ROAD TEST YEARBOOK 2021

PROGRESS CAME FROM ALL QUARTERS IN 2021

HOW WILL WE remember 2021 in the motoring

Exclusive new Bentley is W12 swansong special

Second model from Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilder previews firm’s first EV

Volvo backs saloons and estates

Car maker will replace its traditional models, despite sales of S and V series being eclipsed by SUVs

Burnaston to refurbish ex-customer Toyotas

Burnaston builds the Toyota Corolla hatchback and estate

CONFIDENTIAL

THE RADICAL EV9 concept provides another tantalising taste

How Dacia will buck electric trend

Budget brand to meet CO2 targets via lightweighting, not pricey PHEVs and EVs

The winners and losers of 2021

After another 12 months of adversity, our end-of-year report reveals which car makers in the UK stood firm and which have it all to do

Safety rap for Renault Zoe and Dacia Spring

New airbag proved inferior in Zoe’s NCAP side-impact

HOW AUDI’S DAKAR RALLY-RAIDER PUSHES BOUNDARIES OF EV TECH

UNDER THE SKIN

Jim Holder

INSIDE INFORMATION

Steve Cropley

MY HEROES OF 2021

IS THIS A CONTACT SPORT?

Formula E must lose reputation for collisions, says veteran racer

TOP FIVE EVENTS TO WATCH IN 2022

Spectacular New Zealand is due to make WRC

New rules offer no quick fix

History suggests we’ll have to wait beyond 2022 for better racing

YOUR VIEWS

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Matt Prior

Mallets, beaded edges and cuppas: proper motorsport It’s

RUF SCR

Built around Ruf’s proprietary new composite monocoque, this 911-alike combines old-world ingredients to mesmerising effect

AUDI R8 V10 PERFORMANCE RWD

Rear-driver is one of two new models that will take the V10 supercar to its expiry date

MORGAN PLUS FOUR ‘CLUBSPORT’

Prototype gives us an early insight into the next generation of competition Morgans

BMW iX xDRIVE40

Battery-electric technology flagship arrives in the UK with less potent motors

CUPRA BORN

How will sporty Spanish sibling of VW ID 3 electric hatchback take to British roads?

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA GTS

We finally get our hands on the hottest Carrera in rear-wheel-drive manual form

Bentley Continental GT

Range-topping two-door gains trick tech upgrades and heads off to hunt Astons

GIVING IT THEIR ALL

The BMW M3 is finally being offered with optional all-wheel drive. Can the latest Audi RS3, revamped for the PlayStation generation, keep it in its sights? Matt Saunders heads to the Peak District to find out

JANUARY

MOMENT TO FORGET Mark Tisshaw Our first taste

FEBRUARY

Two months into 2021 and it was already

MARCH

S ome cars are so legendary that when

APRIL

A pril felt a lot more like business

MAY

A nticipating the f luctuation of the car

JUNE

Rolls revealed the world’s most expensive new car

JULY

Here at Autocar, few cars set the news

AUGUST

W as Lamborghini’s Countach LPI 800-4 the most

SEPTEMBER

T wo twin-turbo V8s, a diesel straight six,

OCTOBER

Steve Cropley had one last spectacular blast in

NOVEMBER

Y ou could argue the cover star of

DECEMBER

BMW XM will become M division’s first bespoke

MONSTER MASH-UP

Autocar’s hive mind has chosen the best bits from its favourite motors to create this year’s Fran kencar. Richard Lane prepares to reanimate

MY CAR OF 2021

For a rundown of the best cars of the past year from an objective perspective, look elsewhere. These instead are our writers’ favourite new cars of 2021, very much subjectively speaking, warts and all

PLANS AND PREDICTIONS FOR 2022

What does the year ahead have in store for motorists, and how can we all make the most of it? Autocar’s writers rack their brains for the answers…

CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING

Last year’s pandemic was only the beginning. James Att wood reviews the big stories of 2021

WHATEVER NEXT?

First it was Covid, then the chip crisis, but as you’re about to learn, the wurst is yet to come. Our very own carvoyant James Attwood takes a sideways look into the skies and forecasts the automotive events of 2022

CUPBOARD RAIDER

Having quit the DTM and Formula E, Audi had many spare engineers and proven parts lying around – so it decided to build a Dakar rally raider.

ALL GUNS BLAZING

Motorsport roared back from its enforced hiatus around the world this year. Kris Culmer revisits what happened in the most popular series

PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER GTS

Time is up with our harder-edged Boxster. Did the novelty wear off?

FORD MONDEO ESTATE

We’ve been enjoying a last hurrah with Ford’s outgoing icon. So how has it fared?

RENAULT ARKANA

Renault has set out to democratise the coupé-SUV. Is this endeavour a worthy one?

TAKE YOUR PICK

Pick-ups are all the rage, but what’s on offer for banger money?

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

The Mk7 is a classy all-rounder that covers nearly all the bases. Mark Pearson reports

Ford Escort RS Cosworth £59,950

CATCH IT WHILE YOU CAN Release your inner

A BAT OUT OF HELL

If you think the Murciélago looks dramatic, try driving one. Epic pace and a mighty V12 await those with pockets deep enough. Jack Warrick checks his bank balance

NEW CARS ATOZ

For full reviews of every car listed here, visit our website, autocar.co.uk

ROAD TEST INDEX

The best new cars rated as only Autocar knows how

Audi Q4 e-tron

MG

mg.co.uk

Ford

ford.co.uk

peugeot

peugeot.co.uk

HM Government

gov.uk/import-goods-into-uk

SUBSCRIPTION

AUTOCAR.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE

HPtuners

hptuners.eu

CHEVROLET

www.ianallanmotors.co.uk

SILVERSPEED

alspeed@live.co.uk

Elite Registrations

elitereg.co.uk

BOTB

BOTB.com

PEGASUS

WWW.PEGASUS4X4.COM

SEAT