Innholdsfortegnelse for 1413 i Auto Express

Small Skodas show their true colours SKODA has launched new Colour Editions of its Fabia and Citigo. The Fabia version (above) is based on SE spec, with four new colour combinations and a black or white contrasting roof. LED daytime running lights, cruise control and 16-inch alloys also feature. The Citigo comes in red, white, black or green, but without the contrasting roof colour. It also benefits from extra kit like sat-nav and additional speakers. The Fabia starts at £13,360, while the Citigo kicks off from £9,990. Price is right for SEAT’s Ateca SUV SEAT has revealed its new Ateca SUV will cost from £17,990, when the first models arrive in showrooms this September. That’s around £500 less than the basic Nissan Qashqai, but the same as the Renault Kadjar.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “The Spyder will feature the same naturally aspirated engines as the hard-top, with the V10 and V10 Plus” WE spotted the new Audi R8 Spyder last summer, but back then it was covered in camouflage with the roof firmly closed. Now we’ve got the first pictures of the car completely undisguised and topless. As you’d expect, the R8 Spyder takes its styling cues from the fixed-roof Coupé. That means it gets the same gaping grille and sharp headlights, as well as identical gills in the bumper and bodywork. At the side you’ll notice the same subtle V10 badges, as well as the recognisable carbon blades. The rear haunches have been altered, though, with a long, wide decklid housing the folding fabric roof. As with the outgoing R8 Spyder,…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelo Sweet-sounding BMW M2 on track BMW’S M2 is easily one of the year’s most anticipated cars, and as we found in Issue 1,409, it delivers the goods on the road. The 365bhp 3.0-litre straight-six turbo sounds amazing and the car has the right balance between thrills and usability. We’ve now driven it on the legendary Laguna Seca track in California, where that sonorous engine sounded sweeter than ever. Evoque Convertible hits the Alpine ice THE Range Rover Evoque Convertible is another new car to get excited about, but for different reasons. It’s set to be the first cabrio SUV to go on sale and promises to be a big seller in Britain. See what we think as we hit the Alpine ice on Page 30, then log on…

LAST March, new drug-driving laws were introduced in England and Wales. Roadside tests for cannabis and cocaine were brought in, while other drugs, like ecstasy, LSD and ketamine, could be tested at labs. A year on, the Department for Transport has launched a new awareness campaign to further clamp down on drug-drivers. As part of this, it’s shared Cheshire Police’s latest stats, which show arrests in 2015 were eight times higher than the year before. There’s more good news, too – under the new laws, once suspects are charged, 98 per cent have been convicted, compared to just 80 per cent with the old legislation. It’s a positive step to keeping dangerous drivers off the road. Those caught face a criminal record, a ban for at least a year and…

Contact Martin Saarinen mailQautoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD HOT TOPIC £600bn to repair roads FROM: sid TRY this if you can – find a flat section of a motorway and set your cruise control at 70mph. You’ll see the effect on the fuel economy when the road surfaces change. My VW Caddy shows a 5mpg difference between smooth and rough road surfaces. FROM: pgtipsster £600BILLION over 20 years is only £30billion per year – and that’s for the entire continent of Europe. You could easily fund the road resurfacing project with existing measures – fuel duty in the UK alone generates £27billion a year. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Why don’t manufacturers stop making cars bigger and squarer and…

EIGHT-PAGE PREVIEW TO ANOTHER THRILLING F1 SEASON Motorsport reporter Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk CAN anyone stop Lewis Hamilton? That’s the question every Formula One fan is asking after an imperious display by the reigning world champion’s team Mercedes in pre-season testing. The Brackley, Northants-based outfit racked up 1,294 laps over eight days at the Circuit de Catalunya, demonstrating bulletproof reliability and the kind of pace needed to keep Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg comfortably in front around Albert Park in Melbourne this weekend. But there was a glimmer of light for those hoping for a fight at the front, with Sebastian Vettel recording some quick laps for Ferrari and Williams, too, looking like it’s in line for a strong campaign. Elsewhere, the midfield seems as tight as ever, plus there’s added interest in…

Mercedes @MercedesAMGF1 Engine Mercedes Races 127 Wins 45 Titles 2 Last year 1st (703pts) THE reigning constructors’ champion should pick up right where it left off this weekend. It was clearly the fastest and most reliable outfit at pre-season testing in Barcelona, Spain, racking up the most laps of any team and regularly topping the timesheets across eight days of running. As was the case last year, the big question mark is how bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda will manage the fractious relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg. If one is clearly faster than the other, there should be no problems, but whenever they get together on track, sparks fly. Our verdict Hamilton cruised after winning the title last year, allowing Rosberg a late run of form. But he should…

MODEL TESTED: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec PRICE: £23,095 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Testers’ notes “There’s a more efficient version of the 2.0-litre TDCi Mondeo available, called the ECOnetic. It’s offered in Style, Zetec and Titanium trim levels, and adds a modest £150 to the price of our test car. The downside is that it cuts CO2 emissions by a relatively meagre 2g/km, so road tax still costs £20 per year, while the Benefit in Kind rate stays at 19 per cent. It means there’s no reduction in company car tax, while claimed fuel economy only falls by 1.6mpg.” THE Mondeo Vignale (Issue 1,411) is the latest and most premium model in Ford’s family car line-up, but the more affordable versions make up the majority of Mondeo sales in the…

On the road price/total as tested Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) Depreciation Annual tax liability std/higher rate Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service Length/wheelbase Height/width Engine Peak power/revs Peak torque/revs Transmission Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel Boot capacity (seats up/down) Kerbweight/payload/towing weight Turning circle/drag coefficient Basic warranty (miles)/recovery Service intervals/UK dealers Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./stars 0-60/30-70mph 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 50-70mph in 5th/6th Top speed/rpm at 70mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Govt urban/extra-urban/combined Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control Climate control/leather/heated seats Metallic paint/xenon lights/keyless go Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth Results 1st VAUXHALL THE Insignia only really stands out for its impressive efficiency, although it seals victory because of the way it combines a comfortable ride, decent performance and…

Mazda 2 OUR Mazda 2 has surprised a lot of people in the office with its impressive long-distance refinement. Despite only using a dinky 1.5-litre non-turbo engine, the punchy supermini is more than at home on the motorway – and has proven a popular choice for those looking to cover big miles in complete comfort. However, on a recent trip from Portsmouth to Farnborough, Hants, news editor Richard Ingram noticed an unusual quirk with the Mazda’s cruise control. Travelling through the seemingly endless stretch of roadworks and average speed cameras on the M3, the Mazda highlighted its natural inclination to travel slightly faster than intended. So despite the cruise control being set to 50mph, the Mazda’s digital speedometer continually read 51mph. It was the same story when it was set…

FIRST TEST Meguiar’s Paint Protect Price: £18.50 Rating: *** Contact: 0870 241 6696, www.meguiars.co.uk THE best of the latest-generation hard waxes provide impressive protection and durability, but they do need reapplying regularly. Meguiar’s says that’s not the case with its latest product. Paint Protect, as the name suggests, is a solution that forms a protective layer over the body, which the company claims makes water and other liquids simply bead off without penetrating the paintwork. It’s not just paint it can work on, though; the product can be used on all exterior plastics, metals and chrome, offering protection to the entire car. And Meguiar’s claims this will last for 52 washes – basically a year’s worth of cleaning. How did it hold up in our test? Application couldn’t be simpler:…

VERSATILE WINNER Ring Multi Socket RMS10 Best price: £12.99 Contact: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.co.uk MULTIPLE winner from Ring covers most options, with two USBs and two 12V sockets. It’s well built, and the USBs charged both iPads at the same time, if not quite as quickly as rivals. It’s bigger than them, but the cupholder design is a good storage solution and the coiled lead is neat. Add a battery monitor and extra ring on the plug for different sockets, and you have a winner. Rating: COMPACT CHOICE Ring Charging Socket RMS18 Best price: £12.99 Contact: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.co.uk FOR quick charging, look no further than this Ring. It has a pair of 3.5-Amp ports and easily revived our iPads. Like the RMS10, it’s well made and fitted our…

1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Years: 1992 to 1996 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 227bhp 0-60mph: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 147mph AFFECTIONATELY called the Cossie by enthusiasts, the permanent four-wheel-drive Ford Escort RS Cosworth is still a firm favourite today. It had the same 0-60mph time as a Ferrari 348, as well as a top speed of 147mph. Now from £21,000 2002 Ford Focus RS Mk1 Years: 2002 to 2003 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 212bhp 0-60mph: 5.9 seconds Top speed: 144mph FRONT-wheel-drive Ford Focus RS was available as a limited run until late 2003, and came complete with a bodykit influenced by the WRC car. Huge 18-inch OZ alloy wheels completed the effect, while its 212bhp 2.0-litre engine delivered massive performance. Now from £10,000 2009 Ford Focus RS Mk2 Years: 2009 to 2010…

“Fewer than 100m vehicles produced globally each year don’t go far when the world’s population is currently at 7.4bn ” THE following numbers are impressive... but scary. Global motor industry folk had to slog away for a century to grow annual vehicle production from 0-60million. But it has taken only the past six years for that 60m figure to grow by almost 50 per cent to nearer 90m. How’s that for efficient factories and workers? International motor industry data quietly – almost apologetically – revealed in recent days proves that back in 2009 the car and truck business was chuffed with itself as it produced 61.6m vehicles during the year. In 2015, 90.6m were made! And although this represents spectacular growth (47 per centplus) over a mere 72 months, the…

Essentials TESLA has yet to allow journalists the pleasure of a test in its Model X crossover in Europe, but we’ve finally managed to get behind the wheel of one of the radical allelectric SUVs on the streets of New York. The Model X is Tesla’s third car, after the original Roadster launched in 2008 and the Model S saloon, which earned the brand its reputation for bold engineering, followed in 2013. This newcomer builds on that; it’s the ‘practical’ Tesla, with dramatic ‘falcon wing’ doors that slide upwards before opening. The X sits on the same chassis as the Model S, and gets the same all-electric powertrain. Lower-powered versions with smaller batteries will be offered eventually, but for now, you have one decision to make: the P90 or the…

Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “First aid is dealt with in theory test, but MP Quince says this isn’t enough and that knowledge is patchy” LEARNER drivers would have to pass mandatory first aid training before taking their driving test under new legislation proposed by a Tory MP. Will Quince, the member for Colchester in Essex, wants would-be drivers to take a four-hour first aid course before the practical exam to help save “hundreds of lives”. Quince’s Driving Licence (Mandatory First Aid Training) Bill was brought before the House of Commons last week, and got charity backing from St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross. First aid is dealt with in the theory test, but Quince said this wasn’t enough and that knowledge across Britain was “patchy”. This has been supported by…

“We are optimistic that in 2016 we can overcome the crisis and start gaining back the trust of our customers” Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “It’s become much more emotional; we’ve redesigned the car nicely with a new interior, colours...” “We showed a study and the feedback was fantastic. We have to consider a bus” “We are relatively late to come to the market with SUVs, so we will have a broader range” “We’ve just launched the Tiguan; we’re working on two bigger SUVs” THE FUTURE “The car will always be online, thinking ahead, enhancing the sensory operation, parking itself, managing traffic jams FORMER BMW development boss Herbert Diess joined VW last July to run the brand’s passenger car division. In an exclusive interview with Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, he…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk AE_Consumer “To me, apprentices are the solution... what is needed is youthful innovation to keep up” “The best part is you get to learn new skills that you are able to take back to work” IF a fault has to be found in the British automotive industry, it’s that it could soon be running out of talent. The latest official figures show that fewer skilled workers are entering the workforce than is needed. Current estimates suggest up to 5,000 jobs currently remain unfilled. To bridge this worrying gap, car manufacturers and the Government are looking into a number of possible solutions, including apprenticeships. Most car makers already have a programme, but many are keen to improve and expand the use of apprentices. The Government is eager to help, too,…

MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 CDTi Tech Line PRICE: £22,424 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 134bhp Testers’ notes “The Insignia is available with Vauxhall’s OnStar concierge service – for £395 you get in-car Wi-Fi, and around the clock access to the firm’s call centre, meaning you can download sat-nav destinations to your car. It also lets you lock and unlock your car using an app, while the police can track the Insignia if it’s stolen. It’s a smart convenience feature that has safety benefits, too, as the system will automatically call for help if it senses the airbags being deployed.” THE Vauxhall Insignia was our favourite used family car of 2015, but does it make as much sense as a new buy against the rest of the current class competition? We test…

NEW PRODUCT New Pioneer AVIC multimedia head units Price: TBC Contact: www.pioneer.co.uk PIONEER won our Product of the Year 2015 award with its AVIC-F70DAB head unit, and it’s updated the range for 2016, with new features. Key highlights on all models remain their Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, providing the most comprehensive way to link your smartphone to your car. Four of the five new models are equipped with navigation, and for 2016 European mapping is built-in, complete with 10 million points of interest. The fifth unit, the X8800BT, is an AV receiver with a removable facia panel to aid security. All versions also come with Bluetooth, to connect any compatible phone, as well as dual camera inputs – perfect for updating your vehicle with reversing cameras. Users of…

Goodyear unveils tyres of the future THE Geneva Motor Show wasn’t all about the cars; Goodyear used the event to reveal its latest performance tyre – the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3. It claims the newcomer (right) resists wear 31 per cent better than rivals from Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental, and has shorter braking distances in the wet and dry. The tyre is aimed at medium to large executive and luxury cars. Goodyear also unveiled its latest concept tyre, the Eagle-360, with a spherical, 3D-printed design, which it believes will help contribute to the safety and manoeuvrability needed for autonomous vehicles. See goodyear.eu for more info. More countries and services for TomTom MORE countries than ever will soon benefit from TomTom Traffic updates, and the company is also rolling out improvements…

Argentine Temporada Motor Races Hernan Lopez Laiseca (Veloce, veloce.co.uk) Price: £35 Rating: A LITTLE-known golden age of racing in Argentina is detailed in this book, with 220 photographs spanning 1950-1960. There’s also well written text on this interesting post-war racing period, with each year’s racing divided neatly into its own category. These photo books can become dull, but this one doesn’t, and is a good read for racing fans. Making Cars at Longbridge Gillian Bardsley and Colin Corke (The History Press, thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £17.99 Rating: ALTHOUGH a pictorial guide rather than a comprehensive look at the 110-year history at Longbridge, this book is a great read. Most of authors Bardsley and Corke’s work is done captioning pictures, with only short paragraphs of history in between. Still, they do a great…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Vauxhall warranty woes I’VE serviced my Vauxhall Astra independently since new, but it’s always been done with manufacturer-approved parts. I was recently told my Lifetime Warranty was void as I missed an annual health check. Is this right? Riona Morgan, E-mail A UNFORTUNATELY for you, Vauxhall is correct. The Lifetime Warranty terms and conditions state that you must take your car to an authorised Vauxhall dealer for inspection at least once a year in order to maintain your cover. Q Can I upgrade my bulbs? I OWN a 2014 Citroen C4 hatch, and have come to the conclusion that it has poor dipped beam lighting. I’d like to know if this is a common problem. And do you know of an upgrade? Philip…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “British driver Oliver Gavin will be hoping to repeat victory at Daytona and kick-start title challenge” AFTER a nailbiting 0.034-second onetwo photo finish for Corvette Racing in the GT Le Mans class after 24 hours’ racing at Daytona in January, the IMSA WeatherTech series heads to the other side of Florida for the Sebring 12 Hours event this Saturday. British drivers will once again be in the thick of the action, with Oliver Gavin and his #4 Corvette teammates Tommy Milner and Marcel Fassler hoping to repeat their Daytona win and kick-start their title challenge in the US sportscar series. Among their challengers will be the works Ford GT team, which is hoping to overcome the poor reliability that blighted its Daytona run. Brit Richard Westbrook lines up in…

JUST weeks after we first set eyes on the new E-Class, Mercedes-AMG has created the AMG E 43. It uses the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 as the C 43, but develops 396bhp and is capable of 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155mph. It will debut at this month’s New York Motor Show, before it arrives in dealers this September. The AMG E 43 gets a rear-biased four-wheel-drive system, a nine-speed automatic gearbox with shorter shift timings to improve efficiency, while Active Body Control air-suspension with three modes comes as standard. The exterior of the car has been given a more aggressive look, too, with chrome exhaust pipes, sportier bumpers and new 19-inch AMG alloy wheels. Inside, Mercedes has added a pair of front sports seats, red…

Executive Director at British Insurance Brokers’ Association (www.biba.org.uk) A FAMOUS author once said: “They’re funny things, accidents. You never have them until you’re having them.” In 2014, motor insurers paid out more than £20million in claims every day, from minor prangs to serious incidents. Here are the top tips from the British Insurers’ Brokers’ Association if it happens to you. After an incident, stop at the scene. Tell the police within 24 hours if there’s injury or damage to property, and tell your insurer or broker as soon as you can, even if you might not need to claim. If you have a camera phone, take photos of the scene, number plates of those involved and any damage caused. Use it to save details of witnesses, too. Any concerns you…

Jason Gaskell, manager of Apprentice Training Programmes at BMW Group UK, said: “An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to begin building your career, not least because you learn while you earn. We’re looking for motivated, enthusiastic and passionate people and we are really keen to see applications from young women who currently are under-represented in the UK’s engineering and manufacturing industries.” Marlies Rogait, member of the board, Human Resources – Bentley Motors, commented: “Our apprentices obtain a solid foundation on which to build the skills and knowledge required to become skilled experts and professionals in their field. We want to attract extraordinary candidates.” Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan UK’s vice president for manufacturing, told us: “Apprenticeships help Nissan create a workforce with the skills and commitment that we need to maintain our…

Essentials Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE “The Astra offers a good balance between relaxed and quiet cruising, while still being good to drive” THE new Vauxhall Astra hatchback is one of the finest cars in its class, as it’s fun to drive, practical, economical and good value. Now we’ve had the chance to drive the Sports Tourer estate version, which promises to offer the best of the hatch but with even more space and versatility. While the nose of the standard Astra and the neat creases down the side of the body survive the estate transformation, the roof is marked by a sloping chrome strip that separates it from the shoulderline. It looks a little awkward, but for most it won’t detract from what is a handsome car. The most important aspect of…

Jonathan_Burn@dennins.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Essentials “Regardless of how it sounds, the range-topping SL is still seriously quick” IF the 577bhp Mercedes-AMG SL 63 we drove last week (Issue 1,412) doesn’t quite produce the goods for you, then fear not – step forward the SL 65. It’s powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, which churns out 621bhp and a stonking 1,000Nm of torque. That makes it good for a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph that can even be increased to 186mph with Mercedes’ driver’s pack option. The car will set you back an eye-watering £173,295 – so not only is it one of the most powerful Mercedes on sale, but also one of the most expensive. Is this AMG worth it? It’s almost £100,000…

THE son of former F1 racer Jonathan and the 2014 GP2 Series champion, Brit Jolyon Palmer comes into F1 with impeccable pedigree. But can he become the next Button or Hamilton? We spoke to him at the Renault F1 team launch in Paris to find out… What are you expecting from this season? “IT won’t be easy as a rookie; almost everyone else has experience. But at the same time, I’ve got some good free-practice time from 2015. Working with an F1 team is very different to GP2: you understand how to work with all the engineers – there are 70-80 people at the track you have to get the best out of. “I feel prepared. I can’t use being a rookie as an excuse, I need to hit the…

MODEL TESTED: Kia Optima 3 1.7 CRDi PRICE: £23,495 ENGINE: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 139bhp Testers’ notes “Autonomous braking is only available on the range-topping Optima 4, which costs a sizeable £5,400 more than the 3 we tested – that’s partly because the flagship version is only available with Kia’s seven-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic box. This transmission is an option on the Optima 3, adding £1,400, but it bumps CO2 emissions up to 116g/km and increases the all-important Benefit in Kind company car tax rate to 21 per cent.” Testers’ notes “The Optima 4’s £5,400 price premium over our car can be explained by its extra kit – highlights include self-parking, a 360-degree around view monitor and panoramic sunroof. It also gets leather and heated rear seats. However, the 3 model is…

Hatch vs saloon OUR two tests hatchbacks have a clear edge on practicality over the Optima saloon (below). Still, neither comes with a power tailgate as standard, and with the big boot doors opening so high, some owners might find them difficult to close again. The Kia obviously doesn’t struggle here, but you’re more limited in terms of loading room. Quality THESE three cars all offer useful equipment and versatility on an affordable budget, but the Kia shows that you don’t have to sacrifice quality, either. Both the Vauxhall and Ford’s cabins are acceptable in most areas, but small details let them down compared to the Optima. Cost of ownership THERE’S not much to split our group when it comes to kit or usability, so running costs could be a…

Got a query? Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Can I switch fogs to DRLs? I WANT to convert the foglamps on my 2008 Honda CR-V to daytime running lights (DRLs). Can I change the bulbs for 50mm household 12V bulbs and leave the foglights on all the time I’m driving? Barry O’Connell, E-mail A WHAT you need is a retro-fit kit from the likes of Osram or Ring. These provide all you require to add DRLs to your car – not just the lights, but wiring and instructions about where to mount them. Osram also sells a kit that combines DRLs and foglights for around £190 (above). Q Sheepskin carpet mats MY friend has sheepskin mats in his car, which I think look good and hard-wearing. Are they available for my Mercedes?…