10 HRS AGO - Report suggests government will speed up EV adoption in UK by advancing internal-combustion ban Reports suggest the UK government will advance its ban on the sale of new combustion-engined cars from 2040 to 2030 in an effort to speed up widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption. As first reported by The Guardian, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to officially announce the move in autumn as part of a wider, post-pandemic economic recovery plan. The newspaper cites sources as saying the plans were set to be publicised this week, but a recent rise in coronavirus cases has pushed it back until later this year.  A proposal to end sales of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars (including hybrids and plug-in hybrids) by 2040 was first announced in 2018 as part of the government’s strategy to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, before transport secretary Grant Shapps said earlier this year that such action could be taken by 2035 or even as early as 2032 if possible.  Members of the Collapse

15 HRS AGO - Electric compact crossover was originally expected later this year but now won't arrive until next spring Mercedes-Benz has postponed the official unveiling and market launch of its all-new EQA until 2021. The production version of the new electric crossover, previewed in lightly disguised prototype form during cold-weather testing last March, was originally planned to be revealed during the third quarter of 2020, with sales beginning before the end of the year. However, a reorganisation of Mercedes' electric car production activities, ongoing battery cell supply difficulties and interruptions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic are said to have forced a launch delay of around six months for the new model. Based heavily on the second-generation GLA crossover, the EQA will provide competition to the likes of the new Volkswagen ID 3. Among the key organisation changes that have affected the launch plan is a switch in the production location for the upcoming EQB, according to Mercedes Collapse

17 HRS AGO - Italian coachbuilder unveils its dramatically restyled take on the Ferrari F12, with cues from 1930s racers Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera has unveiled the Aero 3 as a restyled, limited-run take on the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.  The Milanese firm, known for the radically styled Alfa Romeo Disco Volante and Mini Superleggera Vision, says the new arrival is “the latest in a design concept that hails back to their historic role in developing the science of automotive aerodynamics”, and its motto - “weight is the enemy, air resistance the obstacle” - has underpinned its development.  The carbonfibre-bodied Aero 3 retains the overall silhouette of the F12 but has been completely redesigned, taking inspiration from mid-20th century Italian coachbuilders and 1930s race cars. Touring says each of the 15 cars being built will take more than 5000 hours to complete.  The car receives a completely new front end, dominated by a unique trapezoidal centre grille and a pair of prominent Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Cheaper, less powerful, more refined take on the big plug-in Volvo hits the nail right on the head. A more pleasant, practical, relaxing executive option you will not find Having been one of the first to offer plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains in its saloons, estate cars and SUVs, Volvo lauded an early lead over its mostly German rivals for anyone looking to cut their company car tax and fuel bills with an executive car they could plug into the mains. Gothenburg’s first PHEV offering was fully eight years ago now, though – and plenty has changed since. There’s now a lot of competition for plug-in hybrid fleet business, as well as much greater relative importance placed on those plug-in hybrids by the company car tax system, and model prices have steadily fallen.So having first pitched its PHEVs as diesel-electric options, and then as quite highly priced petrol-electric pseudo-performance options, Volvo is finally getting down to brass tacks and making its bigger plug-in options a Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Range-topping hatchback and saloon will be among the most powerful models in their segments Following the recent unveiling of the new Audi S3 hot hatchback, our spy photographers have snapped the hardcore RS3 variant in minimal disguise at the Nurburgring.  The range-topping model is set to take its power from the same turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol engine as the new RS Q3 performance SUV. The 394bhp output of this unit will make the RS3 one of the most powerful cars in its segment, just below the 416bhp Mercedes-AMG A45 S. The RS3 is likely to improve on the larger RS Q3’s 4.5sec 0-62mph time, potentially taking it below 4.0sec. It could also be capable of beating its 174mph top speed, although RS models are traditionally electronically limited to 155mph as standard. The prototype in these images wears much less camouflage than we've seen before, previewing how the RS3 will be differentiated from the S3, which is due to arrive in dealerships in October.  Its alloy Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Japanese imports more than 10 years old are charged a flat VED rate: £255 if the engine is more than 1549cc, £155 if it’s less ‘Grey imports’ are now much more accessible, thanks to the internet, and a great way to bag a bargain Not so many years ago, the world of unofficially imported cars was as cloudy as the term ‘grey imports’ suggests. The scene, particularly for Japanese domestic market (JDM) models, was familiar only to hardcore enthusiasts with a love for obscure machinery. Today, the world is a smaller place and the grey import market is thriving. There are specialists across the UK who either stock or will source any JDM car you care to think of, but the internet has made the DIY import route a much more accessible option. Scour the UK-orientated Japanese classifieds websites for go-to favourites such as the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline GT-R and you’ll find strong prices that might have you baulking at the protracted admin work of importing one Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - Will the SF90 prove a blueprint for supercars of the future? The Autocar verdict is mixed Combining a V8 with three electric motors makes the SF90 Stradale a 986bhp beast you can tame. Will it prove a blueprint? My first visit to Maranello came in 1993, to drive the then new 456GT for this very publication. It was in its own understated way a landmark car for Ferrari: all-new from end to end, the first with a six-speed manual gearbox and the first in far too long not to rely on the Fiat parts bin for the majority of its switchgear. It would shortly beget the 550 Maranello, so siring a line of front-engined V12 supercars that remains unbroken to this day. I can remember every moment of that trip and thinking to myself that the day that spending one’s time in such a way felt remotely normal would be the day I left this profession for good. Twenty-seven years and who knows how many trips later, that day seems as far off as ever. Not least because the most recent trip felt so like the Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Centodieci is latest limited-run Bugatti Rimac stakeholder Porsche is set to raise its stake in Croatian EV specialist to retain some control of Bugatti The Volkswagen Group is considering selling Bugatti to EV specialist Rimac as part of a consolidation of volume car operations – and Porsche looks set to play an integral role in the deal. The proposed sale, although not officially confirmed, was the main topic at a recent Volkswagen Group supervisory board member meeting, according to Germany’s Manager Magazin. It said chairman Herbert Diess is hopeful of concluding a signing of contracts by end of 2020. To enable Rimac to finance the purchase of Bugatti, Volkswagen Group-owned Porsche is expected to boost its current 15.5% shareholding in the Croatian company to as much as 49%. The increased Porsche shareholding in Rimac is planned to enable the Volkswagen Group to remain active in the future decision processes at Bugatti, according to one insider, who told Autocar that talks Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Flagship saloon gains improved suspension, more autonomous driving features and a 12.3in touchscreen Lexus is taking its LS luxury saloon flagship into 2021 with new technology, updated styling and “even smoother driving performance”. The facelifted BMW 7 Series rival will go on sale in the UK towards the end of 2020, and will “reinforce its status as the flagship of the brand”, according to Lexus.  Chief among the revisions is a revamped hybrid drive system that seeks to improve the driving experience in Normal Mode, which Lexus says is where the average LS spends 90% of its time, and in which the driver uses only moderate accelerator inputs.  By upping the level of assistance provided by the hybrid system’s lithium ion battery, Lexus has reduced the amount of throttle needed to accelerate, resulting in a “smoother and more linear” acceleration curve. The brand claims the LS offers more comfortable city driving as a result, as well as benefits on winding routes and hill starts. A Collapse