Innholdsfortegnelse for 1515 i Auto Express

THERE are always obvious themes at the Geneva Motor Show and aside from the predictable push towards electrification, two things stood out clearly for me as I walked round the stands and spoke to execs at last week’s event. Firstly, there was a great deal of uncertainty. On Brexit. On Donald Trump’s proposed trade tariffs. On the future of diesel, with some wildly differing views being offered. And on Vauxhall, with PSA boss Carlos Tavares again stating: “We need to significantly reduce manufacturing costs.” Secondly, the opulence on display was simply breathtaking. Geneva has always been a show that lends itself to this, being based in one of the world’s main financial centres. But this year was something else, with an array of new models that wouldn’t look out of…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk @stuartjmilne THE return of the Toyota Supra is edging ever closer after the brand used the Geneva Motor Show to preview the sports car with the GR Racing Concept. The production model will become the fifth generation of the Supra and is being developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing performance division. Speaking at the show, Supra chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said a frontmounted six-cylinder turbo engine powering the rear wheels was the set-up favoured by owners of previous models. His comments tally with information recently leaked that the car would offer up 330bhp from a six-cylinder engine. But standalone internal combustion may not be the only possibility in the future. Tada said: “We are considering not only hybrid, but also other powertrain options, be it electric or fuelcell technology for…

THE Skoda Citigo is to get a fully electric version at the end of 2019, which will be called Citigo-e or Citigo E and offer a much-bigger range than the current EV version of its sister car, the VW e-up!. Alain Favey, Skoda’s global boss for sales and marketing, confirmed to Auto Express that the pure electric city car will have a range of 300km (186 miles). “The car is coming, and it will be called Citigo E. Will it have a hyphen? That’s a good question. You can call it Citigo-e if you like for now,” he said. “It will come before the end of 2019; our first step into fully electric cars. We have been waiting for the range to increase and at 300km, we think that’s acceptable…

WE’VE already had an early taste of Ford’s new Mustang 10-speed auto in America, but alongside the Fiesta ST tech briefing we also learnt more about the new gearbox, which Ford is describing as a “quantum leap”. One of the most interesting features is a new Drag Strip driving mode (one of six in total) that doesn’t reduce engine torque during changes to give maximum acceleration and the fastest shift times. We tried it ourselves, and while the changes with the but still es. you sacrifice some refinement, anges are definitely faster than sluggish old six-speed auto, not as quick as a dual-clutch. With 10 ratiostochoose from, smaller steps mean faster and smoother shifts, butthe real advance in speeded and refinement stems from Ford’s new direct-acting electric solenoids. They also…

ALONGSIDE the Senna GTR, McLaren used Geneva to reveal that the forthcoming three-seat ‘Hyper GT’ will be the fastest car it has ever produced. It’s said to be capable of more than 243mph, making it even faster than the McLaren F1 of the nineties. We have yet to see the new model, codenamed BP23, but we know it’ll be powered by a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and features a centrally mounted driver’s seat. McLaren claims that, alongside the car’s clear performance credentials, it will also be the most luxurious car to leave the Woking factory to date. Official sketches show the model’s design from above, as well as its driverfocused dash design. McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt also confirmed at Geneva that we’ll be seeing the new car in a public unveiling…

“Dealer staff advised that the burnt-out clutch was a wear-and-tear part, and not covered by warranty” CLUTCHES wear out; it’s a fact of life that many motorists have encountered. But how long a car’s clutch should last is often a matter of debate. When the clutch went on Douglas Foster’s 13-month-old SEAT Ateca in December after just 10,000 miles, he was more than a little concerned. Doug, from Romford, Essex, told us: “I was travelling on a motorway at about 70mph when, without warning, I noticed the gearchange display on my dashboard was showing strange gears, although I knew I was in sixth. The clutch pedal felt strange, almost as if the carpet was stuck under the pedal.” Doug crossed from the outside lane on to the hard shoulder. He…

“Vital statistics alone make pretty impressive reading, with 335bhp and 700Nm” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.0 seconds/155mph Running costs 50.4mpg (official) £62 fill-up Essentials Mercedes CLS 400 d 4MATIC AMG Line Price: £60,410 Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyl diesel Power/torque: 335bhp/700Nm Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive 0-62mph: 5.0 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 50.4mpg CO2: 148g/km ONSALE Now “CLS is a luxury car that can transport you from A to B in the blink of an eye” Andy_Pringle@dennis.co.uk @AndyMoshPringle NOT many cars can claim to have spawned a whole new class of vehicle, but it’s fair to say that without the Mercedes CLS, there would be no such thing as the Audi A7, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé or Volkswagen Arteon. This brand-new model is the third-generation CLS and, like the previous two,…

Running costs 80.7mpg (official) £57 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/125mph Essentials Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX Price: £24,925 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl diesel Power/torque: 118bhp/300Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10.2 seconds Top speed: 125mph Economy: 80.7mpg CO2: 93g/km ONSALE Now Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WHILE many manufacturers are turning their back on diesel, there’s a throng of high-mileage motorists who still depend on the stuff to cover big distances and keep costs down. Determined not to ditch its dedicated diesel drivers, Honda has added a revised version of its 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine to the new Civic range. We first drove it in Europe in January (Issue 1,509), but now we’ve got one in the UK to see whether it’s worth considering over the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol version. The visual…

Running costs 37.4mpg (on test) £48 fill-up/£140 or 21% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 400 litres/N/A Performance 0-60mph/top speed 9.5 seconds/113mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 51.6/35.1/8.2m MODELTESTED: SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115 DSG SE Technology PRICE: £18,495 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp THE SEAT Arona is easily the sportiest of these three SUVs when it comes to both design and dynamics. However, in SE Technology trim tested here and fitted with the firm’s 1.0 TSI 115 DSG powertrain (our pictures show a manual), it’s the most expensive car on test at £18,495. Is it worth it? Design & engineering THE small SUV sector is arguably the fastest-growing area of the market, with a new contender, such as the MG, seemingly joining the class every week. SEAT might have been a little late to…

THE Jaguar F-Type launched in 2013 with a choice of rip-snorting V8 or sonorous V6 supercharged engines. In the five years since, Jag has introduced four-wheel drive and a hardcore high-performance SVR flagship model, but there has also been a recent addition at the lower end of the line-up to further the F-Type’s appeal. This 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged version drops the car’s price to an even more (relatively) affordable £50,795 for the entry-level rear-wheel-drive 2.0 i4 automatic. But putting a lower-capacity turbocharged petrol engine in the finely styled nose of the F-Type Coupé means it faces competition from arguably the best sporty two-door in the business: the Porsche 718 Cayman, which adopted four-cylinder power back in 2016. In a head-to-head fight, which emerges victorious? Jaguar F-Type 2.0 R-Dynamic Turbo brings dramatic…

@JRRBatchelor Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.6 seconds/146mph Practicality Boot 480 litres Running costs 30.7mpg (on test) £62 fill-up James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk THE Italians have a relaxed outlook on life. While we Brits make do with a sandwich at our office desks for lunch, for example, our friends in Italy treat their midday meal as a serious event. That can mean several courses, plus wine, all of which takes time to consume. But it’s not just lunch; it seems that waiting for an Alfa Romeo is an equally long process. Back in 2016 I ran a Jaguar XE for six months and enjoyed living with a small executive car that wasn’t German. While the Jag fell short in technology and quality compared with a BMW 3 Series or an Audi A4, it made up…

DavidHugh Elysium-R chair Price: £38,000 Contact: DavidHugh (01223 811198, www.davidhugh.com/en/) SUPER-luxury furniture design specialist DavidHugh has chosen a Rolls-Royce dealer to launch its latest creation. The Elysium-R isn’t a car, but a chair, and it’s said to neutralise gravity and implement flotation theory. It’s also claimed to be the most technologically advanced product of its kind. DavidHugh says the Elysium-R is unlike anything else on the market. ‘Floatation theory’ refers to the way the chair adjusts to fit the user’s body – with ball-bearing joints giving a virtually frictionless movement. The frame is aluminium, while the trim is leather from Swedish cattle. Its armrests, which sweep back to provide supreme support, are filled with a grade of gel that “mimics the quality of human skin”. Such comfort doesn’t come cheap,…

NEW PRODUCT Sakura 7500 mAh Jump Starter SS5396 Price: £79.99 Rating: Contact: 01488 689400, www.saxon-shop.com THE attractive Sakura weighs just 435g – that’s 60g less than the Sealey – despite giving away only 500mAh. We liked the zip-up hard case which stored the battery in one half and the cables in the other. Charging was only by USB, so you need a computer or a mains/car adapter, but the good tech spec included reverse connection protection, and all the sockets came with plastic covers. Only one USB 2.1A socket was provided for charging accessories. The instructions were comprehensive, telling us to connect the cables before the battery, but it was found wanting in use, given its claimed mAh and 400A max performance. It turned the engine over twice, but disappointingly,…

Atera Giro AF Price: £79.95 Rack weight: 2.9kg Max bike weight: 17kg Contact: 01539 621884, www.roofbox.co.uk Rating: BEST BUY FOR a premium rack, Atera’s lightweight Giro AF is incredibly simple. This makes it a doddle to use and it works really effectively. After checking the correct side of operation is set, and that the arm’s pivot is in the best place along the track for your bike, everything else is adjustable when the unit is mounted on roof bars. Talking of bars, out of the box the Giro AF is usable with practically all common types and profiles. And it’s just as versatile in terms of the bikes, frame sizes and tyre widths it caters for. Yakima Frontloader Price: £124.95 Rack weight: 6.2kg Max bike weight: 18.1kg Contact: 01539 621884,…

• Rugged all-electric 4x4 could arrive in showrooms by 2021 • Twin motors give supercar acceleration and 250-mile range James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “Porsche claims the car sprints from 0-62mph in less than 3.5 seconds; faster than a Tesla Model X 100D” ESTABLISHED automotive brands are waging a war against Tesla with an army of all-electric SUVs. Porsche joined the fight by unveiling a new electric crossover concept in Geneva that could make production in 2021 to be a rival for the Tesla Model X. Called the Mission E Cross Turismo, it’s a taller, more rugged variant of the brand’s low-slung, four-door Mission E coupé, complete with a more practical estate-shaped rear end, too. Porsche’s official line explains that it’s a ‘concept study’, which “presents a picture as to what a Turismo…

“It has more than enough on tap to feel brisk, even rapid when you want it to” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Jaguar I-Pace is arguably the most radical vehicle in the firm’s history; the first proper Tesla rival from a mainstream brand and a pure-electric model that’ll be in dealers before the Audi e-tron or Mercedes EQ C. Now Auto Express has had a brief chance to get behind the wheel of a production version, on the eve of its public debut at the Geneva show. Seeing the I-Pace in the metal, the first thing that strikes you is what a clever bit of design it is. Jaguar’s design director Ian Callum has tried to exploit the advantages of using a bespoke allelectric platform, while minimising the disadvantages of having to…

THE future of Fiat in Europe looks to be on shaky ground as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) boss Sergio Marchionne admitted the Italian brand was becoming less relevant. As he seeks to drive FCA into profitability, Marchionne said tough decisions needed to be made and cited Lancia, which now sells only the Ypsilon, as an example of what might be in store for Fiat. “I understand it means a lot, but Fiat’s relevance in the market is wrong,” he said. “We need to make room for the emergence of the more powerful brands and protect sales.” The unstoppable rise of the SUV, which Marchionne calculates could account for up to 40 per cent of car sales in Europe by 2022, is partially behind his thinking. “I am not killing Fiat,…

“Automated vehicles have the potential to make British roads even safer, if our laws are ready”Nicholas Paines QC Law Commissioner Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer THE UK’s driving laws face a major shake-up in anticipation of the arrival of autonomous cars. The Government has launched a three-year review to examine any legal obstacles that might prevent widespread development, testing and ownership of self-driving cars in the UK. The review will be conducted by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission. It will determine if current road rules are modern enough to support fleets of autonomous cars, and whether existing laws can be adapted for vehicles that won’t always have a human driver. Lawyers will investigate key aspects, such as how to allocate civil and criminal responsibility when there…

THOUSANDS of pointless road signs are set to be axed from the roadside, after a new Department for Transport (DfT) report found most are “entirely superfluous”. In 2015, the DfT launched a new Road Signs Task Force to investigate the rise in road traffic signs. The UK currently has around 4.3 million signs, with many installed under the “totally fallacious” belief that they reduce accidents, the report said. According to The Times, which obtained the report under the Freedom of Information Act, the task force now recommends entire categories of signs be scrapped. Likely signs for the chop include traffic light, roundabout and junction warning signs, as well as ‘end of motorway regulations’ notices.…

REPAIR BILL OIL & FILTER £200 Changed every 5,000 miles BATTERY £50 A couple of iffy starts forced us to cough up for a new cell COOLING FAN £30 One-off fee covered a new cooling fan actuating switch CAMBELT KIT £150 Pricey but essential job was required 17,000 miles ago WATER PUMP £70 Previous pump on way out, but this was still a cheap fix FRONT BRAKE PADS £70 Toyota was still going strong, so we ensured it stopped, too SUSPENSION TOWERS & FITTING £110 We forked out when car’s rear end became bouncy PLUGS, LEADS EXTERNAL DRIVE BELT £100 General maintenance and parts over three years TOTAL: £780 “We’ve found the Avensis impressively quiet, and the three-speed auto is smooth” “Aside from a small flat spot during acceleration, the…

“Damping is just as good on a flowing road, controlling the body but providing a supple platform” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.7 seconds/198mph Running costs 22.8mpg (official) £100 fill-up Essentials Audi R8 RWS Price: £112,450 Engine: 5.2-litre V10 petrol Power/torque: 533bhp/540Nm Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.7 seconds Top speed: 198mph Economy: 22.8mpg CO2: 283g/km ONSALE Now Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THE new R8 RWS marks a significant step for Audi and Audi Sport, for this mid-engined model is the brand’s first rear-wheel-drive series production car. A quick glance at the stats says it should be a positive step. It uses the standard R8’s 533bhp naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 as a base, sending drive through a seven-speed dual-clutch box. Losing the centre differential and front driveshafts from the four-wheel-drive car, plus…

MG’S heritage as a builder of sports cars seems a distant memory, but in the modern era under Chinese ownership the British brand is looking to make it in the mainstream with its SUV range. First came the mid-size GS crossover, which was given a lukewarm reception; now, after a long wait and some confusion over the car’s name, the firm’s ZS small SUV has finally arrived. Tested here in 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol form, it only comes with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox and costs £17,995 in top-spec Exclusive trim. That spec and price tag mean MG’s latest model is going up against two of our favourite small SUVs: the Citroen C3 Aircross and the SEAT Arona. These are the cars the ZS has to beat, and with plenty of kit, it…

Running costs 38.0mpg (on test) £54 fill-up/£140 or 24% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 410-520/1,289 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.7 seconds/114mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 47.5/35.9/8.3m MODELTESTED: Citroen C3 Aircross PureTech 110 EAT6 Feel PRICE: £17,400 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 108bhp CITROEN’S C3 Aircross has proven itself on more than one occasion and is our favourite compact SUV of the current, rapidly growing crop. Here we test the mid-spec Feel (a Flair is pictured) with the brand’s 1.2-litre PureTech 110 engine and automatic gearbox, which costs from £17,400. Design & engineering THE C3 Aircross is based on Citroen’s PF1 platform, which is older than the MG’s underpinnings as well as the MQB architecture the SEAT sits on. But with its roots stretching back into the previous decade, at least the French model’s platform…

A MOVE to a flat-four turbo undoubtedly removed some of the character of the old naturally aspirated flat-six Cayman, but the 718 is here to stay and, objectively, it’s a clear step on. Take the 0-60mph time we recorded at our test track. Our PDK model was also equipped with Porsche’s £1,574 Sport Chrono pack, so with launch control it sprinted from 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds – an incredible level of pace. It also had the edge over the F-Type when it came to in-gear performance, despite having one fewer ratio to cover a wider speed range. With more power and torque than the Jag, at 345bhp and 420Nm respectively, plus less mass to move, it’s no surprise that the 718 delivers a stronger hit of acceleration. In Sport…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.4 seconds/118mph Practicality Boot (7/5/2 seats) 233/765/1,737 litres Running costs 44.1mpg £64 fill-up/£140 or 25% tax WHY exactly is our old friend the MPV in such a heap of trouble? A decade ago, Ford Galaxy, Vauxhall Zafira and Renault Scenic were household names that families looked to when their conventional hatchbacks and saloons started to bulge at the seams. Today, the MPV’s focus on practicality is increasingly seen as frumpy and boring next to the crossover’s chunky charm. MPV sales are down 33 per cent since 2014, while those of SUVs have rocketed 57 per cent in the other direction. Our Renault Grand Scenic looks more and more like it’ll be one of the last of the high-ceilinged, van-like, seven-seat breed. But are those who’ve deserted…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 14|3|2018 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 Cruz Bici-rack Price: £24.95 Rack weight: 3kg Max bike weight: 15kg Contact: 01539 621884, www.roofbox.co.uk Rating: THIS rack has a Halfords-style arm and track arrangement, so the design is just as simple and effective, but there’s no rack-to-bars lock. We also preferred the Halfords’ premium Fasty wheel retaining straps. And Cruz doesn’t supply adapters to secure skinny tyres in the 30mm deep track, unlike its rival. Plus, this rack only fits square roof bars, although a kit allows T-Track mounting. Exodus Roof Mount Cycle Carrier Price: £54 Rack weight: 3.4kg Max bike weight: 15kg Contact: 0345 504 5353, www.halfords.com Rating:…

THE original Hyundai i30 was a family hatch that was instrumental in changing buyers’ perceptions of the brand. When talking about its excellent quality, equipment levels and reliability, no longer did you have to add that the cars were impressive “for the money”. Which is just as well, because by this point Hyundais weren’t the bargains they once were, although they were still among the best-value cars on the road. By the time the second-generation i30 arrived in 2012, the car was more spacious, better equipped, boasted sharper styling and was far better (if still uninspiring) to drive; and they’re now more affordable than ever. History THE second-generation i30 hatch was launched in March 2012 with a choice of 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines; the 1.6 CRDi was…

• Vettel sets new lap record • Engine woes for McLaren Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FERRARI threw down the gauntlet to its F1 rivals last week by setting a new lap record around the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, as two weeks of pre-season testing wrapped up. Sebastian Vettel went more than a second quicker than the rest of the field on Thursday, the penultimate day of running, with a time of 1.17.182. Both Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo had eclipsed the previous lap record earlier on, indicating a general step up in performance for this year’s cars. It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone, however. McLaren’s test running was curtailed by repeated engine problems, reminiscent of the issues it has suffered with Honda in previous seasons. Team boss Eric Boullier remained confident that…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “Lagonda models could provide autonomous transport for well heeled hotel customers” ASTON Martin used last week’s Geneva Motor Show to launch its new Lagonda luxury brand, and Auto Express can reveal the first model will be an SUV, rather than the saloon car unveiled at the Swiss expo. Hidden away at the back of the Lagonda show stand were 40 per cent scale models of an SUV and coupé, and it’s understood that the former will be the first standalone Lagonda model. Previewed in our exclusive images, the SUV will launch in 2021. The saloon is likely to follow in 2023, by which time solid-state batteries should be available to give both models a realistic electric vehicle range of more than 400 miles. Wireless charging will also be…

“Audi has pedigree when it comes to producing premium cars at a lower price point” Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn AUDI’S SUV range is set to continue to grow apace, with a new baby Q1 SUV expected to be given the green light for production, Auto Express can reveal. This new entry point into Audi SUV ownership is still a few years away from production, although it should be here before the end of 2020. Unlike upmarket rivals BMW and Mercedes, Audi has pedigree when it comes to producing premium cars at a lower price point. The A1 supermini has been around since 2010 and is continually one of Audi’s big sellers in Europe, shifting almost 100,000 examples every year. When asked about the prospects for a Q1, Audi sales and marketing boss…

VOLKSWAGEN’S Geneva star, the I.D. Vizzion, is likely to join the I.D. hatchback in the brand’s all-electric line-up before the end of the decade, it has emerged. The firm’s boss, Dr Herbert Diess, said in Geneva that the EV saloon would go on sale “before 2022 at the latest”. But other high-level sources inside VW have suggested the I.D. Vizzion could arrive as soon as six months after the five-door model in 2019. VW sees a saloon silhouette as a key part of the I.D. family because that type of vehicle is still popular in China, a key and fast-developing EV market. The Vizzion has a pair of electric motors, one on each axle, offering a total system power of 306bhp. It can manage 413 miles on a single charge.…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ FORD created something of a legend with the last Fiesta ST. It’s one of the best small hot hatches ever, which means improving upon it with a new car is a tough task. However, now we’ve been for a passenger ride in the 2018 Fiesta ST and, on first acquaintance, the firm seems to have delivered the goods. Firstly, director of Ford performance for Ford of Europe, Leo Roeks, explained its technical details and improvements. The biggest is the 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine. The EcoBoost family (including the 1.0) gets cylinder deactivation thanks to camshaft tech that can shut down the valves on cylinder number one. It’s a world-first for a three-cylinder and it offers up to a six per cent improvement in efficiency. Of more…

RO18 BER, B18 WUP and TA18 BAN are some of the latest number plates to be banned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) following the plate change at the start of the month. The DVLA’s censors meet twice a year to go through any potential car registration combinations that could be deemed as being defamatory. Swear words, racist slurs and sexist remarks are automatically banned, but some occasionally slip through the net. For the new March 18-plate, the agency’s list of banned combinations includes a wide range of defamatory terms. No number plates are ever removed from the DVLA’s banned list, so usual suspects such as CR16 PLE are still out of order. The DVLA also has the power to force drivers to hand back number plates if…

“I love both sides of the build process, and particularly the fact you can use them together. It’s a great blend of old and new. We’re truly coachbuilders for the 21st century”DAVID BROWN Owner Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths CARS today may be safer, faster and more efficient than ever before, but the argument can be made that they don’t have old-fashioned style and character. This is why a number of companies have brought back the retro look, with a modern twist, in recent years. David Brown Automotive is one of these firms. It has been making retro-inspired coachbuilt cars since it launched its first model, the 503bhp Speedback GT, in 2014. And last year it built the Mini Remastered – an original Mini with upgraded mechanicals and bodywork. To find out just…

Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/155mph Running costs 32.8mpg (official) £75 fill-up Essentials Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport GSI Price: £33,375 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo Power/torque: 257bhp/400Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-60mph: 6.9 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 32.8mpg CO2: 197g/km ONSALE Now “On a twisting road, we were amazed at the car’s precision through 90-degree bends” VAUXHALL’S GSi brand is back. We first drove the diesel Insignia GSi in Sport Tourer guise last month (Issue 1,512), but this is our first chance to try the petrol-powered hatchback, which will be in UK dealers in a few weeks. The 257bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is nothing new; it’s been available in the Insignia Grand Sport since its launch last year. Like in the diesel GSi model, it’s linked to an all-wheel-drive system,…

Essentials Audi RS 4 Avant Price: £62,175 Engine: 2.9-litre V6 biturbo petrol Power/torque: 444bhp/600Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, all-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.1 seconds Top speed: 174mph Economy: 32.1mpg CO2: 199g/km ONSALE Now “The huge pace on offer really isn’t that surprising” James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods EVEN though Audi Sport has experimented with rear-wheel drive for the first time (left), fast, four-wheel-drive estates like the new RS 4 Avant remain its bread and butter. This latest model has exactly the same power as the old one, but gets an extra 170Nm of torque. It’s a simple downsizing exercise; lose two cylinders, gain two turbochargers, and achieve a big jump in economy. The 2.9-litre V6 is shared with the new RS 5, but we found it better suited to the RS 4 when we drove…

Running costs 36.1mpg (on test) £58 fill-up/£140 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 448/1,375 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 11.9 seconds/112mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 51.9/34.0/11.2m MODELTESTED: MG ZS 1.0T GDI DCT Exclusive PRICE: £17,495 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 109bhp THERE are two engine options in the MG ZS range: a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol and the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol we’re testing here in top-spec Exclusive trim. This costs £17,495 and only comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. So how does the newcomer fare against its established and talented rivals? Design & engineering THE ZS has gone through something of an identity crisis, with the company switching from its current name to XS and then back to ZS. Underneath the generic but not unattractively styled body is a shortened version of the platform…

WITH the arrival of the 2.0-litre Ingenium turbo engine in Jaguars like the XE and XF saloons, it was only a matter of time before a tuned version found its way into the F-Type. We’re used to seeing the sports car with a V6 or a V8 bolstered by a supercharger, and no matter what the configuration, those engines are a key source of the two-door’s character. But even in P300 2.0 i4 spec, the car still has plenty of personality, only its character is now subtly different. It’s not rabid – far from it, in fact – and to some people on first impressions it may feel a little undernourished in the engine bay. It starts with a flat tone and doesn’t feel very special when cruising around. It’s…

FIRST TEST Muc-Off Polishing Ball Kit Price: £34.99 Rating: Contact: www.muc-off.com POWER tools can take the grind out of jobs and that’s what Muc-Off is hoping to do with this latest addition to its range: the Polishing Ball Kit. It’s aimed at motorcycles, but can also be used on cars. The idea is that the felt ball slots into a power drill, or air tool, you add a few drops of the included Metal Polish – 50ml comes with the kit – spin it at speeds of up to 2,000rpm and apply to the metal. Muc-Off says it works with chrome, brass, copper, aluminium and steel. The ball, which is washable, has a solid centre that will take a fair bit of pressure, with looser sections further down. We tried it…

2017 Results Yaris Factfile Years: 2010 to present CO2: 119g/km Fuel economy: 55.4mpg (1.3 VVT-i) Best options: Alloy wheels, climate control, Bluetooth, DAB, AEB, sat-nav Used prices: From £3,800 OVERALL SCORE 88.4% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2017 new car survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “MY passengers often mention how quiet the engine is.” “The classy, unfussy interior is comfortable and easy to live with.” “My tall friends have enough room when sitting in the back.” “I like the light and responsive steering.” “All-round visibility is excellent, with minimal blind spots.” “This is my fourth Yaris and it has been faultlessly reliable.” “My Hybrid is exempt from tax, and fuel and insurance bills are low.” NOT SO GOOD “LOTS of noise…

Kia Sorento Sorento KX-3 Years: 2015 to date Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 197bhp Ins group: 26 Official econ/CO2: 42.8mpg/174g/km Why? The Sorento is the value-for-money choice in the SUV class, and is an excellent tow car, too. Prices from: £19,790 THE Kia Sorento has been a fine buy in the seven-seat SUV segment for a couple of years now, with space and equipment its two trump cards. However, with the market as busy as it is, plenty of new blood has since found its way into showrooms; and subsequently into the used classifieds. A scan of the ads reveals low prices, but the Sorento feels outdated against the Discovery Sport and Kodiaq. It didn’t grace our Driver Power 2017 satisfaction survey, but Kia was the third best maker. LR Discovery Sport…