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Fresh face and trim trio for baby Peugeot PEUGEOT has updated its 108 (above) with styling tweaks to keep the city car looking fresh in a competitive class. The three-door version has been dropped, too. The 108 is available only with a 72bhp 1.0-litre petrol three-cylinder engine, with up to 58.9mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 110g/km. Three trim levels are available – Active, Allure and Collection – and prices start from £13,320. Higher garage bills on way due to Brexit? UK drivers could be hit with higher garage bills from 2023 due to a potential change to European Union rules that, as things stand, they would have to follow under the terms of the Brexit deal. The EU is consulting on whether to change ‘block-exemption’ rules that currently…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale Kia Picanto (2020) Model: Kia Picanto X-Line Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl petrol, 66bhp 0-60mph: 14.1 seconds Top speed: 100mph Length: 3,595mm Width: 1,625mm Height: 1,500mm Kerbweight: 978kg Kia Pride (1992) Model: Kia Pride 1.3 LX 5dr Engine: 1.3-litre 4cyl petrol, 60bhp 0-60mph: 11.8 seconds Top speed: 91mph Length: 3,615mm Width: 1,605mm Height: 1,460mm Kerbweight: 825kg THE life of a large, multinational car company is frequently a complex, varied narrative tied up with global politics and history, and Korean giant Kia is no exception. Starting out in 1944 as a bicycle manufacturer called Kyungsung Precision Industry, the company changed its name to Kia Industries in 1952, at which point it started making motorcycles, trucks and eventually cars. The firm has faced some major challenges in its time, being forced to…

Britain’s best car survey now 20 years old NEW How much value for money cars offer A TO Z INDEX: Where does your model feature in our rundown? Audi A1 Page 39 Audi A3 Page 43 Audi A4 Page 40 Audi Q2 Page 44 Audi Q3 Page 54 BMW 1 Series Page 46 BMW 2 Series Page 47 BMW 3 Series Page 51 BMW 4 Series Page 43 BMW 5 Series Page 45 BMW X1 Page 37 BMW X3 Page 41 BMW X5 Page 38 Dacia Duster Page 56 Dacia Sandero Page 36 Fiat 500 Page 39 Ford EcoSport Page 50 Ford Fiesta Page 39 Ford Focus Page 37 Ford Ka+ Page 40 Ford Kuga Page 55 Ford Puma Page 57 Honda Civic Page 42 Honda CR-V Page 53 Honda…

1. Skoda Kodiaq 94.87% IT stands to reason that a large SUV would win in a category where physical space is so important, and the highly competent Skoda Kodiaq thoroughly deserves the prize, according to its owners. Overall boot capacity is crucial in this category and the Kodiaq blows the competition out of the water, with respondents delighted with the vast amount of space they have at their disposal in the cargo bay. A common gripe among Driver Power respondents is that some cars lack a decent array of cubbyholes, but the Kodiaq doesn’t suffer from this. Instead, you say it’s got a better selection of useful interior storage than any of its rivals. The Kodiaq also earned a phenomenal score for the versatility of its seating. With most models…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale WHETHER you’re shopping for a particular class of new car or you’re browsing across a wider range of bodystyles and price points, it helps to know which of the many models on the market are the leaders in their respective classes. This is especially the case with ultracompetitive categories featuring a large number of different models that sell in huge quantities. Other classes may have a smaller number of entrants, but if those models are all competent and comparable, we can tell you which one has the edge over its rivals. Drivers looking for something practical and cheap to run with back seats that can be used occasionally may be tempted by a city car or supermini. Those who want more space, meanwhile, will be every bit as…

MODELTESTED: Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Crosstar EX PRICE: £23,445 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl hybrid petrol, 108bhp Running costs 55.4mpg (on test) £53 fill-up/£155 or 26% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 298/1,199 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/107mph IT’S the Honda Jazz’s 20th anniversary in 2021. For two decades the Jazz (or the Fit, as it’s known in Japan) has provided sensible and reliable supermini transport. This Crosstar version is the first real departure for it in terms of design and is the flagship model of the range, costing £23,445. Design & engineering WHILE the looks have evolved over the years, the Honda Jazz has always come solely as a one-box, five-door hatchback, and the fourth generation, launched in 2020, is no different. However, as with the Sandero Stepway, the Crosstar version…

ROOF RAILS ADDING roof rails is part of the off-road-ification of these two cars. They’re sturdy metal items that are strong enough to be used with cross bars to carry bikes and the like. However, the Dacia’s rails have a neat party trick, because they can be detached and turned through 90 degrees to make the cross bars. All you have to buy from the accessories catalogue are the correct fixings to attach your oversized cargo. BOOTS THERE is quite a high load lip at the back of the Sandero, so the Jazz is better when lifting heavy items in and out. The load space isn’t as large as the Dacia’s, but the Honda does have seats that fold completely flat, while the boot floor lifts to reveal a modest…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Must I use approved wash? I RECENTLY bought a 2021 BMW and was told only to use its approved screen wash due to blockages. I have seen conflicting information about this. Can I use any recognised brand? Jonathan Thomas, E-mail A THIS is something of a problem for BMWs. The downside is removing and cleaning the reservoir at around £100 (or possibly a DIY job), so we’d be tempted to use other screen washes – our test winner is Prestone Extreme Performance (above) – and mix them with deionised water to prevent adding anything that could block the filter. Q In the dark about headlights I NEED to replace my headlight bulbs. After your tests, I’m tempted by performance bulbs, but I’ve been told they…

IT seems we can control most of our lives from our smartphones these days. We can switch on the heating in our house from the other side of the world, or speak to the postman at the front door while we’re soaking in the bath. Our cars are more connected too, with the latest models letting you check the status of various functions on an app. But if you want to keep an eye on your car from afar, you’ll need a dash cam that can stream live footage to your phone. Thinkware’s new T700 uses a Vodafone data SIM to connect to the internet, while the new Garmin Dash Cam 57 does the same, but via a WiFi link. To set a benchmark for footage we tested them alongside…

New and used buying advice from our team of experts 2021 Results XC40 Factfile Years: 2018 to present CO2: 158g/km Fuel economy: 40.4mpg (T3 manual) Best options: Heated seats and windscreen, powered folding mirrors USED PRICES: From £18,900 OVERALL SCORE 90.60% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2021 new car survey. The longer the bar the better WE SAID “The Volvo XC40 could offer better value for money and fuel economy, but it ticks almost every other box. It was rated particularly well for its safety features.” GOOD “ACCELERATION is very good for a car this size, particularly if you select the Dynamic drive mode. Great on motorways.” “The raised driving position gives you a great all-around view from behind the wheel.” “The door bins…

LAMBORGHINI boss Stephan Winkelmann has hinted that the company’s next flagship supercar, due in 2023, will come with an all-new V12 hybrid powertrain. It had been thought that Lambo’s push towards electrification could spell the end of the V12. But speaking to Autoblog, Winkelmann clarified that the new flagship would have 12 cylinders, but won’t share any parts with the limited-edition hybrid Sián. “It’s a completely new engine, a completely new drivetrain, a new battery; everything is completely new,” he said. “There’s nothing out of the Sián or out of the Aventador.”…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths SEVERAL motorways and major A-roads in the UK have had their speed limits cut in an effort to reduce pollution levels. The lower limits come as Highways England, which is responsible for the UK’s 4,500-mile strategic road network, published its air quality progress update. This report reveals sections of the M32, M6, M5, A1, M4, M1, M621 and M602 have had their limits cut, most from 70mph to 60mph, although the M32 is now a 40mph road at points, while sections of the M621 have a 50mph limit. A portion of the A38 is undergoing a feasibility study to see if a reduced limit would cut pollution. Highways England is investigating a range of measures to tackle potentially illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, including installing 9.3…

RENAULT has confirmed pricing for its new Mégane E-Tech plug-in hybrid hatchback. The car is available to order now and costs from £29,495, with deliveries beginning in September. Renault has also outlined efficiency information, with the E-Tech offering up to 235.4mpg and 30 miles of electric range thanks to a 9.8kWh battery that takes just over four hours to charge from a three-pin socket. The battery feeds a 64bhp electric motor that can work on its own, or in conjunction with a 1.6-litre petrol engine for a combined output of 158bhp and a 9.4-second 0-62mph time.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy IT is hard to believe that anyone at Porsche would look at the Cayenne SUV line-up and point out, “What we need is an even faster model.” But in many ways, the top echelons of this area of the market have become the replacement for supercars. That means that performance is king; stats matter. So here we have the Cayenne Turbo GT. Available only in four-seat form, and with the Cayenne Coupé bodystyle, it’s designed to hit back at the likes of the Lamborghini Urus. So Porsche’s 4.0-litre V8 engine has been extensively retuned to free up 631bhp and 850Nm of torque – gains of 89bhp and 50Nm over the ‘regular’ Cayenne Turbo. Four-wheel drive is standard, naturally, along with an eight-speed auto gearbox that’s been recalibrated for…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths UK’s No.1 car satisfaction survey results HERE, a little later than planned, is the Driver Power 2021 new-car survey. We normally aim to bring you this rundown of the 75 best cars on the market in April, but you-know-what meant things took a little longer than usual for us to pull together. But now we’re here, I’m pleased to say that as well as being the 20th anniversary of Driver Power, the survey is more comprehensive than ever. We’ve added new questions to the safety and infotainment sections, created a category asking how much value for money your cars offer, while rigorous statistical analysis means the experiences here are representative on a national level based on respondents’ age and gender. This has resulted in a more robust, valuable…

1. Mazda CX-5 95.65% TO achieve a good score in the exterior category of the Driver Power survey, a car has to not only look appealing on the outside, but also have the build quality and finish to back this up; style over substance won’t do the job. Last year, the Mazda 6 won this class, but while a Mazda once again takes the prize in 2021, it’s the CX-5 that tops the table. This shows the huge popularity SUVs are enjoying, with their styling winning the hearts of many buyers, alongside their practicality and other talents. Mazda enjoys a sleek, attractive design language known as Kodo, and the CX-5 clearly benefits from this. Owners feel it compares well alongside other SUVs of a similar class and size. The brand…

1. Skoda Kodiaq 97.19% THE sight of a car broken down by the side of the road seems to be a far less common occurrence these days than it used to be. But while cars may be more reliable than ever before, that certainly doesn’t mean new models are immune to faults. Lots of drivers still suffer issues with their modern cars, so this category reveals which models are least likely to give you trouble. In the 2021 Driver Power new-car survey, the Skoda Kodiaq topped this all-important category, taking home first-place scores for both sub-categories – overall quality and reliability. Owners told us that as well as being well built, inside and out, the Kodiaq has an overarching sense of high quality, feeling solid, and inspiring confidence that it…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives THESE days, SUVs are available in all shapes and sizes, and their styling influence is pervading classes well beyond the 4x4 sector. We haven’t quite got to the stage of a manufacturer offering a plasticclad high-riding sports car (we wouldn’t bet against it, though), but these days you can get estates, city cars and even vans with a rugged 4x4 look, even if they are unlikely to offer any additional off-road ability. Here we’re trying a pair of superminis that have raided the SUV dress-up box, creating flagships for their respective ranges in the process. The second-generation Dacia Sandero Stepway maintains the same formula as its predecessor, by offering a rugged-looking, practical body in a great-value package, but the latest model…

Dacia Sandero S’way Eight-inch Nav Display Standard Key features: Smartphone connectivity THE top-spec Sandero Stepway comes with a highset eight-inch touchscreen. This is smaller than the portrait screen found in some versions of the Clio, but it has all the connectivity that you could need and looks impressive in the Sandero. As well as the built-in TomTom-based sat-nav, smartphone mirroring is available via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (the former is also available wirelessly). Bluetooth and two USB connections are also available, although it’s only the socket that’s set high on the dashboard behind the phone cradle that allows you to connect your phone to the system; the other one lower down is only able to charge devices. The screen itself has reasonable graphics and responds well to inputs, although…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.0 seconds/120mph THE latest Hyundai Tucson and I have a bit of history. Way back in March 2019 I was invited to Seoul in South Korea, where Hyundai’s chief designer SangYup Lee showed me a very early mock-up of the car that would go on to become the new Tucson. Back then I was wowed by the cool parametric lights at the front, the crisp slashes in the bodywork along the sides, and the comforting look of the interior. More than two years later, I’ve got a production version of the same car on my driveway and I’m more impressed than ever. Here at Auto Express we like the new Tucson so much it recently won our award for best mid-size SUV, beating the new…

YOUR FIRST 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Then if you continue to subscribe after your trial you pay from just £24.99 every three months SAVING 47% on the shop price FREE G3 PRO COLOUR RESTORER We offer every subscriber a free welcome gift when they come on board WORTH £13.95. FREE DELIVERY Every issue is delivered to your door, free of charge. It’ll arrive in paper packaging, too, making it easier than ever to recycle. £150 BUYACAR VOUCHER Get £150 off your next used car purchase at buyacar.co.uk. Look out for the link in your confirmation email. For convenience, scan our QR code with your camera phone for quick access to our secure online store! YOUR FREE GIFT G3 Pro Colour Restorer uses a high grade of light polishing abrasives to…

Highways to the Highlands Eric Simpson (Amberley Publishing, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: THIS book takes eight roads in the Scottish Highlands and tells their story – where they go, what’s on them, and how they’ve changed over the years. It feels as though it’d be a very welcome companion on a Highlands trip. The period imagery is really interesting and it’s well written, although some maps wouldn’t go amiss. Breadvan: A Ferrari to beat the GTO Richard Heseltine (Porter Press, porterpress.co.uk) Price: £45 Rating: PORTER Press specialises in deep dives into individual models, and chassis number 2819 GT’s story is presented here in fantastic detail. It’s a good read and beautifully produced, with contributions from Ferrari historians. You’ll need to love the brand to connect with it, but if you…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q How can I prove my Jazz is in tune with ULEZ rules? MY home will be inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone when it expands in October. Transport for London says my Honda Jazz is not compliant, but I believe it meets the criteria. How can I prove this to them? Wendy Carling, E-mail A IF your car is ULEZ-compliant but TfL doesn’t automatically give it an exemption, you’ll need to show them it meets Euro 4 petrol emissions standards (or Euro 6 for diesels, although this is not relevant for Jazz owners because all models are petrol-powered). To do this, you must send TfL a copy of your V5C logbook and a letter from Honda’s homologation department, or a conformity certificate stating the…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk • Range-extender electric SUV unveiled • Combines tech from Formula E and DTM All the action from the world of motorsport AUDI has taken the wraps off its challenger for the 2022 Dakar Rally: a range-extender electric SUV called the RS Q e-tron. Under the metal, it combines technology from two previous Audi motorsport programmes. The vehicle is driven by three electric Motor Generator Units (MGUs) of the type used in Audi’s Formula E car, drawing power from a 50kWh battery. According to Audi Sport’s head of development, Stefan Dreyer: “In terms of the drivetrain, we have already achieved efficiency of over 97 per cent in Formula E. There’s not much room for improvement. “The situation is different with the battery. This is where the greatest development potential lies,…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy “0-62mph takes just 2.8 seconds, and the car can reach 124mph from rest in 7.2 seconds” • Limited-run drop-top revealed • Total of 765 cars will be built IT’S less than a year since the McLaren 765LT ‘longtail’ received a full five-star review from Auto Express. Now the Woking supercar manufacturer is lifting the lid on that model with the new 765LT Spider, a fresh convertible that will be built in equally limited numbers to the sold-out coupé. The 765LT Spider gets the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 as the hard-top, producing 755bhp and 800Nm of torque. Even with an electrically operated, single-piece carbon-fibre retractable roof, the new arrival weighs only 49kg more than the regular 765LT, at 1,388kg. That means it’s 80kg lighter than the 720S Spider, and…

Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars • Toughened-up 4x4 launched • All set for one-make series BOWLER, builder of specialised rally Land Rovers, has revealed its competition-ready Bowler Defender Challenge. The new machine is based on the Defender 90, and is in effect a standard car modified to improve safety and durability for competition in Bowler’s own one-make championship. Some of the cosmetic parts Bowler has engineered as part of the project could even be sold as aftermarket extras to Defender customers to help upgrade their cars’ looks. The Challenge car is fitted with Land Rover’s standard (apart from a bespoke exhaust) P300 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium turbo producing 296bhp and 400Nm of torque. This drives all four wheels through an eight-speed auto gearbox. To prepare the car for competition, the interior has been stripped…

FIVE million people have “forgotten” how to drive due to a lack of practice during lockdown, according to a survey. The research, from insurance firm Cuvva, found 37 per cent said it had taken days, or even months, to get their abilities back to their normal pre-pandemic levels. A further 16 per cent of the 2,000 motorists surveyed, equivalent to about five million drivers, said they felt like they had “forgotten how to drive” entirely during the pandemic. That news may be all the more concerning as 68 per cent of respondents said they planned a longdistance road trip this summer, even though 38 per cent wished they were more confident on the road. A further 24 per cent said they were less confident now than they were before Covid-19…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester FROM: Peter Hall I HAVE no doubt Alpine can take a Renault 5, add a lot more power to it and make it highly engaging to drive, but will an electric hot hatch ever be as fun to drive as one with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox? I have serious doubts. FROM: Harry Trent IS Alpine going to be to Renault what AMG is to Mercedes? Could have interesting results, including this 5 hot hatch, which is a great concept. Renault’s RS models have been impressive, but there’s always room for improvement. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “The Alpine looks like an improvement, but the price tag will…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 34.4mpg (off icial) £71 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/155mph “You can tackle motorway trips in comfort and enjoy thrashing it – that’s a rare combination” CUPRA does have a model of its own, the Formentor, but the fledgling brand is also making good use of SEAT’s range as it builds up its portfolio. There’s the Ateca, of course, and we’ve already been impressed by the Cupra Leon hatchback. Now it’s the turn of the Leon Estate. This is, in fact, the most potent Leon – because it is available only with fourwheel drive, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine tuned to 306bhp and 400Nm. It certainly looks fast enough; this load-lugger claims 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, and that puts it on…

Stuart_Milne@autovia.co.uk Running costs 250 miles range (official) 100kW DC charging Performance 0-60mph/top speed 7.3 seconds/115mph @stuartjmilne FOR all the talk about Britain’s drive to electrification, there’s a rather sizable elephant in the room: cost. Affordable EVs are few and far between, particularly if you need something that has a bit more space. The MG5, then, could be more significant than it first appears, and not only because it remains the only electric estate car that you can buy. The model only went on sale in the UK last year, but MG is already introducing this new, Long Range version. The latest model boasts a WLTP-certified range of 250 miles (up from 214 miles), 100kW charging capability and the promise of an 80 per cent charge from flat in as little…

Which new models perform best in the areas that matter most to you? 1. Dacia Duster 97.47% THIS is a new Driver Power category for the 2021 survey, where we look at not just how affordable a car is, but how much you actually get in return for your cash, regardless of what that sum might be. Renault subsidiary Dacia has built a reputation for selling eminently affordable cars that still do everything their buyers need them to, and those who purchased the Romanian brand’s Duster SUV feel they’ve got a better deal than anyone else. Even with optional extras added on, pushing the on-the-road price higher, owners say the SUV is excellent value, with some remarking it’s impressive to get a new 4x4 model for such a reasonable sum.…

1. Lexus NX 93.29% SAFETY is a crucial issue, so it’s good news that manufacturers are constantly taking advantage of new technologies to reduce the risks associated with driving as much as possible. Topping this category in 2021 is the Lexus NX, which incidentally has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Owners feel the Lexus Safety System+, which features lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking, among other bits of kit, is a comprehensive suite of features, and should you wish to activate or deactivate any of these, this can be done easily. Mind you, that would seem to be unnecessary in many cases, because our reports indicate the systems aren’t at all intrusive in their operation, and thus don’t warrant being deactivated. In fact, many owners say…

MODELTESTED: Dacia Sandero Stepway TCe 90 Prestige PRICE: £14,295 POWERTRAIN: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrol, 89bhp Running costs 44.3mpg (on test) £66 fill-up/£155 or 29% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 328/1,108 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.0 seconds/107mph THE second-generation Sandero Stepway arrived at the start of 2021, and as with the original, it’s based on the standard Sandero supermini. It comes in three trims, but even the top-spec Prestige model tested here is a relative bargain when compared with the Honda, coming in at £14,295. Design & engineering THE secret to Dacia’s value-for-money pricing is its reliance on parent firm Renault for its technology and engineering. This cuts development costs for the Romanian brand dramatically, but since Dacia has access to Renault’s latest tech, it means that very few corners are…

NEW: Suzuki Ignis SZ5 AllGrip PRICE: £17,999 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 83bhp IF you need a supermini with actual off-road ability and chunky, funky looks, then the Ignis offers the value of the Sandero, but with tech like the Jazz. Suzuki is currently offering a £2,000 deposit contribution on its baby 4x4, too. USED: Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe 130 Prestige PRICE: £14,000 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THE only thing more impressive than a great-value new Dacia is an even greater-value used one. A £14k budget can bag you a current-shape 2019 Duster with 1.3 TCe power in top Prestige trim. It won’t have the latest tech, but it’ll be a practical machine.…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 44.3mpg (on test) £55 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 456/1,216 litres NO other area of the car market has expanded over the past few years like the small SUV. There are countless models out there now, with some brands, including Ford, actually offering more than one car of this type within their own line-up. But after a full year and almost 30,000 miles, we can safely say that one of those vehicles, the Puma, really does stand out in the class. You only need to look at the image above for the reason why. Recently we took the Puma to Thruxton, in Hampshire, for a photoshoot, only to notice other examples of the car at the race circuit’s popular driving experience centre. It turns out that Thruxton…

NEW PRODUCT The Outlierman Tailor-Made bags Price: From £1,025 Contact: theoutlierman.com HANDCRAFTED driving accessory specialist The Outlierman has added weekender and helmet bags to its Tailor-Made Lab range. The bags are made close to the Monza grand prix circuit, and customers can pick from 69 full-grain calf-skin leathers to match their car, team livery or own colour scheme, and match them to a range of silk linings. The helmet bag, which costs £1,111 in standard black, red or grey colours, is lined with microfibre, plus there’s a zipped lower compartment for items like shoes, helmet accessories and a balaclava. The covering features the metal Outlierman logo and a leather ID tag that can be personalised. The weekender bag (£1,025 in standard colours) is smaller than the Garment version, which can carry a…

New simulator helps vehicle engineers UK-based Dynisma has unveiled what it calls the “world’s most advanced driving simulator”. The DMG-1 is designed for manufacturers to develop their vehicles in a virtual environment, without needing on-road prototypes to test aspects such as ride comfort, handling and tyre development. Dynisma claims the DMG-1 has the lowest latency and highest bandwidth of any simulator available, allowing a more realistic experience. For more information visit dynisma.com. Bentley star joins DIRT 5 racing game OFF-road racing game DIRT 5 has a barrel of new content, including a Bentley Continental GT Ice Racer. This sports a livery first seen at the 2020 GP Ice Race in Zell am See, and pays homage to its record-breaking brother from the 2019 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. It’s in the…

CO2/tax 249-301g/km £155 Running costs 23-26mpg (3.0) £107 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.0 seconds/15 7mph HAVING missed its sales targets for years, Maserati hoped to reverse the trend by introducing a full-sized SUV. This was launched five years ago, and while there’s lots to like about the Levante, it hasn’t been the sales success that Maserati hoped for. Don’t let that put you off, though; while the Levante doesn’t lead the class in any particular area, it can make an appealing and intriguing alternative to the more obvious contenders in its segment. History For those who didn’t need quite so much performance (165mph and 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds), a 345bhp 3.0-litre petrol engine joined the range in July 2018. Anybody wanting even more zest could buy a Levante Trofeo from…

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: Combined WLTP economy figure in miles per gallon and emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are 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 first registration. EVs…

IF you’re based in Britain – or enjoy easy access to it – you don’t know how lucky you were in July 2021. Credit where it’s due; when in the right mood, Blighty knows how to put on a show, and over three epic July weekends the UK staged three of the greatest shows on earth. These were the glorious Goodwood Festival of Speed, the bornagain British Grand Prix, and the lively London E-Prix. Think of them as quintessentially British, world-class occasions for petrol-heads, hybrid-heads, and electric-heads. In that order. But can this trio continue to perform annually on the world stage that’s watched by untold millions? In the short to medium term, yes. But predicting further ahead, I fear one member of the threesome may be in danger of…