Innholdsfortegnelse for 1574 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● First cars under PSA ownership ● Many to feature electric drive THE next 18 months are shaping up to be big for Vauxhall. The brand and its European sister marque, Opel, have just untapped what will become a steady stream of new cars and vans that is due to arrive over the next year and a half, with electrified models expected to play an important part in the big product push. Here’s how PSA, Vauxhall’s new parent company, will make its mark on the brand. New Astra Due late 2019 FACELIFTS aren’t always interesting, but the revisions to the Astra, previewed by our exclusive image (right), will be fascinating because the car still sits on underpinnings from Vauxhall’s previous owner, GM. It’ll be the brand’s last car…

Mercedes names price for all-electric EQC SUV MERCEDES has confirmed that the all-electric EQC SUV (above), with its 280-mile range, will arrive in UK dealers in July, priced from £65,640 before the UK Government grant. That undercuts Audi’s e-tron and the cheapest Tesla Model X. Six models have been confirmed. The entry-level car is badged EQC 400 4MATIC Sport, and is topped by three separate AMG Line trim levels. An Edition 1 launch model will be on sale for the EQC’s first year, while the £79,260 Edition 1886 is limited to 100 units. RAC fits patrols with electric car chargers ELECTRIC car owners whose vehicles run out of juice mid-journey will be able to continue their trips without being taken to a charging station on a flatbed truck, after the…

● All-electric range-topper to be inspired by Imagine show model James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE striking Imagine by Kia concept that starred at March’s Geneva Motor Show will closely inform an upcoming “emotional flagship”. So says the Korean brand’s chief designer, Luc Donkerwolke. “I believe we will see a completely new diversification of typologies,” he told us. “This car hybridises between a typical fastback five-door coupé architecture and an SUV. Finding its own identity.” Donkerwolke confirmed that the Imagine is underpinned by a brand new all-electric platform, yet the firm is keeping the technical details and capabilities of the architecture a secret for now. But it’s scalable and designed for production, plus it’s a platform Kia and sister brand Hyundai will promote relentlessly over the coming months, with new show cars based…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Speed cam thresholds FROM: Robert Sharpe SPEED cameras don’t take into account factors like the weather. I was recently overtaken by a coach doing 65mph on a motorway in thick fog. A fixed camera wasn’t going to slow its driver down, because he wasn’t breaking the speed limit. FROM: Chris Pierce RATHER than worry about how strictly these cameras enforce the law, surely the answer is to drive under the speed limit? That’s safer, will prevent you from getting a ticket, will save you money on fuel and keep emissions down, too. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I had to do a speed awareness course after being caught driving at 73mph…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE Toyota Corolla is back, and in stylish fashion. When the firm revealed what was then set to be the next Auris at the 2018 Geneva show, both ourselves and you were taken aback by the new look. And we’d wager that you think the latest hatch’s pert styling has been nipped and tucked nicely for this fresh estate version, the Touring Sports, which has arrived at the same time as Ford’s hybrid Mondeo estate (driven on Page 24). It’s based on Toyota’s TNGA platform, and the line-up is dominated by hybrid power. Two petrol-electric set-ups are offered, with a 120bhp 1.8-litre unit playing second fiddle to what we’re driving here: the range-topping 178bhp 2.0-litre, in top-flight Excel trim. The price list reveals this isn’t a cheap option;…

MODEL TESTED: Kia e-Niro 64kWh First Edition PRICE: £32,995 ENGINE: One electric motor, 201bhp THE e-Niro is the latest EV on the market, and Kia has experience in this sector already. The new car is affordable, at £32,995 in First Edition trim, while the big battery means there’s plenty of range, which is where smaller, cheaper EVs usually fall down. Design & engineering KIA’S e-Niro is not the Korean brand’s first attempt at a full EV. Its quirky Soul SUV started the firm’s EV revolution, and along with sister firm Hyundai and its full EVs, it’s this tech that’s informed the e-Niro’s development. The Niro was designed with an all-electric powertrain in mind, so with hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants also available, it’s no surprise that this car accepts its…

Kia e-Niro 8-inch sat-nav Standard Key features: Connectivity, wireless charging THE e-Niro’s infotainment is much like that in other higher-spec Kias, which means it’s good. The eight-inch touchscreen responds fairly quickly to inputs, although the screen resolution could be a little sharper. Yet it’s the functionality included as standard that should be praised. Sat-nav, wireless phone charging, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay all feature, as do DAB radio, Bluetooth, a reversing camera and Kia’s connected services (powered by TomTom to show live traffic and other info). On the e-Niro it’ll also show charging points near your car, along your route or at your destination. The layout is fairly logical and easy to navigate, while the screen is well placed. There are still a few foibles – there’s one process too…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI SE PRICE: £15,160 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 94bhp THE Fabia excels when it comes to affordability and practicality in a supermini. And although new models have been released since it was launched, this is the car the MG3 has to beat to show it has improved. So how does it fare? Design & engineering SKODA’S third-generation supermini went on sale around the same time as the MG3, yet the Fabia was facelifted sooner and had more tech added to keep it competitive. Most attention went on the engines, with a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo unit added to boost efficiency. It’s the 94bhp model in £15,160 SE trim that we’re testing, which is pricier than the MG but doesn’t get quite as much kit. As we’ll…

SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95 SE PRICE: £15,970 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 94bhp EVEN an entry-level Ibiza SE has plenty of kit, with CarPlay and Android Auto standard. But the 355-litre boot and roomy cabin mean it’s the most versatile supermini on sale, plus it’s good to drive, comfortable and refined. It’s also very well priced. Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 100 Zetec PRICE: £16,720 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 99bhp WHILE both these rivals are pricier, we’ve seen how PCP deals can help here, and the Fiesta is the class leader. It handles brilliantly, and its infotainment is even better than the MG3’s. It’s also refined, punchy but frugal and more practical.…

NEW PRODUCT Thule Revolve luggage Prices: £349 to £479 Contact: www.thule.com SWEDISH company Thule knows a thing or two about storage and transportation; it’s known for its roof boxes and racks. So it’s little surprise that the firm has launched its first range of hard-sided luggage. The Thule Revolve line-up comprises felt-lined cases available in four sizes and three colours, pitched at and priced for business users. It promises toughness, security and a go-anywhere nature. Thanks to their telescopic handles and eight wheels, the cases can easily be moved upright. The oversized rear wheels allow them to be tilted to cope with crossing uneven terrain, such as cobblestones or grass, for example. Security comes by way of a rigid internal frame, a solid polycarbonate body, puncture-resistant zips and a reinforced front…

New Skoda electric MTBs at the double SKODA has launched a pair of new electrically assisted mountain bikes to complement its 16-strong model line-up. The EMTB Full (above) comes with full suspension and the EMTB features front suspension. Both get 2.6-inch-wide tyres and use a Shimano electric drive unit and battery designed just for mountain bikes. There’s also a new Skoda children’s bike, the Kid 24, which sits above the existing Kid 20 and Kid 16, with 24-inch wheels and an 11-inch frame to suit children aged eight to 13. All models are available to buy at Skoda dealerships. Adjust performance at the tap of an app KIA and Hyundai are set to introduce a smartphone app that will let drivers adjust their cars’ performance attributes on the fly. The…

WHEN Mazda launched the MX-5 30 years ago it wasn’t expected to become an icon, or to survive so long. But it has done both those things, with four generations launched so far, all fulfilling the original aim of providing affordable driving pleasure. With summer about to arrive, what better way is there to enjoy the warmer, longer days than by investing in a wallet-friendly two-seater convertible that’s spot-on dynamically, and won’t cost you the earth to run? Stylish, reliable and incredibly engaging to drive, the Mazda MX-5 is the default car for thousands of people wanting something more fun and more interesting than a regular hatchback. Try one, and you’ll soon see why the model has become such a hit. History THE fourth-generation MX-5 went on sale in April…

● ZS first in wave of electric MGs ● SUV due to arrive in summer John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy MG’S first all-electric car is on track for a summer launch, senior officials have revealed – and the British brand is promising that the new arrival won’t be limited by the supply issues which have hampered early sales of some of its rivals. The first offering in a wave of new products that will expand the marque’s line-up over the next two years, the ZS EV will aim to undercut the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro on price. MG’s new car has already been revealed in China; it features a single electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 148bhp and 350Nm of torque. That’s enough to take the Nissan…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m) Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram NEW car buyers love SUVs – normally for their space, style and presence, rather than their water-wading abilities or prowess when heading off road. But Jeep does things differently. Like Land Rover, the American maker prides itself on its go-anywhere nameplate, with even the smallest models available with raised suspension and four-wheel drive. Yet even the hardiest manufacturers can’t ignore the pressures of their ever-fussy customers – as well as the crushing need to comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations. As such, Jeep has facelifted its Renegade SUV, launching with a pair of petrol engines designed to provide much of the firm’s usual appeal in a more environmentally conscientious package. As well as the existing three diesels, buyers are now offered the three-cylinder 118bhp 1.0-litre turbo tested here.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy FERRARI has a strong record when it comes to delivering ‘special’ versions of its (frankly already special) mid-engined cars. And while the likes of the 458 Speciale and 430 Scuderia had extra focus on the track, they always managed to be just about usable on the road as well. We felt the same had been achieved with the latest offering, the 488 Pista, when we tried it in Italy last summer – but now we’ve had a chance to see if this still holds true on British roads. To recap, the 488 Pista gets several choice components from Ferrari’s 488 Challenge and GTE racers, including some delicious engine enhancements, such as lightweight titanium connecting rods for the pistons, carbon-fibre intakes and uprated twin-scroll turbochargers. The end result is…

MODEL TESTED: BMW i3s 120Ah PRICE: £34,170 ENGINE: One electric motor, 181bhp THE i3 started BMW’s EV revolution and has proven a massive hit for the brand. We’re testing the top-spec i3s 120Ah, but is it worth the extra price over its rivals here? Design & engineering THE BMW i3’s story has been well told, because it’s a great one that proved small EVs are a big deal. A skateboard-style chassis (the Drive Module) houses the battery, motor and suspension. Bolted on top is a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic skeleton (the Life Module) for lightness and strength, because the i3 weighs 1,290kg in ‘s’ form with the latest, more energy-dense 120Ah battery, as BMW calls it. That is considerably lighter than the German model’s competition, but then, it’s also smaller. The…

MG 3 8-inch colour screen Standard Key features: CarPlay, reversing camera IT’S an acceptable set-up, but the MG’s new unit still leaves a little to be desired. Some of the menu layouts and the way you move through the system seem a bit illogical, although once you get used to the quirks it’s easy enough to get your head around. MG has also realised what buyers in this sector value nowadays and thrown in Apple CarPlay. So although navigation isn’t included, you can access it through an iPhone, if you have one. The interface works well, but the company has stopped short of also adding the flexibility of Android Auto, which is a shame. It’s nice to have a reversing camera, but not necessary on a compact supermini that’s easy…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Will diesel fail on smoke? I’VE been told my diesel car will fail its upcoming MoT test because the exhaust smoke is visible. There’s not much smoke and sometimes it is hard to see, but will it be enough to get it failed? Craig Davis, E-mail A THE MoT test was toughened up for diesels a year ago. If your car has a diesel particulate filter – your handbook should tell you – you’ll get a major fault and test failure if the tester can see smoke of any colour coming from the exhaust during metered checks. If there’s evidence the filter has been tampered with, that is also a failure. Q Ditching dash cam branding WHEN I take delivery of my new car,…

CORRECT inflation is key to ensuring you make the most of your tyres’ performance, and your cash. Since 2012 new models have been fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems, but kits are available for fitting to older cars. The latest to arrive is an improved set-up from Michelin, which now includes individual pressure readings on the display. How does it fare against the top external sensor system from our Issue 1,465 test, TyrePal’s Solar? We checked how both set-ups responded to pressure loss using a wheel and tyre with two valves. Plus we gave them a road test, and looked at what you get for your money. These kits are hard to separate because both work well, just in different ways. The Michelin has the edge for its convenience, but…

WHILE ‘filling’ a Tesla will take considerably longer than pumping diesel into a similar-size BMW 3 Series (for now), you should be able to get 80 per cent of charge into your Model 3 in around 30 minutes at one of the company’s Superchargers. That should give you around 280 miles of range – at a cost of about £14. Assuming your 330d manages an average of 50mpg, travelling the same distance will cost over £40 at current prices. Extrapolate that over 10,000 miles and the Tesla will save you £928 – possibly double that if you can charge at home using off-peak rates. Of course, a BMW 330d M Sport costs over £7,000 less to buy than a Long Range Model 3, but it’s not as quick as the Tesla.…

MOTORWAY signs should be redesigned to more clearly display junction numbers because too many are obscured by bushes and large vehicles, says the UK’s independent transport watchdog. Transport Focus has recommended that Highways England – the Government-owned company responsible for the motorway network – moves junction numbers from the bottom left to the top left of signs. This comes after a survey of over 2,000 drivers found almost half had encountered motorway signs that had been obscured by overgrown vegetation, while 74 per cent said high-sided vehicles had stopped them reading a sign properly. Some 95 per cent claimed to have seen other motorists carrying out dangerous manoeuvres – such as swerving across lanes – to avoid missing an exit, while 17 per cent admitted to having made a potentially…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Our Giulia: the good, the bad and the ugly FOR 10 months I had the pleasure of running Auto Express’s Alfa Romeo Giulia, and if you read the reports you’d know it was a loving relationship. But as with a lot of partnerships there were problems as well. In this video I explain exactly what I loved and what I hated about Alfa’s saloon. We get up close and personal with Pista FERRARI may have launched its new F8 Tributo at this year’s Geneva show, but it’s not done with the 488 just yet. Meet the new Pista – a track-inspired special with 710bhp and a lairy yellow paintjob. Read our drive on Page 32, then join me on the walkaround tour of the car that’s the 488’s…

OVER a fifth of drivers have got out of their car to confront another driver in road rage incidents, according to fresh survey data. And a further 39 per cent of people say they have been affected by road rage on more then one occasion. Worryingly, 19 per cent of respondents admitted getting so angry at the wheel that they deliberately followed another driver. The survey saw 1,000 motorists polled by automotive data firm HPI, and while women were more likely to follow other drivers, men were more likely to get out of their car in road rage incidents. Respondents said dangerous overtaking induced rage most, while van drivers were felt to be the most irritating road users, followed by cyclists and minicab drivers.…

MODEL TESTED: Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Premium PRICE: £32,845 ENGINE: One electric motor, 201bhp HYUNDAI’S Kona Electric is our current favourite affordable EV and this 64kWh Premium model is close to the sweet spot of the range. But how does it fare against its rivals? Design & engineering THE Kona Electric shares much of its tech with the e-Niro, but there’s a key difference. The Hyundai SUV launched with two battery options: a smaller, cheaper 39kWh unit and this 64kWh variant offering more range. Like the e-Niro, the Kona Electric has a 7.2kW charger on board that Hyundai claims will top up the battery in nine hours and 35 minutes, while it’s just 75 minutes for an 80 per cent 50kW rapid charge. The Korean models take longer to charge…

MODEL TESTED: MG3 1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive PRICE: £12,795 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 105bhp REVISED styling and new tech mean the MG3 is back with a fresh attempt at success in the supermini class. We’re testing the facelifted car in impressively affordable £12,795 top-spec Exclusive trim to see if it’s a winning formula. Design & engineering DESPITE its long history here, MG is not a massive brand in the UK when it comes to sales volumes. However, the company is currently growing at a fairly rapid rate. It has shifted more than 10,000 examples of its first MG3 supermini over four years, but with an expanding line-up, the brand is aiming to sell that many cars in 2019 alone – and this revised MG3 is going to help it get there, the…

STYLE THE revisions to the MG’s design are subtle but mean it’s a relatively smart-looking supermini. Then again, style was never really one of its major problems. There are plenty of customisation options, too, with contrasting mirror caps and graphics packs available. By comparison, the Fabia is a little more sober, with not quite as much scope to put your stamp on the car. OPTIONS ALTHOUGH Exclusive is the MG’s top-spec trim and comes relatively well equipped for the money, you can’t add many optional extras. In the Skoda you get better safety and connectivity tech to choose from, as well as more convenience features. That means you can pick a lower trim and spec the kit you want. So if you’re buying on PCP, something like heated seats should…

Pete_Baiden@dennis.co.uk SEAT is very proud of its Spanish heritage, so much so that nearly every model in its current line-up is named after a town or area in Spain. The Ibiza, Leon, Arona, Ateca and Alhambra all follow this formula, and so does the latest addition to the Auto Express fleet, the Tarraco. For the past 37 years the Iberian brand has been using place names, starting way back with the Rondo in 1982. The Tarraco is the 14th car to follow this principle, but it was the first to be named by public vote. SEAT set up a poll to choose the name for its new seven-seat SUV back in late 2017, and Tarraco, the historical name for the city of Tarragona, edged out Avila, Aranda and Alboran, with…

Audi A6 Avant Iss 1,555, 1,558, 1,566, 1,571 BMW 3 Series New arrival Cupra Ateca Issues 1,564, 1,573 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564, 1,572 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567 Mazda MX-5 Issue 1,573 Mercedes G-Class Issue 1,565 Mercedes X-Class Iss 1,547, 1,557, 1,563, 1,571 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560, 1,568 SEAT Tarraco New arrival Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572 Volkswagen California New arrival Volkswagen Polo Iss 1,549, 1,558, 1,562, 1,570 Volkswagen Touareg New arrival Your ultimate guide to buying and owning an electric car…

NEW PRODUCT Halfords pressure washers Price: From £50 Contact: www.halfords.com IF you thought your budget would not stretch to a pressure washer, then you need to check out a new line-up of products from Halfords that starts at just £50. Launched in response to customer demand for a more affordable washer – most rivals weigh in at more than £100 – the range comprises two models, with the bigger machine still only costing £65. Halfords claims it has specified high power and flow rates to “make cleaning quick and easy”. The PW10 kicks off the range and is equipped with a 1,400W air-cooled, brushed motor that delivers a maximum 105-Bar pressure. Working pressure is 70 Bar and the flow rate is five litres per minute. There’s an auto-stop system that shuts…

Lotus Elite, Eclat and Excel Matthew Vale (Crowood Press, www.crowood.com) Price: £16.99 COVERING three lesser-known models, this feels like it was made in a hurry. Production values are a bit cheap and the photos leave a little to be desired, but it’s an interesting read and a rare resource on these cars. Worth picking up if you’re interested in them. Mercedes S-Class: Buyer’s Guide Tobias Zoporowski (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 THE Mercedes S-Class is a luxury icon, but we wonder if a longer guide to these complex W126 models would be more useful. This is well presented and illustrated with decent photos, but a little more depth would surely be appreciated to help avoid buying a lemon. Pick Me Up Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free A NO-nonsense driving…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Waiting for Honda sensor fix THE parking sensors on my two-year-old Honda Civic go off when there are no obstacles, particularly in the wet. My dealer says a fix exists, but I have been waiting 18 months. Do you know about this issue? Ronnie Brown, E-mail A A HONDA spokesperson confirmed a fix exists in the form of a new front grille, but the issue has affected a number of vehicles, and parts stocks have been running out. The firm said it will contact the dealer in question to speed up the arrival of a replacement grille, though. Q Modding scene has vanished WHERE did all the UK’s modified cars go? I used to see Citroen Saxos, VW Golfs and Vauxhall…

Dear Alex, I’m after a compact car that’s cheap to run and different from the norm. What do you suggest for about £7,500? Ben Christie, E-mail Contact: Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk • THE REVOLUTIONARY CHOICE Audi A2 FOR: Cool styling, roomy cabin AGAINST: Unsettled ride, noisy engines IN many ways, the Audi A2 deserved much greater sales success than it ever achieved. Here is a supermini that boasts an advanced aluminium construction and an aerodynamic shape, both contributing to extremely impressive fuel economy, even by modern standards. It looks cool, too – a bit like a TT reimagined as a mini-MPV. When it was released in 1999, economy wasn’t the concern that it is today, so sales were slow. Now, though, less than £4,000 can get you an immaculate example. SIMPLE, stylish and…

FREEDOM of choice is a precious thing. It affords drivers the right to decide the types of vehicles they want; how much they’re prepared to pay for them; what on-board features they require; whether it has petrol or diesel in the tank; where, when and how their vehicles are used. All this represents liberty and individuality for empowered consumers. We don’t realise how lucky we are to live in a time and place in which we can enjoy such things. But not for much longer, I fear. First the politicians introduced additional taxes for drivers who, for example, drive into London. Then they said they’ll outlaw conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040. After that came the growl from Westminster that it wants us aboard autonomous vehicles, and soon. But…