Auto Express 1447

LET’S get one thing straight from the start: Auto Express is delighted that the future of Nissan’s Sunderland plant has been secured with the confirmation that the next Qashqai and X-Trail will be built there. It’s a huge relief for the workers and Wearside as a whole, and well deserved on account of the plant’s remarkable productivity. The aftermath to the announcement has been puzzling to say the least, though – in particular Business Secretary Greg Clark’s assertion that other car makers with UK operations, such as Vauxhall, Ford and Toyota, would benefit from the same assurances that helped make up Nissan’s mind to stay here following our vote to leave the EU. What this means is unclear, but it’s been widely interpreted that the Government may provide compensation for…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “The Japanese manufacturer has given the 10th-generation Civic an all-new platform” HONDA is readying an all-new version of its Civic hatchback to take on the Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf – and ahead of its launch in spring 2017, Auto Express has been to Germany to have a quick drive in a production-ready prototype. The Japanese manufacturer has given the 10th-generation Civic an all-new platform and turbocharged VTEC engines in a bid to regain what it calls the Civic’s “distinctive sporty driving character”. The underpinnings make greater use of high-tensile steel, tighter welding and tweaks to the manufacturing process to offer 41 per cent more torsional rigidity than the chassis of the outgoing model. Yet the new-generation’s structure is 16kg lighter – a feat that ought to improve…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “Citroen may choose the launch of the new model to remove the Picasso badge from the C3 altogether” CITROEN is gearing up for a radical overhaul of its Picasso sub-brand – and the transformation is likely to start when a more SUV-like successor to the current C3 Picasso arrives next year. The existing model is one of the dwindling number of small MPVs on the market – but recent spy shots (right) show that Citroen is working on a new car that will look more like a baby SUV based on the recently launched C3. Our exclusive images peel away the prototype’s disguise to show that key C3 styling elements – such as the split daytime running lights and headlamps, and Airbump protection strips – are likely to…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer VAUXHALL is again facing calls from owners to explain why its vehicles have caught fire, after Corsa owners reported their cars had burst into flames. Owners of the fourth-generation Vauxhall Corsa D, built between 2006 and 2014, reported cases of the vehicle catching fire, prompting a recall of 2,767 cars in April. The maker identified a fault with the braking system in some 1.4-litre petrol models where water could leak in and fry electronics. However, now more owners have come forward, including some who fell outside the initial recall criteria. This has prompted calls for a wider investigation into the 700,000 Corsa D models sold in total. Although the matter was unrelated in cause, Vauxhall was forced to twice recall 234,938 Zafira B models in the UK after…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk @Steve_cars THE new Audi A5 Cabriolet has been revealed ahead of its public debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in mid-November. As with the last convertible, the elegant lines are shared with the A5 Coupé, with a strong shoulder line and steeply raked windscreen, along with Audi’s trademark grille and latest signature LED headlamps. Short front and rear overhangs give it a sporty stance while maximising space in the four-seat interior. The standard acoustic fabric hood is designed so that the Cabriolet is as quiet as the Coupé with the roof up. It can fold away automatically in 15 seconds, and if the heavens open, it’ll take 18 seconds to move back into place. Either operation can be performed at speeds of up to 31mph. Roll hoops and…

DS 5 range loses its hybrid flagship THE DS 5 Hybrid (above) has been dropped from the French firm’s UK range. Bosses decided that the slow-selling model should be removed as a cost-saving measure. A DS spokesperson said: “Sales of DS 5 Diesel Hybrid versions accounted for only three per cent of the UK’s total DS 5 volume in the year up to September 2016. In light of this, we decided to review the DS 5 range in order to introduce greater efficiencies.” October sales see fleet market boost FLEET sales continue to support the UK automotive industry, as October sales figures showed 1.4 per cent growth, despite falling private sales. October saw 180,186 new cars registered, bringing the yearly total to 2,330,663 – up by 2.5 per cent on…