Innholdsfortegnelse for 1408 i Auto Express

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news YOU may have read some alarmist stories recently regarding the Chinese economy. And the slowdown in the growth of the auto industry there is always a concern for car company execs. But a sense of perspective is needed, as I found out on a flying visit to Renault’s first Chinese factory, operated jointly with Dongfeng in the city of Wuhan. As Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn told me: “Because we’ve gone from 10 per cent growth to five per cent growth, people think the whole thing is collapsing. But it’s not true. Ten per cent growth would mean an extra two million cars a year sold. It’s impossible.” Continued Ghosn: “Five per cent a year is a million extra cars a year.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ■ Evoque-based SUV on way ■ Likely to wear E-Pace badge WE first brought you the news of Jaguar’s plan to introduce a compact SUV last June and now exclusive spy shots confirm the baby F-Pace is on its way. The model is expected to be called E-Pace, and is codenamed internally as X540. Our spy photographers caught this Range Rover Evoque test mule in the Midlands – but the car is actually registered with the DVLA as a Jaguar, revealing that engineers have begun UK tuning of the smaller crossover that will sit below the F-Pace in the line-up. A public debut is expected next year, with sales due in 2018. The 2.0-litre diesel Evoque in our pictures also has a few modifications that reveal its true…

RENAULT has also admitted it is considering adding hybrids and plug-in hybrids to its range, despite until now being one of the strongest advocates of all-electric tech. Its stance may be about to change slightly, as emissions regulations tighten and more manufacturers offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, with buyers becoming more aware of their benefits. “We know this is a trend for all markets in all regions,” admitted chief competitive officer Thierry Bolloré. “We have the tech already – of course. We know what to do, it is just an evaluation of the market. But we are ready to offer all opportunities.” Bolloré added that the company already has a number of hybrid prototypes, and that hybrid versions of current models are possible. A diesel hybrid Mégane, emitting around…

LANE markings on busy streets could soon become a thing of the past, as councils look at new ways to slow motorists down. Transport for London (TfL) has been experimenting with removing central lane markings on busy streets around Croydon and Haringey, and studies show average speeds have fallen by 13 per cent. It’s claimed fewer road markings improve safety by making drivers more cautious and aware of their surroundings. A drop in average speeds of just one mile per hour is associated with a five per cent reduction in accident frequency, TfL argues. Similar schemes can be found across the country, with Norfolk, Wiltshire and Derbyshire councils all removing centre white lines from specfic roads. Tracy Jessop, assistant director for Highways and Transport at Norfolk County Council, said: “We’ve…

ELECTRIC cars will play a big role in motoring, although owners definitely need to be more aware of precisely how they work, as one reader found out. Mark O’Connell from Rugby, Warks, bought a BMW i3 Range Extender, but ran into problems with its motorway capabilities. “My wife was driving on the motorway when she noticed there wouldn’t be enough battery range to get home,” he told us. “She switched on the range-extender function, but the car then slowed down from 70 to 50mph and wouldn’t accelerate further.” Worried about the safety of doing 50mph, Mark asked BMW Sytner in Coventry to investigate. “I was advised that there is no fault,” Mark added. He was told that in instances of low battery range, the range-extender will work to preserve a…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram A FEW years back, specialist tuner Mountune released a series of tweaks that promised to up the ante on our favourite hot hatch, the Ford Fiesta ST. We’ve already driven the MP215 upgrade, which adds a 33bhp boost for just £599, but here we have the hardcore MR230. Sold as a ‘Racing’ kit, the MR230 set-up adds another 15bhp – taking power up to 227bhp – through the addition of a new high-flow air box, alloy intercooler, air filter and cat-back exhaust. It can be applied to any current-generation ST and takes around seven hours to fit. The work needs to be done either at Mountune HQ in Brentwood, Essex, or at one of Ford’s ‘PRO’ dealers, but will cost you £2,295, a hefty whack for a few…

Renaultsport Mégane WE FOUND: Mégane 250 Cup (10-reg/44k) Price new £23,160 Now £11,498 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 247bhp Economy: 34.4mpg CO2/tax: 190g/km/£265 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2008) OVER the years, the Renaultsport Mégane hasn’t changed much. The styling has evolved, and its power’s been hiked slightly, but the key thing behind the thrilling drive – the chassis – is more or less the same. For £11,500, you can pick up a low-mileage 2010 Mégane 250 Cup, adding that extra element of focus that helps the car demolish a challenging B-road. As hot hatch rivals turned to twin-clutch automatics to boost performance, the Mégane is one of the last old-school manual choices, and it’s all the better for it. Porsche 911 WE FOUND: Carrera S (06-reg/16k) Price new £65,860 Now £31,000 Engine:…

VauxhallAmpera WE FOUND: Electron (12-reg/84k) Price new £38,995 Now £9,995 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl petrol/electric, 148bhp Economy: 235mpg CO2/tax: 27g/km/£0 Euro NCAP: N/A SLOW sales saw the Ampera disappear from Vauxhall showrooms last year. Yet the pioneering plug-in hybrid deserved better, as its blend of daring looks, pennypinching running costs and composed driving dynamics make it a fine alternative to more mainstream eco models. Under the bonnet lies a 1.4-litre petrol engine, but this is only used to keep the batteries charged. So, the wheels are driven by pure electricity alone, meaning smooth and virtually silent acceleration. Plug the car into the mains, and you get a range of around 30 miles, which could save you thousands on your commute. Skoda Fabia WE FOUND: Fabia Greenline (08-reg/73k) Price new £11,495 Now…

Audi TT Roadster WE FOUND: 1.8 TFSI Sport (11-reg/19k) Price new £26,085 Now £12,990 Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 158bhp Economy: 43.5mpg CO2/tax: 152g/km/£180 Euro NCAP: N/A IT’S not based on the VW Group’s all-conquering MQB platform like the current car, but the previous-generation Audi TT Roadster is still a solid all-round sports car. And while the entry-level 1.8-litre turbo petrol version only comes in front-wheel drive, that means it’s lighter. Go for the six-speed dual-clutch box and the whipcrack gearshifts keep the engine on the boil, but you’ll be kept more involved by the slick six-speed manual. Either way, the Mk2 TT looks great, but get it on the right road with the roof down, and even the basic 1.8-litre version serves up a surprising amount of fun. Peugeot 206 CC…

Citroen C6 WE FOUND: C6 2.7 HDi V6 (57-reg/104k) Price new £37,845 Now £3,650 Engine: 2.7-litre V6, 208bhp Economy: 32.5mpg CO2/tax: 230g/km/£490 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2005) CITROEN has a rich heritage when it comes to luxury saloons, and while prices of its classic DS might be rapidly on the rise, those of its more recent C6 are going the other way. The big four-door’s hydro pneumatic suspension makes progress eerily smooth and composed. Like every luxury Citroen, there are plenty of distinctive design features on the C6, including the concave rear window, while technology such as a head-up display and lanedeparture warning meant it rivalled the Mercedes S-Class for innovation. Range Rover WE FOUND: TDV8 Vogue (08-reg/60k) Price new £63,950 Now £18,994 Engine: 3.6-litre V8, 272bhp Economy: 25.0mpg CO2/tax:…

Caterham 270S OUR Caterham recently came face to face with its flagship big brother when we had the new 620S in the office for a few days. Externally, the two models look similar, as they both share the wider SV body and full windscreen with weather protection pack. However, after a drive in both, road test editor James Disdale concluded that this pair couldn’t be more different. With its screaming 310bhp supercharged 2.0-litre engine, the 620S demanded maximum concentration, particularly on anything other than bone dry and billiard table smooth roads. Hit a white line, bump or patch of wet tarmac when accelerating hard and the more powerful car would spin its rear wheels and squirm along the road. It was an exhilarating yet draining experience. Our 270S isn’t nearly…

Muc-Off Wheel & Component Brush Best price: £6 Rating: Contact: 01202 307790, www.muc-off.com RECOMMENDED THE first of two new brushes from ValetPRO, this Long Reach version starred on the inner rim – easily getting to the far edge and shifting grime fast with that wide loop. Long, chemicalresistant bristles were flexible enough to slip in the narrow gap, too. Wheel bolts were more of a problem and it’s awkward to use on the face. The shaft moved in the wooden handle, but it’s fairly stiff. ValetPRO Long Reach Wheel Brush Best price: £10.20 Rating: Contact: 01323 287980, valetpro.eu RECOMMENDED THE first of two new brushes from ValetPRO, this Long Reach version starred on the inner rim – easily getting to the far edge and shifting grime fast with that wide…

Thanks to Imperial Car Supermarkets in Hampshire for the loan of the Civic pictured. Contact 023 8098 6917 imperialcarsupermarkets.co.uk ACROSS Europe, more people buy a small family car than any other type of model, and competition in this market is fierce as makers try to come up with cars that can take on the biggest sellers. For many years, Honda’s contender in this class has been the Civic, and it’s always been promising on paper, as it has all the usual Honda characteristics that add up to a car that’s incredibly easy to own. Sadly, unless you’re considering the hot Type R – which is one of the best drivers’ cars on sale – the Civic isn’t as involving as some rivals. But if you’re looking for reliable, practical family…

WE’VE known for a while that Porsche is planning a shooting brake version of the next Panamera – based on the Sport Turismo concept from 2012 Paris Motor Show – and here’s the evidence. It’s the first time our spies have spotted the Sport Turismo in testing, and the car should arrive in 2017 following the introduction of the standard secondgeneration Panamera at the end of the year. As can be seen in our images, the extra bodywork stemming from the roof and the more steeply raked rear screen will give Porsche a car to rival the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake. Expect boot space and rear headroom to increase slightly over the standard Panamera, but the Sport Turismo model will likely be a far cry from a true estate in…

HOT on the heels of the new Astra and Corsa, Vauxhall has revealed a facelift for its Mokka small crossover. Now called the Mokka X, it gets a new 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, a bold new design and Vauxhall’s OnStar system, which includes a wireless 4G hotspot and 24/7 remote assistance over the phone. The new engine produces 150bhp and claims 42.8mpg economy when combined with fourwheel-drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox. The Mokka X’s rear is similar to the outgoing model’s, but the front now has Vauxhall’s new family face, with a reshaped grille and fewer bits of extra plastic trim. There are also ‘Adaptive Forward Lighting’ LED headlamps to replace the previous xenon units. Inside, there’s a large IntelliLink touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a…

We get behind the stories that affect you “This car had six faults in the first 10 months of its life. Is Honda really trying to say this is acceptable?” IT’S unlikely you would agree to buy someone else’s rejected car, but that’s what one couple discovered they’d done. Readers Claire and Alan McDonald of Cove, Aberdeen, called Auto Express after months of wrangling with local dealer McRae and Dick over a faulty 64-plate Honda CR-V, which they’d bought from its Inverness branch at four months old, with fewer than 1,300 miles on the clock. Claire told us: “Delivery of the car was delayed due to a software fault. Then we noticed the fuel gauge would sometimes show the tank as empty when it was full.” They reluctantly agreed to…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.4 seconds/201mph Running costs 23mpg (official) £79 fill-up Essentials Lamborghini Huracán Spyder Price: £205,000 (est) Engine: 5.2-litre 10cyl petrol Power: 602bhp Transmission: Seven-speed auto, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.4 seconds Top speed: 201mph Economy: 23mpg CO2: 285g/km ON SALE March mail@autoexpress.co.uk “The biggest compliment to pay Lambo’s engineers is to confirm the Spyder drives just like the coupé” THE Lamborghini Huracán has been on something of a roll over these past 12 months. Since starting life with a surprisingly muffled introduction in 2014, it’s matured and improved, with advanced four-wheel and two-wheel-drive versions both subsequently being launched. For its latest trick, Lamborghini has presented us with this model – the all-new Spyder, complete with a brilliant folding hood mechanism, drop-dead gorgeous looks and, best of all, that same…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.2 seconds/125mph Running costs 37.2mpg (official) £57 fill-up James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor “On twisty roads the Sportage showed it has surprisingly sharp steering and good feedback” IT’S hard to think of a car that has changed a manufacturer’s image quite like the Kia Sportage. The third-generation model – which is now bowing out after six years on the market – transformed Kia from a maker of cheap and cheerful cars to a stylish and fashionable brand. So it’s fair to say the stakes are pretty high for the new Mk4 version, which we’ve driven here in the UK for the first time. The newcomer doesn’t take a gargantuan step up from its predecessor, as the shape is evolutionary and the car has only grown a little in size. The…

Lexus GS WE FOUND: 450h SE-L (06-reg/66k) Price new £38,058 Now £9,000 Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 341bhp Economy: 35.8mpg CO2/tax: 186g/km/£265 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (‘05) THE Lexus GS 450h certainly doesn’t let its green credentials get in the way of its performance, because it’ll sprint from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds. Its hybrid drivetrain, which combines a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor, produces 341bhp and therefore massive acceleration. Yet it’s the comfortable cabin that earns the Lexus’ position here – although be aware that the running gear eats into boot space. You can, however, cruise silently around town, and Lexus’ legendary customer service should put most used car buyers’ minds at rest. Renault Scenic WE FOUND: 1.9 dCi Privilège (04-reg/74k) Price new £18,410 Now £995 Engine: 1.9-litre 4cyl,…

Fiat Punto Evo WE FOUND: 1.4 Sporting (60-reg/71k) Price new £15,175 Now £4,290 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 133bhp Economy: 50.4mpg CO2/tax: 129g/km/£110 Euro NCAP: N/A FIAT’S 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo won an International Engine of the Year award in 2010 thanks to its hi-tech approach to improving efficiency. With 133bhp, it gives the Punto eager acceleration, while impressive 50.4mpg economy highlights the benefits of Fiat’s engine tech. Inside, you also get the Microsoft-based Blue & Me infotainment that brings USB and Bluetooth connection. Peugeot 508 RXH WE FOUND: RXH Hybrid4 (14-reg/34k) Price new £33,695 Now £16,000 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl dies/elec, 200bhp Economy: 68.9mpg CO2/tax: 107g/km/£20 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2011) FOUR-wheel drive can come in useful around this time of year, but when the conditions aren’t challenging, it can hike fuel consumption.…

Skoda Yeti WE FOUND: 2.0 TDI (59-reg/49k) Price new £21,010 Now £9,995 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 138bhp Economy: 46.3mpg CO2/tax: 159g/km/£180 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2009) AFFORDABILITY, space and efficiency make the Skoda Yeti a great second-hand buy, which is why we crowned it our 2015 Used Car of the Year. For the price of a new supermini you could pick up a pre-facelift Yeti Elegance with Skoda’s smooth 138bhp 2.0 TDI engine. At this price, six-speed manual and DSG gearboxes are available, while part-time four-wheel drive means power is only sent to the rear when it’s needed, helping improve efficiency. Range Rover Sport WE FOUND: 5.0 V8 supercharged (12-reg/29k) Price new £76,295 Now £36,990 Engine: 5.0-litre V8, 503bhp Economy: 19.0mpg CO2/tax: 348g/km/£505 Euro NCAP: N/A MAKING a 503bhp SUV handle…

CO2/tax 116g/km £30 or 18% Practicality Boot 292 litres Running costs 57.6mpg (official) £46 fill-up Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Ibiza has always been SEAT’s core model – it was the first car brought to the UK by the brand, back in 1984, and has proven a strong seller ever since. Over the coming months of testing, we want to find out if the latest supermini has what it takes to beat rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 in a very competitive market. We headed up to Motorvogue Bedford to collect our car and were greeted by sales controller Darren Dennison. “Young people love the Ibiza,” he told me. “They like its looks and the smartphone connectivity, too.” You can see why younger drivers would love it – our car’s…

NEW PRODUCT Alcosense Pro breathalyser Price: £149.99 Contact: 0800 195 0088, alcosense.co.uk EXACTLY when are you safe to drive again the morning after a night out drinking? There’s no real certainty, so investing in a personal breathalyser is one way to be sure. The sleek Alcosense Pro is handy and simple to use, with a high-spec fuel-cell sensor that gives almost the same accuracy as £13,000 police kit, and comes with five single-use mouthpieces. The sensor has accounted for a 10 per cent tolerance, to prevent giving an under-reading. It also helps control breath flow, so you don’t breathe too hard, too softly or not long enough – all explained on the hi-res colour TFT screen. If you’re over the limit, it’ll advise how long to wait until you’re sober.…

THREE-MONTH TEST Nextbase 512G In-Car Cam Price: £179.99 Contact: 020 3195 0877, nextbase.co.uk AS dash cams continue to gain in popularity in the UK, we tested Nextbase’s 512G in a range of light and weather conditions to see how it fared. We had high hopes, as the 512G features a polarising lens to boost image quality, especially at night. The unit is light, too, although the weight of the lens means it’s a little nose-heavy. It clips easily into its mount, which in turn fixes tight to the glass with the windscreen suction mount. We’ve fitted the camera in a number of cars with different screen angles, but the mount is easy to adjust, and the compact size means it doesn’t block the view. The camera works well and the…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 10 | 2 | 2016 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. Sakura Wheel Brush Best price: £1.99 Rating: Contact: 01488 689400, www.saxon-shop.com BRUSHES don’t come much more basic, and while it’ll be enough for some people, there are compromises. The hard plastic handle is tough on fingers and the bristles short. It couldn’t get in the narrow gap, struggled with the bolt holes and needed working on the face. But the twin loops of twisted wire were stiff, allowing lots of force to be applied. Wheel Woolies Best price: £36 Rating: Contact: 01467 631201, www.polishedbliss.co.uk AGAINST brushes costing under a tenner, these £36 US imports were…

VW is also pushing ahead with a five-door coupé version of the Tiguan that will give the firm a rival for the Range Rover Evoque. “It is a very exciting car,” VW’s compact cars boss Dr Jochen Böhle told us. “Dr Diess [new VW brand chairman Herbert Diess] is very strong behind this model, and it’s looking fantastic.” No production sites have been agreed, but as it’s a ‘global’ car, Böhle said it would almost certainly have a European factory line: “It could be Wolfsburg. But it could be [SEAT’s plant] Martorell.” Our exclusive image shows how new VW Evoque rival could look…

EXCLUSIVEIMAGES RENAULT’S new big SUV looks set to be unveiled at April’s Beijing Motor Show, and it will have only five seats, despite being based on Nissan’s seven-seat X-Trail. Chief competitive officer Thierry Bolloré told Auto Express: “The car is ready and we expect it to be on the [Chinese] market by the end of the year. It’s not a seven-seater.” Asked why, he continued: “It is a good question and one we are questioning for ourselves at the moment. That doesn’t mean it will never happen, but for the moment it won’t have [seven seats].” Bolloré added that the car is designed in such a way that adding two more seats “would be possible” at a later stage. The car will be built beside the Kadjar at Renault’s new…

“Last July, the Ford Fiesta, SEAT Ibiza, Audi Q3 and Fiat 500L had zero local sales remaining when re-exports were deducted” EUROPEAN motor manufacturers are registering cars in two separate countries to increase profits and take advantage of the huge gap in car prices throughout the EU. Auto Express reported in Issue 1,404 how up to 15 per cent of the UK’s new cars in 2015 could have been pre-registered, warping new car sales figures. And data reveals the practice is widespread in Europe, too. As significant price gaps exist in the EU – new cars are 30 per cent more expensive in Sweden than in Bulgaria, for example – it can be very profitable to export pre-registered cars to another country to sell them as “young new” for a…

“We make traditional sports cars that are unashamedly nostalgic and we can continue to evolve the design. But we have our eyes open when it comes to cutting-edge tech” STEVE MORRIS Chief executive THE BEST OF BRITISH MORGAN’S ELECTRIC FUTURE mail@autoexpress.co.uk MORGAN has been defying the critics for years, and is about to shock the motoring world with its first electric car. For a firm accused of living in the past and using outdated production methods to build its classic sports cars, Morgan says its electric venture will prove it is very much at the cutting edge of technology. The Government clearly believes in Morgan, because it has awarded the company a £6million grant to develop its electric model and a range of heavily downsized fuelefficient petrol engines with the…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk @DeanGbsn WHEN Hyundai launched the secondgeneration i20 last year, it marked the start of a new, youthful approach for the supermini. Not only did the range get a fresh look, the three-door was rebranded as the i20 Coupé. Now, for the 2016 model year, Hyundai has added a sporty new engine to the line-up in the shape of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol. The unit comes in two states of tune. The 99bhp version replaces the naturally aspirated 1.4, while topping the range is a new 118bhp version, which is the most powerful engine seen in a roadgoing i20. Fire it up, and you’re greeted by a familiar three-cylinder thrum from under the bonnet, although there’s no vibration to go with it. The engine revs freely, and has more…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.0 seconds/126mph Running costs 67.2mpg (official) £69 fill-up Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn IN a world where crossovers and SUVs are taking over – they now officially account for 22.5 per cent of cars sold across Europe – it’s a growing concern that traditional saloons like the Kia Optima will eventually slip into insignificance. Undeterred, the company is forging ahead with the all-new Optima, focusing on improving overall quality and refinement in a bid to cater to UK buyers’ tastes. From the outside, the new front end looks a little sharper and the rear a little sleeker, but as this was already one of the more handsome family cars around, a complete overhaul wasn’t exactly necessary. It’s certainly better proportioned than the Ford Mondeo, although the latest Skoda Superb may…

BMW 3 Series Convertibl Convertible Price new £54,965 Now £27,000 James_Disdale@dennis.co.uk THE January sales are done and dusted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still pick up a bargain – especially if you’re looking for a new car. We’ve spent hours sifting through the classified adverts and unearthed a hundred used car buys that will set you back at least half what they would have cost you new. As ever, we’ve got all bases covered, so you’ll have no trouble finding something that suits your needs and budget – we’ve picked out everything from city runarounds to snarling supercars. Yet we’re not just interested in cars that have seen their prices tumble, because we’ve also identified 10 bargain-priced modern classics that are only going to go up in value. So…

Ford Mondeo WE FOUND: 2.0 TDCi Titanium X (57-reg/82k) Price new £21,645 Now £4,495 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 138bhp Economy: 47.9mpg CO2/tax: 154g/km/£180 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2007) IT’S been overtaken in the new car sales charts by compact executive models, but the Ford Mondeo is still a popular used choice among family buyers – especially this spacious, smartly styled and great to drive fourth-generation car, replaced in 2015. You’ll find you’re spoiled for choice on secondhand forecourts, with saloon, hatchback and estate bodystyles, plus a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. Then there’s the huge array of trim levels, from entry-level Edge to fully loaded Titanium X. This lavishly equipped flagship represents the best value for money, particularly when hooked up to the punchy and efficient 138bhp 2.0-litre TDCi…

Maserati 4200 WE FOUND: Cambiocorsa (54-reg/81k) Price new £56,650 Now £13,000 Engine: 4.2-litre V8, 385bhp Economy: 15.0mpg CO2/tax: 430g/km/£505 Euro NCAP: N/A YOU can’t get much more Italian than a charismatic sports car penned by an Italian design legend, and the Maserati 4200 fits the bill. It’s the work of Giorgetto Giugiaro – a man famous for cars such as the Lotus Esprit, Maserati Ghibli, Volkswagen Golf and even the DeLorean DMC-12 – and has a Ferrari-sourced 4.2-litre V8 under the bonnet. This model doesn’t have the slender tail-lights seen on the earlier 3200, but it’s a more reliable car, so you’ll be able to turn heads for longer before it breaks down! Just don’t expect it to be cheap when the car does need attention. Fiat Coupé WE FOUND:…

Ford Puma WE FOUND: Puma 1.7 (02-reg/73k) Price new £12,980 Now £750 Engine: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 123bhp Economy: 38.2mpg CO2/tax: 178g/km/£225 Euro NCAP: N/A THE Ford Puma proves thrilling performance cars do come at surprisingly low prices. A £1,000 budget will even get you a more powerful 123bhp 1.7-litre model – but the big draw is the Puma’s chassis. A low kerbweight in a compact body means this is an engaging coupé to drive. Beautifully weighted steering, a slick manual gearchange and lots of grip back up the svelte styling, and while it won’t rival many modern hot hatches for straight-line pace, it will put a smile on your face on your favourite road. Saab 9-5 WE FOUND: 9-5 Aero (03-reg/88k) Price new £26,795 Now £2,295 Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl, 247bhp Economy:…

MERCEDES has been plugging holes in its range over recent years, with cars such as the A-Class family hatch and GLA crossover finally offering real competition to big-selling cars from arch-rivals Audi and BMW. But while we’ve had to wait a bit longer for Mercedes to build a mid-size SUV, the next stage in the luxury brand’s model offensive is finally here, and the GLC is aimed straight at Audi Q5 and BMW X3 territory. There’s lots to like with these two stylish adversaries though, so the GLC won’t have it all its own way. Being the new kid could work in its favour as buyers look for the latest in a sector where image counts, but the Mercedes needs to have the combination of performance, space and equipment to…

Porsche 911 Carrera S Price: £86,402 Engine: 3.0 flat-six turbo, 414bhp 0-60mph: 4.5 seconds Test economy: 28.2mpg/6.2mpl CO2: 199g/km Road tax: £265 Jaguar F-Type R Coupé Price: £86,810 Engine: 5.0 V8 supercharged, 542bhp 0-60mph: 3.9 seconds Test economy: 23.9mpg/5.3mpl CO2: 255g/km Road tax: £490 THE Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type went head-to-head in Issue 1,381 of Auto Express last year. Back then, the four-wheel-drive 911 Carrera 4 GTS took victory over the F-Type R Coupé AWD. And now that there’s a new 911 Carrera S on sale, the F-Type has an even bigger fight on its hands. Here we stick with the more traditional two-wheel-drive recipe – but there’s nothing traditional about the new 991.2-generation Carrera S, because this face-lifted model is now powered by a turbocharged engine. Porsche purists…

2015 Results Adam Factfile Years: 2012 to present CO2: 114g/km Fuel economy: 57.6mpg (1.0T Jam) Best features: USB and Bluetooth, OnStar concierge service, heated seats, cruise control Prices: From £6,000 OVERALL SCORE 87.87% Bars show where model finished out of 200 cars in our 2015 survey. The lower the rating the better 90th PLACE GOOD “A SMART-looking car that’s very nippy and ideal for city driving and commuting.” “I love the Adam’s plush cabin, dinky dimensions and head-turning looks.” “It comes with a lot of kit as standard, like DAB radio and alloy wheels.” “A comfortable car to drive; it’s also surprisingly spacious in the front.” “My dealership and service experiences with Vauxhall have been faultless.” “The Adam is a very easy car to park, even in tight spaces that…

VW Golf 57.6mpg (official) £51 fill-up Golf 1.2 TSI S 5dr Years: 2013 to date Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 104bhp Insurance group: 11 Econ/CO2: 58mpg/114g/km Why? Classy Golf gets frugal downsized turbo petrol, and economical engine doesn’t feel underpowered. Prices from: £8,467 THE Volkswagen Golf’s image has taken a bit of a hit from the diesel emissions scandal, but the latest hatch is still a strong buy, especially with the punchy 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine. It’s not as instantly powerful as the Ford, but offers smooth performance. The Golf is also more economical, both on paper and in the real-world, and is more refined than the Focus, with much less engine noise, plus a quiet and comfortable ride. Strong residuals mean the VW isn’t the cheapest car to buy, however, especially…