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British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is ready to spend his way out of the Covid-19 crisis in his March 3 budget with extra support for sectors particularly hurt by the pandemic as he looks to stimulate a post-lockdown boom.
Mr Sunak is expected to keep tax increases to a minimum and instead focus on propping up jobs and businesses to bolster the economy and help harder-hit sectors such as hospitality, tourism and retail to recover from the cycle of lockdowns.
While Mr Sunak had hoped to use the budget to set out a path towards restoring the battered economy, analysts questioned whether he will make any moves towards balancing the books.
Porsche 911 Carrera S review: why the manual gearbox still matters
(Porsche)
Manuals have become a minority. Last year, 55 percent of new cars came with an automatic gearbox. That compares with just under half in 2019 – and less than a quarter 10 years ago. When it comes to sports cars, the trend for two pedals and paddles is even more marked. Porsche is one of the few still offering an old-school stick shift.
Not that a manual 911 is the default choice. You can’t combine this ’box with the entry-level Carrera, open-air Targa or flagship Turbo – your only option is the 450hp Carrera S. And Porsche expects only one in 10 Carrera buyers to do their own declutching. You can imagine the salesman’s quizzical
McLaren Artura: new era hybrid supercar breaks cover
(McLaren)
Hollow eye sockets from the 720S. Flying buttresses from the 570S. Laser-cut rear mesh from the 765LT. Yep, this is a McLaren alright. But while many details look familiar, the Artura is entirely new under the skin.
McLaren’s first plug-in hybrid, the Artura effectively replaces the ‘entry-level’ Sports Series range of cars: 540C, 570S, 570GT, 600LT and 620R. It pairs a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 680hp. Zero to 62mph takes 3.0 seconds and top speed is limited – yes, limited – to 205mph.
More remarkable, perhaps, are the electric-only range of 18.6 miles and CO2 emissions of 129g/km – making this easily the greenest McLaren ever. It’s available to order now, priced from £185,500.
Trial Mountain. Grindelwald. Apricot Hill. Grand Valley Speedway. If you grew up playing
Gran Turismo, the names of these fictional circuits are as evocative as those of real racetracks, such as Silverstone or Spa.
Indeed, while my friends were drinking Smirnoff Ice and talking to girls, I was holed up in my bedroom with a Playstation, racing Japanese sports cars. And my go-to weapon of choice was the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
The GT-R badge dates back to 1969, but the modern template – turbocharged six-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive, an arsenal of chassis tech – starts with the R32 version in 1989. Nissan’s ‘legendary supercar’ has been upsetting the establishment ever since, both in pixels and in the metal.
The Ferrari F8 Spider unleashes your inner Formula 1 driver
(Ferrari)
Ferrari’s 812 Superfast was hands-down my most exciting and memorable drive of 2020. Yet this ferocious 800hp supercar also felt intimidating and, at times, unnerving: a
cavallino rampante only a racing driver could truly tame.
After three head-spinning days I handed it back, grateful for the experience, but quietly relieved the Ferrari and my driving licence had survived unscathed.
The F8 Spider is very different. While the 812 Superfast is dominated by its maniacal V12, this car is defined by its chassis. Its brilliant balance – backed up by very clever stability systems – makes even a driver of modest talents (ahem) feel like a pro.