Auto Express 1430

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news INSURANCE companies, they don’t always get the best press, but until recently I’d given them the benefit of the doubt. Until I had to deal with a claim for my daughter – a 17-year-old learner driver. Without going into detail, she had a low-speed prang – hit by a guy in an already-battered 1999 Ford Mondeo. She was in heavy traffic crawling around a roundabout, while he chose to queue jump, tried to cut across in front of her and dented her pride and joy, and her confidence. What has followed is months of wrangling. In spite of the evidence, the other party has claimed against her and put in a claim for personal injury that even my daughter’s insurer doesn’t…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “BMW is also working on a radical, fully electric solution to fend off Tesla” BMW plans to fight back against the Audi A4, Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-Class by introducing a hi-tech 3 Series within the next 18 months – and the compact exec is set to get an all-electric version during its lifetime. The next 3 Series, previewed in our exclusive images, will make use of carbon-fibre construction technology and a new range of three, four and sixcylinder engines to trump the likes of the A4 and XE on CO2 emissions. But the manufacturer is also planning to take on the forthcoming Tesla Model 3 by offering not only a plug-in hybrid version of the car, but also a fully electric edition. The next-generation 3 Series, codenamed…

Essentials Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 Price: From £23,000 (est) Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel Power: 148bhp Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10 seconds (est) Top speed: 120mph (est) Economy: 55mpg (est) CO2: 130g/km (est) ON SALE Early 2017 “Design is toned down from original Vision S concept – particularly crystal-LED front lights” Is this a Skoda for the States? SKODA’S CEO Bernhard Maier is keen to launch the Czech brand in the US for the first time – and the Kodiaq could be the first car to make the trip across the Atlantic. “ We have our thumbs on the pulse of the American market,” said Maier. “The US accounts for 25 per cent of the global car market; we’d be crazy to keep ignoring that. There is definite…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer 364,817 £40 PER BAG TO CLEAN UP BAGS OF LITTER SINCE 2013 £40 PER BAG TO CLEAN UP Source: Highways England “Total bill could be higher when local roads across UK are considered” LITTERING motorists on England’s motorways and A-roads have cost taxpayers £14.5million over the past three years. Exclusive figures obtained by Auto Express revealed that over 364,000 bags of rubbish have been collected since 2013. According to data from Highways England, roadside crews have picked up over 333 sacks of litter every day along the 4,300-mile Strategic Road Network, with an estimated cost of £40 for each bag collection – roughly equal to the price of fixing a pothole. It means taxpayers have shelled out more than £4.8m a year on cleaning up after motorists. The…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “It will use the same midmounted V12 engine and KERS system as coupé, developing 950bhp” SVO facility to bring bespoke touch to smaller JLR models JAGUAR Land Rover is planning to offer bespoke customised vehicles based on its smaller models, following the opening of a purpose-built facility for its Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. The new HQ, built on the former site of Peugeot’s factory in Ryton, Coventry, includes a state-of-the-art paint shop that can match any colour or shade and a suite for customers to configure and commission cars. But the facility also has the capacity to produce fully customised versions of other models – and JLR Special Operations managing director John Edwards told Auto Express this is likely to extend to the likes of the Range…

Next Mégane RS to target ’Ring record RENAULTSPORT is aiming to smash the front-wheel-drive lap record at Germany’s Nürburgring race track, currently held by the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport (tested on Page 40), with the new Mégane RS, due in 2018. Renaultsport boss Patrice Ratti told Auto Express: “We’ll have to save [the record attempt] for the next Mégane.” Previously, an insider had hinted fourwheel drive was being considered for the car, but Ratti’s comments confirm the Golf GTI rival (previewed in our exclusive image, above) will stick with front-wheel drive. Hyundai’s Prius rival starts at under £20k FOLLOWING the Geneva Motor Show debut of the all-new Ioniq eco hatch, Hyundai has announced full UK pricing. The Toyota Prius rival starts at £19,995 in hybrid form, with order books open…