8 HRS AGO - This week: Three new BMW M cars, Rolls Royce Cullinan road tested, AMG A45S vs Nissan GT-R and more BMW is planning an all-out assault on the lower end of the performance car spectrum, with the next M2 set to be joined by an M2 Gran Coupe and M1 Series hyper hatch. Autocar’s exclusive report examines what kind of power outputs we can expect from these junior M cars, when they are set to go on sale, and how mild hybrid technology could help performance as well as emissions. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE The all-new Hyundai i20 gets revealed this week, as a thoroughly modern supermini with new technology, updated styling and mild-hybrid powertrains to help it better compete with rivals. We see one up close in the studio and look at which versions will head to the UK. Our spy photographers spot the all-new Volkswagen Golf R undergoing winter testing without camouflage, new hypercar maker Czinger confirms the power output of its 21C hybrid, which is set to use 3D printed components and target a Collapse

9 HRS AGO - Plug-in hybrid 3 Series is available in estate form for the first time; 330e can now be specified with xDrive BMW has expanded its 3 Series line-up with the addition of a Touring estate version of the plug-in hybrid 330e – a first for the model.  Available to order from summer, the 330e Touring makes use of the same petrol-electric powertrain as the saloon variant, which pairs a 181bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor integrated into the gearbox.  The motor produces 67bhp in normal running mode and 111bhp in Sport mode for bursts of up to 10sec, giving the 330e peak combined outputs of 289bhp and 310lb ft. BMW claims this is enough to push the Touring from 0-62mph in 6.1sec – just 0.1sec slower than the saloon – and on to a top speed of 136mph.  Both versions of the 330e can now be had with four-wheel drive as an alternative to the regular rear-wheel drive. The xDrive models can determine how much power to send to each axle depending on the driving situation. Collapse

9 HRS AGO - Plug-in hybrid estate version of the new BMW 3 Series is available in the UK with rear and four-wheel-drive options Collapse

17 HRS AGO - Fully self-driving pods are in advanced development stages; will be trialled in Coventry next year Jaguar Land Rover has shocked the world of future motoring by unveiling an entirely new, fully engineered electric car platform that's capable of supporting a wide variety of autonomous, shared and private vehicle configurations.  Work on the project, which is entirely separate from JLR’s current or near-future production car range, is already so far advanced that a multi-use autonomy-ready vehicle, claimed to offer unparalleled interior space and flexibility, will begin road trials in Coventry late next year. City and West Midlands authorities have already agreed to cooperate, viewing the project as “a living laboratory for future mobility”. Called Project Vector, the vehicle’s all-new “skateboard” platform was launched earlier today at Warwick University’s National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) by JLR CEO Sir Ralf Speth, who revealed that it had been in secret development there Collapse

20 HRS AGO - Change makes the theory test more appropriate for candidates with reading and learning difficulties The theory element of the UK driving test will be overhauled in April to make it more accessible for those who have reading, learning and developmental difficulties.  Currently, the theory test includes a section wherein candidates read a case study before answering five questions about it. This has been deemed inhibitive for those who struggle to read and process written information, so it will be replaced with a short, silent video clip and three subsequent questions.  The video will show a computer-generated road scenario from a driver’s point of view (like the example below), such as driving along a high street or narrow rural road, and can be played as many times as the candidate likes.  The questions will be asked in multiple choice format and will test the candidate’s awareness of common hazardous scenarios. Examples given on the Government website include: “Why are Collapse

22 HRS AGO - Improved aerodynamics and rear-wheel drive bring extended 278-mile range for Audi's second EV Audi has revealed prices for its second bespoke electric vehicle, the E-tron Sportback 55, will begin at £79,900 – a £9000 premium over the equivalent version of the standard E-tron.  The firm's new coupé-styled electric SUV is available from launch only in S-Line guise, which includes 21in alloy wheels, LED headlights, adapative air suspension and Audi Sport styling elements as standard. Prices rise to £85,185 for the limited-run Launch Edition, which gains its own set of bespoke sports wheels, contrasting black exterior trim, virtual door mirrors and a range of driver safety systems.  Revealed at the Los Angeles motor show last year, the coupe is the same weight, length and height as the E-tron and from the B-Pillar forward is identical. The lower part of the rear door, bumper and rear lights are also the same, while the obvious difference - the rear roof line - was cut from the A7.  That Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up a week in gossip from across the automotive industry In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, we find out why Skoda may not produce a next-generation Citigo, get the lowdown on Toyota's A- and B-segment spree, hear Volvo's views on diesel and more. Skoda Citi-no?  A new generation of the now electric-only Skoda Citigo is still unconfirmed for production, with technical boss Christian Strube saying that although small cars still “made sense”, such a car “must be affordable”. Boss Bernhard Maier told Autocar that government subsidies were needed to keep the cost down, otherwise small cars “will be hardly accessible as a mass product”. Toyota's super-wee SUV The chief engineer of the Toyota Yaris, Yasunori Suezawa, is also developing the next-generation Aygo alongside “other A- and B-segment cars” – likely to include a new superminisized SUV. It’s expected all will use versions of the TNGA platform, and could also benefit from Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Updated format to make the driving theory test more accessible for learners with reading difficulties and disabilities Collapse