Innholdsfortegnelse for 1424 i Auto Express

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news WHAT makes a good-looking car? We’re frequently reminded that styling is subjective, and beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. But for many models, there is generally some consensus. Take this week’s cover star, the Audi Q2, for example. It’s the first car overseen and signed off by the company’s new design boss Marc Lichte, and it’s fair to say it’s been recognised by most as a welcome breath of fresh air after the company’s fairly sterile ‘Russian doll’ approach of recent years. The Ian Callum-penned Jaguar F-Pace and new Alfa Romeo Giulia (Page 38) are two other examples of recent designs almost universally well received. In contrast I don’t think I ever met anyone who had a kind…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer has been unveiled, with revised looks and a host of new technology options. At the front, the MPV gets new headlamps with Vauxhall’s ‘double wing’ daytime running lights. There’s an updated grille, plus more muscular wheelarches. It looks wider, squatter and more like the new Astra than before. At the rear, it’s business as usual. Vauxhall vice president of European design Mark Adams said: “The front of the new Zafira Tourer takes the characteristics of the award-winning Astra, and anchors it in Vauxhall’s new portfolio. “This is also reflected in the interior by a redesigned instrument panel and dash. It’s purer, clearer and easier to use.” That’s where the biggest changes occur. There’s a new dash with a neat integrated screen replacing the…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan LAST week, Skoda revealed its new Atero concept car – designed by apprentices from the Skoda Academy in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic. Now we’ve been given the chance to drive it, at a small test track not far from the capital, Prague. Our drive in the car was limited to speeds below 30mph, but on that evidence, it seemed to drive much the same as a regular Rapid DSG auto (save for the exhaust racket). The perspex rear window makes the cabin very light and airy, but rear visibility is poor due to the high bootline. Of course, this is a design exercise and not a production model, so such concerns aren’t as important as they would be on a daily runaround. Despite the structural changes, however, the…

“The dealer claimed I’d bought a ‘Christmas tree’, and said I had to fit a stronger battery to run it” CUSTOMISING your car with tempting extras from the dealer options list is part of the fun of buying new. So imagine the annoyance of one Ford B-MAX owner who, after selecting the best kit, was told it was partly to blame for a recurring flat battery. Hanne Lambley, of Cheltenham, Glos, told Auto Express she bought more than £2,000-worth of factory-fitted extras when she ordered her 14-plate B-MAX from local dealer Bristol Street Motors – including privacy glass, a rear view camera pack, Active City Stop and heated leather seats. However, in September last year, the car’s battery began to continually go flat. Hanne complained to Auto Express: “The dealer…

“Extra weight doesn’t make much difference to the handling; XLV is composed and has responsive steering” Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan Essentials SsangYong Tivoli XLV Price: £19,000 (est) Engine: 1.6-litre diesel Power/torque: 113bhp/300Nm Transmission: Six-speed auto, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 12 seconds (est) Top speed: 107mph Economy: 47.9mpg CO2: 154g/km ON SALE July IT might not be the most common sight on the road, but after a year on sale, SsangYong’s Tivoli has been a hit. Over 64,000 have rolled out of the Korean factory so far, making it the brand’s biggest-selling model. SsangYong claims part of the Tivoli’s appeal is that it’s not a “downsize too far” for customers moving from larger SUVs, as it’s one of the most spacious crossovers in its class. That being the case, where does the even bigger…

Essentials Mazda CX-9 Signature Price: $44,015 (£30,000 est) Engine: 2.5-litre 4cyl turbo Power/torque: 247bhp/420Nm Transmission: Six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-60mph: 7.3 seconds Top speed: 130mph Economy: 30mpg (est) CO2: 210g/km (est) ON SALE N/A YOU’D be forgiven for feeling unfamiliar with the Mazda CX-9. Despite being on sale in the US since 2006, we’ve never seen a right-hand-drive version in the UK. Rumour has it this might all change in the not-too-distant future, so we’ve taken an early drive to see what could be in store. The CX-9 is more than just a new version of Mazda’s big seven-seat SUV; it’s also the brand’s first foray into what Americans call ‘entry-level luxury’. Why the push for posh? Well, US buyers appear to gravitate towards higher-spec SUVs, and the company saw…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan Suzuki Baleno 1.2 SZ5 SHVS Price: £13,499 Engine: 1.2-litre petrol hybrid Power/torque: 88bhp/120Nm Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 12.3 seconds Top speed: 111mph Economy: 70.6mpg CO2: 94g/km ON SALE Now WE’VE already been impressed with the Suzuki Baleno in 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo guise, but the brand also offers it as an SHVS mild hybrid. Is it worth considering? While the petrol-electric system itself is new to Suzuki, the petrol engine it’s paired with is the familiar naturally aspirated 1.2-litre Dualjet unit you’ll find in the Swift. It uses an integrated electric starter motor to assist the engine during moderate acceleration, helping it to consume less fuel. The set-up also provides power for the onboard systems thanks to regenerative braking. The Baleno SHVS claims to emit 94g/km of…

Audi TTS Roadster Price: £41,435 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 306bhp 0-60mph: 6.2 seconds Test economy: 27.1mpg/6.0mpl CO2: 173g/km Annual road tax: £210 Porsche 718 Boxster Price: £42,094 Engine: 2.0-litre flat-four, 296bhp 0-60mph: 5.2 seconds Test economy: 28.0mpg/6.2mpl CO2: 168g/km Annual road tax: £210 PORSCHE is no stranger to controversy. In the past 10 years or so, it has rocked diehard fans by launching SUVs and a luxury saloon. It followed up these additions with the news last year that its legendary 911 would feature only turbocharged engines. Yet even these bombshells paled into insignificance when Porsche revealed that the Boxster had ditched its traditional flat-six in favour of a turbo flat-four. However, with even more power and greater efficiency, these new powerplants promise to give the Boxster serious potential. Add in…

Results 1st PORSCHE ANY fears that a switch to four cylinders has ruined the Boxster are unfounded. Yes, the new engine doesn’t sound as good as the old flat-six, but it’s more efficient and delivers stronger pace. Plus, the rest of the car is better than ever, with sharper looks inside and out and sublime handling. There’s not as much kit as you’d expect at this price, but that doesn’t stop the brilliant Boxster taking a dominant win. 2nd AUDI LATEST TT is the best yet, combining stunning looks with great performance and one of the best interiors in the business. Composed handling and terrific allweather security add to the Audi’s appeal, as does the generous list of standard kit. Yet while it’s great to drive in isolation, the TTS…

FIRST TEST Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Home pressure washer kit Price: £349.99 Rating: ★★★ Contact: 01295 752200, www.karcher.co.uk KÄRCHER broke new ground with its latest line-up of Full Control pressure washers featuring LED power displays on the lance. We tried the entry-level K4 in Issue 1,416, but found it wanting. Here we put the K5 Premium from the upper end of the range through its paces. It’s nearly double the price of its stablemate, at £350, and as you expect you get more for your money. There’s a more powerful pump, delivering up to 500 litres per hour (up from the K4’s 420). The package also comprises more kit: it includes the conventional and turbo lances, plus a clever patio cleaner and a one-litre bottle of stone wash. This…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Essentials Alfa Romeo Giulia Price: £27,000 (est) Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo Power/torque: 197bhp/330Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6.6 seconds (est) Top speed: 146mph (est) Economy: 47.9mpg CO2: 138g/km ON SALE September FINALLY, Alfa has built a car that is not only beautiful to look at, but impressive from behind the wheel. The excellent diesel Giulia (tested in Issue 1,421) will be the big seller, but what about this 2.0-litre petrol? Putting economy aside for now, the petrol model makes a good case for itself as the one to go for. It’s quieter than the diesel at low revs and sends less vibration through the car when you push it harder. There’s a sporty tone to the exhaust as you step on the throttle, too, and the…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE AS well as tweaking the A3 premium hatch, Audi has given its hot S3 range a round of mid-life updates – including the Cabriolet you see here. Like lesser A3s, the S3 gets new in-car tech and a fresher look, but it also benefits from a 10bhp power boost, bringing the total output from the 2.0-litre turbo to a considerable 306bhp. That means 0-62mph takes just 5.1 seconds – three-tenths faster than before – thanks to Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system and 400Nm of torque. It’s also down to the slick seven-speed S tronic auto box, which now has an extra gear. The figures look good, but on the road the Audi just doesn’t feel as fast or exciting as rivals like the BMW M235i Convertible (soon to be…

Citroen C4 Cactus BlueHDi Price: £18,460 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bhp 0-60mph: 11.0 seconds Test economy: 55.7mpg/12.3mpl CO2: 95g/km Annual road tax: £0 Ford EcoSport 1.5 TDCi Price: £17,595 Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 94bhp 0-60mph: 11.9 seconds Test economy: 41.0mpg/9.0mpl CO2: 115g/km Annual road tax: £30 Peugeot 2008 BlueHDi Price: £18,865 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bhp 0-60mph: 10.9 seconds Test economy: 54.4mpg/12.0mpl CO2: 97g/km Annual road tax: £0 PEUGEOT embraced the small crossover boom when it launched the 2008 in 2013. At the time, it marked a new direction for the brand’s practical small cars, because it essentially replaced the 207 SW small estate. And it turned out to be a smart move, as the 2008 has proven very popular over the years. However, seeing as the 208 was given a facelift recently,…

MODEL TESTED: Citroen C4 Cactus BlueHDi 100 Flair PRICE: £18,460 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bhp Sean Carson Senior road tester Handling LOW stance means the Citroen feels more car-like to drive than its rivals, with less body roll in corners. Even so, the steering is vague and bumps aren’t ironed out as well as in the Peugeot Testers’ notes “All three cars tested here would benefit from a six-speed gearbox. They can get quite noisy at motorway speeds, and a sixth gear could help with refinement, while closer ratios would boost their performance, too.” Space CACTUS is longer than its rivals, but its 358-litre boot is only marginally bigger than the Ford’s and smaller than the Peugeot’s. Rear seats offer lots of leg and headroom James Disdale Road test editor Testers’…

James Disdale Road test editor Second opinion “In order to make the most use of our Navara on a day-to-day basis, we’re going to need to invest in a cover for the load bed. Nissan offers a wide range of systems, from a £450 fabric tonneau through to a £3,300 estate car-style hard-top. But the most versatile solution is the £1,800 lockable aluminium tonneau that hinges open on gas struts like a traditional tailgate. It allows you to store your luggage without worrying about it being pinched when you park up.” Graham_Hope@dennis.co.uk “The cabin is a world away from some of the functional pick-up interiors of the past” NISSAN has been very bullish about the merits of its new NP300 Navara pick-up. When I recently met up with Javier Piris,…

NEW PRODUCT TomTom Start sat-nav series Price: From £109.99 (Start 42) Contact: tomtom.com SAT-nav giant TomTom has launched a new entry point to its range, with its updated Start line-up. Each model has a new average speed feature, ensuring drivers aren’t caught out – the number of average speed limit zones on UK roads rose by 95 per cent from 167 in 2013 to 325 in 2016. The TomToms now track the driver’s average speed through these areas, rather than simply displaying current speed. The new range is available in three sizes, with the Start 42, 52 and 62 featuring 4.3-inch, five-inch and six-inch touchscreens respectively. All offer TomTom’s Lifetime Maps, so there won’t be a penny to pay for updates for as long as you own the product. Owners…

Interior THE i40 offers plenty of space front and rear and has upmarket materials in the cabin. Although the dash design is fussy, there’s a decent amount of storage and the 525-litre boot caters for most needs. The saloon’s rear seats don’t fold, but the estate offers 1,719 litres with the seats down. Contacts Official www.hyundai.co.uk Forums http://hyundaiclub.co.uk www.hyundaiownersclub.co.uk www.talkhyundai.com www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower OUR VIEW HAVING made its Driver Power debut in 2014 in 42nd place, the i40 dropped to 85th last year and didn’t make 2016’s Top 150. Highlights in 2015 were 23rd place for in-car tech, 48th for practicality and 59th for running costs. But 197th for ease of driving, 193rd for handling and 151st for reliability were disappointing. YOUR VIEW KEITH Drover from Leicester owns a Hyundai i40 1.7…

1 Citroen C4 Picasso EXCELLENT running costs and a practical interior make the Citroen a class leader. With low emissions, great economy and enough performance, the 1.6 e-HDi is the pick of the range. 2 Vauxhall Zafira THE 1.6-litre diesel is a good unit, plus the Zafira is comfortable and refined. But it doesn’t have three full middle-row seats, and isn’t as practical as the Citroen. It’s not as modern inside and out, either. Grand C4 Picasso e-HDi 115 Years: 2013 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 112bhp Ins group: 18 Official econ/CO2: 70.6mpg/105g/km Why? Smart looks, good performance and a practical cabin make the Grand C4 Picasso a strong choice. Prices from: £11,000 Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTi ecoFLEX Years: 2014 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 134bhp Ins group: 16 Official…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE “The new car is intended to showcase the link between Renaultsport’s F1 effort and its road cars” RENAULTSPORT is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2016, and to mark the occasion it’s revealed a concept designed to be the fastest road car it has ever built – and we’ve already had a ride in a prototype. The idea for the Clio R.S. 16 is simple: take the engine and gearbox from a Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R and fit it into a Clio’s body for the ultimate combination of low weight and high power. It’s named after the current Formula One car and shares its livery, too, celebrating the brand’s return to the sport. The project has been in development for just five months, with the deadline set for last…

CRASH-for-cash fraudsters, who engage in road accidents with the intent of gaining insurance payouts, are deliberately targeting company cars and filing bogus whiplash claims as they believe large, corporate insurers will pay out faster than private policies. Crooks are identifying company cars by looking for the names of leasing companies on the bottom of number plates and then crashing into them. Used car buyers could also be at risk from similar scams if they purchase a vehicle formerly owned by a leasing company and the number plates still bear the original logo, so new owners are being encouraged to invest in unbranded plates. Nearly-new ex-fleet and lease models are the most likely targets for scammers. “Criminals are picking on a type of fleet car because they’re easy to recognise,” Antony…

EXCESSIVE road and wind noise entering the cabin can be both irritating and distracting – it’s the sort of issue you’d expect to be ironed out on a new premium car. However, one reader in Swindon, Wiltshire got in touch with Auto Express after he’d bought a brand new Lexus RC 200t F Sport, and couldn’t believe how noisy it was. “Within the first fortnight I was complaining to Lexus Swindon,” he said. “It was like driving with the window slightly open at all times.” He believed the excessive road noise was down to poorly designed window seals – he showed us how he was able to squeeze a credit card half way through the gap. The car was initially looked at by his dealer, who tried to pack the…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “Start it up and the naturally aspirated V10 roars into life with a satisfying growl“ Essentials Audi R8 V10 Price: £119,500 Engine: 5.2-litre V10 petrol Power/torque: 533bhp/540Nm Transmission: Seven-spd dual-clutch auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.5 seconds Top speed: 199mph Economy: 24.8mpg CO2: 272g/km ON SALE Now THE first-generation Audi R8 arrived initially with only a V8 engine. It was later joined by a more potent V10, with the range topped off by a V10 Plus in 2012. The all-new version appears to be launching in reverse order. We first drove the Plus on UK roads late last year, but only now are we getting a taste of the less powerful standard V10 in the UK. In terms of styling, the entry car goes without the Plus model’s carbon-fibre…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 2008 BlueHDi 100 Allure PRICE: £18,865 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bh Testers’ notes “Economies of scale meant it was too costly for Peugeot to engineer a four-wheel-drive version of the 2008, but Allure and GT Line cars get the company’s Grip Control system and Mud & Snow tyres, which offer a good compromise. The electronics are adjusted to suit different conditions, from snow to sand. Yet bosses admit that most of the traction gains are down to the all-weather rubber.” James Disdale Road test editor On the road PEUGEOT suffers from a fair amount of body roll in corners, and while the steering is positive, there’s not a lot of feedback through the wheel. Still, the 2008 is reasonably comfortable Inside UNCLUTTERED dashboard has an upmarket feel; five-speed…

Results 1st CITROEN THE C4 Cactus manages to inject a shot of quirkiness into the crossover class. The looks won’t be to all tastes, but there are no arguments about its efficiency and interior space – which are narrowly better than the 2008’s – plus it’s fast enough and has plenty of family friendly features on board. Add in a long kit list and a great-value price, and the Citroen is even more appealing. 2nd PEUGEOT WHILE the 2008’s looks have been revised, not a lot else has changed. That’s no bad thing, as this is one of the better small crossovers on the market thanks to its classy cabin finish, spacious boot and decent kit list. The Grip Control system is a reasonable compromise in place of four-wheel drive,…

DYSON sets the performance bar high in the world of cordless vacuums. And it claims to have raised it a notch or two more with its new V8 Absolute, which promises more suction power and a longer battery life – at a hefty price. We wanted to see how it stacked up against our cordless vac champ (Issue 1,354), the Black & Decker Dustbuster Flexi. We tried both by clearing a line of sugar from a car mat, looking at how much was removed in one pass, then how many passes it took to clean it completely. Then we used each to clear seats, footwells and carpets, before comparing prices from a range of sources as we went to press. There’s no doubt the new V8 is a fine tool,…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 2016 Results Octavia Factfile Years: 2013 to present CO2: 99g/km Fuel economy: 74.3mpg (1.6 TDI (110) S) Best options: Sat-nav, Bluetooth, parking assist, adaptive cruise control, AEB, hill-hold assist Prices: From £9,650 OVERALL SCORE 92.52% Bars show where model finished out of 150 cars in our 2016 survey. The lower the rating the better GOOD “A CAR that ticks all the right boxes for me. Spacious, economical and fast.” “Very comfortable to drive, and full of kit and gadgets.” “The 1.4-litre engine is a gem; it’s silent and smooth, but punchy in Sport mode.” “Boot is huge and there’s so much space inside.” “DSG box is well matched to the engine, and I never have issues overtaking.” “Things like the automatic emergency braking add an…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co FORMULA E will hold its season-ending double-header in London’s Battersea Park next month – but the venue won’t appear on the schedule again after a deal was struck between the championship organisers and local residents opposed to the closure of the park for the event. A judicial review initially sought to block this year’s event, but both sides have come to an agreement that will allow the 2-3 July races to go ahead, provided the all-electric series does not use the venue again. A statement from Wandsworth Council released last week said: “Formula E has notified us that they’ll be holding their final races in Battersea Park this summer and that from 2017 onwards they’ll be seeking alternative locations. Our understanding is that this now includes the possibility of…