 e-tron it's derived from, will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings, with the 2026 RS6 hybrid using the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture like the new-generation Audi A6 it's based on. The ability to produce both is helped by other brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Porsche, continuing to offer internal-combustion-engine hybrids alongside EVs, splitting development costs across more models. While the RS6 is a rival to the BMW i5 M60 and BMW M5 PHEV, given its similar size and price, the move more closely resembles the decision by BMW's M division to introduce both EV and hybrid models of the next BMW M3 on different platforms. Further hedging its bets, Audi will offer the RS6 in sedan and wagon body styles – reintroducing the sedan for the first time since 2010 – according to Autocar. The next RS6 is set to be the most powerful RS6 yet with the hybrid version expected to use a further developed version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – used by Porsche and Bentley – which makes 453kW/850Nm in the current RS6. Teamed with plug-in hybrid tech including an electric motor integrated into the transmission and a lithium-ion battery, power will jump to as much as 575kW/100Nm – the output the powertrain makes in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This endows the Panamera with a 2.9-second 0-100km/h time and 325km/h top speed. Those sorts of figures, if achieved in the RS6, would outmuscle the latest G90 BMW M5's performance, which sees 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a 305km/h top speed from its 727kW V8 PHEV. The RS6 e-tron is expected to build on the current Audi S6 e-tron – due in Australia this year with a 405kW/856Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain – by some margin and will be offered with the same 94.8kWh battery as the standard A6 e-tron. Audi's current high-performance EV is the RS e-tron GT performance, which produces 680kW and does the 0-100km/h dash in 2.5 seconds. A source told Autocar, however, that the RS6 e-tron is unlikely to be as powerful though there will be a "solid increase" over the S6 e-tron. Both petrol-hybrid and EV RS6s will look the part, with pumped-up body work, larger front air intakes as well as large alloy wheels housing high-performance brakes. More details are expected ahead of the 2026 Audi RS6's official unveiling, expected sometime later this year. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from:
