63. MCLAREN 570S SPIDER
Price £158,000 (est) On sale Late 2017
THE Mclaren 570S coupé was our Performance Car of the Year in 2016, so can the Spider repeat the feat in 2017?
The newcomer will get a folding hard-top like the 650/675 models, while the company’s extensive use of carbon fibre should ensure the Spider retains the structural integrity of the coupé, so it’s likely to deliver the same scintillating handling. And with the same 562bhp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 in the back, straight-line performance will be equally impressive.
AFTER a seemingly endless wait, and following countless concepts, teasers and leaked details, the all-new Alpine A110 was revealed at the recent Geneva Motor Show. The Porsche 718 Cayman rival is set to go on sale next year.
The two-seater arrives 55 years after the iconic original was introduced, and features a much more modern 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo engine producing 249bhp and 320Nm of torque – making the Alpine good for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. However, instead of using a sixspeed manual gearbox like some competitors, the car feeds power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Keeping weight to 1,080kg should make it lots of fun to drive.
The cabin uses a high-quality blend of leather, aluminium and carbon fibre, with one-piece quilted bucket seats. Prices haven’t been announced, but we expect the new A110 to cost from around £50,000 when it arrives in showrooms.
“Power is fed to the rear wheels via a sevenspeed dual-clutch auto”
AS with the updated Mazda 2, the CX-3 is set to benefit from a subtle revamp, but this will hopefully be enough for the small crossover to keep pace with newer rivals such as the Audi Q2 and Toyota C-HR.
There’s improved trim across the range, and Mazda’s G-vectoring system, which electronically controls engine torque dependent on steering input, will be introduced. This should help the CX-3 hold on to its reputation as the best-handling crossover.
AUDI will roll into next year with an all-new version of its A1 supermini, injecting more style, technology and practicality into its smallest model.
Our exclusive image previews the look of the secondgeneration A1: sharper LED headlamps and a bolder front grille will lead the charge. However, you can expect more to change beneath the skin, as the new A1 will switch to the smallest version of the VW Group’s MQB platform, called A0. Production will also shift from the A1’s current location in Brussels to Barcelona.
The new platform will allow Audi to make big improvements when it comes to on-board technology and practicality, too. A longer wheelbase will free up more space in the cabin for passengers and luggage, while a new 1.5-litre EVO petrol engine and updated 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo will be offered.
“A longer wheelbase will free up more space in the cabin for passengers and luggage”