Currently, the market is awash with all-electric start-up car brands, and this Swiss-built GT car could be the latest addition to the flood. Called the Piech Mark Zero, it鈥檚 an electric sports car built by a new company fronted by the son of Ferdinand Piech, the former head of Volkswagen. These leaked teaser images preview the car鈥檚 design ahead of its launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Full performance specifications for the Mark Zero are yet to be announced. The battery packs are mounted in the car鈥檚 transmission tunnel and on the rear axle, which Piech states will provide a driving experience closer to that of an internal combustion-engined car. The Swiss start-up also claims that the Mark Zero鈥檚 architecture will be modular, allowing its battery packs and hardware to be replaced as technology advances. Potentially, Piech鈥檚 modular architecture could offer buyers a range of powertrains, including internal combustion engines, various hybrid systems and even a fuel-cell driven option. In addition, the Swiss firm plans to make its platform available to other manufacturers. For the next few years, Piech has planned a range of cars, consisting of a two-seat sports car, a four-seat saloon and a sporty SUV, built on the Mark Zero鈥檚 underpinnings. Release dates for these upcoming Piech models are yet to be announced.
A new model is due later in 2019 so expect some good deals on this outgoing car. Today, the smallest hatchbacks are in the city car class, and models such as the Citroen C1 and Skoda Citigo feature a small rear hatch that's not much more than a reinforced pane of glass. This is a cheap way of making a hatch, and is pretty effective. Further up the size scale, the hatchback body is the default choice in the supermini class, and while some superminis are available as saloons in other regions, the hatchback overwhelmingly rules the roost in the UK. You have plenty of choice in the compact hatch class where the cars most regularly referred to as 鈥榟atchbacks鈥?reside. Starting with the likes of the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Peugeot 308, then moving up to the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series at the premium end of things. Moving up in size, there are now hatch versions of the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and BMW 3 Series, and even a racy-looking A5 Sportback from Audi. At the very top of the tree, the Audi A7 Sportback, Tesla Model S and Porsche Panamera are the most luxurious hatchbacks you can buy. SUVs use the hatchback boot style too. Looking for a new car?
Since the second-generation Dacia Duster hit UK roads back in June, engine choice has been limited to one naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol motor. By March there will be a couple of more sophisticated motors to pick from: two variants of a 1.3-litre unit found in the Nissan Qashqai and Mercedes A-Class. But, in the meantime, a new diesel has doubled the under-bonnet options for Duster buyers. So does this add to the appeal of this cheap and cheerful SUV? The 1.5-litre dCi is carried over from the old Duster, but has been updated for 2019. Like the upcoming 1.3, it鈥檚 found in a range of Nissan, Renault and Mercedes models. As elsewhere, the revised engine benefits from a modest 5bhp hike over the old Duster鈥檚 diesel, and a useful torque increase thanks to an overboost function. An AdBlue system helps cut emissions, too. On the road you鈥檒l notice there鈥檚 not much in the way of soundproofing.
As a result, and as before, it鈥檚 fairly audible on start-up and under hard acceleration. But this isn鈥檛 a deal-breaker because, for the most part, it鈥檚 among the smoothest small diesels on sale. Although performance is steady rather than thrilling (0-62mph takes 11.8 seconds), the power delivery is linear and there鈥檚 a decent shove of torque throughout the rev range. It鈥檚 certainly livelier than the breathless 1.6 petrol which, without a turbo, needs to be worked pretty hard to extract any kind of performance. The petrol has a five-speed manual, while the diesel comes with a notchy six-speed transmission. The new Duster sits on the same platform as the previous model: a stretched version of the Nissan Juke鈥檚 underpinnings. But pronounced body roll and lifeless steering mean it鈥檚 not the sharpest compact SUV on the market. That numb set-up is suitably light, however, making the Dacia feel easy to drive and manoeuvre at low speeds. You鈥檇 expect a car with this much ground clearance and high-profile tyres to be really comfy.
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