Innholdsfortegnelse for 1458 i Auto Express

www.thedrivingdoctor.org @drpaulripley ONLINE or in-car driver assessments simply do not work: people cheat and never show how they drive normally, because when being assessed, they drive within posted speed restrictions and display acceptable behavioural, emotional and attitudinal control. The instructor/assessor writes a worthless report and it’s filed away. Yet in real life, these drivers may be risk takers, speeders, have disruptive attitudes and unruly behaviour behind the wheel – the assessor will never see this side. As for online assessments of skill, knowledge and attitudes; sure, you can test a person’s Highway Code knowledge or what a few traffic signs mean. The big failure, though, is that you can never assess a driver’s attitude and behaviour when they’re actually behind the wheel via a few questions and multiple choice answers…

WITH the likes of the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa fighting it out for the supermini crown, it’s easy to forget that the efficient, practical and sensible Kia Rio even exists. Now there’s a new model on sale – but Kia hasn’t made it that much easier to remember. While the old model had a few interesting design touches, such as the ‘tiger nose’ grille and sharp front bumper, this newcomer features a more conservative design. Even the ‘tiger nose’, which is now a single piece of plastic and not a grille at all, doesn’t help the Rio to stand out. The large lower grille and headlights are the design highlights, as neither the car’s profile nor its rear end stand out from other models in this class.…

MODEL TESTED: MINI Cooper D Countryman PRICE: £24,425 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THIS new second-generation MINI Countryman is launching with a range of powertrains. From front-wheel drive to fourwheel drive, efficient turbo petrols to (later this year) MINI’s first ever plug-in hybrid, the new Countryman offers plenty of choice. However, diesel is still popular in this market, so it’s the £24,425 manual Cooper D Countryman we test here. DESIGN & ENGINEERING THE Countryman has grown into more of a proper crossover because this second-generation car is now 20cm longer and 3cm wider than its predecessor. It also offers more interior space than before, and part of the reason is the chassis that underpins the new car. MINI’s newcomer is based on owner BMW’s latest UKL2 platform; this also supports the…

MINI COUNTRYMAN Navigation System XL £950 option Key features: Send-to-car nav, Connected app THE big news with MINI’s latest 8.8-inch XL infotainment system is that there’s now touchscreen capability. However, it still retains the scroll wheel and buttons, and it’s actually easier to use these than to navigate around the system, because some of the touchscreen icons aren’t all that simple to select. Go for the £950 Media pack that adds the XL nav system and you also get MINI’s Connected XL function, which adds a head-up display. Standard connected services on all models include compatibility with an iPhone or Apple watch through MINI’s Connected app, while the system can also transfer destination data saved on your phone straight to your car. However, MINI has not yet announced if it…

NEW PRODUCT Racing Gold Chess Sets Price: From £9,995 Contact: www.racinggold.co.uk/red-bull YOU might think Formula One racing and chess are at opposite ends of the speed spectrum, but that hasn’t stopped Racing Gold from combining the two. Using parts destined for Red Bull Racing F1 cars, the company has created three unique chess sets. They feature in Racing Gold’s PART of the Team Collection – a range comprised of pieces built out of racing components – and complement the lamps, coat stands and clocks also available. Three distinct chess set designs have been created, each crafted from different parts and carrying its own price tag. Set number one costs an eye-watering £24,995, and is built from exotic titanium components. The kings have special provenance as well – they’re made from…

LITHIUM-ion batteries and powerful chip-on-board (COB) LEDs have given a massive boost to inspection lamps, which are brighter and better than ever before. Now NightSearcher has taken the technology a step further with its new Star Blade lamp. Instead of the chunky shapes of its rivals – plus the brand’s own PRO 250 (Issue 1,450) – this features a slender, wand-like strip of chip-on-board LEDs. But how does it perform? To find out, we put it up against the Ring MAGflex Twist (Best Buy in our Issue 1,417 test). We rated the beam, mounts, charging options and durability, plus maker’s and online prices were factored in. The Ring retains its crown because it’s more robust and versatile, but the newcomer can put light where others can’t and will appeal to…

ASDA will loan you the cash to buy a new car, before selling you annual insurance and breakdown cover. Then it’ll provide fuel, oils, parts, accessories, safety kit, mobile phones for gloveboxes plus countless other automotive products. But direct or indirect retailing of price-slashed cars for the masses it doesn’t do – yet. True, the supermarket chain bravely tried several decades ago, but its then revolutionary Asdadrive project crashed and burned, largely because it was way ahead of its time. Since then, that Interweb thing has taken over and massively altered the world, where consumers are happy to order goods unseen from reputable outlets’ websites. Back in the mid-eighties, the Asdadrive experiment suffered inventory and space problems as its cars stole valuable customer car parking bays that were required to…

Next GLA to be based on new platform and offer more space Revised styling, new diesel engines and hybrid power all planned MERCEDES is plotting a massive overhaul of its SUV range with five new models by the end of the decade. And set to form a vital piece of the puzzle will be an all-new GLA crossover. The GLA will remain the smallest, cheapest member of the SUV family, and even though the current model received a mid-life refresh at January’s Detroit Motor Show, the second-generation car is already undergoing development testing ahead of a debut expected in 2019. Our exclusive images preview what the all-new Audi Q2 rival could look like, and while we don’t expect the GLA to move on too far in terms of design –…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer MOTORISTS could face a struggle to find a garage to MoT their cars as testers fail to keep up with the latest tech and testing practices, according to figures which reveal only a third of UK technicians have completed new, compulsory training. Garages face losing their testing status if they fail to complete the new annual training before the 31 March deadline and the Independent Garage Association (IGA) estimates a mere 35 per cent of the 60,000 testers in 23,000 MoT garages across Britain have done so. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) overhauled MoT training standards last year, replacing the five-year refresher course with annual training and assessment. The new training is at least three hours long, and can be done online, at designated training centres…

WHIPLASH remains one of the biggest obstacles to cutting insurance premiums, with thousands of fraudulent claims still being made, contributing to the rise in annual costs for honest drivers. That’s despite Government efforts to make it harder to file bogus claims, tightening the medical diagnosis process in recent years. One outstanding problem is the exceptional time limit after an accident when you can make a claim for an injury – a staggering three years. Shops will often give you 30 days to return clothes, while you only get two years to take a driving practical after passing the theory test. But want to claim for a dodgy neck? Take your time – you’ve got three years. The time gives claims management companies an opportunity to find business and start a…

Inbox What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Lettersd, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland street, London W1T4JD FROM: antonyr KIA is now getting very close to the premium German manufacturers with a price that shames them. There are no big charges for extras; just very good engineering, design and build quality in a great value-for-money package. FROM: snappyuk I’M not saying that the Stinger GT isn’t worth £43,000, but for a brand like Kia, that is a lot to ask, especially compared with the rest of its range. Even if it is a great car to drive, there is unfortunately a lot of badge snobbery out there. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “Well done, Kia. If you can get that spec into the UK at…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram VOLVO’S history of jacked-up estate cars can be traced back to before Audi introduced its venerable Allroad in the late nineties. The pioneering Volvo V70 XC went on sale in 1997, two years ahead of its rival. Since then, the Swedish manufacturer has enjoyed great success with its Cross Country models. The original XC paved the way for the XC90 SUV in 2002 which, along with the smaller XC60, brought unprecedented sales for the brand. And with an XC40 due before the end of 2017, things are showing little sign of slowing. The V90 Cross Country is Volvo’s latest off-road load-lugger. Using the standard estate as a base, engineers have raised the suspension by 65mm, added protective body cladding and installed a new Off-Road setting for the car’s…

MODEL TESTED: Audi Q2 1.6 TDI Sport PRICE: £24,500 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 114bhp THE Audi Q2 is the brand’s first crack at the compact crossover class, and combines an upmarket image with cutting-edge kit and low running costs. There’s a wide range of engine and transmission options available, and here we test the 1.6-litre TDI in mid-spec £24,500 Sport guise – although the car in our pictures is a 1.4 TFSI. DESIGN & ENGINEERING AS with a lot of the latest crop of VW Group models, the Audi Q2 is underpinned by the brand’s MQB architecture. Light and strong, this versatile chassis gives sharp handling and refinement. And just as the Countryman shares MINI styling cues, the Q2 features a strong resemblance to other Audi models, including the large grille…

17:71 Driving Brian M Stratton (Instructor Training & Publications, www.instructor-training.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: THIS is aimed at all drivers, from when they start out at age 17 to 71 when they’re thinking about how safe they are to continue. Author Stratton has every driving qualification under the sun, so the book is packed with his insight. It’s not easy to read, though, with no breaks from the walls of tiny text. We certainly can’t imagine a 17-year-old reading the whole thing. Porsche 914 & 914-6 Brian Long (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £37.50 Rating: ONE of the lesser-known models in Porsche’s past, the mid-engined 914, is the subject of this book. It goes into great depth on why the car wasn’t the runaway success the company had hoped for, and includes…

Scout’s honour for rugged Skoda SUV SKODA has added another string to the Kodiaq’s bow, revealing a rugged Scout version of its new SUV (above) that will star at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. A host of distinctive styling tweaks set the four-wheel-drive-only Kodiaq Scout apart, including new silver protective inserts for the front and rear bumpers. Silver detailing can also be found framing the grille, plus on the roof rails and window trims. Unique 19-inch wheels and increased ground clearance of 194mm round off the upgrades. And price is right on fresh-faced Octavia THE Czech brand has also announced that the facelifted 2017 Octavia is now on sale, with a starting price of £17,055 for a 1.0-litre TSI hatch in S trim. The popular 114bhp 1.6 diesel starts from…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ASTON Martin’s reinvention, heralded by the new DB11 last year, continues in 2017 as the brand applies the finishing touches to the all-new Vantage. To be launched towards the end of the year, the Vantage also carries the added pressure of being dubbed the “best handling Aston ever” by senior company execs. This Vantage will have very little in common with its predecessor. Based on Aston’s latest aluminium architecture, the Porsche 911 rival will be longer and lower than the outgoing Vantage, as our exclusive images show, but also lighter. Big changes continue under the bonnet; this will be the first car to benefit from the new powertrain deal Aston has struck with Mercedes. It means the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the Mercedes-AMG GT will be fitted –…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer FEW businesses have been around since 1909. One or two watchmakers, some auto brands and several banks, maybe, but something as small as a garage? Surely not. You better believe it. In fact, Western Motor Works in Chislehurst, Greater London, hasn’t only kept its doors open for over a century, it was also the UK’s first purposebuilt car garage, and still operates from the same building. It’s now owned and operated by Vauxhall, but remains as busy as ever. To find out more about the iconic garage and its history, Auto Express took a trip down memory lane. It all started with a red Panhard-Levassor. In 1904, Hugh Marsham-Townshend was given the car by his father. Hugh’s younger brother Ferdinand took a liking to it, and decided there…

MODEL TESTED: Volvo V40 D2 Cross Country Nav Plus PRICE: £24,805 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 118bhp LIKE its rivals, Volvo’s V40 Cross Country takes the firm’s regular hatchback platform and raises the ride height to give it some more rugged appeal. However, this £24,805 D2 Cross Country Nav Plus (the car in our pictures is a D4) is a two-wheel-drive model that mixes crossover looks and practicality with low running costs. A facelift last year kept the V40 looking fresh, but are its older underpinnings enough to compete against the newest offerings in the sector? DESIGN & ENGINEERING ON this Cross Country, the ride height has been jacked up by 40mm from the standard V40 hatch on which it’s based, while the body gets some extra black plastic cladding to reinforce…

James_Disdale@dennis.co.uk BEFORE a car leaves Auto Express’s fleet, it’s usually given a thorough clean inside and out. But I had something dirtier in mind for our Land Rover Discovery Sport’s send-off. After a year in our hands, the Disco had proven its worth in virtually all conditions, but it never ventured much further off road than a gravel car park. Given its impressive rugged credentials, that seemed like a waste. Happily, all new Land Rovers come with a complimentary half day’s off-road driving tuition at one of the brand’s nine Experience centres around the country. I plumped for a trip to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, which has hundreds of miles of track set in a 5,000- acre estate. Guiding me over this challenging terrain was senior instructor Simon Millest. Before…

Diesel tuner in petrol switch AFTER 20 years, diesel tuning specialist Tunit has branched out into petrol engines for the first time. The new Tunit Optimum Plus upgrade (above) promises the usual increases in power and torque. But it’s bolstered by the addition of a smartphone app for fine-tuning on the move, with four settings. Tunit Optimum Plus is reversible, and comes with a two-year warranty. Find out more at www.tunit.com or by calling 01257 274100. Legendary carb is brought up to date THE SU carburettor is an iconic feature underneath many bonnets, and now maker Burlen has introduced a new unit. It has the same classic looks as the SU, but hidden within is an up-to-date fuel injection system, which offers better performance and reduced emissions. Each SUi system…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 1 | 2 | 2017 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. Gtech Multi MK2 Price: £149 Battery (v)/Charge time (hours): 22/4 Rating ????? Contact: 01905 345724, www.gtech.co.uk BEST BUY CHARGING in just four hours, the 22v Gtech unit had lots of grunt, and with the small motorised head it easily defeated our test carpet mess. The twin LEDs lit up the dark footwells ahead of the device, and using the crevice tool with the pull-out flexi nozzle, it was easy to get between the seats. With these and the lockable trigger, there was no need to keep hold of the 1.6kg device. Along with the soft…

Dear Lawrence, My wife and I are after a fun two-seat convertible before demand rises in the spring. What should we look at on a £6,500 budget? Brian Harris, Kent Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CARS THE REFINED CHOICE Audi TT Roadster FOR: Smart looks, top-quality cabin, refined AGAINST: Least fun here, mixed reliability DON’T label the previous-generation TT as offering more style over substance. It’s the only front-wheeldrive model here, but it’s still enjoyable thanks to an agile chassis and punchy turbo petrol engine. It’s got the nicest cabin of our trio, and is a refined motorway cruiser. It lacks the character and ultimate thrills of its rivals, however, and the ride is firmer on models without adaptive suspension. We saw a 2007 2.0 TFSI with 68,000 miles for £6,495. THE PRESTIGE…