It's been a busy week in the car industry. BMW pulled the covers off a new M5, while Volkswagen launched its latest SUV, the T-Roc. Elsewhere, Ferrari revealed a new California replacement and Audi tried to tidy up its model designations.
And yet, all those big stories from big manufacturers were eclipsed on autocar.co.uk this week by details of a new machine being produced by a tiny manufacturer from Crewkerne in Somerset. But then, it is quite the car...
Read on to find out more about all those stories and everything you might have missed in the last week.
Most-read news story: Ariel to launch world-beating supercar with 1180bhp
A 0-100mph time of 3.8 seconds. An all-electric drivetrain producing 1180bhp. Such incredible statistics illustrate why our exclusive on the new Ariel P40 project was the most-read story on our site this week.
But the story behind those amazing figures is arguably even more remarkable, involving a group of British companies receiving UK government funding to help develop some truly innovative technology.
If you’ve yet to read Steve Cropley’s in-depth story, do so now. Go on, off with you.
Other major news stories
New BMW M5 revealed with 592bhp
New Volkswagen T-Roc SUV launched
Hot Volkswagen Tiguan R spotted testing
New Ferrari Portofino revealed as California T replacement
Most-read review: JIA Chieftain Range Rover
Jensen International Automotive has developed a reputation for restoring and modernising 28 Interceptors and FFs – and now the firm has turned its attention to the Range Rover Classic.
While it might look like an old-school Range Rover on the outside, it’s effectively a new machine, with an upgraded engine and a revamped interior.
Does that make it an unlikely rival to the Bentley Bentayga? Find out in our review.
Other big reviews this week
Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.2 TD 210 AWD Speciale
Most-read feature: Top 10 most comfortable used cars under £10k
Our special look at the 100 best used cars you can buy in 2017 was a bit of a monster. Of course it was: we had to cram 100 cars into it. So we divided our picks up into ten separate categories - and the most popular turned out to be our pick of the most comfortable cars you can buy for under £10,000.
It’s a typically diverse list, including a Range Rover, a Bentley Brooklands… and a Citroen Grand Picasso.
Check out all of our 100 best used cars of 2017 features as part of our in-depth used car content here.
Video of the week: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio vs BMW M3 Competition Pack
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and the BMW M3 Competition Pack are both incredible super saloons – but how best to decide which is better?
We decided to do things simply: no track, no drag races, no crazy skidding. Instead, we took both cars for a drive on some of the finest driving roads in Wales – and left Matt Prior and Dan Prosser to argue it out like a modern-day Statler and Waldorf.
Check out our YouTube channel for hundreds more top videos, including an on-track battle between the Audi RS3 and the BMW M140i.
And finally… Audi introduces new model naming system
Audi introduced a new naming structure this week, with model designations linked to power output rather than engine capacity.
Simple, right? Well, in theory, except Audi’s decision to pick a seemingly arbitrary set of numbers made the whole thing quite confusing. Well, to me, anyway, but my attempts to explain it just highlighted how easily confused I am anyway.
Now, some commentators on social media responded to this story by saying ‘who cares?’ Well, the answer is quite a lot of you, judging the phenomenal number of people who read Greg Kable’s excellent news story/explainer.
If you haven’t, go and read it now. If only so you can become just as bewildered as the rest of us…
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