Why are Tesla the only company that make good electric saloons?

As a result of socio-economic change, electric cars are becoming more and more prominant in Britain. They are starting to fill every range from hypercars, to hatchbacks, to SUVs and it has been proven by companies like Tesla and Porsche that it doesn't have to suck the fun out of driving! However, I have one major problem with how the market is progressing. What appears to be happening is that companies are deciding to make an electric car, which is fine, but they are then happening upon a metaphorical fork in the road where they are forced to choose between incredibly fast, fun and expensive or cheap, slow and fairly boring. It's not like the more affordable cars have incredible range either. Take the upcoming Tesla Roadster. This electric beast an alleged range of 620 miles compared to the Mitsubishi i-MIEV which has a measley 62. I can easily understand you neec to pay more for a better car with a better battery but what I can't get my head round is why there are no (or very few) cars that have carved right through that fork and made a fun, long-ranged, yet affordable electric car.

The sort of car I want to see available to the masses is any estate or saloon with a sub 6 second 0-60 and a range of over about 250 miles. In my opinion, that isn't a lot to ask for considering Tesla's cheapest and least powerful model, the 75D (not including Model 3 as it is not yet available in the UK), has a 259 mile range and a 5.2 second 0-60 time. Now, I want to say go and buy this car because it is brilliant fun, with negliable running costs and it keeps the people at the Environment Agency happy. But I can't. It starts from around £60,000... and that is a lot. At the moment, nearly every electric car on the market is a hatchback and Tesla is the only company that have made an electric saloon. I find this staggering, especially given that, according to a survey that wasn't carried out by me, the most popular car body style in the UK is in fact a saloon.

The question this has raised for me is, why haven't Audi, Mercedes,Volvo, BMW or even Jaguar made a fully-electric saloon yet? If you look at these companies, their saloon models are at the forefront of the market. Take the Mercedes C-Class for instance; last year it was the 11th best selling car in the UK! While the R&D side of things would cost the company a lot... an electric version of these cars would sell brilliantly; it would be a win/win because not only would they be congratulated for their efforts towards saving the polar bears, these are companies that are competetive enough with each other to keep making their cars faster, longer-ranged and all-round better to drive.

A regular criticism of the electric market as it stands, is that battery charging is a big problem when you're on a long journey; stopping to charge a battery for 45 minutes or so, is considerably longer than the 2 minutes one would spend at the petrol pump. At first, I shared the same train of thought but after more consideration, if I had been in my Tesla for 250 miles or so, I'd probably benefit from a break with a coffee and a snack. In my humble opinion, the necessity to stop might well decrease the amount of crashes caused by driver fatigue; especially when trying to push on through the night. On the other hand, BMW are in the process of creating a faster and more efficient charger which they claim will only take about 15 mins to charge.

So, what else would put someone off buying electric and subsequently make companies less likely to develop them? Well, there is the argument that electric cars are not an involving drive. For the most part, this is true. The majority of electric cars, as I have already mentioned, are small city-hatchbacks which accelerate to 60 in 10+ seconds and then hit a top speed of under 100mph, alongside a range of often under 100 miles... which is futile. Also, as an out-and-out petrolhead, it has taken me a long time to accept the notion of a car without an engine or a proper gearbox. However, I cannot fault the performance of Teslas: The model S P100d does 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and then the overtaking stat (45-65mph) in marginally over a second which is faster than...well, let's just say you'd have to travel a long way to find something even remotely near those ludicrous stats! So, not all electric cars are boring. Its just most that aren't Teslas, are.

So, in conclusion. The people that drive saloons are often buisness people who, in reality, would much rather spend their 45 minutes in a meeting selling their company's new product rather than at a service station charging it and drinking sub-standard coffee. However, I refuse to believe this will always be the case; I can see real potential for the market and forsee it booming fairly soon. The answer to my initial question though, is that at the moment the high-grade battery technology is costing too much to research and therefore writing itself a rather large price tag. What appears to have happened is Tesla's Elon Musk does't mind spending a lot of money to do it. As a result of their high prices, Tesla does have over $3 billion in cash but its also burning through $1 billion per quarter. Other companies just don't have the gut to spend that much money right now on an industry that is still in its embryonic stage.

I look forward, in the next decade or so, to see an abundance of choice from British and German companies, for executive and family electric cars that don't feel cheap and boring. However, this doesn't mean I want to see the back of the not-so-humble V8 any time soon!

The Best Sub-£50k 5-Seater

Recently, a friend came to me wanting some advice; he's looking for a second car with a budget of around £50,000. This person already has a "people carrier thing" to accommodate the family, so was looking for something that could offer a bit of practicality (four seats for occasional use) and an involving drive but most importantly, something that would put a smile on his face. 

This request for advice certainly piqued my interest; there is so much choice that I was unable to give him an answer there and then of what really is the best new car on the market given his parameters. Eventually, after a profusion of research, I managed to whittle it down to just 3 candidates...and here they are...

The Candidates:

Firstly, we have the BMW 335d xdrive;

This car is truly brilliant. It showcases itself as an example of German engineering at its absolute greatest, boasting a limited top speed of 155mph and a 0-60 time of merely 4.8 seconds... that's the same as a V8 Vantage and faster than a 911 Targa 4!




Secondly, we have the Porsche Macan S;

Here we have the lovechild of a 911 and a Cayenne. It is the perfect combination of performance, practicality and looks. With the increasing popularity of crossovers, having the option of one with a Porsche badge and an astonishing 5.4 second 0-60 time is certainly worth considering




Finally, we have the Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG Coupe;   
                                                       
As I am sure you are all aware, the AMG badge means something along the lines of 'Angry Mean German'; failure to tame the beast could result in your untimely demise. However, this AMG is slightly different.



The Reviews:

To start off with, let's get the boring stuff out of the way, economy and practicality. All of these cars have a 3.0 litre, six-cylinder engine but the worst out of the 3 for economy is the Macan with an average of 32.5mpg, followed by the AMG with 35.3. Surprisingly though, if you were doing urban driving alone, the Macan is in fact more economical than the AMG with 32.5 as opposed to 26.2 mpg. These stats however, are both made to look futile when you see that the Beemer does an average of 51.4! For this size of engine this is outstanding, especially considering BMW claim that on a motorway run it will return 57.6 mpg which is more than adequate, given how much fun you'd have obtaining those returns. So for the economy test, we have a clear winner; 1-0-0 to the 3 Series.

On to practicality. All of these cars have 5 seats. Whilst boot space was not a significant concern to my friend, like all good car reviews and comparisons, I'm going to talk about it anyway. The smallest was always going to be the C Class which has 400 litres. Out of the other two however, it's very close; the 335d has 480 litres but the Porsche comes out on top with 500 litres. (Both the Mercedes and the BMW have touring models but I am not including them). It's beginning to look like the Merc' is going to have to do something special to be a genuine contender here.

Now onto what you are probably wanting to hear; what they are like to drive. As I have never personally had the chance to drive these 3 cars, I am rating them purely on other reviews, specs and what it has been like to experience similar cars (for example the 520d, Macan diesel and C63 AMG all of which I have enjoyed as a passenger). 

Let's start with the Mercedes. As I said earlier, this is different to all of the other cars in the AMG fleet in the way it handles; cars like the SLS Black, the C63 and the AMG GT all lay down their power in such a way that there is negligible traction or stability, resulting in the back end of the car spinning round and aiming you for the nearest tree or even a pedestrian. The C43 however, is more restrained and as long as you are not the kind of imbecile who throws a car into every corner without consideration, you can drive it round a track; this is largely due to the fact that it is only available in four wheel drive. This however, doesn't mean its not fun. The consequence of mashing the right pedal is where this car dominates because contrary to the other two cars being considered in this review, this particular C-Class is still in it's brand's performance lineup,  meaning that it is fitted with a raucous sports exhaust that sound similar to an angry lioness or grizzly bear. It is also the fastest of the three candidates with a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds and a 155mph restricted top speed. This means that with the more firm ride of sport+ mode, it certainly has that fun-factor that may well be less prominent in the other two.

The 335d has almost identical performance stats and is absolutely great fun to drive but this car is less for the sort of person that is constantly hitting the red line and letting people know of their presence and more for the person that likes to be incredibly comfortable but would still like the power to overtake the annoying, middle-lane hogging, Nissan Kumquat with ease. This is made possible by an incredible four wheel drive system and gearbox that work coherently to try and keep you on the road, going exactly where you want to go. Let's put it like this; the BMW is like a butler that politely asks where you want to go and how fast you want to get there as opposed to the AMG that only has one setting... fast and loud. Because the 335d is not made as a performance car (that would be the M3), it floats along any road surface using the optional air suspension, quietly and discreetly putting comfort at the forefront of it's design followed by performance and not the other way around. Consequently, it can cope with poor weather easily, so will not let you down.

Finally the Macan S. This being a crossover makes you feel "high and mighty" compared to the other cars in this test but certainly does not lose that sporty feel. It is very fast compared to other cars in it's class and comfortable too. However, when it comes to a fun driving experience, compared to the other two, it isn't as firm and does feel like you are under-steering into the corner whether you are or not and therefore doesn't give that sensation of driving a fast and exciting car. Don't get me wrong, it is good fun to drive and be driven in; it has a 4x4 system similar to the xdrive where mostly it sends 90% or so of the power to the back wheels and then evens it out where needed so it can be taken off road without worrying. If you were focusing on what it is like in the cabin however, it is by far the most comfortable with the suede backed bucket seats, high consoles and prodigious amounts of tech to fill your every need; its like sitting in an armchair... made by Porsche. It must be said though, that without the badges it would actually prove hard to tell that it is a Porsche and not something else like a Jaguar because it is just that relaxed and would be perfect (if you can afford the fuel) for long, gruelling commutes!

Another important consideration is what the interior looks like and how the infotainment system works. For the BMW, it has the IDrive system which I cannot fault; my father owns a 5 Series and it is honestly the most intuitive in-car entertainment and navigation system I have ever used! It has one rotary dial that couldn't be easier to use! All of the buttons in the BMW are clearly labelled and very straight forward and its a pleasure to use with a crisp and accurate navigation system and perfectly adequate speakers. The Mercedes has an okay infotainment system with clear graphics but can feel quite outdated. It doesn't have the option of Apple CarPlay and it is not quite as intuitive to use as the IDrive but does have simple and easy to follow menus and a clean interface. What the Merc' does have better than both the Porsche and the BMW, is the interior aesthetic; it is beautiful with high quality finishes and curvy edges that will make your mouth water. The speakers are crafted by Burmeister and everything just looks like it's more up-market compared to the plastics used by the BMW and the Porsche. It's the small things like the little analogue clock in the middle of the dashboard, that really make the car feel like a sporty limousine (not surprising, given that it shares a lot of features with the S Class). It also has sportier dials than the BMW which would make it much more appealing to drive. The Porsche has a simple and easy to use system that works well and has a lot of features. However, Porsche being a high end company, isn't afraid to charge an arm and a leg for these add-ons! The interior is sporty; it has a central rev counter (a feature that I have always liked) and a little screen in front of the driver for giving information. The Macan is aesthetically pleasing on the inside but again, like the 3 Series, is not a patch on the Merc.


The Verdict.

The 335d xdrive is a reliable, fun, comfortable, economical and practical saloon that does almost everything it would ever need to do. The Macan S is also very practical, extremely comfortable and a joy to lounge in on long journeys. But it is the C43 AMG that takes the win here. The original ask was for a fun car that  can be enjoyed, offering an exhilarating but comfortable drive wherever you may be, from the back roads, to the motorways and on to the track. The C43 AMG delivers all of this and more. Wherever you drive it, it's sure to put a smile on your face.

The Specs

335d xdrive (Saloon)
Price: £43,460
0-60: 4.8 seconds
MPG: 51.4
Top Speed: 155
Luggage Capacity: 480 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive (xdrive)
Engine: 6cyl, 3.0 litre, 2 turbos
Power output: 313bhp, 465lbft

C43 AMG Coupe
Price: £46,875
0-60: 4.7 seconds
MPG: 35.3
Top Speed: 155
Luggage Capacity: 400 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive (4Matic)
Engine: V6, 3.0 litre, 2 turbos
Power output: 362bhp, 384lbft

Macan S (Petrol)
Price: £48,287
0-60: 5.4 seconds
MPG: 32.5
Top Speed: 157
Luggage Capacity: 500 litres
Drivetrain: All wheel drive
Engine: V6, 3.0 litre, 1 turbo
Power output: 340bhp, 340lbft

Tesla Model 3, the future of family transport?

Over the years, the fight to make cars increasingly clever to improve safety, efficiency and practicality has been raging. For the most, it seemed to be ruled by the Germans with BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Volkswagen on top. However, with the recent boom of electric car technology, a small American company founded in 2008 called Tesla came into their own.

Initially, they created the roadster which was good for an electric car, but at that time it was not relevant in the same way as it would be today and they didn't have the technology or money to make it a real world beater. However, the release of their incredibly quick Model S  (from £57,400) took the market by storm as it was a very easy on the eye, fast saloon (sedan if you are from the US) that had a respectable range and some very quirky and futuristic interior features. By 2015, this had the highest sales of electric cars in the world. It was then followed up a couple of years later by the more expensive, yet more practical Model X (from £79,000) that had even more cutting edge technology and modern features that launched Tesla not just head and shoulders, but a full body's length above the rest. However, they were targeting a rather niche market and one that would not grow very quickly due to the expense of their cars and the low demand for this sort of electrical technology. So, Tesla decided to take a step back on the price enabling them to reach out to a wider audience and hopefully continue to make their mark in the market. And what did they name this car? The Model 3.

To start off with, the so called "budget" electric car does not feel like a budget car in any sense of the word, as it filled with more of Tesla's technology that never fails to enrich the experience. With its infotainment screen that looks like something from Star-Trek and a space-age looking steering wheel, it certainly feels like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise! With regard to the passengers, the Model 3 would happily fit 3 adults in the back and even though it has a panoramic sunroof, still has enough headroom to seat Shaquille O'Neal comfortably!

On the interior, it is surprisingly simplistic, but this works as it keeps the car looking fresh and sharp. There are multiple choices for trim but I do like the contrast of the dark wood and the light aluminium. It boasts the largest infotainment screen in its class, measuring in at a whopping 15"! There is that ergonomic steering wheel that I mentioned earlier which looks absolutely brilliant without an instrument cluster in front of it and some exquisite aluminium lining. The windows are very large and offer optimal
 visibility for the driver out of the front and sides but also has a rather sizeable rear window for a saloon. The seats in the front are electric for adjustment and for heating and the fact that they are leather bucket seats also makes them very comfortable!

Driveability and performance are key when it comes to which car to buy and the Model 3 doesn't hold back! For starters, the basic model has a range of about 215 miles but spec the motor up and you'll get all of 340 miles from it. The long range however, doesn't limit it's output and actually even the smaller motor will power you to 60 in under 6 seconds; equal to that of a BMW 330d! Apparently, the handling is good, with the rear wheel drive or optional 4 wheel drive systems laying down power in a smooth and linear fashion and the front wheels steering the car comfortably through the corners without any under-steer.

However, arguably the most important thing one looks for when buying a car is what it looks like... and this car looks excellent! It has sharp lines to contrast with a smooth, rounded body which give it a really modern and fresh look. The headlights are bold and bright to provide an excellent finish on the front, alongside the aggressive looking grilles. The Model 3 also houses Tesla's signature 10 spoke alloys which look great on all of their models. Around the back, it doesn't look dissimilar to the Model S which I always thought looked good, albeit a bit boring.

So, back to the original question, will this car represent the 'family transport of the future'? And my answer is a "yes", it is a large leap in the right direction with its range, tech and performance being so far in front of any competitors. However, it is still a long way off overtaking the fossil- fuel car market, purely because of the inconvenience of charging it; a petrol/diesel car takes about 2-3 minutes to fill up and (taking the statistic for the BMW 320d) can drive for anywhere around 800 miles before another refill! Comparatively, the Model 3 charges in about half an hour and will go for just over 200 miles.


The verdict then, it has its problems but hindrances aside, I like it. The performance is outstanding in a straight line and through corners, it looks excellent both inside and out and it has some fantastic features that really put its competition to shame! This is a very practical car that feels at home both in the city or on the motorway and really has legs to strive in the automotive world. However, there is just one more point i'd like to make... if you want an American car, for the same price, get a Mustang; the Model 3 just doesn't sound as good.



Specs: (base model)

Price: £30,000
0-60mph: 5.6 seconds
Range: 215 miles
Top Speed: 140 mph


pisTEENhead rating: 8/10

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio, M3 killer?

If you were to think of a performance saloon for under £60k, I expect that the first car you think of is the BMW M3... who wouldn't? Personally, I have respected every M3 model, from the first in 1985 and continue to love them even more with every face-lift. I would have gone so far as to say, that it was undoubtedly the best in class and would happily have bought one if I could... that is, until now. 

At the beginning of this year, a new kid arrived on the block to fight for the crown held by the M3 and its name, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio. This aggressive-looking saloon certainly challenges the bold lines and flared wheel arches of the M3, with its handsome, shield-shaped grille and dynamic looking headlights. No matter where you stand to admire this Alfa, you will be able to see true design excellence in every curve and every detail. Standing to the side, you will appreciate the classic 5 spoke design of the wheels and the perfectly carved, aerodynamics of the bodywork and from behind, you will be met by four gaping exhaust pipes, encased in a huge, chrome-lined diffuser, with a small but effective carbon-fibre rear spoiler. But the real question is this; would you go for the tried and tested, class-reigning M3, or take a punt with the less-established but just as potent Alfa?

Alfa Romeo Giulia

BMW M3

When looking for a 'performance' car, the first thing one naturally considers is 'performance'...and when it comes to measuring performance, the Alfa doesn't hang about. Whilst the M3 can achieve an 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (created by a 3.0 twin-turbo 6 cylinder engine producing 450 bhp and 405 ft-lb of torque), the Quadrifogilio storms away with a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds and an astounding top speed of 191 mph (powered by the Italian grunt of the 2.9 litre twin turbo V6 pumping out 505 bhp and 443 ft-lb of torque). This, therefore, means that the young Alfa really starts to put the M3 to shame.

In terms of practicality, the two cars have exactly the same boot space at 480 litres which is very reasonable and therefore you would have no problem using it as a daily commuter as there is nothing to split the two in terms of practicality so there is not a lot to write here, sadly.

However, one of the biggest factors that define whether a car is worthy of your purchase are the interior features and quality and when it comes down to this, the Alfa wins hands down, sporting enormous aluminium gear paddles, beautiful carbon fibre finishes and pleasingly minimal buttons and switches. I will admit that the M3 is very refined. The overall quality is good and I like it a lot, but put against the Alfa, it is not quite as new and 'fresh'. The Alfa also features a really stylish, sloping-shaped infotainment screen which, compared to the BMW's standard square shape, just gives it that spark of brilliance. This then brings me on to the infotainment and we all know how well made and intuitive the idrive on the BMW is, so it will be hard to beat... but it does come close. The Giulia can be bought with an 8.8 inch display that is simple to use with the rotary dial (similar to idrive) and offers an accurate and intelligent sat-nav. Therefore, in terms of infotainment, the BMW's idrive still reigns victorious but the Alfa's system is perfectly fine for daily use by anyone.

Alfa Romeo interior

So, the verdict. In my opinion, they are both outstanding cars and I would happily buy either as they are both very fast, very comfortable and surprisingly practical daily cars that would be happy enough on a track day. However, if you put the two in front of me to choose one, I feel that I would take the Alfa. It's a bit less common than the M3 on British roads but can keep discreet to the untrained eye... that is until you put your foot down!

BMW interior

PisTEENhead rating:

BMW M3: 7/10
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogilio: 8/10


Specs :


BMW M3:

Price: £59,000 

Engine: 3.0tt 6cyl

Horsepower: 450bhp @ 5500rpm

Torque: 405ftlb @ 1850rpm

Gearbox: 8 speed auto

MPG: 34

0-60: 4.1

Top Speed: 155

Alfa Romeo Giulia:

Price: £57,000

Engine: 2.9tt V6 

Horsepower: 505hp @6500rpm

Torque: 443ftlb @2500rpm

Gearbox: 8 speed auto

MPG:20

0-60: 3.9

Top Speed: 191

Jaguar F-type 4 cylinder; why?

2018 Jaguar F-Type 2.0 


When I learned that Jaguar motor company was releasing a new F-type for 2018, I was quite excited and after reading into it, I saw that there is going to be a 2 litre, 4 cylinder model. My initial reaction was that the new styling was similar to the original V6 model but had a few positive, minor changes. Equally, I thought that maybe Jaguar would have tried to make an economical, yet powerful engine for the new model.

Unfortunately, it was neither. Jaguar claim that it will return a combined mpg of 39.2 (only 6.4 mpg more than the V6) even after being 52kg lighter. Admittedly, the fastest 2 litre model is only 0.4 seconds slower to 62mph than the base V6 model. But lets face it, what sounds better when you drop the hammer; 6 cylinders or 4? If you like, it's similar to comparing a Subaru WRX Sti to a Nissan GTR, in the sense that they both make loud noises. The GTR is clean, raw and natural, whereas, the Subaru is just artificial noise.

Then comes the price. In my opinion, the minimum of £49,500 is just not worth it, especially when for much less money and much more power you could buy a new BMW M235i, a new Honda Civic type R or a Ford Mustang GT. However, it would be unfair to forget that this is still a Jag and the interior and exterior build quality is still first class with cutting edge technology and well thought out features to improve both drive-ability and comfort.

So, to sum up; if you are wanting an affordable performance car then this particular Jaguar might not be for you. In my opinion, I would advise buying the much cheaper and arguably more fun MX5 Miata or the more powerful BMW M235i which is still £15000 cheaper but just as luxurious. If, however,  you are still willing to fork out around 50k, why wouldn't you save up and spend a mere £2365 more on the more powerful, better sounding and more fun V6 coupe model which I personally love.


Tech specs

Price: From £49,500
Power:  296hp @ 5500rpm and 295 ft-lb of torque @ 1500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 155mph


pisTEENhead rating:
  
6.5/10