Innholdsfortegnelse for June 10, 2015 i Auto Express

THE British car business is in fine form. We’re seeing brilliant new British-built cars, like the new Honda Civic Type R, grace our cover almost every other week, car sales are up for the 39th consecutive month, factories and suppliers are busier than they have been in generations and Brits continue to sit at the top table of car companies around the world. No wonder so many of the execs on the Auto Express Brit List say the car industry in the UK is a great place to build a career – see Page 26. So why doesn’t the UK have a motor show when Switzerland, a country not exactly known for its thriving car industry, has one of the biggest shows of the year? That’s puzzled me – and…

Mk1 Astra was the first front-wheel-drive Vauxhall when it appeared in 1980. Initially built in Germany, but production moved to UK in 1981. Mk2 The second-generation Astra arrived four years later, spawning saloon and cabriolet versions. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1985. Mk3 The rounder, more stylish Mk3 Astra came in 1991, but it was actually a very heavily revised Mk2, rather than an all-new model. Mk4 Released in 1998, the fourth-generation car was much better to drive, safer and more comfortable than ever before. Mk5 Fifth generation initially only came as a five-door; it took nearly a year for the Sport Hatch and Estate to join the range in late 2004. Mk6 The boldest Astra yet arrived in 2009, with an Insignia-inspired design. Nearly 60,000…

RENAULT is considering developing a high-performance Renaultsport version of its Kadjar, Auto Express can reveal. Vincent Geslin, Kadjar project manager for Europe, told us that the hot model would raise Renault’s image in key markets. “This is something that we are looking into for the future, as it would really help grow our brand not only in Europe, but particularly in China,” he said. While rivals have prospered, Renault has so far struggled to exploit the Chinese market. It has sold just 34,000 cars there; in contrast, Peugeot has shifted 734,000 units. The reason Renault has found it tough to make a breakthrough in Asia is that its range of economy hatchbacks doesn’t really appeal to status-conscious Chinese buyers, who find SUVs so appealing. The new Kadjar (driven on Page…

BMW has released the first official image of the all-new 7 Series. Unfortunately, it only shows a tail-light and the badge for the long-wheelbase 750 Li. The new model is set to be revealed to the world on 10 June, although we drove a camouflaged prototype in April. It was then that we learned BMW is planning to knock the Mercedes S-Class off its luxury car perch with autonomous driving features, extensive use of carbon fibre and a 130kg weight reduction, while adding yet more quality inside.…

WELSH drivers are the best at parking in the UK, a new survey has claimed. In the YouGov poll of just under 10,000 motorists, commissioned by Nissan, only one per cent of those quizzed in the principality admitted to having had an accident while trying to park their car. The study revealed that 16 per cent of all prangs occur during parking manoeuvres. And although motorists in France, Germany, Italy and Spain are more prone to having a prang when reversing, UK drivers are most likely to have an accident when pulling forward into a space, according to the research.…

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 RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers…

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REACH THE VERY TOP? Why do so many Brits occupy major posts in the global car business, influencing the cars the world buys and how they’re bought? We investigate “BRITS certainly over-index in the car business,” says Stephen Odell, Ford’s executive vice-president of global marketing, sales and service, and the number one Brit in last year’s Auto Express Brit List. Now in its fourth year, and with 2015’s results about to be revealed, our Brit List has become one of the most important countdowns of the motoring year, highlighting the huge amount of talent Britain contributes to the global car business. And, as Odell points out, we punch above our weight when it comes to senior execs working in the many specialities in the car…

Essentials Ferrari 488 GTB Price: £183,974Engine: 3.9-litre V8 twin-turboPower/torque: 660bhp/760NmTransmission: Seven-speed auto,rear wheel drive0-62mph: 3.0 secondsTop speed: 205mphEconomy: 24.8mpgCO2: 260g/km ON SALE September WE know the new 660bhp Ferrari 488 GTB will be fast with a capital ‘F’. But what we don’t know is what it will sound like. And that’s because, for the first time ever on a series production mid-engined Ferrari V8, the engine is turbocharged. And turbocharging usually has a dramatically silencing effect on engines – especially those with prancing horses on their cam covers. Such a radical change wouldn’t matter to most makers, but noise is the heart and soul of every Ferrari. That’s why the Italian firm has probably spent more time trying to get the soundtrack right than on almost any other element of…

Essentials Bentley Continental GT Speed Price: £185,200Engine: 6.0-litre W12 twin-turboPower/torque: 626bhp/820NmTransmission: Eight-speed auto,four-wheel drive0-62mph: 4.1 secondsTop speed: 203mphEconomy: 18.9mpgCO2: 347g/km ON SALE Now AS Bentley’s best-selling car, the Continental GT has undergone another round of evolutionary upgrades for the 2016 model year, with tweaks to the styling of both the interior and exterior of all versions. Inside, there’s some new quilting detail for the seats, a slightly redesigned clock and the introduction of various new trim levels. Outside, the rear lights get subtle new chrome surrounds, the distinctive mesh radiator grille at the front has been redesigned to look more sporting, as has the front bumper, and at the rear there’s a new diffuser for this Speed model, plus a small new boot spoiler. For the V8 twin-turbos, the engine…

IT remains one of the most unexpected victories in front-line motorsport. The race was the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours, and the car that won was the mighty McLaren F1 GTR, much like the red and yellow car you see here. The reason the McLaren’s victory came as such a huge surprise to everyone was that it won on its debut at the race. No car in the modern era of racing had ever done that before. Scroll forwards 20 years and, although McLaren has no plans to return to Le Mans any time soon, it has finally produced a successor to the F1 GTR in the form of the P1 GTR. To celebrate, we drove both cars back to back on one unforgettable morning at Silverstone. The P1 GTR…

Essentials Citroen C4 Cactus 1.2 PureTech 110 Flair On fleet since: March 2015Price new: £17,290Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 109bhpCO2/tax: 107g/km/£20 Options: Blue Lagoon paint (£250), thermally insulated panoramic sunroof (£425), space-saver spare (£75), City Park Pack (£325), eTouch emergency and assistance system (£250), Gloss Black rear insert with Grey Cactus lettering (£0) Insurance*: Group: 16, Quote: £345Mileage/mpg: 806/47.2mpgAny problems? None so far *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. Second opinion “The daringly designed and brilliantly packaged Cactus proves that the brand still has the ability to think differently. It doesn’t drive like other family cars, either, focusing on comfort and relaxation rather than razor-sharp handling.” IT might have only been on sale for a few months, but the roads seem full…

Q How do I find battery fault? I THINK my car’s battery has an intermittent fault, as it doesn’t always give enough power to start the engine. I’m not sure where the problem lies. What can I do to save costs? Gordon Cable, E-mail A TRY Ring’s SmartCharge RSC612 (above). It’s a battery charger that can pinpoint power faults, such as a battery defect or alternator problem. If the battery is okay, it will carefully charge it back to full capacity. As we went to press, we spotted it on sale at £86.41. Log on to www.ringautomotive.co.uk for more details. Q Best dent removers THERE’S a dent in my wheelarch and, as my car is only two years old, I want to keep it looking good, so I’m planning to get…

DRIVERS are spoiled for choice when it comes to sat-nav systems, with apps, standalone products and built-in set-ups all available. However, there’s no doubt smartphone versions are both convenient and useful. App-based software eliminates the need to carry and store extra tech. HERE launched recently – and it’s so new that it missed out on our Issue 1,363 nav test. So we’ve compared it to two of its rivals: Waze and Navmii. All three are free to download, and each has its own strengths: HERE and Navmii for downloadable maps, and Waze for its swelling community of users who contribute to traffic alerts. HERE made a big impression and ranked among the top free apps available to drivers in its first test. We can’t believe there’s no cost, as it…

I’VE just chuckled my way through a ‘serious’ newspaper article that suggests cars might go the same way as the VHS cassette, the 35mm roll of film and other old tech which is now defunct. The ‘news story’ was based largely on the views of an analyst at a bank with a controversial past in the UK high street. Apparently, his analysis says if driverless cars are a hit, America could see a 40 per cent drop in car sales. Eh? Ford would shut half its US plants. Really? There would be tens of thousands of job losses in the British motor industry. How come? Truth is, over coming decades, demand for cars will grow. It’s inevitable that hundreds of millions – maybe more – of additional employees and entrepreneurs…

Essentials Honda Civic Type R GT Price: £32,295Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrolPower/torque: 306bhp/400NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 5.7 secondsTop speed: 167mphEconomy: 38.7mpgCO2: 170g/km ON SALE Now WE’VE had to wait an agonising five years for a new Honda Civic Type R, but finally we’ve driven the all-new version of the much-loved hot hatch – and although the brand might be a bit late to the party, it’s definitely been worth the wait. First of all, there are some significant changes under the new, bulging skin compared to the old hot Civic, including a new 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in place of the previous naturally aspirated, high-revving unit. Hardcore Honda purists might not be so pleased, as the old model’s character was defined by this, yet the new Type R is a worthy…

THE rebirth of Alfa Romeo will begin later this year with the unveiling of the eagerly awaited BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia saloon. But the brand isn’t content with just one new model; it’s also set its sights on the booming SUV market. Alfa’s first-ever SUV – previewed in our exclusive main image – will arrive in 2017 to give the current line-up of MiTo, Giulietta and 4C a much-needed boost. The new car will take an upmarket approach as it aims squarely at the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Range Rover Evoque. And although it doesn’t look like much, the ungainly Fiat 500L mule in our spy shots (opposite) is our first glimpse of the SUV undergoing testing. To the untrained eye, it looks like any other…

AUDI’S A4 has been spotted undisguised out on test, months away from its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Ironically, though, it’s the styling that looks to be the least remarkable element of this all-new model. Judging by the traditional saloon silhouette, and uncluttered surfacing, Audi is playing it safe with the design of its Jaguar XE rival. But under the skin, it ushers in a revolution thanks to its MLB platform – an adapted version of the new Q7’s underpinnings. With more extensive use of aluminium in its structure, a 100kg weight saving is expected, along with an array of new fuel-sipping four and six-cylinder engines. A plug-in A4 e-tron will be offered for the first time, too, with a 30-mile electric-only range and economy of…

‘Production-ready’ Skoda SUV on test SKODA’S large SUV’s 2016 launch is edging closer, and our spy shot (above) shows the latest test mule, wearing a stretched Yeti body, on the road. This is the first time it’s been spotted with camouflage – hiding a front end featuring Skoda’s family face. Sources at the brand told us the seven-seater will take on the Hyundai Santa Fe, with a spacious layout, practical touches and a range of efficient four-cylinder engines, but will also feature class-leading off-road ability. End of the road in UK for VW Phaeton VOLKSWAGEN has announced its Phaeton luxury car has been axed in the UK. A spokesperson confirmed it will be withdrawn “in its current form” due to impending Euro 6 emissions legislations, but an all-new model, set…

The way we buy cars in the UK is evolving, but the power of the dealership remains AS cars continue to develop at a furious pace, it’s only natural that dealers and the way we buy cars evolve, too. Forecourts are becoming a thing of the past, with glitzy showrooms in shopping centres the latest craze. The ever-innovative Tesla brand led the way, and Hyundai soon followed suit with its Rockar outlet at Kent’s Bluewater Shopping Centre. It opened to customers back in December 2014, and after its first six months has revealed some of the trends that go against the conventional car buying stereotypes. Interestingly, 21-year-olds have made up 18 per cent of Rockar sales, while 84 per cent of all buyers have bought a car on a Personal…

WHY bother paying for a car on a credit card when you’ll incur a handling fee? Well, if you buy goods between £100 and £30,000 and there’s a breach of contract or the goods were misrepresented – and the trader refuses to help – under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you can claim against the credit card provider. Plus, if the card provider refuses the claim, rather than going to court, you can refer it to the free Financial Ombudsman service. It’s useful protection against a trader that shuts down or goes into liquidation, too. A claim against a credit card provider can only be made if you’ve got a valid legal case against the vehicle seller – for example, if you’re sold a car with a…

Essentials Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI BlueMotion Price: £20,395Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrolPower/torque: 113bhp/200NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 9.7 secondsTop speed: 127mphEconomy: 65.7mpgCO2: 99g/km ON SALE Now THE Volkswagen Golf is one of the UK’s most popular cars, and has been ever since its launch back in the seventies. Last year, VW shifted 73,880 of them here – making it 2014’s fourth best-selling car. Since the seventh-generation model first hit showrooms in 2012, VW has been drip-feeding new versions. In recent months we’ve seen estate versions of the GTD and Golf R, as well as a four-wheel-drive Alltrack with raised suspension and a GTE plug-in hybrid capable of 166mpg. Not content to stop there, VW is now launching this TSI BlueMotion – its first Golf BlueMotion model with a petrol engine. It’s…

Boot space THE Passat has the biggest boot here, but the Mondeo offers the largest floor area, at 113cm 2  . There’s less space under the load cover, though. The Ford has a flush load lip, yet the small lips on its rivals will stop items from falling out, and aren’t hard to lift items over. The 6’s load cover is attached to the tailgate, so it never gets in the way. Towing ALL three models will make decent tow cars, with maximum towing weights ranging from 2,000kg for the Volkswagen to 1,600kg for the Mazda. VW and Ford offer retractable tow bars for £875 (below) and £750 respectively, while Mazda has a fixed tow bar kit for £358. Efficiency A 119g/km CO2 emissions figure puts the Passat in…

FIRST TEST SeaSucker Talon bicycle carrier Best price: £237.49 Rating:  Contact: www.seasucker.com WHEN picking a bike rack, the shape of your car normally dictates whether you go for one that mounts on the rear, roof or tow ball. But the versatile new range of SeaSucker carriers brings a new wave of fitting options. We tried the mid-range Talon, designed to hold one bike. A series of vacuum mounts sticks on to the car’s bodywork and supports the cycle. It takes seconds to install and is largely universal. Once we’d fitted the Talon to our car’s roof, we had to remove the front wheel of our bike to attach it. A quick-release lever holds the forks in place, while the back wheel is fixed to another suction cup towards the back…

Ian Wagstaff (PorterPress, www.porterpress.co.uk) Price: £60 (hardback) Rating: BOOKS like this Autobiography of 917-023 are becoming increasingly common – especially from publisher Porter Press, which released an excellent account of the famous ‘4 WPD’ Jaguar E-type last year. The recollection of the 917-023 – a Porsche 917 that won 1970’s Le Mans 24 Hours – is even better. It’s packed with brilliant pictures, and the story of the car is fascinating. Toyota MR2: The Complete Story Nigel Burton (TheCrowoodPress, www.crowood.com) Price: £25 (hardback) Rating: TOYOTA’S four-cylinder MR2 sports car is fondly remembered by fans as an affordable two-seater that was as much fun on the road as more expensive rivals. Most of its history is explored in depth in The Complete Story, from initial design plans to the last model’s…

Q Can light washer fail MoT? THE washer system on my BMW 3 Series’ headlights works to clean the lamps, but the washer jets don’t close. It’s purely a cosmetic fault, yet it failed the car’s MoT. Is this right? Ed Davies, E-mail A UNDER MoT law, if a washer system is fitted, it must work. If it doesn’t, regardless of whether it impacts safety, the MoT operators are within their rights to issue a fail. To check guidelines, visit the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency website at www.gov.uk/contact-dvsa. Q Whining on used Volvo I BOUGHT a second-hand Volvo with 80,000 miles on the clock. It’s developed a whining noise at low revs, but the dealer says there’s nothing to worry about. What are my options? Thomas Easthope, E-mail A…

1999 Ferrari 360 Modena Years: 1999 to 2004 Engine: 3.6-litre V8, 400bhp Insurance group: 20 Econ/CO2: 14mpg/440g/km Why? One of the more controversial mid-engined Ferraris, as the 360 had a more bulbous look to replace the 355’s sharp, sleek styling. The V8 noise and engaging drive remained, and hardcore special editions such as the Challenge Stradale now make serious collectors’ items. Parts remain hugely expensive, however. Now from £33,000 2005 Ferrari F430 Years: 2005 to 2010 Engine: 4.3-litre V8, 483bhp Insurance group: 20 Econ/CO2: 15mpg/420g/km Why? The 430 was a far more complex car than before with aerodynamically tuned styling and features such as five-way traction control. But the gutsier, naturally aspirated 4.3-litre V8 engine was even more intoxicating, and the handling sublime. It became a more usable Ferrari, too,…

IT’S been a busy 12 months for Vauxhall. Aside from launching a number of Adam derivatives and the new Viva, two of its best-selling cars have been replaced by all-new models. The new Corsa went on sale late last year, and now there’s a brand new seventh-generation Astra – and these are the first pictures of the British-built hatchback. Arriving in showrooms in November, after its September debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the latest Astra will be priced from around £16,000, not much more than the outgoing car. That makes it look good value when compared to a Ford Focus and VW Golf – the cheapest Golf is £17,595. As with other recent Vauxhall launches, a low priced entry-level car will get buyers’ attention, as will improvements to kit…

NEW figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that sales of diesel vehicles have fallen for the first time since 2010. Diesel registrations totalled 97,084 in May this year – down by 2.5 per cent compared to the same month in 2014 (99,580). Petrol sales, meanwhile, were up 6.1 per cent, at 96,597 (91,008 in May 2014). Sales of petrol cars haven’t overtaken diesels in five years, but these trends suggest that it may happen in 2015 – and it seems that a diesel decline in the UK could well be imminent. Overall, new car registrations reached 198,706 in May, marking 39 consecutive months of growth – although this prosperity slowed to just a 2.4 per cent increase last month. SMMT analysts warn things may level…

BANNED WALES Members of Welsh Assembly last week passed a ban on smoking in cars. First Minister Carwyn Jones cited the long-term damage caused by passive smoking BANNED ENGLAND It was the first country to introduce a smoking ban in cars with under-18s present when MPs passed a similar law back in February NOT BANNED SCOTLAND It has still to introduce a similar law. While a bill has been proposed, a date has yet to be proposed for its hearing in the Scottish Parliament SMOKING in cars when children are on board will be illegal across England and Wales from 1 October, with drivers caught flouting the ban facing a £50 fine. Members of the Welsh Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new law last week, after Westminster MPs…

First drive report on Ferrari 488 GTB WE already know the new Ferrari 488 GTB will be quicker than the 458 Italia it replaces. Yet the big question is, has the switch from a naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 to a twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 robbed the car of some character not only in its power delivery, but perhaps more importantly the noise it makes? Read our first drive on Page 34, then watch our video – and turn up the sound... More stylish new BMW X1 revealed THE original X1 was always a bit of a compromise. Being loosely based on a 3 Series constrained its dimensions, and the long bonnet meant it looked more like a jacked-up estate than a small SUV. But BMW’s based this new X1 on the…

Contact Lawrence Allan mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD HOT TOPIC New XC90 vs Discovery FROM: chinacarguy THIS Volvo is an excellent all-wheel-drive MPV, not an offroader, as it would struggle with a grassy slope. It fits the new trend for SUVs, with the new Audi Q7 being a similar sort of vehicle. This is why the Disco has never been an SUV, but rather a real luxury 4x4. FROM: Kamelo I VERY much liked the look of the XC90 when it was seen for the first time last year. But time has done it no favours, and I’m a little bored with the design already. The lights may be nice, but I’m not going to pay £50,000 for it. I’d…

Essentials Renault Kadjar TCe 130 Price: £21,695Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl turbo petrolPower: 128bhpTransmission: Six-speed manual,Front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.1 secondsTop speed: 119mphEconomy: 48.7mpgCO2: 130g/km ON SALE Now RENAULT has often been an innovator of new vehicles – after all, it created the compact MPV class with the Scenic. But the company has moved at an escargot’s pace to exploit the rapidly growing crossover market, while its Alliance partner Nissan has been harvesting huge profits for years from its class-leading Qashqai. In 2013, Renault finally got its act together and released the Clio-based Captur, which has been a hit with around 30,000 sales in the UK to date. But it’s that car’s bigger brother – the Kadjar – which promises to reap bigger rewards. Set to hit Britain in September, it will take on…

Essentials SEAT Ibiza 1.0-litre SE Price: £13,875Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrolPower: 94bhpTransmission: Five-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.4 secondsTop speed: 119mphEconomy: 68.9mpgCO2: 94g/km ON SALE September ALTHOUGH SEAT is readying a raft of new SUVs, it hasn’t forgotten about its most decorated model. The Ibiza has just celebrated its 30th anniversary, during which time it’s notched up over five million global sales, and it’s had a mid-life refresh. Even after the arrival of the new Mazda 2 and Hyundai i20, the current Mk4 Ibiza had never lacked showroom appeal. But now, SE-spec models and above receive new LED daytime running lights, while the growing trend for endless customisation options has prompted SEAT to add a host of personalisation features across the range. While the outgoing supermini didn’t show its age from the…

WELCOME to our annual high-octane countdown of the best drivers’ cars money can buy. Once again we’ve run the rule over 100 of the fastest and most fun models on the road to discover which one will leave you with the biggest grin. As ever, there’s a huge variety of models on offer, from stripped out track-day specials to scorching supercars. Yet while they’re all very different, they’ve all been designed to deliver the biggest driver thrills. As an added bonus, we’ve also driven McLaren’s fearsome P1 GTR alongside its spiritual predecessor, the F1 GTR, in an unforgettable head-to-head. Strap yourself in for 30 pages of fast fun thrills...…

Richard Ingram Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk Performance EXCITE-spec Corsa may not have ferocious pace of VXR, and isn’t as much fun through corners, but it still provides more than enough power to take long journeys in its stride Essentials Vauxhall Corsa Excite 1.0 Turbo On fleet since: December 2014Price new: £14,095Engine: 1.0-litre 3cylturbo, 113bhpCO2/tax: 115g/km/£30Options: Metallic paint (£545)Insurance*: Group: 12 Quote: £273Mileage/mpg: 6,904/39.2mpgAny problems? Intermittent freezing ofIntelliLink touchscreen *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Second opinion “Like many things in life, less is more when it comes to the Vauxhall Corsa. The racy VXR flagship is fast, but it can’t match the everyday composure and all-round appeal of lower-spec models like our well equipped Excite. A big part of our car’s…

NEW PRODUCT Sonax Xtreme car care range RRP: From £5.99 (Red Summer Shampoo) Contact: www.sonax.com CAR care company Sonax has released a new Xtreme range of cleaning accessories that will cover a wide variety of tasks. The Red Summer Concentrate Car Shampoo kicks things off, as it’s the cheapest product in the line-up, at £5.99 RRP for a litre bottle. It promises a tough action and has a cherry scent. Joining it is Sonax’s Brilliant High Gloss Wax, which is a carnauba-based hard wax that claims excellent paintwork protection. You get 150ml for £24.99. The Polish + Wax 3 Hybrid (below) is an alternative to this – at £9.99 for 500ml – and is easier to apply as a liquid solution that’s rubbed in. To enhance this, Sonax offers…

In-car DAB on the rise in new models TWO-thirds of new cars are now fitted with DAB as standard, according to Digital Radio UK. That figure has increased from six months ago as manufacturers push to equip their models with the latest tech before the digital switchover – even though no date for this has been confirmed yet. An additional 10 per cent of cars have DAB available as an extra, so that 75 per cent of all new UK car models now come with digital radio. Additive maker bids to halt diesel KO FUEL additive maker TerraClean is to lobby the UK Government and European Commission over proposed plans to clamp down on diesels. The company wants to outline its products’ claimed ability to reduce carbon burning in diesel…

‘AUDI wins Le Mans’ has been a familiar headline in recent years, with the brand victorious in 13 of the last 15 runnings. For 2015, however, the competition is stronger than ever – particularly from Audi’s VW Group rival, Porsche. Elsewhere, although Toyota won the 2014 World Endurance Championship (WEC), success at Le Mans has proven elusive and it’s hungrier than ever to win in 2015. This year also sees the return of Nissan to Le Mans, with a radical front-engined, front-wheel-drive car. Audi is still the best place to start if you’re trying to pick a winner – especially as it has already won the Silverstone and Spa WEC rounds this season. Britain’s Oliver Jarvis has stepped up to a full-season drive this year, in the company’s R18 hybrid…