Innholdsfortegnelse for 1414 i Auto Express

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news WITH the number of SUVs on the market expanding on a monthly basis, and sales rising in a spectacular fashion, you could be forgiven for being unaware of another class of car that’s also enjoying a relative boom period – the pick-up. According to figures from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number registered last year – 33,302 – has risen 68 per cent in five years. The figure may be modest, but when I met Javier Piris, light commercial vehicle director of Nissan’s Barcelona Technical Centre Europe, last week, he was clear he expects the upward trajectory to continue. “We have made pick-ups easier to own,” he explained. “In the past they were trucks, and there were compromises…

THE next Renault Clio could feature mild hybrid tech as seen on the brand’s new Scenic MPV. Speaking to Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, Bruno Ancelin – Renault executive vice president, product planning – said: “We want to add electrification that’s affordable. It means we give the customer just enough to deliver low CO2.” Asked if the more cost-effective Hybrid Assist function from the brand’s new people carrier could feature on the smaller Clio, Ancelin revealed: “Yes, we’ll consider the tech for other cars. It’s not the only initiative to reduce fuel consumption, but it won’t be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle [PHEV].” The new Clio could adopt a host of aerodynamic features, along with advanced hybrid tech from the EOLAB concept (right), which hints at the future.…

SINCE 2004, cars abandoned on UK roads have cost taxpayers and insurers £4.6million a year to remove. Latest figures from breakdown provider RecoverMe show more than 565,000 vehicles were abandoned, costing £55.7m. In many cases, these vehicles were stolen and dumped, costing an average of £98.49 to remove. Among the 107 councils and police forces who answered RecoverMe’s Freedom of Information request, the most expensive vehicle recovery was in Wigan, Greater Manchester, at an average of £390, with the highest daily storage fee found in Havering, London, at £40. Insurers often pick up the tab for the removal and storage of these vehicles, which can reach up to £500 per car. The costs are then passed on to honest motorists through higher insurance premiums. Robin Reames, founding director of RecoverMe…

HOW DRIVING GAMES ARE BECOMING ULTRA-REALISTIC Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “How do you make a game realistic, remembering that most gamers and rally fans won’t have driven these actual machines and will be using a control pad?” “DiRT Rally gives fans the best insight yet into the high-paced and muddy world of rallying” MANY petrolheads dream of getting behind the wheel of their favourite cars and racing them at top speeds around the globe in front of adoring fans. Unfortunately, for most of us the dream never gets close to reality. The closest most of us come is the controls of a video game console, with classic racing titles such as Gran Turismo, Colin McRae Rally and Forza offering gamers down the years a chance to experience the life they crave. But…

“Dawn is only Rolls cabriolet for the time being – and quite the cabriolet it is” Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram NOT long ago, the average age of a Rolls-Royce buyer was 55 years old. Now, though, with astronomical wealth coming from China and the Middle East, that number has dropped to just 45. Cars like the smaller, more focused Ghost and Wraith have played a big part in attracting a more youthful audience. Models like the upcoming Cullinan SUV will further cement that youthful push, alongside the car you see here: the Rolls-Royce Dawn. It’s only the brand’s third convertible in 50 years. The original Corniche arrived in 1966, and after various iterations, revisions and body changes, was finally axed in 2001. It was followed by the Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007,…

James_Disdale@dennis.co.uk THINK of a Ford Mustang, and no doubt a V8-powered model will come to mind. Ever since the original made its debut more than half a century ago, the legendary muscle car has usually been accompanied by the deep burble of an eight-cylinder engine. There have been versions with four and six-cylinder engines under the bonnet in the past, but they’ve often struggled to make an impact with buyers. Yet this hasn’t stopped Ford having another crack at downsizing, with this 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost version, which slots in below the flagship 5.0 GT. So do half the cylinders mean half the fun? To find out, we got behind the wheel of one of the first examples to hit UK roads. Initial impressions are a little underwhelming, as the engine…

PUTTING a gloss on your tyres is the finishing touch to reviving your car’s looks after a long, wet winter. It takes minutes and costs a few pence, but can make a dramatic difference. All but the newest of tyres will appear grey after a winter’s driving, no matter how well they are scrubbed and rinsed. And the grey band will stick out like a sore thumb alongside a gleaming rim and sparkling, freshly waxed paintwork. A tyre shine is not just about looks, as most will also protect the sidewall from UV light and premature cracking. A tyre with cracked sidewalls is more prone to failure; it may need replacing long before the tread nears its limit. So which product protects and shines best? We applied 19 protectants to…

NEED TO KNOW If the car has a tow bar fitted, check that the electrics work properly; damaged wiring can lead to multiple issues. NEED TO KNOW Watch out for big wheels; they wreck the ride and are kerbed easily, so be wary of cars on 21-inch rims. NEED TO KNOW Water leaks in the cabin can be caused by blocked drain tubes for the sunroof or air-con system. Thanks to Sytner Audi in Derby (www.sytner.co.uk) for the loan of the Q7 in our pictures. “Q7 is fast, refined, efficient, spacious, well equipped, comfortable and a great tow car” AUDI had never built an SUV before it introduced the Q7 in 2006 – but you’d never know. As soon as it arrived, the Q7 racked up one positive review after…

Jag F-Type SVR Our round-up of all the crucial new cars, plus behind-the-scenes gossip from the Big Apple Can BMW’s hi-tech new luxury saloon make it to the top as it faces up to S-Class and XJ? We get behind the wheel of new 567bhp, 200mph ultimate Jag. Is it worth £110,000? New York show Our round-up of all the crucial new cars, plus behind-the-scenes gossip from the Big Apple 7 Series vs rivals Can BMW’s hi-tech new luxury saloon make it to the top as it faces up to S-Class and XJ? News ● Product tests Drives ● Features & Sport on sale Wednesday 30 March Contents are subject to change…

BENTLEY’S new design boss, Stefan Sielaff, has revealed his vision of how the firm’s cabins will look in future. The design study will influence upcoming models, including the Continental GT, an additional SUV and a production version of the EXP 10 Speed 6. German-born Sielaff has been with Bentley since July last year, but in his previous role as head of VW Group interior design, worked with Bentley on last year’s Speed 6 concept. Now the self-confessed Anglophile has full responsibility for the future of Bentley design. “We’re pushing Bentley into the future of luxury design,” Sielaff told us. “We’ve particularly looked at what makes Bentley British – it’s a cultural aspect and an ability to bring opposite parts together. It’s the fusion of extremes – in our case performance…

AUDI’S TT Roadster is about to get some extra firepower, as our spy photographers have caught the RS model undergoing development testing. It’s expected to launch at the end of this year, following the arrival of the TT RS coupé. This will be the first time Audi has introduced a drop-top version of the TT RS, but the recipe will be unaltered, meaning the 362bhp five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine from the RS3 will drive all four wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Spotted testing alongside the TT RS coupé, the roadster’s styling upgrades will be identical; beefier front air intakes, larger alloy wheels and twin oval exhaust pipes mark it out against the standard TT Roadster. Beneath the skin, Audi will have added strengthening to the body to compensate for the…

“The reduction in overall offences recorded does not represent a reduction in offences actually committed” Transport Select Committee report THE total number of motoring offences recorded in England and Wales has fallen from 4.3 million to 1.5 million since 2004 – but a new report by the Transport Select Committee suggests this is down to fewer traffic police officers patrolling our roads rather than improved driving standards. Auto Express previously found the number of traffic police has been cut by nearly a third in the last five years, which the committee sees as a “growing concern”, especially with the number of fatalities on British roads in 2014 up four per cent from 2013. Motoring offences resulting in a fatality are always recorded by authorities, while non-fatal offences can often go…

THE new Subaru Impreza has been revealed as a four-door saloon at the New York Motor Show. But it’ll only be sold here as a five-door hatch when it arrives at the end of the year. The latest generation of Subaru’s Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf rival sits on the company’s all-new Global Platform. It gets a longer wheelbase than its predecessor (up by 25mm) that’s designed to boost cabin space – and Subaru claims the switch to the new chassis helps to ensure a dramatic increase in body rigidity over the old car, by as much as 70 per cent. Subaru’s trademark boxer petrols and diesels will be retained, but in an updated form that could incorporate cylinder deactivation tech. All versions will still get full-time four-wheel drive as…

“When Jade’s relations with dealer broke down, she took her case to the Financial Ombudsman” WHEN trying to reach an outcome for any car-related problems, it’s always best to work with a dealer or manufacturer directly, rather than go down a long, expensive legal route. However, sometimes it is necessary to take your case to the next level. For Jade Rowan, from Newthorpe, Notts, it paid off when the Financial Ombudsman ruled in her favour over her Honda Civic complaint. Law student Jade bought a Civic Sport from Blackpool Honda in Lancs last year, but later found it had been crashed and resprayed at the dealer, before arriving as “brand new”. Jade took the car to a professional detailer who tested the paint thickness on the bonnet. He reported it…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Jaguar XF is one of our favourite executive saloons thanks to its impressive blend of style, performance and economy. Now Jag has added an all-wheel-drive model to the range, and we’ve driven it on greasy UK roads. The 4x4 system is derived from the version fitted to the F-Type sports car, and while it’s only available with the 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine, it’s set up to be good to drive as well as grippy in the wet. Jaguar’s ‘torque-on-demand’ system sends power where it’s needed the most. It checks to see where the grip is and automatically applies torque to the front or rear axle as necessary. In normal driving, the XF still feels like a rear-wheel-drive car, but when things get slippery, there’s no doubt this…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk @Steve_cars HAVE you got a jet ski in the garage or a landscape gardening business? If so, 2016 is shaping up to be a vintage year. Not because global warming is making UK sea temperatures more bearable or extending the growing season, but because we’re being inundated with new pick-up trucks. Ford’s Ranger is the latest to land, going into battle against the Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara (tested on Page 76) while we wait for the new Toyota HiLux and facelifted VW Amarok. The modernised Ranger looks the part with its new grille and slimmer lights, and the cabin’s been nicely spruced up, too, with an eight-inch touchscreen featuring SYNC2 tech on Limited and Wildtrak cars. The lower-spec XL and XLT do without this, and more upmarket trim,…

On the road price/total as tested Annual tax liability std/higher rate Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) Ins. group/quote/road tax cost Servicing costs Length/wheelbase Height/width Engine Peak power/revs Peak torque/revs Transmission Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel Maximum payload Kerbweight/max towing weight Turning circle Basic warranty (miles)/recovery Service intervals/UK dealers Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 0-60/30-70mph 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 50-70mph in 5th/6th Top speed/rpm at 70mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph Noise outside/idle/30/70mph Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Actual/claimed CO2 emissions Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control Climate control/leather/heated seats Metallic paint/headlights/keyless go Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth Tonneau cover/hard-top Tow bar (7-pin)/bed liner protection Results 1st MITSUBISHI OUR reigning pick-up champ has seen off possibly the closest rival it’s likely to meet for now. The Navara is bigger and offers a greater payload, but the L200 edges…

Dawn_Grant@dennis.co.uk Second opinion “The X crossover is easily the best-looking variant in Fiat’s expanded 500 range. It’s only when you park side-by-side with the standard city car that you realise just how much bigger the 500X is.” Dean Gibson Deputy road test editor AFTER eight months behind the wheel of our Fiat 500X, it’s clear to me that the crossover is a fantastic all-rounder. Some of that ability stems from the car’s Drive Mood Selector. A rotary dial lets you pick between three different modes – Auto, Sport and All Weather – to give the car a selection of distinct characters. As the name suggests, Auto mode adjusts the car automatically, and is the sensible, everyday choice. Then there’s the Sport setting, which sharpens throttle response and makes the 500X…

YOUR paint will have taken a battering this winter, so now is the time to make it sparkle again. First it needs cleaning, which involves rinsing with a hose or a blast with a pressure washer to shift as much heavy grime as possible, then remove the remainder with a shampoo. Our latest test winner is Bilt Hamber auto-wash, which leaves precious little water to wipe away. Washing your car is likely to remove plenty of grit, so take care not to drag it back on to the bodywork. The best way to prevent this is to use a bucket with a grid in the bottom; any grit from your mitt or sponge passes through this, and can’t be picked up again. If the paint is in good condition, use…

2015 Results Leaf Factfile Years: 2011 to present CO2: 0g/km EV range: Up to 155 miles (30kW battery) Best features: Sat-nav, cruise control, parking camera, USB and Bluetooth connection Prices: From £7,000 OVERALL SCORE 92.45% Bars show where model finished out of 200 cars in our 2015 survey. The lower the rating the better GOOD “THE Nissan Leaf works well as an everyday car.” “Great for commuting; it is nippy in city centres and able to tackle motorways with ease.” “A very relaxing car to drive; it’s quiet and refined.” “The acceleration and performance are excellent – the Leaf surprises many.” “Boot space is amazing for a car of its size.” “I like not having to pay road tax for my Leaf.” “I’ve driven around 7,000 miles and spent just…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan “Design is heavily influenced by the larger GLE Coupé, with the same sloping roofline, narrow rear window and big tail-lights” MERCEDES has pulled the wraps off its new GLC Coupé at the New York Motor Show. The Range Rover Evoque and BMW X4-rivalling SUV goes on sale in the UK in June, with first deliveries in October. Unsurprisingly, the design is heavily influenced by the larger GLE Coupé, with the same sloping roofline, narrow rear window and big tail-lights. The front end is identical to the regular GLC on which it’s based. The Coupé is 80mm longer and 40mm wider than the regular GLC, and slightly longer than the X4. Optional kit to help the car stand out even further includes side running boards and 20-inch alloys. Inside,…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “A dealer contacted Paul and offered him a £64,451 Cayman GT4 fitted with a few extras for £103,000” PORSCHE dealers are being accused of manipulating the market and encouraging speculators when it comes to limited-run vehicles such as the new Cayman GT4. Auto Express reader and Porsche enthusiast Paul Nicola from Wimborne, Dorset, contacted us after being unable to buy certain new Porsche models, having been offered nearly new cars for tens of thousands of pounds over the list price by dealers. “Over the past five years, I have contacted my local Porsche dealer in the hope of getting a GT3, GT3 RS, a Cayman GT4 and, more recently, a 911 R,” he said. “My requests were mostly ignored – sometimes laughed at – and they always said…

MAZDA will follow up the MX-5 RF (above) by wowing the Beijing Motor Show in April with the CX-4 – and it has issued this first teaser for the new SUV-coupé. The CX-4 is designed to be a more style-focused stablemate to the successful CX-5. It sits on that car’s underpinnings, but will get a more rakish rear roofline. This single teaser image shows that the car retains the distinctive crease in the C-pillar that featured on the Koeru – a concept unveiled at last autumn’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The CX-4 has yet to be confirmed for Europe, but if it does make it here, expect it to be pitched closer to the CX-5 than the CX-3, and to feature Mazda’s 2.2-litre diesel in various states of tune. Sales are…

LAST summer, Volvo bought tuning brand Polestar outright, snapping up a business that’s been racing Volvos for 20 years. The Swedes are taking performance cars seriously again, with plenty of new models due before the end of the decade. What that means in practice is more full-fat machines such as the V60 Polestar, as well as tweaked models like this V40 – complete with a range of performance parts available through your local dealer. You can choose to buy the bits individually, or as an entire pack as we have sampled here. On a V40 D4, that means an ECU remap combined with a new induction and exhaust system. This raises power from 187bhp to 197bhp, while torque swells from 400Nm to 440Nm. Reassuringly, the official warranty is unaffected by…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan THE launch of DS Performance will see a number of fast hatchbacks emerge from the newly established brand. But the first model, and arguably the most crucial, is the DS 3 Performance. Unveiled late last year, the hot French supermini borrows plenty from the old Citroen DS 3 Racing, but as a fully fledged production model instead of a pricey limited-run special. That means you get PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s 1.6-litre THP turbocharged petrol engine – producing 205bhp and 300Nm of torque – plus beefier brakes, lowered suspension and a Torsen limited-slip differential. That’s a recipe that should give a number of the best small hot hatches in the class something to think about. DS bosses are quick to point out that comfort is on the agenda, but that doesn’t…

Pictures: Pete Gibson Location: Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham, Suffolk IN the United States, pick-up trucks are big business and account for a greater slice of sales than regular cars. Over here in Britain, they’re more of a niche purchase. But buyers in need of a practical workhorse that can also carry five people in comfort could do a lot worse than the latest breed of UK-spec pick-ups. As well as being as versatile as SUVs, they deliver tax benefits for business users, thanks to the fact they’re classed as commercial vehicles and fall outside the usual company car tax structure. And there are plenty of models to choose from, too, with the latest addition to the class being the new Nissan NP300 Navara. It’s bigger, faster and more efficient than its…

Pictures: Otis Clay Location: Longcross Proving Ground, Chobham, Surrey SEAT Ibiza SC 1.4 EcoTSI FR Price: £16,245 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo, 148bhp 0-60mph: 7.8 seconds Test economy: 38.6mpg/8.5mpl CO2: 112g/km Annual road tax: £30 Ford Fiesta Zetec S Black Edition Price: £16,945 Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo, 138bhp 0-60mph: 8.7 seconds Test economy: 34.5mpg/7.6mpl CO2: 104g/km Annual road tax: £20 HOT hatchbacks can be great fun, and are perfectly sized for UK roads. But as some offer a firm ride, steep running costs and enough performance to humble some sports cars, they might not be to everyone’s taste. If you need a car to better cope with day-today jobs, but also deliver some fast-paced fun at the weekend, there are a select few warm hatches out there – and we’ve lined…

On the road price/total as tested Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) Depreciation Annual tax liability std/higher rate Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost Servicing costs Length/wheelbase Height/width Engine Peak power/revs Peak torque/revs Transmission Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel Boot capacity (seats up/down) Kerbweight/payload/towing weight Turning circle/drag coefficient Basic warranty (miles)/recovery Service intervals/UK dealers Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 0-60/30-70mph 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 50-70mph in 5th/6th Top speed/rpm at 70mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph Noise outside/idle/30/70mph Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Auto box/stability/cruise ctrl/AEB* Climate control/leather/heated seats Met paint/xenon lights/keyless go Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth Results 1st FORD THE Fiesta is still great to drive, and this Zetec S Black Edition adds that extra edge of sharpness and composure, without sacrificing running costs. In areas,…

Volvo XC90 EVER been to Gothenburg’s Concert Hall? Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler hasn’t, but he feels like he’s been pretty close. Among the many gadgets in his Volvo XC90, hidden among the menus supporting the Bowers & Wilkins audio system is a setting that replicates the sound in the home of Gothenburg’s Symphony Orchestra. Clever software works with the 12-speaker system to recreate the exact acoustic qualities of the Gothenburg Concert Hall – and it’s easy to find the settings in the touchscreen that’s proving to be a doddle to use. Steve’s been enjoying the B&W sound system, a pricey £3,000 option in his car, but usually his choice of music isn’t exactly refined – he prefers cheesy pop to cultured classical. But by asking Apple Music to select Beethoven’s Seventh…

1 SEAT Leon THE Leon is one of our favourite hatchbacks, and it’s easy to see why. The Peugeot features a more stylish cabin, but the SEAT is better to drive, more spacious and great to live with. 2 Peugeot 308 THE 308 comes a close second here, as it has plenty going for it, including a classy design, good kit list and efficient diesel. But the dash layout divides opinion, and it’s not quite as fun to drive. SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI SE Years: 2013 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 104bhp Insurance group: 13 Econ/CO2: 74mpg/99g/km Why? Stylish SEAT is solid, spacious, easy to live with, efficient and fun to drive. It’s good value, too. Prices from: £7,850 Peugeot 308 e-HDI Active Years: 2014 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl,…

AS the second Formula E season continues, moves are afoot to introduce electric power to other categories of racing. A proposed electric GT series using race-prepared Tesla Model S saloons is being put together by Spanish-based Briton Mark Gemmell. The championship plans rounds at tracks including Barcelona and Jarama in Spain, Donington in the UK, Mugello in Italy, Nürburgring in Germany, Assen in the Netherlands and Estoril in Portugal. Elsewhere, Volkswagen tech boss Frank Welsch has suggested that electric power would be an ideal match for rallycross. “I can certainly imagine a championship done with all-electric cars,” he said. “Rallycross races are around six minutes long, which allows for short, intense bursts of power.” Ford completes Le Mans roster FORD has unveiled its full driver line-ups for its four-car Le…