Innholdsfortegnelse for October 14, 2015 i Auto Express

WE’VE devised a new in-car game in the Fowler family: can you spot a Ford Fiesta before the clock runs down? Sometimes we allow ourselves a minute, sometimes two – it rarely takes more. Fun, eh? The Ford Fiesta is Britain’s best-selling car by a country mile, so far this year selling nearly 50 per cent more than the Vauxhall Corsa in second place. It’s been that way for decades, and in this issue we’ve been able to put a new Fiesta ST head-to-head with a 1989 XR2 – fantastic retro fun. Meeting up with Ford of Britain boss Andy Barratt, he proudly told me that Ford sold over 71,000 cars and vans in September. I’ve always taken the word ‘sold’ with a pinch of salt given the amount of…

650S anniversary special unleashed McLAREN has announced a racy new Can-Am special edition of the 650S (above), celebrating 50 years since the company’s debut at the Canadian-American Challenge Cup. Only 50 examples will be built and all will be Spider models, costing £255,850 each. Three colours are on offer, with distinctive two-tone graphics and racing decals harking back to the original racers. There’s also lots of carbon detailing; on the bonnet, front spoiler, hard-top and rear airbrake. PAGE 30: Best of British: McLaren Vauxhall revives scrappage scheme VAUXHALL is bringing back the scrappage scheme with its new Scrappage Allowance policy. The firm will offer £2,000 minimum part-exchange for your old car when traded in for a new one. There’s no upper age limit on the vehicle you can trade in,…

Brit sports car brand set for London show ZENOS Cars has confirmed it will be attending next May’s London Motor Show. The Norfolk-based company will display its E10 and E10S two-seater sports cars (above), and has hinted that it may reveal a futuristic concept or two. Situated in Battersea Park, the London expo takes over from the British Motor Show, which was axed back in 2008. Tickets cost from £13. Clever LED street lights on the way INTELLIGENT LED street lighting that reacts to cars and pedestrians is being developed by Continental. The research programme would mean the LED lights would use two-thirds of the electricity a current streetlight does. Brightness would be adjusted according to what sensors picked up, and lights could be switched off altogether when there’s no…

AN invisible pollutant given off by degrading tyres causes emphysema and other health problems, US scientists have discovered. Researchers were investigating the effect of carbon black and smoking on the lungs, and found the substance is also produced when tyres wear down. The nano particles are impossible to remove once absorbed by the lungs, and turn the inside black. They’re invisible to the human eye, too, which makes them all the more dangerous. As well as causing emphysema, carbon black can attack human DNA. Dr. James Tour from Rice University in Houston, Texas, said: “It is going to have to change. It’s imperative that risk assessments be conducted.”…

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 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 Problems with makers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls DVSA: 0300 123 9000 Used car inspections…

THIS year has marked the release of a new Mazda MX-5 and Vauxhall Astra, while an eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI is in the pipeline, too. All three cars are following in the footsteps of iconic predecessors, but the question is: can modern cars match up with their past? And, of course, any old versus new comparison wouldn’t be complete without the UK’s biggest-selling car – the Ford Fiesta. To see how things have changed, we took old and new out on the road, and, to make things more scientific, we also tested them over a quarter mile to see what a difference a few decades can make. Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 (1979) vs Mk7 (2015) WHEN Volkswagen stuck a GTI badge on the Golf in 1975, the world fell in…

Jonathan Burn Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “What impresses more than the outright pace is just how responsive and tactile the Spyder feels” Essentials Porsche Boxster Spyder Price: £60,459Engine: 3.8-litre 6cyl petrolPower: 371bhpTorque: 420NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,rear-wheel drive0-62mph: 4.5 secondsTop speed: 180mphEconomy: 28.5mpgCO2: 230g/km ON SALE Now PRACTICALITY Even though it’s an uncompromising two-seater sports car, the Boxster is impressively practical. You get two boots: one in the nose and another, with more room (280 litres), in the back. Storage in the cabin is quite poor, though EQUIPMENT To keep the weight to a minimum, Porsche will sell you the Spyder without a radio or air-conditioning, but you can add this equipment as a no-cost option. The infotainment system is also an optional extra, and includes satellite navigation OVER £60,000 for a Porsche Boxster…

Essentials Range Rover Autobiography TDV6 Price: £91,550Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodieselPower/torque: 254bhp/600NmTransmission: Eight-speed auto,four-wheel drive0-60mph: 7.4 secondsTop speed: 130mphEconomy: 40.9mpgCO2: 182g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT 2016 model year Range Rovers get new InControl infotainment, but it’s still not as slick as rivals’ systems – and the graphics aren’t as sharp TECHNOLOGY Range Rovers have always been supreme off-road thanks to All-Terrain Progress Control which gives different driving modes PRACTICALITY Split tailgate now comes with gesture control fitted as standard. It opens to reveal large 909-litre boot, which extends to 2,030 litres HONING a recipe like the Range Rover’s is more difficult than it might seem, but with each successive version Land Rover has got it right, delivering luxury, performance, quality and a strong brand image to its exacting clientele – and…

SsangYong Korando2.2 ELX 4x4 automatic Price: £22,495Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower: 176bhpTransmission: Six-speed automaticfour-wheel drive0-60mph: 9.9 secondsTop speed: 115mphEconomy: 41.5mpgCO2: 177g/km ON SALE Now SSANGYONG’S profile in the UK has increased significantly with the launch of the Tivoli, but the Korean brand’s larger Korando SUV remains on sale. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine has now been replaced with a new 2.2-litre that complies with the latest Euro 6 emissions regulations. SsangYong says that in addition to emitting less CO2 than before, this engine is more powerful, economical and refined. It certainly delivers a decent shove of power when you accelerate, so the Korando remains a strong tow car and safe overtaker, but progress is accompanied by an almighty racket – much louder than the more refined modern diesels you get in most…

Off-road NONE of our trio is designed to be a dedicated mud-plugger, but it’s the Jeep that inspires most confidence off-road. Its Selec-Terrain system features four-stage traction control, plus the short body has decent approach and departure angles. The Nissan comes with a diff lock, but the Mazda relies on its traction control for grip. Personalisation THE Renegade is the only car here that you can customise with body decals, two-tone roof colours and contrasting interior trim inserts. The only way to stamp your personality on the Qashqai and CX-5 is with metallic paint options and different alloy wheel designs. CO2 emissions IF you’re looking to cut your tax bills, go for the Qashqai, as its 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine emits 99g/km of CO2. In contrast, the two-wheel-drive Renegade 1.6…

Customisation FIAT gets fresh colour schemes and new optional ‘Second Skin’ graphics packs, such as the diamond-style pattern on our test car. But the Adam leads the personalisation race, with a multitude of unusually named styling packs for the interior and exterior, including contrasting colours for the roof, body and wheels, plus the dashboard trim. Engines IT’S two cylinders against three in the engine stakes. Both cars have turbos and deliver similar outputs, but the Vauxhall’s engine is smoother and more refined. This isn’t the be all and end all in a city car, though. The 500’s unit has good punch, which gives the car a unique personality. Design SUBTLE tweaks have kept the Fiat 500 looking fresh next to the newer Adam. It helps that the basic shape has…

OUR Skoda Octavia Scout is proving to be a popular choice on the Auto Express fleet. Its big boot, powerful diesel and comfortable ride mean it’s the perfect long-distance cruiser, and it’s racked up the miles with plenty of extended trips at the hands of assorted staff members. In fact, it’s proving so popular I hardly get time to drive it myself! So the last time I got my hands on it, I decided it needed a change of scenery to finally see if its off-road add-ons could help it cope with the rough stuff. The styling tweaks certainly mark it out from the standard Octavia. The chunky black plastic wheelarch mouldings and silver skid plates front and rear add a purposeful look, while our car’s Topaz Brown metallic paint…

Got a query? Cat_Dow@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How to remove tight bolts I’M switching to a set of winter tyres following your test, but I’m struggling to remove the rusted nuts from my wheels. Is there a product you can recommend to loosen them up? Garry Hemmings, E-mail A TRADITIONALLY, you’d use a manual wrench and lubricant, but you’d be better off investing in an impact wrench, because it’ll save you time. We tested these in Issue 1,382 (above), and the Panasonic EY75A2 came out on top – although it’s an expensive option, at nearly £300, which includes batteries. Q DIY retrofit LED lights I’M interested in fitting headlights with LED beams to my car. Is it possible to retrofit these? If so, does this need to be done by a…

Ginetta moves into racy fashion market RACING marque Ginetta is expanding into the fashion industry, with a new range of motorsport-designed coats, jackets and bags, plus belts and hats. The line-up features sporting touches like quick-release buckles and a duffle coat with toggles based on an engine kill switch. The clothing will use high-quality materials, such as Merino wool, and feature classy shoulder and elbow pads. Ginetta promises “intricate race car gadgetry and fashionable flair”. Haynes youngsters finish classic project AFTER a pilot scheme saw a group of youngsters take a Volkswagen Polo through its MoT, the Haynes Mechanix project has let more youths loose on a 1969 MG Midget. The scheme allowed eight young people with no prior automotive experience to use Haynes manuals to restore the car to…

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RED Bull and sister team Toro Rosso faced a race against time to secure engines for the 2016 Formula One season at last weekend’s Russian Grand Prix. With Red Bull having already terminated its contract with Renault, the team hoped to secure a deal with Ferrari for next year – but discussions foundered on whether the engines would be to the same specification as those used by the works team. Now Ferrari says that it’s too late to supply even 2015-spec engines to the squad. Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz had previously threatened to quit F1 entirely if he could not secure competitive engines for his cars. Mercedes and Honda have both ruled out supplying their rival, while Renault looks set to focus on its takeover of Lotus. Red Bull…

1. DASHBOARD Two high-definition digital displays replace traditional instruments and dash screen 2. HI-TECH Tech and safety systems will be among the most advanced of any production model 3. AUTO DRIVE Driver’s hands must remain on wheel to activate new autonomous driving system THE new C-Class and S-Class bookend Mercedes’ executive saloon range, with box-fresh designs and strong sales. But sandwiched in the middle is the ageing E-Class – and it’s beginning to get left behind. All that’s about to change, though. Next year, Mercedes will introduce the seventh generation of its most successful model ever, as it looks to build on the 13 million sales the E-Class has already achieved globally. At January’s Detroit Motor Show the wraps will come off the company’s all-new BMW 5 Series rival –…

MITSUBISHI is also preparing for the Tokyo Motor Show by revealing first pictures of its new eX compact SUV concept. The eX showcases a future all-electric small SUV from the Japanese manufacturer, which will sit alongside the next-generation ASX due in 2017. The eX concept shares a familiar look with another of Mitsubishi’s concepts, the XR-PHEV – which previews the next ASX. The eX has a similar, angular front end with an X-shaped grille motif, while the high waistline and small glasshouse echo the Range Rover Evoque. Unlike the XR-PHEV, which features a plug-in hybrid, range-extender powertrain, the eX debuts a purely electric, all-wheel-drive system. Although it’s still in its early stages of development, a source at Mitsubishi told Auto Express the eX will make production and form part of…

VOLKSWAGEN Group cars that have the diesel emissions ‘defeat device’ will require both hardware and software updates, with recalls due to start in January. Websites have been set up for the four affected brands – Audi, VW, SEAT and Skoda – so owners can see if their cars have the EA 189 engine that features the software. Owners only need to enter their VIN number – found on the V5C document and behind the windscreen – to see if their car is caught up in the scandal. If it is, they will have to wait to be notified in writing of what the fix is. US bosses also admitted performance may be affected by the recall work, and compensation could be due for those who’d purchased cars fitted with the…

NEW car registrations grew for the 43rd consecutive month in September, and the ‘dieselgate’ scandal (left) doesn’t appear to have affected VW sales. The Golf and Polo were the fourth and fifth best sellers in a month when 462,517 cars were registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Total registrations for 2015 to date now top two million and are up seven per cent on the same period in 2014. Customer demand for diesels stayed strong, too, with a near 50:50 split with petrols.…

SPEED and driver awareness courses differ in price by as much as £100 across the nation’s police forces, an Auto Express investigation has revealed. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, some motorists caught by the police can opt for a course as a substitute for penalty points and a fine. However, our survey revealed there’s no flat rate for how much you’ll pay – and where you’re caught can determine how much it’ll cost. We reported in Issue 1,377 how police forces offer a range of different courses – some up to seven – and now we’ve found out the wide range of fees charged, too. For instance, a driver caught in Dorset for driving without due attention can opt to take a £200 national driver alertness course as an…

IT’S a year since the tax disc was officially scrapped, and the latest figures suggest it’s causing owners a fair few problems – while costing the Government millions. After a 93-year stint on the nation’s cars, the disc was ditched in a crusade against red tape by Government officials last October. It wasn’t all plain sailing, though, as we exclusively reported in Issue 1,377 how, in the first six months since abolition, DVLA enforcement cases for untaxed vehicles had doubled. Fast-forward to October 2015, and things haven’t got a whole lot better. It’s estimated around a million drivers are untaxed, and with the average car tax standing at £170 a year, that’s a lot of money not finding its way to HM Treasury coffers. It’s hard to imagine that scrapping…

THE use of telematics is growing at an unprecedented rate. Gone are the days where ‘driver assessment’ relied on an instructor compiling a report. It’s the same for ‘online driver assessments’, which are largely worthless, as users are presented with a series of questions. It’s easy to get every answer correct and appear the perfect driver! It’s folly to imagine that an ‘online’ assessment can truly offer a reasonably accurate result on actual driver behaviour behind the wheel. With telematics, we get a realistic reflection of ‘actual’ driving attitudes, as it monitors everything a driver does. Their historic and current driving abilities, safety and behaviour can be downloaded into the data system and analysed to offer a score. But this is where the telematics value chain stops, as monitoring alone…

GOING head-to-head with Ferrari was seen as suicide until McLaren threw down the gauntlet in 2010. In five years, the Woking company has become firmly established as a genuine rival to the Italian sports car maker. Yet it’s the acceptance of the British brand by discerning supercar customers around the world, who bought a record 1,649 models in 2014, that has underlined that McLaren has not only arrived, but is here to stay. The firm has built a state-of-the-art factory, developed a range of successful supercars and taken on 1,200 workers in the UK. Even given McLaren’s 50-year expertise in Formula One racing, the achievement of setting up and delivering a world-class car business is unprecedented. McLaren’s move into road cars was the sixties dream of founder Bruce McLaren, and…

Essentials BMW X1 xDrive20d Sport Price: £33,680Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower/torque: 188bhp/400NmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic,four-wheel drive0-62mph: 7.6 secondsTop speed: 136mphEconomy: 57.6mpgCO2: 127g/km ON SALE Now PRACTICALITY Longer wheelbase and taller body than predecessor help provide plenty of space in the back, with good levels of head and kneeroom EQUIPMENT Options can be pricey – our test car had £10k worth of extra equipment, including upgraded sat-nav and clever forward collision warning DESPITE being branded as having challenging styling, the original BMW X1 built up a loyal following, not least in the UK. Of the 730,000 sold worldwide over its six-year life-span, nearly 40,000 found homes here, so you’d expect the brand not to change the recipe too much. Well, you’d be wrong, as the new second-generation X1 has started with a clean…

Essentials SEAT Alhambra SE 2.0 TDI Price: £28,675Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl dieselPower/torque: 148bhp/340NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.2 secondsTop speed: 126mphEconomy: 55.4mpgCO2: 132g/km ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT Instrument dials are as clear and easy to read as ever, and screen between them is multifunctional. Uprated sat-nav is a £995 option, which includes a rear view camera and DAB. For £150, you can add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity PRACTICALITY Lever on outside of outer middle row seats flips the backs forwards, giving easy access to rearmost row. Folding mechanism is still foolproof to operate, plus for an additional £235, you can specify a handy integrated child seat SOMETIMES change is just for change’s sake. If you’ve already got a winning formula, why mess with it? And SEAT seems to think…

ONE thing was very clear at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show: the car industry is in fine fettle. From cheeky city cars and outrageous hypercars to new hybrids and all-electric SUVs, manufacturers have been busy prepping the models you want most. And while some focus on delivering the best driving thrills and push the boundaries in terms of design, most offer something new in the shape of connectivity and making the daily commute that little bit more pleasurable. To keep you up to speed with what’s on the horizon, we’ve compiled this must-read special that showcases the cars destined for your local showroom in 2016 and beyond. The following 32 pages will put the spotlight on the cars you should be getting excited about, when they’re coming and how much…

Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI 150 SE L 4x4 PRICE: £24,620 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THIS budget will also buy a punchy and well equipped 2.0-litre diesel Yeti SE L. As with all models, the cabin is vast and versatile, while the 4WD transmission has an effective off-road function. Emissions rival the Jeep Renegade’s, at 134g/km. Renault Kadjar 1.6 dCi D’mique S Nav 4WD PRICE: £25,095 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 128bhp RECENTLY introduced Kadjar successfully blends eye-catching design flair with rugged Qashqai underpinnings. Dynamique S spec is loaded with standard kit, yet undercuts its similarly equipped Nissan sister car by a healthy £1,500.…

NEW: Smart ForFour Prime PRICE: £12,315 ENGINE: 0.9-litre 3cyl, 89bhp IT’S down on power, but the four-seat Smart ForFour Prime gets lots of premium features to rival our test cars, like cruise control, heated seats and a panoramic roof. There’s also crosswind assist to improve safety on the motorway. USED: MINI Cooper PRICE: £14,500 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 3cyl, 134bhp FOR a similar budget to the Fiat, you could have a nearly new, current-shape MINI Cooper with a more powerful engine and plenty of kit, including DAB, cruise control and Bluetooth. It’s a more premium package, plus you still get the balance of the warranty.…

IF you really want to see how well a car can withstand 12 months of hard use, then there probably aren’t many tougher tests than being in my hands. And while the Peugeot 308 SW is showing signs of wear and tear after nearly 30,000 miles on our fleet, the reality is that its performance has been exceptional. Since joining up with Auto Express, the estate has seen its fair share of action – usually with either myself or fellow snapper Otis Clay harnessed and hanging out of the boot taking the pictures of the cars you see on these very pages. Thankfully, its class-leading 660-litre capacity means there’s plenty of space to be safe and comfortable, plus the load lip is low – useful when you want to take…

AS the days get shorter, it’s time to ensure you have extra light in the car for emergencies after dark. But should you choose a torch or an inspection lamp? Ring’s rechargeable RIL4000 Ultra Bright Magnetic Flexi inspection lamp won our Issue 1,316 test, so has the firm’s expertise carried over to these smaller, AAA battery-powered units? We turned off the workshop lights and compared torch and inspection lamp beams, looking for a powerful, wide light without dark patches. We also wanted magnets and hooks so the torch can be positioned to shine on the job, leaving hands free. A drop test from a metre on to concrete ensured they were durable, while prices were from a range of sources as we went to press. The punchy, versatile RIL82 gets…

CARS THE DRIVER’S CHOICE Vauxhall VXR8 FOR: Good fun to drive, affordable to buy AGAINST: Brash looks a bit much for some DON’T be fooled by the Vauxhall badge – the VXR8 is a rebranded Holden, imported from Australia, and isn’t exactly subtle. It’s loud, proud and bigger than you’d expect, with loads of space and kit inside. You also get a great 6.2-litre V8. There’s little in the way of fancy gadgets, but if you can live with the cheap-feeling cabin and steep running costs, it’s a lot of car for your money. We found a 2009 6.2 V8 manual with just 16,000 miles for £22,995. INTERIOR RELIABILITY CARS THE SENSIBLE CHOICE Jaguar XFR FOR:Brilliant engine and ride, classy cabin AGAINST:Least sporty option here, pricey JAGUAR took on the…

IT was only a matter of time before BMW’s M division got its hands on the 2 Series, and this is the result – the hotly anticipated M2 Coupé. Priced from £44,070, it will go on sale in April next year, with fewer than 500 models earmarked for the UK. Two years after the car on which it’s based was launched, the M2 has the Audi RS 3 firmly in its sights. With the M division’s reputation for producing brilliantly balanced, agile and searingly fast rear-wheel-drive performance cars, this new M2 Coupé is set to be a worthy competitor. It looks like a baby M4. It has similar air intakes at the front, flared wheelarches and trademark quad exhausts. The rear end is more toned and sculpted than the 2…

IT’S now abundantly clear that the repercussions of this scandal will hit VW hard. New boss Matthias Müller has indicated that non-essential investments will be reined in or axed. So what are the likely casualties? At the very top end of the group’s product portfolio, the replacement for the Bugatti Veyron, the 1,500bhp Chiron, looks increasingly hard to justify. The massive expense of development, minuscule volume and sheer gaudy excess of the whole exercise will surely count against it. The same fate could well await the second-generation Phaeton. While the luxury flagship is generally accepted as an excellent car, it is one VW simply doesn’t have to make, as there is little appetite at the top end of the market for its inflated price tag. I have fears, also, for…

SUBARU is aiming to make a splash at the Tokyo Motor Show with a bold new vision of its next-generation Impreza. The company will unveil a dramatic concept, previewed here in these design sketches. And the new car aims to firmly banish the current model’s staid image. It’s the first part of the Japanese firm’s exciting ‘Prominence 2020’ five-year plan, announced last year, which will see an overhaul of the entire range and a number of new models hit the market, including a new Forester taking cues from the VISIV concept (right). These sketches suggest the new Impreza will have a much more dynamic design than at present, helping it take the fight to the class-leading Vauxhall Astra. The front end will draw inspiration from the new Levorg, with the…

FIAT will turn back time next year, by reviving the Tipo name for its new Ford Focus-rivalling family hatchback. The company revealed the Agea saloon (right) earlier this year, and while that car will be launched in Turkey, a spin-off hatch and estate will be sold in Europe, sharing the same styling but wearing the Tipo badge. A source told Auto Express the five-door Tipo will arrive in the UK in September 2016, priced from around £15,000. It’ll be available in 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol guises, as well as 1.3 and 1.6 diesels. It’ll mark Fiat’s fresh attack on the family hatch class. The brand enjoyed success with the original Tipo in the early nineties, which continued later in the decade with the stylish Bravo/Brava. The more recent Stilo and…

Video report on the new BMW M4 GTS A RAFT of engine, brake, suspension and aerodynamic upgrades means the extreme new M4 GTS has set the fastest lap of any BMW ever around the famous Nordschleife section of Germany’s Nürburgring race track. But this accolade comes at a price – £121,000 to be precise. Can a 3 Series-based M4 Coupé really be worth this much? Watch our video, then make your own mind up... Classic Astra GTE vs modern Astra VXR WE reveal all about our old vs new drag races on Page 26, and in our third video, we race a Vauxhall Astra GTE from the eighties against today’s Astra VXR. With 32 years and 161bhp between them, we all know which will be faster. But what if we…

HOT TOPIC All-new MINI Clubman FROM: jetronic63 AS an owner of the first-generation Clubman, I find the second-generation car hideous. The defining MINI characteristics have been swept away with this one. Instead of a compact, efficient and a fun car, we’re left with a bloated marketing exercise. FROM: Will86 I THINK the Clubman gets too much abuse from people who have never even owned one. I had one for seven years and it was fantastic. We even managed to fit a dishwasher in the back. I’ll hold my judgement on the new one until I actually have a go in it. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “I saw it in the flesh at the Frankfurt Motor Show and loved it. It was my favourite ‘good surprise’ of…

Essentials Audi A4 S line 3.0 TDI quattro Price: £38,950Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodieselPower: 268bhpTorque: 600NmTransmission: Eight-speed auto,four-wheel drive0-62mph: 5.3 secondsTop speed: 155mphEconomy: 54.3mpgCO2: 137g/km ON SALE Now STYLING The A4 may look similar to the old model, but it’s totally new. Highlights include the headlamps, which feature distinctive twin arrow-like LED daytime running lights EQUIPMENT Audi’s smartphone interface comes fitted as standard on the A4, and it offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s slick and complements the A4’s quality cabin WITH the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class offering opposing character traits in the compact executive class for decades, Audi’s A4 has always struck a cautious path between them. It’s never excelled in one department, but has offered a broader set of skills instead. That was fine – until…

Essentials Tesla Model S 70D Price: £55,000 Engine: Dual motors Power: 256bhp front, 324bhp rear Transmission: Single speed,four-wheel drive 0-60mph: 5.2 seconds Top speed: 140mph Range: 275 miles ON SALE Now EQUIPMENT Delve into the options and you’ll find Autopilot, which comprises automatic cruise control, lane keep assistance and self-parking HANDLING Entry-level all-wheel-drive Tesla has a good ride on 19-inch wheels, although handling is not as sharp as on a BMW 5 Series PRACTICALITY Model S has more boot space than a BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 or Mercedes E-Class, as its small electric motor allows for a flat floor IT might be the mega-quick Tesla Model S P90D with its Ludicrous mode that’s grabbing all the headlines, but at the same time a new, all-wheel-drive ‘entry-level’ 70D model has…

Essentials Vauxhall AstraElite Nav 1.4T Price: £20,315Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl petrolPower/torque: 148bhp/245NmTransmission: Six speed manual,front-wheel drive0-60mph: 7.8 secondsTop speed: 134mphEconomy: 51.4mpgCO2: 128g/km ON SALE Now PRACTICALITY Boot serves up a decent 370-litre capacity, while there’s more legroom in the Astra than in most of its class rivals EQUIPMENT As well as stylish alloy wheels, our Elite Nav gets OnStar service – as do all Astras from SRi spec and above. Turbo is refined IT’S been a while since a new Vauxhall has come along and disrupted the class order, but that’s exactly what the all-new, seventh-generation Astra has done. It’s impressed us as an overall package in diesel and 1.0 turbo petrol form, so how does the mid-range 148bhp 1.4-litre turbo stack up? Vauxhall expects the 1.6-litre CDTi diesel will be…

FIAT is offering a finance deal on the top-of-the-range Lounge TwinAir 105 model we’ve tested with a £750 deposit contribution. You’ll have to put down £1,500 up front, while the contract is based on 37 monthly payments of £199 with interest charged at 3.2 per cent APR. The final payment in its example is a hefty £5,897, but the total amount payable is only £141 more than the list price of the car over three years, which represents good value for a finance deal. We also found a £2,221 cash saving on the new 500 through online broker buyacar.co.uk.  Just remember that the arrival of the fresh model means there’ll be lots of strong deals around on new or nearly new versions of the pre-facelift version. With the…

Suzuki Vitara THE long list of standard safety tech included with our Suzuki Vitara has come to the aid of art director Darren Wilson not once, but twice. In his last report, Darren had complained about the eagerness of the radar brake support system to alert him of possible danger. Even after he’d fiddled with the near/far settings, the shrill warning had sounded at traffic islands, skips and even the occasional speed bump. Yet Darren remained determined to keep the system turned on, just in case. This proved a smart move. Soon afterwards, it signalled an abrupt halt in city traffic while Darren was adjusting the stereo, preventing a shunt with the van ahead. And a week later, the Vitara was at it again. The tyre pressure warning light flashed…

FIRST TEST Nextbase DUO and 512G Price: From £199.99 Rating: Contact: 020 3195 0877, www.nextbase.co.uk NEXTBASE has long been a key player in the dash cam market, and we’ve had a first look at its latest releases – the DUO and 512G. The DUO is a two-lens camera that was developed after requests from customers for two-way protection, as crash-for-cash scammers may not always fake incidents that would be captured by a front-facing camera. Delivering good-quality, non-obscured focus out of the rear screen isn’t easy from a camera mounted on the front screen. In our test, it was tricky to position the camera so the view wasn’t blocked by headrests or passengers. But the rear camera features a 50-metre zoom lens, and Nextbase has done well to package it into…

Jaguar D-type Philip Porter and Chas Parker (Porter Press, porterpress.co.uk) Price: £60 Rating: THIS follows the history of the most raced Jaguar D-type of all-time: the XKD 504. Authors Porter and Parker paint a vivid picture of the works car turned into a racer that won at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Sebring through excellent photography, carefully researched words and a captivating tone throughout. A fitting addition to the shelves of any Jag fan, or racing enthusiast for that matter. The Man Who Built the Best Car in the World Brian Sewell (Quartet Books, www.quartetbooks.co.uk) Price: £11.99 Rating: NOT enough motoring books are written like children’s stories, and Sewell – the acclaimed art writer who passed away in September – tells the tale of Rolls-Royce, and then the ‘Best Car…

Q Stop spare wheel thieves MY 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe’s spare wheel has been stolen. I’m slightly puzzled as to how, and want to know if there’s anything I can do to prevent this happening again? Michael Madigan, E-mail A THE spare wheel is kept underneath the car and is held in place by a wire cable that can be cut easily. This has been a common gripe with other Santa Fe owners, but a number of anti-theft devices are available online or from some dealers to stop crooks in their tracks. Q Clio headlight adjustment I WILL be driving to Spain next month and would like to know whether the headlights on my 2014 Renault Clio GT can be adjusted to right-hand traffic, or if I need deflectors? Gary…

HAD I not personally witnessed it earlier this month, I wouldn’t have believed that ‘American’ Jeeps could be built on the same production line as Fiats in a picturesque but remote part of Italy. FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) can take the credit for shifting Jeep production – or at least some of it – from North America to a part of southern Europe where jobs are in short supply. Some reports suggest that around six out of 10 working age folk in the Italian deep south are unemployed and, sadly, have little choice but to leave the region to seek work elsewhere. But just as Vauxhall and Nissan rescued the industrial north-west and north-east of England with their plants at Ellesmere Port and Sunderland, FCA is now the saviour of…