I visited Aston Martin HQ to design my ultimate Valhalla - even I was surprised by the result
Valhalla buyers all have more than one car and most of them come from the US or Europe. The UK accounts for about 10% of sales.
When you're choosing your spec, the screen is cool, but if you want to see your colour in the real world, a huge bank of paint, leather, carbonfibre and fabric samples sits behind you.
A Storm Purple top layer for the bodywork looks mighty fine on the screen – and even better in hand under natural light.
Seeing the car almost life-size in front of you makes it clear how much of an impact colour can have on something like the Valhalla. Which leads to the question of 'elaborate' specs…
'We're still Aston Martin,' says Vittorio Gabba, head of personalisation at the company's ultra-bespoke Q by Aston Martin division, 'and we want the car to represent the brand.'
Q has, according to Gabba, played a role in 80% of the Valhallas specced so far. Autocar's purple beast could have a tinted purple carbon pack on it, custom decals, an off-book paint job or almost anything you can think of, which Q will do its utmost to make happen.
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Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Rowland targets multiple titles after Formula E breakthrough
LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - After 11 seasons that have produced 10 different champions, Formula E's new title-holder Oliver Rowland believes the all-electric series has become less of a lottery and he can break with the past. The Nissan driver, who clinched this year's crown in Berlin on July 13 with two races to spare, told reporters ahead of his home British season finale at London's ExCel this weekend that the championship was fairer now. "In the early years we had this qualifying system which was just mental, where the top six in the championship went out on a track that was one second slower than (for) the next group and then half a second slower than the next group," he said. "You could never pull away in the championship. You would basically get in the lead and then just start last in the next race." In 2021, the last year before the Season Eight change, 18 drivers remained in title contention heading into the final two rounds. Seven of the 11 championships, including the first three, have been decided in the final race. Only Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has so far managed to defend a Formula E crown, winning back-to-back titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The current qualifying splits drivers into two groups of 11 based on championship position, with odd numbers in one group and evens in the other, before the top four from each advance to knockout duels. "It's kind of much fairer and I think you have the opportunity to see people winning more back-to-back titles," said Rowland, 32. "I think it's a little bit fairer now in terms of not being as much of a lottery. I expect that you will see the same guys towards the front and more repeat winners moving forward," said Rowland. While this year's drivers' crown is won, Nissan are fighting Porsche for the team and manufacturers' titles. Rowland said his ambition for the future, without the pressure of chasing a first title, was to try to cement himself as one of the top drivers in the series. "It's a good motivation to have, to try and win three or four (titles)," he said.
Auto Express
5 hours ago
- Auto Express
Renault 4 vs Ford Puma Gen-E: can French fancy declaw its EV rival?
There are two distinct routes that car makers can take to electrify their model line-ups. Depending on time frames and cost, some companies have been able to create bespoke electric car platforms, with scalable tech that can be adjusted to suit different requirements. That's the path Renault has chosen with the R4, a car that follows hot on the heels of the numerically larger, but physically smaller, Renault 5 supermini. Advertisement - Article continues below As the Captur is to the Clio, so the Renault 4 is to the 5, with its retro-inspired design adorning a larger SUV-style body that offers more space than the supermini's, but also features virtually identical technology on board. The second option is to electrify an existing combustion-engined platform. While Ford offers dedicated EV tech in its line-up, it has gone down this route with the new Ford Puma Gen-E, which is based on the firm's best seller, but without a trace of combustion power. In both instances, these small SUVs aim to deliver a usable range and decent everyday practicality in a package that is priced at a comparable point to the petrol-engined alternatives. But which one delivers the best overall experience? Model: Renault 4 E-Tech Techno Price: £28,995 Powertrain: 52kWh battery, 1x electric motor, 148bhp 0-62mph: 8.2 seconds Test efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh Official range: 245 miles Annual VED: £195 Since the Renault 5 took design inspiration from the company's back catalogue, the French firm couldn't really do anything else with the SUV variant. The 4 is longer than the 5 hatchback overall and also has a longer wheelbase, so it's better suited to family duties. Power comes from the larger 52kWh battery found in the supermini, while prices are competitive: they start from £27,000 for Evolution trim, while Techno (our pick) costs £29,000 and the top-spec Iconic model in our pictures is £31,000. The Renault 4 draws design inspiration from the firm's back catalogue, but the E-Tech model is light years ahead in terms of quality. While the dash layout is identical to the R5's, the separate climate controls and stubby infotainment stalk positioned lower down on the steering column will be familiar to anyone who has driven a modern Renault. It does mean the right side of the steering wheel is a little busy, with the infotainment control, the wiper stalk and drive selector all closely packed together. Model: Ford Puma Gen-E Select Price: £29,995 Powertrain: 43kWh battery, 1x electric motor, 166bhp 0-62mph: 0-62mph: 8.0 seconds Test efficiency: 4.7 miles/kWh Official range: 234 miles Annual VED: £195 While the petrol Puma offers a few engine choices and trim options, the Gen-E line-up has been kept simple. There's just one powertrain, comprising a 53kWh battery (43kWh of which is usable) and a 166bhp electric motor that sends power to the front wheels. There are only two trim options, with the Select model coming in at five pounds under £30,000 and the higher-spec Premium costing £2,000 extra. However, even the base model tested here comes with a generous list of kit. It's one thing testing electric cars in the summer months, but in winter, colder temperatures will take a chunk out of the Puma's driving range. Ford mitigates against this by fitting the Gen-E with a heat pump as standard, which is surprising because it's an option on the pricier Explorer and Capri. The Puma also comes with Ford's excellent Quickclear windscreen, but a heated steering wheel and front seats are part of a £350 option pack. Most rival EVs feature these as standard as a quick way to get warm. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View A3 Saloon View Swace Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . The Puma is one of the best-handling small SUVs in petrol guise, and despite being around 200kg heavier, the Gen-E retains that car's fun character. In fact, the weight of the battery means it rides a bit more smoothly. It's not as comfortable as the Renault 4, though, which offers a soft edge that promotes cruising comfort. In terms of acceleration, there's not much in it, but the Puma feels punchier off the line. The Renault's cabin is carried over wholesale from the R5, so you get a modern-looking layout with plenty of tech and user-friendly details. It's a similar story with the Puma Gen-E, which features the same 12-inch touchscreen display as the petrol version, although as with that car, the screen's size and position mean that the steering wheel can end up obscuring some of the information nearest the driver. Both cars are great value for EVs, and it's worth noting that the electric Puma costs less than some of the highest-spec versions of the petrol model. Efficiency was strong for both cars, but the Renault's figure of 4.0mi/kWh was eclipsed by the Ford's, at 4.7mi/kWh. It means that while the Puma has nearly 10kWh less of usable capacity, its actual driving range is similar to that of the Renault's, at just over 200 miles on test. The Renault 4 is shorter than the Puma but has a longer wheelbase, while a wider cabin and taller roof mean it feels more spacious for back-seat passengers. A very low load lip is another benefit that the Renault carries over the Ford, but the Gen-E has the greater overall volume courtesy of its Gigabox, which is bigger than the petrol Puma's Megabox. Surprisingly, the Ford also has under-bonnet storage – the Renault doesn't. There are four-star Euro NCAP safety ratings for both cars here, with the Puma's score being carried over from the petrol version. On the R4, kit such as a door-opening warning and rear pedestrian-crossing alert when reversing are available solely on the top-spec version. The Puma only offers the latter, plus front parking sensors, adaptive cruise and blind-spot detection as part of a £950 Advanced Driver Assistance Pack. Warranty coverage is only average for the Puma, with a typical three-year/60,000-mile plan offered, although it can be extended at extra cost. For the Renault 4 there is four years and 100,000 miles of cover. As for servicing, intervals are every 24 months for both cars, although the Renault has an 18,000-mile limit. Ford includes the first five years of servicing in the price of the Puma to help reduce costs even further. What you're looking at here are possibly the two best small electric SUVs currently on sale, and choosing a winner is a tough call. However, we think that the Renault 4 has an advantage over the Ford, courtesy of its extra passenger space and slightly longer range. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The striking retro-inspired looks help the R4 to stand out from the crowd, while the user-friendly touchscreen tech is easy to live with and the boot offers a useful amount of space. We'd like to see faster DC charging, and rear space is still a little compromised, but overall the Renault 4 is a great small electric SUV. BUY A NEW RENAULT 4 NOW Fans of the petrol Puma won't be disappointed with the electrified version. The battery's extra weight hasn't impacted the handling too severely, and has actually boosted comfort a little, while no compromises have been made in terms of passenger or boot space. That does mean the back seats are still a little on the small side, but if you regularly travel two-up, then this won't be an issue. Most impressive is the efficiency that the Puma returned on test, which made up for the relatively small battery. Add in competitive pricing, and the Gen-E deserves to sell well. BUY A NEW FORD PUMA GEN-E NOW Rernault 4 Ford Puma Gen-E Our choice Renault 4 Techno Ford Puma Gen-E Select Price of our choice/price as tested £28,995/£30,995 £29,995/£29,995 POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE Powertrain 1x electric motor 1x electric motor Power 148bhp 166bhp Torque 245Nm 290Nm Transmission Single-speed/FWD Single-speed/FWD 0-62mph/top speed 8.2 seconds/93mph 8.0 seconds/99mph Battery capacity/usable 52/52kWh 53/43kWh Official range 245 miles 234 miles Test efficiency/range 4.0mi/kWh/208 miles 4.7mi/kWh/202 miles Charging 100kW (15-80% in 30 mins) 100kW (10-80% in 23 mins) DIMENSIONS Length/wheelbase 4,144/2,624mm 4,313/2,588mm Width/height 1,808/1,572mm 1,805/1,555mm Rear knee room 560-810mm 605-855mm Rear headroom/elbow room 950/1,400mm 848/1,381mm Boot space (front/seats up/down) 0/420/1,405 litres 43/556/1,283 litres Boot length/width 825/995mm 725/1,000mm Boot lip height 607mm 765mm Kerb weight/towing weight 1,462/750kg 1,563/750kg Turning circle 10.8 metres 10.5 metres COSTS/OWNERSHIP Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000 miles) £16,248/52.42% £15,126/50.43% Depreciation £12,747 £14,869 Insurance group/quote/VED 27/£576/£195 19/£663/£195 Three-year service cost £396 £0 (5 years) Annual tax liability std/higher rate £174/£347 £180/£359 Annual fuel cost (10k miles) £643 £547 Basic warranty/recovery 4yrs (100,000 miles)/3yrs 3yrs (60,000 miles)/3yrs Driver Power manufacturer position 6th 23rd NCAP Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 79/85/73/68/4 _ (2024) 75/84/70/69/4_ (2022) EQUIPMENT Metallic paint/wheel size £800/17 inches £650/18 inches Parking sensors/camera Front & rear/yes Rear/yes Spare wheel/Isofix points Repair kit/two Repair kit/two Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate Yes/no Keyless go/no Leather/heated seats No/no No/£350 Screen size/digital dashboard 10.1 inches/yes 12 inches/yes Climate control/panoramic sunroof Yes/no Yes/£1,100 USBs/wireless charging Four/no Four/yes Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Yes/yes Yes/yes Blind-spot warning/head-up display No/yes £950 pack/yes Adaptive cruise/steering assist Yes/yes £950 pack/yes Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory We take an exclusive look inside JLR's revamped Liverpool site as the brand gears up for EV production Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price It's posh, well appointed, and refined to drive – the Audi A3 Saloon is our Deal of the Day for July 18 Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK
Auto Blog
8 hours ago
- Auto Blog
How European Stellantis Models Could Revive Dodge & Chrysler
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Americans seem to get the short end of the stick You might have noticed that in recent times, it seems that most of Stellantis's North American model lineups have been slimmed down to just a small handful of options–options that seem like they're either incredibly dated, like the Dodge Durango whose current generation has been around to see three different CEOs, or the Dodge Charger EV which hasn't been able to resonate with long-time Mopar muscle car buyers. After some time spent walking around the streets of Europe and the United Kingdom, I've begun to wonder why these North American-based Stellantis brands don't offer any of the popular models offered exclusively to European buyers. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen VW will introduce a sub-$20,000 EV, but probably not here Watch More 2012 Buick Regal GS You may recall a time when Saturn–one of General Motors' sub-brands that received the corporate axe, as well as Buick- offered rebadged Opel products to North American buyers. One example is the fifth-generation Buick Regal, which was essentially a rebadged Opel Insignia and was hugely successful for the brand. According to GM, the fifth-gen Buick Regal 'helped to boost Buick's total annual sales 40 percent,' and actually helped the brand appeal to a younger demographic that it desperately needed. GM noted that 'More than 60 percent of Regal Turbo customers alone are younger than 55,' and that the model actually swayed buyers who otherwise would not have considered a Buick towards the brand. Saturn employed similar strategies, selling the Opel Astra in North America. Although it found some success in the United States, it proved significantly more popular in Canada, where the country's European influence tends to result in more willing buyers for Euro-style hatchbacks and station wagons. 2004 Saturn Astra Unfortunately, Saturn ended up being axed from GM's brand portfolio as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, with Buick being saved thanks to its popularity in China. However, in the years leading up to its inevitable demise, rebadged European models kept Saturn afloat. Now, however, in 2025, Opel no longer falls under the General Motors brand umbrella. Instead, Opel belongs to Stellantis–along with other Euro-exclusive brands like Peugeot, Lancia, and DS Automobiles. To me, this begs the question as to why North American Stellantis brands like Dodge and Chrysler, which now exist with massively diminished model lineups, don't take a page out of Saturn and Buick's playbook and offer North American buyers models that are exclusive to Europe. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence software and Adobe Photoshop, we take an imagined look at what some Opel and Peugeot models could look like if rebranded as Dodges or Chryslers. These renders are for speculative and entertainment purposes only and in no way resemble any actual Dodge and Chrysler products. Chrysler could revive the venerable Sebring as a rebranded Peugeot 508 Chrysler Sebring Concept — Source: Cole Attisha Using Midjourney AI Alright, maybe describing the Sebring as 'venerable' is a bit of an exaggeration, I'll admit, but there's no denying that people still recognize the name to this day, and it's perfectly fitting for a semi-premium mid-size sedan that isn't quite the old-school, rear-wheel drive 300. Using the second-generation Peugeot 508 as a foundation, which has been in production since the 2019 model year, could allow Chrysler to offer a significantly more advanced and modern successor to previous mid-size sedan models like the Cirrus, the Sebring, and the 200. Although the mid-size sedan segment has dwindled in recent years in North America, a few brands still carry the torch with notable examples being the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and the Kia K5. Using some of Peugeot's efficient and modern powertrain options, a Chrysler-badged 508 could not only offer competitive performance, but it could also offer something truly unique in its segment: a 355-horsepower plug-in hybrid option. While its standard powertrain would most likely be the Peugeot 508's 222-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter PureTech four-cylinder, the revived Chrysler Sebring could also offer up the turbocharged 1.6-liter PSE plug-in hybrid powertrain, which pairs 355 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. That would make it a one-of-a-kind offering within its segment and match current Stellantis efforts to offer more plug-in hybrid variants across its various lineups. Dodge could revive the Caliber hatchback as a rebranded Opel Astra / Peugeot 308 2026 Dodge Caliber Concept — Source: Cole Attisha Using Midjourney AI If you throw a stone almost anywhere in Europe or the United Kingdom, odds are it'll land near an Opel Astra or a Peugeot 308. Sharing the PSA EMP2 Platform and many of its powertrains, the pair of hatchbacks has taken Europe by storm, rivalling other hatchback heroes such as the Volkswagen Golf and the Toyota Corolla Hatchback–models that we did, in fact, receive stateside. Although the Astra's basic powertrain — a turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-three — might be a bit too anemic for North American buyers, its optional 222-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-four plug-in hybrid power plant could make an interesting addition to our domestic market. Dodge Caliber Concept — Source: Cole Attisha Using Midjourney AI For buyers who are still wary of PHEV technology, the Dodge Hornet's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder could be carried over, offering 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps with a modified state of tune and a power figure somewhere just north of 300, we could even see a return of the cult-classic Dodge Caliber SRT4–a possibility made even more likely by the recent announcement that Dodge's SRT division will once again churn out high-performance muscle machines. What if the Dodge Neon returned as an Opel Mokka-based subcompact crossover Dodge Neon Crossover Concept — Source: Cole Attisha Using Midjourney AI Don't hate me for suggesting Dodge should slap the Neon nameplate on a crossover, just as Mitsubishi so sacrilegiously did with the Eclipse. The unfortunate truth is that subcompact sedans and hatchbacks just don't cut it with North American buyers anymore. In fact, the segment has been entirely replaced by subcompact crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and the Chevrolet Trax. That last one specifically could be the Dodge Neon crossover's main target. By offering an inexpensive yet practical crossover, Chevrolet managed to sell over 200,000 Traxs in the United States alone last year — an 84% increase over its 2023 sales. Dodge Neon Crossover Concept — Source: Cole Attisha Using Midjourney AI You may or may not be surprised to learn that the previous generation of the Chevrolet Trax was, in fact, a rebadged Opel Mokka–and so was the Buick Encore, so this strategy is certainly nothing revolutionary within the segment. With its new Stellantis parents, however, the Opel Mokka B is a massive step forward from its previous generation, just as the new Trax is. Using the Opel Mokka B's turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-three, which produces 128 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, the Dodge Neon Crossover would remain competitive with the Chevrolet Trax's similarly turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder, which produces 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Whereas the Trax is available only with a six-speed automatic gearbox, the Mokka has eight speeds. 2024 Chevrolet Trax ACTIV — Source: Chevrolet To one-up the Chevy Trax, Dodge could even offer the Neon Crossover with a fully-electric variant, akin to the Opel Mokka-e. Featuring 156 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of instantly available torque, the long-range version of the Opel Mokka-e benefits from a 54kWh battery and an estimated range of up to 252 miles. All this would mean that an electric Dodge Neon Crossover could offer 23 more horsepower, 3 more lb-ft of torque, and 52 more miles of battery range than the Hyundai Kona Electric SE–a feat that buyers of inexpensive EVs would surely appreciate. Final thoughts Admittedly, the hypothetical return of the Chrysler Sebring as a rebadged Peugeot and the Dodge Neon as a rebadged Opel crossover don't seem all that glamorous and exciting, but that's exactly the point. While these models may not be as controversial as the electric Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack or as exciting as the return of Hemi-powered Ram 1500s, they are sensible and practical vehicles that American buyers want and need. They are vehicles that brands like Dodge and Chrysler used to do quite well with, and they are vehicles that these brands desperately need within their lineups today, because what else do they really have to offer? I don't for a second believe that this solution is a serious one for the long-term longevity of these brands, but I do believe that it's a great way to give their showrooms something to sell in the meantime while Dodge and Chrysler develop more of their own models, buying the brand and its employees some time before their buyers give up completely. Who knows, maybe Stellantis might just find the sense to go through with it. About the Author Cole Attisha View Profile
