Spending a day ambling through the French countryside is one of life’s great pleasures, and what more suitable tool for the job than a Renault 5? We’re on the verge of seeing a brand new electric R5 at the end of the year, and with 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the legendary original, the company has invited Octane to its factory in Flins to drive a few examples from the back catalogue.
If the launch of the EQC was a groud-breaking moment, namely for being Mercedes- Benz’s first full-production EV, then the EQA is, at the very least, an important part of the famed German marque’s future. And that’s because while the Wheels Car of the Year-winning EQC is excellent, a volume seller it is not. Therefore, getting the EQA right is vital.
The Spectre emerges out of the mist on an uncharacteristically overcast day of this exclusive drive, not only as the first electric car from Rolls-Royce, but to prove a ghost from the past right.
With 563bhp and 469lb-ft instant torque on tap, the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo is a monster on the road, but thanks to its four-wheel drive powertrain, fat tyres, big alloys and protective body cladding, not to mention a nifty Gravel driving mode, the all-electric Porsche offers enhanced loose surface capability, too...
Mercedes-Benz is in a state of transition, moving from old-world internal combustion to battery-electric vehicles. We join key engineers testing forthcoming electric vehicles, including the new EQS SUV, and discover this switch to battery power has provided fresh motivation for staff, who are fully embracing the company’s new direction.
Cracking 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) in less than two seconds and with an EV record top speed of 256mph (412 km/h), the Nevera’s numbers are simply stupendous. But how electrifying is it behind the wheel?
Nice but niche – 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic AMG Line. Of course, it’s not a real seven-seater, but that was never why you were considering it in the first place. So, where does it fit in?
Comparing the Daimler to a Tesla Model S might not seem to work at first, but both offer a quiet, refined and rapid drive. Sporting pretensions are clear from both machines, as is the aspirational nature of their respective brands.
