WHAT VAN ? - The Renault Trafic takes the Editors choice award at this years ceremony.

• Renault Trafic wins ‘Editor’s Choice Award’ at What Van? Awards 2017
• Praised by What Van? judges for its innovation and design
• Available in Panel Van, Crew Van & Passenger variants from £18,245 (exc. VAT)

The Renault Trafic has made it three years in a row at the What Van? Awards, having previously won the title of ‘Best Medium Van’ for 2015 and 2016, by picking up the ‘Editor’s Choice Award’ at the What Van? Awards 2017 at a ceremony in London this afternoon.

Editor, James Dallas bestowed the Trafic with his personal award, praising its innovation in the LCV sector and its clever design.

James Dallas, Editor, What Van?, commented: “Bringing excellent engines and clever innovations to market, the Renault Trafic is an outstanding van that has had a huge influence on the crucial mid-sized sector.”

Steve Wilson, LCV Product Manager, Renault UK, commented: “We’re delighted that What Van? has yet again recognised Trafic with a very special accolade. 

The Trafic has a long and successful history in the LCV sector – both in Europe where Renault has been the number one LCV manufacturer for 18 years and in the UK where we surpassed 200,000 Trafic sales in 2016 – and is much loved by every kind of business so it’s fantastic to see Trafic recognised by What Van? for the third consecutive year.”

The Renault Trafic is available with four efficient turbodiesel engines, in a choice of three bodystyles – Panel Van, Crew Van, to carry up to six people and equipment; and Passenger, which seats up to nine people in comfort. 

The Trafic van boasts fuel economy of up to 57.9mpg (NEDC Combined), CO₂ emissions as low as 155g/km, and is priced from £20,160 (excluding VAT).

The third generation Renault Trafic provides one of the best load capacities on the medium panel van market with clever solutions to make the loading area more practical. Innovative features such as the blind-spot eliminating Wide View Mirror (winner of What Van?’s Innovation Award in 2015), mobile office storage and functionality, a load-through bulkhead offering load lengths of up to 4.15m, touch-screen infotainment, as well as sophisticated stability control, are available.

The What Van? Awards are decided by the expert editorial panel of What Van? Magazine, calling on their combined decades of experience in the light commercial vehicle industry. The What Van? Awards seek to reward the best products, companies and services in the industry for their ability to make life easier, cleaner, safer and more efficient for light commercial vehicle operators in the UK.

Renault LCV sales in the UK were up 11.2 per cent year-to-date, as at the end of November 2016, to 23,702 vehicles – outpacing the UK van market, which was up by 1.6 per cent.  Renault had a record year for LCV sales in 2015 in the UK with 25,458 LCVs sold – up 40 per cent on 2014.  Renault has been Europe’s number one LCV manufacturer for eighteen consecutive years.

Audi celebrates 21 years of the A8 with an ultra luxury edition, but on 121 are coming to the UK.

A8 Edition 21 announced with exclusive limited production run and opulent specification

• Available to order now, Audi A8 Edition 21 pricing starts from £72,525 OTR
• First customer deliveries expected in November 2015
• Just 121 cars will be built for UK customers
• Audi exclusive interior highlights reserved specifically for the Edition 21

A little over two decades have passed since the groundbreaking Audi A8 was first introduced, and Audi UK is celebrating the enduring appeal of its luxury saloon with a bespoke model – the Edition 21. 

Incorporating a choice blend of the latest developments in design, technology and luxury from the recently revised A8 range, many of which are fitted as standard exclusively to this version, the A8 Edition 21 will be available in standard and Long Wheelbase formats priced at £72,525 OTR and £76,490 OTR. 

A limited run of just 121 cars is now available to order, and customers can expect first deliveries to begin in November.

A tailored selection of interior and exterior styling enhancements sets this special model apart, starting with the recently introduced Sport styling package.

Creating a look that references the flagship S8 model, it comprises redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as pronounced side sills, and is normally reserved for standard wheelbase A8 models. 

Adaptive Audi Matrix LED headlights – which debuted as an option for the new generation A8 and were the first ever fully digital LED headlights on a series production car – are also fitted as standard in conjunction with LED rear lights and dynamic indicators fore and aft.

Also unique to this model are 20-inch double spoke alloy wheels with a titanium-look finish that complement the four exterior colour options, which include the Daytona grey pearl effect shade that is only normally available for the 520 PS S8.  Privacy glass from the B-pillar rearwards is also standard.

Sumptuous surroundings

Building on the already extensive SE Executive specification which was recently further enhanced for A8 models, the Edition 21 creates an even more rarefied atmosphere through a special interior design package from the Audi exclusive selection. 

Uniquely fitted as standard to this version, the package is available in two striking colour combinations; cognac brown with black contrasting stitching or black leather with red contrasting stitching. 

Comfort front sports seats with memory function, 22-way adjustability and integrated pneumatic lumbar and side bolster support are fitted as standard. 

A black cloth headlining and three-spoke multi-function steering wheel complete the interior enhancements. Illuminated door sill plates bearing the ‘Edition 21’ emblem add another degree of exclusivity.

In terms of infotainment and assistance systems, all Edition 21 models also gain access to the Audi connect portfolio of telephone and internet-based services to complement their HDD-based satellite navigation, plus a BOSE surround sound system in addition to the standard items fitted to SE Executive models. 

These include the Audi parking system advanced with reversing camera, a power-operated boot lid with hands-free opening and powered door closure.

Propelling the A8 Edition 21 is an EU6-compliant 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine which produces 262PS and 580Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. 

Power is channelled to the road via an 8-speed tiptronic transmission linked to quattro permanent all-wheel drive, and acceleration to 62 mph takes a mere 5.9 seconds. For long-wheelbase models, this increases slightly to 6.1 seconds, and both are capable of reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. 

Combined fuel consumption and emissions stand at up to 47.9mpg and CO₂ emissions of 155 g/km in the standard wheelbase, rising to 159g/km and 47.1mpg for long wheelbase models.

Over 20 years of trailblazing technology

The Audi A8 has consistently been at the forefront of the brand’s technological progression since its introduction, and was the platform for the revolutionary Audi Space Frame, making it the world’s first series production car with a unitary aluminium body. The same principle is employed to this day. 

Thanks to its ASF architecture and an intelligent blend of aluminium and high-strength steel, the latest Audi A8 body weighs just 231 kilograms. The same body made entirely from steel would be around 40 per cent heavier.

Another highlight in the A8’s 21-year lineage was the 6.0-litre W12 model of 2001, which at the time was the world’s most powerful production saloon and the first ever saloon to feature a 12-cylinder engine in combination with all-wheel drive. 

A new 6.3-litre version of this engine featuring Cylinder-on-Demand technology continues to deliver 500PS with sublime refinement in the current A8 range.

More recently, the all-LED Matrix headlights fitted to every A8 Edition 21 and Sport model are the latest in a long line of trailblazing lighting innovations introduced in the A8. 

They include adaptive ‘swivelling’ xenon lamps, which debuted in the 2003 model, LED daytime running lights in 2004 and headlights capable of reacting to data received by the navigation system, which arrived in 2010.

New Leon Flagship speeds onto SEAT range, the Cupra an Cupra 280.

• Two versions of the new Leon flagship: Cupra and Cupra 280
• New Leon Cupra 280 is SEAT’s most powerful series production car ever
• New 2.0-litre engine combines razor-sharp responsiveness with surprising efficiency, in 265 PS and 280 PS guises
• Cupra 280 DSG completes 0-62 mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds, yet returns 42.2 mpg; every Cupra hits 62 mph in less than six seconds
• Order books open today (8 January) with prices from just £25,690
• First deliveries expected early March 2014

SEAT today unveils the quickest and most powerful series production car it has ever made: the SEAT Leon Cupra 280.

The Cupra 280 sits at the top of a five-strong family of brand new Cupra models that begins with the 265 PS Leon SC Cupra and ends with the five-door Cupra 280 DSG. Here’s the range at a glance:  

Every Leon Cupra completes the benchmark 0-62 mph sprint in less than six seconds, while all manual versions return exceptional 44.1 mpg average fuel consumption.

But the Leon Cupra is a car whose development was led by the pursuit of dynamic excellence. To that end, every Leon Cupra comes as standard with a mechanical front axle differential lock, a progressive steering system that sharpens the turn-in for improved agility, DCC dynamic chassis control to alter the suspension settings between sportier or more comfort-oriented, and two-stage deactivation of the electronic stability control (ESC) – including the ability to turn it off entirely.

These are on top of fundamental changes compared to the previous Leon Cupra: the new Leon is built on an all-new chassis, with a wider front track and fully independent suspension front and rear.

“The new Leon Cupra is pure SEAT: emotion and performance, design and dynamics combine to deliver driving fun mile after mile. State-of-the-art technology is evident in its enormous precision, but also in its compelling efficiency,” stresses Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice President of SEAT S.A. for Research and Development. “The new Cupra is a sports car for every day; it feels just as much at home on the race track as it does on the long haul.”

The Leon Cupra models embody the SEAT brand values in the best possible way. They combine exhilarating dynamics, state-of-the-art technology, stunning design, premium quality, outstanding efficiency and excellent everyday usability.

“With the new Leon Cupra, the SEAT brand is once more taking a major leap forward. The Cupra is a refined, high-performance car that combines its expressive dynamics with relaxed long-distance comfort and a compelling, high-quality feel,” says Jürgen Stackmann, CEO of SEAT S.A. “Driving fun and great design comes with every Leon, but the new Cupra displays SEAT expertise in a whole new dimension. We are proud of this new brand icon and certain of its success.”

The drive: stunning performance as standard

Cupra stands for power, performance and dynamics – and the new Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 have all those qualities in abundance. The Cupra 280, with optional DSG transmission, catapults from zero to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds, or 5.8 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox equipped; every Cupra model has a 155 mph limited top speed.

The 350 Nm maximum torque of both versions spreads from just 1,750 rpm all the way up to 5,300 rpm, guaranteeing impressive pulling power and overtaking flexibility.

Against this, the new Leon Cupra is astonishingly efficient. The average fuel consumption for both power variants is just 44.1 mpg with a manual gearbox equipped, and 42.2 mpg with DSG. This equates to CO2 figures of just 149 g/km and 155 g/km; by comparison the second generation Leon Cupra R with 265 PS emitted 190 g/km CO2.

The engine: cutting edge technology

As a true sports engine, the 2.0 TSI turbo petrol unit of the Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 reacts spontaneously to every movement of the accelerator pedal and is wonderfully high revving. This is paired with a rich and refined sound that is aided and modulated by a standard sound actuator.

The all-new power unit, with its exceptionally responsive turbocharger, is packed with hi-tech and ground-breaking features. The dual-injection system, for example, combines direct injection with manifold injection under partial load, which optimises fuel economy and reduces particulate emissions. Cylinder fill is always in the optimum range: the camshafts are adjustable, with the valve lift system regulating opening on the exhaust side. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head and is part of the intelligent thermal management system. In addition, a new kind of coating on the aluminium pistons and the bearings keeps friction to a minimum.

And like every other Leon in the range, the Cupra efficiency package also includes Start/Stop and Energy Recovery systems.

The chassis: dynamic precision

The key fundamentals of the dynamics are low weight and a stiff structure. The systematic lightweight design of the new Leon family is evident in the Cupra: despite considerably improved equipment, the new generation weighs 55 kg less than its comparable predecessor.

The Cupra name has always been synonymous with outstanding dynamics, precise agility and amazing sporting character. In every way, the new Leon Cupra manages to set the bar a good deal higher than any of its predecessors. With DCC dynamic chassis control, a front-axle differential lock and progressive steering all fitted as standard, the new Leon Cupra achieves considerably faster laps on the track than its already impressive predecessor.

At the same time, it is significantly more comfortable, with surprising refinement on long motorway journeys. Safe, strong and consistent stopping power comes courtesy of the Cupra-specific, high-performance brake system, recognisable by its red callipers.

DCC dynamic chassis control

The new generation of the DCC dynamic chassis control developed specifically for the Cupra is even more sensitive than that available with the Leon FR, adapting the chassis characteristics to the prevailing conditions in a matter of milliseconds.

Front-axle differential lock

The new front-axle differential lock significantly improves the traction and handling of this front-wheel drive car. The system uses a multi-plate package that is hydraulically actuated and electronically controlled. The maximum locking force is 1,600 Nm and, in extreme cases, 100% of the drive can be sent to one wheel. The differential lock is integrated into all the handling systems, like ESC and EDS. It improves not only the traction, but also eliminates torque steer. Furthermore, its sensitive control has no negative impact on steering feel.

Progressive steering

Also included as standard equipment, the progressive steering system improves the agile handling of the new Leon Cupra. The driver experiences a precise and relaxed steering feel because less steering movement is required, which reduces the number of grip changes, especially in cornering or parking manoeuvres. The system works using a progressive ratio through variable toothing on the rack.

The ESC handling system has been further developed specifically for the Cupra and enables a very sporty driving style with full retention of safety functionality. For extremely dynamic use, such as on a race track, it can also be deactivated in two stages – the first stage deactivates the traction control and puts the ESC into sport mode, permitting greater yaw angles. The second stage deactivates the ESC completely.

Cupra Drive Profile

The Cupra Drive Profile enables the characteristics of the new Leon Cupra to be adapted across a very wide range to meet the individual preferences of the driver. Alongside the Comfort and Sport modes, the Cupra mode was a focal point for the engineers in Martorell. Throttle response is particularly sensitive in this setting, while the DSG operates in its sportiest shifting mode and the sound actuator accentuates the full tone of the turbocharged engine. DCC dynamic chassis control, progressive steering and the front-axle differential lock also operate at their sportiest settings.

The design: emotional and powerful

Emotional design is a great strength of the Leon family. For the new Cupra, this has been developed one step further. The new front end, with its large air intakes and full-LED headlamps, ensures a powerful look, as does the rear skirt with its diffuser effect and the two oval end pipes. The alloy wheels are exclusive to the Cupra, while the red brake callipers and tinted side and rear windows underscore its individuality.

The focus of the interior is on the Cupra sports steering wheel in its own unique design, complete with shifting paddles for the optional DSG transmission. The sports seats, in dark grey Alcantara finished with white stitching, are another interior highlight. Black full-leather upholstery, likewise with white stitching, is also available. The pedals and entry sills are made from aluminium.

The Cupra 280 is visually differentiated by its unique 19-inch wheels with a titanium paint finish, plus the Aerodynamic Pack, which comprises a spoiler on the rear roof edge, Cupra lettering on the brake callipers and black exterior mirror housings. The trim elements in the cockpit of this top sporty variant are a deep glossy black.

Key equipment

In the UK, additional standard equipment for the Leon Cupra over and above the FR model (and the aforementioned styling details) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, full-LED headlights, DAB digital radio, SEAT Media System Plus, aluminium front door sill trims with Cupra logo, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights.

The Cupra 280 is distinguishable by its standard 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss black mirror caps, black exterior mouldings and frames, black rear roof spoiler, red brake callipers with Cupra logo, and black interior inserts. Satellite navigation comes as standard with the Cupra 280, too.

The RCZ R will be the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history

• The RCZ R will be the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot’s extensive history
• It will have 260bhp at its disposal from its 1.6-litre THP turbocharged engine
• Peugeot RCZ R makes its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

The RCZ R is the culmination of an evolutionary product journey that started with the original RCZ Concept that quickly made it into production, then into the three-times class-winning Nürburgring race car that inspired the road-going RCZ R. The RCZ R Concept previewed the evolution at the Paris and Geneva Motor Shows – shown with a matt black and copper livery that heralds the spiritual stance of a road-going RCZ R.

The road-going RCZ R utilises a more powerful 1.6-litre THP engine with 260bhp, making it the most powerful production model in Peugeot’s history.  Its efficiency will be a benchmark with power/capacity among the highest in the world for production vehicles at over 160bhp/litre with CO2 emissions targeted at just 155g/km.

It also promises intense dynamic sensations from the legacy of its race-bred experiences, with a bespoke suspension set-up, a specific and distinctive wheel design, combined with a Torsen®limited slip differential to harness the huge reserves of power and torque available.

Two red RCZ Rs will be displayed for the first time in public: on the Peugeot stand and shown performing dynamically during the Festival of Speed weekend, driven by the UK Peugeot 208 GTi Ambassador, Bradley Philpot – a finalist in the recent Nürburgring 24-hour race that saw three Peugeot 208 GTi cars win their SP2T class.

The Peugeot signature ‘Motion and Emotion’ is being perfectly expressed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed as the brand continues on its journey upmarket.

The reveal of the RCZ R is timely ahead of its launch at the end of the year.  While the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is also the case that as the gates to the Festival open on 12th July, it is the very same date 100 years ago that Peugeot demonstrated its performance prowess by winning the French Grand Prix, coming first and second.

Peugeot has a rich and illustrious history for compact, durable, highly-efficient engines that have powered its products, notably its cars and competition vehicles, to great success, and it is appropriate that the brand’s most powerful road car – the RCZ R – has its international debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.