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THIS new teaser from Skoda previews an all-electric seven-seater concept – called Vision 7S – that will outline the brand’s future ‘Modern solid’ design language when it’s revealed in full later this year. The SUV concept’s cabin sports a novel 6+1 layout, with two seats in each of the three rows plus a central baby seat; this is likely to be a show-car element, with the space in the middle of the production car to be used for three seats, to deliver a full seven-seater. The Vision 7S concept is likely to be fully revealed by early September.…

A NEW version of the Honda CR-V has been revealed in the US, meaning a similarly updated version of the SUV is all but certain to follow soon in Europe. It features a stronger look thanks to a new hexagonal front grille, while an updated platform means that the car grows, with a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks. There’s also an interior makeover inspired by the new Civic, while an e:HEV hybrid and a plug-in hybrid are likely to be offered when the car is confirmed for Europe.…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk A TEST drive is part of the process when it comes to the buying decision and even the specification process, but it’s also a chance to experience what Bugatti’s products can really do. I fire up the Stormtrooper-spec Chiron and the 1,578bhp 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine rumbles into life with a menacing burble from its vertically stacked exhausts. As I head onto the road it dawns on me this £3.5million (including options) monster is already sold. No pressure, then. But the driving position feels right and visibility is good, too, despite the Chiron’s vast dimensions and low-slung posture. The Super Sport rolls away; nothing dramatic, just smooth, easy take-up that inspires confidence. This is reinforced on the move in every dynamic area you can imagine. The brakes have a…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.1 seconds/196mph Running costs 22.4mpg (official) £128 fill-up WIND the clock back to 2009 and Porsche’s first 911 Sport Classic, and you’ll find a very special bespoke 911 built in low numbers that offered a unique package of retro design with some very impressive performance credentials. Now Porsche is at it again with the 992-based Sport Classic, albeit this time upping the production run by 1,000 units, to 1,250 cars overall. The firm’s Exclusive Manufaktur department has gone to great lengths in creating this new Sport Classic. Tucked beneath the ducktail rear spoiler, which generates 50kg of downforce at more than 180mph, is a full-width opening to feed the detuned 3.7-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six motor from the 911 Turbo that drives the rear wheels only here. The 911…

MODELTESTED: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi PHEV 4 AWD PRICE: £42,550 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl/e-motor, 261bhp Running costs 44.6mpg (on test) £80 fill-up/£510 or 8% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 540/1,715 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/119mph THE all-new Kia Sportage arrived in dealers at the start of the year, and this plug-in hybrid version went on sale a couple of months later. The car in our pictures is a high-spec GT-Line model, but we’re testing 4 trim, which at £42,550 is £170 more than the Tucson in top-spec Ultimate trim. Design & engineering OVERALL, the latest Kia Sportage is a fairly conventional SUV shape, but it’s marked out by some distinctive detailing. The broad grille and small, angular headlight units offer a talking point, while at the rear the tailgate design…

KIA 1st THERE really isn’t very much in it between these two, and both cars are excellent choices if you want a plug-in hybrid SUV. However, the Sportage has a marginally better electric range, a slightly more user-friendly dashboard layout, a better selection of standard kit in 4 trim and offers lower company car costs, so that means it edges ahead by the tiniest of margins. HYUNDAI 2nd WE wouldn’t blame you if you chose the Tucson over the Sportage, because it’s still an excellent plug-in hybrid SUV. Some people will prefer the looks of the Hyundai, while boot capacity is also better than in its rival here. Our perfect option would be to choose the Tucson’s body, but with the Sportage’s dashboard and marginally better running costs. AEB =…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.9 seconds/191mph Practicality Boot 480 litres I WAS never really a fan of dinosaurs when I was younger. However, my inner palaeontologist has broken out recently, since I’ve been living with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. In my last report I said I wasn’t big on grand, romantic gestures, but that I’d fallen for the Alfa. That is still true. Running it has done nothing to disrupt my infatuation for the car, but the more I drive it – and fill it up at the petrol station – the more I feel like I’m living with a bit of a dinosaur, and that the Giulia Quadrifoglio and cars of its type are destined to become fossils. Increasingly, modern cars that I drive are either fully electric…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler ● RN22e concept ‘plays a big role’ in Hyundai’s first hot EV ● Expect 0-62mph in around 3.5 seconds and more than 500bhp Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates HYUNDAI’S high-performance N Division has confirmed production of the Ioniq 5 N, its first all-electric performance road car based on Auto Express’s Car of the Year for 2021 and the World Car of the Year 2022. At the same time as announcing the new hot hatchback, Hyundai has also revealed two ‘rolling laboratory’ concepts (above): the RN22e, based on the new Ioniq 6 saloon, and the N Vision 74, a retro-inspired, hydrogen fuel cell-powered concept. Full details of the new Ioniq 5 N aren’t expected for a while, although Hyundai has confirmed that the car will be on…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● Revised grille, digital dials ● On sale towards end of year KIA’S XCeed accounts for 10 per cent of the brand’s total UK sales, so it’s no surprise the firm has updated its Driver Power-winning family crossover for 2022, adding more style and tech, while returning with a plug-in hybrid powertrain option. The design tweaks follow the facelifted Ceed hatchback, with new LED headlights and a revised front grille. There’s also been an emphasis on making the car look sportier. The silver skid plate on the lower front bumper and the new air curtains help here, as does the option of chunky 18-inch alloys and a new, racier GT-Line trim level. At the rear, there are new, slimmer LED light clusters, while the 44mm extra ground clearance over…

New look and trims for MG’s EV estate THE MG4 (left) will sit alongside an updated MG5 EV, which has gone on sale in Britain. Prices for the revised all-electric estate car start from £30,995 for SE trim, while higher-spec Trophy trim starts from £33,495. With an updated look thanks to a new front end and a refreshed interior, the MG5 is powered by a 61.1kWh battery and 154bhp electric motor, which sends drive to the front wheels. Maximum range stands at 249 miles. MoT test demand expected to surge DRIVERS have been warned to book their cars in early for MoT tests because of an expected surge in demand. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency data analysed by BookMyGarage.com suggests a 23 per cent spike in MoT bookings will come…

AUTO Express readers have reacted negatively to the news of Wales’ default 20mph speed limits. Mike Burton wrote in to say: “Visitors are very likely to go home from Wales with a £100 fine and three points on their licences. “While 20mph is fine near schools and on housing estates, wider 20mph restrictions will lead to the complete death of the already critically sick town centres in Wales. “Many residents in Wales live quite near the English border, so can spend their money there and be at lower risk of fines and penalty points.” One online commenter wrote: “As someone who lives in Flintshire, [I think] it’s stupid. Due to the way my car is geared, it’ll be less economical and harsher on the environment, especially uphill. Have it in…

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: TA I THINK this could cause more accidents, especially if you’re in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre. Furthermore, it feels as though the freedom of driving is being gradually stripped away by measures like this. Hopefully the UK deviates from this particular rule now we’re out of the European Union. FROM: Gerry Marsh THIS may sound bad, but realistically we already have harshly enforced speed limits. In view of this, I don’t think drivers on the whole would object to their cars being restricted to 90mph or even 80mph on the road. Perhaps the motorway speed limit could be raised to 80mph along with this as a compromise. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “I have a speed limiter: it’s called my right…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 35.3mpg (official) £100 fill-up FAST Fords are the bedrock of the firm’s appeal to UK enthusiasts. Affordable, often great to drive, practical and even efficient, Ford’s most recent performance products have offered so much in one package – and now there’s a fresh one. This updated Focus ST isn’t all new, but it takes what’s gone before and refines the recipe with more technology, upgrades inside and some styling tweaks on top of the same great driving experience. The ST now wears its Ford badge on a revised grille, which has large honeycomb mesh fitted between a pair of slimmer dynamic-matrix LED headlights. The car’s intakes lower down are trimmed in matt grey. There are matt grey alloy wheels, too – 18-inch as standard or 19-inch as…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram THE T-Roc has been a booming success for Volkswagen. More than one million of these compact SUVs have been shifted since its launch just five years ago, but with ever-strengthening competition, VW has seen fit to give one of its most popular models a nip and tuck for 2022. The bulk of the styling changes for the chunky-looking T-Roc focus on the lighting. All models now get LED tech at the front, while the grille takes inspiration from the latest Polo and Golf, with a slim LED strip that spans the headlights. The rear lights get scrolling indicators, while the wheel designs have been refreshed, too. Inside, there are more significant changes. The most obvious is in the centre of the dashboard, where the layout has been reconfigured…

MODEL: Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi PHEV AWD Ultimate PRICE: £42,380 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl/e-motor, 261bhp Running costs 43.2mpg (on test) £80 fill-up/£510 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 558/1,737 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.6 seconds/120mph THE Hyundai Tucson has been our favourite mid-size SUV for two years running in our New Car Awards, and the plug-in hybrid version is the flagship of the range. Its prices start slightly higher than the Sportage’s at £39,680, but the top-spec Ultimate model tested here is only slightly more expensive than 4 trim at £42,380 Design & engineering WHILE the Tucson and Sportage share lots of technology and hardware under the skin – they are the same width and share the same wheelbase, for instance – their different looks could be enough to swing…

NEW: Skoda Enyaq iV 80 Lounge PRICE: £42,170 POWER: 77kWh battery, 200bhp FOR roughly the same price as these plug-in models, you could dip into the realms of EVs with the Enyaq iV. Its range of 329 miles will be fine for all but the longest of journeys, while the practical SUV body means it’s hugely versatile. USED: Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV PRICE: £44,500 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 261bhp IF you’re in need of even more space, then the seven-seat Santa Fe uses the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as these two. A Premiumspec model is within budget, but it will be even more critical to keep it charged to benefit from the 36-mile EV range.…

COMPANY car tax ratings have been calculated in many different ways over the years. Currently, they’re based on CO2 emissions, meaning that cars emitting the smallest quantities from the tailpipe are all the more tempting thanks to minimal Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax deductions. Conversely, those spewing out the most will be subject to higher deductions. The figure is calculated by multiplying a car’s P11D value by the BiK rating, then by the employee’s income tax rate (20 or 40 per cent – we use the latter here). We can make a direct comparison thanks to the Kia Niro, which is available in conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric configurations. We’ll use the mid-spec 3 trim for these figures. The standard hybrid Niro has fairly low emissions for a…

WHILE rival manufacturers create a suite of ranges for different cars, the Turanza T005 is Bridgestone’s mass-market tyre that covers small cars on 14-inch rims right up high-end vehicles on 21-inch wheels. It’s had a chequered past in our tests since its arrival in 2018, with it faring better in the less sporting sizes, but it seems to have found a sweet spot on an SUV. Yet again we have seen it nail fuel economy, winning by a clear margin over the next best in a key area for the heavyweight cars. While others may have felt sharper on the handling tracks, there’s no doubting the Turanza T005 is effective, after winning in the dry and coming a close second in the wet. There’s a little more movement in the wet…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Using air-con blows away lots of range on my new EV I’VE been using the air-conditioning in my new electric car a lot recently because of the hot weather. This seems to cause the range to decrease by a significant margin. Is this normal? I didn’t expect it to be. Paul Sampson, E-mail A THE use of auxiliary systems in an electric car can cause a significant drop in range. The air-conditioning and heater are among the worst culprits for this. That said, hot weather is better for range than cold weather, so you shouldn’t be seeing a huge drop in range. If you are, you may want to consult with your dealership and have the staff there investigate the possibility of some sort…

IT’S half-time in the UK’s 2022 new-car sales game, which is proving to be a particularly exhausting and painful brawl for most of the players. And for one or two of them, it’s potentially lethal. Take Mitsubishi, for example. It’s still alive and kicking in its native Japan. But for a variety of complicated reasons, it chose voluntary euthanasia by leaving the UK market, and its share of sales in ’22 is, officially, 0.00 per cent. Shame, that. I always had a soft spot for Mitsu’s eighties’ Shoguns, nineties’ Fuzzy Logic (honest) tech and, more recently, its once (but no longer) pioneering PHEVs. It’s utter madness that Mitsu registered almost 5,000 new cars to generally happy buyers in Britain last year, but hasn’t sold one here in ’22 after choosing…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale A DEFAULT speed limit of 20mph in residential and built-up areas is to be implemented across Wales. Typically in the UK, local roads with street lights and no speed limit signs default to 30mph, but Wales has decided to change this to 20mph, first via a trial in eight communities, before being rolled out across the country from September 2023. Currently, just 2.5 per cent of Welsh roads have a 20mph limit, but this will increase to approximately 35 per cent once the changes – which were proposed by the Welsh government and approved by the Senedd – are fully implemented. The Welsh government has said it will work with the nation’s 22 councils on the rollout, because they “know their area best”, allowing them to choose which…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram BRANDS often roll out wild concepts previewing cars that will never see the light of day. Some are closer to production, while others, like this one-off MINI Electric Convertible, are previews of the future. The existing MINI Electric has been on sale since 2019, and is only offered as a three-door hatch. The firm has promised the all-new, next-generation car, due in 2023, will offer a Convertible by the middle of the decade. So, this concept is designed to give us a taste of what’s to come. While it might look like a normal MINI Convertible, the underpinnings are closely aligned with the Electric Hatch. The body, we’re told, already has the strengthening that’s required for the lack of a roof not to adversely affect the car’s handling.…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk A DAY in the life of a multi-millionaire is something many of us would like to experience, I’m sure. We’ve all dreamed of that Euromillions lottery win and how we might spend it, and the purchase of an ultra-exclusive hypercar probably makes that shortlist for many people. Could I interest you in a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, sir, madam? Well, even if I could grab your attention, you wouldn’t be able to buy one, because they’re all sold. But despite a global pandemic, the French brand’s business is booming. It’s a rarefied world that Bugatti owners live in, and Auto Express got to experience what it’s like for a day when it comes to specifying one of these £3.2million monsters. “The average Bugatti customer owns more than 50 cars,”…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 202mpg (official) £83 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.7 seconds/140mph CITROEN has been making decent gains with its smaller electrified offering, the e-C4 raised-up family hatchback. But the company’s plug-in hybrid SUV, the C5 Aircross, is still a significant model that aims to bridge the gap between combustion and fully electric power. It’s an important transition technology for customers who don’t yet want to take the plunge with an EV. And now, nearly four years after its launch, it’s been treated to a facelift. It’s a reasonably extensive one, on the surface, featuring new plastic panels – think front grille and both bumpers – along with new headlights. This is standard fare for a mid-life update, but in the case of the C5 Aircross it does give…

Kia Sportage 12.3-inch display with nav Key features: Twin curved screens THE Sportage’s twin-screen layout uses bigger displays than the Tucson’s dashboard, and their position next to each other creates a large curved layout that’s set high on the dashboard. The shape of the screens means that there are no issues with funny reflections, while the displays are sharp with crisp graphics. The menu system is logically laid out, and we like the purple colour theme that comes as standard, although this is configurable in a sub-menu. You can also turn down the brightness of the screens so that they don’t cause glare at night. Loading times are fast, while the mapping is clear and logical, too. Kia provides seven years of live services to match the car’s warranty, while…

BIG-CAR TECH HYUNDAI and Kia are famous for kitting out their mainstream cars with the kind of equipment that is normally the reserve of luxury models, and there are plenty of neat features in both of these cars. The Sportage’s infotainment can be set up to play ambient sounds, such as a rainy day, waves crashing on a beach or even a crackling log fire, all designed to offer a more relaxing atmosphere inside. CHARGING BOTH cars feature the same 7.2kW charging system, so they take the same amount of time to recharge. Kia has partnered with PodPoint and BP Pulse to offer discounted home wallboxes, which is ideal to keep the Sportage topped up when parked overnight. Hyundai doesn’t have any wallbox discounts, but it does offer the Charge…

SAVE 43% ON THE SHOP PRICE After your initial 6 issue trial, your subscription will continue at £26.99 every 13 issues representing a saving of 43% on the shop price. FREE DELIVERY Never miss an issue with every copy delivered straight to your doorstep. FULLY FLEXIBLE You are able to cancel at any time using a dedicated customer portal or by getting in touch. There are more options than ever to subscribe to Auto Express with both print and digital versions available, or perhaps you’d like a combination of both, the choice is yours OK I’M IN! HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE? 1 ORDER ONLINE AT autoexpress.co.uk/subscribe (or call 0330 333 9491 if you prefer the human touch). 2 ENTER THE OFFER CODE DJUL22 and select the offer you’d like to…

products@autoexpress.co.uk WITH sales of new SUVs predicted to overtake those of hatchbacks, saloons and estates by 2025, there’s no doubt tyres for the sector are becoming increasingly important. So producers have moved to secure their share of the growing market. Some adapted existing tyres, others designed SUV versions, and Pirelli created an entire new range, so we decided to see who has adapted to the challenge of these heavyweight vehicles the best. And it’s not just SUVs’ extra kilos that provide a stern test for the tyres, but also their higher centre of gravity and the greater weight transfer during cornering and braking. At Bridgestone’s Aprilia proving ground in Italy, armed with a front-wheel-drive Audi Q3, we ran seven brands (including a budget competitor from the Far East) through our usual…

CO2/tax 123-132g/km £165 Running costs 44-52mpg (1.5 TSI 130) £86 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.7 seconds/135mph SEAT was founded more than 70 years ago in Spain as a state-owned car maker that produced a range of models based on Fiats. It always focused on providing good-value motoring for families, and that philosophy didn’t change when the firm was taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1986. For a long time now, all SEATs have used VW Group technology, and its perennially popular Leon is a case in point. First seen way back in 1999, the original Leon looked distinctive in what was generally a rather bland segment. It also offered some great engines, typically good VW Group build quality and excellent value – something that’s still true now. As a…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ● Double win boosts confidence ● Gap to Red Bull closed down FERRARI will be looking to carry the momentum of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc’s British and Austrian wins into this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard. The event is an effective second home race for Leclerc, taking place just over two hours’ drive from his birthplace of Monaco, and the 24-year-old is buoyed up after beating Max Verstappen last time out. “I definitely needed it. I kept being optimistic, but obviously [with] hard race after hard race, it just felt like everything was against me,” he said. “So, finally we had a breakthrough good race and it really feels good to have a win again.” Both Leclerc and his team are of the opinion that they…

HYUNDAI driver Mikel Azcona (right) tops the standings ahead of this weekend’s FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) visit to the Vallelunga track near Rome, Italy. The Spaniard has scored 153 points to date, with his closest rivals, Lynk&Co duo Santiago Urrutia and Yann Ehrlacher, on 137 and 133 points apiece. Zengo Motorsport’s Rob Huff is fourth on 130. Azcona will also be competing in the jointly headlining eTouring Cars World Cup (ETCR) for electric racers at Vallelunga. The standings there are currently led by Cupra’s Adrien Tambay, followed closely by his veteran team-mate Mattias Ekström.…