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I’M fast becoming an electric car fan. Of the many cars I drove this week during our sister publication Auto Bild’s Golden Steering Wheel test session (results on 8 November), it was the Hyundai Ioniq, BMW i3 and Tesla Model X that stood out. We’re at a turning point when it comes to the range of these cars, too. The BMW came with the new 94Ah battery pack which gives the car a theoretical 195-mile range. And at last week’s Paris Motor Show, Renault revealed a new version of its all-electric ZOE that will go for 250 miles. I’m still enjoying the electric power in my current car, a Volvo XC90 T8. Sure, its range is only 21 miles, but the smooth, silent, swift power delivery is a real joy.…

“The new chassis helps to cut 70kg from the car’s kerbweight alone” “We made every area better. From our perspective there is no detail that is the same level as before“ Q&A WOLFGANG HACKER 5 Series project manage Auto Express caught up with BMW 5 Series project manager Wolfgang Hacker to get the lowdown on the crucial new executive model. Q Developing a new 5 Series is a huge task. What was the key area that had to be improved? A “Dynamics are the most important part. First, make the car more dynamic, more sporty than the predecessor. The car drives totally different now.” Q To get a more dynamic drive, have you been forced to make a compromise on comfort levels? A “The chassis and the base of this…

Essentials Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Sport Price: £42,000 (est) Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel Power: 282bhp Torque: 620Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62/top spd: 6.0 secs/145mph (est) Econ/CO2: 50mpg/145g/km (est) ON SALE January 2017 “The chassis compromise is best described as safe rather than involving” Hot new multi-turbo SQ5 around the corner SENIOR engineers at Audi have confirmed to Auto Express that a hot SQ5 is due within 12 to 18 months. It’s likely to feature a more extreme version of the new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel from the regular Q5. One engineer admitted: “The engine can run with two or even three turbos, and one of those turbos can be electric.” That’s a hint that the SQ5 could get the 48-volt electrics-based compressor from the SQ7; it operates at low…

“One engine option is the 1.5-litre turbo petrol from the C-HR crossover raced by Toyota’s engineers at the Nürburgring this year” Electric power may be the way ahead for next Aygo THE next generation of the Toyota Aygo could be a bespoke electric car, Auto Express can reveal. The Aygo is currently produced alongside the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 at a single factory. However, Toyota’s European head of research and development, Gerald Killman, has suggested that while his company is prioritising hybrid vehicles, the smallest class of car – the A-segment where the Aygo competes – could necessitate a different solution. “Clearly we do see the possibility for batteryelectric vehicles there [in the Aygo range],” he said. “But when it makes sense is something that we need to review,…

Behind wheel of 107mpg eco car THE Shell Project M concept car – revealed earlier this year (above) – promises 107mpg, and Auto Express has been behind the wheel. As it’s a concept, it’s a little rough around the edges, but it showcases some innovative tech. Its 43bhp threecylinder 660cc petrol engine delivers perky performance considering its efficiency, while the incredibly tight turning circle makes it feel very nimble. However, it’s not that comfortable and the powertrain lacks finesse. Shock increase in drink-drive crashes THE number of drink-drivers involved in traffic accidents has increased for the first time in 10 years. New figures from the Department for Transport reveal that 3,450 drivers failed the breath test after an accident in 2015, up from 3,227 in 2014. The number of drink-drivers…

OPINION Kim Adams AE products edito I JUST can’t agree with Michelin’s stance. I’ve conducted exhaustive tests, measuring cars’ braking distances in the wet on tyres with 8, 3, and 1.6mm tread depths.The 1.6mm tyres took much longer to stop. As soon as you hit the brakes on the new tyre you could feel the deceleration. Doing the same with the tread on the legal minimum, there were several metres when the car skated over the water before they gripped and started to slow like the 8mm tyre. Admittedly I wasn’t using Michelin tyres – but they were from a premium rival. And the results were similar in cornering tests. Regardless of the maker, I’m convinced part-worn tyres perform much better in the wet than ones on the legal limit.…