Innholdsfortegnelse for August 12, 2015 i Auto Express

THE Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ monthly registration figures have been on an upward trajectory for 41 months now, and the latest set of results, for July, continued the success story. A total of 178,420 cars were registered – up 3.2 per cent on the same month last year. The year-to-date total is 1,555,309 – an increase of 6.5 per cent – which includes a record-breaking first six months of 2015, where registrations in the UK reached an all-time high. Buried in the release which accompanied all this good news was a startling statistic which showed that the market for crossovers and SUVs has increased by 88.5 per cent over the past decade. Yes, you read that right. 88.5 per cent! Arguably the car that kick-started this revolution was…

ASTON Martin’s CEO, Andy Palmer, laid out his vision for the brand’s future at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but that was the easy part. Now he faces a crucial decision on where future models will be built. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Palmer told us that the firm was assessing several locations where it would build its first-ever ‘crossover’ model, based on the DBX Concept seen at Geneva. He confirmed that the locations included sites in the UK, across Europe and in America. He added that Prime Minister David Cameron has told him he wants the new model to be built in the UK and he is prepared to make a facility, possibly in Wales, available to Aston. “We have over 10 locations interested, including the UK, Europe…

DRIVERS are unaware of national speed limits, according to latest statistics from Co-operative Insurance. A survey found 36 per cent of motorists don’t know what the limit is on a dual carriageway (70mph) – and a further 12 per cent gave the wrong answer for a motorway with some believing the national limit to be 80mph. Almost 40 per cent couldn’t answer the limit for single carriageway roads, either. Younger drivers were better at naming limits, with drivers over 55 the worst.…

MITSUBISHI quietly revealed its all-new Pajero Sport large SUV in Thailand last week. The rugged 4x4 is due to go on sale across Asian markets next year, but it may also be coming here, badged as the Shogun Sport. It’s expected to heavily influence the styling of the new Shogun, scheduled to be unveiled in 2016. After the reveal, the company’s UK managing director Lance Bradley replied to a tweet from Auto Express claiming that it was “far from impossible” that the Shogun Sport could be homologated and converted for European release at a later date. He went on to say that the previous model – axed from showrooms back in 2006 and never replaced – “sold well” over here, hinting that a return could be on the cards. As…

THE upcoming Ferrari F12 ‘Speciale’ has been spotted virtually undisguised ahead of its launch early next year. Although the ‘Speciale’ name is yet to be confirmed, and a GTO suffix is also believed to be under consideration, the stripped-out F12 will be faster, lighter and even sharper to drive than the standard car, in the same vein as the 458 Speciale. It’s expected to use an uprated version of the existing naturally aspirated V12 – boosting power from 731bhp to more than 760bhp – and an even faster seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. That should ensure the more powerful F12 sprints from 0-62mph in less than three seconds and hits more than 215mph flat out. The current car covers 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds and will hit a 211mph maximum speed. In terms…

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…

YOU’VE just renewed your car insurance, and a service has been scheduled for next week. You’re about to go for a quick drive, and on the way back need to fill up with fuel. Standing by the pump, the sudden realisation hits you: it’s been an expensive day... Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Many drivers often forget the large toll that motoring has on their finances. In fact, the most recent figures from the AA and Auto Express’ Driver Power 2015 satisfaction survey show a new £18,000 car will cost on average £2,559 to run per year, based on 10,000 miles in a petrol model returning 45mpg. Like all great accountants, Auto Express is here to help cut the costs of motoring with a line-up of…

Essentials Land Rover Discovery Sport TD4 HSE Luxury Price: £43,000 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel Power: 178bhp Transmission: Nine-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.4 seconds Top speed: 117mph Economy/CO2: 53.3mpg/139g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT All models come with multifunction steering wheel, part-leather trim, alloys and an eight-inch colour touchscreen, as well as a 10-speaker audio system ENGINE New 2.0 diesel engine is the same as you’ll find in new Jag XE, and brings extra refinement and fuel efficiency. Revamp hasn’t altered Disco’s exterior design, though THE Discovery Sport is still very much the new kid on the block, but that hasn’t stopped Land Rover from updating the Freelander replacement just seven months into its life. The changes are much more significant than just a new set of headlamps and alloy wheel…

Essentials Mercedes GLC 220d Price: £34,950 Engine: 2.1-litre 4cyl diesel Power/torque: 168bhp/400Nm Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.3 seconds Top speed: 130mph Economy: 56.5mpg CO2: 129g/km ON SALE Now SPEC GLC comes in SE, Sport and AMG Line trims. Even basic cars get ARTICO electric leather seats, but you’ll need to step up to Sport for sat-nav PRACTICALITY Passengers in the back benefit from decent head and legroom, while the 550-litre boot is identical in size to the BMW X3’s WE’VE already driven the powerful Mercedes GLC 250d and plug-in 350e, but how does the cheaper 220d fare in a competitive premium SUV market awash with BMW X3s and Audi Q5s? The 220d uses a detuned version of the 2.1-litre diesel in the 250d – this is exactly the…

Essentials Mazda MX-5 2.0i SE-L Nav Price: £20,695 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol Power: 158bhp Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 7.3 seconds Top speed: 133mph Economy: 40.9mpg CO2: 161g/km ON SALE Now COMFORT Wind deflector – standard on SE-L spec models and above – helps reduce buffeting in cabin. With the roof up, though, there’s lots of wind noise EQUIPMENT The 2.0-litre models come only in SE-L spec and above, with a seven-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloys and black exterior detailing as standard PRACTICALITY This is the MX-5’s biggest weakness, as its shallow boot offers just 130 litres of space and there’s a lack of storage inside IT’S nearly 25 years since the original MX-5 landed, and even now there remains little in the way of competition. Its tantalising mix of…

Badge wars THESE three cars wear their extra badging for a good reason, as they’re even more focused versions of already highly tuned cars. However, it’s Ford that’s on form at the moment. The 208 GTi can finally hold a candle to the iconic 205, but the Trophy isn’t a match for its limited production predecessor. Focused design IF you’re buying a hot hatch, looks are a big part. It’ll come down to personal choice, but for us, the Fiesta treads the line between regular hatch and back road rocketship best. The other cars’ unusual paintjobs won’t suit all – although you can tone them down with different colours. Old vs new FORD and Peugeot have stuck with the tried and tested three-pedal layout – and their models are all…

Design STYLE and customisation are must-haves in the compact crossover class. The Tivoli’s design is certainly bold but hardly attractive, while the personalisation packs are only available on the flagship ELX. Suzuki has given the Vitara a less aggressive look, plus owners can specify a contrasting roof colour and interior trim inserts. Badge appeal THE SsangYong name won’t mean much to UK buyers, but the ambitious brand is hoping the Tivoli’s low price, kit levels and warranty will attract new customers. By contrast, Suzuki is an established brand. However, the Vitara was a full-on 4x4 before becoming a crossover. Four-wheel drive ELECTRONIC all-wheel drive is available on diesel Tivolis, with prices ranging from £17,100 for the EX to £19,500 for the ELX auto. Suzuki’s ALLGRIP is only available in SZ5…

THEY say time flies when you’re having fun, and that’s certainly been the case with our Fiat Panda Cross. The rugged city car-cum-off-roader has been on our fleet for just over six months, and it’s seen plenty of action in that time. From some surprisingly hardcore off-roading – where it put far more expensive and ‘capable’ models to shame – to clocking up plenty of motorway miles, the sheer breadth of talent puts the Fiat up there with my favourite cars on our fleet. Mind you, it’s not been without its foibles. While the driving experience is hard to fault, the infotainment system has left me and others pulling our hair out. Fiat’s Blue&Me set-up was developed with tech giant Microsoft a decade ago, but it’s not the most user-friendly…

Got a query? Cat_Dow@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Quick fix for paint scratches MY car returned from the garage with the paint scratched, yet staff insist that the damage was already there. As I have no proof, I’ll have to fix it myself. What do you suggest I use? Paul Cobb, E-mail A PAINTWORK is usually protected with a clearcoat, and it’s probably this that’s scratched rather than the coloured finish underneath. If this is the case, you should apply Farécla’s G3 Professional Scratch Remover, which costs from just £6.49. You don’t normally need to use much and it leaves a great finish. Q Will cracked tyres fail MoT? I’VE been guilty of catching a few kerbs while driving of late, and I’ve noticed that my tyres are damaged, with cracks on…

T-shirts celebrate hit phone traffic game THE hit Crossy Road smartphone app, which imitates eighties arcade game Frogger, has had 90 million downloads so far, and there’s now a merchandise store to cash in on that popularity. Log on to www.crossroadstore.com  to check out the range of clothing, gifts and accessories for adults and children alike, all featuring characters from the traffic-based app. T-shirt prices start at £13.99. Brit upgrade kit for French hot hatches FORGE Motorsport has produced an induction kit to fit a raft of French hot hatches, including the DS 3 and Peugeot 207 GT. The enhancements comprise a custom-wound silicone induction hose and top-quality Pipercross high-flow foam cone filter. Gloucester-based Forge claims it gives the factory-fitted box and filter an extra 6bhp – recorded…

ASTON Martin works driver Darren Turner has re-signed with the team for another three years. The twice Le Mans winner was linked with a move to Ford’s new GT programme, but will now stay with the outfit he’s raced for since 2004. He’ll also get added responsibilities at Aston’s road-car division, building on his involvement with the Vulcan hypercar. He said: “GT racing is going from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to developing new cars.”…

• Exclusive images show sharp new look for Mk10 family car • Promises more space and stronger efficiency to match style AFTER years in the wilderness, Honda is enjoying a renaissance, with a new line-up aimed at winning back the hearts of prospective customers and diehard fans. We’ve seen the first fruits with the new Civic Type R, NSX supercar, Jazz supermini and HR-V supermini-SUV. But to maintain the momentum, the brand’s already working hard on the next Civic and attempting to put right what the current model got wrong – and our exclusive images show how it could look. The 10th-generation Civic will appear in 2017 with the aim of beating competition from the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf – a feat Honda hasn’t achieved for the past decade.…

ANDY Palmer also spoke for the first time about rumours that Formula One design legend Adrian Newey might be developing an extreme roadgoing supercar with Aston, previously referred to by Palmer as “an ultimate sports car”. He said: “There is rarely smoke without fire. I have talked openly about a flagship supercar and a number of studies, including designs, are going on, but the speculation about Adrian Newey does not come from us. “Do I like the idea of Adrian Newey doing a road car with Aston? Yes. He is a man with a legacy to leave, but there is no authentic programme with him, yet.” Palmer added that if the supercar project went ahead, it was a long way off. “We hope to make a decision by the end…

Mopar extras spice up new Fiat 500X IF you can’t wait for the Abarth version, the new Fiat 500X is now available with a range of Mopar customisation options. Owners of the crossover (above) will be able to choose from over 100 exterior and cabin personalisation add-ons, from decals, bonnet stripes and chrome packs to new 18-inch alloys, all in a variety of colours. More practical options include bike racks, a detatchable towbar and custom ski-carrying roof bars. The features are available at Fiat dealers. Self-steering set-up for Tesla Model S TESLA is about to launch further updates for its Model S, including a new semi-autonomous ‘highway autosteer’ function. CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company was “almost ready to release” an over-the air upgrade for the electric saloon, which…

BMW is hard at work developing the next-generation 5 Series, and now the more practical Touring has been spotted on the road for the first time. It’s expected to arrive in 2017, shortly after the saloon. While the body is heavily disguised, you can see familiar BMW detailing, indicating an evolution from the design of the current 5 Series estate, rather than a radical rethink. We can reveal the profile is familiar, too, but there’s a sleeker back end – although we’re expecting a marginal increase in space. Yet the big news is that this seventh-generation model is likely to weigh around 100kg less than the car it replaces thanks to the use of light carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) in the bodywork and chassis. The cabin will move further upmarket,…

A THIRD of motorists who’ve racked up 12 or more penalty points on their licence in England and Wales have avoided a driving ban, according to exclusive Auto Express figures. A Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) revealed that in July 2015 there were 19,848 drivers with 12 or more points on their licence. Of these, 7,078 have dodged a ban at the courts – and that’s up by 500 from May 2015. Current “totting up” rules mean if a driver reaches 12 points or more over the course of a three-year period, the court must ban them for a minimum of six months. However, our figures show 35 per cent are let off a disqualification by courts, including some who’ve accumulated more than…

More questions than answers... OUR figures really are startling, and quite frankly make a mockery of the system. What’s the point in having a “totting up” process if motorists can avoid the punishment so readily? It’s important to show compassion and, of course, in some cases a ban isn’t appropriate. I just can’t believe that’s in 35 per cent of cases. It’s fine to argue a disqualification is a hefty and Draconian punishment for minor misdemeanours, but offences such as speeding or using a mobile phone are dangerous. The laws are there for a reason and courts should be enforcing them properly, otherwise we might as well scrap the 12-point rule altogether. “Offences such as speeding or using a mobile are dangerous”…

NEARLY two-thirds of UK motorists believe the 2017 vehicle excise duty (VED) changes provide ‘little or no incentive’ to buy a low-emissions car, according to the AA. Many oppose the new, more stringent CO2 bands and the £310 supplement set to be charged for five years on new cars costing above £40,000. And of course, we have reported before how hitting low-emissions cars with more tax could slow down uptake. It’s wrong, though, to argue the motive for consumers to purchase a low-emissions car needs to be purely tax based. The incentives are there in fuel and environmental savings. Own the best-selling ultra-low-emissions vehicle (ULEV), the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and fuel costs add up to a meagre £360 for every 10,000 miles driven. A pure electric vehicle, like the Nissan…

SOME would argue consumer power is always getting stronger and new laws are unfair on businesses who are already told ‘the customer is always right’. It’s a difficult one to argue against, especially given that 2015 has been a busy year for consumer regulation. The implementation of the UK’s Consumer Rights Bill consolidates eight existing laws, including the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. This bill is enforceable from 1 October, along with the EU’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Motor Codes is an ADR for the auto industry and you can find out more at adr.motorcodes.co.uk . It’s great for consumers, but businesses need to be careful. Sure, they can sit back until October, but that’s dangerous. Rivals may…

OUR top tips on cost savings show that most UK motorists could save nearly 20 per cent, or just under £500 a year, on their motoring costs (based on someone covering 10,000 miles in a petrol car averaging 45mpg). If you’re a young driver eligible for a black box insurance policy, the savings could be greater still. And the great thing is, you don’t have to put in much effort to reduce your motoring outlay by this amount; all it takes is a bit of preparation. “Most UK drivers stand to save nearly 20 per cent, or about £500 a year, on motoring costs”…

Essentials Audi A1 1.0 TFSI Price: £14,315 Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo Power/torque: 94bhp/160Nm Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10.9 seconds Top speed: 116mph Economy: 67.3mpg CO2: 97g/km ON SALE NOW EQUIPMENT Impressive Bose sound system is a £690 optional extra, but our SE model featured alloys, air-con and a 6.5-inch retractable display as standard PRACTICALITY For an additional £620, the A1 comes as a more practical five-door Sportback with a third rear seat. Both feature a 270-litre boot HEADLAMPS LED headlights aren’t an option on entry-level SE cars, but you can specify auto lights and wipers for £125 – plus foglamps for £140 IF you’re in the market for a supermini and a three-cylinder turbo is available, it has long been the preferred option. Peppy performance, strong refinement and…

NEW: Volkswagen Polo GTI DSG 3dr PRICE: £20,145 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 189bhp IF you want a dual-clutch hot hatch, the VW Polo GTI is the other obvious choice. It’s got a sharper gearbox, but is nearly 30bhp down on the Trophy, and the chassis isn’t as sophisticated. It is the refined choice, though. USED: Audi S1 quattro 3dr PRICE: £21,000 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 228bhp FOR a similar budget, a lightly used Audi S1 is in range. With a raucous 228bhp engine giving 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, it’s massively quick thanks to quattro four-wheel drive. Refreshingly, it only comes with a six-speed manual.…

Citroen C4 Cactus 1.2 Feel PRICE: £14,690 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 81bhp BOLDLY styled and cleverly packaged Citroen is comfortable, efficient and good value. Feel trim gets essentials such as air-con, Bluetooth and DAB, while low kerbweight makes three-cylinder a top performer. Ford EcoSport 1.5 Zetec PRICE: £14,245 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 110bhp RECENT revisions to the Ford EcoSport have improved the driving experience and looks. It still feels a little low rent inside and CO2 emissions of 149g/km are high, but Zetec spec is well equipped and attractively priced.…

DESPERATE times call for desperate measures – and the departure from the Auto Express fleet of our Volkswagen Golf GTI has forced me to take extreme action. That’s right, in an effort to extend the rapid VW’s stay, I’ve handcuffed myself to one of its chunky door handles. So why am I so keen to hold on to the GTI’s keys? Where do I start? As you’d expect from a car that drew the hot hatch template four decades ago, it delivers top performance and agile handling. Yet it’s the Golf’s ability to combine these sporty dynamics with everyday civility that warrants its claim as the ‘greatest all-rounder in the world’. For instance, the spacious five-door car has coped admirably with everything my growing family has thrown at it, while…

CARS THE CLASSY CHOICE Lexus IS FOR:Reliable, upmarket, dealer network AGAINST:Cramped, rivals better to drive NO list of reliable saloons is complete without a Lexus. The brand consistently tops our surveys for dealer service and build quality, and the Mk2 IS is highly rated, too. With the bulletproof 2.5-litre V6, a well built cabin, plus classy styling, it’s a solid buy. This isn’t an exciting car to drive, but it’s comfortable enough and you’ll get plenty of satisfaction from its reliability. A 2009 IS 250 in SE spec with just 31,000 miles is £8,000. INTERIOR RELIABILITY CARS THE MODERN CHOICE Honda Accord FOR:Newer tech, sharp styling, lots of kit AGAINST:Firm ride, not the best image MENTION Honda Accord and it’s natural to think of an uninspiring mid-size saloon. But the…

NISSAN has announced that it will delay its return to the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and instead focus on solving technical issues encountered in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Problems with the GT-R LM’s energy recovery system (ERS) meant it had to run on petrol power alone at Le Mans, which compromised its acceleration out of corners and resulted in lap times far off the pace of rivals Audi and Porsche. “People will be disappointed, but be assured no-one is more disappointed than us,” said Shoichi Miyatani, the president of Nissan’s motorsport arm. “We are racers and we want to compete, but we also want to be competitive. That’s why we’ve chosen to continue our test programme and prepare the GT-R LM for the strong…

TOO many companies retailing cars, servicing and insurance continue to leave customers deeply dissatisfied. Whether it’s arrogant contempt, greedy pricing policies or unprofessionalism, they seem determined to drive clients away. It’s madness. They spend fortunes attracting customers – only to ignore them or handle them atrociously when they arrive at the showroom or phone up. Result? Dissatisfied consumers walk – into the arms of one of the many firms that understands and delivers customer satisfaction. I know this because I am that consumer. I’m also a fan of Volkswagens. That’s why I’ve bought and owned several, and still own a couple. But the ‘customer experience’ (or lack thereof) I recently endured when purchasing a brand new VW plus under-warranty servicing and repair work from a franchised dealership was so woeful…

Essentials Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Price: £250,000 Engine: 6.0-litre V12 Power/torque: 595bhp/625Nm Transmission: Seven-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.7 seconds (est) Top speed: 185mph Economy: 19.8mpg CO2: 332g/km ON SALE Sold out EQUIPMENT All cars get sat-nav, as well as DAB and Bluetooth, although GT12 ditches the retractable screen in favour of a fixed set-up to save weight DASHBOARD Main controls are dotted across the centre console, including buttons for the adaptive dampers, gearbox and traction control SINCE the Aston Martin Vantage arrived 10 years ago, the brand has launched various V8 and V12 road cars – as well as Zagato specials and racy models like the V8 N430 – but it’s saved the best for last. The Vantage GT12 is a race-derived special dedicated to the company’s success…

FIAT’S performance arm Abarth has been relatively quiet of late, but it’s set to turn up the heat with an all-new car – and an unusual one at that. We’ve already revealed the brand’s plans to create its own extreme version of the forthcoming Fiat 124 Spider (Issue 1,380, pictured right), yet the new product launches won’t stop there. The company is evaluating which Fiat will next spawn an Abarth variant, and according to bosses, the curvy 500X is near the top of the pile. “Besides the 124 and 500, we are thinking about an all-new addition to the line-up,” Alfredo Altavilla, Fiat Chrysler Group chief operating officer, told us. “The 500X is one of the options being considered.” Should an Abarth 500X get the green light for production, it…

SUZUKI has confirmed its new mid-sized hatchback will bring back the Baleno name when it goes on sale next year. The car – revealed in production form in this official picture (above) – is being described by company insiders as the ‘big Swift’, and is designed to sit above the supermini, but below full-sized family hatchbacks like the Ford Focus. It was first seen as the IK-2 concept (right) at March’s Geneva Motor Show. As the official profile picture reveals, the Baleno sticks rigidly to the design template laid out by the IK-2 concept with blacked-out A-pillars to create a wraparound windscreen effect and soft-flowing lines along the flanks. The Baleno is designed to provide an extra dose of practicality missing from the current six-year-old Swift, which is one of…

Seven-seat Renault SUV spied on test RENAULT’S upcoming seven-seat SUV has been spied testing ahead of its 2017 launch. Based on alliance partner Nissan’s X-Trail, the as-yet-unnamed new model (above) will fill the gap in the range above the Kadjar and Captur. It features Renault’s latest family face, and will go head-to-head with the Hyundai Santa Fe. Company bosses have told us that there is a “fairly high chance” the SUV’s name will follow the other models and begin with a C or a K . Spyker back from dead with EV plan DUTCH supercar maker Spyker appears to be back from the dead, after emerging from bankruptcy with bold plans. CEO Victor Muller announced plans to merge with US-based electric aircraft manufacturer Volta Volare, in order to build “sensationally…

PORSCHE’S Boxster is set for a facelift early next year, complete with four-cylinder turbo power for the first time, and our spies have caught it in a light disguise. Power outputs can only be speculated on at this stage, but we expect at least 250bhp from the ‘base’ Boxster and Cayman (replacing the 2.7), with around 300bhp from the S and over 350bhp from the GTS. The Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 are likely to keep their naturally aspirated flat-sixes for now, to suit their hardcore nature.…

Renault Clio RS 220 vs Peugeot 208 GTi THE French are masters of the supermini hot hatch. And Renault and Peugeot have updated their pocket rockets to keep them at the top of their game. The Clio RS 220 Trophy has more power and some chassis tweaks, while the 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport gets more poke, plus a limited-slip diff. See them go head-to-head in our road test on Page 48, then watch our sizzling track battle. Four AMGs driven in four minutes MEET our new presenter Rebecca Chaplin as she attempts to review four Mercedes-AMGs in four minutes in a thrilling episode of girl vs car. On the menu are a C 63, a CLS 63, an S 63 Coupé and an AMG GT S. It’s a baptism…

HOT TOPIC Honda HR-V driven FROM: Teifi0n WHY does Honda give the HR-V such a small engine? Is it to satisfy businesses who worry about high CO2 figures? Pity, as it’s us private buyers who would buy the car if it came with a bigger engine. We don’t really care about the extra increase in car tax. FROM:LeventTaskan YOU’D struggle to find better seats and interior fittings in any of the German or Japanese rivals than in the HR-V. It’s the gearbox and ride quality where Honda needs to improve, however. The automatic box on my last Honda shuddered at every gearchange. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “Looking forward to a comparison test between the CX-5 and the HR-V, then we’ll know for sure which is better.”…

Essentials Mercedes V250 BlueTEC SE Price: £43,520 Engine: 2.1-litre 4cyl, turbodiesel Power/torque: 187bhp/440Nm Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 9.1 seconds Top speed: 129mph Economy: 44.8mpg CO2: 166g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT Sat-nav is standard on the V-Class, as are Bluetooth and heated leather seats. You also get Active Park Assist with a reversing camera, plus cruise control and Sidewind Assist PRACTICALITY Boot capacity rises to 610 litres depending on seat configuration, but maximising legroom means there won’t be much space for luggage behind the third row of seats THE new Mercedes V-Class is aimed at those for whom a regular MPV is simply too small. And with its luxurious and cavernous interior, it offers a different level of business class comfort to a regular high-end saloon. It has a…

DESPITE being new, the Tivoli is already available with a number of attractive finance deals. For instance, the 1.6 EX tested here can be had for just £169 per month. The three-year package requires a £3,697 deposit, and brings competitive APR of 6.9 per cent and an optional final payment of £6,768. Just bear in mind the annual mileage limit of 10,000 miles. Cash discounts are harder to come by. SsangYong is such a small player in the UK car market that the majority of specialist brokers don’t list its models, so savings will have to be negotiated directly with a dealer. You’re likely to have better luck if you’re in the market for a Vitara, although the discounts still won’t be huge. For example, broker buyacar.co.…

How to Restore Classic Car Bodywork Martin Thaddeus (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.com) Price: £30 (paperback) Rating: WITH the price of classics rocketing, this book couldn’t be timed better – and the content doesn’t let it down. Author Thaddeus is an enthusiast who wants to pass on his knowledge to help rookies avoid the pitfalls of restoring older cars’ bodywork. Clear instructions and helpful images make this a must-read for any hobbyist collector, beginner or experienced. Stirling Moss Scrapbook 1955 Stirling Moss & Philip Porter (www.porterpress.co.uk) Price: From £39.95 (hardback) Rating: WE’RE big Stirling Moss fans, and dare anyone not to love the first in this collection of books charting his racing years. It’s a collaboration with publisher Philip Porter that brings out the best bits of Moss’ career and personal life,…

Q How can I buy a Corvette? I WANT to buy a new Corvette C7 in the UK, but keep hitting dead ends as Chevrolet is ceasing its operations. Is there any way to purchase a UK-based C7, and how could I have it serviced? Richard Moss, E-mail A YOU can still buy a left-hand-drive C7 with under 1,000 miles from a private or specialist seller. The chevrolet.co.uk site still features a car configurator, but we rang a few dealers and were unable to find any on sale. Servicing is via Vauxhall dealers, which confirmed there will be a supply of spare parts for 10 years. Q C-MAX child lock woes WHENEVER I turn the ignition, the display on my 2013 Ford C-MAX says “Child Lock Malfunction – service required”. But…