Volkswagen to launch a new Polo GTi R5 rally car to take on the WRC in 2018.

• Super sporty variant of the new Polo GTI¹ for global rallying
• 200 kW/272 hp turbo engine, four-wheel drive and safety package
• FIA homologation in late summer, race debut planned for autumn 2018

The stage is set for the rally GTI: The Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 enjoyed a successful world premiere. The four-wheel drive rally car for customer sports, which is based on the sixth and latest generation of the new Polo, was introduced to the public for the first time at the official driving presentation of the Polo GTI² in Mallorca on Monday evening. 

The development of the new rally sports car incorporated the experience and know-how acquired whilst winning four world titles in the pinnacle of rallying, the WRC, from 2013 to 2016.

“Presenting the new Polo GTI R5 to the public was a magnificent moment,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “The close relationship to the road-going Polo GTI is unmistakable. 

In the rally Polo, the GTI family has another spectacular ambassador. Our team and the colleagues at Volkswagen Design in Wolfsburg deserve great credit for this. Over the coming months, the Polo GTI R5 must prove itself in a series of tough scenarios, in order to ensure that it can build on the success of its predecessor in the customers’ hands.”

Initial tests successful, homologation planned for late summer 2018

Development of the Polo GTI R5 has been in full swing since the start of the year. Initial tests on asphalt and gravel took place in mid-November in Fontjoncouse, France, and will continue in Great Britain in December. Responsibility for the entire project lies with Technical Director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison, as well as Project Manager Jan de Jongh, who, as race engineer, looked after world champion Sébastien Ogier’s Polo R WRC from 2013 to 2016.

“The Polo GTI R5 came through the initial tests without any problems. The feedback from the test drivers was very positive,” says Demaison. “It is obviously beneficial to be able to call upon an experienced team of engineers and mechanics, who helped to develop the Polo that won the world championship. And it goes without saying that, as we have in the past, we are also taking advantage of the close and excellent cooperation with the colleagues in the technical development department in Wolfsburg, as well as our Škoda colleagues, who have been offering their customers an R5 car since 2015.”

As in the GTI for the streets: four-cylinder turbo engine with direct fuel injection

Like the production model – the new Polo GTI – the Polo GTI R5 has a powerful straight four-cylinder turbo engine with direct fuel injection, which is mounted transversely in front of the front axle. 

The capacity of the rally car is limited to 1.6 litres, in accordance with regulations. This is sufficient to generate an impressive 200 kW (272 hp) and maximum torque of 400 Newton metres. A close-stepped, sequential, five-speed racing gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive achieve outstanding acceleration on any surface – whether asphalt, gravel or snow. Weighing just 1,320 kilograms, the rally GTI accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

The four-door, steel chassis, which serves as the basis for the assembly, is manufactured at the production plant in Pamplona, Spain. In accordance with FIA regulations, it is strengthened with a role cage and other safety components. The Polo GTI R5 will be homologated in the summer of 2018. The first deliveries to customer sports teams, and the first competitive outings, are planned for the second half of the year.

In 2012, the International Automobile Federation FIA passed the R5 regulations for a new generation of rally cars, aimed primarily at customer teams, talented youngsters and privateers. Since then, more than 400 cars have been produced by five different manufacturers and have been in action in national and international championships all over the world.

¹) Polo GTI R5: The concept vehicle has not gone on sale, and therefore Directive 1999/94 EC does not apply.

²) Polo GTI (147 kW/200 PS) fuel consumption in l/100 km: urban 7,7 / extra-urban 4,9 / combined 5,9; CO2-emissions (combined) in g/km: 134; efficiency class: C.

The latest Nissan X-Trail carries on where the old one stopped, and should continue to be the world's best selling SUV.

• Nissan’s flagship crossover and best-selling model worldwide is upgraded
• Enhancements focus on fresh exterior design, greater cabin refinement, more practicality for owners and innovative new technology
• New X-Trail will be available with ProPILOT autonomous driving capability
• Upgrades reinforce X-Trail’s position as the perfect car for family adventures
• On sale from August 2017

The Nissan X-Trail is the world’s best-selling SUV and now available with a range of upgrades which further enhance its quality and refinement. The changes include a distinctive and robust redesign of the exterior, a higher-quality interior with desirable new features, additional practicality for owners and innovative new technologies to make life on the road even safer.

For drivers seeking new levels of flexibility and greater freedom when they want it, the new Nissan X-Trail will be available with ProPILOT autonomous drive technology.

The enhancements to X-Trail are based on consumer insight and customer feedback, and are designed to reinforce the X-Trail’s position as the perfect car for family adventures.

Philippe Saillard, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Nissan Europe, commented: “Demand for crossovers is growing all the time, and for the Nissan X-Trail to be the number one for global sales is a huge honour. With these enhancements, the new X-Trail is delivering more of what our customers want. The Nissan X-Trail is the perfect car for family adventures.”

Unveiled in dramatic style earlier this month at a special event in Cardiff, Wales – hours ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final – the new Nissan X-Trail will be on sale across Europe from August 2017.

The new Nissan X-Trail in detail

The X-Trail is number one for Nissan. A highly capable five or seven-seat crossover aimed at adventure-loving families, it’s the brand’s best-selling vehicle worldwide.

Including the USA, where the car is badged Rogue, more than 3.7 million have been sold since the first Nissan X-Trail was launched in 2000. That includes almost half a million cars in Europe, where the X-Trail remains hugely popular. Approximately 115,000 units have been sold in Europe since the all-new third-generation model was launched in 2014, and demand has grown significantly year on year; sales doubled from 2014 to 2015, and the total rose again by another 40% the following year.

It is also a record-breaker. Including Rogue sales, in FY16 the X-Trail was the world’s most popular SUV, with 766,000 vehicles sold – more than any other rival model.

The X-Trail has continued to evolve; earlier this year, Nissan launched the car with a new 2.0-litre 177PS diesel engine, broadening the range to meet the needs of consumers who require a higher-output powertrain.

Not surprisingly, the Nissan X-Trail is a hit with its owners. The car has an outstanding 8.9 out of 10 customer rating with independent ratings organisation Reevoo.

As with all Nissan vehicles, every upgrade – no matter how large or small – has been undertaken with the customer in mind. The result is the new X-Trail, featuring a distinctive and robust exterior design, higher-quality interior refinement, extra practicality for owners and innovative new technologies.

Robust new exterior design

The Nissan X-Trail has always been known for its sculpted and muscular styling, with chiselled lines, high wheel arches and elegant curves on the bonnet. All of those characteristics remain, and are now showcased through a distinctive and robust redesign of the front end, adding a new dynamism and more premium styling cues.

At its heart is Nissan’s latest ‘V-motion’ grille, wider than before for a more impactful appearance on the road and echoed in the design of the bumper beneath. The redesign makes much greater use of the X-Trail’s body colour, with the visible black plastic benefiting from a smart new gloss black finish.

On either side of the grille are new headlamp clusters, with much clearer design differentiation between the halogen units on Visia, Acenta and N-Connecta grades and full LEDs on Tekna. Both feature a contemporary new version of the X-Trail’s ‘boomerang’ Daytime Running Light signature.

For models with full LED lamps, dipped beam now features Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS). This means dynamic cornering lamps operating in conjunction with the vehicle’s speed and steering inputs. Also appearing on the new Qashqai crossover, this is the first use of AFS for Nissan in Europe, and means greater illumination of a corner’s apex for better visibility and road safety. On high beam, the beam pattern is now wider than before, also improving visibility.

The front fog lamps have evolved. Cleverly integrated into the new front bumper, they have changed from a round shape to a rectangular one. They are standard from Acenta grade.

Also revised are the front parking sensors. Previously they were integrated into the bumper but did not sit completely flush to the surface. Now they are flush. The difference is small but significant, perfectly illustrating the car’s higher-quality finish and Nissan’s attention to detail.

At the rear of the new X-Trail, the bumper has been redesigned to give it a more robust look with new chrome detailing. The rear lamp signature has been upgraded to become full LED, while the parking sensors are improved, as at the front of the car.

The biggest change to the profile of the new X-Trail is the addition of a chrome side moulding across the base of the two doors. Creating a more dynamic appearance, this is standard on Tekna grade. A new range of 17-inch (Visia and Acenta) and 18-inch (N-Connecta and Tekna) alloy wheels are now fitted as standard, with the existing 19-inch wheels (optional on Tekna) carried over from the previous model.

The upgrades have resulted in a very slight change to the overall length of the car – an increase of 50mm means it’s now 4,690mm from bumper to bumper. There is no change to the new X-Trail’s width (1,830mm), height (1,710mm) or wheelbase (2,705mm). The exterior changes have not affected the new X-Trail’s aerodynamic performance, with a Cd rating of 0.32.

Six of the eight existing exterior colours have been carried over, with four vibrant new additional shades added – Monarch Orange, Palatial Ruby, Sapphire Blue and Picador Brown.

Premium new interior with even greater refinement

The cabin of the new Nissan X-Trail boasts a raft of upgrades to enhance the existing high-quality feel. Entering the car, the striking new steering wheel is the first thing drivers will notice. It echoes the design of Nissan’s newest models globally and is standard across the X-Trail range. Now D-shaped, the horizontal base means easier entry and exit for the driver, as well as providing a more sporty look and feel.

The steering wheel’s compact central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer, creating an upper space that’s larger by 17% to improve instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combimeter display (left spoke) and cruise control (right spoke) are new, and offer customers more intuitive use and reduced ‘eyes off the road’ time.

The rim’s width has been widened – from 34mm to 37.5mm – to provide a more comfortable and safer grip. A new premium style comes from the satin silver detailing on the central spoke which echoes the shape of the car’s iconic ‘V-motion’ front grille. A new feature is integrated heating, which is standard on Tekna grade.

Whether customers select the five or seven-seat version of the X-Trail, the leather upholstery that’s standard on Tekna grade features enhanced quilting to create more defined seat contours.

Heated seats for both front and rear occupants (not third row) are new, and standard on Tekna grade. For customers seeking something different, a new tan and black two-tone leather interior is available as an optional extra on Tekna.

Other cabin upgrades add to the higher-quality ambience and increased refinement of the new X-Trail. A new leather knee pad on both sides of the centre console has been added, while the area above the glovebox has been given a more contemporary finish. The air vents now feature a new gloss black surface.

The new X-Trail has a wider range of interior door trims to distinguish the different grades, while the central armrest storage area has been redesigned. On models with the CVT XTronic automatic transmission, the gear selector has been restyled and features a new leather-style gaiter.

The interior practicality of the new X-Trail makes it perfect for adventurous families.

It continues to offers exceptional space and comfort, including best-in-class knee room in the second row of seats. It has clever storage solutions and practical features, such as the sliding / reclining functionality of the second row seats. On seven-seat versions, which make up 40% of the sales mix in Europe, access to the roomy third row is simple and convenient.

New hands-free practicality for the tailgate

The two highest grades of X-Trail have previously come with an electric tailgate as standard. This feature has been enhanced on new X-Trail with the additional of hands-free functionality. Customers with shopping bags or holding young children close by can now kick their foot under the centre of the car’s rear bumper to automatically activate the opening mechanism.

The boot on the new X-Trail is larger than before. Thanks to improved packaging, VDA capacity is up from 550 litres to 565 litres on the five-seat version with all seats in place. Capacity on seven-seat interiors (445 litres) remains unchanged. Total space with all seats folded flat increases to 1,996 litres.

Every X-Trail boot comes with Nissan’s innovative Flexible Luggage Board System, which allows for shelves and dividers to be adjusted in any one of nine configurations. These include a hidden compartment to keep valuables out of sight, making it the ideal base for family days out.

New BOSE Premium audio system

Reflecting customer demands for a superior audio option in the new X-Trail, Tekna grade is now fitted with an all-new eight-speaker system as standard. Supplied by BOSE, Nissan’s premium audio partner, it features two 25mm tweeters at the base of the windscreen, a 165mm woofer in each front door and a 130mm mid-range speaker in each rear door. Two 115mm woofers are housed in a 7.7-litre custom-engineered enclosure mounted in the spare wheel well. A BOSE digital amplifier with eight channels of custom equalisation and digital signal processing is mounted under the passenger seat.

The system has been fine-tuned for X-Trail, resulting in the most complete sound system ever offered in a Nissan Europe vehicle. The BOSE Premium system creates a wider soundscape for a concert-like listening experience, with clarity of acoustics and minimal distortion at higher volumes.

Customer feedback has led to improvements in the X-Trail’s two other infotainment systems. From October, DAB digital radio is standard for the first time, while the NissanConnect touch-screen satellite navigation unit (standard from N-Connecta,) features a smart new user interface that’s more app-like in appearance. Where the NissanConnect system is fitted, the new X-Trail now features a ‘shark fin’ roof antenna for improved reception and a more contemporary finish.

New Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies, including ProPILOT autonomous drive

Nissan Intelligent Mobility is the name for the brand’s advanced technologies which make its cars more desirable by redefining how they are driven, powered and integrated into society. The goal is to make Nissan drivers feel more confident, excited and connected, while also enhancing road safety.

In 2018 Nissan will introduce ProPILOT on the new X-Trail. It’s the first stage on the brand’s journey to autonomous driving, giving drivers more freedom by allowing them to automate the mundane elements of their motoring life.

ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on highways during heavy traffic congestion and high-speed cruising. It is based on three technologies – Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Traffic Jam Pilot (TJP). Intuitive to use, ProPILOT will be activated via a button on the X-Trail’s steering wheel. Information will be displayed in the combimeter between the instrument dials. Further details on ProPILOT will be given nearer to its launch.

New Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies have been added to the X-Trail. Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to mitigate the risk of low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space, is now available for the first time. If the driver attempts to reverse when an approaching vehicle is detected, the system gives visual and audible warnings.

Intelligent Emergency Braking has been on the X-Trail since 2014, but has now been upgraded with Pedestrian Recognition. This innovative technology helps to minimise collisions with pedestrians using a combination of forward-facing radar and camera.

New to the X-Trail is a technology called Stand Still Assist (SSA), which supplements Hill Start Assist (HSA) on cars with a manual transmission. SSA holds the car in a stationary position for up to three minutes, after which time the parking brake is automatically activated. SSA works on inclines, declines and on the flat, allowing the driver to take their foot off the brake. This improves safety, boosts driver confidence and reduces fatigue. A green light on the instrument cluster indicates when it’s activated.

The X-Trail continues to be offered with numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning. These technologies increase customer’s confidence and trust in their car, making it the new X-Trail the perfect car for family adventures.

The new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Confident drive: new X-Trail is as refined as ever

Confident drive is what Nissan calls a common product attribute – something that’s engineered into all vehicles around the world. It means a smooth and refined feeling on the road, with precise and stress-free steering and handling. It’s measured and benchmarked in three scenarios – on motorways, on country roads and in the urban environment.

The confident driving characteristics of the Nissan X-Trail have been carried over to the new model, providing customers with predictable and safe performance for the life of the vehicle.

The range of three efficient engines also remains, including the 2.0-litre 177PS diesel launched in 2016. It means customers have the choice of petrol or high and low-powered diesel, six-speed manual or CVT XTronic automatic transmissions, and two or four-wheel drive to meet every type of customer need.

The full engine line-up is detailed below:

Engine	1.6 130PS diesel	1.6 130PS diesel	1.6 130PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	1.6 163PS petrol
Transmission	6MT (2WD)	6MT (4WD)	CVT (2WD)	6MT (4WD)	CVT (2WD)	CVT (4WD)	6MT (2WD)
CO2 (g/km)	129	139	135	149	148	158	145
Combined Cycle (mpg)	57.6	53.3	55.4	50.4	50.4	47.1	45.6

All performance figures are with 17-inch wheels

Standard equipment and options

Every new Nissan X-Trail comes with six airbags as standard, plus driver assistance systems including anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and stability control. Other standard equipment includes cruise control with speed limiter, Bluetooth connectivity, manual air-conditioning, electric folding / heated door mirrors and alloy wheels.

Depending on the grade chosen, other available features include an opening panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, privacy glass, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning and roof rails.

Additional options include exterior styling plates and side styling bars. Genuine Nissan accessories include a dog guard, roof bars and a fixed towbar with electric hook-up.

Equipment levels on the new X-Trail vary across European markets, so please refer to local Nissan communications representatives for exact details.

TMW - The Suzuki Ignis, another brilliant small car from Suzuki, the brand that specialises in small cars.

Well, today seems to be the era of SUV and small cars, an area that Suzuki dominates, the small car range is one of the best that you can buy, from the Celerio, Swift, Baleno and this the Ignis, a name that’s from its past, but placed onto a brilliant new car, and one that deserves to take the sector to new heights.

This car is not very big from the look of it, but it is really like a TARDIS, for those Dr Who fans, there seems to be so much room inside, that five adults CAN sit in reasonable comfort, or four adults for a longer journey, at less than 4m long and less than 1.8 m wide, you can quite clearly see that it is a small car, but that’s not just its IP.

This car can come with a mild hybrid system, and a four wheel drive set up too, with auto and manual, and a 1.2litre engine as fitted to our car.

Let’s start with the exterior, it is different, and vastly likeable, it looks chunky and capable, which it is, the oversized headlights, LED projector are like a pair of eyes, the lines of the car flow through to the back where there is a louvered look to the C-Pillar, it gives the car a different look and one that suits it very much.

it then follows around to the back where the boot is sharply cut off, which unfortunately gives the boot a small amount of room, an extra inch or two would have made all the difference, but this is what you get for the money, and at £14,464 for the top of the range with optional paint, you get a lot of car for that money.

The nice and well suited black alloy wheels along with the white paint really go together very well, once inside, the dashes of orange break up a dark interior, an interior that's well positioned with lots of toys and kit.

The seats we found are very comfortable, but our only concern is the side bolsters are not supported, they feel like they are just shaped foam, which over time will go flat and make the seat covers floppy, but as a loan car, they are very suitable and comfortable.

You can manoeuvre the seats and steering wheel enough to get you a near perfect position, once there everything is at hand, you do not need to stretch for buttons or switchgear, and the touchscreen tablet, which is similar to Mercedes, in the way it is just attached to the dash rather than be a full part of the dash, has everything near and handy, and very easy to use.

The sat nav is a little slow; well to be honest the entire tablet is very slow with PIONEER on screen for ages before it comes to life, once there all is good, with plenty of options onscreen to play with.

The rear seats are suitably comfortable, and four can sit there in comfort for longer journeys, with five able to sit for shorter ones, anything longer and the three adults in the back would get uncomfortable, quickly.

The boot space is ok, it can take a couples weekly shopping, or with the seats down you get far more room to put bigger amounts of luggage etc.

Once on the road the 1.2 litre can easily keep up with motorway traffic and can overtake with ease too, the car has a top speed of 106mph, but at 11.4 seconds to 62mph, it is a tad slow, but once wound up, it’s a great car, it has a raspy engine note that sounds very sporty, but once in top gear, and you are cruising, that note seems to disappear and it becomes a nice quiet environment, the fuel consumtion of the 1,2 litre is

·       Urban 57.6mpg

·       Extra Urban 70.6mpg

·       Combined 65.7mpg

Are these achievable, well, no, no matter how I drove the car I could not get the in-car display to get anywhere near the indicated figures, but I did get an over all of 50.4mpg, and that included local, city and motorway driving, as well as a long distance journey to the SMMT event at Millbrook.

The clutch is very, very, light, I struggled for the first couple of days to get the biting point just right without slipping it too much, but by the time it came to give the car back, I was able to change gear nicely.

The car has a vast array of standard kit and equipment, to make it a safe and easy car to drive, these include but not limited too

·       AllGrip Four Wheel Drive

·       16” Black Gloss Alloys

·       Rear Privacy Glass

·       Wheel Arch Extensions

·       Navigation System

·       Bluetooth

·       Steering wheel Controls

·       Auto Air Conditioning

·       Automatic Light

·       Automatic Wipers

·       LED Daytime Running Lights

·       Double height luggage area floor

·       DAB Radio

·       Twin USB Socket

·       Electric windows all round

·       Information Display

·       Keyless entry and start

·       TPMS

·       Engine auto Start/Stop

·       Cruise control

·       And far, far, more

The Ignis is a brilliant car; there is no getting away from that, Suzuki really does know what they are doing when it comes to design and implementation of small cars and SUV’s, the Ignis generated a number of comments from other journalists and even one of my neighbours come across to enquire about it, and thought it was a really nice car.

CONCLUSION

Ok, it’s not short of issues, with the main one being the tablet, it is just far too slow, ignore that and you have a car capable of doing everything you need of it, even going off road, not in the style of a Land Rover but its able to take rough ground in it’s stride and just waft over it.

It’s a car that will suit a number of people, from the single person, couples, or even with kids, its not a full five up long distance cruiser, the rear seats passengers would not be that comfortable for long.

I have had a number of cars and the Ignis is one I miss, it was fun, even when the car stopped it’s self because some moron walked out into the road, the car braked and stopped before I had the opportunity to think about it, and that was amazing, all cars should have this fitted as standard, it would stop a lot of rear end shunts and pedestrian accidents.