Auto Express 1431

AS more car brands offer an increasing array of personalisation options – bespoke equals luxury (and more profit!) – there’s a real danger customers could be making choices they’ll regret. This week I was invited to Ingolstadt to give Audi’s chassis experts feedback in some backto-back tests. One of which was with the TTS. We’re big fans of the TT here; it was named Coupé of the Year at the Auto Express Awards just a few weeks ago. And I was asked to drive one with 19-inch wheels and another with some truly gorgeous 20-inch rims. Gorgeous, that was, until I drove the car. Here were two identical TTs with only an inch of difference in wheel diameter (and tyre brand) between them. I loved the car on 19s, but…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Exclusive images show evolutionary look for Mk2 Juke ■ New platform, step up in quality; hybrid version as well THE Nissan Juke was the pioneer of the baby SUV class, leading a wave of new models as rival manufacturers scrabbled to get their own offerings into showrooms. And now Nissan is almost ready to unleash the second generation of its trend-setter, bringing more refined and efficient engines and a much-needed hike in cabin quality. Our exclusive images show how the next Juke could evolve from the current model, instead of taking a completely different path. Well placed sources within Nissan point out that the car still sells over 100,000 examples a year globally. Nissan’s chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura has revealed the next generation will remain “edgy and…

Exclusive image shows new Q7-based luxury SUV Mixes sporty looks with higher-tech five-seat cabin EXCLUSIVE IMAGE Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler AUDI is planning to launch a luxurious five-seat SUV called Q8 as a sister car to its A8 limo, according to the firm’s CEO, and our exclusive image shows how it could look. The premium brand has been developing a number of high-end additions to its range, including a fully electric crossover that’s due on sale in 2018. But Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has now confirmed that an additional ‘Q’ model is being planned for launch in the same period, to be positioned above the Q7 in its line-up and aimed at luxury buyers who would otherwise choose a Range Rover Sport or a BMW X6 over an A8. Stadler said: “The…

More dramatic look and tech for new executive models Exclusive image reveals how A6 will take cues from Prologue concept Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler AUDI will overhaul all of its big saloons over the next two years, bringing hi-tech developments to the A8 and A7 and making the next generation of A6 one of the most radical offerings in the large executive class. Our exclusive preview of the A6 shows how Audi is planning to make its saloon car styling more emotional, drawing inspiration from everything from racing yachts to 2014’s Prologue concept. Design boss Marc Lichte has been briefed to deliver a range of cars that are still clearly Audis, but which have greater differences between them. The first of the trio to break cover will be the new version of…

Concern over unsecured Wi-Fi Card details could be stolen Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer DEALERS must tighten up cyber security to prevent their customers’ credit card details and personal data from being accessed by hackers, according to experts. Wireless tech used for Internet, printers and even kettles provides cyber criminals with opportunities to illegally access private information about customers held by dealers. It’s a growing issue, too, with the Government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches survey revealing 74 per cent of small businesses reported a hack in the last year. One dealer was recently forced to pay out to unlock its business data after hackers used the firm’s guest Wi-Fi system and accessed the main server and its personal records. William Taaffe, cyber security expert at RDS, said: “Everyone loves convenience, but it comes…

INFINITI is pressing on with a new line-up of hot S-badged models, which could pave the way for even more extreme cars engineered by sister brands Renaultsport or Nismo. Infiniti president Roland Krueger explained: “There is a little red S on the Q60, and you will find it going forward on all our performance vehicles.” The Q50 S saloon will take on BMW’s M3 when it debuts next month, just before the Q60 arrives in showrooms. A third Infiniti likely to get the S treatment is the new QX50 SUV, which will be based on the QX Sport Inspiration concept (below, right), first unveiled at April’s Beijing Motor Show. But the addition of S models won’t be the only change in terms of how Infinitis are branded. “We will have…