Wheels and Deals
The latest car reveals, consumer issues and hot deals.
Porsche Taycan range expanded with entry-level 4S model
Porsche has revealed a new entry-level 4S model to its allelectric Taycan range, offering less power and less range for less cash.
There are two battery sizes available in the form of a 79.2kWh unit called Performance, and a 93.4kWh Performance Plus. The former is offered with a power output of 523bhp, while the latter makes 563bhp. Both have a top speed of 155mph and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds.
The Performance battery has a range of 253 miles and the Performance battery Plus can go for 288 miles on a single charge, giving it the longest range of any Taycan.
The electric saloon is also available in Turbo and Turbo S trims, offering 671bhp and up to 279 miles of range and 750bhp and up to 256 miles of range respectively.
Porsche says the 4S's electric motor on the rear axle is shorter than that fitted to the Turbo models but retains the all-wheel-drive system and two-speed transmission of the more expensive models.
To distinguish 4S models from the exterior, they get 19inch alloy wheels, red brake callipers, and black-painted side sills and rear diffuser. Inside,
it comes with leather upholstery as standard with the same screen-festooned dashboard as the Turbos.
The Porsche Taycan 4S is available to order now, with prices starting at €97,000. The Turbo and Turbo S start at €£134,800 and €161,500 respectively.
Financing a Ferrari Enzo costs more than buying a house
Financing a Ferrari Enzo requires up-front payment of more than twice the cost of the average UK house and monthly payments equivalent to the deposit on a small flat.
That's according to vehicle finance firm JBR Capital, which has revealed finance examples for two classic supercars based on real examples financed between 2016 and 2019.
The first is a Ferrari Enzo, built between 2002 and 2004 and considered to be one of the ultimate collector cars from the Italian performance car manufacturer. Featuring a 6.0-litre V12 producing 650bhp, it had a fearsome reputation.
Valued at about €2.4 million today, JBR says that it would cost €11,100 per month over 24 months with a 28 per cent deposit of €682,000. The final balloon payment would be €1.7m with a representative APR of 7.9 per cent. The total cost of the finance deal would be more than €2.6m.
Darren Selig, executive chairman at JBR Capital, said he has "personally arranged finance on 12 of the 399" examples that were built, calling the Enzo one of the most "iconic" cars the firm has arranged finance for.
JBR also shared a quote for a Maserati MC12, a supercar that was actually based on the same platform as the Enzo and sharing an engine. Despite this, the MC12's body was longer, wider and taller than the Ferrari, with a low drag coefficient.
The representative finance deal for this vehicle is based on a value of nearly €2.1m. It would require a deposit of €350,000 with 48 monthly payments of €21,300 and a final payment of €1.2m. The total cost of the finance would be €2.5m with APR of 7.9 per cent.
Stephen Halstead, chief operating officer at JBR Capital, said: "Maserati is such an evocative and emotive brand. It is such a rare and exclusive car, it just captures my imagination in terms of style, performance and speed."