Innholdsfortegnelse for 1539 i Auto Express

THE beautifully manicured greens and fairways of the Pebble Beach golf course are a world away from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s roads and streets – and yet there was much to take note of at the American classic car event at the end of last week. BMW gave us the all-new Z4 in production form, while Audi and Mercedes looked further ahead with all-electric concept cars. Jaguar joined in, too, revealing that its electric E-Type (above, used in May’s Royal wedding) will be offered to customers from next year, at a price conservatively estimated to be north of £300,000. However, as our Top Story overleaf reveals, the British firm isn’t about to stop there. Its engineers are working on a mid-engined replacement for the modern-day F-Type sports…

WE’VE already sampled the Z4 M40i in prototype form – and it shows promise. You can tell that BMW has the Boxster in its sights, in fact, because this Z4 really has become a proper sports car, with a stiffer chassis and much sweeter steering than before. Small wonder that BMW has a candid way of describing the difference between the old car and the new one. The outgoing Z4, it says, was a car you’d drive on a Sunday afternoon, because it wasn’t really a true-blue sports car. The new one is a car you’ll drive early on a Sunday morning, before the sun has come up and when there’s no one else around. And based on our experience with the prototype, on road and on track, and with…

DRIVERS are overspending £3.4billion each year on garage repairs, according to new research. UK motorists overpay by an average of £90 a year per car, with four out of five men and 90 per cent of women saying they weren’t confident how much they should pay for garage repairs. The report, by breakdown firm Green Flag, also revealed 39 per cent of motorists have “no idea” what the annual MoT test involves.…

OVER at Lamborghini, the most powerful model in the company’s 55-year history was also revealed at Pebble Beach. The Aventador SVJ is the last hurrah for the current supercar, because the next generation of hybrid models is on the horizon from the Italian marque. At the heart of the Aventador SVJ is a mid-mounted, 759bhp, 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12. Maximum torque of 720Nm is delivered at 6,750rpm, while the red line reaches towards 8,700rpm. Power is sent to an all-wheel-drive system through a seven-speed, single-clutch ISR gearbox. Lamborghini has shaved 50kg from the weight of the regular Aventador. As a result, the SVJ sprints from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and 0-124mph in 8.6 seconds, and has a claimed top speed in excess of 217mph. The steering and suspension have both…

JAGUAR Classics has confirmed that customers will be able to buy examples of the fully-electric E-Type Zero, following its outing at the Royal wedding in May. The electric model was first shown as a concept in 2017, but potential buyers got a closer look at last week’s Pebble Beach show, where the car was on display. The team at Jaguar Classics is able to source donor cars for those who are interested, while existing E-Type owners have the option of having their cars fully converted. The conversion is also fully reversible “to preserve the authenticity of the base vehicle”, Jaguar has confirmed. Production of the E-Type Zero will commence next year at Jaguar Classics Works’ facility in Coventry, with first customers due to take delivery in 2020. Jaguar hasn’t confirmed…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths EURO 6 emission standards are rarely out of the news. From this Saturday (1 September), for example, new cars not tested against Euro 6 using the latest methods will be banned from sale, and many dealers are offering big discounts as they attempt to shift cars tested using older methodologies. The Government has also increased company car tax and road tax for diesels slightly, using future testing regimes as its basis. But while Euro 6 standards impact on consumers, dealers and manufacturers, they’re notoriously complex. Terms such as 6c, Euro 6d-temp, WLTP and RDE were originally intended for industry audiences, rather than consumers. However, with car delays and discounts, company car tax and road tax being affected by the intricacies of Euro 6, technicalities that were once the…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths BEFORE models like the XE, XF and all-electric I-Pace came along, Jaguar was seen as a conservative car maker; its models were often spoken of in the same breath as gentlemen’s clubs and boardrooms. That’s far less true today, and the current line-up is characterised by crisp, modern cars instead of walnut and the whiff of pipe smoke. But Jaguar clearly still believes in tradition where big birthdays are concerned, because to celebrate 50 years of the XJ, it has assembled five generations from the last half century, from the original Series 1 right through to the latest XJR. We can’t wait to meet the family. XJ6 Series 1 4.2-litre 1968 Sir William Lyons’ car WE begin with the Series 1 XJ belonging to none other than the…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Electric motor Power/official range 106bhp/186 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.9 seconds/84mph THERE are more luxurious electric cars than the Renault ZOE, but few are as successful. It had been Europe’s best-selling EV three years running, and only in 2018 did it slip behind the Nissan Leaf. It’s a car that is, quite literally, going quietly about its business. To keep it fresh, Renault has just given the ZOE a range of updates. The infotainment system gets Android Auto, and there’s new purple paint. The line-up has been simplified as well, so now there are just two trims to choose from. Dynamique S Nav gets a seven-inch sat-nav, auto lights and wipers, climate control and parking sensors. Top-spec Signature Nav spec adds leather seats, a Bose stereo and a…

MODEL TESTED: Hyundai Tucson 1.6 CRDi 115 SE Nav PRICE: £25,345 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp HYUNDAI’S updated Tucson marks the debut of a new 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine, which is the unit we’re testing here in SE Nav trim. Priced from £25,345, it’s right in the middle of the family SUV heartland, and it’s taking on the two toughest rivals here. So how does the Tucson fare? Design & engineering THIS new Tucson is a facelift of the previous generation, so it’s still based on the same platform, which now also gets mild-hybrid 48V tech. However, this new 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel doesn’t feature those benefits. Besides, this engine will still make up a large slice of sales as diesel remains popular in this area of the market. The motor produces…

Hyundai Tucson Touchscreen Sat Nav Standard Key features: Phone link, nav HYUNDAI is making a name for itself with strong infotainment systems, and the eight-inch touchscreen in the new Tucson is no different. It’s placed well on the dashboard and has a bright screen, even if the graphics aren’t quite as sharp as the Karoq’s. There’s lots of functionality, though, and it’s made all the easier to use by the app-style icons and simple menu layouts – except for the process for entering a destination in the nav, which takes a few too many steps. The screen is responsive to your inputs, however, while the physical buttons that flank the screen make it easy to jump to the most frequently used areas of the infotainment system. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto,…

THE Audi S5 Cabriolet’s strengths are quite different from those of the Ford Mustang Convertible. While the Ford uses a brawny V8 engine, the S5 features an energetic turbo V6. The Ford is rear-wheel drive, but the Audi is four-wheel drive. And although the S5’s restrained looks don’t make quite as much of a statement, the Mustang’s design is as loud as its engine note. But that’s not to say that the Audi isn’t as exciting as the Mustang to drive. It’s true that the V6 engine is nowhere near as characterful as the Ford’s V8, but it still delivers huge performance with a pleasant soundtrack. Both cars managed a 0-60mph time of five seconds, with the S5’s four-wheel-drive traction making up for its 95bhp deficit. However, due to having…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Second opinion “The 5008 is among the best vehicles in its class to drive. Its controls are well weighted and the composed ride means the Peugeot SUV is well suited to driving on town roads as well as more rural routes.” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/117mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 1,060/2,150 litres Running costs 34.1mpg (on test) £73 fill-up/£140 or 25% tax WHEN one of your teenage sons has ambitions to be a musician, you can never go too long before a lift laden with heavy equipment is required. My son George can drive, but the cost of insurance for an 18-year-old in London is prohibitive (add musician as your profession and it’s astronomical). However, with my help, we’ve the perfect solution to his travel needs in the form…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,534 Audi A7 Sportback Issues 1,529,1,536 Citroen C3 Aircross Issues 1,526, 1,532, 1,537 Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537 Mazda CX-5 Issues 1,503, 1,512, 1,521, 1,530,1,538 MINI Cooper 5-door Issue 1,538 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 SEATArona Issues 1,524, 1,531, 1,535 Skoda Karoq Issue 1,536 SsangYong Rexton Issues 1,516, 1,525, 1,529 Suzuki Swift Sport Issue 1,532 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527,1,535 Vauxhall Grandland X Issue 1,536 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520,1,530,1,536 Volvo XC60 Issues 1,523, 1,527, 1,534,1,538…

NEW PRODUCT Sealey tool chest and roll cab combinations Price: From £323.94 Contact: www.sealey.co.uk IF you want to upgrade your tool storage, the latest additions to Sealey’s Superline Pro range are well worth considering. The Special Black Edition sees all elements coming in a rust and solvent-resistant black crinkle finish covering the heavy gauge steel structure. The inner walls are also made from steel for increased strength and durability. The same qualities can be seen in the 45mm ball bearing drawer slides, which makes them suitable for heavy loads. The drawers are smooth running and have a soft-close feature, plus come with full-height rear locking and two folding keys. The new combinations come in two widths: 27 and 41 inches. The smaller top chests have four lined drawers and the…

Pironi: The Champion That Never Was David Sedgwick (Pitch Publishing, www.pitchpublishing.co.uk) Price: £12.99 THE least well-known racing drivers often have the best stories to tell. This biography of eighties F1 star, the late Didier Pironi, is far from being just a list of race reports. It’s a labour of love and reads more like a novel – just how we like them. Fascinating for any racing fan. BRM: A Mechanic’s Tale Dick Salmon & Anthony Carter (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £30 AN interesting account told from the perspective of the race engineer who served BRM and Graham Hill. It’s full of period photos, but they’re small and packed in. We’d like them to have been given more space, and the rather rambling writing slightly abridged. Traffic Racer Available for: iOS,…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Can I work out an EV’s ‘mpg’? WITH electric cars growing in popularity, is there an EV equivalent for a conventional car’s miles-per-gallon figure, and can the associated costs be easily worked out? Rod Sears, E-mail A OUR road testers have started recording how many miles-per-kilowatt-hour EVs return. The Nissan Leaf we’re running is managing 4.1 miles per kWh and has a 40kWh battery, giving it a range of around 164 miles. Calculating cost is harder, but if you’re charging at home, your electricity bill will show the price of each kWh. Q DIY fitting reversing cam MY car doesn’t have a reversing camera and I would like to get one fitted. Is this a job that I could do myself, and will installing…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk McLAREN has released pictures of its next-generation GT3 challenger, based on the 720S road car. Expected to make its race debut in the early part of 2019, the car is a successor to the previous MP4/12C GT3 and 650S GT3. It’ll be eligible to compete in series including Blancpain GT and GT Open in Europe, British GT in the UK, Pirelli World Challenge in the US and ADAC GT Masters in Germany. Track testing of the new car is under way at circuits in Europe, the US and the Middle East. Entries in “strategically important global championships” such as these in collaboration with customer teams are expected, and the car has a basic price tag of £440,000 “ex-works”. McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt commented: “Enabling our customers to go…

Mike Rutherford Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “If profitability is excessive, it’s usually a case of greed on the part of a firm that can easily afford to lower its retail prices” CONCERNED about the profits that companies make for themselves – at your expense? You should be. If profitability is excessive, it’s usually a case of plain greed on the part of a firm that can easily afford to lower its retail prices. Apple, with a $48,000million ($48billion) profit figure in 2017, proves my point. But at the other end of the scale, low or zero profit can mean little or no money for research, future products, staff development and other important stuff. Worse still, a company that regularly loses money can be deemed insolvent/bankrupt/dead/buried. Think…

● Mid-engine layout will mean sleeker profile for halo Jaguar ● V6 could be joined by two electric motors for AWD ability Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn EXCLUSIVE IMAGES THE successor to the Jaguar F-Type will embrace hybrid technology and go mid-engined when it launches around 2022, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. And further down the line, Jag could launch a fully-electric version to rival the forthcoming Porsche Taycan. Development work on the F-Type’s successor is under way, with engineers devising a plan that will transform the model into the brand’s halo product to compete with McLaren and Audi Sport. Central to the plan and favoured by engineers is the shift from a front to mid-engined layout for the performance car. According to high-ranking technicians working on the project, the Honda NSX is…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths SPEEDING drivers could soon be given less leeway by police after an official review of ‘buffer zones’ was announced. Current guidelines advise police to allow a speeding buffer of 10 per cent plus 2mph, meaning 70mph limits are typically enforced by prosecution above 79mph, and motorists travelling below 35mph in 30mph zones are unlikely to be targeted by officers. But senior police officers are considering whether “the implicit acceptance of excess speed within a threshold above the statutory speed limit” is “acceptable”. As a result, chief constables are to review official police guidelines on speed enforcement limits. The review into buffer zones follows comments by Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, the National Police Chief Council’s lead on road policing, that drivers should have a “genuine fear of being caught”…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● OFFICIAL AUDI’S latest concept, the PB18 e-tron, gives us a glimpse into the premium German brand’s electric future. The striking newcomer was revealed at last week’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California and hints at how a fully-electric supercar from Audi could look. It could even influence the shape of the next R8. Styled at the firm’s design studio in nearby Malibu, it takes inspiration from both the brand’s former LMP1 racers and its Aicon electric concept, which appeared in 2017. The long shooting brake-style back end sets the PB18’s profile apart from most supercars and gives it an entirely un-supercar-like 470 litres of boot space. That’s almost the same capacity as you get in an Audi A4 saloon. An active rear diffuser, race car-style inboard suspension and…

Skoda teases hot Kodiaq vRS SUV THE Kodiaq vRS is nearing its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, but Skoda has previewed its first performance SUV in a series of teaser images (above). The sporty styling we expect to feature on the firm’s first hot SUV is well hidden, but we know it’ll feature a 2.0-litre TDI with 237bhp and 500Nm, and it’s the fastest seven-seat SUV ever to lap the Nürburgring, in 9mins 29.8secs. Seatbelt blow for Polo, Ibiza, Arona SEAT and Volkswagen are still selling cars with a potentially dangerous seatbelt fault, despite a recall being in place. The issue affects 2018 models of the VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza and SEAT Arona. If three people are in the rear seats during a high-speed lane change the…

MIKE Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, advises consumers: “Euro 6 includes different levels, each more onerous than the last, and consumers and businesses can easily identify the precise Euro 6 status, and tax requirements, of any new car by looking at its official Environmental Label… attached to all new cars.” But while a Euro 6 car is a Euro 6 car regardless of the criteria it was tested against for future low-emission zones, the Government recently moved all diesels not tested to RDE2 (due 2020/21) up a band for first-year road tax and a percentage point for company car tax.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Running costs 57.6mpg (official) £68 fill-up IN the UK, the Focus is no less integral to Ford than a pilot is to a Boeing 747. The company shifted more examples of the family model alone in this country in 2017 than Volvo, Renault or Honda sold cars. So when a new version comes along, there’s no room for error. If it’s not practical enough, families won’t take to it. If it’s not efficient enough, business buyers will shun it. And if it’s no good to drive, enthusiasts won’t give it a second look. Ahead of the fourth-generation Focus going on sale this month, we’ve driven the car in the UK for the first time. And when Ford says the new Focus is all new, it really means it;…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods MG is aiming to crack 10,000 sales in the UK next year, with the firm’s MG3 supermini tasked with delivering some of that volume. This mid-life revamp is intended to kick-start sales, ahead of an all-new version arriving in 2022. Five years after the MG3’s UK debut, the car’s front has completely changed. It gets a larger grille that’s similar to the one used on the marque’s ZS crossover, flanked by fresh LED headlights that are fitted above a sportier new bumper. The exterior facelift is rounded off by a pair of new side skirts and a revised rear bumper, which also looks suitably sporty. Personalisation options remain a big part of this car’s appeal, and it brings a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels, too. It’s the…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 3008 1.5 BlueHDi 130 Allure PRICE: £27,200 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 129bhp THE Peugeot 3008 is a former winner of our Best Mid-Size SUV award, and now there’s a new 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 turbodiesel engine. We’re testing the car in Allure trim, which starts at £27,000 (although our pictures show a more lofty GT Line Premium). It’s pricier than its competition, but is it a better bet? Design & engineering THE 3008 is based on the modular EMP2 platform that underpins many modern, large Peugeots. The tech uses a conventional suspension layout, with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear, but the bigger news is the arrival of a new 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 engine. It’s replaced the older 1.6 unit, but offers more power…

NEW: SEAT Ateca 1.6 TDI SE Tech PRICE: £25,790 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp THE Ateca uses the same underpinnings and engine as the Karoq, but it’s slightly sportier and more responsive to drive. Decent practicality and a good level of kit in SE Tech trim make this a crossover that should be on your list. USED: Audi Q5 2.0TDI 190 S line Plus PRICE: £25k ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp FOR the same money on the used market you could pick up a more powerful, more premium previous-generation Audi Q5 with around 30k miles. The 2.0 TDI engine is strong, plus there’s practicality and quality to like here.…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THE tech on offer in modern high-end cars is fantastic, and our Audi A7 is full of advanced kit. Summer’s long daylight hours mean I haven’t spent all that much time with the headlights on, but when I’ve used them – or when they’ve been activated automatically for me – I’ve been incredibly impressed. Our A7 Sportback is fitted with the £1,150 laser headlight option. Matrix LED lights are standard, so even with oncoming traffic the Audi will still hold full beam, blanking out different combinations of LEDs to create a dipped beam ‘box’ so as not to dazzle drivers. Very clever, but the laser light function that comes into play above 37mph is even better. You can’t switch the lasers on manually; the car decides when to…

Morgan adds shape to wind-in-hair fun YOU don’t associate Morgan’s range of roofless cars with hair care, but the brand has teamed up with male grooming company Truefitt & Hill to relaunch two products. C.A.R. Cream and C.A.R. Lotion (above) were both originally created for the Royal Automobile Club – “to allow gentlemen to enjoy a bracing drive without looking dishevelled” – and are now back on sale for £27 a bottle. Find your local stockist by visiting www.truefittandhill.co.uk. Famous speakers line up at RAC Club THE Royal Automobile Club has announced the speakers for its annual motoring lectures, on 30 October at the group’s clubhouse on Pall Mall in London. They will include ex-F1 driver Allan McNish, Aston Martin and tractor expert Stuart Gibbard and Bob Owen, head of…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is the all-new BMWZ4, and the sixth iteration of BMWZ car, which has been unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours event in the United States ahead of sales starting in spring 2019. Codenamed G29, the new roadster has been developed in a joint project with Toyota. However, the two models to emerge from the shared process – the Z4 and the Japanese firm’s Supra – will be substantially different. BMW’s offering will be a convertible only; the Toyota will be sold as a coupé. Both will be built in the same factory in Austria; it was BMW that initially proposed the idea to Toyota to co-develop the two cars. The Z4’s looks and proportions stick pretty closely to those previewed on a concept that was revealed at…

FORD has revealed details of its self-driving car programme in the lead-up to unveiling its first fully autonomous vehicle in 2021. The company aims to develop a “common language” for self-driving cars, and has devised a light bar that displays a “white light [that] passes back and forth slowly” when the car is giving way, and a rapidly blinking light when a stationary car is about to move off. Ford’s “production-intent” self-driving cars have a “pull over request button” so passengers can make unplanned stops, and a secondary set of brakes in case the primary system fails. Bosses say a replacement self-driving car could also be sent out to customers in the event of an incident. Manned self-driving Fords operate in various cities across America, including Miami in Florida and…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● OFFICIAL A NEW Mercedes EQ concept has been revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event, and it’s quite unlike anything else we’ve seen from the manufacturer’s electrified sub-brand. The concept is called Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow, and it’s a modern tribute to the 1938 W125 Rekordwagen – a streamlined, experimental derivative of the W125 racer. It set a world land speed record on a public road of 269mph, a feat only bettered last year. Aside from the overall shape of the concept, a nod to the Rekordwagen is found on the flanks of the vehicle; the kink in the side skirt to accommodate the EQ badge is where the exhausts were placed on the V12-engined car. Around the back the aerodynamic work is completely contemporary, with a…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We take a peek at new Continental GT THE Continental GT quickly became a best-seller for Bentley thanks to its sleek design and modest price tag. Now there’s a third-generation Conti that’s ditched its VW Phaeton platform and pinched the Porsche Panamera’s instead; it’s a totally new car. Join me on this special walkaround. Our verdict on the top five hot hatches DESPITE the irresistible rise of the SUV, it seems the hot hatchback isn’t about to die any time soon. With new models arriving all the time that boast more power and more bells and whistles, which ones do we rank as the best? Find out in our top five rundown of the best hot hatches currently on sale. You can watch any of our videos on…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New BMW 3 Series FROM: Dan Kershaw I LOVE the current 3 Series, but one glance at its interior tells you it’s ripe for replacement. I’m glad BMW is set to refine not reinvent the exterior, though; it’s always been the archetypal sports saloon and needs honing, not radically altering. FROM: Ed Dudley LOOKS promising on the outside, interior should be a big step up and it’s bound to drive superbly. But why is BMW still fitting the 330i with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder? I have no issue with downsizing, but a 330i should have a six-cylinder. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “It is likely to look like the last one, unless…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods AUDI is the latest premium brand to be bitten by the coupé-SUV bug. The Q8 is the maker’s new flagship 4x4 (this S line model carries a premium of around £7,200 over the equivalent Q7 on which it’s strongly based) and is now in Audi dealers up and down the land. With a rakish design and new interior, it stands out at the very top end of the line-up. It also means Audi now fields a true rival for the BMWX6 and Mercedes GLE Coupé, two models that have come to define the coupé-SUV niche. So what exactly separates this car from the Q7 with which it shares a platform? Plenty has changed at Audi in the past two years and the Q8 proves it. The firm’s latest…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Karoq 1.6 TDI 115 SE L PRICE: £25,575 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp THE Skoda Karoq is our reigning mid-size SUV champ, having knocked the Peugeot off its perch. But can the Karoq remain king, or do the 3008 and revised Tucson have what it takes to reign supreme? We test a £25,575 1.6TDI Karoq SE L to find out. Design & engineering MORE and more models from the VW Group (Skoda’s parent company) are based on the firm’s modular MQB platform, and the Karoq is no different. Like the Peugeot’s EMP2 architecture, this uses sections in its chassis that are standardised, so common parts can be used. In this case, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel unit is a common part, as well as the gearbox that sends drive…

Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “On the smooth Autoroutes it eats up the miles with the engine near silent and little wind noise” Performance 0-60mph/top speed 11.9 seconds/115mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 649/1,806 litres THE SsangYong Rexton’s time on our fleet is now sadly at an end. It’s been all about long trips, and the mileage crept over 8,000 miles while on a recent week-long track-day tour in France. The big SUV is at its best on smooth Autoroutes. It just eats up the miles with the engine near silent at the legal limit and little wind noise; it’s a great car to travel long distances in. The trailer is stable and barely noticeable, and I was thankful for the cruise control and icy air-con during the recent heatwave across Europe. More than…

Volkswagen Arteon NEVER before had special contributor Steve Sutcliffe been so glad to climb into his Volkswagen Arteon and then drive it serenely home down a motorway for the next 150 miles. Why? For the previous two days he’d been screaming around the country in a 1992 Lotus Carlton for our sister magazine, evo. The Lotus Carlton has one of the heaviest clutches of any road car, ever. It also has no nav, a clunky six-speed box, not much in the way of ride quality and no air-conditioning. It was a wondrous car, our man thinks, but also a wrestling match from the start. Which makes it the polar opposite to the VW. Steve says the refinement of a modern saloon is impressive, but is often taken for granted. It…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Tips for towing a caravan I’M planning to tow a caravan for the first time later this summer. I’ve towed smaller trailers before, but is there anything I should do before tackling a caravan? Jamie Thompson, E-mail A CHECK you are licensed to tow the caravan. Loading is key to stability, so keep weight over the axle and low down. On the road, you need to anticipate more and take extra care going down hills. The third lane on a motorway is out of bounds and the speed limit is 60mph, and 50mph on single carriageways. Q Where’s best for new tyres? IN Issue 1,531 you said if it is only the front tyres that need replacing, then the new ones should be fitted to the…

THE Thinkware F70 and Mio MiVue C330 dash cams cost less than £100 and feature 1080p footage to help capture incidents in sufficient detail. So which is better for motorists on a tight budget? Clarity of footage recorded remained our priority, so we looked for which cam better picked out important details such as number plates, pedestrians and cyclists. Additional features like parking modes scored extra points, as did ease of use. Price from online sources was the final factor. The Thinkware F70 grabs the win in this mini test. It captures marginally better footage than the Mio, although the C330 is still a solid dash cam for slightly less money. “Clarity of the footage captured remained our priority” Mini test OUR CHOICE Thinkware F70 Price: £79 Contact: www.thinkware.com THE…