Innholdsfortegnelse for 1442 i Auto Express

“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…

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster JOHNNY BURN News editor AT a show dominated by EVs and wacky concepts, Mercedes-AMG’s GT Roadster was the perfect antidote. It’s a drop-top version of one of the most stylish cars on sale. In fact, the GT is one of those rare models that looks better as a roadster than a coupé. The designers can be proud. MINI JCW Clubman RICHARD INGRAM Reviews editor WE scooped news of a new JCW Clubman last year, revealing details on the 4WD powertrain and 2.0-litre turbo engine. The production car debuted in Paris, and while it doesn’t have a Ford Focus RSrivalling 350bhp, the estate will still do 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds. As a MINI it’ll be suitably agile – so despite trailing on power, it should be a riot.…

DESPITE the frenzy of the Paris Motor Show, Jeep decided to unveil its all-new Compass SUV without displaying it in the French capital. The Volkswagen Tiguan rival is expected to arrive in Europe in early 2017, priced from around £23,000, following its debut at the LA Motor Show next month. The Compass will sit above the Renegade in Jeep’s range and adopts a much curvier profile than the boxy outgoing model, but chunky lower bodywork and a raised ride height ensure that it keeps the Jeep DNA. A more rugged Trailhawk version is also available, featuring underbody protection and higher ground clearance. At 4.42m long, 1.82m wide and 1.65m tall, it slots between a Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-5 in terms of size. The Compass sits on a stretched version…

Which Lamborghini Huracán is best? LAMBORGHINI has been busy launching two new versions of its ‘entry-level’ supercar, the Huracán. The LP 640-2 coupé ditches fourwheel drive in favour of rear-drive, while the new LP 610-4 Spyder is 4WD but chops the roof. On paper they deliver similar performance, but as our man Steve Sutcliffe discovers, they are very different. So which is the best Huracán for your budget? Our favourite cars from the Paris show MISSED the key launches at this year’s Paris Motor Show? As you will have seen over the past few pages, there was a whole host of important reveals, and you can head over to our YouTube channel to see a round-up video of our favourite cars from the stands.…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI (150) DSG SE Business PRICE: £28,195 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 148bhp Testers’ notes “All three estates come with connectivity features. The Kia boasts connected services, including the ability to investigate places of interest near your destination as well as the weather, which should make family days out a little easier. However, it can’t match VW’s Car Net App Connect. This combines Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for better integration with your smartphone. Skoda’s SmartLink is very similar.” James Disdale Chief reviewer IN 2015 the Volkswagen Passat took our Best Estate crown, so it’s still a fantastic load-lugger. Our SE Business test model with a 2.0-litre TDI engine and DSG auto box is practically the same price as the Superb, at £28,195 (although our pictures…

MODEL TESTED: Honda Civic 1.4 Sport PRICE: £18,360 ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 98bhp Testers’ notes “Honda pulled the wraps off an all-new Civic last week at the Paris Motor Show. It’s just as boldly styled, but features a much more upmarket cabin and the option of a downsized turbo engine. It also promises to be as practical as the current car, with its 478-litre boot being the highlight. However, many fans of the Civic will be disappointed to discover that Honda has ditched the neat Magic Seat arrangement in the new model.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Testers’ notes “For some more power, you can opt for the punchy 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel. It’s more expensive at £21,190, but claimed economy of 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 98g/km mean you should save on…

Second opinion “There’s so much scope to choose the perfect Caterham. With narrow and wide bodies, a range of power outputs, colours, decals and wheels, no two examples are the same.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Verdict I’M sad to see the Seven go, as it’s coped so admirably with everything I’ve thrown at it. You’ll have to make a few sacrifices, but not as many as you might think, and the highs delivered from the unique driving experience outweigh all the negatives. There’s nothing else quite like a Caterham. AFTER 10 months on our fleet, the sad day has come to say goodbye to our Caterham Seven. And it is sad, because I’ve really bonded with the car. So when Caterham came to try to take it away, my natural…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Which tyre inflator is best? MY son has just bought his first car and I’m trying to encourage him to look after it himself. I thought I’d get him started with checking tyre pressures. Can you recommend an inflator? Peter Perry, E-mail A OUR favourite inflator is Ring’s RAC 635 (above), priced around £25 (www.ringautomotive.co.uk). It has a good pump and an accurate digital gauge with presets, so it automatically cuts off when the desired pressure is reached. Plus, it comes in a padded bag, so is ideal for keeping in the boot with little risk of being damaged. Q Switching to LED headlights I’VE seen LED replacements for the halogen lights on my car. The figures for output look impressive and I like…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 5 | 10 | 2016 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. HUNTING for a parking space that doesn’t cost the earth is one of the most frustrating elements of driving, especially in a busy town or city centre. Motorists cruising the streets slowly to find a spare bay can cause jams and irritate fellow drivers. But this is one of the areas where smartphones can really come in handy; as data services grow in sophistication, parking can be made easy with the latest apps. Since we last tested these parking apps, the technology has moved on a lot; not only do they locate spaces, many now…

IT wasn’t just road cars taking to the stage at last week’s Paris Motor Show – several brands also pulled the wraps off the latest racing versions of their big-selling models, including Audi, Porsche, Toyota and Hyundai. Audi’s hot new RS3 saloon (Page 13) was joined by a touring-car version that’ll be eligible to compete in series around the world, more of next year’s new WRC machinery was revealed and Porsche unveiled the latest iteration of its hugely popular 911 GT3 Cup one-make racer.…

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…

“Chassis has been set up to offer far sharper handling than before” THE new Nissan Micra was revealed at the Paris Motor Show last week, with Nissan claiming it will “raise expectations” of what a supermini is capable of. Designed with European buyers in mind, it’s tasked with righting the wrongs of the current car when it goes on sale at the start of 2017. It’s the first Micra to be launched on a new platform since 2003, and aims to tackle the Ford Fiesta head-on. “The fifth-generation Micra shows our intent to compete at the top of Europe’s B-segment market – the largest and most competitive B-segment market in the world,” said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. The exterior design is heavily inspired by the Sway concept seen at 2015’s…

 CONNECTED cars of the future could be driveable computers as software developers push forward. Great attention is paid to engine performance, vehicle style and design that offer drivers wonderful creature comforts when driving, plus the ability to sit back, relax and let the car take over. Manufacturers now offer versions of the iPhone or Android interface on the car’s touchscreen, giving the end user the look and feel of their smartphone. Meanwhile, developers are working on car-to-phone links via voice recognition that offer elements such as music streaming or sending texts with hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Yet I wonder how much this will distract motorists from the actual task of driving? The dash toward the connected car faces many safety roadblocks since the fatal crash…

MODEL TESTED: Kia Optima Sportswagon GT-Line S 1.7 CRDi DCT PRICE: £30,595 ENGINE: 1.7-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 139bhp Testers’ notes “It’s expensive, but the Kia offers a few extra luxuries over its rivals in GT-Line S trim. The front seats are ventilated as well as heated, while the outer rear seats are also heated, offering even more comfort for those in the back. Wireless mobile phone charging means you don’t have to bother with cables – although there’s a 12-volt socket and a USB port in the rear so back seat passengers can also charge their gadgets.” James Disdale Chief reviewer THERE’S only one engine available in the Optima Sportswagon, with the firm’s 1.7-litre CRDi diesel fitted to 2, 3 and GT-Line S models. It’s the latter we test here, which…

Results 1st SKODA THE Superb Estate’s mix of qualities sees it victorious yet again. It’s affordable, efficient, practical and fun to drive. It has the Kia easily beaten, and while it was slightly slower than the Passat, this isn’t noticeable on the road, whereas the more forgiving ride is. Factor in the extra boot space, and the agile 2.0 TDI Skoda with a DSG box is still our estate car champion. 2nd VOLKSWAGEN THE Passat remains a great family estate, but as it’s more expensive, doesn’t offer as much luggage space and isn’t as well equipped, the only reason you’d go for it over the Skoda is for the badge. Although the VW is still great to drive and efficient, you get more for your money with the Superb, which…

MODEL TESTED: Mazda 3 1.5 SE Nav PRICE: £17,695 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 98bhp Testers’ notes “A facelifted version of the 3 hits UK showrooms later this month, featuring revised looks and an even more upmarket interior. As part of the upgrades, the brand is ditching the 1.5-litre engine featured here in favour of the larger 2.0 litre, which has been tweaked to deliver similar efficiency. However, there are still stocks of the current car to be cleared, so you should be able to pick up some tasty bargains.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Testers’ notes “Buyers who demand more carrying capacity from their 3 should take a look at the Fastback model. It’s essentially a traditional four-door saloon, but its elongated rear end means you get a much larger 419-litre boot.”…

“Apple’s rumoured McLaren buy-out is a no-no, as the Woking company is a hungry minnow and Apple is a bloated whale” THE hardest job for a manufacturer is the time-consuming and expensive business of finding new customers, then persuading them to open their wallets. After that comes the second most important task: retaining clients, ensuring they’re happy, and incentivising them to buy again – and not defect to a rival firm. Temporarily at least, Apple has lost sight of the above. It’s seriously annoyed this and other hitherto loyal customers, due to its insanely provocative decision to remove headphone sockets from its latest phones. Telling me I can’t plug a pair of headphones into the new iPhone I’d like to – but now can’t – buy is as lunatic as…

Dacia trio star with new small engines DACIA revealed updated versions of the Sandero (above), Sandero Stepway and Logan MCV in Paris, all featuring a new 1.0-litre petrol engine. The Renault-sourced unit is tuned to deliver 74bhp and is claimed to improve fuel efficiency by 10 per cent. It replaces the outgoing 1.2 petrol. All three models benefit from a revised headlight design with LED running lights on top models. The Dacia Duster is also now available with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Rugged features destined for SEAT SEAT’s line of crossover-inspired X-Perience products looks set to expand in the next few years, according to brand design boss Alejandro Mesonero. Variants of the Arona crossover (see Page 14) and Ateca SUV (driven on Page 40), plus the Mii city car and…

“Much of the technology comes from the Renault e.dams Formula E racer” RENAULT has a habit of wowing its home crowd in Paris with stunning concepts, and the Trezor represents the latest chapter in the company’s design story under design boss Laurens van den Acker. His 2010 Dezir concept started Renault’s renaissance, and he carried it on with 2012’s Clio, moving through Captur, Kadjar and Mégane and finishing with the new Koleos SUV that was also given its debut at this year’s Paris show. The Trezor previews the regeneration of the Renault range, likely to start with the next Clio in 2018. Those oversized C-shaped front lights, large air intakes and slimmer grille – along with the advanced L-shaped dashboard – are all expected to make it into production on…

MOTORISTS, cyclists and pedestrians. Despite us all being road users, there’s a general belief it’s always another party’s fault. “They were looking at their phone”, “how can they hear with headphones in?” and “why don’t they stop at red lights?” are common complaints directed at those around us on foot, in the saddle or behind the wheel. This continual blame game isn’t helpful, though, especially when it comes to road safety. And the latest figures from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) highlight how we’re falling behind the rest of Europe in regards to protecting those using the road. The UK has more vulnerable road user deaths per head – particularly pedestrians and motorcyclists – than most other European countries, despite having some of the lowest casualties in…

Contact Martin Saarinen HOT TOPIC Mobile phone use FROM: Alan Ball USING a mobile phone while driving a car should become worthy of an instant disqualification. Some research has shown using a hands-free device isn’t completely safe, either. The solution is quite simple: when driving, just switch off your phone. FROM: Jonathan EVERYONE seems to agree that the penalty for phone use while driving should be greater, but who will enforce this? Has anyone seen the police in a lay-by recently? Enforcement is partly down to patrol cars, and there aren’t many of those around any more. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “With advancements in cars, surely it can’t be beyond makers to build a system that stops you using a phone?” Nicko612 ■ “It’s irritating that most people…

Essentials Infiniti Q60S Sport Price: £42,990 Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol Power/torque: 400bhp/475Nm Transmission: Seven-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 5.0 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 31mpg CO2: 208g/km ON SALE Now Verdict THE Q60 is a stylish coupé. As well as a powerful twin-turbo V6, four-wheel drive and adaptive dampers, this Sport model has a host of safety kit including radar cruise control and lane assist. However, there isn’t much fun to be had behind the wheel, as the electronic aids rob you of any real involvement. Ultimately, it’s not enough to challenge the German establishment, and will ensure Infiniti stays a niche choice. “The Q60S doesn’t shout about its performance; its exhaust is quiet with no crackles on the overrun” INFINITI has had a tough time in the UK…

“This top-level XCELLENCE version is likely to prove popular with those looking for a well equipped family SUV” Essentials SEAT Ateca XCELLENCE 1.4 EcoTSI 150 Price: £23.905 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo Power: 148bhp/250Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.5 seconds Top speed: 125mph Economy: 52.3mpg CO2: 125g/km ON SALE Now Verdict AS we’d already driven the SEAT Ateca with the 1.6-litre diesel engine, we knew this petrol version had a fight on its hands to match that car’s blend of handling, fuel economy and refinement. The tried-and-tested 1.4 is an eager and frugal alternative that for some may prove just as cheap to run. It feels lighter, and offers the same style and practicality as other models in the range. This top-spec XCELLENCE is well priced too, with loads…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Superb SE L Executive 2.0 TDI (150) DSG PRICE: £28,185 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 148bhp Testers’ notes “Skoda is owned by Volkswagen, so the Superb Estate sits on the same VW Group MQB chassis that underpins the Passat Estate. This versatile platform stretches from small cars like the VW Golf to large estates like the two tested here. It delivers lots of comfort when you’re cruising on the motorway, but given the Superb’s size, it’s also impressive how hard you can drive it, as the chassis gives it plenty of control and composure.” James Disdale Chief reviewer THE Skoda Superb Estate is our reigning Best Estate car, having knocked the Volkswagen Passat Estate off the top spot at this year’s Auto Express New Car Awards. It mixes…

Results 1st HONDA A SPORTY makeover and a sprinkling of extras have helped inject some much-needed showroom appeal into the Honda Civic. It’s also spacious and attractively priced, plus it’s backed by some tempting finance deals. The 1.4-litre engine delivers leisurely performance, making the Sport a dependable, roomy and well equipped family hatchback for not much cash. 2nd MAZDA SLEEK styling, a classy interior and engaging driving dynamics make the Mazda look and feel more expensive than its rival here. And while it’s not as well equipped or practical, it gets all the essentials plus the desirable addition of sat-nav. You should be able to negotiate a healthy discount as dealers look to clear stocks in the runup to the facelifted model’s arrival. ^Excludes fitting costs. *AEB = Autonomous Emergency…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Dealership driving practice AS I haven’t driven in a while, I’d like to practise. So would a car dealer be likely to agree for me to test drive a car even if I’m not too interested in buying it? Paul Durrant, E-mail A ALTHOUGH dealerships will usually let most licence holders test drive a car, we’d advise against doing so if you’re looking to practise. Instead, contact a driving school in your area and ask for a refresher course. This way you’ll go on the road with a qualified instructor who will help you become a safer driver. Q Concerns over missing V5C I’M looking for a used BMW 330d and found one that fits my budget in great condition. After a test…

Dear Lawrence, I’m after a small, reliable car that’s efficient and easy to drive in town. It needs to be roomy in the rear. What should I buy for £6,000? Mary Williams, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk Honda Jazz FOR: Versatile interior, easy to drive, efficient AGAINST: Bland inside, rivals more refined THE old second-generation Honda Jazz was designed to be extremely simple to drive, with easy controls, a foolproof dash layout and fine visibility all-round. It’s great in town as a result, although the ride is a bit unsettled and it can get noisy at speed. Still, it corners perfectly well, and while none of the engines is particularly fast the 1.4-litre offers decent acceleration and is capable of 50mpg on a run. We saw a 43,000-mile 2011 Jazz 1.4 EX…