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Is strident, pragmatic, long-distance motoring now enjoying its Concorde moment? Is it all downhill from here? Having just returned from the Alps in something a bit special, I fear it might well be.

I’ve loved big, car-based escapades ever since thrashing a mate’s Peugeot 206 down to Arezzo as a 17-year-old. It croaked on arrival (head gasket!) and we spent a king’s ransom in roaming charges chatting to the IRA, never mind the repair work. (I notice the RAC’s Italy Roadside Assistance has at some point since 2006 rebranded to Roadside Assistance Italy). But it was a hell of a lot of fun.

Of course, Peugeot didn’t engineer the 206 1.6 GLX with crushing cross-continental ability in mind, as demonstrated by the car’s measly 90bhp, seats flatter than the straight at Ehra-Lessien and a gearbox serving up 4000rpm at 80mph in top (the GLX did, thank goodness, get air-con).

But other cars are forged for this sort of activity, and it’s these I’ll mourn when their time is up. Chuffing great diesel, huge boot, soft chairs with canyon-deep bolsters intended not for hard cornering but for hour-upon-hour comfort on the straights, a big tank: the ideal tools for touring.

For obvious reasons, if not always the right ones, plush diesel wagons are dying out, and it’s hard to envisage superior touring apparatus in an electric future. Not until solid-state battery tech is here, at least. In the meantime, it will be the Concorde phenomenon.

That airliner that could whisk you from London to New York in three hours, but since it was retired in 2003 the same flight has taken eight. Okay, this was never a serious issue for humanity, only one of minor convenience for the lucky few, but it still stung, because it was the killing off of technology that made an arduous task a lot easier. And cooler.

The parallel is that, in 15 years, when I still hope to be getting lost in Europe en voiture, I doubt any contemporary product is going to be as competent as the one that represents Concorde in this little analogy: Mercedes’ E450d Estate – all £90k of it. (See also Alpina’s D3 Touring and the Audi S6 Avant, although the Merc is better than either as an all-rounder.)

It is the apogee of long-range personal transit, yet extinction beckons because diesel has become so unfashionable.

While such cars remain, our duty is to revel in them. Having fluked the perfect wheels, I did just that on this Alpine road trip. Fluked? Once we had sorted travel dates, I opened the road test diary. It reaches further into the future than you might think, mapping out when the main tests in the mag will run.

Sometimes a juicy candidate materialises at short notice and we scramble to fit it in, but mostly it’s all planned. Cue a shiver of delight on seeing that the oil-burning Merc’s test window tallied with this trip.

Forget MIRA: this would be real-life graft. A consumer test beasting. We even found some winter Continentals, their luridly tall sidewalls promising even greater comfort.

Alas, my wife wanted to ease the journey out to Switzerland with an overnight stop. Wanting to fully tap into the Merc’s touring credentials, I was in camp ‘one hit’.

So I drew her attention to the quilted seats, and assured her the mightiest non-AMG E really is as quiet as a Range Rover at 70mph (I didn’t crack out the road test data).

And it did the trick. Result: 600 miles and an early start, with the concession that we would use the tunnel – these days ‘LeShuttle’ – to cross to France. It’s the rational approach if you need to beat a path deep into Europe on day one. On a weekday, you can even rocket from junction 11a of the M20 to the train itself in 20 minutes, which is miraculous considering the ferry alternative.

And the E450d itself? Just under 2.9 litres of capacity, 1555rpm at 80mph in ninth, 553lb ft (!) at 1350rpm and a 73-litre tank. Four-wheel drive too. That this car would fulfil its mission despite wintry conditions and without needing to refuel was never in doubt.

That said, having averaged 46.5mpg at a steady 75mph, my patience only lasted as far as Troyes. Thereafter we went a lot quicker, before the final, twisting drag up and up and up into the mountains, taken hastily in anticipation of that first icy pilsner.

And guess what? It still averaged 43.4mpg. That translates to an all-out range of 700 hasty miles – ie fill and forget. It may as well have been nuclear-powered.

You have to love that, although it’s not only the diesel frugality: it’s the opulence, the brutish turn of pace, the capacity to rival an HGV’s and the polished ride. Hybrids just aren’t as capable. And EVs? Pfft.

So yes, the E450d Estate is serious money, but a seat on Concorde was never cheap. 

Porsche 911 restomod specialist Singer has revealed a new take on the long-running sports car inspired by the wide-bodied, naturally aspirated Carrera model from the 1980s.

Although conceived as the ultimate version of the naturally aspirated G-Series 911 (built from 1973 to 1989), it is actually based on the later 964 generation (1989 to 1994).

The chassis is restored and then strengthened in a process developed with Red Bull Technologies, the engineering consultancy spun off from the UK-based Formula 1 team.

This uses various composite and steel panels to reinforce key weak points in the 964’s monocoque structure, which are claimed to improve handling, braking and refinement.

The 964’s flat-six engine, meanwhile, has been reworked by Cosworth. Chief among the changes is an increase in displacement from the regular 3.6 litres up to 4.0 litres. It is then fitted with variable valve timing to improve drivability at low speeds; four-valve, water-cooled cylinder heads; and a new titanium exhaust system.

The changes allow the engine to send 420bhp through the rear wheels, revving past 8000rpm in the process.

It is then fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox whose ratios are said to “encourage drivers to explore that [rev] range”. This can be fitted with a raised gear selector and an exposed shift linkage, should buyers so choose.

The suspension set-up is upgraded with four-way dampers, which can be adjusted electronically from inside the cockpit. 

There are five modes for the traction control (Road, Sport, Track, Weather and Off) to suit various different conditions, and a nose lifter is fitted to help with negotiating speed bumps and steep inclines.

Carbon-ceramic brakes can be had as an optional extra.

The new carbonfibre bodywork draws on the Super Sport Equipment pack that was offered on the Carrera in period but adds new cues, such as pop-up auxiliary lights.

Buyers can choose from a fixed whale tail or an active spoiler that raises from the rear deck at speed, for greater stability.

Inside, the car is fitted with new bucket seats and “discrete” technology, such as a small sat-nav screen mounted on the dashboard. 

Singer has yet to disclose prices but said it will take only 100 commissions for the car, which is officially named the Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer.

Prices for a donor 964-generation 911 start at around £30,000.

The previous Singer DLS was widely reported to cost more than $2 million (£1.5m).

Modern life is about having all the information you need at your fingertips, and driving is no different. 

While modern infotainment systems largely cover a lot of bases in this respect, they're not quite as connected to your mobile phone as you might like. 

That’s why so many drivers use smartphone mirroring systems, such as Android Auto. 

An alternative to Apple CarPlay for those with a Google-based phone from makers such as Google, Samsung and Sony, Android Auto gives quick and easy access to a host of applications to keep you connected. 

As car makers develop increasingly convoluted infotainment systems, it's even got to the point where many drivers prefer mirroring services like Android Auto over the standard operating system (OS) fitted to their cars.

It's no surprise that around 150 million cars worldwide now have Android Auto installed.

But what exactly is Android Auto, what services does it offer, and how can you access it? We've put together this comprehensive guide with all the information you need to know. 

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is a car-based driving companion created by Google to bring all the convenience of your phone directly to your car’s dashboard.

It was initially introduced to improve safety while driving, but there’s a lot you can do with it. It’s a service that lets you connect your Android phone to the car's infotainment system to display sat-nav apps, legally take phone calls, reply to messages and play audio. 

These functions are accessed via large icons on your car's infotainment screen and through voice commands. Google says it intends the software to reduce your levels of distraction as much as possible, so the icons should be easy to reach when you're driving. 

Android Auto is accessible, too. It’s free of charge for one, and it streamlines your car’s interface with hands-free voice commands, large, easy-to-read icons and integration with some of the mobile world’s most popular apps, including Google Maps, Waze and Spotify. 

Android Auto in 2025

It looks like Android Auto will gain several updates in 2025, with the first major update already rolling out to some vehicles and devices. 

One of the biggest upgrades will come to the user interface, bringing stronger integration of your vehicle's own systems. For instance, you will be able to control the radio directly through Android Auto, instead of swapping back to your vehicle's own infotainment system.

Android Auto will also add some new apps for improved media playback, such as video streaming via programs such as YouTube, Netflix and TikTok, while web browsing will also be implemented. 

We're not quite sure when these updates will be fully implemented, but expect them to begin rolling out later this year. 

How to connect to Android Auto

If you have an Android phone (one developed by a company such as Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Nokia, Sony or Google), Android Auto will come pre-installed on your phone if it's operating on Android 10 or above. It’s also free to install on the Google Play Store. 

There are two ways of doing this: via USB connection or wirelessly. Firstly, ensure your car is compatible with Android Auto. You can consult Android's guide to every car compatible with the system here. 

Using USB

If you're using a USB connection, make sure your phone is in range of your mobile data network and plug the USB into your car's port and your phone. The port can be either a USB-A (rectangular) or a USB-C (oval) connector.

Instructions will then appear on your car's infotainment screen; follow those steps to continue. You don’t need a Bluetooth connection if you’re using this method.

Wireless

Some newer cars offer a wireless Android Auto connection too, through Bluetooth or a wi-fi connection. In these, you should go into the infotainment system to set up your phone connection.

Once you’ve got them paired up, both your car and your phone will ask if you want to allow permission to use Android Auto. Select yes, and away you go.

If you're unsure of your car’s method of connection, have a quick look at the car's manual.

Is my phone compatible?

There are a few caveats to this one but stick with us. To connect your phone to Android Auto using a USB cable, it has to be running on Android 8 or higher and have an active data plan.

If you want to connect it wirelessly to the infotainment system and you have an Android phone that isn't made by Samsung or Google, make sure it’s running on Android 11 or later. 

Samsung or Google phones can use Android 10 or later, while Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Note 8 models work with Android 9 or later.

Remember that all phones require an active data plan and 5GHz wi-fi support. Most phones have the latter, but if you're experiencing connection issues, it may be down to this.

What are the main features of Android Auto?

From navigation to music, Android Auto has a host of accessible features. You can make phone calls using your infotainment system, have messages read out to you and even look for chargers for your electric car. 

Several companies have developed apps that are compatible with Android Auto. See our list of our favourite Android Auto apps below: 

Amazon Music - An alternative to Spotify for your favourite tunes.

Audible - Amazon’s app for audiobook playback.

Facebook Messenger - Reply to messages sent to your Facebook account through voice-to-text.

Google Maps - Google’s own navigation app.

ZapMap - Locate an EV charging station quickly using this app, which lists chargers by maximum charging speed. It also tells you if they’re in use or out of order. 

Spotify - A popular music and podcast app.

WhatsApp - You're able to hear messages you’ve been sent and send messages, or place and receive phone calls, via voice control.

Waze - A third-party navigation app with several useful features, such as incident reporting, police car warnings and more.

How much does Android Auto cost?

Android Auto is free to use and the app is free to download to your phone. However, you may be subject to some data charges if they’re not already included on your mobile phone plan. 

Some manufacturers include Android Auto on higher trim levels only, or as an optional extra on entry-level models; but it’s becoming increasingly common for brands to include it as standard, along with Apple CarPlay. 

Pros of Android Auto

There are several benefits to using Android Auto - and it’s often down to the software that comes with your car. 

In fact, many drivers believe Android Auto’s Google Maps integration is more intuitive, accurate and useful than pre-installed sat-nav systems.

Google often updates Android Auto, with the latest round adding artificial intelligence (AI) that can summarise messages, read them out to you and reply on your behalf.

It’s very handy to have all of your favourite apps at your fingertips when you’re on the move, and voice integration in apps like WhatsApp are useful for staying in contact with your friends and family during long journeys. 

Android Auto’s wide selection of apps is also a plus, meaning you can stick to your preferred music or podcast app of choice. 

And, if we’re honest, it often looks better than many of the infotainment software systems from some car brands today.

Cons of Android Auto

While Android Auto might seem like the ideal solution for most phone users, it’s not for everybody. 

The ultimate negative of the system is that it can only be used with an Android phone, so it’s not accessible to every driver. 

You also need to keep an eye on your data usage with Android Auto, as apps such as Spotify, Amazon Music, or Audible can sap your data allowance if you’re not set to a specific offline mode. 

Plus, if you don’t have the right cable or your car can’t offer wireless connectivity, you might not be able to connect to Android Auto at all.

If you’re not a fan of touchscreens, you might want to avoid Android Auto, too, as most functions are controlled via your car’s infotainment system.