Auto Express 1442

IT was a brave move for the car industry’s mouthpiece, the SMMT, to put on a show in Paris, on the eve of the motor show, to remind the world what a great place the UK is to build cars. It was an event planned well before the EU referendum, with the result exactly what the car industry didn’t want. But while there’s no doubt that the UK remains a great place for car makers to build cars and do business in, there’s plenty of uncertainty over what the future holds. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes told me: “Business hates uncertainty, but it looks like we’ll have exactly that for quite some years – it makes investment decisions difficult for our members. “Being in the single market is best for…

“Land Rover’s design team has given the new edition of the 26-year-old model a softer-edged look” Q&A RALF SPETH JLR chief executive officer THE all-new Defender due by 2019 will fill the third pillar in Land Rover’s model range. Auto Express caught up on its progress from JLR boss Ralf Speth. Q What’s the latest on the new Defender? A “It is coming. We are working on an authentic successor of the predecessor. It was one of the saddest moments of my career at Jaguar Land Rover when we stopped producing the old Defender.” Q Can you give us some idea of what stage it’s at? A “I have driven mules already, and mules against competitors, in on and off-road environments, and it’s truly a sensational vehicle.” Q Will it…

AND NEW RS3 IS GO IT’S not the most arresting design, but the all-new Audi Q5 was one of the most significant unveils at the Paris Motor Show last week. The Q5 is one of the big hitters in the mid-size SUV segment, so Audi has moved more upmarket with the new model to rival newcomers such as the Mercedes GLC and the next-generation BMW X3, due in 2017. The brand has looked to its flagship Q7 for design inspiration, with new features such as the angular chrome grille and LED headlights as notable visual changes. This second-generation Q5 uses the VW Group’s MLB platform. This is, in effect, the same mechanical make-up of chassis, engines and technology that is used in the already popular MQB set-up, but based around…

“I.D. can be charged wirelessly or via the mains; 80 per cent recharge takes 30 minutes” ONE year after the emissions scandal, Volkswagen has set out its vision for an alternatively fuelled, autonomous future with the I.D. concept at the Paris Motor Show. The five-door previews a compact batterypowered car that will be the first of a fleet of “highly innovative” EVs, due from 2020. It claims a range of 249-373 miles, and can be recharged wirelessly or via the mains; VW says an 80 per cent recharge takes 30 minutes. The I.D. is the first VW engineered for fully autonomous driving, which bosses say will be available to buyers from 2025. By then they aim to be selling a million EVs a year globally. The newcomer adopts a design…

Hyundai RN30 STEVE FOWLER Editor-in-chief IF you’re going to preview a hot hatch, you might as well go a bit wild. And wild is exactly what Hyundai did with its RN30 concept. Okay, so the i30N that will make production will be milder, but as a flag in the ground of what Hyundai can do, the RN30 does the job perfectly. The good news is, if the i30N does well, an even hotter version could be built. Honda Civic SAM NAYLOR Staff writer WHILE the all-new Honda Civic has been upstaged somewhat by the unveiling of the Type R version, my pick of the show is the standard hatchback. The previous model had an awkward look, but this allnew model is a big improvement. The 478-litre boot and spacious interior…

“EQ uses high-strength steel, aluminium and carbon fibre to keep weight down. Lithium-ion batteries set low in chassis should aid handling” MERCEDES is taking the next step towards electric power with the launch of the new Generation EQ concept at the Paris Motor Show. The car previews a range of future EVs, which is set to be introduced under a new sub-brand called Mercedes-EQ, much like BMW’s i division. The SUV concept, which is 90 per cent production ready in terms of design, will launch in 2019. But it’s what’s under the skin that’s most important. The Generation EQ uses a new scalable platform which uses two electric motors – one on each axle. In the Generation EQ, the electric motors provide permanent four-wheel drive, and the system develops up…