Autoesque

Payload requirements, range limitations and recharging times are three constraints that mean plug-in electrification probably won’t be suitable for heavy-duty trucks (at least not based on current technologies).

A new addition to the Dacia line-up is due to arrive at dealers next year. The Spring Electric – which is being previewed now in concept form – will be the brand’s first city car and its first pure-electric model.

Despite being first announced in May 2019, Toyota dealers have only just started accepting orders for the Proace City . As a reminder, this new compact van is essentially a badge-engineered version of the existing Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall / Opel Combo .

Following last year’s launch of the e-Beetle , Volkswagen has once again collaborated with German specialists eClassics to electrify a long-superseded vehicle. The candidate this time is the Type 2 van, which was originally built in various locations around the world between 1950 and 1975.

Twenty apprentices from the Škoda Academy in Mladá Boleslav have been busy creating the company’s latest ‘Student Car’. Their work continues the annual tradition of designing and hand-building a one-off concept, which dates back to 2014.

BMW has collaborated with 3T to produce a new special edition bicycle. The 3T For BMW is based on 3T’s Exploro which is “the world’s only full-aero gravel bike” (according to its manufacturer).

Mercedes-Benz describes the Marco Polo Activity as a recreational vehicle rather than a fully-fledged camper van. That’s fairly accurate, given the lack of built-in storage or cooking facilities.

Rolls-Royce is preparing to launch its first ‘Collection Car’ of 2020. The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection – which was inspired by the roadsters of a century ago – is “an ode to decadence, to frivolity, to heady heydays and irreverent past times”.

As part of a series of updates for the mid-size Vito, Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new pure-electric people-mover version. Named eVito Tourer, it’s likely to be particularly popular with city-centre and urban operators.

A special one-off Continental GT Convertible has been commissioned by Bentley’s dealer in Bristol. Named the Equestrian Edition, it’s inspired by Cheltenham Racecourse.

While some manufacturers are abandoning the city car segment, Fiat has just unveiled an all-new version of the 500. Here are ten things worth knowing about it:

Ahead of this year’s World Car Awards winners being declared next month, the top three finalists in each of the five categories have been announced.

Bentley’s Mulliner division has created a proper coachbuilt car. The Bacalar – which is named after a lake in Mexico – is an open-top, two-door, two-seater. Just twelve examples are being built (and all have been allocated to customers already).

Suzuki has given its SUV-styled Ignis city car a mild facelift. The design changes might be hard to spot, but the bumpers, front grille and instruments have all been revised. There are some new exterior and interior colour schemes, too.

A jury comprising 58 motoring journalists from across the continent has decided that the Peugeot 208 is 2020’s European Car of the Year.

Although just 1,000 examples of the new Arteon R-Line Edition are being produced, the UK is getting 370 of them. Available only in Moonstone Grey with a black finish for the roof panel and door mirror caps, this special model boasts an enhanced specification compared to a regular R-Line.

Recently, the only way to experience the Nissan Leaf’s enhanced e+ powertrain has been to choose the range-topping Tekna trim grade. However, there’s now a cheaper alternative available called e+ N-Tec.