Innholdsfortegnelse for 1415 i Auto Express

Q The new F-Type SVR has 567bhp from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Is this the limit for this engine? A “There are always ways and means, but yes, I think we’re getting close to the limit, the way things stand.” Q Why is it 4WD? Shouldn’t SVR be about extreme performance and driving pleasure, favouring rear-drive? A “I think we decided, quite early on, that we wanted four-wheel drive across the SVR sub-brand. I think it’s about driveability, so using the car every day. Global sales potential is a key factor in the decision, too.” Q SVR seems to be growing in a steady but measured fashion. Is it limited by marketing reach, how far the brand can stretch, or engineering resource? A “At the moment, demand is outstripping our…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE DEVELOPMENT is well underway on the next hot Renault Mégane RS, and to help it keep pace with the 345bhp Ford Focus RS, it could get four-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering and over 300bhp, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. A Renaultsport insider, who is part of the new project, told us the brand is working tirelessly on the new Mégane RS, and our exclusive image shows how it could look. “When you have torque vectoring, rearwheel steering and four-wheel drive, and you want the car to behave in a certain way, you have to have a global chassis control system,” they said. “When you see cars like the Focus RS, you can feel that Renaultsport will have to do something about it.” The brand has been keeping close tabs…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn NISSAN’S electric car range could expand to include a new crossover and sports car within the next five years, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. Senior vice-president Shiro Nakamura has told us that a new modular platform currently under development will be able to adopt conventional and alternative powertrains – and that this will be key to Nissan’s plan to broaden its EV line-up. “We don’t want to limit our EVs just to the Leaf,” Nakamura told Auto Express. “We’re the leading EV manufacturer, but I don’t think we can make it just off one EV, so we want to grow the portfolio – that’s our next plan. It could be a crossover, it could be a sports car; we see much more opportunity for EVs than just a…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor New Rolls-Royce Dawn raises roof WITH Rolls-Royce revealing that the massive Phantom Drophead won’t be replaced, fans of large, expensive convertibles might want to look elsewhere for their open-air thrills. To prevent that, Rolls has chopped the top off its Wraith to produce the stunning new Dawn. But as our first drive video reveals, it’s more than just a case of slicing the roof off. Is this the best posh cabrio around? Hear Jaguar F-Type SVR in all its glory YOU can read all about how we had a blast in Jaguar’s stunning 567bhp F-Type SVR through one of New York’s most famous tunnels on Page 10. But unless you hear the rasp of the exhaust, you’re missing out – and to do that, you’ll have to watch…

MODEL TESTED: Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 D Portfolio LWB PRICE: £72,075 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6, 296bhp LAST year, Jaguar facelifted its largest saloon, mildly refreshing the XJ’s looks and adding a sportier R-Sport model to the line-up at the same time. Going against its M Sport and AMG Line rivals from BMW and Mercedes, the XJ R-Sport should be the natural fit. However, this model doesn’t come in extended wheelbase form, so here we test the similarly priced £72,075 Portfolio LWB, to see if the updates can push the Jag to the top of its class. Styling & tech 4.1/5 THE XJ’s looks have only been mildly updated, which is testament to the car’s original lines. It’s a stylish, swooping saloon that started a design revolution for Jaguar, and over the…

Engines OUR contenders take different approaches under the bonnet. The Polo’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol uses direct injection and turbocharging to deliver 94bhp and emissions of just 94g/km. Peugeot has actually made its entry-level diesel bigger, as this detuned version of its familiar 1.6-litre HDi engine replaces the old 1.4-litre unit. Design PEUGEOT proves that you don’t have to sacrifice style to save fuel. Not only is there a greater choice of brighter colours than on the VW, you can also add a number of personalisation packs that bring bright trim inserts to the interior and exterior. Options THE Polo can’t be customised in the same way as the 208, but it can be fitted with more big-car features. Adaptive cruise control (£395), xenon headlamps (£795) and heated seats (£360) can…

NEW: Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Style ECOnetic PRICE: £15,795 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 94bhp AT this price point, you’re limited to a Fiesta Style, which misses out on alloys and a DAB radio. But sparkling handling and 82g/km CO2 emissions are a bonus. Haggling could get you a Zetec (right) for the same price. USED: VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion PRICE: £15,490 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 108bhp ALTERNATIVELY, you could stretch to a used VW Golf BlueMotion diesel, which claims 83.1mpg economy. It also offers superb refinement and a more spacious cabin. We found a 4,000-mile 2015 model for £15,490.…

Bentley’s cologne is heaven scent BENTLEY has launched Infinite Rush, a cologne aimed at those who “push themselves to the limit”. The perfume (above) starts at £43 for a 60ml eau de toilette bottle, with the luxury car manufacturer claiming it comprises a variety of scents, from pink peppercorns to incense. Infinite Rush comes in a stylish stoppered bottle with a crackle glaze to ensure no two are the same. Visit bentleymotors.com for more details. Top spring deals on performance tweaks PERFORMANCE tuner Revolution has announced a selection of spring deals, designed to help motorists upgrade their cars more easily after the dark and depressing winter months. Anyone purchasing an exhaust upgrade will be entitled to a 20 per cent discount on a remap to ensure they get every bit…

■ Boxy looks axed as Skoda crafts more traditional crossover shape ■ Platform shared with Tiguan and Ateca ■ Hybrid model planned Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE SKODA is preparing a replacement for its Yeti with more space, a new engine range and a more traditional crossover look, as seen in our exclusive images. It will share much of its DNA with the new SEAT Ateca and Volkswagen Tiguan, with all three SUVs riding on variations of VW’s MQB platform – and a hybrid is on the way, too. Skoda boss Bernhard Maier told Auto Express: “It is not a surprise that there will be a successor for the Yeti. This is already in development; it looks beautiful and perfectly fits to the brand.” While the current car’s ‘Tonka toy’ looks are a…

AMG lifts the lid on new 503bhp C 63 MERCEDES-AMG revealed its new C 63 Cabriolet in New York. The rangetopping convertible (above) will sit above the less potent C 43 drop-top in the line-up, and gets the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the C 63 saloon. It produces 469bhp in standard form, while the S version gets 503bhp. The regular car can do 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, with the S taking one-tenth less. Prices will be confirmed in May, but we expect it to start at around £65,000. Hotter Discovery Sport on the way? LAND Rover has hinted that a hotter version of the Discovery Sport could be on the way. Speaking to Auto Express at the New York Motor Show, a senior source told us that there is “plenty…

Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer EU safety regulations are said to need an urgent “overhaul”, after a report by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) revealed a car built to the current minimum standard would receive a zero-star rating in a Euro NCAP test. The ETSC says policymakers have relied on the voluntary Euro NCAP test system to drive safety improvements for the past 20 years, so laws have become outdated. It wants tech such as Intelligent Speed Assistance, Advanced Seatbelt Reminders and Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) to be made standard, and mandatory rules upgraded to match current Euro NCAP tests when laws are revised this year. According to the report, more work needs to be done to compare real-world collisions to lab results, too, as although several studies have found a correlation…

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 4JD FROM: DSmalls A LOT of money for a car with no more space – and a smaller boot – than a supermini. It’s not like it’s a performance car, either. So you’re spending £50,000 to impress the neighbours? Still, you just know people will buy the Evoque Convertible. FROM: chris_xxxx LAND Rover will sell this model by the thousands in Southern California, Florida and Asia, supporting UK jobs and helping to fund new products. The Evoque Convertible might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but variety is good for the car business. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “What a pointless vehicle. Ugly, slow and limited load capacity.…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.8 seconds/130mph Running costs 83.1mpg (official) £86 fill-up Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram FITTING an SUV with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain makes perfect sense. The raised ride height and bulky body offer lots of room for the cumbersome batteries, while a few extra kilos won’t make much difference to a naturally heavy kerbweight. Mitsubishi was the trailblazer, reaping huge success with the Outlander PHEV. Since then, Porsche, Volvo and Audi have all electrified their SUVs, with countless customers benefiting from Government subsidies for plug-in and electric vehicles. Now, though, BMW has paired a powerful 111bhp electric motor with its 2.0-litre fourcylinder turbocharged petrol engine and slotted it into the X5 SUV. The total output is a healthy 309bhp – but with an additional 235kg to haul around, it was always…

Essentials HANDLING Like the standard car, the ecoFLEX Viva is fun to drive, with light yet direct steering and a compliant ride. The engine lacks power, though EFFICIENCY Fuel economy is the name of the game with ecoFLEX version of the Viva – helped by aero tweaks like this bootlid spoiler EQUIPMENT All Viva models get front foglights, plus electric front windows, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted audio controls Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan AS with Volkswagen and its BlueMotion models, Vauxhall offers more efficiencybiased ecoFLEX versions of its cars that boast unique tweaks to boost economy and lower CO2 emissions. The Viva is the latest Vauxhall to get the fuel-sipping treatment, and we’ve driven it for the first time. The Viva ecoFLEX has an extended lip spoiler and a new black roof…

Key tech 7 SERIES’ key with its colour display is like a mini smartphone. It lets you set the climate control remotely, plus check the fuel range and the security status. A smartphone app would do the job just as well, but it reinforces the car’s hi-tech feel, with features like gesture control letting you adjust the volume with a simple swish of your finger. Parking solution BMW’S £1,100 advanced parking pack makes manoeuvring a breeze. Not only does it feature a 360-degree camera, it allows you to park the saloon remotely. You can climb out of the car and simply let it park itself using the key – another brilliant innovation on this sixth-generation 7 Series. Space race S-CLASS feels slightly roomier in the rear, helped by its higher…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk FAMILY life can be pretty demanding at the best of times, so I’m hopeful that our new Ford S-MAX will be a useful addition to the Gibson clan. However, it did get me wondering: are two cars better than one for a busy family? To help answer the question, I gave my mate Adam a bell to gather together our respective families and motors for an impromptu group test. You see, Adam runs a Ford Mondeo, while his wife Debs drives a B-MAX, and they use both their cars to ferry their daughters Grace and Faith around on journeys short and long. Me? Well, I’ve got my wife Lynn and son Rhys, and while we have a similarly busy schedule, with just the S-MAX to hand, there are a…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WE revealed the new Subaru Impreza saloon in Issue 1,414, but now the wraps are off the European-spec five-door hatchback, due here later this year. Unveiled at the New York Motor Show, the new VW Golf-rivalling family car lifts its front-end styling almost unchanged from the saloon, with a similarly sculpted bumper, grille and headlights. The changes come at the back, though, where the traditional three-box design makes way for a UK-friendly hatch. There’s a whiff of Infiniti Q30 at the rear, with high-set tail-lamps, a sharp bumper and subtle roof spoiler. Like the saloon, the Impreza hatchback sits on Subaru’s new Global Platform. The complex underpinnings will form the basis of several new Subarus in the coming years, with the flexibility to cater for everything from hatch…

Log on to pick look, spec of first Ateca SEAT has launched a crowd-sourcing competition to help decide the look of the ‘First Edition’ of the Ateca SUV. The design and spec of the special model will be chosen by the public on the SEAT website, with 192 potential outcomes to seven questions that will shape the Ateca (above). The UK-only model will go on sale with the rest of the range in May, and respondents can win a £3,000 holiday to Barcelona for four. Order books open for Tesla Model 3 TESLA has begun taking orders for its new Model 3 electric saloon. Prospective buyers will have to put down a £1,000 deposit to secure a place on the waiting list, but deliveries are said to be at least…

COUNCILS in England and Wales face a near-£800million shortfall in road repair budgets, as they struggle to tackle a pothole repairs backlog, according to a report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance. Despite fixing a pothole every 15 seconds last year, councils are 14 years behind on road repairs, and mending all holes in one go is estimated to cost taxpayers £11.8billion. These numbers are likely to increase, too, as the total shortfall in the annual carriageway maintenance budget of £791million in 2015 is up £240million from the previous year. Each council now faces an average one-time cost of £69million to bring roads up to a reasonable standard. “Shortfall in the annual carriageway maintenance budget of £791million in 2015 is up £240million from 2014” Last year, the Government announced a £250million…

LATEST figures from the insurer Direct Line show 28 million fixed penalty notices (FPN) have been issued to drivers for motoring offences between 2002 and 2012. Of those, 5.6 million were for parking offences, two million for not wearing a seatbelt and one million for using a mobile. By far and away the biggest offence was speeding, though, with more than 15.2 million FPNs issued for this over the decade. These are remarkably high figures, and show the disregard so many motorists have for the laws of the road. Sure, we might disagree with some rules such as unfair parking restrictions or low speed limits on large, open roads, but the laws must be abided by and are normally in place for a good reason. Consider this: you’re walking down…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0906 010 1300 (p) RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m) Which?: 01992 822 800 Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau 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…

MODEL TESTED: BMW 730Ld M Sport PRICE: £72,260 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl, 261bhp FOR years, the Mercedes S-Class has ruled the luxury car roost, but this sixth-generation 7 Series moves the BMW on massively, thanks to a blend of clever construction, efficient engines and an upmarket interior loaded with tech. We test the £72,260 730Ld M Sport version to see if it can challenge its closest contenders. Styling & tech 4.5/5 BMW has evolved its corporate look even further with this flagship 7 Series, enlarging its trademark kidney grilles and slimming the LED headlights down to tie everything in with the front wings. Lower down in the front bumper there’s a pair of heavily sculpted air intakes, with even sharper styling for this M Sport model to accentuate the 7 Series’…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDi 75 PRICE: £15,395 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 74bhp WHEN it hit showrooms in 2012, the Peugeot 208 marked a return to supermini form for the French brand. With its smart styling and plenty of cutting edge-kit, the car is up with the best in the class, while a facelift late last year only added to its appeal. On top of that, in 1.6 HDi 75 Stop and Start guise, it promises penny-pinching running costs. Here we test the £15,395 Active five-door, although the car in our pictures is a more expensive Allure. Styling 3.7/5 THERE wasn’t a lot wrong with the neatly designed 208’s looks, so the recent facelift was a very subtle affair. Its rounded lines and bold details are quite distinctive, particularly when…

carbuyer.co.uk LIKE other VW models, the Polo BlueMotion is eligible for the brand’s Solutions PCP finance plan. The representative APR of 6.9 per cent is a little steep compared to rival offers, but VW is currently throwing in a £1,400 deposit contribution. Plus, you can vary the length of the contract (18 to 48 months), the size of your deposit and mileage limit to suit your budget and circumstances. For instance, put down an initial £3,000 and the BlueMotion can be yours for £177 a month over three years. At the end of the term, you can pay £6,781 to keep the car, or simply hand it back and start again. Peugeot has a number of enticing offers, including its Just Add Fuel deal. This neat arrangement takes care of…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk Practicality Boot 120 litres Running costs 33.5mpg (on test) £39 fill-up FULL ROOF Fixing full roof in place involves loosening straps and folding out frame, but it gives full protection HALF ROOF ‘Shower cap’ half roof is easier to get up in a hurry, but leaves Seven open to elements (below) EVERY relationship has its ups and downs, and while I’m still well and truly in the honeymoon phase with our Caterham, a few foibles have started to emerge – first and foremost, the roof. With the changeable conditions of late, the hood has been up and down like a yo-yo. I’m not usually a convertible fan, but there’s something about driving a Caterham with the top down that connects you to the driving experience that little bit more,…

FIRST TEST GT Radial SportActive tyre Price: From £55 (225/45R17 W) Contact: 01565 831910, www.gtradial.com Rating: TYRES are getting bigger, with larger sizes previously reserved for high-end sports cars now finding their way on to SUVs, coupés and powerful saloons. GT Radial wants a piece of this growing market, and has launched a new flagship ultra-highperformance (UHP) tyre: the SportActive. It replaces the Champiro UHP1, and has been designed to provide not just sharp handling and grip, but also durability. This is a key factor for many drivers in this sector, as the cars it’s designed to go on are often heavy and powerful, greatly increasing wear. The SportActive tyre is on sale now, for 16-19-inch rims in 195-265 widths and 35-55 profiles with W-Y speed ratings. It’s rated B…

Death Drive Stephen Bayley (Circa Press, www.circapress.net) Price: £29.95 Rating: THIS book is a fairly harrowing look at the automobile as a fourwheeled death machine, telling stories of some of the most famous and tragic car crashes of all-time. The thought-provoking tales are interspersed with commentary from author Bayley as he explores this often-forgotten side of the vehicles we love. A good read, even if it is slightly morbid. Brian Redman: Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks Brian Redman with Jim Mullen (Evro, www.evropublishing.com) Price: £50 Rating: LIKE Death Drive (above), author Redman’s memoir has a poignant message about safety – but his focus is on racing and dangerous circuits. Ex-racer Redman also celebrates his triumphs with accounts of his greatest wins on some of the world’s top tracks. It’s easy to…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Jazz rust warranty worry I’VE been looking at buying a new Honda Jazz, but noticed it only comes with a three-year surface corrosion warranty. I’m concerned the car will rust. Should I be worried? Shaun Oliver, E-mail A ALTHOUGH the surface warranty lasts for three years, the manufacturer also provides a 12-year structural corrosion warranty. Honda forums do mention rust forming on the Jazz, but remember that surface rust build-up can be prevented by regularly cleaning and servicing your car. Q Clutch replacement query MY friend recently had the clutch replaced on her SEAT Ibiza. But after just 1,300 miles on the new one, the dealer tells her she burnt it out and needs a third one. Is this possible? Shaun Nock, E-mail…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk AUDI, Porsche and Toyota have all launched their contenders for the 2016 World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans 24 Hours during the series’ official pre-season testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France. All three cars will generate a higher proportion of their overall power output from the electric element of their hybrid drivetrains, with the power of the petrol and diesel engines decreasing in turn. Reigning world champion outfit Porsche has tweaked the livery of its 919 Hybrid, as well as developing three different aero packages (the maximum permitted by the rules) to suit the tracks visited by the WEC. Previously, it had only developed high and low-downforce versions of the car. The basic chassis and turbocharged V4 petrol hybrid engine have been retained,…

IF the world’s top five motor manufacturing groups aren’t feeling a tad embarrassed right now, they should. Toyota, VW Group, GM, Renault-Nissan and Hyundai-Kia have the cash, capacity and clout to go to war with each other, in a fight to get the most fuel-efficient internal combustion engine car brought to market. Yet, deliberately or otherwise, they’ve failed to do this. In terms of what’s on sale to motorists in Britain, it’s been left to a comparatively small, modest, cash-strapped firm to design and build such a product. Of course, it’s a diesel. Of course, it’s French (cars from France tend to be better in real-world conditions). And, of course, its purchase and running costs represent astonishingly good value for money. The icing on the cake is that the world’s…