Bentley to take the hill at Shelsley Walsh, the 600bhp SUV will demolish the course.

Bentley’s 600 bhp luxury Bentayga SUV will be tackling the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb on the 3rd and 4th June in a bid to recreate history, by setting a new women’s record.

In September 1926 and 1927 Miss May Cunliffe set new ladies records in a 3 litre Bentley and to mark the 80th anniversary of her achievements, Vicky Parrott, Drivetribe.com’s road test editor, will be piloting the Bentayga up the course, in a bid to set a new women’s record for 2017.

The Midland Automobile Club recently opened up new classes to encourage manufacturers and current cars to compete at British Racing Green with classes for, Electric, Autonomous, SUV, Estate and Hypercars.

Mark Constanduros, Commercial Manager for Shelsley Walsh commented “Great to see a Bentley back at Shelsley Walsh and taking part in our new SUV class with the aim to set a new Ladies Record in the Bentayga. I hope they will set a record for the history books.”

“This aspect of the event is new for us and one we hope to build upon over the coming few years, giving the manufacturers a home to promote their products in a live environment in front of potential customers.”

“Having the Bentayga in our new SUV class and challenging for a new record, marks another moment in Shelsley Walsh’s history.”

British Racing Green takes place on the 3rd and 4th June to celebrate all things British, Racing and Green or evokes the spirit of British Racing Green, with electric power being the greenest and fastest developing form of power.

For more information visit www.shelsleywalsh.com or to see the cars in action as part of the Midland Hill Climb Championship weekend visit the website for discounted advanced tickets.

NIO, the new brand for China launches 11 new cars in one hit at the Shanghai Show.

• NIO unveiled new production vehicle, the NIO ES8, a 7-seater high-performance electric SUV for the China market
• NIO ES8’s official launch will take place at the end of this year, with deliveries expected to begin next year
• NIO to begin taking pre-orders of its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9, priced at 1.48 million USD
• 11 Cars: NIO showcased the largest line-up among automotive start-ups at the Shanghai Auto Show

NIO, the next-generation car company showcased 11 vehicles for its Chinese debut at the 2017 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition. The company unveiled the ES8, its new vehicle for the China market that is planned for serial production later this year, and announced it will begin taking pre-orders of its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9. 

INTRODUCING: NIO ES8 

NIO’s new production vehicle for the China market is called NIO ES8. The NIO ES8 is a full size 7-seater electric SUV with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The length of the vehicle is over 196 inches long and the wheelbase is over 118 inches long. The ES8 has an all-aluminium body and chassis, front and rear motors with electric all-wheel drive, and active air suspension. The ES8 features the “design identity” of every NIO vehicle: the X-bar and signature “Spark Beat” tail lights. The vehicle’s swappable battery will provide a charging experience that surpasses refuelling at gas stations. The manufacturing and supply chain that will produce the ES8 is already in place. 

The NIO ES8 has been tested for thousands of miles. The vehicle has been tested in Yakeshi in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures can reach -22 degrees Fahrenheit as well as Melbourne and Mildura, Australia, where temperatures can reach over 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ES8’s official launch will take place at the end of this year, with deliveries expected to begin next year. 

NIO Founder and Chairman, William Li, said: “Today we unveiled our new production vehicle, the NIO ES8, to the China market. It is another statement of our vision and technical and manufacturing capabilities. It is a best-in-class product that showcases what is possible with electric vehicles. I am proud of our relentless focus on vision and action. From track to road, NIO continues to achieve major milestones every year.” 

NIO EP9 SUPERCAR 

NIO also announced it will begin pre-selling the fastest electric car in the world, its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9. The first batch of six EP9s produced were for investors. NIO plans to produce a second batch of ten EP9s, and each one will be made to order. The NIO EP9 is priced at 1.48 million USD. 

In November 2016, NIO unveiled the fastest electric car in the world, the EP9, by setting the track record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In February 2017, it also set the record for fastest autonomous lap with the EP9 at the Circuit of the Americas|.

MG unveils a new sports car plug in electric car at the Shanghai Auto Show 2017.

MG Motor has unveiled an all-new electric supercar concept at the 17th annual Shanghai International Automotive Show (19 April) – the MG E-motion. Offering a glimpse of the future, the next-generation vehicle aims to push the boundaries of innovation and technology, while meeting the needs of today’s trend-setting car buyers.

Perfectly blending style, sophistication and elegance, the E-motion embodies MG’s vision for the future. With a slender sportsback-style design paying tribute to the brand’s hundred-year heritage, starlight matrix front grill and headlights bringing inspiration from the London Eye, and vertical tail lights developed using decades of world-leading design experience, the ground-breaking concept brings MG’s sense of fun and aspiration to the low emission marketplace.

Below the surface, the MG E-motion sets the standards in plug-in vehicle capability, with the latest pure-electric modular architecture platform developed in-house and delivering 0-100kmph in less than four seconds, despite boasting a range of more than 500km. Equipped with an intelligent infotainment system, the supercar is fully internet-compatible, which MG believes will position it perfectly for the younger market. 

In addition to the E-motion concept, the Shanghai International Automotive Show also saw the brand unveil a fully-customised version of the MG ZS compact SUV. Positioned as the first intelligent SUV, the model is already proving hugely popular with drivers worldwide.

With an 8” super control panel and the most powerful intelligent interconnected system ever developed, the MG ZS pushes the boundaries of innovative vehicle technology. Worldwide, the MG ZS has already experienced unprecedented sales demand, with upwards of 20,000 registrations being reported every month.

For the MG brand, this has helped to drive a 76% increase in year-on-year sales figures, alongside a 51% increase in sales compared to the previous quarter – easily surpassing the industry average.

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, commented: “The MG E-motion electric supercar concept demonstrates our global vision for the future. Alongside leading the way in design and capability, the next-generation model is the latest step in achieving the ultimate driving experience.

“The Shanghai International Automotive Show highlights our progress and capabilities, while further new models will continue this future-thinking strategy, embracing innovation to deliver ground-breaking vehicles for the drivers of tomorrow.”

The What Car? nominations have been announced for European car of the year.

What Car? has revealed the nominees for its annual Car of the Year Awards 2016.

The What Car? Awards are some of the most highly prized automotive accolades by both car manufacturers and the car-buying public combined, because What Car? experts ensure that only the vehicles that deliver exceptionally against strict exacting criteria are shortlisted.

The Pictures below are a representation of

those nominated, and not to be confused 

with what may or may not win any of the awards.

The hugely important Reader Award is one of the most heavily contested, because it acts as a strong indicator of public sentiment towards new cars being brought to market in the next 12 months.

A new category is also making its debut at the 2016 Awards: the Compact Executive Car, for which challengers include the Jaguar XE, Skoda Superb, and Toyota Avensis.

The most coveted of all the trophies up for grabs is the overall Car of the Year Award. The car that will be crowned as overall winner will have to beat the rest of the best across the event’s 18 separate categories.

21* British-built cars have made the long list. Among those, Land Rover models have received nominations across four categories: Small SUV (Land Rover Range Rover Evoque); Large SUV (Land Rover Range Rover Sport); (Land Rover Discovery Sport); Luxury Car (Land Rover Range Rover); and the Reader Award (Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible).

Similarly Jaguar, which builds the F-Type Coupé (Coupé Award); Jaguar XE (Compact Executive Car, Safety Award); Jaguar XF (Large Executive Car, Safety Award); Jaguar XJ (Luxury Car); and the Jaguar F-Pace (Reader Award) in the UK has also received nominations across six categories respectively.

What Car? editorial director Jim Holder said: “It’s a hugely exciting time of the year for us in the automotive business, because the build-up for the What Car? Car of the Year Awards is properly underway and we can now announce the 2016 Awards contenders.

“The job our panel of experts must undertake to determine not only the best performing car in each category, but then the overall What Car? Car of the Year for 2016 is an incredibly rigorous one, because each car must be stand-out and our overall winner, extraordinary.

“Each of those car manufacturers who have made our long list, have done so for reasons of some outstanding individual quality in their latest vehicles.

“Out a total of 138, 21 are built here in the UK, something we should all celebrate.”

Awards are only given to the cars which set the highest standards in their class and only the best of these will be named What Car? Car of the Year 2016. In 2015, the Skoda Fabia was crowned the overall winner.

The 2016 Car of the Year Awards take place on 13 January, 2016 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.

The Nominations are :-

21* British-built cars

Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Mulsanne
Honda Civic Type R
Honda Jazz
Jaguar F-Pace
Jaguar F-Type Coupé
Jaguar XE
Jaguar XF
Jaguar XJ
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Land Rover Range Rover
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
McLaren 570S
Mini Clubman
Mini Cooper 5dr
Mini Cooper JCW
Nissan Qashqai
Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Rolls-Royce Ghost II
Vauxhall Astra 

WHAT CAR? AWARDS 2016 LONG LIST
In association with Warranty Direct

CITY CAR
Sponsor: Warranty Direct
Hyundai i10
Fiat 500
Skoda Citigo
Smart Forfour
Smart Fortwo
Suzuki Celerio
Vauxhall Viva
Volkswagen Up

SMALL CAR
Skoda Fabia
Audi A1
Dacia Sandero
Honda Jazz
Mini Cooper 5dr
Seat Ibiza
Suzuki Baleno

FAMILY CAR
Skoda Octavia
Audi A3 Sportback
DS 4
Ford Focus
Kia Cee’d
Hyundai i30
Nissan Pulsar
Vauxhall Astra

ELECTRIC CAR
Audi A3 e-tron
VW Passat GTE
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Renault Zoe Expression
Tesla Model S

COUPE
Audi TT
Ford Mustang
Bentley Continental GT
Jaguar F-Type Coupé
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé
Seat Leon SC

ESTATE CAR
Ford Mondeo Estate
Audi A4 Avant
BMW 3 Series Touring
BMW 5 Series Touring
Kia Cee'd Sportswagon
Mini Clubman
Skoda Superb Estate
Skoda Fabia Estate
Subaru Levorg

MPV
Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer
Citroën C3 Picasso
Ford C-Max
Ford Grand C-Max
Ford S-Max
Ford Galaxy
Seat Alhambra
Volkswagen Sharan
Volkswagen Touran

HOT HATCH 
Ford Fiesta ST
BMW M135i
Honda Civic Type R
Mini Cooper JCW
Peugeot 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport
Peugeot 308 GTI 270
Renault Clio RS220 Trophy
Suzuki Swift Sport

CONVERTIBLE
Audi A3 Cabriolet
Audi TT Roadster
BMW 4 Series Convertible
Citroën DS3 Cabriolet
Fiat 500C
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet

SMALL SUV
Nissan Qashqai
Audi Q3
BMW X1
Citroën C4 Cactus
Fiat 500X
Ford Ecosport
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Infiniti Q30
Jeep Renegade
Kia Sportage
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Mazda CX-3
Renault Captur
Renault Kadjar
Ssangyong Tivoli
Suzuki Vitara

LARGE SUV
Sponsor: CAP/HPI
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Audi Q7
BMW X3
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sorento
Mazda CX-5
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Volvo XC90

COMPACT EXECUTIVE CAR
Sponsor: Allianz Global Assistance
Audi A4
BMW 3 Series
DS 5
Ford Mondeo
Jaguar XE
Kia Optima
Skoda Superb
Toyota Avensis
Volkswagen Passat

LARGE EXECUTIVE CAR
Sponsor: Allianz Global Assistance
BMW 5 Series
Audi A7 Sportback
Jaguar XF
Mercedes-Benz CLS
Porsche Panamera

SPORTS CAR
Porsche Boxster
Audi R8
Ferrari 488 GTB
McLaren 570S
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
Porsche 911 Carrera

LUXURY CAR
Sponsor: NEC
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Bentley Mulsanne
BMW 7 Series
Jaguar XJ
Land Rover Range Rover
Rolls-Royce Ghost II 

SAFETY AWARD
Sponsor: Thatcham Research
Audi A4
Audi Q7
BMW X1
Honda HR-V
Honda Jazz
Hyundai Tucson
Infiniti Q30
Jaguar XE
Jaguar XF
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Skoda Superb
Suzuki Vitara
Toyota Avensis
Vauxhall Astra
Volkswagen Touran
Volvo XC90

READER AWARD
Sponsor: CAP/HPI
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Bentley Bentayga
Fiat 124 Spider
Ford Focus RS
Honda NSX
Jaguar F-Pace
Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Tesla Model X
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Tiguan 

Peugeot's Commercial Vehicle sales in 2014 improve by over 50% against 2013.

• Exceptional success from PEUGEOT’s LCV division – up 50%
• Market share rose more than 2% year on year
• More enhancements due in 2015 as PEUGEOT celebrates 120-years of commercial vehicle sales

The PEUGEOT range of versatile Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) delivered exceptional sales results for 2014. Demand increased by a massive 50% on 2013 – the largest growth of any LCV manufacturer – and has seen the French brand leapfrog from sixth to fourth position in the UK.

In total, an impressive 32,254 PEUGEOT LCVs were sold, up 50.5% on the year before, with showroom success that has also seen continued market share growth - from 7.7% in 2013 to 9.8% in 2014.

Gareth Pockett, PEUGEOT LCV Product Manager, commented: “It was a fantastic result for Peugeot and our extensive LCV business. We’ve improved our market share considerably and at the heart of this growth has been the durability and versatility of our vehicles.”

Making a major contribution to this was the PEUGEOT Boxer which benefited from a restyle and enhanced specification in 2014. UK sales of 8,956 units means demand was up by a substantial 89% and the Boxer was a top three performer in the K3 (3.26t-3.5t) and K4 (3.5t-5.0t) sectors. The largest of PEUGEOT’s commercial vehicles, the Boxer has always been a well-specified chassis/van.

The mid-life restyle permitted a reappraisal of the latest LCV customer expectations and the specification was tailored with their requirements in mind. As an example, Bluetooth connectivity is now standard across the Boxer range, while ‘Professional’ level vans come with a 5” colour touch-screen with integrated satellite navigation – an obvious benefit to any commercial business. This feature is almost unique in the LCV market place, and thanks to consultations with residual value experts, will contribute to lowering overall running costs.

Gareth continued: “With the inclusion of features like a steel bulkhead and security alarm, coupled with passenger car levels of comfort and styling, we have put the PEUGEOT Boxer on the wish list of many more CV users.”

PEUGEOT was also the number one brand in 2014 for new LCV sales for motorhome conversions, with the Boxer the primary vehicle of choice.

Another sales success in the PEUGEOT LCV range was the growing demand for the Expert, with sales of 3,572 units, up 85.5% over the previous year, but it was the Company’s most-popular LCV – the Partner van – that was the number one choice in the compact sector. In 2014 it attracted 16,633 business customers (up 46%), boosted mid-year by a much wider choice of options.

In the small van sector, the Bipper remains another popular choice for compact deliveries and PEUGEOT’s smallest light commercial vehicle won a further 3,093 new customers.

Gareth concluded: “Peugeot has been producing light commercial vehicles since 1895 and in our 120^th year we are looking to continue the progressive growth with success over many years. With a broad customer choice in the four-model LCV range, these PEUGEOT vehicles provide a durable, stylish and versatile service to our business customers.”

WHAT CAR AWARDS - THREE Wins, TWO best buys ONE Company, that will be AUDI.

Triple triumph for Audi at the high-profile What Car? Awards ceremony 

• Audi TT named Coupé of the Year in the 2015 What Car? Awards
• Plug-in hybrid A3 Sportback e-tron wins Electric Car of the Year
• For the second consecutive year, the A3 Cabriolet secures the Convertible Car category
• Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive and the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE also commended as 'best buys' in their respective categories

Reaffirming its status as an enduring What Car? favourite, the Audi TT in its recently launched, all-new form, has once again been crowned Coupé of the Year in the respected magazine’s annual awards. 

Equally importantly, two new variations on the theme of the A3, itself a winner of the overall Car of the Year Award in 2013, have also secured important category victories – the A3 Cabriolet dominates its class for a second successive year, and on its debut entry the new A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid proves its mettle by taking on and beating critically acclaimed EV contenders to the title of Electric Car of the Year.  

In its explanatory account covering the winning Audi models, the experienced judges on the What Car? editorial team dub the A3 Sportback e-tron a 'no-brainer for business users', refer to the A3 Cabriolet as 'one of the best open-tops for driving thrills' and describe the TT as a 'fabulous ownership proposition', featuring 'one of the finest cabins of any car'.

The 2015 Coupe of the Year – specifically the TT 2.0 TFSI Sport - is the latest in a long line of Audi TTs favoured as What Car? winners, dating back to the revolutionary first generation car, which wowed the judges back in 2001. The TT has been nominated in every one of the past eight years, and has won the category outright in all but one.

Explaining the decision to continue the TT’s amazing run of success for yet another year, What Car? Editor Jim Holder said: "The new TT follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, winning our Coupé of the Year Award at the first time of asking. It does so by a big margin, because while there are plenty of sleek and slinky-looking offerings in this market, they all demand some form of compromise from you – either in the way they drive, how easy they are to live with or how much they cost to buy and run. All except the TT. In fact, it’s so good, we wouldn’t bet against it winning this award for years to come."

UK deliveries of the new TT are already in progress, and in addition to the 230 PS 2.0 TFSI, the new ' ultra' model also makes its debut. Its 2.0 TDI engine produces 184 PS and 380Nm of torque, and a combined MPG figure of 67.3 is possible in line with CO2 emissions of just 110g/km. Prices for the TT range start from £29,770 OTR in Sport specification, rising to £40,270 OTR for the formidable 310PS TTS Coupé.

A3 range maintains its winning streak

Singling out the 150 PS 1.4 TFSI version of the A3 Cabriolet Sport with fuel-saving Cylinder-on Demand technology as its specific winner, the What Car? team praises its thriftiness and its "precise steering, performance and hushed refinement". 

An interior that "exudes class" with "cabin quality you’d expect on soft-tops twice the price" is also complimented, and in summary the A3 is lauded as "still the best open-top you can buy." Prices start at £26,085 OTR for SE models - comprehensive Sport and S line specifications complete the line-up.

Sharing the limelight with its premium compact counterpart, the A3 Sportback e-tron"mixes the many merits of the A3 with even more incentive for company car buyers to make electric driving more accessible" according to the judging panel. 

Both are available to order in the UK now, and first customer deliveries of the A3 Sportback e-tron are due this month. Priced from £29,950, the first series plug-in hybrid in the Audi range offers the potential for up to 176mpg on a full charge can travel for up to 31 miles using electric propulsion alone before the 1.4 TFSI petrol engine intervenes. Overall, a range of over 580 miles is attainable on a full charge and a tank of fuel.

Audi 'Best Buys'

In addition to the outright accolades, two more Audi models received price point plaudits – in the 'more than £35,000 category', the new A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive earned a commendation in the Executive Car class and in the Family Car sector the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE was rated as the pick of the bunch in the more than £20,000 bracket.

Commenting on the outstanding result for Audi UK, Director Andre Konsbruck said: “I am absolutely delighted not only with the quantity of wins Audi has secured in the eyes of What Car? this year, but also in the quality of those wins. 

The all-new TT and A3 Cabriolet are of course prime examples of state-of-the-art Vorsprung durch Technik, with all the emphasis on definitive design and build and advanced technology that this entails, but it’s the recognition for the new A3 e-tron in the face of such heralded competition which is the crowning achievement for me. It emphasises for me that wrapping the future in a familiar package that demands no compromises is the right way to travel at this stage."

Jeep Cherokee wins SUV Scottish Car Of The Year Award.

The all-new Jeep Cherokee has finished 2014 in some style – after winning an important SUV award from one of the UK’s leading motoring writers' associations.

Jeep’s iconic 4x4 scooped the SUV of the Year award in last Friday’s (28 November) Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) Car of the Year 2014 awards, held at the Fairmont St Andrews Hotel, in Scotland.

Already the recipient of scores of awards in North America and Canada, it was only a matter of time before the accolades for Jeep Cherokee began in the UK. Launched here in the early summer, the Cherokee has quickly attracted acclaim from customers and the media alike.

Set apart from its rivals in these awards for its pedigree as a 4x4 vehicle, its design, increased levels of refinement and quality, and its tried-and-tested off road ability, the Jeep Cherokee was described by ASMW members as “a sure-fire winner”.

“Some cars look good. Some cars do the business off-road. Others do it on-road. For us, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee does all three,” says Alisdair Suttie, ASMW President. “This is a car with the ability to put Jeep back into the heart of a sector it once dominated.”

“Any award recognising our products is always welcome, but this one from a jury made up of leading motoring journalists is very good news,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK. “Cherokee is leading the way ahead for Jeep this year and we look forward to more great things from the brand in 2015 and beyond.”

The new Cherokee line-up comes in Longitude, Longitude+ and Limited trim levels, equipped with a new 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel delivering 170 horsepower (with the new nine-speed automatic gearbox) and 140 horsepower (six-speed manual).

The Jeep Cherokee range starts at £25,495 for the 2.0 Longitude 140 6 Speed Manual FWD, rising to £37,195 for the 2.0 Limited 170 Automatic 4x4 with Active-Drive II.