COMMENT WHY THE BRITISH AUTO INDUSTRY REMAINS GREAT We can all be guilty of focusing on the glory automotive brands from Britain – the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce – and rightly so. They are a crucial part of the industry and produce some mighty machines. But for this Brit special, we’ve focused on the everyman cars (p46) that are built in the UK and quietly impress the mainstream market – cars such as the Nissan Qashqai, Range Rover Evoque and Mini Cooper. We reflect on the mark they’ve made while also considering the key role that smaller supplier firms play in not only bolstering the automotive industry but also showcasing Britain as a vital innovator in the field. Steve Cropley contemplates everything there is to celebrate (p68) and where the UK’s strengths can lie in the future but, equally, we must acknowledge that there is also plenty of work to do to ensure that is the case. As the new government beds in, it is important for the UK to pursue sensible policies that demonstrate knowledge of the automotive industry and how it can play its part not only for the economy but also for sustainability, as well as taking a logical stance on public taxation. Such an approach will go a long way to cementing the years ahead for this industry that we love. Rachel Burgess, magazine editor rachel.burgess@haymarket.com Meanwhile, online… autocar.co.uk Honda Prelude: first look The ’90s legend is reborn with hybrid power and a focus on handling. Join us for a nosy of the latest star in a line that started in 1978. Bubble car is back! The Microlino is an electricpowered £18k city weapon modelled on the Isetta – and we’re the fi rst to drive it in the UK. Jaguar XJ220 revisited It ’s been 30 years since we first drove Jag’s controversial twin-turbo V6 supercar. Has it finally come of age? Autocar (ISSN 1355-8293 USPS 25-185) is published weekly by Haymarket Media Group, Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SP, United Kingdom; haymarket.com; tel +44 (0)20 8267 5000 The US annual subscription price is $190.00. Airfreight and mailing in the US by agent named World Container Inc, 150-15, 183rd Street, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11256. US postmaster: Send address changes to Autocar, Air Business Ltd , c/o World Container Inc, 150-15, 183rd Street, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Subscription records are maintained at the above address. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. Autocar magazine is also published in Estonia, Greece, India , Japan, Lat v ia , Korea and Thailand. Autocar is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think we haven’t met those standards and want to make a complaint, contact autocar@haymarket.com. For more information, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Haymarket is certified by BSI to environmental standard ISO14001 and energy management standard ISO50001 PEFC/16-33-795 PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources www.pefc.co.uk Autocar is a member of the organising committee of Car Of The Year caroftheyear.org Issues with your mag? For subscriber issues, call 0344 848 8816. I f you can’t find a news-stand copy of Autocar in your local area, email autocar@haymarket.com 4 FULL DETAILS OF THE ALL-NEW RENAULT 4 T H I S W E E K Issue 6641 | Volume 322 | No 6 NEWSRenault 4: sub-£30k EV crossover 4 Alpine A390 Beta fastback debut 6 Radical Citroën C5 Aircross rethink 8 Mini unleashes new electric JCWs 10 Audi Q6 E-tron Sportback revealed 12 More extreme Bentleys on the way 14 AC Ace reborn with hot hatch twist 16 Why Merc is now hedging its bets 18 FIRST DRIVES AC Cobra GT Roadster 24 VW Golf R and GTI Clubsport 26 Porsche Macan Electric and 4S 28 Leapmotor C10 30 Nio EL8 31 Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica 32 ROAD TESTS Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 4WD 34 Maserati MC20 Cielo 40 BEST OF BRITISH SPECIAL The everyday heroes built in Britain 46 Used British stars for all budgets 58 Bir th and l i fe of the UK car industr y 64 Why UK automotive is so good 68 We name our favourite British cars 74 LONG-TERMERSBMW i5 Touring 78 Lexus LBX 79 Peugeot e-308 SW 81 Porsche Taycan 82 Vauxhall Corsa 83 COLUMNSJesseCrosse 15 Mark Tisshaw 17 Steve Cropley 19 Matt Prior 20 Damien Smith 21 Testing, testing 45 Why I love… 98 EVERY WEEK Your Views 22 How to subscribe 44 Lost in the archive 89 Road test results 91 USED CARS Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 84 My car & I 86 Caught in the classifieds 87 46 HOME-GROWN HEROES CELEBRATED 16 OCTOBER 2024 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 3