New look, new platform, new powertrain tech, new four-wheel drive system and even new naming for Audi’s compact executive estate
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST DRIVES
29 PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO E-HYBRID
30 MERCEDES-AMG GT PRO
34 FORD EXPLORER
40 VW GOLF eHYBRID
HOW WE TEST CARS
Autocar delivers several kinds of reviews on new cars, with different levels of technical and functional scrutiny. As the name suggests, our First Drives section typically addresses cars that we’re driving for the first time - either in final production form or as late prototypes. Time in the car can be limited here, technical and equipment specification might not be finalised and some systems software may not be to production spec. For those reasons, First Drive reports don’t have star ratings.
Once we have driven a car for a second time in the UK, in righthand-drive form and typically at greater length, we will rate it, either as part of a shorter UK test report or as the subject of a full, instrumented Road Test.
In the latter case, we take empirical performance and refinement benchmarks from it at Horiba MIRA proving ground, as well as subjective limit handling impressions, plus key measurements of practicality, efficiency and kerb weight.
All UK tests and Road Tests receive proper verdicts with star ratings informed by everything we have learned and the combined impressions and experience of several testers.