Innholdsfortegnelse for 1659 i Auto Express

• Winners look ahead • Car industry ‘must focus on online’ THE past 12 months have seen unprecedented shifts in human behaviour, with enormous disruption in everything from the airline industry to public transport and working life. The car industry hasn’t escaped the turmoil of Covid-19, with factory and dealership closures coming at the same time as increased demand for electric vehicles and different buying patterns from customers, many of whom no longer feel the need to visit the showroom before signing up for a new car. How has the industry reacted to these shifts? And will the trends continue as we move into 2021? Here, we put those questions to four members of our Brit List Hall of Fame – all experienced executives rated at the top of our…

Aston reveals DBS Concorde tribute ASTON Martin has revealed the first DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition, (above) which has been designed to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight. Limited to just 10 units, the car features a host of tweaks influenced by the supersonic airliner, with a paint scheme inspired by the British Airways livery, a silhouette of Concorde on its roof, and chromed BA emblems on its front wings. The car’s side skirts also carry the G-BOAC registration, as worn by BA’s flagship. London ‘Boundary Charge’ proposed A NEW £3.50 daily charge for non-residents driving into Greater London is being considered by the city’s mayor. Looking for ways to mitigate Transport for London’s (TfL) financial woes, Sadiq Khan wants the £500million annual Vehicle Excise Duty revenue from the…

POLICE forces in the UK are being equipped with a new type of speed gun that can read a vehicle’s number plate from up to 750 metres away in both daylight and at night. Constabularies across the country have confirmed they are carrying out trials of the hand-held TruCam II Speed Enforcement Laser. The device costs around £10,000 and is able to work in low-light conditions thanks to a new night-mode feature. The TruCam can automatically focus on a car approaching from half a mile away, with vehicle data uploaded to a database, after which a penalty charge notice is sent to the registered keeper. This means police don’t need to pull over speeding drivers to issue a ticket. An integrated laser allows the camera to measure a vehicle’s speed,…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler Electric motor Battery/range 9.8kWh/31 miles Running costs 188.3mpg (official) £45 fill-up RENAULT’s small cars have been winning awards aplenty this year, with the Clio, Captur and Zoe all picking up titles in this year’s Auto Express New Car Awards. It’s unsurprising, then, to see that the Captur (our small SUV of the year) has become one of the launch vehicles for Renault’s new plug-in hybrid ambitions. Say hello to the Captur E-TECH. If small but luxurious is what you’re after, then the Captur fits the bill perfectly. Slip inside and you’ll be greeted with a stylish interior and a really premium feel. It all goes some distance to justify the £30,995 starting price of this range-topping S Edition model, with its strong standard kit list. On board is…

Hyundai i30 10.25in touchscreen Standard Key features: Big screen, connectivity THE Hyundai’s 10.25-inch touchscreen is excellent. It responds quickly to touch inputs and the menus load quickly, so it’s really easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated well and load up quickly, and there’s a secure cubby for your phone that includes a wireless charging pad. However, we found objects put here got hot while driving, so it’s maybe not a good spot for snacks. There’s also a seven-inch digital display, but it’s not as customisable as the Volkswagen’s 10-inch screen. It looks good, but there are some strange design choices such as the out-of-focus numbers in certain driving modes. Connected traffic and parking-finder services are useful to see as well. The main advantage the i30 has…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 452/1,328 litres Running costs 57.8mpg (on test) £55 fill-up £140 or 12% tax WE’RE all in a Transition Period, apparently. And before you turn the page to get away from another story about Brexit, don’t worry: I’m not going there. Instead, I mean the process of electrifying the cars we drive every day. Depending on where you are in your buying cycle, your current PCP or lease deal, or indeed your own lifestyle, you might be trying to work out exactly how much electricity you can take. Mild hybrid? Plug-in hybrid? Full EV? That’s what makes the comparison between the two cars you see above so interesting. On the right is our Volvo XC40 Recharge T5, a plug-in hybrid model that we’ve spent six…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Which bulbs do I upgrade? COULD you tell me if I upgrade the headlight bulbs in my car, which has four H7s, do I replace all four or just the dipped or main beam? Ray Medcalf, E-mail A FOR the maximum benefit of the improved performance, all four should be changed. If that is beyond your budget, the choice of which to upgrade will depend on your driving. If, like most of us, you spend more time driving on dipped beam, then those are the bulbs you should change. Our current H7 test winner is Twenty20’s daylight 150 (www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk). Q MoT time for laid-up motor MY car has been off the road for a few months while I did some repairs, so I declared it…

PRESSURE washers are a great help for washing cars, but you need to get power and water to where you clean. Cordless units open up power washing to drivers who have to clean in the street or want to wash muddy bikes before loading in the car, and there’s a new kid on the block from Ryobi. The EZClean uses the firm’s ONE+ battery system, which powers dozens of tools. This offsets the cost of a power pack and charger, but how does is fare against our current cordless pick from Kärcher? We assessed cleaning, ease of use and run time, plus compared what you get for your money using online sources. If you already have a Ryobi charger and battery it’s a no-brainer. If not, these are hard to…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “The low-cost LMDh class will be performance-balanced with the more hi-tech Hypercars” • Brands join Audi and Toyota • Peugeot reveals tech details PORSCHE has joined fellow returnees Peugeot and Audi in announcing its comeback to the top class at Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The German manufacturer has confirmed that, like Audi, it’ll enter an LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) car from the 2023 season onwards. This new low-cost class will be performance-balanced with the hi-tech LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) category that Peugeot and Toyota are entering, allowing entrants in both to fight for the overall win. Audi and Porsche will also be able to offset some of the cost of developing and racing their cars by making them available to privateer teams in both…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler • Hot EVs will have “more than enough” performance • Cars will get handling upgrades plus aggressive looks VAUXHALL has confirmed that its famous VXR badge will be back on hot models by 2022, if not before. There hasn’t been a new model from the British firm’s performance arm since 2015, but a bold new product plan has been signed off, and electric power is at its core. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Vauxhall managing director Stephen Norman said: “We will introduce a VXR Mokka early in 2022, and it will be with an electric engine.” Auto Express understands that the iconic badge won’t be limited to the new Mokka, with VXR versions of the new Corsa, next-generation Astra and even the new Vivaro van expected. However, as…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • Dacia, Mitsubishi and Suzuki least costly models to repair • Supercars and luxury models unsurprisingly have highest payouts A TREASURE trove of claims data shared with Auto Express by a leading aftermarket warranty provider has revealed which brands’ cars are the most – and least – expensive to repair when they go wrong. The database of more than 3,600 payouts made by Warrantywise between March and September 2020 reveals that Dacias have repair costs that complement their affordability, being the cheapest cars to fix, with payouts averaging just £209 over six claims. Mitsubishis are similarly affordable to put right, although the average payout for the firm’s cars was more than double Dacia’s at £512, based on 16 vehicles. Suzuki, Kia and Peugeot also feature in the top-five…

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: MA YOUR exclusive images indicate the new Type R could be even bigger than the current car, which I would already a call medium-sized hatch. Cars have been getting bigger and heavier at the cost of dynamics for too long. It’s time for a change! FROM: Travia Callaghan I’M curious as to how much of an improvement this will be compared with the current model. Will it be worth upgrading with price taken into account? I wonder if modifying my 19-plate Type R will get me there for a less substantial cost? Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Looks less like a toy than the current model. I like this design direction – it’s more grown up.” Matty Rea ■ “The exterior is too…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn WITH 2020 firmly (and thankfully) in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look ahead at some of the bold and exciting new cars that will be rolling into showrooms over the next 12 months. Electric cars will continue to grab the headlines, with models such as the Audi e-tron GT and Fiat 500 on the way, while a fresh batch of performance cars is also on the horizon, with Hyundai’s hotly anticipated i20 N, Porsche’s wild 911 GT3 and a new rearwheel-drive BMW 2 Series Coupé waiting in the wings. Here, we tell you all you need to know about the biggest and most important new arrivals in each class over the next 12 months CITY CAR Fiat 500 On sale: Spring THE retro 500 is all new…

sean_carson@dennis.co.u Running costs 22.1mpg (official) £97 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.8 seconds/155mph THE BMW X5 is an award winner. It took our Large Premium SUV of the Year title at the 2020 Auto Express New Car Awards, thanks to the luxury and technology it offers. Now it’s our first chance to sample the high-performance X5 M Competition version in the UK. Here, we only get the higher-powered Competition version of the X5 M, which boasts a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 616bhp and 750Nm of torque. Despite the X5’s hefty 2,310kg kerbweight, that thrust is enough to hurl it from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, which is thanks in part to the eight-speed automatic gearbox’s launch feature and an M division-tuned xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The price for this range-topping…

Running costs 46.7mpg (on test) £57 fill-up/£140 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 395/1,301 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.2 seconds/122mph MODELTESTED: Hyundai i30 1.0 T-GDI 48V Hybrid Premium PRICE: £23,695 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 118bhp HYUNDAI’S i30 family hatch has struggled to stand out in this crowded class. This new model comes with updated looks, better tech than ever and a new mild-hybrid engine line-up. How will this 1.0-litre model in Premium trim fare? Design & engineering THE updated i30 adds appeal mostly through its new interior and in-car tech. The infotainment set-up has been overhauled and it’s better than ever, and there’s a new seven-inch digital dial display ahead of the driver. The rest of the interior is functional and well laid out, but there’s little flair and it’s…

HYBRID LOOK under the boot floor of the i30 and you’ll find the mild-hybrid battery. There’s also a 48V logo on the front wing. Don’t be confused by the terminology, though, because it’s nothing like a proper hybrid. The only difference you feel is a more responsive stop-start system. The Golf isn’t available with this tech in manual form, but you can get it with the DSG automatic gearbox. NOISE THE Volkswagen Golf is quieter and more refined inside than its rival, although it’s not by a lot. The Hyundai’s engine produces its peak power higher in the rev range, so you have to push it harder to get the most out of it, yet it sounds more strained when you do. The Golf’s engine is punchier without having to…

Dodge Viper: The Full Story of the World’s First V10 Sports Car David Zatz (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £19.99 Rating: THE Viper is one of the most iconic American cars, with a colossal V10 under the bonnet. This book covers its history, the rough times it faced, and the times it succeeded. There’s also a bit of buying advice. Wide-ranging, but there’s rather a lot crammed in here. A Man & His Car Matt Hranek (Artisan Books, www.workman.com) Price: £30 Rating: THIS is a gorgeous book, with print quality and production values that exceed its £30 price. Full-page colour photography is a highlight, as are some of the stories, captured in interviews with the owners. But we have to criticise the narrow concept. Surely there are scores of women with…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Will lockdown cause a backlog of DPF failures? MANY drivers are doing fewer miles and shorter journeys now than they were before Covid-19 happened. Are we going to see lots of clogged diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in the coming months that need replacing? Tony Cater, E-mail A THE Independent Garage Association (IGA) highlighted this concern in April, and advised drivers of diesel cars with particulate filters to avoid making trips of under 10-15 miles to help prevent DPFs getting clogged. A diesel car with a DPF needs to be periodically driven for 15-20 minutes at 2,500rpm or higher for soot to be burned off, a process called regeneration. If a mechanic can’t force a clogged DPF to regenerate, replacements can cost up to £3,000.…

Brit Ilott bags Ferrari F1 test driver role BRITISH racer Callum Ilott, who finished second in the 2020 Formula 2 series, has been confirmed as Ferrari’s test and reserve driver for the 2021 season. The 22-year-old has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) young-driver programme for several years now. He will take part in on-track tests, attend Grands Prix as part of the team and work in Ferrari’s simulator, used for virtual testing and development. Montoya to contest 2021 Indy 500 EX-WILLIAMS F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has confirmed a return to the Indianapolis 500 in May 2021. The Colombian first won the blue-riband event as a rookie in 2000, and triumphed again in 2015. He last ran the race in 2017. Montoya also still has an ambition…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • New large SUV on the way • Plug-in and M models possible BMW will add another member to its SUV line-up next year with the arrival of the X8, a more style-driven counterpart to the full-size X7. As with that model, it will challenge cars such as the Mercedes GLS, Audi Q8 and Range Rover. BMW has owned the X8 trademark for a number of years, and the car’s launch will see the company’s range of X-badged SUVs expand to 10 models in total. Under the skin, the X8 shares its running gear with the X7. In common with other even-numbered BMW SUVs, such as the X4 and X6, the flagship X8 will be a coupéinspired model, but aimed primarily at markets such as China and the…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk Tackling the motoring issues that matter AT first glance, the image of a large SUV crashing over rugged terrain in the icy wastes of Greenland, the arid desert of Saudi Arabia or the forests of South America doesn’t scream ‘environmentally friendly’. But the looks of Extreme E are deceptive. It’s a new project from Formula E founder Alejandro Agag that combines head-to-head electric-vehicle racing in some spectacular locations with a programme of education, exposure and support for the fight against climate change and the environmental damage it causes. Having been rumoured since late 2018, the project was officially announced in early 2019. At the heart of Extreme E is a purpose-built off-road electric racing machine, the Odyssey 21. With 536bhp, the 1,650kg SUV can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.5…

Running costs 235.4mpg (official) £58 fill-up sean_carson@dennis.co.uk WITH the presence of ever-tighter emissions legislation and the prospect of sales of new petrol and diesel cars being curtailed by the end of the decade, manufacturers are electrifying their fleets at quite a pace. Whether you like the idea of assistance from a battery and electric motor set-up or not, there’s no denying plug-in hybrids offer more performance and better claimed efficiency than their combustion-engined counterparts. That’s why Mercedes is trickling down this tech to more affordable cars in its line-up – and it’s the C-Class compact executive saloon that’s been electrified here. We know how good the larger E 300 de and its petrol plug-in sibling, the E 300 e, are. But this tech is pricey, which is why it launched…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk Electric motor Power/range 563bhp/257 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.0 seconds/155mph PORSCHE’S Taycan Turbo S was something of a game changer when it arrived but, at nearly £140,000, that blistering performance and ability didn’t come cheap. Now we’ve tried the more affordable (that’s a relative term) £83,580 Taycan 4S in the UK, to see whether this entry-level EV is the one to go for. We’ll cut straight to the chase; it most certainly is, and for many reasons. Firstly, as we’ve already said, it’s so much more affordable than any other version in the line-up – but this doesn’t come at the expense of how the model drives. The beauty of an electric car is that it delivers its performance in a big hit thanks to instant torque. While the…

MODELTESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI 110 Life PRICE: £23,300 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 108bhp Running costs 44.5mpg (on test) £51 fill-up/£150 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 381/1,237 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/126mph THE Volkswagen Golf is now in its eighth generation, and this is our first test of the 1.0-litre TSI petrol model in £23,300 Life trim, which makes it £395 cheaper than the admittedly better-equipped Hyundai. It may be a household name but how does the latest Golf stack up against its newest class rival? Design & engineering WHILE the Hyundai i30 is merely a facelift but with significant changes to its powertrain, the latest version of the Golf is a new model, yet its powertrain for this 1.0-litre version is largely unchanged from the old Mk7.5…

It’s a small world for Goodyear macros A NEW year brings many things, but since it’s winter in the UK it’s almost guaranteed that rain, sleet, frost and freezing temperatures are among them. Goodyear reckons it’s a great opportunity to fit all-season tyres, which improve grip and performance in wet or slippery conditions with less of a compromise on dry roads than winter versions. It’s produced a series of macro images, showing landscapes set upon the tread of its latest Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 all-season tyres, which came second in our test (Issue 1,654). You can see the full-sized landscapes at news.goodyear.eu/en/. Tenth birthday bash for Classic Nostalgia SHELSLEY Walsh has announced it intends to go ahead with its Classic Nostalgia 10th anniversary event on the weekend of 17-18 July. With…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 6|1|2021 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive A GOOD multitool is something you will find yourself reaching for time and time again. Keep it in your pocket while working on your car, and it will save you countless trips to the tool box for screwdrivers or pliers. And storing it in a glovebox could mean you have the right tool to hand to fix your car, saving you a long wait for a recovery truck. They’re not just useful for the car though, because they can tackle numerous jobs around the house, and are also the perfect size for camping and cycling trips. But choosing one can…

CO2/tax 189g/km £150-£475 Running costs 39mpg (TD6) £100 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.7 seconds/130mph Search more than 60,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee EVER since Land Rover launched its first car in 1948, this British brand has been at the forefront of off-roaders. For decades the firm focused on off-road ability above all else, and it’s no exaggeration to say that up to a point its cars were one-trick ponies, in that they could tackle any terrain, but they were noisy, thirsty, slow and uncomfortable. Obviously the Range Rover didn’t fit into that category, but until the arrival of the original Discovery in 1989, you had to be pretty committed to use a Land Rover on an everyday basis. But then…

WE’RE in for another eventful, but strangely unpredictable, motoring year. The only thing I can guarantee for 2021 is that car tyres will be black, round and rubbery. At this early, still-sleepy stage of the game, pretty much everything else is clouded or swamped by an atmosphere of uncertainty. That said, 2021 has got to be an improvement on last year, hasn’t it? With Covid still a threat, remind yourself that personal, centrally locked cars (not to be confused with taxis and self-drive rental vehicles) will still be the wisest, most valuable, all-weather tools for those seeking a combination of freedom and safe, secure, sanitised social distancing, 24/7. Electric vehicle sales are likely to rise sharply – but only if they’re within the reach of the masses, whose personal finances…