Innholdsfortegnelse for 1434 i Auto Express

ARE we sleepwalking into a road safety disaster of our own making? The reduction in numbers of specialist road policing officers due to funding cuts is well documented – down from 7,104 to 4,356 in England and Wales between 2010 and 2014. With the number of offences detected on the road also dropping significantly, the Home Office seems satisfied the available resource is sufficient. But speak to an officer at the sharp end, as I did last week, and the story is somewhat different. Morale is at a very low ebb as cutbacks hit hard, and it could have serious consequences for motorists. In a wide-ranging chat, the officer, who didn’t want to be named for obvious reasons, gave example after example of how the service the police force provides…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “A 220kW battery powers 130kW motor on each rear wheel” AS the next Micra takes shape (Page 12), Nissan has given a further hint that it could produce a radical electric sports car by unveiling a new development of its BladeGlider racer. A pair of new show cars are being displayed in two configurations at an event in Brazil to mark the start of the Rio Olympic Games. They represent a clear evolution from the original BladeGlider, which made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, by including a fully electric powertrain and a more realistic cabin – although the distinctive three-seat layout remains. Nissan says the new BladeGlider is “an exciting, real-life study into the potential of advanced EV performance”. The car is fully electric,…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Essentials Alpina B4 Convertible Price: £62,950 Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyl twin-turbo Power/torque: 404bhp/600Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.5 seconds Top speed: 187mph Economy: 37mpg CO2: 177g/km ON SALE Now ALPINA has been applying its unique touch to BMWs for 51 years and the new B4 Convertible is its take on the drop-top M4. It costs from £62,950, which makes it £1,790 more than its BMW counterpart – so the obvious question is why would you buy a lesser known, more expensive alternative? While the Alpina’s rarity will appeal to some, the convertible’s real strength is how it convincingly blends performance with refinement. Rather than start with an M4 as a base, the manufacturer takes the softer 440i and tweaks everything from the engine to the aerodynamics to…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ Caterham 310S Price: £24,995 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol Power/torque: 152bhp/168Nm Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive 0-60mph: 4.8 seconds Top speed: 126mph Economy: N/A CO2: N/A ON SALE Now Verdict THE new Caterham Seven 310 is the sweet spot in the iconic range, with just the right amount of power for everyday use. It blends this with addictive classic Caterham traits that make the 310S a beautifully balanced and engaging two-seater. Simply, it’s a brilliant British sports car – long may it continue. FOLLOWING a range-wide overhaul last year, there’s now yet another variant of Caterham’s venerable Seven sports car. It’s called the Seven 310, and although it looks the same as most Caterhams with its dinky dimensions, its differentiated by what’s underneath the bonnet. The Seven range can…

Graham_Hope@dennis.co.uk Second opinion “The Sorento’s fuel economy isn’t anything to write home about, but you wouldn’t get any better from a Land Rover Discovery. The Kia really is a cutprice rival to the British seven-seat SUV, offering similar equipment for much less cash.” Sean Carson Senior road tester Essentials Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-3 Auto AWD On fleet since: September 2015 Price new: £37,550 Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 197bhp CO2/tax: 174g/km/£205 Options: Metallic paint (£595) Insurance*: Group: 26 Quote: £731 Mileage/mpg: 8,348/27.2mpg Any problems? None so far *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. Verdict THE longer I spend with the Kia, the more it impresses. It has an answer to every question I’ve asked of it, whether off road or on…

NEW PRODUCT RoadHawk Vision dash cam Price: £149.95 Contact: 01208 269159, www.roadhawk.co.u THIS WEEK’S HOT KIT “App lets drivers review and download 1296p HD footage from the cam on to their phone” THE dash cam market seems to expand by the week, with every product that launches looking to offer something new and different. The latest to arrive is the RoadHawk Vision, featuring a bespoke app to control and review footage. This works on iOS and Android, and lets drivers review and download 1296p Super HD footage from the cam on to their phone using built-in Wi-Fi. It’s made clearer by a High Dynamic Range (HDR) and advanced low-light sensor. The app also allows the driver to change the camera settings wirelessly. Things such as the field of vision –…

Essentials Aston Martin DB11 Price: £154,900 Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 Power: 600bhp Torque: 700Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.9 seconds Top speed: 200mph Econ./CO2: 25mpg (est)/265g/km (est) ON SALE Now James_Disdale@dennis.co.uk “It’s Aston’s first genuinely all-new model in 13 years; this flagship GT truly is a clean-sheet exercise” IT’S been a long time coming, but finally Aston Martin’s DB11 has landed. We’ve been teased by the static models on motor show stands, and even had a brief spin in a disguised prototype (Issue 1,420), but this is the first time we’ve been let loose on the road in what’s arguably the British brand’s most important new car in a generation. Designed as a replacement for the venerable DB9, the DB11 is Aston’s first genuinely all-new model in 13…

BLACK-box data has successfully defended a driver who had been blamed for an accident by a third party. The Insure The Box policyholder refuted the claims, and the insurer took the case all the way to court – Wandsworth County Court in southwest London – where Deputy District Judge McKenzie heard the case. Both parties presented starkly different versions of events, including the timing and how the accident unfolded. The third party alleged the collision occurred when the Insure The Box customer emerged at speed from a narrow side road, and with a burst tyre, at approximately 10.45pm. While the policyholder admitted there had been a collision, he alleged it occurred in a different place and time, and as a result of the third party driving in his lane. Detailed…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “UK is home to more than 2,000 component manufacturers that contribute £4.3bn to the economy” IT’S remarkable the difference three millimetres can make. By cleverly engineering this tiny gap between the carbon fibre trim surrounding the titanium and steel exhausts, it’s possible to prevent the carbon fibre from heating above 150 degrees Celsius, even when the exhaust itself glows to 600 degrees. The development allowed Red Arch – an engineering company based in Northamptonshire – to be the first in the world to produce carbon fibre exhaust trims, and in the process, secure a lucrative deal with BMW. The trim can now be found on the latest M2, M3 and M4, along with the MINI John Cooper Works, and stands as another unheralded victory for British engineering. Red…

Essentials DS 3 Cabrio Performance Black Price: £24,795 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo Power: 207bhp/300Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds Top speed: 143mph Economy: 52.3mpg CO2: 125g/km ON SALE Now Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ “Throttle response has a soft edge, but DS 3 sounds the part, with a bassy rumble from twin tailpipes” HOT hatchbacks represent some of the biggest bargains on sale today, combining performance with practicality at an affordable price. But what happens if you roll up all these traits and add a convertible roof, premium badge and plenty of style into the package? MINI has proven there’s a market for this kind of car in the UK with its Cooper S Convertible, and now French brand DS wants to show it can cut it in the world…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Essentials Ford Fiesta ST200 Price: £22,745 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo petrol Power/torque: 197bhp/290Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6.7 seconds Top speed: 143mph Economy: 46.3mpg CO2: 140g/km ON SALE Now Verdict TO all intents and purposes, the Ford Fiesta ST200 is a brilliant car. It’s faster and even sweeter to drive than the standard hot hatch, while the extra kit adds a layer of glitter to the already smartly styled supermini. But no matter how you look at it, the £3,000 premium is a lot to spend, considering aftermarket tuners will do a similar job for 20 per cent of the price. Mountune’s official upgrade even retains Ford’s factory warranty. PERFORMANCE fans wanting the ultimate hot hatch have long been pointed in the direction of Ford’s brilliant…

Company cars under £15,000 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI (90) Match 5dr Price: £14,735 P11D price/2016/17 charge: £14,680/18% Engine/power: 1.2-litre 4cyl/89bhp CO2/official economy: 107g/km/60.1mpg 0-62mph/top speed: 10.8 secs/114mph NOT only is the Volkswagen Polo our favourite supermini, it’s also a fine choice for business users on a budget. With its mix of refinement, comfort and a classy image, this is a company car that proves you don’t have to downgrade when you downsize. The 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine delivers eager performance and is linked to a five-speed box that’s great to use, as it offers slick shifts and makes the most of the engine’s torquey power delivery. Even better is the chassis, which has a fine balance between fun handling and comfort. But the best thing about the Polo in Match…

Second opinion ”The Passat Estate is already proving its worth as a practical family car. Darren’s model features the £290 Cargo Management System, which adds four tie-down points, plus luggage nets, a dog guard and boot liners, to add even more versatility.” Sean Carson Senior Road tester Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Essentials Volkswagen Passat Estate SE Business TDI On fleet since: March 2016 Price new: £26,595 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 148bhp CO2/tax: 107g/km/£20 Options: Discover Navigation Pro (£825), Vienna leather (£1,815), Dynamic Chassis Control (£715), XDS electronic diff (£185), tyre pressure sensor (£135), Driver Assistance Pack (£1,110), rear view camera (£315), keyless entry (£600), Cargo Management System (£290), advanced phone connection (£360), rear sunblinds (£90), Sand Gold paint (£585) Insurance*: Group: 21E Quote: £434 Mileage/mpg: 3,068/35.9mpg Any problems? None so far *Insurance quote…

“The A4 offers an overall package that many rivals can’t beat, with superb usability and efficient engines” Lights XENON headlights are fitted to a lot of these A4s; they’re standard on S line models. Replacement costs are high, though, so check they’re in good order. Oil SOME engines suffer from high oil consumption, especially the fourcylinder units. They can use up to a litre of oil every 1,000 miles. Wheels BEWARE of big wheels, such as these 19-inch alloys. They damage an already-hard ride, plus they’re kerbed all too easily. Parking SUPPLY issues led to Audi dropping its parking sensors from some models for a while. They’re essential to avoid scuffed bumpers. Interior PACKED with high-quality materials, the A4’s interior is well laid-out and easy to use, and most cars…

“Car has been fast-tracked for production, after European buyers rejected current model’s interior and refinement” Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Current Micra (right) has not proven a sales hit, with criticism of its quality and refinement OPINION John McIlroy Deputy editor, Auto Express NISSAN dealers in the UK can’t wait for the new Micra to arrive – and with good reason, because the existing car has not been considered a success. At the fourth-generation model’s launch in 2011, Nissan promised that even as a ‘global car’ – made in Thailand and Indonesia instead of Sunderland – it could have the sort of premium feel and build quality that had made previous Micras so popular with British buyers. This, we were told, was why Nissan had decided to keep the Micra name on the…

“Diagnostics expert checked David’s Wi-Fi equipment, and found the culprit – a transmitter for his Sky TV” WE’RE surrounded by wireless technology these days – and not just for cable-free access to the Internet. From beaming your favourite tunes to your in-car stereo, to keyless entry for your car, it’s all made possible by a wireless system. So is it any wonder signals can get crossed? However, that was small consolation to serial Subaru owner David Newton of Chipping Norton, Oxon. He told Auto Express he was infuriated by a problem on the security system of his 2015 Subaru Levorg, which the firm was blaming on frequency interference near his house. David explained: “I’d only owned the car a few weeks when the problems started. Every time I moved my…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Essentials Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Price: £114,115 Engine: 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 Power/torque: 577bhp/900Nm Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.1 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 28.0mpg CO2: 234g/km ON SALE Now WE drove the facelifted Mercedes SL in the UK back in May (Issue 1,422). The V8-powered SL 500 is the mainstay of the roadster range, and has featured in the line-up in one form or another for more than three decades. However, if 4.7 litres and 449bhp aren’t quite enough for you, you’ll want to know how the firebreathing AMGfettled SL 63 fares on British roads. On paper, the sizeable power jump to 577bhp seems somewhat trivial when all it appears to offer is a marginal gain in acceleration (0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, versus 4.3 seconds for…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan Essentials Ford S-MAX Vignale 2.0 TDCi 180 Price: £33,395 Engine: 2.0 4cyl turbodiesel Power/torque: 178bhp/400Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62/top spd: 9.7 secs/131mph Economy: 56.5mpg CO2: 129g/km ON SALE Now Verdict YOU can see Ford’s intent with its Vignale models, but the S-MAX will likely hold limited appeal to buyers. It’s not convincing enough as a luxury product, while cheaper Titanium spec is just as good to drive, nearly as nice to sit in and, crucially, has the same practicality for less cash. If the posh dealer experience and classy add-ons appeal, however, this diesel version would be our pick. WITH its new Vignale brand, Ford is attempting to elevate its mainstream family cars into the premium territory occupied by Audi and BMW. The S-MAX is the…

SOFT-top SUVs aren’t exactly common, but in creating the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible, Land Rover hopes to follow the regular car’s meteoric sales by adding an extra dimension to the experience. With summer in full swing, it’s time to see if this niche model makes sense. After all, aside from some utilitarian 4x4s, it’s the UK’s first convertible SUV, and has caused controversy as Land Rover tries to satisfy buyers’ growing demands. It doesn’t have any direct rivals, but with prices from £47,500, it sits in the firing line of another new open-top four-seater, the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet. While this is a traditional drop-top based on a coupé, Mercedes offers it with 4WD. Factor in diesel power, and it’s closer to the Evoque than initial impressions would suggest. So…

Ford S-MAX OUR Ford S-MAX has been in high demand with a number of Auto Express staffers requesting the keys for airport runs, weddings and summer parties. This month it’s been drafted in to carry just two people down to the Helford River in Cornwall, for a week of sailing and cycling. It was for the latter in particular that news editor Richard Ingram grabbed the keys, as few cars on our fleet have enough room for two road bikes and all the associated kit, plus a couple of suitcases. The Ford fitted the brief perfectly, and with all five rear seats folded, the bikes slotted neatly in the back. There’s loads of room up front, too, with the comfortable leather seats proving perfect for long motorway stints. Once down…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 2016 Results C4 Cactus Factfile Years: 2014 to present CO2: 100g/km Fuel economy: 66mpg (1.2 PureTech 110 Feel) Best features: Parking camera, Bluetooth, sat-nav, touchscreen, air-conditioning, cruise control Prices: From £8,500 OVERALL SCORE 88.13% Bars show where model finished out of 150 cars in our 2016 survey. The lower the rating the better GOOD “I LOVE the quirkiness of the C4 Cactus’s overall design and the brilliant, economical running costs.” “My car has lived up to expectations, from the way it drives to fuel consumption and technical gadgets.” “It’s simply an excellent car; looks good, efficient, roomy, comfortable and a lot of fun to drive.” “I smile every single time I get in it.” “Comfortable and fun to drive, with helpful technology.” “Excellent value for…