Mclaren 570s: family resemblance or cheaper twin?

So here it is: the long-awaited 'baby' McLaren, designed to sit below the 650s on the McLaren ladder. Priced at £50,000 below the 650s at £145,000, it tries to make McLaren accessible to more people while still having a family resemblance. But does it try too hard? This car has all the looks of a supercar but for less money. But with figures still definitely in supercar territory, has McLaren differentiated enough?

For starter's, its weight is about as much as a Golf GTI, with McLaren using the carbon tub chassis. This means that it weighs as much as the VW, but with A LOT more power. which obviously leads to some frightening figures. the engine is a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8, which here produces 562BHP and 0-62MPH in 3.2 seconds. Light as a GTI with double the power? Why would you want anything else? The performance of this car puts it just faster than a 911 turbo S, but which one would you prefer? One with the looks of a sports car or one with the looks of a supercar? Hard choice, isn't it! And the engine means it will hit a 204MPH top speed.

But with figures like this, it does start to ask questions of the 650S. Is it worth £50,000 more? Have McLaren failed to distinguish their ladder? Is the 570S (I hate to say this) too good? Sales will start later in the year. I wonder how it will get on?

Nev

Bentley EXP10 speed 6: new direction or identity crisis?

Yet another controversial concept recently released was this, the Bentley EXP10 speed 6. It is extremely intriguing because it suggests that Bentley is becoming more and more interested in the idea of producing a sports car. This will be a strange new segment for a company that has always done the GT and luxury car thing. But at the moment Bentley seems to be trying to get in on various sectors that it hasn't before, and sports car is one of them.

Now let me set this out so no one is under any illusions. This car is a concept car, and as of yet there is no concrete plans to build anything like this, it just seeks to show that Bentley wants to expand their range. This could be the template for the fifth model line for Bentley, and the EXP10 speed 6 shows what a potential Bentley sports car would look like. But does the DNA of a sports car for well with the DNA of Bentley? No doubt that Bentley will want to make this car very luxurious, but that means weight, and while weight is not an issue in a luxury cruiser it definitely is in a sports car. Bentley has put all its usual work into the quality of the car, but can this car realistically compete with the likes of the Mecedes AMG-GT or the Aston Martin Vantage? We will have to wait and see.

Nev

Aston Martin DBX: new prosperity or dead end?

Another car to be shown at the recent Geneva motor show was this, the first look we will get of the upcoming Aston Martin SUV, although a look is all it will be as it isn't due for production until 2020. The purpose of this car is for Aston to be able to reach out its customer base and sell its cars in more places than before, to a wider audience than before. This SUV is supposed to increase sales of Astons to Russia, China and women. Another reason why the DBX has been created is to reduce the overall CO2 of the marque, as the DBX is targeted to be an all electric car (which can also be chosen as a V12.) as you may remember, Aston has tried to do the 'make one car produce less emissions so overall we produce less CO2' route when it launched its Cygnet city car. Obviously that car was a failure and had to be scrapped, and so here we are with a similar proposition, only in the form of a electric SUV.

This concept, which will be the base of the SUV we will see in production in 2020, promises to have all the attraction of a normal SUV (eg high ride height etc) but also with the style people have come to associate with Astons. It promises not to be as bulky or as big as some of the other SUVs (maybe the upcoming Bentley SUV?) so that more people will buy. But will this increase sales dramatically or drive people away? We will have to wait and see. And don't worry: it's a long way off

Nev

Koenigsegg Regera: The first hyper hybrid?

Oh, I do love writing about super Koenigsegg's. They are just so mad and outrageous, with every fact making you double check. As some of my loyal readers may remember, last year I wrote about the limited run Koenigsegg One:1, a car with a seriously frightening power: weight ratio. Well, now Koenigsegg is planning a car using some of the tech on the One:1, and was unveiled at the recent Geneva motor show. It's called the Regera, and believe me, the stats are even more scary.

Firstly, the looks. It keeps the traditional Koenigsegg loos but with a modern twist, looking like a modern Agera. But the people at Koenigsegg have obviously desired more power than is possibly necessary. And here comes the most shocking figure: the horsepower. Wait for it...it has all of 1800bhp. I'll just give you a minute to digest that fact. 1800. More than a Veyron by about 700. Is it really necessary. And it's a hybrid. It has a modified 5 litre V8, and also two electric on each rear wheel. The twin turbo B8 generates 1100 BHP alone, and the motors another 700. The weight of the hybrid system does mean that the 0-62 time is not as low as it could be, at a relatively sluggish 2.7 seconds. But, after 30mph, the power really takes off. Top speed? 255mph. 0-250mph? Under 20 seconds. That is insane! 

I don't think I have to say anymore. I'll just leave you with those facts again. 1800bhp, 2.7 seconds, 255mph. I hope it arrives as soon as possible.

Nev

Ford Focus RS: Future leader of the (large) hot hatch family?

Over the past few years, the market for hot hatchbacks has increased dramatically. As a continent, Europe now has something of a reputation for them. And one of the very first manufacturers for these cars: Ford. But how do you keep at the front of a market evolving so quickly? Even if you were there at the very beginning, how do you create a product that is better than all the others?

Well, here is Ford's attempt to blast back into the sector and kick rivals like the Audi RS3 and the Honda Civic Type-R back into the corner. The new Focus RS. A car that has a lot of form, and has now arrived in its 3rd gen. guise. However, Ford are currently very secretive about any figures, knowing that if they announce they are in front they are most likely to be bettered. A horsepower figure of 'At least 320' has been released, but figures like weight and 0-62MPH are not being disclosed. But perhaps the most important fact about this new car? It will be AWD. Leading many of us to reminisce about hot Fords of old. AN dont think it's going to be a flappy paddle 'box. A manual remains. The engine under the bonnet is a variant of the new Mustangs 2.3 litre ecoboost, but modified in such a way that means it will have less mid-range lag and more top-end kick. Another interesting point is the fact that the rear axle is driven by clutch packs, meaning that, if both are open, it will be 100% AWD but, as the gearing is different, it is also possible to have a 70% rear biased. meaning the possibility of big skids. And unnecessary looning around. And the time we have to wait for this re-incarnation? 2016. And hopefully soon we will know some more juicy figures.
Nev

Mazda MX-5: can it beat it's predecessor?

When most people think of a sportster, there is usually only one that springs to mind. A car that has sold almost a million units since the first gen model of 1989. This new fourth-gen model is practically all-new, and therefore has a massive responsibility to better an already near-perfect sportster.

This new car attempts to achieve the task of bettering its predecessor by capitalising on the very things that made it so popular in the first place. It is lighter by over 100kg, by shedding a few grams off all of the components, which all adds up to the new car losing 10% of the old car's weight, which wasn't very much anyway. Also the fourth generation is shorter than its predecessor, meaning that overall the weight distribution is even more balanced, and the centre of gravity is even lower, meaning even more agility and handling prowess. The engine remains as a small 1.5 litre four-cylinder, with only 129 BHP, but the engine  manages very good economy, even when it is driven like it should be: flinging it around all over the place. And despite the prices starting at around £19,000, the interior isn't exactly lacking in gadgets, and definitely doesn't feel cheap.

So, the new MX-5. a car that manages to be smaller, lower and lighter than the original, while staying true to the original by retaining a small engine. And with that lightly aggressive styling, I think the hairdresser car stereotypes are a thing of the past.

Nev

Ferrari 488 GTB: New era or start of the end

It's going to be an exciting year for Ferrari. Here is the new 458 replacement which, after last years Californina T, is the car in which Ferrari is bringing the turbocharger to its mid-engined supercar sector, it's heart. And it's doing everything to show that this new turbocharged era will be better than the natural one. So, the car. In my opinion the styling is spot on, and the addition of the air vents and active flaps only serve to make it look ready for purpose.

The new 3.9 litre ( below 4 for tax reasons) twin-turbo motor makes 661 BHP, which is considerably more than the 458 Speciale and just more, suspiciously, than the Mclaren 650S, clearly its biggest rival.  Not only that but it also weighs in at 10kg lighter than the standard 458 and manages to drop 15% of its CO2 emissions as well. A pretty impressive feat, I'm sure you'll agree. From an impressive car. All of the hard work from the Ferrari engineers has meant that it is supposed to feel more like a naturally aspirated car too. 0-62 is achieved in 3 seconds (admittedly the same as the 458 Speciale) but when the two cars reach 124 the 488 will be 1 whole second in front! Top speed is 205. Plus some physics warping by the engineers, with the 488 achieving more downforce yet reduced drag. How is that possible? Anyway, lots of trickery.

And the 488 will be ready for production this summer. So not long to wait. To see whether 458 owners will be kicking themselves or not.

Nev