Innholdsfortegnelse for 1790 i Auto Express

New VW Touareg names its price THE updated Volkswagen Touareg (above) is on sale now, and comes with a range of V6 powertrains. The line-up starts with the 228bhp 3.0-litre TDI, at £67,240, and also includes a pair of plug-in petrol hybrids: the 376bhp Elegance, at £68,810, and range-topping Touareg R, which has 456bhp and costs £80,370. The models feature new high-definition matrix-LED headlights, and an updated cabin with the combination of a 12-inch digital instrument panel and a central 15-inch touchscreen. Mardell to stay on as boss of JLR ADRIAN Mardell has been named chief executive officer of JLR, after eight months running the company in an interim CEO role. Mardell, who started his career at JLR more than three decades ago, said he was “honoured to lead JLR…

THE MINI Cooper Electric hasn’t even made its full debut yet, but that hasn’t stopped the British brand starting work on an even hotter version of the new EV. Our spies have caught what looks to be a John Cooper Works edition of the new car testing. The images show a chunky front bumper, larger wheels and a rear end that features a diffuser-style insert – albeit with no trademark central tailpipes. It’s likely that the new JCW EV will arrive around 2025 and could use the standard car’s 54kWh battery. However, this could feed an electric motor serving up more than 250bhp, which is likely to be the minimum needed for it to live up to the JCW tag.…

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 makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Electric car 137 miles range 50kW DC charging Performance 0-62mph/top speed 13.7 seconds/78mph THE next 18 months are going to see a huge shake-up in what we all consider an ‘affordable electric car’. And this is our first chance to try one of the vehicles that could lead the revolution: the Dacia Spring. UK sales of the brand’s first EV are still a year away, and the car we’ll get will sport revised exterior looks and much-improved interior perceived quality compared with the French-spec left-hooker you see here. But the basic technical stuff will be unchanged; there’s a single battery, with a capacity of 26.8kWh (usable), and a choice of two models: the Spring 45 and the Spring 65, named after their metric power outputs. The Spring 45…

WINNER BMW M2 THE previous M2 was a very tough act to follow, but BMW has somehow been able to improve almost every area with this latest version. It’s thrilling to drive and incredibly quick, yet it manages to offer impressive refinement and practicality, too. It also captures some of the character that we loved so much about previous M cars and thrust them into the modern era. That it offers such a well rounded package at a price that undercuts most key rivals is just the icing on the cake. 1st ● Rapid performance ● Sharp handling ● Huge character ● Ride comfort ● Auto box isn’t the slickest ● Engine could sound better ● Occasionally feels its weight in this company INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information…

SAME MONEY Audi R8 V10 Coupé FOR similar money to these two brilliant coupés, it’s possible to get your hands on a bona-fide supercar. For £75k or so – the cost of a Cayman GTS with a few options – an early version of the current R8 falls within reach. You’re getting stunning looks, great handling and a glorious V10 engine that even puts the Cayman’s flat six in the shade. If you can put up with only carrying one friend (and regular fuel stops), then little else feels so special. ● Supercar drama ● Great low-speed manners ● Thirsty ● Not very spacious SAME MONEY Porsche 911 Carrera STRICTLY speaking, the Cayman’s big brother isn’t in the same class, but a 911 ticks the everyday GT car billing brilliantly.…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk WE were really enjoying our time with the Renault Megane but, just like that, it’s gone. The French manufacturer executed one of the most thorough reinventions we’ve seen of any well known mainstream model line in turning its petrol and diesel family hatchback into a purely electric car with clear SUV overtones. From where I’ve been sitting for the past six months, that bold move has paid off. There might still be doubts circulating around EV adoption in the UK, fuelled in no small part by the cost and charging infrastructure, but the Megane E-Tech is a fine ambassador for the tech. It isn’t without its faults, but the only really significant one for me was the amount of space on offer. You must be very careful when criticising…

ALTHOUGH modern cars are packed full of connected technology, drivers still seem to prefer the familiarity of seeing the screen and functions of their smartphone mirrored on the car’s display. Compatibility with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto has become an essential feature for many drivers, but most systems require you to plug a cable into a USB port. Some newer, more upmarket models have wireless connections that automatically connect your phone when you get in the car, making linking up more convenient. There are now adaptors available that allow you to make your wired connection wireless. We tried two: the new AAWireless Android Auto Adaptor and a slightly cheaper alternative sourced from Amazon, the AMLLXEN Wireless Android Adaptor. Neither is cheap, but once set up, they work well and add…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Strikingly styled fifth generation of brand’s flagship SUV revealed ● Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains expected, but no EV HYUNDAI has spent much of the past couple of years beefing up its range of all-electric vehicles, with the Ioniq 5 and 6, and the recently launched Kona Electric. But now the Korean brand has turned its attention to a radical overhaul of its UK SUV flagship, the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe nameplate has been with us for more than 20 years, with this new model representing the fifth generation of Hyundai’s big SUV. The Korean brand has only issued these official images, while promising to release further details in August. The new car’s styling is likely to cause much discussion, because it marks a radical departure…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Swedish firm is looking at feasibility of an electric load-lugger ● Design boss says tech advances could dictate when car is viable VOLVO is considering whether it should commit to an all-electric estate car or face leaving the zero-emissions wagon market to rivals such as Volkswagen and Skoda, the firm’s boss has admitted. The Swedish brand is launching a new model every year for the next five years, as it aims to make half of its sales EVs by 2025, and then move away from combustion power entirely by 2030. Volvo’s chief executive officer Jim Rowan told Auto Express that his team has to weigh up whether an electric wagon should be included in the plan, or if the firm should leave an area of the market…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk MINI has given its new Cooper EV a slicker look outside, and now the brand has revealed the car’s overhauled cabin, featuring clever personalisation features and more advanced infotainment. As in every MINI in history, the centre of the cabin is the large circular display – once a speedo and now an ultra-slim screen measuring 9.4 inches in diameter. The car runs a new OS9 operating system, with owners able to select different themes from the menus to change the look and feel of the interior. These MINI Experience Modes range from Core to Balance and Timeless, the latter giving a digital depiction of a classic Mini speedo on the central screen. Users can also upload a background photo of their choice; the system will detect the main colour…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ● First drive of Audi Q6 e-tron, which is due to go on sale next year ● Sits on new platform jointly developed by Audi and Porsche THE next year will be an exciting one for Audi fans. A number of models in the brand’s range are due a replacement, and an overhaul of its model line-up is coming. One of the first to arrive will be the Q6 e-tron. This all-electric SUV will sit between the Q4 and the Q8 e-tron, which drops it into an packed segment that includes the BMW iX3, the Lexus RZ and even Tesla’s Model Y. Based on our first test drive in preproduction prototypes of the Q6 in 55 and SQ6 forms (hence the jazzy liveries hiding the cars’ lines), it…

Partnership in the bag for Malle and Morgan MORGAN has teamed up with luggage brand Malle to launch a special version of its three-wheeler. The Super 3 Malle Rally Special (above) offers unique colours and a bespoke specification. Customers will also receive a range of Malle apparel and accessories, and a two-person entry to a range of Malle events, including rallies in the UK, Europe and the Arctic. The car is priced at £54,995 plus taxes. SAIC and Audi plan cooperation on EVs LOOKING further ahead than the Q6 (left), Audi is set to team up with MG owner SAIC to work on electric cars. The Chinese firm told local media last week that it would collaborate with the German premium brand to “accelerate the development of electric vehicles through…

LEXUS’S new premium MPV, the LM, has gone on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £89,995. In effect a sister flagship to the LS limousine, the LM is offered in two trim levels, two seating layouts and with front or four-wheel drive. All versions use a 247bhp 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain. The seven-seat LM 350h gets 19-inch alloys, power adjustment on the front and middle-row seats, dualzone climate control and a 14-inch monitor for the rear passengers. It costs £89,995 in front-drive form, or £92,995 with four-wheel drive. Range-topping Takumi trim weighs in at £112,995. It’s a four-seater with four-wheel drive and a dimmable glass screen, which divides the front and rear cabins and houses a 48-inch display. The rear seats can be reclined to horizontal and offer massage functions,…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk HOW fast can you think? It’s generally accepted by science that it takes around 50 milliseconds – one 20th of a second – for our brains to process sensory stimulation when it’s presented to us randomly, and to then respond. In other words, to experience something we’re not expecting and then to think about it. To put that into context, sound will travel 17 metres and a housefly will flap its wings around 150 times in 50 milliseconds. Yet the blink of a human eye takes approximately 100 milliseconds, which in theory means we can think twice as fast as we can blink. But when we’re expecting something to happen, we can receive and respond to information much faster than this, because our brains are already primed to do…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Electric motor Battery/range 54kWh/258 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.2 seconds/108mph “There’s little patter through the chassis, and not much noise to complain about on the motorway” ADDING the Electric edition is certainly the biggest change to Vauxhall’s Astra line-up in its five decades of production. But whereas Ford seems willing to throw away iconic badges, such as Fiesta, Vauxhall obviously thinks the Astra nameplate can remain competitive into the electric age. From the outside, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is any other eighth-generation Astra. Aside from a little ‘e’ badge on the boot and a green section of the number plate (if you want it), it looks like the plug-in hybrid or diesel. But as with other Astras, the Vizor grille and headlight arrangement, plus the…

MODEL TESTED: M2 Coupé Steptronic PRICE: £64,890 POWERTRAIN: 3.0-litre 6cyl twin-turbo petrol, 454bhp 454bhp Powertrain 3.0 litre 6cyl 52 litres Fuel tank £75 fill up 4.1 secs Performance 155mph 390 litres Seats up WE’LL dive into the M2’s on-paper stats and on-road manners in great detail over the coming pages, but at £64,890, it looks like tempting value for money among performance-car rivals; that’s not a trait we normally associate with a hot BMW. Tech highlights IT isn’t a stretch to argue that previous versions of the M2 have been held back ever so slightly in order to avoid stepping on the toes of the M4. But that’s not so much the case any more, because this G87 generation actually shares its basic underpinnings and S58 engine with its big…

SAME CLASS Alpine A110 S THE A110 S is a key rival for the M2, yet it approaches the driver-focused coupé formula in a strikingly different way. While the M2 relies on six-cylinder brute force, the A110 has a turbocharged 1.8 litre, but its 1,109kg kerbweight is a staggering 691kg less than the BMW’s. That difference can be appreciated on the road, where the Alpine’s superb agility and compact dimensions really come into their own. It’s a purer driving experience than the BMW’s; the enjoyment comes from the car’s superb feedback. Some will prefer the M2’s personality, though, while the A110’s boot is tiny and there are only two seats ● Brilliant ride and handling ● Superb steering ● Simplicity ● Tiny boot ● Bland four-cylinder engine note ● Clunky…

Pete_Gibson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 37.8mpg (on test) £84 fill-up £180 or 35% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 588/1,810 litres IT’S time to discuss the price of progress. It’s hard to escape the fact that while our Skoda Karoq is proving to be a fantastic, practical offering, it is struggling to match the charm of its predecessor. Let’s talk Yeti. The original VW Group baby SUV, the Yeti was a mix of small and larger underpinnings, so it had quirky styling but still delivered on the Skoda promise of space and usability. A colleague of mine actually owns a Yeti, so I thought I’d get it together with our Karoq to see how much of its DNA is still really detectable in the modern offering. Putting the two cars side by side,…

NEW PRODUCT Black + Decker pressure washers Price: from £109.99 Contact: blackanddecker.co.uk POWER tool specialist Black + Decker has revealed its revised range of pressure washers, which aims to cover everything from car cleaning to patio washing. The new line-up is available through retailers such as Argos, Robert Dyas, Littlewoods and Very. The range starts with the 1,300W 110 Bar BEPW1300L (£109.99), which comes with a three-metre hose and is pitched at less taxing jobs, such as cleaning patios, fences and bikes. Black + Decker claims that, despite the low power rating, the unit delivers 1,600psi – more than rivals in the price bracket. Mid-tier is the £149.99 1,700W BEPW1700, which comes with a more user-friendly six-metre hose plus an adjustable handle. It delivers 125 Bar pressure and 408 litres per…

Luggage and engines are dearest eBay buys EBAY has revealed the most expensive car parts and accessories it’s sold in its online marketplace in the first few months of the year. The most costly was a used BMW 4.4-litre V8 engine for £13,500, and the second was another example of the engine, a “Certified Recycled” listing that sold for £9,500. Other offerings ranged from an £8,493 set of tailored Schedoni luggage (above), destined for a Ferrari 512 TR, to the 40kWh battery pack from a Nissan Leaf. eBay’s MyGarage feature allows customers to browse parts for their own vehicle. Visit ebay.co.uk to start looking. Low-rate finance on new Autotrac trackers AUTOMOTIVE tracking specialist Autotrac has introduced zero per cent finance for its tracking devices. The covert units can be fitted…

The Classic Car Spotters’ Guide Nick Evans (The History Press, thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £14.99 Rating: THIS is a guide to many of the (mainly British) models that you’re likely to see at any car show across the country. The photography depicts all the cars in this habitat, which is a neat touch, and it’s brief but factual. Some of the jokes are a little snide and tired, such as characterising Citroen 2CV drivers as vegetarians. Le Mans 100 Glen Smale (Motorbooks, quartoknows.co.uk) Price: £60 Rating: MARKING the centenary of the Le Mans 24 Hours, this thorough history of the race covers all the marques that have taken part, dozens of the most legendary drivers and details of each year’s event. It’s well written, interesting, engaging and packed with excellent photos. It’s…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk THE Polestar 2 had a decent result in 2023’s Driver Power, with lots of high scores and a number of category wins. These are for running costs and safety, while owners also put the Polestar in top place for the smoothness of the motor and transmission, the acceleration, and the quality of the built-in navigation. All very impressive, and so is a second place for the reassuring brakes. But owners say they’re rather less impressed by the Polestar’s poor practicality (56th) and reliability (71st), as well as an interior that feels something of a letdown; this is marked 69th out of the 75 entries. Other disappointments include value (64th) and ride comfort (72nd), while 73rd for visibility shows there’s plenty of room for improvement. WE SAID “The Polestar 2…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ● ExCeL in Docklands is the venue for this season’s title decider ● Brit Jake Dennis is in prime position to clinch the championship THE finale of this year’s Formula E season is upon us, and with the cancellation of the Seoul event, it’s London that will host the decider. Britain and New Zealand will be battling it out for overall honours, with Brit Jake Dennis leading Kiwi Nick Cassidy. Dennis, who races for Avalanche Andretti, has a 24-point lead over Envision driver Cassidy, so things will have to sway massively for Dennis not to take his first title. If he wins, he will not only be the first Briton to lift the crown, but also give Avalanche Andretti its first success after being involved with the series…

WHAT a maddening mess our motorway service areas have needlessly got themselves into. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to them for being there to provide drivers and their passengers with free parking for a couple of hours, loos, food and drink outlets, plus shops selling everything from motoring accessories to collectible (honest) copies of Auto Express. But the problem with motorway service areas (MSAs) is the prices they charge for using their petrol and diesel pumps. And while the boss of Moto claims it’s hamstrung by bureaucracy (see P16), I make no apologies for repeating my claim that drivers on MSA forecourts are being heinously ripped off – despite the fact that they’re often ‘captive’ victims unable to buy fuel elsewhere. And I can tell you that no oil…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Early drive of new family car ● Mild-hybrid tech is coming THE Skoda Superb is one of our favourite family cars, especially in load-lugging Estate guise. The Czech firm has really nailed the current version with solid build quality, a tried and tested selection of powertrains and, of course, class-leading cabin space. An all-new Superb Estate will be unveiled in November, and we’ve been given early access to see if Skoda is on the right track. The Superb’s powertrain line-up has been missing a mild-hybrid option, but the new car will get an electrically assisted 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol. More petrol offerings come in the form of a 2.0 TSI four-cylinder with either 204bhp or 265bhp, and a 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid offering a total of 204bhp…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk ● Boss of Moto services criticises lack of power-supply planning ● Sites can fit the chargepoints, but getting power is the problem THE UK’s biggest motorway service station operator Moto has cast doubt on the ability of electricity companies to deliver the power needed for a rapidly expanding EV charger network. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Moto’s chief executive Ken McMeiken claimed his company alone will need “25 per cent of the output from an average nuclear power station” to meet demand from drivers at its near 70-strong network of service stations by 2030. “I’m incredibly frustrated that the Government hasn’t sat down with the energy companies, the motorway operators and chargepoint providers and come up with a cohesive year-by-year plan of the exact amount of power that’s going…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Rolls-Royce Spectre FROM: Simon Ingram-Hawkes WHILE the Rolls-Royce Spectre is a nice-looking car, imagine the range anxiety as you waft through the French countryside on your way down to Monaco, desperately looking for a charging station. FROM: Alexander Pang A 300-mile range? Read 280. Seems pathetic, considering the price and size of the thing. I also don’t believe the line saying most of its (Rolls’) customers find that adequate. Especially now when Lucid can do nearly 500 miles. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Forgive me being out of touch, but aren’t Rolls-Royces about sitting in the back and being driven?”Scott Marsden ■ “Electric is perfect for a Rolls-Royce. You can’t get more smooth, silent and powerful!”David Harris ■ “Get rid of the virtue signalling and…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.5 seconds/149mph Running costs 38.7-44.1mpg (off icial) £95 fill-up IS there still a place for the combustion-engined executive saloon? Mercedes and BMW clearly still think so. The latter’s all-new 5 Series line-up might feature a pure-electric edition for the first time, but it’ll sit alongside petrol and diesel variants. And right on cue, there’s a fresh generation of the E-Class ready to take them on. Even so, the latest W214 version of Merc’s mid-size offering does feel like it could be the ultimate iteration. SUVs have scalped a fair chunk of sales out of this premium segment already, and you suspect that all-electric saloons may soon accelerate their assault on the E-Class’s last stand: the small-limo and private-hire taxi markets. This E-Class range doesn’t include…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk SMALL cars are something of a dying breed. Manufacturers are struggling to make money from these pint-sized offerings – even the Ford Fiesta is no longer in production, and when did you ever think you’d read that statement? However, as brands depart the small-car segment, there’s opportunity for companies such as Toyota to mop up sales from buyers who still want a small, efficient, nimble and relatively affordable model. Ah yes, affordability. At £21,215, this new Aygo X Undercover Edition with an automatic gearbox isn’t exactly cheap, but then, few new cars on sale can be classed as such. Go for a base-spec manual version and you’ll pay a more palatable £17,095, but the Undercover Edition is a great expression of what the Aygo X is all about. This…

MODEL TESTED: 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK PRICE: £75,832 POWERTRAIN: 4.0-litre 6cyl, 395bhp 395bhp Powertrain 4.0-litre 6cyl 64 litres Fuel tank £92 fill up 4.0 secs Performance 179mph 150 litres Front/rear 182 litres THE Cayman GTS in our pictures is equipped with a manual gearbox, but in the interests of keeping a level playing field with the BMW, the model we’re testing comes with the PDK auto transmission, which is a £2,532 extra. At £75,832 before options, the Porsche is the more expensive car, but can it expose any weaknesses in its rival? Tech highlights UNLIKE the M2, the 718 Cayman (alongside the open-topped 718 Boxster) was developed with the sole purpose of creating Porsche’s entry-level sports car, so it doesn’t share its architecture with anything else. Given that this…

WHILE running costs aren’t too high on the list of priorities for cars such as these, there are differences worth noting here. There are some areas where the two cars are predictably similar; both are hit with the higher rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (£570), and with both achieving very similar (and impressive) fuel-consumption figures, there was only a £66 saving in the Porsche’s favour over three years (out of a near-£6,500 total). One of the key areas to consider is insurance. Our representative quotes from the AA had the Porsche dip below the £1,000 mark for 12 months of cover, but the BMW costs an eye-watering £2,230. It shows that some cars might be trickier to insure than others, and that it’s always worth shopping around for the best…

PERFORMANCE CARS Our two contenders deliver some of the best performance per pound anywhere in the new-car market Sean Carson Associate editor “THE comparison between these two is fascinating. Both are brilliant, but while the BMW shows most of its strong hand instantly, it takes much longer to appreciate the brilliance of the Porsche. Whichever you prefer, coupé buyers are spoiled for choice.” John McIlroy Deputy editor “WITH the M2 proving to be so brilliant and the M3 now available as a practical estate-bodied Touring model, we’re starting to question who would actually want the regular M4. Yes, it’s impressive, but in many ways it’s overshadowed by several models from its own stable.” Dawn Grant Picture editor “WE weren’t too sure about the M2’s style in the early photos, with…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 35.9mpg (on test) £85 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 545/1,640 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/130mph IF anyone is counting, this is the fifth report on the C5 X. We’ve run Citroen’s flagship since December 2022, so regular readers might wonder why the longer loan and extra report? Well I love the car, so I asked Citroen if I could keep it a bit longer. In my first report in January, I said, “It’s the kind of model that makes you want to book a driving holiday”. So when my eldest son George asked if we could give him and his children a lift from our South London home to Center Parcs in Longleat, Wiltshire, my wife and I took the chance to drop them off and…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk MANY drivers will be looking forward to a summer holiday once the schools break up, and the family car is sure to play a key role in a fair few of them both at home and abroad. A two-week break is likely to be the only time of the year when your car’s load-lugging capacity will be tested to the limit, as you try to accommodate not just luggage but also bikes, camping gear and the kit for any other leisure pursuit your family enjoys. And don’t forget they need to get in, too. The roof is the obvious place to go when in search of extra space, but take care when loading because you could land yourself with a fine and increase the risk of…

NEW PRODUCT AAWireless 2023 Price: £69.99 Compatibility: Android Auto Rating: Contact: aawireless.io THE AAWireless adaptor will fit in the palm of your hand and its smart finish and ‘squircle’ styling are more likely to blend in with the interior of most cars than its rival here. It connects via a USB-C cable, which is long enough to give a little more flexibility around where you place the adaptor. You can also swap between a USB-A or C cable at the car end of the wire depending on the most convenient port available. Connecting is easy enough if you follow the instructions, and the AAWireless has a dedicated app to help with compatibility issues and firmware updates. It also lets you customise Android Auto’s split-screen mode. The only downsides are its price…

ALTHOUGH the cordless vacuum cleaner you use around the house will be enough for a quick clean of your car’s interior, a proper valet will need something with a bit more grunt. And that’s going to mean a mains-powered machine that won’t run out of charge halfway through the job, and will have enough capacity for the sweet wrappers, leaves and car park tickets that seem to accumulate in every footwell. A tougher corded cleaner can also make itself useful in the workshop by sucking up debris from around the garage and even extracting dust while you’re sanding paint and filler. Most workshop cleaners can also be used for wet jobs, sucking up floods and spills or helping to clean seats and carpets. Unlike battery-powered cleaners, these workshop vacuums are…

In association with Search thousands of new and used cars online CO2/tax 111-132g/km £180 Running costs 46-47mpg (1.0 TSI 115) £58 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/120mph IN 2018, Volkswagen announced that by 2025 it expected SUVs to account for half of its global car sales, up from one in five when the prediction was made. That forecast coincided with the unveiling of the brand’s smallest SUV, the T-Cross. Often seen as a jacked-up Polo, the T-Cross is actually 136mm longer, so it’s not surprising that this smallest of VW crossovers is significantly roomier and more versatile than the evergreen small hatch. In typical VW fashion, the T-Cross is expensive to buy, and it sits in a segment that’s bursting with talent, some of which is available for significantly less…

BTCC stars revved up for more track action AFTER a six-week break, the British Touring Car Championship is ready to begin the second half of the season. Descending on Croft in North Yorkshire, the title race is finely poised, with Ford’s Ash Sutton (above) being chased by Hyundai’s Tom Ingram. Just six points separate the pair, but with 15 rounds to go, it’s still far from a two-horse race, with BMW drivers Jake Hill and Colin Turkington also both in contention. Three-time BTCC champion Sutton had a mixed experience at Oulton Park last time out in his Focus ST, with two second-place finishes and one retirement. Hill had his best weekend of the year, storming to two victories and a second place at the Cheshire track. The 2.13-mile Croft circuit…