Auto Express 1421

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news OF all the leading global car making groups, I’d argue Fiat Chrysler has the most intriguing future. CEO Sergio Marchionne is leading his key marques down some interesting routes. Alfa Romeo is a case in point. It’s created some lovely cars in the past, and many in my profession still go misty-eyed at the merest mention of Alfa, despite the fact it’s been a shadow of itself for some time. Clearly the name still has some currency, and this week sees the latest attempt to capitalise on that with the arrival of the long-awaited new BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia, which we’ve driven. It’s the first in a wave of new cars, including an SUV and a coupé, that aims to establish…

THERE is a school of thought that anyone who likes cars should really own an Alfa Romeo at least once in their life. It has something to do with the brio, the flair and the sheer Italian passion that is supposed to run through the models from Milan. The trouble is that, while Alfas have certainly retained a distinct and desirable flair in their design in recent years, the rest of the product has been less attractive. The company hopes to change all that with the new Giulia, and things are promising as soon as you get inside. In terms of design, the interior is stylish yet quite simple. The fit and finish seem good, with the plastics feeling solid, if not quite up to Audi levels of quality. You…

“Overall profile of the new generation will be close to that of its larger brother, the 308, although the 208 will remain at four metres long” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy PEUGEOT will showcase all of its future small-car technology with the nextgeneration 208 supermini, which will usher in an all-new chassis and fresh engines when it makes its debut in 2018. The existing 208 was facelifted in 2015, but the brand knows rival Citroen is lining up a new C3 (bottom, left) for this summer, with new versions of the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta also expected in 2017. Peugeot’s stated goal is to become “the best high-end generalist brand” – more premium than Citroen but less luxury-focused than DS – so the 208’s styling will become more sophisticated. As our exclusive…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “A 2008 GTi would build on success of 208 and 308 GTi, and use a powerful turbo petrol engine” PEUGEOT Sport director Bruno Famin has hinted that a series of GTi-badged SUVs could be on the way. We challenged the boss on whether he could ignore the success of crossovers in Europe, and if his performance sub-brand was already considering beefed-up versions of existing SUVs. “Why not?” Famin told Auto Express. “The 2008 DKR is fully in the brand’s strategy. Cross-country races like the Dakar are getting bigger and bigger, and we are winning them. The 2008 is our world car. Having this cross-country program fits very well with where we want to develop our brand. Doing it with the 2008 is also a way to promote this…

“Bassy exhaust hits us in the pit of the stomach and makes us lust after the driver’s seat” “This is a very promising preview into what is one of the most eagerly awaited sports cars” THE Alpine Vision concept that Renault revealed at March’s Geneva Motor Show wasn’t just an empty shell; it was a roaring, racy powerhouse that promises to be one of the most beautiful things to come out of France on four wheels. Now we’ve had an exclusive opportunity to hear it, experience it and feel it from the passenger seat. Renault’s designers have made only cautious references to the original Alpine A110. But the four headlamps, curved rear window and air outlets underneath clearly hark back to the 1962 model. The newcomer is more than just…

Nissan gets its Kicks with new baby SUV NISSAN has revealed its new Kicks SUV (above), which is primarily targeted at emerging markets. The front resembles a scaled-down version of the current X-Trail, while the rear looks like a tweaked version of the Renault Captur. The Kicks is slightly longer, taller and wider than the Juke – with a longer wheelbase – but will cost considerably less. Nissan is staying tight-lipped on plans for the car in Europe. April registrations best in 13 years PRIVATE car sales fell by 2.5 per cent in April, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), but a buoyant fleet market helped total new car registrations rise by two per cent. Latest figures show 189,505 cars were registered last month – the…