Weekly Wheelspin: Pre-WLTP registration rush, I-Pace gets the royal treatment and back to school blues

It’s back to school time for many kids across the UK this week, which also means the six-week reprieve of rush hour jams across the country comes to an end.

If you happen to find yourself back on that dreaded school run this week, then we’ve picked out five of the best practical seven seaters that’ll make your life that little bit easier.

That aside, what’s been occurring in the world of cars? Regular as clockwork, here’s our Weekly Wheelspin of news to keep you in the know.

In the news

First up is Mercedes’ first all-electric car – the EQC. It’s been revealed ahead of its public debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show and will take aim at the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron when it launches next year.

On the outside, it takes the form of a high-riding SUV although it’s a little smaller and more conventional looking than both the Jaguar and Tesla. Two electric motors produce 402bhp and 765Nm of torque, meaning a 0-62mph run of 5.1 seconds.

Its 80kWh battery pack will be capable of around 280 miles on a single change, with Mercedes claiming recharging from 10% to 80% capacity will take approximately 40 minutes.

Mercedes also revealed list prices for its upcoming A-Class Saloon this week, with the A180d priced from £27,875 OTR. It’s the first time Mercedes has graced its compact A-Class with a saloon variant, and is the first of eight planned new models that are set to succeed the current B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and the GLA.

More deals on the new A-Class hatchback here

If you want to be in royal company, then you might want to think about leasing a Jaguar I-Pace, because that’s precisely what Prince Charles has done, according to the Times.

Having previously installed solar panels on royal roofs, waged war on plastic and switched to low-energy light bulbs, an electric car was the obvious next step, and keeping to his patriotic and environmentalist roots the Jaguar I-Pace is the ideal vehicle for the next in line to the throne.

Also this week: Abarth 595 gets update for 2018

What’s more, he’s obviously forward thinking by leasing it, and with lease prices starting from around the £400 mark on ContractHireAndLeasing.com he’s not exactly breaking the bank either.

The latest stats from the SMMT landed on our news desk this week too, which revealed a surprising 23.1% uplift of new car registrations in August – usually one of the year’s quietest months. The reason? Manufacturers and dealers trying to shift NEDC-compliant cars ahead of the new WLTP regime coming into effect. You can read more about WLTP and how it’s likely to affect the industry here.

On social

A crackdown on drivers with poor eyesight is being rolled out by police forces in the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the West Midlands this week, in an attempt to improve road safety. And by the looks of this, it might be a wise idea…

Wrong way Woking driver, 87, failed Surrey Police eye test https://t.co/5WbD8tjIiT

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 2, 2018

Motorists stopped by police during September will be required to read a number plate at a distance of 20 metres (65ft) – the current minimum legal requirement.

The renowned Goodwood Revival kicks off this weekend and, while it isn’t focused on the latest and greatest models in the same way the Festival of Speed is, it’s still a fantastic spectacle for anyone who loves cars. Here’s a few things you can expect to see if you’re lucky enough to have tickets...

Wrong way Woking driver, 87, failed Surrey Police eye test https://t.co/5WbD8tjIiT

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 2, 2018

On board Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 at Revival: https://t.co/nEveyh7N3E via @YouTube

— Goodwood Road&Racing (@GoodwoodRRC) September 7, 2018

OMG! Goodwood Revival has peaked already. What do we have here? The Rolls Royce El Cornicho??? pic.twitter.com/R33NRicAFs

— Tom Lynch (@ItsTomLynch) September 6, 2018

Curves#GoodwoodRevival 2018 pic.twitter.com/jvQ4AUYWMO

— Goodwood Road&Racing (@GoodwoodRRC) September 7, 2018

Features

This week saw the early reveal of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports – the estate version of the hatchback. The Corolla name will be coming back to the UK after more than a decade-long hiatus, but why? Al Suttie investigates… what’s in a name?

Leasing dealhunters

Have you seen any 68 plates yet? As well as the return of the school run, September always ushers in a new registration and is one of the most popular months to get a new car. As ever, we endeavour to bring you the very best lease deals on offer. Here’s a rundown of what’s on offer for a variety of budgets.

And on that note…

We were sad to hear that star of Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, and the Cannonball Run, Burt Reynolds died this week. We’re not sure if he was a fan of cars himself, but his films certainly featured enough of them. We’ll sign off with one of our faves…