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“Front grille has been carried over from the Discovery Sport almost unchanged” “Evolutionary design shows a wider stance, with sharper air intakes” THIS is our first official look at the brand-new Land Rover Discovery, ahead of its launch later this month. It’s the fifth incarnation of the popular offroader, and is expected to offer previously unseen levels of luxury when it goes on sale next year, priced from around £45,000. JLR says the new Discovery embodies Land Rover’s drive to go “Above and beyond, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure”. The single head-on teaser image shows a development of the recognisable face first seen on the Discovery Sport. However, the evolutionary design shows a wider stance, sharper air intakes and a defined scuff plate. The grille is…

Final LaFerrari to help quake victims FERRARI has confirmed it will build a 500th example of its LaFerrari hypercar after the initial production run of 499 ended in 2015. The new 950bhp hypercar (above) will be auctioned off by Ferrari, with the proceeds donated to charity to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy, which has claimed the lives of nearly 300 people. It’s not clear how much will be raised, but used examples are fetching over £2.5m. Scots follow suit with scrap changes SCOTLAND has introduced new legislation that brings its scrapping laws in line with England and Wales. As of 1 September, scrapyards have been banned from giving motorists cash to recycle their cars. The Air Weapons and Licensing Bill demands owners looking to shift motors…

Porsche’s 542bhp Panamera driven ARGUABLY the most controversial Porsche has been updated for 2017. The Panamera gets a curvier body, updated engines, greater comfort and a new, state-of-the-art interior. We drive the diesel on Page 34, but the 542bhp V8 petrol Turbo is one of the fastest saloons around. Senior staff writer Sean Carson travelled to Germany to try the new four-door flier. See what he thought in our video. Our man’s huge US hire car reviewed! THE Auto Express team never stops – even when they’re on holiday! When editor-in-chief Steve Fowler went to the US for his summer break, nobody expected him to review his hire car. But that’s exactly what he did. Log on to YouTube to see Steve’s vlog on the massive Dodge Durango. You can…

“It’s becoming harder to keep track of microcars, partly because of their growing value as collectors take note” “I started the Register of Unusual Micro Cars for owners to record their cars’ details. If somebody else had a similar car, we could put them in touch” JEAN HAMMOND Hammond Microcar Collection THEmodel that helped saved BMW, a car that caused Sir Stirling Moss to start legal proceedings and the vehicle produced by manufacturers of Germany’s famous WW2 fighter plane. They’re three big stories belonging to some of the smallest cars around, but in the world of microcars, size really doesn’t matter. The dinky runabouts were a common sight on UK roads in the fifties and sixties as the budget list price helped postwar families get mobile. But the public fell…

MINI purists may have struggled to warm to this second-generation Clubman, but the small estate has taken on a new level of maturity that allows it to challenge the accomplished German establishment. However, to really compete, MINI needs to further explore the niches that rivals like the Mercedes A-Class and Audi A3 are offering – which is why you can now buy a Clubman with all-wheel drive. We’ve already driven the Clubman ALL4 in diesel Cooper SD form (Issue 1,422) and concluded that while it is very competent, it demands sacrifices in price and fuel economy that mean most people will be better off with the standard car. Here, we’re sampling the system with petrol power on UK roads, which also gives us a chance to try the hot Cooper…

MODEL TESTED: Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 BlueHDi EAT6 Flair PRICE: £28,160 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 118bhp Testers’ notes “The Citroen’s sheer size makes it easier to live with than its rivals. Its body is longer, while the doors are bigger – factor in the useful, wide range of adjustment for the middle seats, and strapping children into the back should be a relatively easy job. Three Isofix child seat mounting points in the middle row is a big boon, while the large standard-fit power tailgate and low bumper make it easy to load luggage.” James Disdale Chief reviewer CITROEN is hoping a round of minor updates will keep its Grand C4 Picasso at the top of the MPV sector. However, the car has a raft of new rivals snapping at…

Results 1 ST CITROEN THE Grand C4 Picasso takes victory again. It’s the most versatile MPV here, which makes it incredibly easy to live with. On top of this it has strong performance and fine ride comfort, while even the 1.6-litre diesel auto powertrain doesn’t feel too stretched with seven on board. Add low running costs, competitive PCP deals and its individual design, and the Citroen stretches its winning margin. 2ND VOLKSWAGEN IF you need a people carrier but still want to enjoy driving, the Touran balances the two superbly, thanks to its sharp chassis and sweet manual gearchange. However, it’s not as fast as the C4 Picasso, or as comfortable. It will only be slightly more costly to own than the Citroen, so it should still be cheap to…

MODEL TESTED: Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra S line S tronic PRICE: £39,375 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 187bhp Testers’ notes “The ratios of Audi’s seven-speed auto box have clearly been designed with Germany’s derestricted autobahns in mind. The first five gears are closely and evenly spread, but sixth and seventh are essentially overdrive ratios. As a result, the A6 feels extremely lethargic at 70mph in seventh, when the engine is spinning off boost at just 1,400rpm. Still, the transmission’s shifts are usually swift and seamless.” James Disdale Chief reviewer THE Audi A6 Avant is a hugely desirable addition to any corporate car park, particularly in efficient ultra guise. Featuring strong economy, a roomy interior and sleek style, this is a family car that appeals to the head and heart.…

“Luke said interior has a ‘high-quality and solid feel’, but Ibiza’s best feature OUR SEAT Ibiza is leaving the Auto Express fleet with nine months of service under its belt. In that time, it’s served me well, whether it was on the commute to work, going shopping or meeting up with friends. Those things are exactly what you’d expect of a supermini like the Ibiza, especially as this updated model appeals to younger buyers with its extensive customisation options. But to find out just how good it is as a first car, I took my cousin Luke, who’s just passed his driving test, for a spin. First impressions were good, with Luke complimenting the car’s styling. “I like the aggressive-looking headlights and the creases down the sides of the car,”…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Finding a long enough hose I’VE just moved and for the first time I have an outside tap, but it is at the back for the garden, and I can only wash my car on the drive at the front. Is there a hose long enough to reach? Jonny O’Connor, E-mail A YOU don’t say how far the hose needs to reach, but the Hozelock retractable (above) was the Recommended choice in our most recent test (Issue 1,322) and has a 40-metre hose (www.hozelock.com. The range includes a 50-metre free-standing reel, and you can always attach additional hoses to reach. Q New tyres on front or back? WHEN I asked a dealer to replace the front tyres on my car, it fitted the new…

“Testing was initially limited to 30,000 miles a year, then further restricted to cut costs” “Renault supercomputer can do 45 trillion calculations per second, and has 5,000 times the memory of most laptops” “The driver simulator doesn’t feel quite like a real car; it doesn’t have quite the same cues for the driver, so it’s still important to carry out testing on a track” Nick Chester Chassis technical director, Renault Sport F1 EVEN a casual Formula One fan will be familiar with the routine of a race weekend: free practice on Friday, qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday. But what goes on between events? How do the teams design and develop the machines that Hamilton, Rosberg and co do battle in over 21 weekends a year – especially…

“The OX is for rural areas in developing countries, and can be built on site, indoors or outdoors. What’s not to love?” DURING my scores of visits to Asia and Africa over a third of a century, I’ve always tried to tread lightly – and give back at least as much as I’ve taken. For example, a couple of decades ago, the then new Jeep Wrangler I was testing, plus the Thai Army aiding and abetting me, selfishly combined to disturb the peace of the local tribe living among the mountains of Northern Thailand. But we – that’s driver, Detroit-based manufacturer plus the military – at least got stuck in and helped compensate the locals by rebuilding a crucially important bridge for them and their animals. \ On my trips…

“The overall stance of the Kodiaq is stronger and more angular than we’ve seen in the Yeti” SKODA has enjoyed strong crossover sales with its Yeti – and now the firm has turned towards larger models by launching its first full-size SUV, the Kodiaq. A rival for everything from the Hyundai Santa Fe to the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Kodiaq is a five and seven-seat 4x4 that’s due on sale in early 2017, promising to trump rivals on list price and loadspace. The new model is 4,700mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm tall; those figures are a few millimetres shorter, wider and taller than the Santa Fe, but importantly, Skoda’s offering has a wheelbase that’s 91mm longer than its rival’s, at 2,791mm. The overall stance of the Kodiaq is…

Ultimate Macan gets power boost PORSCHE is spicing up its hottest Macan, the Turbo, with a new Performance Package (above). The upgrade boosts the 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 from 394bhp to 433bhp, while torque rises by 50Nm to 600Nm. That means the SUV can do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds – four-tenths faster than a standard Turbo. The package also brings beefier front brakes, lowered suspension, a sports exhaust and the Sport Chrono pack for a £5,500 premium. Code of conduct for car sales and finance A NEW code has been introduced by industry body Motor Codes to protect buyers of new and used cars, as well as those taking out finance and warranties. The Vehicle Sales Code has been added in response to the growing number of enquiries by consumers since…

HALF a million drivers in the UK could face higher bills as the Government looks to close a company car tax loophole. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has proposed tax reforms on salary sacrifice schemes which enable employees to reduce annual salaries in favour of perks such as cars. Schemes have grown by a third in the last five years in part due to generous tax breaks by the Government for low-emissions cars. The system is beneficial to employees, as they pay less in tax on the car than on their salary. Employers also benefit by paying less in National Insurance contributions. The new consultation looks to reverse the trend by closing the tax gap and raising millions more for HMRC. The tax hikes would not affect other benefit-inkind packages…

Director of Research at Thatcham Research (www.thatcham.org/car-safety TWO-thirds of all cars in the UK are bought second-hand, yet recent research suggests just four per cent of drivers put safety at the top of their buying criteria. It could be car buyers don’t think good levels of safety are achievable on used cars, but it’s time to think again. In fact, used cars are safer than they’ve ever been, and the good news is if the car is under six years old, you can still rely on the original Euro NCAP rating as a guide. The requirements for a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating on new cars are changed every few years to reflect advances in tech. This encourages manufacturers to keep up with the best technology, and means we are…

“Optima can’t match the 3 Series for fun, but it’s more than a match for the Mondeo or Insignia” LAST week (Issue 1,437) we delivered our verdict on Kia’s sleek new Optima Sportswagon – a practical estate version of the Optima saloon – in mid-spec 3 trim. But what if you want a more luxurious model with an automatic gearbox? Well, this posh GT Line S model with the sevenspeed DCT could be just the ticket. Commanding a huge £4,700 premium over the like-for-like 3-spec car, this rangetopping GT Line S aims to take the fight to established compact executive cars like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. It’s certainly got the looks to match the fleet favourites, but can it compete on kit, costs and handling? While the…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Touran 16 TDI SE Family PRICE: £26,745 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 108bhp Testers’ notes “If you’re looking to buy an automatic Touran, VW’s seven-speed DSG is available for an extra £1,300. The big benefit this brings is reduced CO2 emissions of 111g/km, which drops the car’s Benefit in Kind rate to 22 per cent. It’ll save business users an extra £107 in company car tax. Plus, the DSG model has stronger predicted residuals of 41.5 per cent, so should depreciate by around £300 less over three years.” James Disdale Chief reviewer MPV sales have suffered over recent years, as larger, more stylish crossovers have muscled in on people carrier territory. However, VW’s Touran offers a premium image with thoughtful design and decent driving dynamics. In the £26,745 1.6…

Deals & discounts Facts, figures and advice powered by carbuyer.co.uk carbuyer.co.uk THE A6 Avant has been around for five years now, so it’s no real surprise that Audi has some tempting finance offers on the table. For instance, if you put down a £6,000 deposit the dealer will match this amount, making it possible to get an 2.0 TDI ultra S line S tronic like ours on your driveway for £366 a month. The three-year deal brings a reasonable 3.9 per cent APR, an annual limit of 10,000 miles and an optional final payment of £17,094. Volvo hasn’t been quite so generous with the all-new V90, but you can still expect an attractive dealer deposit contribution of £2,447. A higher APR of 6.9 per cent means even an entry-level D4…

Dear Lawrence, I’m after a petrol-powered, automatic SUV with easy access and a light-coloured interior. Do you have any options for around £25k? Robert Eastwood, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk Honda CR-V FOR: Well built and spacious with huge boot AGAINST: Handling, thirsty, pricey IF you’re after an easy-to-drive SUV, the Honda CR-V is a solid, if unexciting, choice. It looks sharp enough outside, and while the interior is a little dull, it’s very practical as well as pretty sturdy. It lacks outright driving enjoyment but is smooth and simple on the road; the car is relatively quiet at speed, while the nine-speed automatic gearbox changes nicely. We spotted a 2015 CR-V 2.0 EX auto with 14,500 miles on the clock for £23,500. THE Honda’s dash is typically solid and sensible, but…

PEUGEOT is turning its back on the traditional MPV, and here are the official pictures to prove it. This is the all-new 5008, which Peugeot has transformed into a large, seven-seat SUV. The firm describes it as “the first SUV to offer modularity on a par with that of the best people carriers”. On the outside it’s a radical departure from the old MPV, but it shares a resemblance to the smaller 3008. The butch front end is a beefier version of that seen on its smaller brother, while a bold shoulder line and rugged lower body cladding give it that all-important SUV styling. A chunky rear overhang and squared-off rear end hint at the huge amount of space on offer inside. The dash, also adapted from the 3008, uses…

AFTER releasing design sketches last week (Issue 1,437), Kia has revealed official images of the all-new Rio supermini ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The new Ford Fiesta rival is longer, lower and wider than the car it replaces, and will go on sale towards the end of the year, priced from around £11,000. The overall design isn’t a radical departure from the look of the outgoing Rio, but the new model has visibly smoother surfaces. Kia’s trademark ‘tiger nose’ grille is thinner and shorter, and joins into a set of reshaped headlamps, which also feature a new U-shaped LED lighting signature. Changes are less evident at the back, but new tail-lights feature an arrow-shaped LED signature. The rear overhang is shorter, while the…

BRITAIN’S car manufacturers are churning out new models at a record pace, with more than a million new cars produced in the first seven months of 2016, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Production levels have risen by 40 per cent in the last six years; the last time output surged past a million cars before August was in 2004. July’s output was up for the 12th consecutive month, with 125,566 cars built, taking the total to 1,023,723 for the year. Although July saw domestic demand up by 14 per cent, the majority of cars built in 2016 have been sold abroad. Nearly four out of five cars built in Britain are now exported. It’s great news for the economy and the automotive…

Contact Martin Saarinen HOT TOPIC Cadillac’s Escala FROM: LeventTaskan IT looks like a mix between the Pininfarina Cambiano and the Lexus LF-FC. I hope Cadillac doesn’t ruin it in the translation to the production model. I’m tired of Cadillacs that try to be muscle cars. Give me a little ostentation without veering into vulgar. FROM: antonyr THE well proportioned wheelbase creates that pouncing big cat stance. Beautiful. The interior is great and different from the ones you find in a Mercedes or BMW, both of which seem to think loads of brash, shiny woods and chrome is what buyers want. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “It’s weird; Cadillacs have been very stylish, but they struggle to sell in Europe. I wonder if this could be different.” Wiley ■ “It’s…

“The Panamera is probably the best-riding Porsche ever, but this isn’t at the expense of the handling” PORSCHE launched its original Panamera in the middle of a global recession. Despite that, it notched up more than 150,000 sales worldwide. For this second generation, the fourdoor saloon has been given a complete overhaul with an all-new platform, fresh engines and totally revised styling. Often criticised for its awkward lines, the latest version looks more like a stretched 911 than ever – and all the better for it. We’ve already driven the new Panamera in Turbo form (Issue 1,436), and were blown away by its ability to cover ground at mindboggling speed in complete comfort. We acclaimed its high-speed stability, hailing it as “effortless at 170mph as other cars are at 70mph”.…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 5008 1.6 BlueHDi EAT6 Allure PRICE: £27,030 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 118bhp Testers’ notes “There’s no hiding from the 5008’s ageing feel. Its design isn’t as innovative as rivals – the Peugeot can’t match the sense of fun and space of the Citroen, or the VW’s solidity. However, it won’t be long until a new 5008 arrives, reinventing itself as an SUV (see Page 18) to rival popular seven-seaters such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Land Rover Discovery rather than traditional MPVs.” James Disdale Chief reviewer PEUGEOT updated its 5008 MPV not long after the pre-facelift Grand C4 Picasso was launched, and although Peugeot’s seven-seater is based on an older design, the car we’re testing here uses the same 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine and six-speed automatic…

MODEL TESTED: Volvo V90 D4 Inscription PRICE: £37,555 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 187bhp Testers’ notes “The V90 gets the latest version of Volvo’s Pilot Assist adaptive cruise control. This clever semi-automous driving function will effectively drive the car for you at speeds of 80mph. In practice, it works remarkably smoothly and is only occasionally caught out by faded white road markings. However, it’s not totally hands-free as you have to keep a light hold on the steering so that it knows you’re still paying attention.” James Disdale Chief reviewer “Thoughtful details mark it out as a premium product“ VOLVO is hoping its new V90 estate can go one better than its S90 saloon, which narrowly lost out to the Mercedes E-Class on its test debut (Issue 1,426). Featuring the four-door…

NEW PRODUCT Sealey Paddy Hopkirk Tool Chests Price: From £599.94 Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk A COMPREHENSIVE tool kit is a great help if you’re doing your own car maintenance, and Sealey’s latest offerings come with the stamp of approval from the rally ace Paddy Hopkirk. The Northern Irishman proved to the world that the tiny Mini Cooper S was a brilliant rally car more than 50 years ago, and earned an OBE in the New Year’s Honours at the start of 2016 for his contributions to the world of motorsport. Now, Sealey has joined forces with Paddy and the team at Mini Sport to create the Paddy Hopkirk tool chest. Emblazoned with the 33 EJB number plate and the number 37 (from the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally-winning Mini), plus Paddy’s…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Is rear-drive a good idea? I’M thinking of buying an executive saloon, but am unsure about rear-wheel drive. A friend of mine sold her rear-wheel-drive car after it coped poorly in icy weather. Do cars with this layout handle worse in bad weather? Graham Pierce, E-mail A MODERN cars have come a long way in terms of traction control and driver aids. If you drive to suit the conditions and road surface, you shouldn’t lose control in a rear-wheel-drive car. In winter, we’d recommend fitting a set of winter or all-season tyres for extra reassurance. Q Why is my Skoda sluggish? THERE aren’t any mechanical faults with my 2.0-litre petrol Skoda Octavia, which I bought new in 2007. But it’s starting to feel…

WILLIAMS has become the focus of the 2017 Formula One driver market after Felipe Massa announced his retirement from the team and F1 racing ahead of last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Both McLaren’s Jenson Button and Williams development driver Alex Lynn (currently racing in the GP2 series) are possible contenders for the seat vacated by the Brazilian 11-time race winner – as are Force India’s Sergio Perez and Sauber’s Felipe Nasr, who has tested for Williams. There was no confirmation either way in the wake of Massa’s announcement, with Button telling reporters: “I would love to make this really exciting, but I have nothing else to say on my future at the moment.” The 2016 season finale at Abu Dhabi will be Massa’s 250th and final Grand Prix.…