TIM BARNES-CLAY

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Audi R8 V10 PlusThe new Audi R8 V10 Plus sits atthe pinnacle of a two-model outfit,supported up by a less heady‘standard’ V10. The engine isshared with the unbridledLamborghini Huracán churningout 602bhp. 0-62mph is done in abullet-out-of-a-muzzle quick 3.2seconds and you can press on to atop speed of 205mph. Gloriouslyinsane? Of course.

A seven-speed S tronic gearbox isstandard in all V10 models. The fast-shifting dual-clutch transmissionfeatures an ingenious launch controlfunction that provides the bestpossible traction when the car flexes

It has been a busy time for car launches, and Sorted’s motoringcorrespondent, Tim Barnes-Clay, has been driving a selection of motors around Europe, ranging from new models to mid-cycle updates. Here’s his pick of the crop.

For theLOVE of cars

its muscles and takes off. During the car’s media launch in

the South of France, I experiencedthe might of the V10 Plus’ output,first-hand. It momentarily thumpsyou back into your seat when theAudi’s clout is unleashed via theQuattro all-wheel drive system.And the sound of the car is almostas seductive as its looks.

Even at moderate speed there’s adeep, multilayered, gloriousrumble. But hit the R8’s ‘SportsExhaust’ button and you get agratifying crackling and popping onthe downshifts. The growl isanimalistic, and intensely satisfyingfor any petrolhead’s ears.

A car’s ability to acceleratequickly and reach a searing topspeed is, inherently, considerednecessary. However, it’s thehandling dynamics and talent todrive briskly through the bends,that make for a spine-tinglingdriving experience. And that’swhere the £134,500 R8 V10 Plusdelivers.

The new Audi will turn yourmind to marmalade on thestraights and it’ll make your liverquiver on B roads. But what it doesbest is go around corners quicklywith the ultimate stability – andthat, of course, is what every autoaficionado hungers for. f

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Mini ClubmanThe £24,455 Cooper S Auto is easilythe most gratifying to drive out of thenew Clubman range. At the Mini’smedia launch on the roadssurrounding San Sebastian innorthern Spain, the most powerfulpetrol drove go-kart-like on thestraights – just as a Mini should. It’s ashame the slightly pulpy suspensioncan drizzle on your chips in thecorners, with body roll kicking in ifyou enter the twisty bits too hard.But that can be forgiven, because theCooper S generates more thanenough pull to keep you cheery.

189bhp can be squeezed from the S’2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinderpower unit, and with the eight-speedauto box, zero to 62mph in 7.1seconds is easily achievable. Topspeed is 142mph. Even though thesefigures might make the car soundravenous for fuel – it’s not. With thesuperb automatic gearbox you canofficially get an average of 48.7mpgout of the Clubman – and the CO2emissions are 134g/km, meaning

road tax is a trifling £130 per annum. The state-of-the-art 2015 Mini

Clubman is a gargantuan step upfrom its forerunner, and it putsright pretty much everything thatwas awry. The Clubman now has

Peugeot 308 GTI Everything about the new £26,555Peugeot 308 GTi is so electrifying –right from the minuscule, sportysteering wheel to the grip the car hasaround corners. I really feel Peugeotis back on track with its contributionto the hot-hatch market.

My test car looked superb cloakedin a metallic ‘Magnetic Blue’paintjob, combined with darkleather effect and Alcantara sports

seats. The 18-inch alloys appearedsatisfyingly sizeable against itsmedium-sized, muscular body, andits double chrome tailpipes looked‘the dog’s’.

On starting the engine, the 1.6-litre turbo petrol lump, pinchedfrom the RCZ-R sports coupé, has awillingness to rev, and once youengage first gear and take off, youknow this car is not your usualmotor. For a start, the gearshifts feelprecise and jaunty, and the motor is

eager – it’s like a hound straining atits lead until it can find an openstretch. Then, when you do find asuitable uncluttered bit of road,you can set the 308 GTi free. That’swhen it sits back on its haunchesfor a moment before launching intoa scorching attack on the asphalt.The 248bhp is certainly apparentand 0-62 mph arrives in just 6.2 seconds, climbing where legal(German autobahns calling?) to155mph. f

more doors, better space, goodlooks, and it really is exciting todrive. The Cooper S version isespecially guaranteed to bring agrin to the face of anyone who slipsbehind its wheel.

“THE 18-INCH ALLOYS APPEAREDSATISFYINGLY SIZEABLE AGAINST ITSMEDIUM-SIZED, MUSCULAR BODY.”

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BMW X1Driving the all-new BMW X1 atlaunch in Spain, it quickly becameapparent how capable the compactsport utility vehicle (SUV) is.

On the inside, it strikes a balancebetween driver focus and practicalelegance. The flat surfaces of theinstrument panel and centreconsole controls are angled towardsyou, helping you to concentrate onthe driving experience.

The rear seat bench comes with asplit/folding backrest and the bootis big enough to swallow a washingmachine. There are loads ofconvenient touches, too. Forexample, the car can hold a one-litre water bottle in each of the fourdoors. There are also tie downpoints and nets peppered aroundthe cabin – and all cars come withan automatic hatchback.

Behind the wheel, the xDriveversions offer loads of grip. Thesteering is exact and there’s littlelean noticeable, even whennegotiating sweeping bends. I drove

X1s fitted with a manual and anautomatic gearbox, but auto is bestif you’re looking for a relaxing driveto work, or if you’re on the schoolrun with, say, three kids in the back.

The 20d is expected to be the

Audi A4 SaloonCompared with the previous model,the new Audi A4’s dimensions havegrown, but its weight has beenreduced significantly.

The A4 is a leader in its segmentalso in terms of noise levels. Thereis generous space and the smoothlines emphasise the width of theinterior, too.

I drove the new A4 3.0 TDI Saloonmodel, and the way it handles shows

it has made a great leap forward. The suspension and steering filterout disturbances, such as an unevenroad surface, but communicateimportant information such asincreases in lateral forces andtracking. This performance is basedon the redeveloped five-link axlesand the electromechanical powersteering. They lay the foundation forthe dynamic handling and first-classride comfort while also reducing fuelconsumption.

CO2 emissions on the 3.0 TDI areonly 134g/km, and even though 0-62mph is completed in a rapid 5.3 secs and top speed is 155mph, an average of up to 55.4mpg canstill be teased from the tank. Thismeans the all-new Audi A4 is madefor mile-munching and so, alongwith its classy image, it will serveany senior manager who ‘lives onthe road’ extremely well indeed.

You can expect to fork out £38,950for a 3.0 TDI 272PS Quattro S-tronic.

most popular X1. This version willsprint from 0-62mph in 7.6 secondsand will do 57.6mpg, while emittingonly 128g/k of CO2. The new BMWX1 went on sale in the UK inOctober 2015, priced from £26,780.

“ALONG WITH ITS CLASSY IMAGE, ITWILL SERVE ANY SENIOR MANAGERWHO ‘LIVES ON THE ROAD’EXTREMELY WELL INDEED.”

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Toyota Avensis SaloonNot so long ago, the Avensis lookedbland and, more often than not, hada ‘minicab for hire’ sign glowingfrom its roof – but now the latestmodel is handsome enough forpeople to stop and ask what it is.

I had this happen a couple of timeswith the mid-range £23,155 2.0 D-4DBusiness Edition saloon I had ontest. In fact, one guy asked if it was aLexus. “Not far off,” I said. He wasamazed the car was a Toyota. All

this is because the car has beengiven new styling, more equipmentand cleaner engines to furtherappeal to business users.

On the road, the 2015 Avensis isone of the best commutingmachines out there. It glides overbumps and eats up motorway mileswithout any effort at all. TheToyota is no slowcoach either,possessing a 0-62mph time of 9.5seconds and a top speed of 124mph.The dials and switches on the dashand on the steering wheel are very

clear and simple to use, and the six-speed manual gearbox which was fitted to my demo model issmooth and a doddle to operate.

The seating position is high, butcomfort is top-notch, helped by anexceptionally effective electric lumbar support system. OK, the featherweight steering can be a littleless than successful at communicating what’s going onbeneath the wheels, but it makesdriving easy – especially when weaving through traffic or parking. f

Honda Civic Type R We have waited five years, but it’sbeen worth it because the freshHonda Civic Type R has set newstandards in the high-performancefront-wheel drive hatchbacksegment.

The 0-62mph run is covered injust 5.7 seconds – making it the

fastest accelerating performancefront-wheel drive hatchback – andtop speed is a class-leading 167mph.

The styling changes that areunique to the Civic Type R give thecar an aggressive, purposeful stance,and it also has a new ‘+R’ buttonthat increases the response ofvarious chassis and drivetrain

systems. This means the behaviourof the car is firmer and more agilefor high-performance handling.

The result is an even more intensedriving experience, ideal for thetrack and sure to be appreciated ifyou’re a genuine hot-hatchenthusiast. The Type R is on salenow with a price-tag starting from£29,995.

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“IT GLIDES OVER BUMPS AND EATS UPMOTORWAY MILES WITHOUT ANYEFFORT AT ALL.”

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Tim is an experienced motoringwriter with a background in radioand TV journalism. He puts hispedal to the metal each issue withhis must-read car reviews. Visit carwriteups.co.uk.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Shooting BrakeThe Mercedes-Benz CLA-ClassShooting Brake’s exterior’sprogressive appearance is reflectedinside. On the 220 CDI Sport model Idrove, all trim surfaces are galvanisedin silver shadow, resulting in a cool-to-the-touch metallic finish. Theinstrument panel incorporates fivelarge round vents and there’s aprominent free-standing displayscreen that features a black pianolacquer-look front panel with a flush-fitting silver frame.

In the back, the seats are crampedfor adults and not even the best fitfor two child seats, but my nine andsix-year-old coped without too muchsquabbling. On the plus side: theload space is good for this type of car.

On the road, the CLA 220’sturbocharged four-cylinder dieselengine astounds for mostsituations. 0-62mph arrives in 8.3seconds and the maximum speed is142mph. The car has superb gripwhen pushed through corners andits seven-speed automatictransmission soars and dropsexcellently under pressure.Especially noteworthy is the

Updated Subaru XV Subaru continues to pull its weightin many areas – particularly in theSUV and crossover segments.

My £26,995 diesel-powered XV 2.0SE Premium demo car came withSubaru’s six-speed manualtransmission. The gear change issmooth and accurate, although theclutch is a bit heavy. The car standsout by benefiting from permanentall-wheel drive as standard. It alsoboasts the highest ground clearanceand is among the lightest vehicles inits class, aiding its genuine off-roadability, while a low centre of gravityenhances on-road handling.

Recently, changes to the XV’ssuspension have resulted in asmoother, more compliant ride, butwithout sacrificing any of thestability that the model is renownedfor. 0-62mph is achieved in a decent9.3 seconds and top speed is 123mph.

However, among the mostimportant improvements is a revisedcabin, which now features better-quality materials and an all-newtouchscreen infotainment andnavigation system. The 7.0-inchtouchscreen display allows smartphone-style control, with a swipeand pinch function for map displays.

A decent electronic power steeringsystem helps the drive by givinggood stability and feel. There’s anice weight about the steering, too,giving you the confidence tomanoeuvre swiftly and precisely.

Mercedes’ direct steer system,which offers detailed feedback incomparison to conventional powersteering.

Safety hasn’t been passed over,either, with numerous drivingassistance systems offering supportand reducing your workload behind

the wheel. Standard-fit featuresincluding sleepiness detection andradar-based collision preventionassist with adaptive brake assist,which helps to protect you fromimpacts from a speed of only 4mph.This model tested is priced from£30,625. n

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