Innholdsfortegnelse for 1534 i Auto Express

THE rise of SUVs has been well documented in recent years. Almost every manufacturer now has some kind of faux-4x4 in their range, while some – like Audi, BMW and Mercedes – have as many as five, six or even seven to their name. But some buyers still resent the idea of a boxy, raised hatchback with higher running costs and compromised road handling – not to mention that few will fit in a garage or public parking space. The SUV’s proliferation is benefiting the wider car industry, though, as Audi product marketing chief Jens Meier suggested when I caught up with him on the launch of the new TT S Coupé (Page 26). Meier told me that as people buy more and more crossovers and SUVs, the revenue they…

ALONGSIDE the all-new Q3, Audi has unveiled its updated TT Coupé and Roadster. Revealed on the 20th birthday of the iconic sports car, it gets a subtle redesign and new engines, with a special edition joining the range. Styling changes are limited to a new grille and air inlets. Matrix LED lights are now available, while OLED rear lamps are on the options list. There are new wheels and three fresh colours, while the limited-run ‘TT 20 Years’ gets unique details, including Moccasin Brown leather. For 2019, buyers will also be able to spec a Sport display for the Virtual Cockpit, showing engine and torque info. The updated TT inherits Audi’s new power-based nomenclature; the basic 40 TFSI car has a 194bhp 2.0-litre petrol, while a 245bhp version is found…

“Could higher speed limits be safely introduced during periods when roadworkers aren’t at risk?” SPEED limits through motorway roadworks could increase to 60mph during quiet periods, under new plans. Highways England, which runs England’s motorway network, will conduct new trials to see if higher limits can be safely introduced during periods when roadworkers aren’t at risk. Currently, motorway roadworks where lanes are narrowed bring with them a limit of 50mph or lower. However, Highways England is investigating whether restrictions can be raised to decrease journey times. Taking weekends as an example, the organisation said: “The speed could be increased to 60mph on a Sunday if there is less activity taking place, and then brought back down to 50mph when roadworkers are located within a few feet of passing traffic.” Weekday…

SPECULATION is rife about how Brexit will impact on motorists. When the Government finally delivers on the verdict of the referendum held back in June 2016 and the country leaves the EU, we’ve been told to brace ourselves for anything from border queues to curbs on booze cruises and special licences to drive on the Continent. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has even warned of £1,500 price hikes on cars imported from Europe if we don’t negotiate “unrestricted access to the single market of Europe”, and instead face inevitable import tariffs. Is such talk no more than scaremongering? We spoke to three industry experts – covering law, insurance and car safety – to get their take on exactly how these areas of motoring will change when Britain exits…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/155mph Running costs 40mpg (est) £70 fill-up Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram NEAR enough 20 years ago to the day, Audi launched the original TT at the 1998 Frankfurt Motor Show. The firm refers to it as an emblem of 20th century automotive design; it was an icon of its time, and still turns heads today. Over the past two decades Audi has built more than 600,000 TTs. It still has a huge following both in the UK and around the world, so four years after it first hit showrooms, the third-generation car has been given a mid-life refresh. The changes are predictably light. Save some new Matrix LED headlights, tweaked bumpers and OLED rear lamps on top-spec cars, the new TT is visually identical to the old one.…

MERCEDES-AMG left nothing to chance when it introduced its C 63 lineup four years ago. Not only did it offer two power outputs for the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, but it also provided four bodystyles. UK buyers made a beeline for the 503bhp C 63 S Coupé, ensuring it was the best seller of the eight derivatives available. And as with the rest of the C-Class line-up, the AMG 63 range has now been facelifted. At this stage in the model’s life, AMG hasn’t gone to the trouble (or expense) of adding 4MATIC four-wheel drive or a mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine. And while nothing is confirmed, it’s unlikely to make any extensive tweaks until the all-new C-Class arrives in a few years. The changes that have been made to the new C…

Running costs 113mpg (off icial) £46 fill-up Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ONCE upon a time, the mini-MPV category was one of the busiest sectors in the car market, but the rise of the SUV has seen its popularity dwindle. It may seem odd, then, that BMW – a maker that currently offers six SUVs – also produces two MPVs: the five-seat Active Tourer and the seven-seat Gran Tourer. But with options this top-spec 225xe costs £42,525. So why bother? Well, something helps this Active Tourer stand out: its drivetrain. There is, of course, a wide range of petrol and diesel options, but this top-end car is a plug-in hybrid. It pairs the familiar 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo from the MINI Cooper with a small electric motor. In official tests, the 225xe returns…

Running costs 37.7mpg (on test) £54 fill-up/£140 or 23% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 292/1,093 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 8.5 seconds/119mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 53.7/40.2/9.8m MODEL TESTED: Ford Fiesta Active 1.0 EcoBoost 125 B&O Play PRICE: £19,695 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 123bhp FORD’S Fiesta Active is more of a supermini than an SUV, but it has been modified to make it more appealing as a compact crossover. Here we test the Fiesta Active B&O Play model with Ford’s 123bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. It is priced from £19,695, making it the most expensive car here. Design & engineering AT face value the Fiesta Active looks like a group of cosmetic changes over the standard supermini on which it’s based, thanks to the plastic body cladding, but that’s far from the truth. That cladding…

Running costs 24.8mpg (on test) £87 fill-up/£450 or 37% tax Practicality Boot 115 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 2.8 seconds/198mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 42.4/32.8/9.3m MODEL TESTED: Porsche 911 Turbo PRICE: £129,987 ENGINE: 3.8-litre flat six, 533bhp THE Porsche 911 Turbo costs slightly less than the AMG GT C, at £129,987, but a difference of £543 is negligible in this market. While our pictures show a Turbo S, the standard Turbo is also a bit down on power, so does this hobble it against the AMG? Design & engineering PORSCHE’S 911 Turbo is a constant in the sports car sector. However, the formula has more than 40 years of development as a model line. The latest 991.2-generation car is the pinnacle. It’s powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine mounted in the rear…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/149mph Practicality Boot capacity 480 litres Running costs 31.0mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£140 or 29% tax James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor THEY say good things come to those who wait, and boy, have I waited for this Alfa Romeo Giulia. For those of you who have had better things to do than follow the trials and tribulations of the Giulias on the Auto Express fleet, let me take a moment to indulge you. We ordered a Giulia Veloce in May 2017 with delivery penciled in for Christmas. By February of this year it was clear the car wasn’t arriving, with Alfa Romeo UK claiming the “factory forgot to build it”. In the meantime, we were given a smart-looking Super with a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine; well, it looked…

DASH cams are hugely popular, but some drivers are put off by the messy installation. The cabling can be tricky to hide or fix out of the way, you often lose the use of a 12V outlet and sucker mounts aren’t especially easy on the eye. So here we are testing a couple of more aesthetically pleasing alternatives. Footage quality remains key, but we also assessed the installation, ease of use and cost. Citroen’s ConnectedCam is integrated seamlessly into the car, and is a great argument for more manufacturers to fit dash cams at the factory. Where that’s not possible, MINI proves that a dealer-fit option can be almost as slick without sacrificing quality. A standalone dash cam is still the best-value option and we lined up the Nextbase 612GW…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 2018 Results Niro Factfile Years: 2016 to present co2: 88g/km Fuel econ: 74.3mpg (1.6 GDi/1.56kWh) Best options: Leather, heated seats, adaptive cruise, sunroof, parking sensors Used prices: From £17,000 OVERALL SCORE 93.07% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2018 new car survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “ELECTRIC motor pulls away smoothly and it is hard to detect when the engine takes over.” “I have a bad back and the driver’s seat is very comfortable.” “Interior has plenty of storage spaces.” “Niro’s height means moving child car seats in and out is easy.” “Some reviewers found the ride harsh on poor roads, but it’s fine for me.” “Great safety features; my car has lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and…

• Wraps off higher-tech new big seller; in dealers in November • Wide range of engines, and promises improved practicality Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram AUDI has revealed the second-generation Q3 SUV, a bigger, more practical, hi-tech version of one of the brand’s biggest-selling models. The outgoing car was the oldest in the manufacturer’s SUV line-up, and Audi will be hoping the all-new model will be more competitive against rivals such as the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 when deliveries start in November. At 4,485mm in length, the latest Q3 has grown by 97mm compared with its predecessor, and it’s 46mm longer than its main rival, the X1. The second-generation car is also 18mm wider and 5mm lower than before, while the wheelbase has been stretched by 78mm – a move which, Audi…

• We get taste of next model in hot N sub-brand’s line-up Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn HYUNDAI’s N brand, headed up by former BMW M boss Albert Biermann, is wasting no time in getting its second model into UK showrooms. Following the successful launch of the i30 N hatch, the firm is applying the final touches to the new i30 Fastback N. To see what’s in store, we were invited to drive a camouflaged version of the four-door coupé at the Nürburgring, before it arrives early next year. While the standard i30 N clearly casts itself as a rival for the likes of VW’s Golf GTI and the Renault Mégane R.S., the Fastback sits in a rather more exclusive market. The closest thing it has in terms of a direct rival is…

• Petrol V6s and infotainment upgrade are facelift highlights “The big news in the engine line-up is that the diesel has been dropped” Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram THE Porsche Macan has been given a series of mid-life updates – and these are the first official images of the facelifted SUV. The changes include new engines, a new infotainment system, chassis tweaks and styling touch-ups. At the front, the design alterations are subtle. The large central air intake remains much the same, but those to each side are more vertical at their outer edges to emphasise the car’s width. The headlights are now LED-equipped as standard, and adaptive units are optional. The lighting changes at the back are much more obvious. The new tail-lamps, also with LED tech, follow the style of the…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/138mph Running costs 51.4mpg (off icial) £70 fill-up THE Focus hatchback is only part of Ford’s family car success story; the practical Estate versions have also contributed to the two million Focus models sold in the UK since 1998. Alongside the latest hatch, then, the blue oval is also launching an all-new Focus Estate. It costs £1,080 more than the equivalent five-door and is 290mm longer and a touch taller, too. Its wheelbase is identical, however, and front passengers won’t notice any increase in interior volume – other than the rear window being slightly further away from the rear-view mirror. Rear passengers will spot the difference, because they get a little extra headroom. But the real benefit is in luggage volume – the Focus Estate offers…

Running costs 34.0mpg (official) £105 fill-up Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram “The diesel delivers decent performance and even sounds fairly smooth, too” THE idea of an iconic Italian firm such as Maserati building an SUV was horrifying as far back as, well, mid-2016, when the Levante became reality. Yet opinions have turned in favour of a market that Maserati couldn’t ignore. The 2019 model year brings the second round of updates since the SUV first arrived, but can they turn the Levante into a Porsche Cayenne beater? Previously, UK buyers had to make do with a rather un-Maserati-like V6 diesel at launch. But a 424bhp V6 petrol ‘S’ was introduced last year, and now a 345bhp version has been added. There are also two V8s: a 542bhp GTS, and a flagship Trofeo, which…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/182mph Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE current Porsche 911 range now spans a baffling 24 model variants. From the basic Carrera to the bonkers GT2 RS, there’s a Coupé, Cabriolet or Targa for anyone and everyone. The latest addition to the line-up is this 991.2-generation 911 Carrera T. Based on the entry-level Carrera Coupé with a few non-essentials removed, it’s a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports car designed to emulate the purity of the more expensive GT3 models. There’s less sound insulation, and the heavier interior door handles have been replaced by a set of fabric pulls. The weighty back seats have gone, and the standard rear and side glass is thinner, too. Customers can even spec their 911 T without a stereo or sat-nav, although our test model featured…

Running costs 38.9mpg (on test) £58 fill-up/£140 or 24% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 410-520/1,289 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/124mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 57.6/42.3/10.6m MODEL TESTED: Citroen C3 Aircross PureTech 130 Flair PRICE: £18,935 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 128bhp CITROEN’S C3 Aircross replaced the old C4 Cactus as the French brand’s small crossover offering – and to great success. It’s our small SUV champ, and in £18,935 PureTech 130 Flair spec, as tested here, is one of the Fiesta Active’s main rivals. Design & engineering ALTHOUGH the C3 Aircross replaced the C4 Cactus crossover, it’s still based on Citroen’s PF1 platform. As with the Fiesta Active’s Global B small car underpinnings, this architecture has had plenty of development ploughed into it over the years. The focus here is definitely on comfort.…

THE Mercedes-AMG GT has evolved heavily over its short three-year lifespan. Development has continued from the standard model and the S to the hardcore, race-inspired GT R. And now there’s the GT C. This sits more towards the centre of the range, between the S and the R – but does that mean it’s also the sweet spot? It takes some of the R’s make-up, including the rear-wheel steering, a wider track and an enlarged body to cover it, and has a new engine tune that means more power compared with the GT S. However, performance cars like this come at a price. At £130,530, the GT C isn’t exactly a snip, while that figure also puts it perilously close to one of its main rivals, the Porsche 911 Turbo.…

Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupé COMAND Online Standard Key features: Sat-nav, live traffic info THE AMG GT C features Mercedes’ COMAND Online multimedia package as standard, with an 8.4-inch screen mounted on the dash. It’s controlled by the brand’s rotary wheel on the transmission tunnel. This set-up is rooted in Mercedes’ previous generation of products, and by today’s standards does feel a little dated when compared with newer models like the E and A-Class, as well as alongside the 911. However, there’s a good level of functionality, with nav featuring live traffic info, Bluetooth, voice control, DAB and iPod compatibility. But Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t offered, and this counts against it. At least the 10-speaker Burmester stereo offers a decent sound, although the system’s graphics could be of a…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.8 seconds/169mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 420/1,209 litres Running costs 33.2mpg (on test) £59 fill-up/£140 or 36% tax Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn IT’S time to get the champagne out, because the Honda Civic Type R has been crowned the Auto Express Best Hot Hatch of 2018. It’s a bittersweet moment for me, though, because my time with the Type R we’re running on our fleet is up. After six months, over 10,000 miles and with no faults to report, I have no doubt that this powerhouse is a worthy winner. The Honda has also done something few other models have managed, and that’s pick up our hot hatch crown two years in a row. The new Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Mégane R.S., two hot hatch icons, put up…

FIRST TEST LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron Price: £329.99 Contact: www.shop.lego.com/en-GB IF you love supercars and enjoy a serious building project, few kits offer the appeal of LEGO’s new Technic Bugatti Chiron. We met the team behind the car in Issue 1,531, but now we’ve got our hands on it. And while the price tag is hard to ignore, there’s no denying you get what you pay for: a half-metre-long Technic model of the Chiron, complete with a moving 16-cylinder engine, eight-speed gearbox, four-wheel drive plus working steering and suspension. The kit comprises 3,599 pieces, which are assembled using 600 pages of painstakingly detailed instructions. Make no mistake, building this is a serious undertaking. Constructing the LEGO Chiron took us about 20 hours, and some steps, particularly those relating to the…

• Close race predicted at Spa 24 Hours • Honda joins host of factory squads, plus experienced privateers ENDURANCE racing fans will be flocking to Belgium this weekend for the third major European round-the-clock event of 2018: the Spa 24 Hours. And this year’s race promises to be a sprint from start to finish. Defending champion Audi Sport will have a tough time repeating its 2017 win, because the 66-strong grid features a host of front-running teams and drivers ready to do battle. There are factory-supported squads from Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, Nissan and Bentley, and a number of experienced privateer teams are in contention for outright victory. One new arrival is Honda, which is entering its new NSX GT3 racer into a 24-hour event for the first time. The single-car…

HYUNDAI’S N division will develop a standalone vehicle, according to the sub-brand’s vice-president. The launch of the performance i30 N hatch and Fastback (left), plus the not-for-UK Veloster N, is the “completion of the first phase of N vehicles”, Thomas Schemera told Auto Express, adding that the next step is a bespoke model. “The whole idea is to strengthen the Hyundai brand,” he said. “I can tell you [engineering boss Albert] Biermann and myself are interested in hot things and have some ideas for a halo model. We’re coming up with something.” Auto Express understands that there is still an internal debate within the South Korean firm on whether the halo model will be a two-seater sports car or a saloon like the Kia Stinger. As a result, the new…

“Renault says the extra power is down to a revised turbo and a new exhaust” RENAULT has upped the ante with a Trophy version of its Mégane R.S., with more power, a new exhaust, bigger brakes and subtle design changes. It uses a revised version of the regular car’s 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, now developing 296bhp and up to 420Nm of torque. This is sent to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Renault says that the extra power is down to a revised turbo and the new exhaust. The ball bearings attached to the turbine are now ceramic, with the lighter weight and reduced friction allowing the turbo to spool up quicker. A mechanical valve also allows owners to adjust the volume of…

• Two driving solutions in one • Inspired by bike and sidecar “The glass floor enhances the gut-wrenching acceleration” James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor “Motorcycle and sidecar-inspired styling may look bizarre, but in the metal the X E-Tense seems to work” MANY concept cars are little more than showcases for a maker’s future models, but the DS X E-Tense is different. According to the brand, the car previews the vehicles we may be buying in 2035. And it’s not only a static dream, because this concept actually drives – and Auto Express was invited to go for a spin. The styling may look bizarre, but in the metal the X E-Tense seems to work. Inspired by a motorcycle and sidecar, the car’s asymmetrical cockpits serve a purpose: one side features a conventional steering…

“We’re giving drivers the skills to react if they face a difficult situation”PAUL SWIFT Stunt driver Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths PUT your right thumb under the left-hand spoke of the steering wheel. Your elbow should be angled up, towards the A-pillar. Clutch in, select reverse and look out the back window. Let the clutch out and floor the accelerator. Once up to speed take your foot off the gas, press the clutch, then rotate the steering wheel 360 degrees in a single fast movement, reversing this movement as the car performs a 180-degree turn. Slotting into first gear as the vehicle rotates, let the clutch out and drive off. You have just completed a high-speed J-turn. It goes without saying that you should only attempt such a manoeuvre in appropriate circumstances. That’s…

“New grille is deeper set and shinier than before, and the updated lights are chrome-rimmed” Running costs 42.2mpg (off icial) £79 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/138mph James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE Mazda 6 has been around for a while now. So long, in fact, that this is the second time the Japanese brand’s flagship saloon has been updated, following a mild facelift in 2015. Despite its age relative to fresher rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, it’s still a car we rate quite highly, thanks to its blend of performance and practicality. Take a glance at the new Mazda 6 and you’ll notice very few design changes. You’ll pick out the new grille, which is deeper set and shinier than before, while updated chrome-rimmed headlights appear,…

“Without a Dash Cam, the claims process would have taken much longer and I would have lost out financially”JESSAMINE MAY Nextbase Dash Cam owner A DISTRACTED van driver on a roundabout in Tidworth, Wiltshire, is all it took for Jessamine May to almost lose £750 in excess claims, plus all her no-claims bonus, and face higher insurance premiums in the future. “Entering a roundabout, the van didn’t see my car and just scraped it,” said Jessamine. “He was clearly to blame.” Worryingly, none of the pedestrians or other drivers nearby offered to assist. “No one stopped to help. We couldn’t have got anyone to act as a witness in our claim,” Jessamine explained. But because Jessamine was driving with a Nextbase Dash Cam on board, she was able to prove…

Pictures: Pete Gibson Location: Stoke Dry, Rutland IT’S fair to say Ford’s recent form in the small crossover class hasn’t been great. The EcoSport has led the way for the brand, but that car has been adapted to suit Europe from budget-focused origins. The new Ford Fiesta Active could change things, though. It’s an attempt at injecting a bit more lifestyle appeal into the famous Fiesta supermini, so it should mix the hatch’s strong dynamics with more rugged looks and SUV-like appeal. However, there are cars on sale that do this already, so entering this crowded area of the market means the Fiesta Active has a challenge on its hands. We’ve lined up our current favourite small crossover, the Citroen C3 Aircross; this model, with its supermini underpinnings, has compact dimensions without…

Running costs 30.7mpg (on test) £60 fill-up/£140 or 30% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 423 litres/N/A Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.8 seconds/106mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 58.1/42.3/11.0m MODEL TESTED: SsangYong Tivoli 1.6 e-XGi 160 Ultimate PRICE: £17,495 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 126bhp THE Tivoli represented a significant step for SsangYong. The Korean brand broke into the mainstream with a much-improved product, which represents affordable family transport if you want a petrol SUV. It shows just how crowded this market is as well, so even though Ford has sales volume, it has a job on its hands to win business in this sector. Design & engineering WE’RE testing the Tivoli 1.6 e-XGi in limited-edition Ultimate spec, although our pictures show an SE, and at £17,495 it’s easily the cheapest model here. But it doesn’t scrimp…

Running costs 16.4mpg (on test) £96 fill-up/£450 or 37% tax Practicality Boot 285-350 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 3.6 seconds/197mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 43.4/31.7/8.2m MODEL TESTED: Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupé PRICE: £130,530 ENGINE: 4.0-litre V8, 549bhp WHEN the AMG GT was launched, in GT S trim it couldn’t quite beat the Porsche 911 GTS. In the more potent £130,530 GT C form we’re testing here, we see if the Mercedes can topple the 911 Turbo. Design & engineering THERE are some distinct differences between the AMG and 911 Turbo, but the aim for both cars is clear: to deliver stunning performance in a usable, GT car-style package. To do that the AMG uses a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that drives the rear wheels only through a seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox. The motor…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk I’VE been piling on the miles recently in our Volvo XC60, which means my attention has been drawn to one of the SUV’s most impressive aspects: the ride quality. Our car is fitted with the £1,500 Active Four-C Chassis option that adds adaptive air suspension, and it really does feel like I’m driving along on a cushion of Swedish air. The Scandinavians didn’t fare too well against England in the World Cup, but there’s no doubt that Volvo’s clever suspension technology has English roads truly sussed. Even the most rutted and potholed roads in my corner of the country, Essex, are no problem for the XC60 when its chassis is set to the softest mode, and after many miles of motorway travel I still hop out of the car…

RACING SOFAS Racing Sofas by Design Epicentrum Prices: From £7,400 Contact: +48 518 780 400, www.designepicentrum.com POLISH design house Design Epicentrum is known for combining supercar designs with everyday furniture. It’s already produced ‘Racing Desks’ that feature the front end of a Lamborghini Murciélago, and has just added a new range of sofas to its collection. The ‘Racing Sofas’ take a similar approach to the desks, incorporating plush leather seats into the front and rear ends of Lamborghinis. Crucially, the company doesn’t use actual parts from the Italian supercar manufacturer; instead it builds the sofas using a custom fibreglass construction to imitate the design. Design Epicentrum says there are more than 200 colour combinations possible for the sofas, with each design taking around two months to build from scratch. Each sofa…

WE’RE relying more and more on our portable electronic gadgets, all of which demand constant power or charging. A power bank is one answer, but it won’t help with larger items and this, too, could go flat. For more versatility, an inverter, which converts 12V car power to 240V mains electricity, is extremely useful day to day. It is even more handy when spending longer periods away from a 240V supply, such as touring or camping. It can also be used to power tools such as drills or sanders, or to provide lighting for garages that have no mains power connection. PRODUCTGROUP TEST 25|7|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…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.3 seconds/117mph Running costs 65.3mpg (PureTech 110) £64 fill-up co2/tax 100g/km Free-£140 FROM its earliest days Citroen has a history of innovation, with cars such as the Traction Avant, DS and 2CV unlike anything else on the market. But such forward thinking hasn’t always done the firm many favours, and on more than one occasion it went bust, leading bosses to tone down some of the futuristic design. For years Citroen’s models struggled to distinguish themselves from rivals, but in danger of disappearing once more due to a lack of innovation, the brand took action a few years ago to create a range of cars that once again looked distinctive and pushed the boundaries. Nowhere is that more obvious than with the C4 Cactus, a cross between…

THE World Rally Championship takes in one of its Blue Riband events this weekend, as the teams head north for Rally Finland. And all eyes will be on local hero Esapekka Lappi, who scored his first ever victory for Toyota last year, on only his fourth WRC start. Lappi sits fourth in the drivers’ championship with fewer than half as many points as the leader, Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville. But the flying Finn earned a podium last time out in Italy, and with local knowledge behind him – as well as Finland being Toyota’s test base – Lappi could easily close the gap on Neuville, as well as Ford’s Sébastien Ogier and Toyota team-mate Ott Tänak. “Italy was a really important result for my confidence and the team,” said Lappi. “We…