Innholdsfortegnelse for 1446 i Auto Express

IT won’t have escaped your notice that the Government last week approved a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport. It’s a huge undertaking that could cost nearly £18bn. This decision, of course, follows the controversial High Speed 2 train line linking London and the north of England. Latest estimates suggest that it could ultimately cost a whopping £90billion. Far be it from me to argue against investment in our air and rail infrastructure. I fully accept that it’s necessary. But isn’t it about time that our road network received similar attention? Yes, I’m well aware that the Government has trumpeted a record level of investment in upgrading the network. A £15billion Road Investment Strategy was announced in 2014; this money should be spent by 2020. It’s not an insignificant sum,…

MOTORISTS with medical conditions are being unfairly stopped from driving for years by mismanagement at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), an investigation has found. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) scrutinised the DVLA after it received complaints from drivers who declared a medical condition but waited years to get their licence back after being found fit to drive. A PHSO investigation found a “fault” in the way the Drivers Medical Group (DMG) – the DVLA’s arm in charge of determining if a driver is fit to drive with a medical condition – operates. It said the DVLA has no “proper standards or criteria in place to enable the DMG to meet its required aim of road safety”, and that the current system was “not fit for purpose”.…

Verdict THE Mercedes GLC Coupé’s premium over the standard model means we’d still recommend the conventional SUV. If you’re dead-set on a Coupé, however, the sleek looks, impressive interior and decent running costs mean this car is still a top choice. THE Mercedes GLC Coupé has finally arrived in the UK, taking on the BMW X4 in the niche coupé-SUV class. To many, it’s an odd market, with the practicality aspect of a normal SUV compromised by the swooping roofline. But to other people, these vehicles are sporty-looking family cars with a desirable high driving position. Even if you don’t see the appeal of the GLC, there’s no denying this coupé version offers a sleeker, more natural shape than the awkward-looking X4. It’s less brash than the larger X6 and…

COMPACT crossovers are big business these days, with manufacturers falling over themselves to cash in on this lucrative market. But it’s only recently that premium brands have taken an interest, and the first upmarket model to hit dealers is the Audi Q2. Underpinned by the VW Group’s versatile MQB platform and borrowing components from the A3 hatch, the newcomer aims to deliver a compelling blend of rugged looks, quality and low running costs. It also features a number of personalisation options, plus it’s available with a choice of petrol or diesel power and either front or four-wheel drive. However, it’s not the first small SUV to try to break free from the mainstream ranks. The Mazda CX-3 made its debut over a year ago, and instantly had an impact…

THIS pair of scaled-down city cars aims to deliver Tardis-like practicality, with dinky dimensions to help navigate busy, built-up areas and five-door bodies that offer easy access to a respectable amount of interior room, as well as decent levels of boot space. But these models have another personality trait that their makers hope will add to their appeal. Kia has added the Picanto Sport to its line-up, meaning buyers looking for an affordable small car don’t have to sacrifice style in the pursuit of usability and low running costs. SEAT has also tweaked its Mii with the addition of the FR Line trim, giving sporty looks without affecting efficiency. But which city slicker is more enjoyable to drive, combining these athletic looks with practicality and affordability in the best…

Second opinion “There’s plenty of competition in the high-end hi-fimarketplace, with Naim Audio systems in Bentleys and Meridian set-ups in Range Rovers. But the quality of the audio package in our Volvo is superb, helping it scoop a gong at the Car Tech Awards. ‘The XC90’s B&W system impresses across the pitch range and is hugely atmospheric, delivering our test tracks with staggering detail. Rarely has every detail of the music been so apparent,’ said the judges.” James Disdale Chief reviewer Verdict VOLVO has always led the way when it comes to safety, but it’s now setting the pace on tech, too. Pilot Assist autonomous driving and plug-in powertrains on the XC90, as well as collaborations with suppliers like B&W, show it’s at the top of its game. WHO’D have…

“A new 4.3-inch LCD colour screen alerts you to your current speed and limit for the road” NEW PRODUCT Snooper My-Speed XL Price: £99.99 Contact: 01928 579579, www.snooper.co.uk SPEED camera detection specialist Snooper has launched a new product that enhances the brand’s existing line-up with added display and alert functions. When we tested the Snooper 4Zero in Issue 1,413, we criticised it for a lack of speed display – but the My-Speed XL rectifies this. It incorporates the Snooper GPS speed trap detection tech, and now adds a 4.3-inch LCD colour screen for alerting you to your current speed and the limit for the road on which you’re driving. This works throughout western Europe, too, with mapping provided by HERE. There are free speed camera updates as well, while a…

1 Audi A7 THERE’S no question the Audi beats the Porsche as a used buy. While it might not be as fun to drive or as special to own, it’s so much cheaper that you won’t be too fussed about the badge. 2 Porsche Panamera AS a new car, the Panamera is more accomplished than the A7. It’s better to drive and more upmarket, but although it’s twice as costly to buy secondhand, it’s not twice as capable. Audi A7 3.0 TDI S line quattro Years: 2012 to date Engine: 3.0-litre V6, 316bhp Ins group: 45 Official econ/CO2: 46.3mpg/169g/km Why? Dramatic styling marks out Audi’s five-door coupé, while it’s also solid, practical and refined. Prices from: £15,500 Porsche Panamera Diesel Years: 2011 to date Engine: 3.0-litre V6, 296bhp Ins group:…

“Andy could easily view details and videos of other cars, including the owner’s name and car registration” ENSURING customer data is stored securely online is vital for businesses, with every bank of personal details a potential target for computer hackers. As more aspects of car ownership are going digital, there’s more and more information about owners and their cars available. One of the latest tools is video servicing, where garages provide drivers with a short clip of repairs and inspections. Reader Andy Twine, from Reading, Berkshire, received one of these for a health check carried out during the service on his MINI Cooper from his local garage. The video was stored in a link sent via E-mail, with no password requirement, yet contained details of Andy and his car. Concerned,…

“Aston was always busy, but now we’re developing a lot more cars. In V8 and DB9 days, we did one before we started another project. Now I’ve got a lot of projects” Ian Hartley Aston Martin TO say it’s been a busy couple of years at Aston Martin would be a massive understatement. An all-new DB11 is just about to arrive at owners’ doors, wealthy clientele are jostling for a spot on the AM-RB 001 hypercar waiting list, the (very) limited edition DB10 was delivered to one Mr James Bond, the track-only Vulcan supercar blew the cobwebs off anyone lucky enough to drive one, and GT12 and GT8 specials have also been launched. Not enough? Well, Aston’s racing programme has been revitalised, a new range of accessories is available from…

Verdict LIKE its diesel-powered A5 sibling, the S5 Sportback is a luxurious, fast and (relatively) frugal five-door coupé. It’s quattro all-wheel drive system gives it bags of poise, but prevents it being the driver’s choice in this class. An S4 saloon is cheaper and more practical, but if style is a top priority, few will complain about the S5’s beautifully finished and hugely desirable package. LAST week (Issue 1,445) we drove the new Audi A5 Sportback and praised its top-quality interior and smooth engine. Now it’s the turn of the S5, complete with its new turbo V6 and subtle but sporty upgrades. This five-door S5 Sportback features many of the same cosmetic changes that differentiate the regular A5 from its predecessor. It gets the same wide grille and LED lights,…

Verdict THE Evora 410 is a car you can’t help but fall for as an enthusiast. It’s a lovely thing to drive, with monster performance, improved quality, a fantastic soundtrack and charisma served by the bucket load. It remains an eccentric (and expensive) decision beside a similarly priced Porsche 911, but in reality, there is nothing quite like it. This is a great car, in fact, and one that true fans will properly connect with. ADDING power, doubling downforce, improving the aero and removing 70kg from the kerbweight will always increase the performance and raw ability of any sports car. But when your starting point is the already excellent Evora 400, the results are likely to be spectacular. Step forward the new £82,000 Lotus Evora Sport 410. Expensive it may…

Verdict ★★★★★ A GOOD city car needs to cope with the rigours of urban life but also deliver comfort on the motorway. The Mii does just that, and will be cheaper to buy and run than the Kia, not to mention more practical. Although the SEAT is slower, it’s still more fun to drive and offers surprising refinement for the price. DRIVING The precise steering makes the most of the sharper suspension, so with the more powerful engine the Mii is surprisingly good fun to drive, with a snicky, precise five-speed manual to tap into that 74bhp power output. RIDE QUALITY City cars sometimes struggle on ride quality, as is evident in the Picanto. However, even on larger 16-inch wheels with firmer springs and dampers, the Mii FR Line feels…

Verdict DESPITE a few compromises, the Navara makes a compelling choice for businesses and company car users looking to cut their costs. The growing UK pick-up market confirms thousands of people are already persuaded that now is a good time to start (or keep on) trucking. Second opinion “As Benefit-in-Kind costs for pickups aren’t calculated on emissions, it means how much CO2 your car pumps out only affects road tax. As a result, if you want to maximise the level of refinement possible from your pick-up, it’s worth going for the auto. It emits 183g/km of CO2 compared with our car’s 167g/km and costs £1,700 more (inc VAT).” Sean Carson Senior staff writer THE underlying reason for the pick-up truck’s success in the UK is simple: tax. You might not…

www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower OUR VIEW FINISHING in 56th place in the Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey is pretty good; the Duster ranked 91st last year. Its best scores this year were for running costs (21st), practicality (33rd), ride quality (30th) and reliability (37th); seat comfort (118th), in-car tech (101st) and build quality (100th) let it down. YOUR VIEW DUSTER owner Jason Corrigan from Ipswich says: “Overall, I’m pleased, as my four-wheel-drive diesel has been reliable and didn’t cost much to buy. “It’s spacious, well equipped for the money and comfortable. But the fuel consumption is disappointing on the motorway, while the paint isn’t very tough; it marks easily.” “Duster has been more highly rated in Driver Power survey than premium cars from BMW and Mercedes” FEW people would have predicted just how…

“The cabin brings a major overhaul to the Octavia’s infotainment system with a new touchscreen” THE new Skoda Octavia has been unveiled, sporting refreshed styling and updates to its interior and infotainment system for 2017. It’s due on sale in the UK in February priced around £17,000. This mid-life facelift keeps all of the same mechanicals as before, and both the hatchback and estate versions of the Czech manufacturer’s VW Golf rival benefit. The car is still based on one of the longer versions of the VW Group’s MQB chassis, so while its wheelbase and overall dimensions are unchanged, it will still offer one of the largest cabins in the class. The engine tweaks that brought a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol model to the line-up earlier this year are carried over,…

THE X-Class, Mercedes proudly claims, is the world’s first premium pick-up truck – and it’s due to arrive in British showrooms towards the end of 2017. Mercedes made the announcement in Stockholm, Sweden, where it unveiled not the production model, but a near-production concept dubbed the Concept X-Class. In fact, we’ve been treated to two distinct concept versions of the new truck that’s being built on the robust ladderframe platform shared with the Nissan NP300 Navara (tested on Page 60) and Renault Alaskan pick-ups under Mercedes’ deal with the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Firstly, the Concept X-Class Powerful Adventurer (above, left) is an off-roadfocused design that sets out to underline the fact that a truck carrying the threepointed star will still be tough. Secondly, the Concept X-Class Stylish Explorer (above, right)…

Verdict WHILE the stylish new Kuga is better looking than ever and is still good to drive, it’s outclassed in the competitive family SUV market. The Peugeot 3008’s interior is miles ahead, and the SEAT Ateca is more fun. In fact, it’s hard to find a stand-out feature for the Ford. It’s well equipped, practical and stylish – but so are its newer, more accomplished rivals. “Styling is up to date with the sharp-looking Ford Edge, and gives the Kuga presence on the road” THE current Kuga SUV has been on sale since 2012. Now, four years later, Ford has finally seen fit to update the car with a new look and extra equipment. Can this keep the crossover competitive against a spate of more modern rivals? We’ve driven it…

Verdict THE F12tdf is destined to be one of Ferrari’s all-time legendary road cars, alongside the Daytona and F40. It is more old-school than the LaFerrari – less a technical marvel than that hybrid hypercar – yet in its own brutal way, it is just as sophisticated. It is not a car for the foolhardy or the inexperienced; indeed, it is a hard car to master – but one that will always be rewarding to drive. ★★★★★ “Without question, the tdf’s V12 engine is the most exhilarating and dramatic powerplant in a road car” FIRSTLY, just to clarify, the boot on the Ferrari F12tdf is easily big enough for weekend luggage for two. But there is more interesting stuff to talk about at the other end of the car –…

Verdict THIS automatic transmission has done little to boost the appeal of Infiniti’s petrol Q30. The new gearbox makes the hatchback feel lethargic, while the disappointing kit list and high price do it no favours, either. It remains a refined and comfortable motorway cruiser, but there’ll be more fun on offer if you stick with one of the Infiniti’s desirable and capable rivals. You’ll have more money come resale time, too. BASED on the Mercedes A-Class, the Infiniti Q30 has been on sale for nearly a year, and comes with the choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. In an effort to cover more bases, Infiniti now offers its 1.6-litre turbo with a dual-clutch gearbox – and we’ve driven it here for the first time. The auto commands a…

Verdict THE Picanto is feeling its age in places, but it’s still a stylish, solidly built supermini with lots of kit. It also offers strong performance, yet the rest of the driving experience trails its rival. It’s less refined, less efficient and not as spacious, either, although the seven-year warranty boosts the ownership experience. DRIVING Light controls mean the Picanto is agile around town. Yet it isn’t much fun beyond the city limits, with inconsistent steering, an unsettled ride and sharp clutch letting it down. Road and wind noise intrude, too. ENGINE Picanto’s bigger 1.25-litre four-cylinder unit is a peppy performer and delivered stronger pace on track than the Mii’s. However, it lacks low-end torque; you need to rev it to get the best out of it, and then it…

SEAT Ateca SENIOR staff photographer Pete Gibson waved goodbye to his Renault Kadjar last week (Issue 1,445), and seven days later he’s saying hello to a new crossover. The SEAT Ateca usurped the Renault as our favourite model in this class at the 2016 New Car Awards, so Pete will be well placed to see whether it maintains this advantage in everyday use. Unfortunately, he’s already spotted one downside of his new high-riding family car. Pete is always having to unload and repack photography equipment from his boot, and he has found the way the SEAT’s tailgate bounces off the latch when closing a real annoyance. The first thing he knows about it is as he’s pulling away, when an alert flashes up on the dash to indicate the boot…

2016 Results B-MAX Factfile Years: 2012 to present CO2: 114g/km Fuel economy: 57.7mpg (1.0T EcoBoost) Best options: City Stop, stop/start, reversing camera, cruise control, sat-nav, heated seats Prices: From £5,450 OVERALL SCORE 88.95% Bars show where model finished out of 150 cars in our 2016 survey. The lower the rating the better GOOD “A PLEASURE to drive. I also like the sliding doors; they make getting out a lot easier when in car parks.” “Smooth and quiet; a relaxing car to drive.” “It’s an ideal car for me. There’s plenty of space for passengers and luggage, but it’s not difficult to park.” “Performance from the 1.0-litre engine is great. It’s surprisingly powerful.” “Fuel economy is very good, and close to the official quoted figures.” “I mostly use my B-MAX on…

Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDi Years: 2015 to date Best engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 74bhp Insurance group: 15 Economy/CO2: 94.2mpg/79g/km WHY? The facelifted version of the Peugeot 208 went on sale in the UK in June 2015, complete with a more efficient engine range. So efficient, in fact, that it’s clinched the crown as the UK’s most economical combustion-engined car. Stop/start now features as standard on all diesel models – with the exception of the base 74bhp version – and that means the 1.6-litre BlueHDi, with the same 74bhp output, claims class-leading figures of 94.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 79g/km. A 118bhp unit is also available complete with a six-speed manual gearbox, and this still emits only 94g/km. From £15,515 (new) Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.5 TDCi Years: 2013 to date Best engine:…