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WE’RE very lucky here in Europe. Car safety is something that’s taken for granted. By and large, the level of protection on offer in all cars on sale is hugely impressive. And improving. Technology helps, but technology costs money – money that some car companies don’t think it’s necessary to spend in other places around the world. I was horrified to see the latest Latin NCAP crash tests, covering a growing (and increasingly lucrative) market. There, the Chevrolet Spark GT (above) scored zero stars for adult and child protection. This is a version of a car that achieved four stars in a Euro NCAP crash test back in 2009, so why the difference? Among other things, the European Spark had six airbags, the Latin version none. And the prices of…

“Ka+ handles with the quality we’ve come to expect from small Fords” “Cabin is more robust than luxurious, but there are few complaints for the price” Essentials Ford Ka+ Zetec 85 Price: £9,995 Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl petrol Power/torque: 84bhp/112Nm Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 13.3 seconds Top speed: 105mph Economy: 56.5mpg CO2: 114g/km ON SALE Now WHEN Ford’s funky-looking Ka emerged in the mid-nineties it revolutionised the city car sector, with fun handling and a striking design matched neatly to an affordable price. But the market moved on, and the dumpier second-generation Ka never reached the heights of the original. So now Ford has repositioned its famous nameplate to follow more conservative, value-led trends. European boss Jim Farley told us the brand is “replacing the Ka withthe Ka+ as…

“It’s almost certain that BMW will use the 8 Series to debut a host of new technologies” EARLIER this year we were first to reveal news of BMW’s forthcoming range rejig – our report in Issue 1,425 confirmed the brand’s plans to reinvent its 6 Series as a Porsche 911-fighting sports car. At the same time, we spilled the beans on the brand’s new flagship 8 Series – a car aimed squarely at the Mercedes S-Class Coupé. Now, our spies have caught the big Beemer testing, and our exclusive images show how the new car could look. Our story in June uncovered BMW’s plans to bring back the 8 Series as a large, luxurious grand tourer. That project had been previewed by the four-door BMW CS Concept back in 2007,…

“The Ateca X-Perience is a car that lends itself to ‘the most adventurous off-road situations’, according to SEAT” SEAT has spruced up its first ever SUV by unveiling a new Ateca X-Perience concept ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show this week. The rough and ready crossover is only a concept car for now, but bosses will use the event to gauge public reaction before deciding whether to put it into production. Changes over the standard Ateca are more comprehensive than you may think, with scuff plates front and rear as well as tough body cladding on the bumpers and side sills. There are some chunky offroad tyres and unique alloy wheels, too. SEAT says the Ateca X-Perience is a car that can “surpass any limit”, while lending…

Hot Hyundai hatch is ready for action HYUNDAI has released a teaser image of its new motorsport-inspired performance car, the RN30, ahead of its public reveal at this week’s Paris Motor Show. Based on the new i30, the hatch (above) will aim to take the fight to models such as the SEAT Leon Cupra and will be the first car from Hyundai’s newly founded ‘N’ performance sub-brand. The RN30 will initially be offered in two versions when it goes on sale in 2017. MG assembly ends at British factory MG Motor has ceased car production in the UK, with its assembly plant at Longbridge, West Midlands, no longer needed. All models, including the MG3 and MG GS, will arrive in the UK from the Chinese factory fully built. Initial reports…

DRIVERS caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel will face six penalty points and a £200 fine as part of Government efforts to crack down on dangerous driving. But will it work? We’ve asked experts whether they think the new stricter penalties – due to come into force in early 2017 across England, Scotland and Wales – are the answer to stopping drivers using phones. Repeat offenders will face a sixmonth driving ban alongside fines of up to £1,000, and newly-qualified drivers would lose their licence immediately. But the RAC says harsher penalties aren’t the only solution, with a cultural change regarding using phones at the wheel required among motorists and law makers. Latest figures show attitudes to mobile phone use while driving have relaxed in the last two…