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James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods ● All-electric family car is expected to be called MG4 ● Full production model will be revealed late this year ● Could share EV tech with recently updated MG5 estate and ZS EV ● Expected to cost less than ZS EV; starting price of £26,000 possible “The totally modernised look is in complete contrast to the brand’s biggrille design language used at present” MG will expand its range in the UK later this year and has teased a new all-electric model, which the brand says it will reveal towards the end of 2022. Although there’s no official confirmation, data on the brand’s UK website suggests the vehicle will be called the MG4. Alongside the teaser images (above) this suggests that it will be a larger family hatchback compared…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk ● DfT consultation ends in April ● Just recommendations expected THE boss of one of Britain’s leading public chargepoint operators is calling on the Department for Transport to regulate minimum standards for accessibility. A DfT consultation on public charging ends on 10 April, and it’s expected that a steering committee will deliver accessibility policy recommendations in the spring. The British Standards Institution is also due to launch accessibility standards for public chargepoints this summer, but there’s no plan to make any new standards enforceable. According to Osprey CEO Ian Johnston, unless new laws are passed, current accessibility problems won’t go away. “Many of the sites across our nationwide network are not up to standard, but other sites we’ve delivered in the last six to 12 months have been fantastic…

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) 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: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with…

Alastair_crooks@autovia.co.uk THE Mustang Mach-E has the hard task of introducing Ford into the world of electric SUVs while also carrying the weight of expectation that comes with the famous Pony badge. But this new GT model is the fastest yet, and if any Mach-E will do the Mustang name justice, it should be this one. We’ve already seen the rear-wheel-drive, entry-level version take a shock win against our former Car of the Year, the Tesla Model 3, so we know the Mach-E is a strong EV. On paper this new GT model looks even better. It receives a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain, with 480bhp and 860Nm for a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds – which is enough to challenge the Tesla Model Y Performance. As with most electric cars, there’s impressive…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy THERE are only a few hours left before Mike Cross has to hand in his Jaguar Land Rover ID card and laptop. But the outgoing director of Vehicle Targets and Sign-off just can’t quite switch off. “It rides well, doesn’t it?” he says of the Jaguar Heritage S-Type R that he’s driving through the Warwickshire countryside. Then he flashes a wry smile. “Probably ought to have remembered that…” We’ll forgive him on this one, for Crossy, as he’s become known, is calling time after a 37-year career at JLR. And while nobody has kept records of precisely how many vehicles he’s signed off, this fast Jag must be just one of hundreds. He started out as an engineer with Land Rover Development back in 1978, but even in…

CHARGING WHEN it comes to replenishing the batteries, there’s little to separate this pair. Plug them into the sort of 7.4kW system that can be installed into a home, and it’ll take two and a half hours to fully charge the Audi’s battery. The Lexus has a slightly larger battery and a marginally slower 6.6kW charge rate, so the NX takes 15 minutes longer to top up – a difference that’s unlikely to be a deal breaker. TECH VENTURE into the upper reaches of each car’s trim structures, and both offer unique hi-tech gadgets that set them apart. For the Lexus, that’s a digital rear-view mirror (below). The screen is free from the obstruction caused by the rear seats (and people sitting in them), but can be switched off if…

The Great British Motorhome Travel Journal Independently published (amazon.co.uk) Price: £5.99 Rating: IF you, like so many others, have indulged in a motorhome or campervan purchase, this is the ideal long-term glovebox companion. Each trip can be catalogued with your details, costs, highlights, locations and rating, so over the course of a few years you can begin to build up your very own travel guide. It’s great for remembering the places you’ve loved, and the ones you don’t need to return to. Routemastersof the Universe Harry Rosehill (Safe Haven, safehavenbooks.co.uk) Price: £12.99 Rating: ROUTEMASTERS were just plain old buses once, but today they’re everything from tea rooms to wedding transport. It’s fascinating to see how creative people are with this icon, and there are interesting titbits about Routemaster history and…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q What can I do if the DAB in my car isn’t working? MY 2014 Mercedes SLK is fitted with DAB radio, which rarely works. I live in rural Essex and assumed there was a problem with the signal, but the DAB systems in my other two cars work fine. What do you think should I do to investigate this issue? Glyn Pritchard, E-mail A ISSUES with the DAB system on Mercedes cars of this era are quite common, if owners’ forums are to be believed, but they can usually be solved quite easily. That was the case here. You said that you spoke to your Mercedes dealer, who looked into the problem and discovered that there was a software update available. This was installed,…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● First EV from Toyota in new series of ‘bZ’ electric vehicles ● One battery and two motor options; more than 280 miles of range TOYOTA has decades of experience when it comes to electrification, which makes it all the more unusual that it’s only just launching its first full EV, the bZ4X SUV. Of course, the Japanese brand says it’s not late to the party, citing early-adopter manufacturers and that it, as a mainstream brand, is arriving in this sector at the right time and with the right product. It’s the first in a series of seven bZ-badged models (five of which are confirmed for Europe), the initials standing for ‘beyond Zero’, Toyota’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint – not just with the cars it sells, but…

Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars MORGAN is bringing its iconic 3 Wheeler into the modern age with the new Super 3, which is on sale now, priced from £41,995. The last 3 Wheeler was characterised by its snorting V-twin motorcycle engine, but Morgan has adopted a 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit from Ford for the Super 3, requiring a ground-up redesign. The new car has smoother surfacing and aerodynamically optimised 20-inch wheels, while the Ford unit has necessitated the fitment of radiators on either side of the body. The designers have embraced these as features, by fitting large ‘blades’ to house them, which can also be used for mounting luggage racks. Instead of the 3 Wheeler’s large side-mounted exhaust, the Super 3 has a neater ‘exhaust cannon’ exiting the rear of the body. A new…

Renault banks on new limited-edition Captur THE Renault Captur line-up has gained a new limited-edition model, of which just 800 will be sold in the UK. The Captur Rive Gauche (above) comes with exclusive glossy black exterior details, 18-inch wheels and metallic paint. Standard equipment includes a 9.3-inch infotainment system and part-black synthetic leather upholstery. It’s offered with both the E-Tech Hybrid and TCe90 turbocharged three-cylinder petrol drivetrains, and prices start at £24,490. Pollution experts call for end to London ULEZ LONDON’S ULEZ is a “blunt instrument” that should be replaced with incentives that reward people for choosing green transport, an air pollution expert has told the London Assembly. Simon Birkett, director of Clean Air in London, joined Isabel Dedring – former deputy London mayor for transport – in proposing…

AN updated version of the BMW 1 Series has been spied by our photographers – not undergoing development, but on the back of a flat-bed truck. It’s unknown why the car was being transported, but we can see from this camouflaged car that the 1 Series’ overall profile will remain similar. Expect subtle styling changes in line with the recently revealed 2 Series Active Tourer MPV when it comes to the headlights and grille. The two cars share a platform, so we also expect the 1 Series to feature more mildhy-brid tech to boost efficiency, including a 168bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol 120i. A plug-in hybrid model could be added to the line-up, too, given that the platform accepts this technology. Inside, expect BMW’s latest OS 8 iDrive set-up with a…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk MOTORSPORT and the environment have in the past not been the closest of bedfellows. But with climate change now a huge issue around the world, being “part of the solution, not part of the problem” has become imperative for what has traditionally been an escapist pursuit of speed and power, existing in its own bubble. There’s still a lot of work to do. According to Enovation Consulting’s 2022 Sustainable Championships Index, which analysed the sustainability credentials of 106 racing series worldwide, “a shift to sustainability is happening, [but] there are still too few leading the pack, and too many laggards following behind”. Of the 106 championships looked at, only Formula E earned the report’s top-tier sustainability rating, two (Formula 1 and MotoGP) made it into the second tier and…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 47.1mpg (official) £74 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.5 seconds/129mph THE Citroen C4 has a unique standing in the family hatchback class, and we’re not talking about those striking looks. It’s what’s under the bonnet that really sets it apart from rivals like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, because it’s available with petrol, diesel and fully electric powertrains. And now there’s a new range-topping petrol model with the most firepower of the bunch. Called PureTech 155, it’s a variation of the 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit already used in the C4, producing 153bhp here. There’s 10Nm more torque, too, while the PureTech 155 is eight-speed auto only. It’s a significant addition to the range, not least because Citroen now has an engine to take on the VW Group’s…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk THE global automotive industry has weathered plenty of storms over the past two years, and with Covid delaying the launch of many products, we’re in for a bumper few years in the near future, as brands bring new technologies to the market in exciting new models. We’ve lined up 109 of the best new cars for 2022 and beyond over the next 30 pages. Some will be vehicles that have just gone on sale, pushing the boundaries in their respective classes, while others will be undergoing development for launch in a few years, spied in testing camouflage or previewed by our exclusive images. Inevitably, electric vehicles feature heavily in our rundown, but the industry isn’t turning its back on the combustion engine just yet, and there are plenty of…

Running costs 48.9mpg (on test) £81 fill-up/£480 or 7% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 525/1,436 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.3 seconds/124mph MODEL TESTED: Lexus NX 450h+ Takumi PRICE: £59,700 ENGINE: 2.5-litre 4cyl plus 2 e-motors, 305bhp THE NX 450h+ here is tested in top-spec Takumi trim. The only extra is Sonic Grey paint, which adds £920 to the on-the-road price of £59,700. Design & engineering THE second-generation NX certainly sports a similar angular shape to its predecessor on the outside, but the changes to this model extend well beyond a fancy new LED light bar that spans the tailgate. That’s because this version now sits on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, which is closely related to the underpinnings of the Toyota RAV4. Much like that SUV, one of the key benefits has…

Lexus NX Lexus Link Pro Key features: Online real-time navigation A FEW seconds of using the Link Pro system had us wondering if any other brand has ever delivered such a vast improvement from one car’s infotainment system to the next. Gone is the old car’s small display and frustrating touchpad, replaced by a huge 14-inch screen. Some might find the screen is almost oppressively large and bright, but the night mode manages to take the edge off when it’s dark outside. The system looks great, responds well and loads incredibly quickly. Once you’ve typed in a postcode, the route boots up within seconds. The climate controls feature physical dials for the temperature, with the rest adjusted through the screen, and it works well. Finding any downsides is genuinely difficult.…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods INFLATION in the UK is at a 30-year high. According to the Office for National Statistics, the Retail Price Index we use to calculate how fast prices on the shelves are rising hit 7.8 per cent for January. With everything from food to clothes to how we warm our homes and fuel our cars increasing in price, the general cost of living is very much on the nation’s mind. It got me thinking that now could be a good time to assess our long-term Fiat 500 from a new perspective. We’ve raved about how this is a small and relatively affordable electric car that seems to have an edge on its direct competitors, namely the MINI Electric and Honda e. It’s just as good to drive as those,…

NEW PRODUCT McLaren Castore sportswear Prices: From £45 Contact: mclarenstore.com castore.com MCLAREN and leisurewear specialist Castore have unveiled their spring collection inspired by the form and colours of the supercar maker. It’s the pair’s third collaboration and is aimed at both leisure and training wardrobes. Topping the Techlux line-up is the shell gilet at £125. It uses lightweight, water-resistant fabric with high-stretch side panels. It’s also quilted for extra warmth and comes in a combination of black and McLaren orange. The same lightweight performance has also been applied to the Techlux quarter zip midlayer. It is made from Castore’s breathable, moisture-wicking fabric with a collar designed for comfort around the neck and shoulders. Performance Tees t-shirts, at £55, also use a moisture-wicking, breathable material. Like the quarter zip they are available…

Sim rigs put you in Brabham cockpit BRABHAM has collaborated with Base Performance Simulators for a run of special-edition race sims to celebrate the marque. The sim rigs have classic Brabham liveries: the green and gold of the 1966 BT19, the red, white and blue of 1978’s BT46B and the blue and white of Nelson Piquet’s BT52. The cutting-edge sim rigs are built on a powder-coated steel frame and have a carbon-fibre pedal box and BPS race seat. They’re designed for serious home gamers, professional drivers or Sports competitors. The sims cost £24,990 and can be ordered now from baseperformance.net. Continental gets the nod for EQA tyres MERCEDES will equip its EQA electric SUV with Continental tyres as OEM equipment. The Eco Contact 6 has been chosen for summer use and…

TYRES are key to safety on the road and, as we’ve proved in our tests over the years, could be the difference between reaching your destination or not. But they are also a major expense and the temptation to buy based on price can be hard to resist given the rising costs throughout the economy. To make the most of your money when buying tyres used to involve ringing round multiple outlets, when the response was often ‘what have you been quoted?’ rather than a price. Now the internet does the job for you and comparing prices for the tyres you’ve picked has never been easier, plus you can buy them online and arrange to get them fitted. As we’ve seen before, though, not all online retailers are equal, because…

CO2 /tax 102-143g/km £155 Running costs 51-72mpg (520d) £100 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.3 seconds/146mph Search more than 50,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee THE 5 Series celebrates its 50th birthday this year. It was way back in 1972 that BMW launched its family saloon, and it would go on to become the enthusiast driver’s executive car of choice, with its engaging dynamics, efficient and sonorous engines, and driver-focused cabin. Back in 1972 the idea of a plug-in hybrid would have been fanciful; the original 5 Series wasn’t even offered as an estate. But in the intervening half a century BMW’s midsize family car would adopt diesel engines, four-wheel drive, hybrid tech and more. From the second-generation 5 Series there would also…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ● Hamilton top of timesheets ● Aero causes bouncing effect MERCEDES, Ferrari and McLaren all had strong pace in the first three-day preseason test for the 2022 F1 season, held last week at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya. McLaren’s Lando Norris went quickest by half a second on the first day, recording a 1:19.568-second lap. Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had been first and second fastest for most of Wednesday before Norris unseated them, but Leclerc was fastest on Thursday, albeit 0.1 seconds off Norris’ Wednesday benchmark. The order remained static for much of Friday, with teams including Alpine and Aston Martin packing up early due to technical issues, but right at the end of the final session, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton went fastest of the week with a…

SEPTEMBER’S Russian Grand Prix looks set to be cancelled, following the invasion of Ukraine. A meeting between the FIA, teams and F1 bosses led to a statement that read: “in the view of all relevant stakeholders, it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.” Earlier in the week, Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel had said: “I will not go. It is wrong to race in the country. I am sorry for the innocent people being killed.” Haas’s Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, whose oligarch father Dimitry is close to the country’s president Vladimir Putin, was withdrawn from press conferences and the logos of his father’s company Uralkali were taken off the cars for the last day’s running. The American-owned team is to review its Uralkali sponsorship…

WHILE huge international events have – quite rightly – grabbed the headlines lately, several home news stories came and went largely unnoticed. For example, the UK’s annual inflation figure just rocketed to a 30-year high of 5.5 per cent and is almost certain to rise further. Meanwhile, a crossparty bunch of bullying national and local politicians are finally starting to get their way as they successfully price some motorists out of cars. And car makers, plus energy companies, are adding to our financial woes with too many mid-sized family EVs in £30k-£50k territory in addition to the return of the $100-plus barrel of oil. It’ll give certain retailers an excuse to raise their pump prices once again, and sooner or later we could see a vile round figure of £2…

Brit firm renews safety car commitment in F1 ASTON Martin has confirmed an expanded presence on the 2022 Formula One grid by continuing to supply safety and medical cars for use at selected rounds of the 2022 championship. In a similar deal to last season, 12 race weekends will see the Vantage coupé (above) and DBX SUV take on duties. They’ll begin their campaigns at the third race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix. UK car makers see production slump CAR manufacturing in the UK saw its worst January production figures since 2009, with 68,790 cars rolling off assembly lines. That’s 20.1 per cent fewer than in the same month last year. Difficulties were driven mainly by the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk FOLLOWING the recent debut of its even sportier SL roadster, Mercedes-AMG is gearing up to launch a more hardcore second-generation AMG GT. The Porsche 911 rival will be based on an all new platform that it will share with the SL, with the new GT set to be positioned as an even racier version of the car it will replace. It’ll be powered by a familiar engine, in the form of AMG’s 4.0-litre biturbo V8. This could produce more than 600bhp in the GT 63-badged model, placing clear distance between it and the 63 version of the new SL; and, as has already been confirmed for that car, an E-Performance plug-in hybrid V8 version could also feature in the new GT line-up. Thanks to the new aluminium-intensive MSA platform…

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC MINI Countryman FROM: Michael Newham CONSIDERING how bland some SUVs are, the MINI Countryman has always been a breath of fresh air. It’s got funky styling and it’s enjoyable to drive if you buy a Cooper S variant. I’m glad a new model is on the way. FROM: Paul Fielden I UNDERSTAND that MINI has something of a premium brand image nowadays, but I think instead of making larger, pricier models like the Countryman, it should make a smaller, more affordable car in the spirit of the original Mini. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I don’t like what BMW has done with the MINI brand; a car of this size isn’t mini in any way.” RM ■ “I dread to think what…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk DS is a brand with a successful electric racing team that has won the Formula E championship twice, and now it’s translating its track learnings to the road with this new DS 9 E-Tense 4x4 360 flagship. It has an 11.9kWh battery that feeds a pair of electric motors: one inside the eight-speed automatic gearbox that drives the front axle either independently or alongside the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, and one on the rear axle. It means a total of 355bhp and 520Nm of torque, and with four-wheel drive it helps to deliver a 5.6-second 0-62mph time. Yet CO2 emissions of 41g/km and a claimed electric range of 38 miles mean a company-car tax rate of 12 per cent for the 2022-23 tax year. There’s an upgraded brake…

6 ISSUES FOR £1 Then if you continue to subscribe after your trial you pay from just £26.99 every three months (saving you 43%). If for any reason you’re not satisfied you can cancel at any time and receive a refund on any unmailed issues. DELIVERED FREE Every issue is delivered to your door, free of charge. It’ll arrive in paper packaging, too, making it easier than ever to recycle. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY We offer every subscriber a free welcome gift when they come on board. This month get a bottle STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner worth £14.99. YOUR FREE GIFT Subscribe to Auto Express today and get a free STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner worth £14.99. STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner-Petrol is designed to clean and protect the…

Running costs 34.7mpg (on test) £79 fill-up/£480 or 11% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 465/1,405 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.1 seconds/148mph MODEL TESTED: Audi Q5 50 TFSI e quattro S line PRICE: £54,300 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl plus e-motor, 295bhp THE Audi Q5 TFSI e is offered in six trim levels which, as we’ll see later, offer a wide range of pricing options. Here we have the S line model, which comes to £54,300 before options. Design & engineering WHILE both of these cars have petrol-electric drive systems, the focus of the hybrid tech has a very different bias. As we’ve seen, the Lexus gets most of its power from the electrical elements, while the Audi uses its petrol engine for the majority of its shove. The 2.0-litre turbocharged unit makes…

1st LEXUS THE main benefits of plug in hybrids are lower fuel and tax costs. On both counts the NX is the superior car here. Its efficiency advantage over the Audi only grows larger when the battery is depleted, too. Factor in excellent refinement and quality, plus Lexus turning what was once a big negative – its infotainment tech – into one of the NX’s best points, and it’s a deserved winner. 2nd AUDI DESPITE the second place finish, there’s still plenty to admire about the Audi. It’s a little more comfortable than the Lexus, and the petrol engine gives stronger performance out of town. However, it feels more sluggish in electric mode, and is much thirstier as a hybrid. The Lexus feels like the fresher, more modern SUV, which…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk FLEET cars can come thick and fast at Auto Express. I have just given back the keys to our excellent Toyota RAV4 PHEV, but had to wait a week for its replacement – a brand-new all-electric Citroen e-Berlingo – so I was lucky enough to get a bonus week at the wheel of a new C4 to fill the gap. This pseudo-SUV crossover is smaller than the RAV4, of course, but any fears I had about downsizing were soon washed away by the Citroen’s mix of cool styling and gadgets. Both of my sons loved the interior comfort and styling, and they were quick to hook up their iPads via the case and attachment mount, both of which slide out from the dash above the glovebox. The heated massage…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Will space saver measure up? I’VE just bought a car with an aftermarket space saver because the tyre repair kit that came with it is no longer present. My car has 17-inch wheels, but the space saver is 16 inches. Have I got the right one for my model? Mike Horne, E-mail A IT is quite usual for a space saver to be smaller than the regular wheels, even when it’s supplied as standard, because space savers cover multiple models and tyre options. Yours is safe to use, but it is only designed to be a temporary solution to get you home or to somewhere you can get a damaged tyre fixed or replaced. Q Switch to all-season tyres? ON our current car we swap…

COMPETITION in the dash-cam market is really hotting up, and £200 will now buy you a package that will record good-quality, high-definition footage at the front and rear of your car. At this price you can also expect WiFi connections and a dedicated app to download footage and go through the device’s menus and settings. Our previous sub-£200, two-camera winner has been Kenwood’s 501 when combined with the KCA-R100. It now faces the Vantrue X4S, which brings better-resolution footage at a cheaper price. Ring’s bargain-priced RDC3000 impressed us recently, so we tried its range-topping DC4000 combined with the DCR1000 rear camera. It was a close battle, with the Ring offering great value and the Vantrue true 4K footage. But the Kenwood gave more stable images, especially at night, and is…