Innholdsfortegnelse for July 22, 2015 i Auto Express

MITSUBISHI has released a revealing teaser video of its new Pajero Sport large SUV. And while this model isn’t bound for the UK, it does provide us with a tantalising glimpse of what to expect from the next-generation Shogun. The front-end design bears a striking resemblance to the XR PHEV II concept, seen at March’s Geneva Motor Show, with a wide chrome grille and integrated LED headlamps. This new look will become the family face for the brand’s full range of small, medium and large SUVs in the coming years. Other details on the next Shogun are scarce, but as the current model is eight years old and based on a 16-year-old platform, we can expect the new model to arrive as early as next year. It’s also likely to…

TESLA boss Elon Musk has announced a raft of upgrades to the Model S saloon, which includes a new ‘Ludicrous’ mode. Available as an upgrade for P85D owners, it drops the 0-60mph time from 3.1 to just 2.8 seconds. Musk told us: “In Ludicrous mode the car will accelerate at 1.1g, which is actually faster than falling. “Customers have loved Insane mode, but nobody has actually asked for a Ludicrous mode – that would just be ludicrous! The car is like your own personal roller coaster.” Two other upgrades were announced, including a new 90kWh battery pack, which will give an extra 15 miles of range – the new 90D model will cover up to 300 miles at constant 65mph on the highway. At the other end of the line-up,…

Video watch  AT autoexpress.co.uk/videos this week we have a real treat in the form of some of the world’s most thrilling fast cars. Sensational new Audi R8 blasts off THE original R8 put Audi on the map as a maker of supercars. And so this second-generation model has a huge weight on its shoulders. With a new chassis and a 602bhp engine, the 5.2-litre V10 Plus promises to be the best all-round supercar in the world, as well as the most user-friendly. We put it through its paces to see if it delivers on its thrilling potential. Type R vs hot rivals in our track battle LET’S say you are in the market for a reasonably practical car which can set your heart racing on road and track. The Honda Civic…

HOT TOPIC New Superb vs Passat FROM: Boulle THE Skoda Superb looks the better car of the two, as the VW just seems too plain for me. If the Passat had a more sporty look to accompany its brilliant interior, I would be sold. The last time I remember a sporty Passat was a decade ago. How times have changed... FROM: Peter Ward SKODA claims the Superb is 50kg lighter than the VW. It also has the same engine and gearing, with identical torque outputs. Yet the Superb’s acceleration, claimed fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures are all worse than the Passat’s. How is that even possible? Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “Why would anyone buy an Audi A4 when they could have a more spacious Skoda…

USING a sat-nav is great if you don’t know the area, but they shouldn’t be followed at all costs. Occasionally, sat-navs get it extremely wrong, so it’s always best to keep your eyes on the road and not on the screen, as these unfortunate drivers found out. 1.Two Swedish holidaymakers were attempting to reach the island of Capri in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, but ended up 400 miles away in an industrial town at the other end of the country after mistakenly typing “Carpi” into their sat-nav. 2.Four British tourists got stuck for four days after their sat-nav sent them down a muddy dirt track into the Australian outback. The driver failed to notice warning signs the road was closed due to heavy rain, and became stuck in mud.…

FIAT took a big gamble in 2007 when it launched the new Fiat 500. Taking on the MINI with an affectionate reinterpretation of its own icon was no easy task. But with 1.5 million sales clocked up globally, and the new ‘cinquecento’ having spawned the 500L MPV, 500L Trekking, 500L MPW seven-seat MPV and the 500X crossover in recent years, it was a gamble that’s clearly paid off. Time has caught up with Fiat’s bambino, though, and the company has responded by updating the 500 to keep it fresh. Fiat is playing it safe, however – with sales growing every year, the current 500 is a cash-cow that’s not ready for a radical overhaul yet. Consequently, the exterior changes are barely noticeable. At the front, there’s a 500X-like chrome flash…

UNTIL now, if you wanted a Volkswagen Passat, your only choice was a diesel. But now, there’s a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid GTE, available as a saloon or estate. Beneath its conventional body lies the same technology as in the Golf GTE, so a 154bhp 1.4-litre TSI engine is under the bonnet. The lithium-ion battery is under the rear bench, while the electric motor is integrated within the six-speed DSG box. All of that clever technology adds up to a combined power output of 215bhp, 400Nm of torque and a 140mph top speed (81mph if you’re in pure electric E-Mode), while our Estate promises 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Total range in E-Mode is 31 miles and VW claims staggering economy of 166mpg and emissions of 39g/km of CO2, so it’s exempt…

THE temperatures are rising, the days are at their longest, and the children are getting excited about the end of the school term… the holiday season is nearly upon us. And whether they’re staying in the UK or heading abroad, most motorists packing the family and their luggage together for a break in the sunshine know what they need to do to keep their car on the road this summer. Simple inspections of the oil, coolant and screenwash levels are essential checks, as are tyre pressure and tread depth checks. If you’re planning to cover a long distance, and you’re not a confident DIY mechanic, it’s a good idea to book your car in for a full service. But while most drivers check the fluid levels under their bonnet, many…

Lighting THE 208 and i20 feature LED daytime running lights, but the 2 makes do with halogen bulbs. That’s a shame, because other Mazda models feature sharp-looking LEDs. However, this is about the only piece of kit that’s lacking on the 2, because the Sport Nav has a long list of standard equipment that justifies its higher price. Personalisation ASIDE from metallic paint, the Mazda and Hyundai don’t really go for tailored options. The Peugeot, however, offers Menthol White and Lime Yellow packs. These add coloured trim to the interior (for £350) and exterior (for £150); the latter includes door mirror inserts (below). Emissions WITH CO2 figures of 87g/km and 89g/km respectively, the 208 and 2 are closely matched for tax costs. The Hyundai trails, at 106g/km. The less powerful…

KIA is offering PCP finance at 4.9 per cent APR across the Sorento range. The finance example is on the £28,795 entry-level KX-1, and includes a £7,600 customer deposit (there are currently no dealer deposit contributions) and 36 monthly payments of £302. At the end of the deal, you either pay £13,434 to keep the car, hand it back, or arrange another finance deal on a new model. Land Rover has a slightly pricier finance scheme available on the Discovery Sport. Like the Kia, there’s no deposit allowance available, and the customer deposit on the £30,695 2.0 TD4 (150) SE is £8,650. Monthly repayments are slightly lower at £299, but interest is 6.9 per cent APR representative and the final payment is £15,132. Unfortunately, there aren’t any discounts to be…

Tailor your track day experience IF you’re itching to attend a track day this summer, check out BuyAGift’s Motor Head To Head. It’s a comprehensive online buying guide to the different track days available, and it lets you choose the experience that best suits you based on your favourite model. It includes the statistics for your car of choice, plus you can click on an interactive map to find out where that model’s available. An embedded YouTube video of the car in action will then whet your appetite for the day. For more information, head to buyagift.co.uk/motorheadtohead . Little Trees smellies go for fresh approach LITTLE Trees air fresheners are an iconic part of motoring, and have been keeping cars smelling good for decades. But with a…

I’VE never felt the urge to waste time, money, sanity and stability propping up casino tables, betting on sporting events or purchasing lottery tickets. But I am now – for the first time – willing to place a modest bet. Not sure how to go about this alien activity, but let’s just say I’m hereby betting The London Motor Show 2016 will be a sell-out, a huge success, one of Britain’s great car-related events of the year. Why wouldn’t it be? Unless it’s sabotaged by the cynical and short-sighted provisional wing of the UK motor industry (I could name names, but – for legal reasons – better not), an eve-of-summer car exhibition in the world-renowned capital city of a leading vehicle-producing nation is a no-brainer. From the moment I heard…

GLOBALLY, the 3 Series is BMW’s biggest-selling model. Since the first-generation E21 arrived 40 years ago, the German manufacturer has shifted more than 14 million and now offers it in an astonishing 130 markets worldwide. In response to a glut of new rivals, including the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Jaguar XE and Audi A4, BMW has facelifted its best-seller, adding new engines and more equipment. Compared to the recently revealed 1 Series, visual changes to the 3 are slight. At the front, all cars get a wider look with larger air intakes and new LED daytime running lights. To the rear, every facelifted 3 Series benefits from L-shaped LED light clusters with a two-piece indicator design, as well as bigger tailpipes across the range. Inside, it feels very familiar, albeit with…

FIAT will return to the compact family hatch class next year for the first time since the Brava (below) ceased production in 2001 – yet the brand’s new offering won’t chase the Ford Focus or VW Golf in the sales charts. Speaking to Auto Express, Fiat Chrysler chief operating officer Alfredo Altavilla said he’s not targeting these models, but just “some volume” sales. “In the perfect world, I’d like Fiat to recapture the slice of the market we had with the Tipo, but that is out of reach, at least with the first generation,” he told us. “We aim to be a credible player, but I’m not dreaming of setting the world on fire in the C-segment.”…

NISSAN has made its X-Trail more affordable with the addition of a new entry-level petrol engine. The 1.6-litre DIG-T four-cylinder turbo reduces the starting price of the Hyundai Santa Fe rival by £1,460 – so the seven-seater SUV (above) now costs from £21,995. The new engine is the same as found in the smaller Qashqai, and offers 161bhp and 240Nm of torque. It takes the X-Trail from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and on to a 124mph top speed, and promises 45.6mpg fuel economy and 145g/km emissions.…

Alfa’s new Giulia spied on the road AFTER the big reveal of Alfa Romeo’s new 503bhp Giulia Quadrifoglio last month (Issue 1,377), this spy shot (above) shows the toned-down look that’ll grace more humble models. Lesser versions of the BMW 3Series rival will lose the racy ‘teledial’ alloys, bulging bonnet, rear wing and quad exhaust pipes, although they will retain the large front intakes. The entry-level Giulias are expected to come with a range of four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines, as well as a choice of rear or four-wheel drive. The range is likely to make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Updated Subaru XV is a hit for kit SUBARU has announced a range of chassis and interior updates for its XV crossover. 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 RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers…

IN-CAR technology is moving faster than ever as manufacturers push the boundaries of what is possible. Auto-braking, self-parking and 360-degree cameras are just some of the latest gadgets available on new models. Look back just a short while, though, and you realise how far we’ve come. So far, in fact, that in-car navigation systems are now taken for granted and fitted on most cars. The tech is now even making its way into legislation, forming part of a trial to revamp the driving test (see Page 28). Yet it was just 25 years ago that the first GPS-based product hit the market and changed driving forever. Satellite navigation – like many tech advancements – has its roots in the military. The US developed GPS guidance to use on inter-continental ballistic…

McLAREN Automotive has come a long way in a short space of time, since the first 12Cs were unleashed upon the world in 2011. And of all the cars it has produced over those past four years, this new 675LT is arguably the most impressive of them all. Why? Because although it may not contain as much technology or be quite as fast as the £1million P1, in reality it’s not that far behind. Yet it costs a quarter of the price of the P1, at ‘just’ £259,500, which might just explain why all 500 examples that McLaren will build over the next two years are now officially sold out. We drove the car around Silverstone and on the roads surrounding Britain’s most famous GP circuit last week, and after…

WHEN the Mercedes GLC arrives in the UK later this year, we’ll be graced with a diesel-only engine line-up – initially made up of two four-cylinder models with either 168bhp or 201bhp. We’ve already driven the higher-powered diesel (Issue 1,379), but if you want a petrol – or indeed a hybrid – you’ll need to wait at least 18 months for the 350e plug-in hybrid driven here. Mercedes quotes 109mpg economy and CO2 emissions of just 60g/km, yet if you have means of regular charging and your commute is less than 21 miles, you could effectively never have to fill up the 350e. It’ll be a big hit for company car drivers with its nine per cent Benefit in Kind tax rate, too. The diesels come in at 23 per…

FLUID CHECK Inspecting the oil, plus coolant and screenwash, is the least you should do under the bonnet before a long summer journey. It’s a good idea to get a service TYRE CHECK It’s essential that you check your tyre pressures and tread depths before you leave, and keep watch on them if you’re covering a long distance on holiday FOREIGN TRAVEL If you’re heading abroad, ensure you have all the kit required for countries you’re driving through – from warning triangles to spare headlight bulbs INSURANCE Ensure your policy provides peace of mind this summer, too. Tesco Bank Car Insurance has a range of features and benefits to do exactly that…

IT’S my job to take pictures of the winners at the Auto Express New Car Awards rather than choose them. But at the 2015 ceremony (Issue 1,377) earlier this month, there was one champ that definitely got my vote: the Ford Transit. Okay, so it was the full-size model rather than my smaller Custom that took our coveted Van of the Year honours, but both versions have a relentless work ethic and driver-focused road manners. After nearly six months on our fleet, the trusty Transit has proven itself to be hugely versatile and universally popular, and now that it’s leaving, I’m struggling to think of a suitable replacement. One of the main attractions of the Ford is its vast 4,400-litre load area, which makes it the number-one choice for people…

Q Are dual 12V ports slower? I’VE seen dual adaptors that slot into cigarette lighter sockets to let you charge more than one device at a time. Is there any downside? Does having more than one slow down charging? Phil Kipling, E-mail A THESE 12V ports are great if you don’t have embedded sockets for USB cables. You can get three or four-port devices from the likes of Veho (above) and Olixar. Atriple charger will power up phones at 1 amp and tablets at 2.1 amp. As a 12V socket can handle up to 5.2 amps, charging speed isn’t compromised by multiple ports. Q Unlock tyre sidewall code WHY is it so difficult to buy tyres? I don’t understand what the 215/55 R16 V93 code on my car’s sidewalls means.…

Dear Lawrence, I’m looking for a spacious family saloon with an automatic gearbox for my dad. Comfort is a priority. What can I get for £12,000? Helen Aubrey, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CARS THE QUIRKY CHOICE Citroen C5 FOR:Rarity, styling, extremely comfortable AGAINST:Vague handling, complex repairs THE C5 is often forgotten about, but if it’s outright comfort you’re after, then this is the car for you. Models equipped with the company’s famed Hydractive suspension have a pillowy-smooth motorway ride, and the C5 is refined and relaxing. It’s the least spacious here, though, and the handling suffers next to rivals’. It also feels dated, but it still looks sharp in this company. We found a 2012 2.0 HDi Exclusive with 38,000 miles for £11,200. THE RELIABLE CHOICE Skoda Superb FOR:Hugely spacious, good…

WILLIAMS’ Valtteri Bottas could be on his way to Ferrari for 2016 – a deal that would kick off a merry-go-round of Formula One driver movements for next season. According to reports in the Italian press last week, Ferrari is set to pay Williams nearly £8.5million to release the highly rated Finn from his contract. And should the deal come off, Sauber’s Felipe Nasr is believed to be the top candidate to replace him – the young Brazilian having served as Williams’ test and reserve driver in 2014. The potential deal would also bring to an end Kimi Raikkonen’s second spell at Ferrari – and possibly result in the 2007 world champion leaving the sport for good. Bottas’ Williams team-mate Felipe Massa has indicated the Finn is the key to…

FIAT’S 124 Spider – due next year – might have a retro nameplate, but its performance and handling will be right up to date. After months of speculation, the company has confirmed that the sister car to the Mazda MX-5 will definitely spawn a high-performance Abarth version, and usher in a new generation of Abarth models that’s faster and more focused than ever before. “You like performance? There will be an Abarth version,” said Alfredo Altavilla, Fiat Chrysler Group’s chief operating officer. He confirmed that there will be two versions of the 124 Spider – a “comfortable” Fiat model and a more “extreme” Abarth. Our exclusive images show how the car could look. With a gaping mesh grille and large air vents cut into the bumper, the Abarth version adopts…

VAUXHALL is readying its new Astra GSi warm hatch for its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and our spies have caught it on test. The Ford Focus ST rival will occupy the gap between the standard Astra and the full-fat VXR model that is expected in 2017. The GSi badge was previously used on hot Vauxhalls in the nineties and noughties, but was abandoned in favour of VXR. However, Vauxhall is now resurrecting the name alongside the VXR models. Our spies spotted the new car being put through its paces in Germany, and despite the test mule’s camouflage, you can see that Vauxhall will save the deep bumpers and bulging wheelarches for the VXR. Even so, the GSi will be set apart from lesser Astras by…

POTHOLE-proof roads are to be installed in the UK as part of a new plan to prevent cars from being damaged. Surrey County Council has announced that it will resurface more than 800 roads with a new coating that promises to be free from cracks for the next 10 years. The authority will invest £100million in the project after it was revealed in 2013/14 that the council was the highest-ranked area for compensation payouts to drivers. Enfield in North London is also taking advantage of the new tech. The replacement surface to be laid is called Superflex, and is more water resistant than regular asphalt. Its flexibility means it’s less prone to cracking and causing potholes. The 300 miles of road that’ll be targeted across Surrey will be stripped back…

INSURERS detected more than £835million in fraudulent motoring claims in 2014 – a £24million rise on the previous year. Numbers of motoring-related frauds have quadrupled over the last decade since the Association of British Insurers (ABI) started recording bogus claims. In 2014, there were 67,000 bogus cases, representing two per cent of all motor insurance claims. In fact, 60 per cent of all insurance fraud is motoring related. False claims have grown in value, too, with an average of £12,000 sought in compensation per case. This amounts to a shocking £2.2million in fraudulent claims per day. Staged accidents and whiplash injuries continue to be the most common, although these represent just the tip of the iceberg, according to the ABI. And the crime is getting increasingly hi-tech. Many criminals are…

LOWER annual insurance premiums have been the demand from the car buyer for years and, slowly but surely, insurers are taking heed as average policy costs fall. But it seems motorists want more and not just in terms of money off, according to the latest research from Consumer Intelligence, which shows how insurers are failing to hit the mark. It’s long been a gripe of Auto Express – and our readers – that there’s no reward for loyalty in the industry, and that’s backed up by the study. It reveals 20 per cent of motorists want insurers to offer their best price at renewal time, rather than forcing a policyholder to phone up their insurer and haggle or go through the hassle of price comparison. So what else can insurers…

Neil Davies Senior Partner at Caddick Davies (www.motordefencelawyers.co.uk) YOU might think it’s only reckless motorists who drive without insurance. However, it’s an uncomfortable truth that even responsible drivers can be just as fallible, often without even knowing it. So how does this happen? An insurance policy can be cancelled for a host of reasons, ranging from the non-receipt of proof of no claims – irrespective of whether or not it was sent – to issues with direct debits or, in the case of a used car, the prior owner failing to cancel cover. It’s also vital you make sure you have the correct cover for your vehicle and the purpose of its use, so always read the terms of your policy carefully when taking out or renewing motor insurance. For…

PIONEER AVIC-1 World’s first CD-based GPS navigation system GUIDESTAR NAVIGATION SYSTEM One of the first factory-fitted navs from Oldsmobile LEXUS NAVIGATOR GPS One of the first to have touchscreen capability GARMIN STREETPILOT III One of the first portable sat-navs with a colour screen and voice prompts GARMIN NUVI 300 SERIES The first new slimline shaped GPS TOMTOM LIVE Debuts live traffic updates with connected SIM card…

THE X1 is an incredibly important car for BMW. Since 2009, more than 730,000 of the estate/SUV crossovers have left the factory. But the game has moved on significantly. Higher-riding cars like the Mazda CX-5 and Audi Q3 have made the X1’s lower, sportier-styling look a little dated, and at odds with its more rugged X3 and X5 siblings. But not anymore. Despite being 15mm shorter, the all-new second-generation X1 is 53mm higher and 23mm wider than its predecessor. It’s immediately more imposing and SUV-like to look at, with loads of sharp creases, flared arches and more aggressive styling. It’s more spacious inside, too, with generous headroom and shoulder space, as well as 37mm more legroom behind the driver and front-seat passenger. What’s more, this extends to 66mm if you…

WHEN Renaultsport puts its name to something, it rarely disappoints. But the all-new Renaultsport Clio 200 broke the mould when it arrived in 2013. Gone was the rev-hungry engine and snappy six-speed manual of the previous car, replaced by a downsized turbo and an automatic gearbox. Now Renault has responded and created this: the Renaultsport Clio 220 Trophy. It will set you back another £2,650 over the regular 200, but you can see where that’s been spent. The 1.6-litre turbo now develops an additional 20bhp – that’s 217bhp in all – the exhaust system has been overhauled to reduce backpressure and the springs have been stiffened by 40 per cent. Gearchanges are also claimed to be 50 per cent faster, plus the engine now revs out to 6,800rpm – a…

THE Jaguar XE is good. So good, in fact, that we named it Best Compact Executive Car in our 2015 New Car Awards. Having driven both the 2.0-litre petrol and new Ingenium diesel, it was clear Jaguar had taken the fight to its German rivals – and won. While we’d also had a go in this range-topping XE S, it was only on the smooth roads of Spain, so getting hold of one in the UK is the final piece in the XE jigsaw. Visually, the XE S is even more striking than BMW’s M Sport models, with sharp daytime running lights, a bodykit and 19-inch wheels. Our test had larger 20s (£800), while inside the red leather and ‘S’ embossed headrests are a no-cost option. Under the bonnet is…

Practicality IF you often carry seven adults, the Sorento is the car to go for. Its back seats (below) are easier to access, have more head and legroom and are easy to fold. The Disco’s rearmost seats are smaller, as is its boot. Land Rover quotes a 981-litre capacity to the roof, but according to our measurements it has less space under the load cover than the Kia. Off-road WHILE the Sorento is the seven-seat choice, the Discovery Sport is the off-road champ. Its Terrain Response system (below) adapts the traction control, engine and box to suit road conditions, while hill descent control is standard. On the Kia, you get hill start assist, but the 4WD system is automatic. Equipment KIA doesn’t offer any options aside from metallic paint (£575),…

Ford GT40 Owner’s Workshop Manual Gordon Bruce (Haynes, www.haynes.co.uk) Price: £25 (hardback) Rating: THIS manual has the comprehensive technical quality of any book from Haynes. The opening pages take you through a factual history of the Ford GT40’s development, while the core of the manual gets down to the nitty gritty. As a practical guide to tinkering with the classic muscle car, this is great, plus it’s an interesting read for those not lucky enough to own one. Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera: Last of the Evolution Tony Corlett (Veloce, www.veloce.com) Price: £37.50 (hardback) Rating: THE Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic car designs of all time. The Last of the Evolution was written by the secretary of the Porsche Club Great Britain, Tony Corlett, and will help ease…

Q Fined for extra mileage  MY son has a black box fitted to his car and has been fined £600 for excess mileage. The insurance company also increased his monthly premium by £140. What can he do? Kevin Powley, E-mail A FOR new drivers, it can be hard to estimate your annual mileage; but it’s important not to set it too low, as this will land you in trouble. If you do think you’ll breach the limit, it’s best to phone the insurer, as this way you’ll avoid a fine – although a higher premium is a certainty. Q Zafira gearbox issues  WATER has leaked into the gearbox of my 2005 Vauxhall Zafira. I’ve already had to change the fuel pump and pressure regulator, and I now have to pay…