Innholdsfortegnelse for 1403 i Auto Express

A NEW year always brings a sense of optimism and, of course, curiosity over how the next 12 months will pan out. That’s especially true in the car world; who could have known, for example, what 2015 had in store for the beleaguered VW Group? There’s a lot to be excited about in 2016, but it’s another of the big European car-building empires that I’ll be watching with particular interest, as it’s no exaggeration to say that it really is time for the Italian brands in the Fiat Chrysler axis to deliver. Boss Sergio Marchionne has set bold targets for Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and 2016 is the year when some of the plans will come to fruition. At the top end of the company, Maserati will unveil the…

“Even over rough terrain it felt smooth and composed, absorbing large bumps” THIS year will be an important one for Ford, with the brand planning a wider range of upmarket Vignale models (opposite) as well as finally launching the Edge SUV in the UK. As the largest SUV in Ford’s line-up, it’s placed as a rival to the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, but without the premium price tag. It’s part of a plan to expand the brand’s SUV range; Ford says it expects to sell 200 per cent more models in this part of the lineup by the end of 2016 than it did two years ago. Sales of all-wheel-drive cars are rising as well, and Ford now offers half of its cars and commercial vehicles with a 4x4…

“I’m not sure the UK Government is even convinced it will meet the targets set” EVERY car sold in the UK by 2050 will have zero tailpipe emissions – it’s a big statement to make, and is the headline from the United Nations climate summit in Paris last month. It’s part of an agreement signed by 13 international members of the Zero Emissions Vehicle Alliance, and is a real boost for the environment and those planning on buying an electric – or, in the future, hydrogen – vehicle. It pledges continued incentives and subsidies for greener cars, and more tax breaks and grants for companies and manufacturers which invest and develop zero-emissions technology. Infrastructure will be supported and developed as part of the scheme, too. All great news, but there…

ALL courts will differ in how strict they can be, and a question often asked is how can you persuade the court to be more lenient with its sentence. Take speeding offences – the court will impose a fine with either penalty points or a disqualification from driving. The number of points or time disqualified will largely depend on the amount by which you have exceeded the speed limit. However, when you get the chance to explain your case to the magistrates, it’s an opportunity to ask them for leniency. The following recommendations will help you to minimise any penalty sentence. Firstly, plead guilty early – you are entitled to a reduction of a third from your fine if you plead guilty at your first hearing, and the court is…

“You could buy the best seat in the world, but if it’s not fitted properly, it’s a waste of money”MARK BENNETT Senior technical and training manager, Britax “Seven out of 10 get the belted solution wrong and Isofix is about trying to eliminate user error”MARK BENNETT Senior technical and training manager, Britax WITH some of the safest roads in Europe and car manufacturers determined to achieve five-star Euro NCAP ratings, you might consider UK drivers to be among the most safety-conscious around. But there’s one area where we’re falling behind our continental cousins and possibly putting the most valuable people to us – our kids – in danger: the child seat. The regulations are currently undergoing some of the biggest changes in years to make them simpler for buyers to…

“S-MAX has well judged suspension that provides a good balance between comfort and handling” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.1 seconds/122mph Running costs 46.3mpg (official) £76 fill-up WITH the British winter already making its presence known, many car buyers will be contemplating investing in something with four-wheel drive. Something like this new Ford S-MAX AWD. Around 12 per cent of cars sold in the UK have four-wheel drive, and Ford wants to cash in on that by offering family models like the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX with its intelligent all-wheel-drive system. On the S-MAX, you can specify AWD on the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel Titanium paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the more powerful and pricier 178bhp six-speed automatic Titanium Sport. The 4x4 version weighs around 60kg more than the standard S-MAX,…

Design WITH its chrome-finished diamond pattern grille, sporty bodykit and red detailing, the A 250 AMG looks flashy compared to the Golf GTI. However, it can be easily confused with lower-spec versions of the A-Class, whereas the GTI has a unique look that means it stands out from the rest of the Golf range. Sport upgrades MERCEDES offers adaptive dampers for £595, plus a DCT auto box for £1,415, and you can add 4WD to that for £1,535. The VW has adaptive dampers for £830, and the £995 Performance Pack adds 10bhp, bigger brakes and a limited-slip differential. Heritage THE GTI badge appeared in 1976 and has been used on every generation of Golf ever since. AMG was founded in 1967 and became part of Mercedes in 1999, while the…

MERCEDES is offering its entire A-Class range with 6.4 per cent APR personal finance, and it’s sweetening the deal by throwing in three years’ free servicing to help cut your costs. You can pick up the A 250 AMG manual tested here with a deposit of £4,847, then there are 36 monthly instalments of £349 and an optional final payment of £15,275. Alternatively, you can swap into a new car on new terms at the end of the plan. If you’re buying a Golf GTI, then VW has a special offer of 4.9 per cent APR finance on that model alone. You only have to stump up a £2,750 deposit, and there’s also a £1,250 deposit contribution. Then there are 36 monthly payments of £389, and a £12,482 final lump…

NEW PRODUCT Dodo Juice Air Freshener Price: £3.95 (100ml) Rating: Contact: 01279 812 687, www.dodojuice.com THIS 100ml bottle comes in 11 varieties, and we tested Born to be Wild and Orange Crush. The latter is one of Dodo Juice’s signature scents, having featured at its first ever motor show in 2008 . However, it was Born to be Wild that our noses preferred. The smell wasn’t initially overpowering and lingered for a few days before disappearing completely. It did its job, neutralising cigarette odours in our car. And while the bottle’s bigger than the Jelly Belly, it proved easy to store in a door pocket, and didn’t leak. It’s better value than its rival, too, with a serving almost twice as big costing the same and lasting longer. So Dodo…

Amazing Barn Finds Mark Brutt (Motorbooks, www.motorbooks.co.uk) Price: £23 (hardback) Rating: MANY petrolheads dream of finding a perfect car ripe for restoration, and author Brutt has travelled the length and breadth of America uncovering some of the rarest. Sadly, it’s a bit dull, and we’d have liked to see some post-restoration pictures. The accompanying text is interesting, but only for lovers of old American motors. Otherwise, it’s a collection of sad, broken and dusty cars. The Stealers Charles Hall (Matador, www.troubador.co.uk) Price: £9.99 (paperback) Rating: THIS thriller attempts to hit the lofty heights of a Jack Reacher novel. The protagonist in the story, also called Jack, is on the hunt to retrieve his beloved Ford Mustang from organised crime thieves. The Stealers has a far-fetched plot, where affinity with the…

Q New car delivery dilemma I ORDERED a new car through a franchised dealer, and staff said they’d arrange delivery. After several days, no one called me about it and they don’t know when it’ll be delivered. Can I get a full refund if I cancel my order? Michael Norton, E-mail A IT’S unlikely you would get your money back. By signing a contract, you have committed to buying the car. Unless it’s faulty or not as advertised, you will struggle to cancel the sale. You’re also likely to lose your deposit. Q How do I reject used buy? THE engine in the BMW 318i I bought used recently developed major judders and issues 24 hours after I collected it. I want to reject the car, but don’t know how…

“Mk8 Golf will be more practical, more powerful and, most importantly, more fuel efficient” LAST summer’s diesel emissions scandal rocked the motor industry and shook the VW Group. Damage to the brand’s reputation and loss of customer confidence have been hard to quantify in recent months, but the consequences are set to be huge – and they’re likely to impact on the next-generation Golf, revealed in our exclusive images. Volkswagen has hatched a masterplan to save 1billion Euros per year, while making a clear commitment to electromobility and a new generation of ‘clean’ diesel engines. Various all-electric VW projects are in the pipeline, with a new Phaeton and Bulli Microbus spearheading the brand’s emission-free future. On top of that, the German giant will now take a closer look at other…

FORD is planning a wider range of premium models, following last year’s launch of the Mondeo Vignale. We’ll see the full line-up at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with Ford confirming it will reveal an S-MAX Vignale on the stand, along with two other models. A Ford insider told us that the brand is focusing on its larger models for the Vignale range, which means we could see the Kuga and Edge get the makeover as well. The Vignale models sit at the top of the range and feature plush leather seats, active noise cancelling technology and soft-touch interior materials, as well as exterior tweaks like polished alloy wheels. We expect the S-MAX and Kuga Vignale models to get similar upgrades. The S-MAX Vignale will go on sale later…

Array of new kit for updated Verso THE Toyota Verso (above) has been revised with new safety kit, fresh alloy wheels and an upgraded interior. Toyota’s Safety Sense will be present on all new Versos, adding lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights and a pre-collision system. Other updates include a new leather steering wheel and gearstick, a seven-inch screen and a new paint finish. Renaultsport gets its own dealers RENAULT has launched a specialist dealer network for its Renaultsport performance cars. All versions of the Renaultsport Clio and Mégane will be marketed by 26 dealers around the UK, although the cars will still be available to order through any Renault dealer. The aim is to provide a tailored experience for hot hatch buyers, with dedicated sales staff, special areas in…

THE UK plug-in car grant has been extended until the end of March 2018. From 1 March 2016 it’ll be tiered, too, compared to the current £5,000 flat rate. Vehicles with a zero-emissions range of over 70 miles – including full EVs such as Renault’s ZOE (below) and hydrogen fuel-cell cars – sit in Category 1 and get a £4,500 grant. Those with a zero-emissions range of less than 70 miles – such as plug-in hybrids – are now in Categories 2 and 3, and buyers will receive £2,500.…

New Audi R8 vs Porsche 911 Turbo THEY’RE from the same VW Group stable, but these cars take very different approaches to their rather significant performance. The Audi R8 features a naturally aspirated mid-mounted V10, while the new Porsche has a twin-turbo rear-mounted flat six. Watch our video to find out which approach creates the best supercar. 493bhp Peugeot 308 R HYbrid drive WHEN you reel off the stats, you’d think the 308 R HYbrid was a one-off concept. But it could be heading to dealers with its petrol/electric powertrain sending 493bhp to all four wheels and giving a 0-62mph time of four seconds. This video shows why it’s got us so excited. @mat_watson You can watch any of our videos on your phone. Simply scan this QR code.…

SHOPPING around for a car that’s miles from home can help you bag the best deals. But in the case of one Hyundai i30 owner, that discount came at a price. Reader Martin Giles told Auto Express he’d been tempted by a rock-bottom deal at a forecourt over 150 miles away from his home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. He said: “The car was more than £6,000 below list price, with just 12 miles on the clock. So I paid the deposit over the phone and arranged to come and collect it.” However, when his daughter dropped him off at ALM Garages in Macclesfield, Cheshire, to collect the car, Martin said the touchscreen wasn’t working properly. “The screen froze while we were test driving it, but I decided to sign…

HOT TOPIC Volvo S90 revealed FROM: Stephan ONE area where Volvo trumps its German rivals is in safety. If you want a safe ride for you and your family, the Volvo is the best choice in my opinion. In other respects, like driver appeal and interior quality, I also think Volvo is on the same level as BMW. FROM: Nauta Brodic THE overall design is rather unremarkable. The rear lights are plain ugly. It’s a pity, as the present 60 and 40 series are both masterpieces in automotive design both inside and out. I think Volvo should consider asking ex-design chief Steve Mattin to come back. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “It looks nice and all that, but I have my doubts on whether the S90 really…

CHILDREN must normally use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135cm tall. Only EU-approved car seats must be used – they’ll be labelled with a capital E in a circle. Child seats are based on either height or weight requirements. If you’re using a weight-based seat, they must be rear-facing until the baby weighs more than 9kg. After that, you can select from various options – under R44 regulations – with overlaps between weights. Height-based systems come under the new iSize regulations, and there are no overlaps. Under these laws, children must be rear-facing until they’re over 15 months old, when they can be placed in a forward-facing seat. iSize will run alongside R44 regulations for a few years and will be rolled out in phases…

LAND Rover hasn’t plucked out any old badge for this Discovery. The preceding two generations have both had special editions wearing the Landmark tag, and for winter 2015/2016 the name returns. In fact, the Landmark isn’t the only special-edition Discovery arriving – there’s a Graphite coming, too. But it’s the former we’ve driven here for the first time. You’ll have to be really into the Discovery to notice specific differences. It’s based on the already top-spec HSE Luxury, but Land Rover has thrown in some snazzier 20-inch split-spoke alloy wheels, with black-painted bumper vents, mirror caps and grille. There are full-length, silver roof rails and the usual haul of Landmark badges on the bodywork. As a further bonus, the Landmark exclusively debuts a new copper-coloured paint called Zanzibar. The model’s…

1st VOLKSWAGEN IN the seventh-generation Golf GTI, Volkswagen built a gem of a hot hatch. It hits the class formula on the head by combining accessible performance and sharp handling with a practical body and refined road manners. Add in lower everyday running costs, good-value servicing, low tax bills and strong residuals, and it’s a clear winner here. 2nd MERCEDES WHILE the A 250 AMG has the performance to match the Golf GTI in a straight line, it can’t hold a candle to it in corners. The chassis is leaden and unresponsive compared to the VW’s, and it resorts to understeer all too readily. It’s not as comfortable when you’re taking it easy, either. The A-Class looks good, but a higher list price and steeper running costs count against it.…

WE all know winter takes its toll on our cars’ exteriors, yet interiors don’t get away scot free, either, as the smell of damp can become all too familiar. Naturalist car care brand Dodo Juice has released a new air freshener range, after receiving rave reviews of the scents of its car care products. It’s taken seven years to separate the fragrances from the waxes, polishes and cleaners, and we tested them against our Issue 1,326 Best Buy: Jelly Belly Car Freshener. Both brands offer a wide range of fragrances, and we rated two from each over the course of a fortnight, assessing how attractive we thought the smell was, and how long it lasted. Although Jelly Belly has a bit of a nostalgic feel, Dodo Juice Air Freshener has…

Dear Lawrence, I’m after a small car that’s cheap to run, but it also has to be comfortable. What should I be checking out for around £6,000? Kate Elderton, Cambridge Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CAR THE GREAT-VALUE CHOICE Citroen C3 FOR: Cheap to buy, soft ride, equipment AGAINST: Not great to drive, flimsy cabin WHILE the DS 3 represents Citroen’s desirable small car, the C3 is a more sensible option. It still looks smart enough, and has more character than rivals here. The interior offers plenty of space and is solid, but it’s not quite as upmarket or easy to get on with as the VW Polo or Skoda Fabia’s. The engines are efficient and the ride is soft, yet it’s not particularly fun to drive. We found a 62-plate 1.4…

BRITISH motorsport fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to live racing in 2016. As well as the traditional Grand Prix, Silverstone plays host to the motorcycle and sportscar world championships, while Formula E will return to the unique setting of London’s Battersea Park. Elsewhere, there’s World Rallycross and World Rally Championship action, and top-quality racing from the UK’s national GT and touring car series throughout the summer. 17 April World Endurance Championship Silverstone, Towcester, Northants NN12 8TN Tickets: www.silverstone.co.uk 29 May World Rallycross Championship Lydden Hill, Wootton, Canterbury, Kent CT4 6ET Tickets: www.lyddenhill.co.uk 30 May (Bank Holiday) British GT Championship Oulton Park, Little Budworth, Cheshire CW6 9BW Tickets: www.oultonpark.co.uk 25/26 June Goodwood Festival Of Speed Goodwood Estate, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0PH Tickets: www.goodwood.com…

“Highest premiums were for drivers in London, yet those in Edinburgh are offered some of cheapest” DRIVERS paying the least for car insurance in Britain can be found in Dumfries, Scotland, where the average policy sets owners back just £265, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. Figures supplied by Moneysupermarket broke down average annual premiums in the third quarter of 2015 for all British area codes. Three of the five cheapest premiums were found north of the border, with drivers in Perth and Kirkcaldy paying £267 and £283 respectively on average. Surprisingly, Dorchester and Exeter were the only two areas in England with average premiums below £300 – with the rest of the nine sub-£300 premiums found in Scotland and Wales. Predictably, the highest premiums were quoted for drivers living in…

“Next version of Lotus sports car will focus on making the Elise more usable day-to-day” BY the end of the decade, Lotus’s model range will look very different to the one you see today. A brand new SUV has already been promised by 2020 – but just as crucial to the company’s reinvention is an all-new Elise, which is scheduled to arrive in 2019. The lightweight sports car will feature a new aluminium-bonded chassis, and focus on making the model more usable day-to-day. Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales told Auto Express: “We’ve not yet completely defined the car, but one thing is almost certain – I want to stick with an aluminium-bonded chassis. Look at the variations you can do; Elise, Exige and roadster versions. It is our intention to go…

THE number of full-time traffic police operating in England and Wales has been cut by almost a third since 2010, an Auto Express investigation can reveal. Officer numbers fell from 5,327 to 3,742 between 2010 and 2015, with 36 of the 42 forces in England and Wales recording fewer staff, despite an increase in the number of road laws they’re required to police. New lane hogging and tailgating offences have been introduced, along with roadside drug-driving tests, and changes to speed limits for HGVs. As recently as October, the in-car smoking ban was introduced, but forces admitted they won’t issue fines for at least the first three months (Issue 1,391). The West Midlands force has seen the most dramatic fall in full-time police, down from 351 to 115, while the…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0906 010 1300 (p) RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m) Which?: 01992 822 800 Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 085 3007 RAC: 0800 085 2529 Technical advice AA: 0870 606 1619 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0800 975 5867 Traffic information AA: 09003 401100 (p) RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510…

“The investment has shown Honda’s commitment to Swindon and that’s great news for all the workers. We are all focused on making this a successful plant with a long-term future, producing cars for all around the world”JASON SMITH Plant director “We can sell every HR-V model we’ve got and the Civic Type R is sold out until next February”PHIL CROSSMAN Managing director, Honda UK “When I came, I was shy and lacked confidence, but now I am presenting in front of workers from all over the world in my job”DEBBIE GREENING EU co-ordinator NO car plant sums up the precarious nature of the car industry better than Honda’s Swindon factory. The Wiltshire site has experienced a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows: production once topped 250,000 in a year, it…

“The new 570S can accelerate faster than the legendary McLaren F1 from a standing start. Now that’s progress” “It’s fast, precise, perfectly weighted and full of feeling” Performance 0-60mph/top speed 3.1 seconds/204mph Running costs 26.6mpg (official) £72 fill-up McLAREN might not have had a great time on the track lately, with its 2015 F1 season not quite going to plan, but the road car division – McLaren Automotive – is going from strength to strength. The latest addition to the range is the 570S, and we’ve taken it for a first drive on its home turf in the UK. So where does it fit in the current McLaren range? The 570S sits one step up from the entry 540C in the Sports Series line-up, and below the brand’s Super Series…

WITH DS now split from Citroen, the unloved DS 4 has been refreshed, and a new, more rugged Crossback model added to the range. We’ve now driven this meatier version in the UK for the first time. The unusual blend of hatchback, coupé and SUV styling cues sets it apart from the regular DS 4. The ride height is raised by 30mm, while roof rails have been added and the front and rear bumpers tweaked. It’s smarter than the awkward-looking original, but it carries a £1,000 premium over the standard hatchback. Inside, there are no changes from the regular model, but it only comes in flagship Prestige spec, so the brand’s desire to create a premium product is emphasised by the raft of kit on offer. This includes a panoramic…

NEW: MINI Cooper S Challenge PRICE: £29,990 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 208bhp IF you don’t need five doors, then the special-edition Challenge version of the Cooper S will turn just as many heads as the A 250 AMG, plus it’s an exciting car to drive. The sharp chassis will put a smile on your face, while 48.7mpg economy is an added bonus. USED: Mercedes-AMG A 45 PRICE: £28,756 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 381bhp YOU can get a two-year-old A 45 AMG for a similar price to the new A 250. It has four-wheel drive, a DCT twin-clutch gearbox and a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds. Just beware that running costs will be a lot higher as a result.…

Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 784/1,761 litres Running costs 32.4mpg (on test) £91 fill-up OUR Range Rover Sport finished its year with us in pretty much the same way as it began – by making a splash. We collected our 3.0-litre SDV6 from the Land Rover Experience Centre in Solihull, based at the West Midlands factory that builds the Range Rover Sport alongside the Jaguar XE. Wading through thigh-high dirty water didn’t seem the kindest thing for a brand new car, but that’s what any Range Rover is born to do. That ability has come in handy for a short-cut on my journey home from work, which takes me through a local ford. And it’s the Range Rover Sport’s broad range of talents that has so impressed in a year of…

Q Battery booster required THE battery on my diesel Honda CR-V is nearly dead. I like the idea of carrying a jump pack in case I get stranded. What can you recommend? Luis Santos, E-mail A FIRST of all, we’d recommend replacing the battery. But if you’re considering a jump start pack (tested in Issue 1,386) you’ll need more power for a diesel than a petrol car, especially in the cold. The £32.99 Bakth Car Power Mini (amazon.co.uk, above) delivers 8,800mAh, while the £120 Launch Tech Mini Power (launchtech.co.uk) has 12,000mAh. It may be worth paying more for the additional grunt. Q Is washing-up liquid okay? WHEN cleaning my car, I use washing-up liquid and it seems to do just as good a job as some of the washes you…

Change of direction for Garmin range GARMIN is scrapping its Essential (above) and Advanced sat-nav ranges to introduce Drive and Drive Assist models. The nüvi name is being dropped from the line-up, too. The move is in response to arch rival TomTom offering customers a much simpler product range. As with current models, the Garmin sat-nav line-up will include lifetime map updates, live traffic avoidance. There’s also a new Direct Access service, which promises to help motorists locate specific venues within complexes, like shopping centres and outlet villages. Michelin seals the deal with repair kit TYRE maker Michelin has launched a new sealant to allow you to continue your journey in the event of a puncture. The 500ml Michelin Tyre Sealant is safe for use on all tyres up to…

Price: £3.99 (59ml) Rating: Contact: 0345 504 5353, www.halfords.com THERE’S no doubting the realistic scents of Very Cherry and Tangerine, which had our mouths watering for the familiar tastes of their jelly bean sweets. Initially, the scent wasn’t too obvious, but as it developed over a few minutes, it became stronger and overpowering. For durability, our test car was sprayed and left for three days. In this time, the smell died away and nothing remained when we returned – unlike the Dodo Juice, which still had a faint aroma. Plus, it only really covered up the cigarette smell, rather than neutralising it. It’s our previous test winner, but with the new product on the market, it’s more pricey for less performance and volume.…

“Don’t kid yourself that motorists will, in 2016, finally get the respect they deserve and have paid for” I’VE convinced myself 2015 ended on an optimistic note, that we must therefore be grateful for small mercies, then hope some of December’s positives carry over to 2016. Fuel at £1 a litre, free Institute of Advanced Motorists driving sessions and zero per cent loans can surely be extended, can’t they? The likes of TomTom and Jaguar announced significant tech breakthroughs. Kia, Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Peugeot showed their caring side with generous support for charities. And the normally lackadaisical DfT actually opened a new road (from Hastings-Bexhill in East Sussex) before “removing” 400 miles of UK roadworks. Allegedly. Don’t kid yourself motorists will, in 2016, finally get the respect they deserve…