Innholdsfortegnelse for 1439 i Auto Express

Retro Caterham swings in for 60th CATERHAM has released an exclusive version of its iconic sports car, called the Seven Sprint. It marks 60 years of Seven production – which the brand celebrates next year – and is inspired by a model that was planned to debut in the sixties, but never launched. Only 60 examples of the Sprint will be made available in the UK and European markets, each priced from £27,995. The car was showcased at the Goodwood Revival last weekend. Careless owners key to thefts rise NEARLY half of all Brits leave their car keys with a stranger at least once a year, according to a study by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, while reported incidents of car theft have risen by eight per cent…

“The five-door A5 Sportback retains the hatchback boot of the outgoing model, giving it added practicality” AUDI has revealed official images of the all-new A5 Sportback prior to its debut at the Paris Motor Show this month. Full details on the racy S5 Sportback have also been announced. The car’s design is as expected, with a front end that’s identical to the standard A5 Coupé. But viewed in profile, the Sportback appears to be much curvier than the A4 saloon on which it’s based. The swooping profile, rising shoulder line and wider wheelarches help to give it a sportier appearance. The five-door Sportback retains the hatchback layout from the outgoing model, which gives it an advantage when it comes to practicality over the booted coupé and the A4 saloon. Meanwhile,…

■ Experts and affected parties have their say on Colin’s case BMW PARK LANE: When Colin first tried to return the car, the dealer wrote to say: “…you have visited the business and therefore this will not be regarded as a distance sale”. But it later ditched this argument, and instead claimed the finance deal, made on site, ruled out any distance selling rights. MOTOR CODES: The industry arbitrator’s spokesman said: “If the consumer decides to cancel the finance agreement within the cooling off period specified in the finance agreement, he will need to find alternative means to pay for the vehicle in question. Of course, if the cooling off period for the sale with the dealer was longer, and it accepted his cancellation, the dealer would refund the money…

Model tested: Suzuki Vitara 1.6 DDiS ALLGRIP SZ5 Price: £22,049 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 118bhp Testers’ notes “Its glossy screen can be a little difficult to see in bright sunlight, but the Vitara’s multimedia package is the slickest of this trio. Touchscreen infotainment is common these days, yet the Dacia’s system shows not every maker can integrate them as well as Suzuki. The SsangYong’s unit requires a few more button presses for routine commands, whereas flicking through different functions in the Vitara is the easiest.” James Disdale Chief reviewer IF you want a Suzuki Vitara with the maker’s ALLGRIP four-wheel-drive system, you’ll have to go for the higher-spec SZ5 model, which costs £22,049. This is more than both its rivals, but the car goes some way to squaring the price gap…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Passat GTE Advance PRICE: £40,180 ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 215bhp Testers’ notes “While the BMW’s hybrid set-up encourages you to leave it to its own devices, the VW’s is more hands-on. Select GTE mode for extra performance, or ask the petrol engine to recharge the batteries on the move – although this does dent economy. However, we found in Hybrid mode the Passat was reluctant to use electric power, even when there was plenty of charge. For zero-emissions running, we had to select the correct mode manually.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Testers’ notes “The Passat GTE is also available in estate guise for £1,550 more. However, unlike its four-door cousin, the load carrier demands no practicality compromises, as it boasts the same large 650-litre boot as the normal…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Should dealer fix flywheel? I BOUGHT a 2010 Vauxhall Insignia in August. A week later the dual mass flywheel failed and now needs replacing. The dealer I bought it from isn’t being helpful. What are my rights? Richard Bonny, E-mail A FLYWHEELS are a wear and tear item, so even if you have an extended warranty on the car it’s unlikely to cover repairs. If the dealer advertised the car as being mechanically sound, you may have a case under the Consumer Rights Act for compensation given the car was “not as described”. Q Cost-per-mile conundrum I AM rejecting my four-month-old Jaguar XF. I’ve done 4,500 miles, and my dealer says it will reduce 70p for every mile from the original price to…

MERCEDES will turn to one of its most iconic models for inspiration when it launches its all-new GLB 4x4 in 2019. The GLB will sit between the GLA and GLC in the firm’s SUV line-up, but rather than looking like a scaled-up version of the brand’s current small SUV, it will become the baby sibling to the G-Class – or G-Wagen as it is still affectionately known. The original 4x4 has been around since 1979 and has continued to perform well in the sales charts, despite its leisurely rate of development since arriving 37 years ago. With entry-level G-Class models nudging almost £90,000, the new GLB will usher in a more accessible price point for those looking for a rugged and boxy SUV. Our exclusive images give you an idea…

Deputy editor, Auto Express Small SUVs spell end for mini-MPV HYUNDAI’S decision to focus on an i20 SUV instead of a new ix20 is a further blow for the mini-MPV market. Small MPVs like the ix20 and the Vauxhall Meriva were conceived for young families, but they were adopted by older buyers instead. Then small SUVs arrived, offering a reasonable amount of space and a higher ‘H-point’ – car industryspeak for the height of the base of the driver’s seat. Older customers have found it easier to slide in and out of small SUVs, and younger buyers find them more appealing too. The net result is that mini-MPV sales have gone through the floor. Vauxhall is replacing the Meriva with a higher-riding vehicle and Ford insiders admit the B-MAX has…

“According to the Home Office, deliberate vehicle fires have fallen by 83 per cent in the last 16 years” MORE than a third of the 54,445 vehicle fires in Britain in the last three years were started deliberately, an exclusive investigation by Auto Express has found. The 51 fire and rescue services attended an average of 18,148 car fires a year, putting out nearly 50 torched vehicles a day with 35.8 per cent deliberately started since 2013. West Yorkshire had the highest number of deliberate fires, at 1,967 over three years. Nearly two-thirds of all the car fires that West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) attended were ignited on purpose. Ian Bitcon, area manager for fire safety at WYFRS, explained the majority of deliberate vehicle fires often involve old,…

James Batchelor James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Honda versus VW in hatch drag battle DRAG races are back at Auto Express! We kicked off with a race between the Jaguar F-Type SVR and Porsche 911 Turbo, and now we pitch the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S against the Honda Civic Type R. It’s not just a battle between two hot hatches; the Honda will want to regain some pride after the GTI took its crown as the fastest front-drive hatch around the Nürburgring. Get a closer look at the all-new i30 HYUNDAI has updated its i30 to reinvigorate its presence in the compact family hatch class. Revealed on Page 10, and ahead of its premiere at the Paris Motor Show this month, the i30 debuts a new design. But do you like it?…

Contact Martin Saarinen HOT TOPIC Olympic motorsport FROM: Martyn Alvey MOTORSPORT would be great in the Olympics. What is needed is a whole new international series that dabbles in all forms of motorsport with identical cars. The driver who comes out on top across the disciplines could genuinely call themselves the best. FROM: Davy Legge FORMULA One multi-millionaires have no place in the Olympics. Spectators would have more fun watching slot car racing on their living room floor. The current Formula One series needs a shot in the arm – the one to put it to sleep! Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “You could easily get around the machinery problem by using standard vehicles for each event. But which ones?” TheVictor ■ “If dancing horses in dressage is an…

Essentials Mazda 6 2.2D Sport Nav Price: £26,395 Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbodiesel Power: 148bhp Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 9.0 seconds Top speed: 131mph Economy: 68.9mpg CO2: 107g/km ON SALE October “New G-Vectoring Control is designed to make the car more stable and comfortable in regular driving” THE Mazda 6 looks relatively fresh, but it’s more than four years old now. Time doesn’t stand still in the large family car segment, either, and newer challengers like the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb have moved the class on. To try to stay at the front of the pack, Mazda has released another update for the 6 range. A facelifted Mazda 6 appeared last year, while this 2017 update focuses on refining the interior, in-car technology and chassis, rather than tweaking…

Model tested: SsangYong Tivoli XLV ELX 4x4 Price: £19,500 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp Testers’ notes “The regular Tivoli line-up features SE and EX trim levels sitting underneath the range-topping ELX model, making that car more affordable. However, while the Tivoli XLV is only £1,000 more expensive than the standard top-spec Tivoli, without these more cost-effective versions, our diesel 4x4 test car doesn’t look like quite as good value despite the extra space – especially given the price range of the Duster.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Testers’ notes “Storage is good, with a ledge in the dash, two cup-holders and a trinket tray. Big door bins that can hold a 1.5-litre bottle also help, while the elastic seat-back straps are a funky storage feature even if they look cheap.” Sean Carson…

In red = equipment fitted to our test car. Insurance quotes from AA (Tel 0800 107 0680 or www.theAA.com) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data. Vauxhall Mokka X 1.6 CDTi DUE: Oct 2016 Price: £21,565 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 134bhp FOR around £1,000 more than the Tivoli, Vauxhall’s upgraded Mokka X Design Nav offers decent kit, including OnStar tech. The 4x4 set-up should add extra grip, while Apple CarPlay makes the car more usable. Read our full first drive on P35.…

MODEL TESTED: BMW 330e M Sport PRICE: £36,735 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 249bhp Testers’ notes “BMW has marketed the 330e under its iPerformance sub-brand, which means the model’s focus is as much on sportiness as it is on saving fuel. This is backed up by the way the car drives, with the electric motor stepping in more often to boost acceleration. It helps give the BMW the feel of a much larger-engined model – particularly at low speeds, when the 330e accelerates with real muscle.” James Disdale Chief reviewer THE current-generation BMW 3 Series uses the F30 platform, and it was first introduced in early 2012. The car had a minor facelift last year, with revised headlights being the biggest update, while the 330e adds plug-in hybrid drive to the range.…

Essentials FordS-MAX2.0TDCi180 Titanium X PowerShift On fleet since: January 2016 Price new: £33,720 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp CO2/tax: 139g/km/£130 Options: Metallic paint (£545), Sony DAB nav (£450), front and rear cameras (£400), rear sunblinds (£125), adaptive cruise and city stop (£900), park assist (£150), blind spot monitor (£500), hands-free power tailgate (£400), Winter Pack (£300) Insurance*: Group: 24 Quote: £360 Mileage/mpg: 10,832/34.3mpg Any problems? None so far *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. Verdict MPV sales are being eroded by seven-seat 4x4s, but with lots of comfort and space, the Ford proves there’s still a case for a traditional people carrier. But I wish that the S-MAX drove more like the old one and was more economical – its fuel…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Rent a workshop for car DIY I DO a bit of work on my car, but have to carry it out in the street. I now need to change the clutch. I’m keen to attempt it, but not outdoors. Is paying to have it done the only solution? FrankUre, E-mail A IF you really are keen to do it yourself, you should search locally for the growing number of workshops that can be rented by the hour. You get use of the tools and equipment like lifts and hoists and some provide advice. You can book as much or as little time as you like and many open at weekends. Q Foreign policy on Blue Badge I’VE just been given a Blue Disability badge…

JAGUAR Racing has revealed its first ever all-electric racing car, called the I-TYPE 1, as well as its driver line-up for the upcoming 2016/17 Formula E season. Brit Adam Carroll and New Zealander Mitch Evans will line up on the grid at the team’s first race in Hong Kong on 9 October, The final design of the I-TYPE’s full racing livery has also been shown for the first time, with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic named as the team’s title sponsor. Speaking at the launch event at the new Jaguar Collections Centre at the company’s HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, the team’s chairman Gerd Mäuser said: “Today marks a new chapter in the long history of Jaguar Racing. It’s all part of an unstoppable momentum towards electric cars, and we expect more…

“If I ever record clear footage of a rider or driver jumping a red light, would I hand my evidence to the police? Probably” HOW’S this for ‘progress’? In recent decades, most manufacturers built CD players into their cars. They were cheap to install at the factory and were as welcome as radios, central locking and electric windows. Little luxuries like these aren’t lavish or essential. But climb aboard a vehicle bereft of them and most folk will desperately miss ’em. Madly, most of the state-of-the-art test cars I pedal these days are now CD player-free. However, the new car buyer can usually still have one thanks to the (often expensive) manufacturer options list. Put another way, economies of scale meant that the customer used to be given a CD…

“A long bonnet and short rear overhang mean the Supra looks like a traditional coupé” THE rumour mill has been stirring for years, but it looks like Toyota’s all-new Supra sports car has finally hit the road. We’ve spied the highly-anticipated coupé undergoing development testing for the first time ahead of its launch in late 2018. The original Supra was a major hit with enthusiasts but production ended in 2002, so the car’s return is big news. In 2012 we found out that Toyota and BMW were going to jointly develop a new sports car that would become the new Supra and Z4 respectively; then only a few months ago Toyota made fresh trademark applications in Europe and the US for the Supra name. Toyota made clear that it was…

BBR’s 205bhp MX-5 is ready for action TUNING specialist BBR has launched a new flagship ‘Super 200’ package for the MX-5 (above). Available as a series of upgrades for the 2.0-litre versions of the MX-5, it boosts power from 160bhp to 205bhp. Torque also rises by 35Nm to 243Nm. The upgrade consists of a new billet steel intake, upgraded valve springs and retainers, a cold air intake system and a bespoke stainless steel exhaust manifold. BBR claims the 0-60mph time drops by 1.6 seconds to 5.7 seconds. Cover clarity on autonomous cars INSURERS should have a new legal right to claim costs back from manufacturers where autonomous tech fails, according to a new report. The paper, produced by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Thatcham Research, says drivers should…

“150,000sq.ft. site operates from 6am to 9pm based on different time zones around the world” “Voice-activated headsets help speed up process, as workers sift through 9.2 million individual components” MAGNETICALLY controlled cherry-pickers scuttle between giant shelving units, with voiceactivated headsets assisting workers in selecting parts. Spending a day at Bentley’s giant spares warehouse is like watching a well choreographed, precision episode of Supermarket Sweep. Except the value and importance of the stock being handled by pickers is much higher than anything you might find in an aisle of your local shop. That’s because this 150,000 sq. ft. site – which is only a handful of miles from the marque’s main factory in Crewe, Cheshire – is a complete back catalogue of spare parts for Bentley models dating back to 1955,…

MODEL TESTED: Dacia Duster Laureate dCi 110 4x4 PRICE: £15,595 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 108bhp Testers’ notes “You can add more premium features to the Duster, such as leather upholstery for £500, but cloth trim and a slightly more pared-back kit list better suit the Dacia’s honest, down-to-earth character. Items such as climate control or keyless go aren’t even available as options, but this Laureate offers enough gear to make it usable at an accessible price. That’s why with the well proven 1.5 dCi engine it’s the pick of the range.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Testers’ notes “A three-year/60,000-mile warranty is standard, but Dacia offers extra coverage for a little more. Its five-year/60,000-mile pack is £395, while there’s the option to up this to seven years and 100,000 miles for £850.”…

*Surround view camera. Insurance quotes from AA (Tel 0800 107 0680 or www.theAA.com) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points. Residual values provided by CDL VIP Data. Deals & discounts Facts, figures and advice powered by carbuyer.co.uk carbuyer.co.uk IF you’re considering one of these models, it’s worth remembering that they both qualify for the Government’s Plug-in Grant. However, an update to the qualifying criteria means that plug-in hybrids such as the Passat GTE and 330e get only a £2,500 discount now, compared to the full £4,500 for pure electric cars. As both cost around £40k it’s not much of an incentive, – and you can quickly cancel out any reduction by adding options anyway. VW can get you behind the wheel of the GTE Advance via…

Dear Lawrence, I like my Suzuki Swift, but it’s not fast enough so I fancy a turbocharged supermini that’s fun to drive. What can I get for £8,000? Mark Atkinson, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk Ford Fiesta FOR: Great handling, good fuel economy AGAINST: Dated dashboard, small boot THE Fiesta is a great choice for a second-hand supermini, and the EcoBoost is the best version to drive. With 123bhp from a tiny but torquey 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, it zips about with real urgency. It can do a real-world 45mpg, while great handling, a comfortable ride and loads of kit on top models complete a winning package. Plus, there are loads about so it’s cheap to buy. We found a 2014 EcoBoost Titanium X with 43,000 miles for £7,600. IT’S a bit…