Innholdsfortegnelse for 1620 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● 200bhp hot hatch on way ● Aimed squarely at Ford’s pack leader HYUNDAI is looking to establish itself as a big player in the performance car market, with a hot version of its i20 supermini. Due to be officially revealed this year and set to arrive in showrooms in the next 12 months, the i20 N will have the Ford Fiesta ST firmly in its sights. The small hot hatchback market is facing an increasingly uncertain future, with manufacturers desperate to cut fleet emissions or face hefty fines. The cost of engineering these cars, and being able to sell them at a profitable but affordable price, has proved too much for some; there are no plans to introduce new Volkswagen Polo GTI, Cupra Ibiza or Renaultsport Clio…

Porsche adds lightness to its fastest-ever 911 TWO new option packages have been announced for the all-new Porsche 911 Turbo S (above). The Lightweight package, available on Coupé models, introduces reduced noise insulation and front bucket seats, while the rear seats are removed entirely. The car’s ride height also drops by 10mm. The Sport package brings a unique tail-light design and new gloss black exterior details. The wheels are finished in dark grey, and coupés with the Sport package get a carbon-fibre roof. Both packs arrive at the end of 2020. UK shutdown hits Festival gathering THE Goodwood Festival of Speed, due to take place in July, has been postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organisers are looking to move the festival to the end of summer, rather than cancel…

AN all-new Toyota GT86 will launch next summer, according to a document leaked from the Japanese maker. The car will continue to be built in conjunction with the Subaru BRZ, and both cars are expected to move to a new rear-wheel-drive platform. The document also suggested that the forthcoming GT86 will use a new 252bhp turbocharged engine. It’s unknown what that motor will be, but it could be a BMW unit. Toyota said recently that some Supras in Japan will use a four-cylinder engine from the Z4.…

WITH airlines flying reduced services, roads largely free from traffic, and factories closing their doors, the quality of the air in our environment has improved, according to the publicly funded National Centre for Atmospheric Science. The organisation said there were “early signs” that coronavirus was bringing about a reduction in UK pollution. Data from London shows levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter had fallen since mid-February to levels “significantly lower than the average of the previous five years”. The Centre warned that the data “requires detailed analysis” before it could say for certain that the reductions were due to reduced industry and transport. But London’s improving air follows measurements carried out by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite that revealed nitrogen dioxide over Italy fell dramatically between…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler FORMER air force bases have a long history when it comes to UK motorsport and the motor industry. It didn’t take long after the cessation of hostilities in World War Two for RAF Silverstone to be transformed into a motor racing circuit, while, more recently, part of RAF St Athan in Wales has become the home to Aston Martin’s new factory, where the new DBX SUV is being built. Like so many similar sites, RAF Bicester, once the home of two squadrons flying Bristol Blenheim bombers, had fallen into disrepair since the RAF departed in 1976. Now though, it’s being revitalised under the banner of Bicester Motion, and Auto Express was invited along to take a look at the grand plans for the site. Daniel Geoghegan is Chief…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Volkswagen T-Roc range has been expanded this year – first with the hot T-Roc R, which we reviewed early in 2020, and now with the T-Roc Cabriolet. This new model is one of an extremely small number of convertible SUVs that have ever been built, so it’s safe to say it’s a niche car. Its rivals are hard to pin down, then; perhaps buyers looking for an affordable drop-top with some room for occasional passengers might also consider a BMW 2 Series Convertible, or a MINI Convertible, but neither of those shares the T-Roc’s SUV styling. There’s also the Mazda MX-5, although that has no rear seats. Yet the T-Roc may not even fall into the affordable category at all – especially our R-Line test car, which…

NEW: Toyota GR Supra Pro PRICE: £54,000 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl, 335bhp THERE are few brawny front-engined, rear-drive two-seat sports cars left on sale, and the Supra is a great example of the breed. Fast, balanced and with a multi-cylinder engine, it’s another great coupé. It’s cheaper and less powerful than the Jag. USED: Audi R8 V10 Plus PRICE: £80,950 ENGINE: 5.2-litre V10, 602bhp ALTERNATIVELY, for similar money to the Jag you could have a sports car with one of the finest engines ever. Audi’s 602bhp V10 R8 Plus is a peach; that motor makes it and sounds glorious, while also delivering stunning performance.…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 37.5mpg (on test) £58 fill-up/£145 or 27% tax LONDON’S Royal Albert Hall is one of the most iconic music venues in the entire world. It has played host to world-famous acts such as Eric Clapton, Shirley Bassey, Kylie Minogue, plus a countless number of world-class orchestras. And the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s clearly a venue that has some history when it comes to the big performers, then. And while such a lauded concert hall won’t be ditching its current sound stage for some fancy in-car audio any time soon, the Nissan Juke’s Bose set-up has proved to be a great way of piping rich tunes into my commute, a trip which, before the coronavirus hit, took me right past the Hall itself. Offered in the range-topping…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 63rd PLACE 2019 Results Micra Factfile Years: 2017 to present CO2: 103g/km Fuel economy: 50.4mpg (1.0 100PS) Best options: Air con, seven-inch touchscreen, Alcantara trim, rear camera Used prices: From £7,500 OVERALL SCORE 89.86% Bars show where model finished out of 100 vehicles in our 2019 new car survey. The longer the bar the better • GOOD “STYLING is a massive step up from the previous Micra. The current-generation car looks sporty and cutting edge.” “I’m impressed by how comfortable the suspension is on rough road surfaces.” “The stereo is very easy to tune to any radio station, and holds on to signals well.” “Overall build quality of the Nissan Micra is excellent given the price of the car.” “Plenty of room in the boot…

Dear Luke, I’m replacing my family hatchback with a small SUV due to mobility issues. What’s a good purchase with a budget of £10,000? Julia Evans, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE PRACTICAL CHOICE Honda HR-V FOR: Bold design, spacious cabin, large boot AGAINST: Dated sat-nav, not particularly fun to drive LAUNCHED in 2014 after a near decade-long hiatus, the Mk2 Honda HR-V offered eye-catching styling and plenty of space, although it lacked some rivals’ sharp handling. Used prices have remained fairly stable, with even high-mileage examples commanding upwards of £9,000. The HR-V isn’t as fun to drive as the CX-3, nor is it as comfortable as the 2008, but it’s still worth considering for its looks and practicality. We found a 2017 model, with 86,000 miles on the clock, advertised…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale ● New Clio at No 1 in February ● Lowest sales for five years “Latest Clio has been on the market for longer than new Golf, so the VW’s sales were narrowly behind” THE Renault Clio became Europe’s best-selling car last month, knocking the Volkswagen Golf off the top spot, according to the latest European car registrations. New versions of both cars have been launched recently, but the Clio has been available for longer than the new Golf. So some 24,914 Mk5 Clios were registered in February, while the Golf (a mix of Mk7.5 and Mk8) was narrowly behind, with 24,735. Both nameplates saw an overall reduction in registrations last month, according to data from JATO Dynamics. There was a four per cent year-on-year drop in Clio registrations,…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths CARS and vans are being granted a six-month exemption from the requirement to be put through an MoT test, after the Department for Transport recognised the difficulties and dangers implicit in testing millions of cars in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The legislation came into force on 30 March and runs for 12 months, effectively making MoT certificates valid for 18 months, instead of a year. The news follows significant speculation regarding how the MoT system could be kept going as the UK locks down to slow the spread of the disease. The requirement to have a valid MoT was previously rescinded for heavy goods vehicles and buses, with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), together with the Department for Transport, issuing three-month certificates of exemption…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Audi Q5 Sportback FROM: David Pyne I LIKE an estate personally, but these coupé-SUVs are so much car for the money while not looking too high. That said, the Audis don’t look as good as the ones from Mercedes, in my opinion, and I would want one with a big engine. FROM: Ryan Baker THE current SUV trend is annoying enough – most people could get by with a hatchback or estate – but coupé-SUVs are even worse. The big advantage of an SUV is space, so why would you reduce that with a coupé body style? Madness. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Just another car for people who want to…

Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk @VickyParrott Performance 0-62mph/top speed 2.8 seconds/155mph Electric system Battery/WLTP range 93.4kWh/241-256 miles “The Taycan handles with a deftness that a heavy, four-wheel-drive car has no right to” THIS isn’t just a car, it’s a point proven. A flag planted in the enthusiast heartland, stating firmly that electric cars are not only fun, but also textural and playful – worthy of the Porsche badge and the purists that worship it. We know this, because we drove the Taycan last year and found it to be as era-defining as you’d expect. But now we’ve driven it in the UK, in range-topping Turbo S guise. And let’s face it, there’s got to be a question mark over how a car with 751bhp and a 2.3-tonne kerbweight feels on the UK’s narrow and…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Running costs 37.2mpg (official) £65 fill-up Performance  0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/155mph BMW, along with its German rivals, has become known for filling niches, and the 2 Series Gran Coupé is certainly one of those. It’s based on the 1 Series platform, so it shares engines and tech with the hatchback (it comes with either front or four-wheel drive), yet it has a saloon body. It’s not really a coupé, despite the name, because it has four doors and there’s enough room in the back for the kids, or adults on short trips. It’s not as big as a 3 Series, yet it’s not far off – and this flagship M235i comes close to the larger model in terms of price. It costs from £37,255, and for that you…

MODEL TESTED: Jaguar F-Type P450 AWD First Edition Coupé  PRICE: £80,890 ENGINE: 5.0-litre supercharged V8, 444bhp THIS updated P450 is an affordable way into one of the most characterful V8-engined sports cars around, with prices starting from £69,990. This rises to a chunkier £80,890 for this AWD First Edition model, yet that still undercuts the Porsche by quite some margin – but is that price gap obvious? Design & engineering WHILE the F-Type has been fairly extensively updated, it’s not an all-new model like the ‘992’ Porsche 911 was last year. The Jag is still based on the same aluminium D6a platform, with double wishbones all round, and adaptive dampers as standard on this P450 AWD First Edition. The name signifies the car’s power output, which stands at 444bhp. The…

Jaguar F-Type 10-inch Touch Pro Standard Key features: Digi dash, smartphone tech JAGUAR is much more on the ball when it comes to infotainment now, which is why all F-Types come with a 12.3-inch digital dashboard fitted as standard. It’s configurable like the one in the firm’s I-Pace, so it can show lots of different data, including a full-screen map. It’s a nice techy touch that lifts the cabin. The British brand has also continued its roll-out of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which is a good thing. It works relatively well in the F-Type given the 10-inch touchscreen’s letterbox format and because the native system still isn’t the best example, even though it’s an improvement on Jag’s of old. The F-Type also gets one up on the 911…

For just £22.99 every 13 issues, you can enjoy the latest motoring news delivered to your door each week, and we’ll send you an exclusive welcome gift! YOUR GREAT OFFER ▪ FREE G3 Pro Multicleaner ▪ All the latest news, road tests & reviews delivered to your door each week ▪ FREE delivery of every issue ▪ Save 50% on your subscription ORDER ONLINE: dennismags.co.uk/autoexpress OR CALL NOW ON: 0330 333 9491 quoting offer code D1620 YOUR FREE GIFT G3 Pro Multicleaner is a truly versatile rigorous cleaning solution that is safe to use on all soft and hard surfaces, inside and outside your vehicle - from carpets and upholstery, through vinyl and paintwork to wheel arch liners and engine bays. It is a silicone-free product that will not discolour…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Feeling the need for speed Q MY car’s speedometer shows a higher speed than my sat-nav, sometimes by as much as 13mph. The dealer says it’s within European safety standards. Can this be right? Harold Myers, E-mail A SPEEDOMETERS are legally allowed to over-read by a margin of 10 per cent plus 6.25mph, but they must not under-read. You should set your concerns out in writing to both the dealer and the car maker’s customer services. If you have already done this, write to them again highlighting the potential legal issues in play. Counting cost of collision Q MY 18-year-old son was in an accident that wasn’t his fault. He is now trying to insure a similar replacement car, but his quotes are £900 higher.…

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100kph), in seconds. ECONOMY AND EMISSIONS: The combined economy figure in miles per gallon and its emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are the best achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency. INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers. WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork. EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover. LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and…

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF MK8 Price from: £23,875 THE Golf has long been the go-to option for buyers wanting an affordable, premium and practical family car. With the eighth-generation model, VW decided to build on what the outgoing hatch did best, rather than totally reinvent it. It doesn’t look a whole lot different, but there’s more passenger space than before and more tech inside. On the move, it’s safe and secure rather than truly involving, but a range of new hybrid engines will only increase its appeal. MERCEDES A-CLASS Price from: £23,710 RE-ENGINEERED from top to bottom, the latest A-Class is a huge step on from what went before it. The highlight is the cabin, which wouldn’t look out of place in an executive saloon. It’s trimmed in plush leather and cool…

HOT versions of existing cars aren’t the only thing on N division’s radar. Hyundai will release a bespoke halo model in the next decade, too, which could make use of a mid-mounted electrified, all-wheel-drive powertrain. Hyundai has created concepts and development vehicles, like the RM 16 N and RM 19, but neither of these vehicles points to the production car. Another prototype, dubbed RM 20, will emerge later this year as a strong pointer to where the brand’s halo car project is heading, before a reveal late in 2021.…

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…

TESLA MODEL S Price from: £81,200 TESLA demonstrated that there was a huge appetite for fast electric saloons with the Model S. The sleek four-door has been refined and updated every year since 2012, and has a fiercely loyal fanbase. Performance on the move is exceptional, yet the Model S isn’t very engaging on more challenging roads. But the car’s real weak point is its overall quality; this will be an area where Porsche can take advantage as a brand known for its high standards. JAGUAR I-PACE Price from: £64,495 IS it a saloon, or a crossover? Whatever the answer, the I-Pace is currently the benchmark in the premium EV segment. We rate it so highly that it was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year in 2018. The I-Pace…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Battery/range 64kWh 279 miles (WLTP) WITH new pure-electric models being launched almost every week these days, it’s easy to forget some of the star offerings that impressed us not too long ago. Take the Hyundai Kona Electric; it was our Affordable Electric Car of the Year back in 2018, but was soon outshone by the Kia e-Niro’s mix of a similar battery range and a slightly larger cabin. Now the Kona Electric has been given a set of mild mid-life revisions – and while they don’t extend to an extra 40mm in the wheelbase, they could nudge this baby SUV back towards the top of the EV pile. You’ll need to be a Kona aficionado to spot the changes from the outside. The ultra-slim headlights and complex side…

MODEL TESTED: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S PRICE: £98,418 ENGINE: 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six, 444bhp IF it’s a four-wheel-drive sports car with around 450bhp you’re after then the 911 Carrera 4S has always been in the frame – and it’s no different with this 992 version that was launched last year. At £98,418, it is more expensive than the F-Type, but the details show these two cars are close rivals on many counts. Design & engineering THE first is the engine. The 911’s 3.0-litre flat-six – heavily revised for the 992 over the previous version – produces an identical 444bhp to the F-Type. However, while it still uses forced induction like the supercharged Jag, the Porsche has two turbos to squeeze more air into its engine and make more power from a…

DESIGN BOTH cars’ looks are heavily dictated by their engine locations. A long bonnet clothes Jag’s big V8, and the squared-off tail and integrated boot spoiler add a little more downforce and give it traditional coupé proportions. The 911’s rear engine means the low nose helps visibility, but it has wide hips. The 911’s spoiler is also integrated into the body and deploys automatically at speed for more aero grip. NOISE IT’S a shame that regulations have smothered the V8 F-Type’s classic and unhinged sound a little. You have to work harder to access that metallic V8 chorus now, but it makes it all the more worthwhile when you do. The Porsche’s engine note is just as distinctive, though, and recognisable as a 911. You get the odd hiss from…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk TO misquote singer Eddy Grant, for the last five months, I’ve been rocking down to Electric Avenue. And as the photo (right) proves, I’ve parked outside it too. There’s more than a literal connection here, though. For many buyers, jumping from a combustion engine into a full EV is a bit of a leap of faith, so plug-in hybrid models provide an opportunity to sample all-electric life, while still having a petrol-fuelled safety net. And thanks to the tax incentives, PHEVs make a huge amount of sense as company cars, too. Even if you ignore these matters of pragmatism, the Q5 55 TFSI e is one heck of a car. It’s seriously swift when you want it to be, and a hushed round-town cruiser when you don’t. Like pretty…

products@autoexpress.co.uk WITH Easter and, hopefully, better weather around the corner, it’s time to see what winter has done to your car’s bodywork and wheels. We might not have had the freezing temperatures seen in recent years but there was a very wet sting in the tail, bringing filthy and muddy roads. And that grime needs to be removed now, before it can have a lasting effect on bodywork, trim and wheels. To make sure you maximise your time and money, we’ve found the best solutions for putting the shine back in to paintwork, leaving it with that all-important protective coating. We’ve also braved the wet weather to find the best treatment for plastic trim such as bumpers, spoilers and wing mirrors, looking for the one that will leave the best…

Pressure washer shampoo Bilt-Hamber surfex HD Price: £16.85 Size: 5,000ml Contact: www.bilthamber.com THE way to minimise swirls and scratches in your paint is to get as much gritty grime off without touching the car. A snow foam or pre-wash loosens the dirt, allowing more to be blasted off with a pressure washer. Our favourite is multiple test winner Bilt-Hamber’s surfex HD all-purpose cleaner. Waterless cleaner Meguiar’s Waterless Wash and Wax Price: £17 Size: 768ml Contact: www.meguiars.co.uk WATERLESS cleaners boomed during hosepipe bans, but now they are a great alternative for those who find it difficult to get water to where they wash their car. This sweet-smelling spray mists on, lifts off grime with one cloth, and then buffs to a shine with another, leaving a water-beading finish. Wash wax Turtle Wax Wax…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk AS THE world of racing shuts down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Auto Express is looking back at some of the great cars, drivers, races and moments from motorsport history. Our second instalment takes us back to the British Touring Car Championship’s momentous 1994 season. Many fans love F1 for its soap opera, but I prefer motorsport with a side order of paint rubbing, close-quarters racing and cars relatable to ones you see on the street. The British Touring Car Championship, in other words. And in 1994, it reached new heights. It blended the very best tin-top racing with West Wing-esque political intrigue. It made superstars of cars and drivers, and deep-pocketed manufacturers spent big. The drama kicked off before a wheel was turned in anger, with the…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Ask yourself if you’ll reduce infection risk by A) travelling alone by car, or B) using public transport? Answer: A, of course” TEMPTED to climb into your car and drive, solely for pleasure? Don’t. Our lawmakers have told you not to. Now’s not the time to pick a fight with them. That said, in lockdown Britain, car driving isn’t banned. Some workers deemed ‘critical’ or ‘essential’ remain behind the wheel for commuting. The same goes for millions driving to supermarkets and pharmacies, relatives giving loved ones lifts to health centres, or the thousands of car-owning volunteers who have formally signed up to help fellow citizens with their shopping and prescriptions. Deep down, we know the difference between non-essential (ie prohibited) motoring for…