NEW FACES BUT HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST?
Don’t recognise the badge or the name? Don’t worry; they may not be around long
Mercedes EQ: two letters, seismic shift Survival rating 10/10
The two letters that have been on the taut lanks of Mercedes’ F1 cars for two seasons, and that have been lightly boosting warm AMGs over the past year. Now? EQ inally has a car of its own, the EQ C, and while the EQ C looks like a GLC melted in a microwave, it’s a sure bet that Merc will sell as many as it can make.
Cupra: it’s Seat’s DS! Survival rating 3/10
Seat jettisons its best asset, then supplies it with a tacky badge and an unhealthy fascination with copper. The Cupra TCR car and e-Racer might look ace but the irst standalone road car is a warm Ateca. If Citroën’s DS experiments have taught us anything, it’s that you’re going to have to try a bit harder than that.
Polestar: like a Volvo, but dierent Survival rating 7/10
The sporty side of Volvo isn’t just about ruining your V90’s ride or slapping a parpy exhaust on your V40 any more. Volvo’s booming sales – and Geely’s deep pockets – are bankrolling investment in electric and electri ied models, spearheaded by the Polestar performance label. If all its cars look as good as the 1 coupe – and with former Volvo design genius Thomas Ingenlath at the helm, they should – then we’re sold.
VinFast: Beckham-backed, no less Survival rating 4/10
Vietnam’s new car maker paid David Beckham to smile next to its new Giugiaro-penned saloon (that looks like a Vectra) and SUV (that looks like a Lincoln) at the 2018 Paris show. Optimistic plans include a GM-backed city car, a gleaming factory and competitive new EVs. All designed, engineered and built in a country with no history of car making beyond assembling knock-down kits. Someone’s brave/foolish.