Innholdsfortegnelse for 1407 i Auto Express

ELECTRIFICATION will be rolled out across the entire BMW Group line-up over the coming years, Auto Express has learned. BMW member of the board and sales and marketing chief, Ian Robertson, told us: “There will be more and more hybridisation in order to meet legislation that is coming.” We asked him if that would be limited to mainstream models, or if we’d see hybrid Rolls-Royces joining the range. “You’ll see hybridisation roll out across the Group,” Robertson told us. He emphasised that – much like the M cars (above) – hybrid Rollers weren’t as important as a plug-in 5 Series, but as laws change, so will BMW’s most exclusive cars. “If cities drive heavy legislation, then that would push us,” he said. Rolls-Royce has previously experimented with electric cars, such…

McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy RENAULT is preparing to take on family wagons such as the Ford Focus Estate, SEAT Leon ST and VW Golf Estate with its new Mégane Sport Tourer. Our exclusive main image shows how the car could look after our spies caught it winter testing ahead of sales starting later this year. The Sport Tourer could make its public debut as soon as next month’s Geneva Motor Show, but if Renault decides against it we’ll have to wait until early summer instead, with sales due in the autumn. Whenever it does arrive, expect the more practical Mégane to build on the dramatic overhaul that’s just been completed by Renault’s chief designer Laurens van den Acker on the fourth generation of the conventional five-door hatchback. The oversized diamond badge and…

DeLorean DMC-12 back in production THE DeLorean DMC-12 (above) is to re-enter production after 33 years. A US law covering low-volume makers means the DeLorean Motor Company (which bought the rights from the original Belfast outfit) will build 300 cars in Texas, each priced around $100,000 (£70,640). More modern parts will be used, including better brakes and suspension, to improve on the original eighties design. Lamborghini seeks 500 new workers LAMBORGHINI is ramping up operations as it prepares to build the Urus SUV, by announcing that 500 jobs will be created over the next three years. The move comes after the brand recorded its best-ever annual sales figures, with 3,245 models registered in 2015. Lamborghini employed 150 additional staff last year, including production line workers and technical staff, with more…

ALFA Romeo has confirmed plans to delay the launch of its first-ever SUV – revealed in our exclusive image (above) – relaying the news via an investor presentation in Italy. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles boss Sergio Marchionne confirmed that R&D, manufacturing and product investment at Alfa would be reduced through 2018. As a result, Alfa’s planned product line-up will be completed by mid-2020 rather than 2018. The SUV will still land by the end of 2017, ahead of six other models. These include a BMW 5 Series rival, plus two further SUVs. Two more “speciality” models, presumably sports cars, will complete the line-up alongside a rear-wheeldrive Giulietta replacement before the end of the decade.…

Alpina tunes BMW 7 Series to 600bhp BMW tuner Alpina has released a teaser video of its new B7. Based on the new BMW 7 Series, the hot luxury saloon (above) is expected to make its debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The newcomer is likely to use the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 from the B5, and power will be pushed over 600bhp. At the same time, a new 730i spec has leaked out on BMW’s Chinese website. It features a four-cylinder turbo engine, although the brand is “evaluating it” for the UK market. Plug-in hybrid cars could use bus lanes PLUG-IN car drivers could be given exclusive access to restricted bus lanes as part of a £40million Government grant for EV readiness. It’s just one of the plans for…

BRITONS spend four years of their lives in the car commuting to and from work, latest figures reveal. Vehicle supplier OSV said data shows road delays exceed public transport hold-ups by 20 per cent, with Brits losing on average 34 hours a year stuck in jams. It gets worse if you don’t have an allocated parking bay at work, too, with drivers spending two days a year – or a total of 110 days over their entire career – looking for a space. OSV director Andrew Kirkley said: “What a waste of time. I’d like to think the Government is looking into ways of resolving the situation.”…

Defender: the future LAND Rover has been struggling to come up with a viable successor to the Defender for years. The latest suggestion is that a pointer towards a new version will not arrive until late next year, with the car itself entering production by the end of 2020. The fact is, it’s proving difficult to replicate the car’s simple-but-rugged chassis, which has been easily adapted to underpin dozens of custom bodies over the years – including everything from troop carriers to ambulances and ice cream vans. Engineers need to maintain the Defender’s usability and strength while cleaning up CO2 emissions and, crucially, making it profitable. If they fail, they risk the erosion of the DNA that has underpinned every Land Rover – including moneyspinners like the Range Rover and…

MANY car buyers forego cheaper deals available on the used market due to the risk of hidden problems. They prefer instead to buy new, with the hope of trouble-free motoring covered by a manufacturer warranty. However, these pages are a weekly testament to the fact that money is no guarantee of easy car ownership. A new survey by trading website Autovolo backs that up, too, as it reveals nearly half of Brits regret their recent vehicle purchase. A quarter of these were because they’d experienced mechanical faults within the first six months. The rest put their dissatisfaction with their new car down to running costs being higher than estimated. Owners were also left frustrated with the steep depreciation of certain models. We’d always advocate doing some thorough research before buying.…

What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing 30 Cleveland Street, London WIT 4/D FROM: nyjerian GOT to take my hat off to Ford for pulling this out of the bag – squeezing so much power and handling into such a low price bracket. This car reminds me of the Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo – a rare beast which I believe Ford has recreated with the Focus RS. FROM: Jonathan Yeung IF the interior is a priority for you, then the Volkswagen Golf R may be a better option. However, I’d rather see engineers spend their budget on the driving dynamics, and that’s what it looks like they did with the RS. I couldn’t be happier about it. Join the debate at…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.3 seconds/140mph Running costs 134.5mpg (official) £49 fill-up THE Volvo XC90 has already made an impact here at Auto Express. It earned our coveted Car of the Year award last year, and it’s the first in a range of new models that the brand is launching to propel itself to the top of the luxury car market. While Volvo is renowned for its safety features, it’s also making a concerted effort to demonstrate its eco-friendly credentials. On top of introducing more efficient diesels across the range, it’s ventured into plug-in hybrids – first with the diesel-electric V60 Plug-In estate, and now with this: the XC90 T8 Twin Engine. The new model is based on technology from the V60, but it has been refined and updated for…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ Running costs 31.7mpg (official £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.7 seconds/180mph LAST year, Porsche announced that its entire 911 range would adopt turbocharged engines in an effort to increase performance and reduce CO2 emissions. The brand’s part-coupé, partconvertible Targa benefits from the same controversial treatment – although it’s arguably the model that needed it most. While the Targa may look drop-dead gorgeous, the balletic electric folding-roof mechanism adds weight – it’s nearly 100kg heavier than the Carrera 4 Coupé – which dulls performance, meaning the punchier 3.0-litre flat-six turbo engine is a welcome bonus. You had to rev the old Targa to extract any real speed, but in this new guise, the extra power and torque mean you don’t have to work quite so hard to reap the…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Nissan Leaf is the biggest-selling electric car in the UK, with over 12,000 finding homes since 2011. The market is growing quickly, however, and rivals are appearing from all sides. BMW, Renault and Kia all now have full EVs on sale. That’s why Nissan has updated the Leaf for 2016 – with 25 per cent more range than before, up to 155 miles. Although the brand says most buyers only travel 62 miles per day, having that extra bit of range will help the car appeal to even more customers, especially as it will now go further on a charge than the Renault ZOE and Kia Soul EV. Charging takes an extra three hours, though, clocking in at 15 hours from a three-pin plug. There are a…

1st RENAULT IT’S a third road test victory on the trot for the Renault Kadjar. Handsome, well made, practical and refined, this is a genuinely desirable family car. It also represents good value for money, as it comes crammed with equipment as standard, plus it’s a cost-effective company car choice. Only the weak predicted residual values count against it in this test. 2nd HYUNDAI THE Hyundai narrowly misses out here, but it’s still a hugely capable choice. Smart styling, an upmarket interior and generous kit count are highlights, while the 1.7 CRDi engine won’t cost the earth to run. However, the diesel is outgunned for performance in this encounter, plus the ride quality on the 19-inch alloy wheels can be uncomfortable around town. 3rd TOYOTA IF you’re looking for a…

1st VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN’S Golf Match BlueMotion Edition proves that you don’t have to go diesel if you want an efficient and tax-friendly family car. The way the UK’s tax structure currently works means the Golf is a cheaper company car choice than the 3, while the three-cylinder engine has enough power that you’ll forget it’s is a low-emissions model. Plus, it offers plenty of kit and is great to drive. 2nd MAZDA THE 1.5-litre diesel is a reasonable performer, but it does feel a little underpowered in the 3, and you have to work it hard to keep pace. Yet that’s no hardship, and the Mazda is a great-handling hatch. Sport Nav trim brings lots of kit, although it seems pricey, especially as the 2.2 diesel is only £850 more.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk CO2/tax 161g/km £180 or 29% Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 500/1,500 litres Running costs 38.9mpg (on test) £61 fill-up HOW much do you think a one yearold Sapphire Blue Porsche Macan S Diesel costs with just over 6,000 miles on the clock? Answer: exactly the same as a brand new version. No, it’s true. In nearly a year and after 6,000 miles, our new yet second-hand Macan S Diesel has, according to Porsche’s Approved Used scheme values, lost not a single penny in depreciation. That’s extraordinary, not least because the Macan is a regular production Porsche that’s being churned out at the rate of 50,000 units per year from its factory in Leipzig, Germany. But it shows just how successful and desirable the stylish compact SUV is turning out to…

NEW PRODUCT Ring Automotive Xenon130 H7 headlight bulb Best price: £26.50 (per pair) Contact: 0113 213 7379, www.ringautomotive.co.uk NOT all motorists like the thought of changing their car’s headlight bulbs themselves, as there’s such a wide range of designs on the market. Equally, though, driving with poor-performing bulbs obviously restricts your vision, especially at this time of year when the days are shorter. But the latest upgrade bulbs from Ring claim to deliver up to 130 per cent more light. The Xenon130 headlamp bulbs are available in a single-filament H7 design, and promise to illuminate the road ahead by up to an extra 60 metres. Ring says that the xenon gas in the bulb works with a shorter, more tightly wound filament to deliver up to 130 per cent more…

Dear Lawrence, I’m looking to replace my current car with an estate that’s practical and drives well. I’ve got a £14,000 budget. What should I consider? Alan Tomlinson, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CARS THE ALL-ROUND CHOICE Ford Mondeo FOR: Practical, roomy, fun behind the wheel AGAINST: Basic cabin, bland exterior styling NO search for a practical load carrier is complete without Ford’s Mondeo Estate. This recently replaced Mk4 car is rated highly for its generous boot space, driving dynamics and huge choice of engines. It also scored full marks when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2007. All Mondeos come with cruise control, Bluetooth and a heated front screen as standard. We found a 2012 2.0 TDCi Mondeo Titanium X 163 with 47,000 miles for £12,660. THE DRIVERS’…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk TOYOTA Le Mans driver Mike Conway will become the latest Briton to race in Formula E this weekend, as he takes the place of 1997 Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve at the Venturi team. Round four of the electric race series takes place around the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, this Saturday. Conway, who previously tested for the Dragon Racing squad ahead of the first Formula E season, will partner one of his Toyota team-mates, Stephane Sarrazin, at the Monaco outfit. Conway said: ‘‘Venturi is a top team in Formula E. The series is growing momentum and it’s attractive to a lot of manufacturers, so it’s very exciting to be a part of it.”’ Villeneuve and Venturi are said to have ended their partnership ‘by mutual consent’ three…

THREE long and largely successful decades have passed since UK industry and Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government jointly invited Japanese makers to build car factories here. Three came. And Honda, Nissan and Toyota are still here. Fast forward 30 years, and our motor industry establishment and the latest Conservative Government are again leaving the door open for Asian firms to build here. Genesis is the next favourite to set up shop on British soil. Truth is, cars from Korea are generally good, but nowhere near the best or most desirable. And lately there has been an admittance in Seoul that the gap between Chinese and Korean cars is disappearing at a frightening rate (for the Koreans). Also, Korea is now an expensive place to build cars. These and other recent developments…

■ Behind wheel of plug-in hybrid 330e, with 25-mile electric range ■ Same strong driver appeal as standard model; much lower costs Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “BMW says the 330e’s 25-mile electric-only range is just right for its customers” BMW wants a 10 per cent share of the worldwide plug-in market by 2020. The success of models such as this 330e will be key, and with hybrid versions of the 2 Series (driven on Page 32), 7 Series and X5 all on the way, it doesn’t look an impractical goal. While the company is a long way from ditching its diesels, it’s looking to the future with its hybrids. The 330e pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, and BMW says the electric-only range of 25 miles is “the right…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “It will have five seats as standard, but you’ll be able to order an extra pair in the boot” THIS is Skoda’s long-awaited SUV, previewed in a design sketch of a near-production concept that the Czech manufacturer will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Known as the Vision S, the show car gives a clear idea of how Skoda’s line-up of new SUVs could look as it’s rolled out over the next four years. The process will start with this model, the largest, which will take the fight to the Land Rover Discovery Sport when it hits showrooms early next year. The sketches reveal a prominent front grille and slim headlights, styled on the latest-generation Superb hatchback. They also show how Skoda design chief Jozef Kaban…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk AE_Consumer “To regain customers’ trust, we must tighten the rules and make sure that they are observed” THE EU Commission wants to completely overhaul new vehicle emissions testing to bring it under greater scrutiny and crack down on car makers flouting the rules. New proposals include introducing spot-checks for models already on sale so non-compliance can be detected earlier and, if needed, recalls issued. Financial ties between manufacturers and the European test centres would also be cut to make the system fairer. Testing would be better standardised across Europe, too, with the existing mutual trust set-up replaced by peer-reviewing. Currently, a car certified in one member state is free to be sold across the entire continent. It’s hoped the system being proposed would give car makers less incentive to…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE “Expect this facelift to bring refinement as well as in-car tech updates” THE Range Rover will be facelifted later this year, and we’ve spotted the updated model testing on UK roads for the first time. The car in our spy shots is only camouflaged from the bonnet and door handles down, so don’t expect a total overhaul – in fact, the changes we can see are actually very minor. There’s a new front bumper, with sportierlooking vents below the headlamps and a black honeycomb grille at the front. Plus, it appears the Atlas Vent ‘gills’ that sit behind the front wheels on the current car are gone. The rear looks identical to the current car’s, with this test model not even getting any kind of disguise. We ran…

Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer COUNCILS and utility companies face a £5,000 daily fine for running unmanned roadworks at weekends, under new Government proposals. Overunning roadworks already carry the £5,000-a-day fine for utility companies, but ministers want to extend it to road projects left unattended over the weekend that unnecessarily inconvenience motorists. It means work would have to continue on Saturdays and Sundays, or councils would have to lift the roadworks until they resumed in the week. Also under consideration are financial penalties for leaving temporary traffic lights in place after work is completed. The proposals aim to incentivise local authorities to better manage road repairs on the 24,000 miles of A-roads for which they’re responsible. Roadwork management will become even more important as repairs become a more familiar site on our roads…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “Silhouette of the Defender is one of the most recognisable in automotive history” AFTER 68 years of production in which 2,016,933 examples were born, the Land Rover Defender is no more. The last ever model rolled off the production line in Solihull, West Midlands, last Friday. A Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top (right) was the last version of the iconic 4x4 off the production line, as 700 current and former employees at the Solihull plant watched on. However, the Defender will live on at the facility, with Land Rover announcing a new Heritage Restoration Programme, with a team of 12 experts restoring Defenders from across the globe. These revamped cars will then be sold to the public from July. Speaking as the final Defender rolled down the line,…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First drive video on new Kia Sportage EVERYONE would agree that the previous-generation Sportage did great things for Kia. So the all-new car has big shoes to fill – and we’ve already discovered, in a drive of a pre-production version, that it’s on target to be an impressive package. But what’s the showroom model like? We find out as we get behind the wheel of the new Sportage for a comprehensive video review. See (and hear) Jag’s 200mph F-Type SVR NEWS that Jaguar is bringing a hot F-Type to next month’s Geneva Motor Show is big. Even bigger news is that the new SVR will top 200mph. Up to now, we’ve only seen spy shots and leaked brochure pictures. Watch our video to see it on the move…

Legal AA: 0906 010 1300 (p) RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m) Which?: 01992 822 800 Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bure Used car inspections AA: 0800 085 3007 RAC: 0800 085 2529 Technical advice AA: 0870 606 1619 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0800 975 5867 Traffic information AA: 09003 401100 (p) RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumerombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls DVSA: 0300 123 9000…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk AE_Consumer LAST month, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas demonstrated how the cars of tomorrow will be autonomous, connected and data driven. While automotive technology has moved on a lot in recent years, the most determined drivers will be able to keep up with the times thanks to a thriving market of retrofit options. To see how easy and costly it is to modernise an old model, Auto Express investigated some of the most popular extras found in new cars as aftermarket alternatives on used ones. DAB/Apple CarPlay WHAT IS IT? THE Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio picks up signal digitally over the airwaves, resulting in less static noise through the stereo along with a wider choice of stations. Around 75 per cent of new cars come with…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.0 seconds/132mph Running costs 65.7mpg (official) £41 fill-up THE Audi A4 has been offered in saloon and Avant estate guises ever since the first model arrived in 1994. Previously, the former preceded the latter, but this time Audi is launching both versions in the UK at near enough the same time. We drove the saloon late last year, and we’ve now had our first taste of the load-lugger on British soil. Like the saloon, the new model is bigger than its predecessor, but it features a raft of weight-saving tech and smart electronics to help it take the fight to the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class Estate. From the outside, it’s the details that help to distinguish the new A4 Avant from its predecessor.…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ LAST year Caterham split its Seven range in two, offering customers a choice of the street-biased S Pack or a race track-focused R Pack. Until now, the flagship 620 has only been available in R trim, but the brand has finally launched the 620S. So is this softer version of the hardest Seven more appealing? While it’s £5,000 cheaper than the R, just under £45,000 remains an incredible price for a car that’s only likely to be driven occasionally. Still, it promises to be more usable thanks to softer suspension and a five-speed manual box with taller gearing for better cruising, as well as full weather protection (including a windscreen, roof and heater) and less extreme tyres. Don’t think this is a soft Seven, though. The 2.0-litre supercharged…

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi Acenta Premium PRICE: £24,980 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THE Nissan Qashqai underpins the Kadjar, and delivers the same refinement and composure. An identical 1.6 diesel offers fine pace and efficiency, too. But the Qashqai doesn’t feel as upmarket, plus it’s pricier and not as well equipped. Mazda CX-5 2.2D SE-L Nav PRICE: £24,995 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 148bhp AGILE CX-5 still sets the crossover standard for driving fun, while the 2.2-litre diesel delivers an unrivalled blend of performance and economy. SEL-Nav trim provides all the essentials, but four-wheel drive is an expensive £2,000 option.…

AS well as bumping up the standard kit with Edition trim, VW is offering a £1,250 deposit contribution if you buy a Golf Match BlueMotion on its Solutions PCP scheme. The flexible finance plan allows you to adjust the size of your deposit and the length of the term, while 4.9 per cent APR representative is a competitive finance rate. You can also add the twoyear service pack for a discounted £149, which is almost half price. As the Mazda 3 1.5D is fresh in showrooms, the brand has yet to confirm any finance deals on it. However, Mazda is offering zero per cent APR and a £1,000 deposit contribution on selected 2.0-litre petrol models, and it’s likely that this will be carried over to the 1.5D. Mazda’s offers cover…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 423/1,115 litres Running costs 52.3mpg (on test) £49 fill-up VALUE brands no longer have the stigma attached to them they once did. You just need to look at major supermarkets to see how the rise of budget chains has developed over the years. It’s claimed that almost half of UK households now shop at either Aldi or Lidl, both of which were bit-part players only a few years back. But a shift in public perception now means they’re knocking on the door of the retail giants. The same can be said of SsangYong. The Korean brand was a bit of an unknown a few years ago, feeding on the scraps of the SUV market with the boxy Turismo and back-to-basics Rexton. Yet, with the all-new…

The Complete Book of Porsche 911 Randy Leffingwell (Motorbooks, motorbooks.co.uk) Price: £35 (hardback) Rating: PORSCHE fans are the target audience for this comprehensive hardback, which mixes a great deal of technical detail and beautiful pictures to create an interesting read about the 911. Author Leffingwell is knowledgeable in this field, and although the text isn’t made up entirely of dry facts, some of the more technical info will only appeal to true enthusiasts. N.A.R.T: A concise history of the North American Racing Team Terry O’Neill (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Best price: £39 (hardback) Rating: US importer Luigi Chinetti ran some of the most evocative racing Ferraris for nearly 30 years, but this is the first comprehensive account of his team’s activities. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the era, Ferrari Owners’ Club…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Mystery leak in 5 Series I RECENTLY bought a 2012 BMW 520d and have since found the driver’s side footwell carpet soaking wet. I’ve checked all visible seals and they appear intact. Any ideas? Andy Quinn, E-mail A WE’VE had several complaints about the same issue. The most common culprit is a faulty door membrane seal – something you can’t see without removing the trim. Contact your local BMW dealer and have it inspect the car. Water damage can turn into bigger issues. Q Driving with expired MoT I’VE just noticed that my vehicle is overdue its annual MoT. I’ve booked it in for the test in a week’s time, but because it’s now illegal to drive, how can I get it to…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE future of BMW’s high-performance M cars is hybrid, according to the brand’s vice-president for engineering, Dirk Hacker. Rather than use plug-in and hybrid tech to simply lower CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy, BMW will adapt these systems to make its cars faster, more responsive and even more involving. Speaking at last month’s Detroit Motor Show, Hacker told Auto Express: “We will look at electrification – I think it could be inevitable – but it depends on the possibility of increasing performance.” We asked him about customer desires, and whether M car buyers cared for zeroemission capability or a 25-mile EV range. “We’ve found that our customers are not interested in driving without the combustion engine,” he said. “They want to know if these changes will help…

JUKE RIVAL SKODA is considering a rival for the Nissan Juke. It’s said to be the lowest priority of the company’s SUVs, though, so we’re unlikely to see it before 2019 at the earliest. ALL-NEW YETI THE existing Skoda Yeti will be overhauled in 2018, switching to the VW Group’s MQB platform. The styling will be toned down, with crisp edges and headlights similar to the Vision S. COUPE-SUV SKODA has put a ‘coupé-SUV’ through customer clinics, as it trials a cut-price rival for the Range Rover Evoque. This would share its underpinnings with the upcoming seven-seater.…

AROUND 80 per cent of traffic lights should be scrapped and replaced by filter-in-turn or all-way give way layouts at junctions to save the UK economy billions, claims a report by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The IEA study says traffic signals – which have increased by 25 per cent since 2000 – cause unnecessary delays. It estimates a two-minute stoppage on every car trip equates to a loss of approximately £16billion a year. The IEA recommends many bus lanes, cycle lanes, speed cameras and parking restrictions should go, too. Cities in Germany and the Netherlands have already successfully ditched 80 per cent of lights, and the IEA believes the UK would achieve similar benefits. The report said: “The effect of these measures puts an enormous burden on the…

Executive Director at British Insurance Brokers’ Association (www.biba.org.uk) IN the 2002 film Minority Report, Tom Cruise used mind-mined data to stop crimes before they were committed. Now I wouldn’t claim the insurance industry has enough data to stop accidents before they happen, but there’s a lot of data out there. Access to DVLA information is easy, and at gov.uk you can check your driving licence details. You can use this info at mylicence.org.uk to arrange car insurance; this way, you’ll get a more accurate quote. In the UK, insurers pass policy info to the Motor Insurance Database, and you can check your car is correctly listed for free at AskMID.com. If you have a crash, for a small charge, you can check the other vehicles involved were insured, too. The…

Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer HYDROGEN is the future. It’ll replace our need for petrol and diesel and save the environment. Two bold statements, but ones that have been made by transport experts for more than a decade – so, is 2016 the year when it becomes reality? With three new fuelcell models on sale, a UK Government grant in place and funding committed for dedicated and accessible hydrogen refuelling stations, the pieces are starting to fall into place. But is it really a wise decision to take the plunge right now? To find out what it’s like to live with a fuel-cell vehicle that emits nothing but water, Auto Express took delivery of the Hyundai ix35 for a week and put it through its paces. The ix35 joins the Honda FCX Clarity…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “Unlike the plug-in 3 Series, the 225xe doesn’t drive as well as the standard car, feeling cumbersome” IT took BMW an age to bring the 2 Series Active Tourer to market. Almost 10 years after the Mercedes B-Class went on sale, BMW launched its own five-seat MPV with a range of small petrol and diesel engines, plus a choice of front or four-wheel drive. However, 2016 sees the arrival of a new 2 Series – the plug-in hybrid 225xe. Based on the standard Active Tourer, it uses a detuned version of the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine found in the i8 supercar, paired with an 87bhp electric motor. The result is a four-wheel-drive MPV that claims to return 141.2mpg in mixed motoring, while emitting 46g/km of CO2. As with…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Running costs 64.2mpg (official) £67 fill-up THE hybrid Lexus GS has always been an alternative choice in the executive saloon market, with models like the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF hogging most of the attention. However, with attitudes to diesels changing, Lexus will be hoping that this facelifted model will start to stand out. The nose has been updated to match the rest of the range, with larger vents on the front bumper and sleeker headlamps contributing to a much sportier look. Plus, the spindle grille has been extended further forward. The rest of the car is very similar to the previous model, with a few new details on the sills, bootlid and lower rear bumper. This redesign has worked well, and while the GS isn’t as…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Essentials THE Skoda Octavia isn’t exactly a car that gets pulses racing, but it offers something for everyone. This is the new Octavia vRS 4x4 – essentially all the best bits from the family car range boiled down and crammed into one off-the-shelf model. Under the bonnet sits the punchy yet frugal 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel from the vRS, plus there’s the trick four-wheel-drive system from the Scout and a slick six-speed DSG transmission taken out of the VW parts bin. But if that’s not enough, you can have it all in a family friendly estate body for a £1,200 premium. Parents have never had it so good. And the great news continues. Because this is an Octavia, it comes with a crowdpleasing, inoffensive design, plenty of standard equipment…

THERE’S not much between our contenders for outright space, but the Toyota has some neat touches to boost rear comfort. For starters, the seatbacks have a reclining function that’s operated by well placed levers on the sides of the bases. Plus, as the floor is almost flat in the rear, middle seat occupants have more than enough foot room. Design ALL three of these cars fall into the compact crossover class, yet each takes a different approach to styling. While the Renault has flowing curves, the Hyundai gets sharply defined creases. The Toyota looks utilitarian in this company, but gets a lift from its new LED light signatures. Four-wheel drive THE RAV4 AWD is available only with 2.0-litre petrol or 2.5 hybrid power; prices start at £28,295. You’ll need at…

BOTH cars have gone on a diet to help boost economy. The Mazda uses SkyActiv technology to save weight and features a lowdrag body for better efficiency. The Golf features lowered suspension and smoother bodywork to achieve a similar result, while adding a DSG gearbox doesn’t penalise the car’s 99g/km CO2 emissions. Design MAZDA’S design philosophy means its cars have a racy look, so the 3 is far more dramatic than the Golf. What’s more, you can have the 1.5 diesel in Fastback saloon guise for the same price as the hatch, although you can’t go for this bodystyle with an auto gearbox. Equipment SPORT Nav trim is loaded with kit, and even going for a lesser-spec SE-L Nav gives you equipment similar to the Golf’s. The Match BlueMotion is…

PETROL: Vauxhall Astra 1.0T Elite Nav PRICE: £20,015 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 104bhp AT this price point, the Golf is the only sub-100g/km petrol hatch on sale, but the Astra emits only 102g/km of CO2, plus the Elite Nav version is well equipped for less. Add a refined drive and top-quality cabin, and it’s well worth considering. DIESEL: SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI SE Tech PRICE: £21,475 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 109bhp THE Leon rivals the 3 for engaging handling and sharp looks, while SE Technology trim brings essentials like sat-nav, DAB radio and LED lights. Emissions of 94g/km and a lower list price mean company car costs are cheaper, too.…

Snap up an F1 shot in charity auction THE Zoom Charity Auction takes place on Friday (5 February). Fifty photos snapped by top Formula One stars – including this one (above) of Lewis Hamilton’s dog in Rome – will be sold off at London’s InterContinental Park Lane Hotel, with all proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Hospital. But don’t worry if you’re not on the VIP guest list. Auction house Coys has earmarked some photos that will go up for sale online next week. Log on to www.coys.co.uk for more info. Pro shine with new ceramic protection KEEN detailers are being promised a pro shine with the new ceramic paint protection coating from GTechniq. Crystal Serum Light is a DIY version of the brand’s professionalonly Crystal Serum super coating. The…

DISCOLOURATION of acrylic headlights can leave your car looking older than its years. If you’re hoping to sell or just want to give your motor a bit of TLC, a headlight restoration kit is one way to achieve fairly dramatic results. These kits can restore dull, foggylooking headlamps – with their yellowed plastic, discoloured by the effects of the weather – to showroom-fresh condition. The processes involve washing the lights, attempting to restore with polish alone and then sanding down the damage gradually with supplied graded paper to get a better finish. It’s often not a quick process, but the results can make it worthwhile. So we put to the test seven kits you can get on the high street and online from some of the biggest names in car…