2019-10-01_CAR_UK

Roc out with

your mohawk out

VW finds another niche to fill

Going soft

Is that you, spirit of the Evoque Cabrio? Just

as Land Rover kills off its foray into the posh

droptop market, VW swings in with this. It’s

billed as being in the tradition of the Beetle

and Golf, so it has a fabric rather than metal

roof, which folds in nine seconds.

Limited choice

Just two engines are offered: a turbo

1.0-litre triple with 113bhp and a 1.5-litre

four-pot with 148bhp; a seven-speed auto

is available with the bigger engine. Heavy

rollover protection, including a reinforced

windscreen, will mean leisurely progress.

Intel overload

On the options list is a new version of VW’s

glossy infotainment system, dubbed MIB3

(no, not the sci-fi movie). New kit brings

an integrated eSIM card for always-online

connectivity, allowing more navigation and

infotainment options.

Swish or sporty?

Two trim options are available; Design

(pictured in blue) and sportier R-Line.

Design injects more pizazz, with coloured

dash inserts, while R-Line firms and lowers

the ride, embiggens the wheels and gets a

chunkier bodykit. Embarrassment optional.

The T-Roc Cabriolet, built in Osnabrück, Austria, will go on

sale next spring as the sole soft-top in the Volkswagen range

He seeks further expansion. ‘We’ll look at new opportunities
but above all we want to continue to be a very profitable car
company that continues to seek to do more for less. The oppor-
tunities will come and go and we’ll select the ones we’re most
interested in.’
Including JLR? The rumours say Tata wants to sell and PSA
wants to buy. ‘The opportunity is not on the table. Land Rover is
interesting. But right now we’re not thinking about it.’
Besides, PSA already has a ‘highly profitable’ premium brand

• DS Automobiles, a Tavares creation. The DS 7 Crossback is
  France’s best-selling premium SUV. Mind you, to get to the
  pricing and global appeal of BMW or Mercedes ‘could take 30
  years’. That’s how long it took Audi, points out Tavares.
  Why no successful French premium car maker before, when
  France dominates in other luxury goods? ‘No car maker in
  France has been able to combine the emotional creativity with
  the engineering and financial rigour.’
  He also believes that a four-million-cars-a-year maker –
  where PSA is now – is fine for success. ‘We’re proving it. Bigger is
  not necessarily better. Agility in this chaotic world raises value.
  The key is not size. It is to continue to execute our plans in the
  most efficient way.’
  The future is of course electric, and Tavares says making
  money from EVs will be tough. ‘Clean mobility is going to be
  more expensive. It’s like organic food. No politician is telling
  the consumer this but it’s true: new emissions regulations and
  electric mobility will cost more.’ He expects 30 per cent of all
  new cars sold in Europe by 2030 will be electrified – battery
  electrics or plug-in hybrids.
  We finish talking motor racing, Tavares’ passion. He’s been
  racing for almost 40 years and is now 60. ‘I love it as much as
  ever. I’m maybe taking fewer risks than before and I probably
  respect my racing cars more. But if I compare my lap times, I’m
  getting faster. So there’s still potential for improvement. That
  makes me very happy.’
  GAVIN GREEN

Six questions only we would ask

Tell us about your first car...

‘A ’78 Alfa Alfasud Sprint. My father bought it for me, my

reward for graduating.’

What achievement makes you most proud?

‘The turnaround of PSA. I’d also say when I went to America to

take care of Nissan in 2009. The US market was collapsing, it

was really difficult. We took some unpopular decisions and by

2010 we beat the profit record for Nissan in America.’

What’s the best thing you’ve ever done in a car?

‘I raced a GP2 single-seater; 620bhp and 600kg. It was so

fast I couldn’t comprehend the images coming into my eyes.’

Tell us when you screwed up...

‘So many... When I was a young engineer at Renault, I was

so focused on getting things done on time I sometimes

compromised on quality. I now know you can never

compromise on quality.’

Supercar or classic car?

‘I love racing cars, so maybe a GP2 or an old F1 car. Not a

supercar. You can’t drive them on the road any more.’

Company curveball... how many times has Peugeot won

Le Mans?

‘Three. And do you know how many times we’ve won the Indy

500? Three: 1913, 1916 and 1919.’

Insider

OCTOBER 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 21