Innholdsfortegnelse for 1401 i Auto Express

IT’S taken a while, but just a couple of weeks ago VW high-ups finally faced the world’s press to talk about the emissions scandal. I had two questions, which we’d waited weeks for answers to: how would the remedial work affect owners’ cars and what about compensation after the generous $500 cash handout to US owners? It’s taken a long time to find the appropriate fix to eliminate the defeat device from cars, and then to get approval from the various authorities for the proposed changes. But it didn’t take long for new VW CEO Matthias Müller to provide some answers at his first press conference in the hot seat. “We’re offering technical solutions that do not impact performance,” Müller told me. “The impact will be negligible, customers won’t be…

MEANWHILE, Vauxhall has also announced it will publish real-world emissions test results from summer 2016, in a bid to offer transparency on economy and NOx figures. The plans come in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal. The new figures will be calculated under the World Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). They will give a more accurate view of real-world fuel consumption and emissions than the flawed New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test currently used. The WLTP test will still be conducted in lab conditions, but is more comparable to real-world results. The latest Astra will be the first car tested under the new conditions. Figures will also be published for models from sister company Opel. The brands will work on an accurate way to improve NOx emissions before…

MERCEDES has facelifted the SLK and given it a new name: SLC. The badge is part of the brand’s latest naming strategy, with the folding hard-top joining the ‘C’ family made up of the C-Class and GLC ranges. But as well as a new name, the SLC gets new engines, updates inside and out, plus more kit and safety features. There’s also a hot new Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 model. Sleeker lights set it apart, plus there’s a new family grille, as well as a revised front bumper with larger air intakes. The rear is updated, too, with new chrome trim and angled exhaust pipes, plus there are new LED tail-lights. The hard-top – which owners can operate at speeds of up to 25mph – can be fitted with a panoramic…

Our verdict on new Huracán LP-580 2 LAMBORGHINI has tried to make its Huracán more involving by removing drive from the front wheels, detuning the V10 engine to give it more punch lower down the rev range, and fitting stiffer suspension with retuned electronic stability control. You can read our review on Page 27 to see what we make of it – then check out our thrilling video, too. Honda Civic Type R through the ages NOWHERE is the march of progress more evident than in the hot hatch market – and to illustrate this, we have brought all three generations of the Honda Civic Type R together. In this video we look at the major improvements over the years in terms of handling and performance. You can watch any…

HOT TOPIC New Subaru Impreza FROM: Bishopwasahero THE concept does indeed look like an attractive, if a little fussy-looking, rival to the Mazda 3 Fastback. We’ve been here before, though, and I fear the production version will lose a lot in translation, with less voluptuous wheelarches and styling. FROM: Def90cars THERE was a time when everyone wanted a blue Impreza. Subaru couldn’t import them quick enough. Since it dropped out of WRC, the car is just not what it was. I went to a Subaru dealer and it had a blue WRX in the showroom. Nobody was looking at it. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “I really hope Subaru chooses to keep this design when the Impreza goes into production. A real stunner.” Wiley • “I can’t…

IT is the ultimate supercar showroom… on water. Dealer Tom Hartley has literally bridged the gap between a traditional forecourt and luxury supercar heaven with a £200,000 floating underwater bridge across the lake that is next to his showroom in rural Derbyshire. Tom, who has built up the most successful independent supercar and classic car business in the country with his son and now co-owner Carl, wanted to bring a new dimension to selling cars with his ‘floating bridge’, and believes it will act as a spectacular shop window for his elite fleet. Explained Tom: “We are selling the most desirable cars in the world, some with a price in excess of several million pounds, and we wanted to display them in a special way that would make the buying…

IT’S no secret that the versatile MQB platform is the basis for various cars across the VW Group’s extensive model range. Yet when Skoda and SEAT announced more rugged, four-wheel-drive versions of the Octavia and Leon estates, in the shape of the Scout and X-Perience, Volkswagen was conspicuous by its absence. But 12 months after its off-road siblings went on sale, the brand will now offer you the pumped-up Golf Alltrack. Essentially a taller Golf Estate with protective body cladding and all-wheel drive, it comes with a range of diesel engines and a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes. The suspension has been raised by 20mm to cope with the occasional off-road excursion, but the real benefit is the ride. It is beautifully cushioned, making mincemeat of longer motorway journeys.…

WE’VE already driven the diesel-powered C-Class Coupé and bonkers Mercedes-AMG C 63 S version, but what if you haven’t got £66,910 to spend on an AMG and still want petrol power? Further down the C-Class Coupé range you’ll find the C 200 and C 300. Both are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with the C 200 pushing out 181bhp and the C 300 offering a sizeable 242bhp. We drove the latter here, with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed auto gearbox. On paper, it all looks good. Enthusiasts will lust after six-cylinder rivals, but the four-cylinder C 300 does 0-62mph in a very respectable six seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph. Fuel economy is quoted at 44.8mpg, while CO2 emissions of 134g/km mean VED isn’t too bad, either. In reality,…

Boot space THE Kadjar has a bigger boot, at 527 litres, compared to the Tucson’s 488-litre capacity. Yet while the Renault features a false floor with added storage underneath, the Hyundai comes with a full-size spare wheel. For some buyers that will be enough to justify the smaller boot, although Renault does offer a space-saver spare for £95. Off-road ability THESE cars aren’t really designed for off-road use, but higher-spec versions are available with 4WD. Intriguingly, the front-wheel-drive Tucson still features hill descent control. Simply press a button next to the gearlever, and the electronics limit the car’s speed on steep slopes. Emissions THE standard Kadjar 1.5 dCi has the Tucson beaten for emissions, but company car buyers can cut their Benefit in Kind bills further by specifying 17-inch wheels.…

Mazda CX-5 2.2 (150) SE-L Nav PRICE: £24,995 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THERE’S no shortage of class rivals, and the CX-5 is a great choice if you want low running costs and a sharp drive. The base SE-L Nav is pricey, but company car costs are well matched to the Hyundai’s, at £1,047 for lower-rate taxpayers. Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi Axis Edition PRICE: £21,195 ENGINE: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 114bhp IF the Hyundai’s warranty appeals, then why not get two more years with Kia’s cover? The Sportage isn’t very efficient, but as it’s set to be replaced in 2016, expect discounts – even on this Axis special with two-tone leather and sat-nav.…

“Our time with the Verso has shown how brightly a good people carrier can shine” PERHAPS more than any other kind of car, MPVs tend to be bought with the head rather than the heart. You probably never had a poster of a Renault Espace pinned alongside that Lamborghini Countach on your bedroom wall. Even compared to models from other mainstream market sectors, MPVs focus on practicality, utility and affordability. They’re all qualities it’s tough to get overly excited about – until you have a family to transport. Our time with the Toyota Verso has shown just how brightly a good people carrier can shine, simply by being easy for a busy family to live with. But how does the Verso stack up against its rivals? Well, let’s find out.…

Got a query? Cat_Dow@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Is carnauba worth the cash? I’VE noticed some waxes are advertised as featuring carnauba in them and others aren’t. What’s the difference and the benefits? Mike Collis, E-mail A CARNAUBA is a natural wax derived from plants grown in northern Brazil. In automotive detailing it’s used to give a really deep shine, but it can be expensive. Polymer wax is cheaper to produce, due to its synthetic properties. It’s also easier to work with than carnauba – yet while polymers can vary in quality, carnauba has a proven track record. Q Dust is posing a problem MY car is covered in piles of pink and white dust. On closer inspection, it looks like fibreglass. Is there a safe way to remove this…

Best price: £7.19 Contact: 0118 950 4090, www.wynns.uk.com UNLEADED fuel doesn’t store very well, and after a couple of months of sitting unused, it can oxidise and deteriorate. If your car, classic or otherwise, is going to be stored over the winter, it’s a good idea to add a stabiliser to the tank, and avoid any problems in the spring. Wynn’s newly upgraded Lead Substitute now comes combined with Fuel Stabiliser. This addition will help keep your motor in tip-top condition until the better weather arrives. A small 250ml bottle can treat 250 litres of fuel, which makes it good value.…

Le Mans 1923-29 Quentin Spurring (Evro, www.evropublishing.com) Price: £50 (hardback) Rating: DETAILING the early years of the historic Le Mans 24 Hours, this book is packed full of interesting facts about one of the best-known races ever. If you’re familiar with the current hi-tech cars that tackle the French track, seeing the twenties’ versions is quite remarkable. It has loads of photos from the races, too, and it’s really intriguing seeing how the cars and the track develop over the years. Formula One In Camera Paul Parker (Haynes, www.haynes.co.uk) Price: £40 (hardback) Rating: ANOTHER book looking at motorsport history, this book details Formula One from 1960-69 – an age renowned for its beautiful cars and the characters who drove them. It’s packed with pictures of victories and crashes, and of…

Got any car queries? Martin_ Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Auto shift glitch on SEAT? MY latest purchase is a SEAT Leon 1.2 TSI with a seven-speed DSG gearbox. The car should be fun to drive, but the DSG seems to have a mind of its own, holding on to gears for too long. Is this a common issue? Phil Evans, E-mail A THE old six-speed DSG was known to be a bit temperamental, but the seven-speeder is a much-improved version. In which case, it sounds like the gearbox may be faulty. Contact your SEAT dealer for a diagnosis – the gears may need remapping. Q Tucson crash test query I’M looking to buy a new Hyundai Tucson. However, reports from Australia suggest the right-hand-drive model scored poorly in some…

ON our side sit committed motor industry engineers and designers who ensure that cars are better, more reliable and efficient than ever. On the other you’ll find couldn’t-give-a-toss ministers, civil servants, councillors, transport agencies and others who have allowed Britain’s road network to get worse, less reliable and inefficient. The actual routes, iffy surfaces and faded signs aren’t the main issue. Badly managed roadworks, worsening and intolerable congestion and increasingly unpredictable journey times cause the real frustration. First-hand experience tells me that other developed countries are more adept at fixing broken roads. And basic sums confirm that Britain simply doesn’t have enough highways for the circa 65million folk and almost 40m vehicles registered here. Factor in unknown numbers of visitors to Blighty, plus their foreign-registered vehicles, and the paralysis of…

RENAULT is undergoing something of a renaissance. The brand’s reinvention started in 2012 with the curvy Clio, which swept in with daring styling, the latest connectivity and a boost in quality. It was followed by the Captur crossover, Twingo city car and, earlier this year, the Kadjar SUV. All Renault needed to complete the overhaul was a new family hatch – and here it is. This new Mégane Mark 4 – on sale next summer – aims not only to carry on the revitalisation of the range, but also right the wrongs of the previous car, which lost all the quirky styling cues Méganes in the past had been so well known for. It’s for that very reason the new Mégane is designed to stand out. It’s the widest car…

VAUXHALL has upgraded its inspection and reworking programme of its Zafira ‘B’ to a full safety recall to prevent any further fires in the heating and ventilation system. This in spite of the root problem being identified as dangerous repairs by non-Vauxhall technicians. A number of fires have been reported in the Zafira ‘B’, on sale from 2009-14. Vauxhall immediately initiated an ‘inspection and rework’ programme, cont ng owners of the 234,938 affected cars – that has now been upgraded to a full safety recall with the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The DVSA has agreed with Vauxhall’s root cause investigations, which have identified the cause of fires to be the faulty repair of a thermal fuse in a resistor that forms part of the heating and ventilation system of…

OVER at the Mercedes-AMG performance arm, a new S 65 Cabriolet has been revealed. The newcomer will debut at next month’s Detroit Motor Show, and is powered by the same 621bhp 6.0-litre biturbo V12 as the S 65 Coupé. When it lands in the UK in April, it will become the most expensive Mercedes on sale, priced from around £200,000 – roughly £15,000 more than the Coupé. An extra 175kg of strengthening has been added to the Cabriolet to compensate for the loss of the fixed roof, but as the engine develops 1,000Nm of torque, the car sprints from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. The electronically limited top speed of 155mph remains the same as the Coupé’s. Chrome detailing around the front air intakes, V12 badging and new alloy wheel designs…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0906 010 1300 (p) RAC: 0870 5533 533 (m) Which?: 01992 822 800 Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 085 3007 RAC: 0800 085 2529 Technical advice AA: 0870 606 1619 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0800 975 5867 Traffic information AA: 09003 401100 (p) RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers Motor Codes: 0800 692 0825 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510…

LAMBORGHINI claims the new rear-wheel-drive Huracán LP 580-2 has been in the planning stages for several years now.So it is definitely not a response to criticism that the original all-wheel-drive Huracán was a little bit of a shopping trolley when it came to on-limit understeer. Whatever the truth of it, the new rear-drive Huracán is here, and we’ve driven it. At the heart of the LP 580-2 sits a mildly detuned version of the four-wheel-drive car’s 5.2-litre V10 engine, now producing 571bhp instead of 602bhp. The rear-drive car’s engine doesn’t rev quite as high – it maxes out at 8,000rpm as opposed to 8,150rpm – so it produces less power, and a whisker less torque as well. However, the LP 580-2 weighs 33kg less than the LP 610-4, has a…

EVERY manufacturer has a particular skillset. It just so happens Lotus’s centres around making very light, very fast sports cars. The new Exige Sport 350 is a perfect example – adding performance not through boosting power, but by stripping out any unnecessary weight. By putting the existing Exige S on a diet, the Sport 350 is now leaner, meaner and even quicker. It was hardly a heavyweight to begin with, but Lotus has removed 51kg from the 1,176kg Exige S. It’s been done, Lotus says, by adding a lighter battery, a louvered tailgate, new engine mounts, a revised centre console and lighter body panels. To shave every unnecessary kilo, engineers completely stripped the Exige to the sum of its parts, laid every body panel and screw in its ‘Lightweight Laboratory’…

Essentials Suzuki SX4 S-Cross DDiSAllgrip SZ5 TCSS Price: £25,149Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl dieselPower/torque: 118bhp/320NmTransmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto,four-wheel drive0-60mph: 13.0 secondsTop speed: 108mphEconomy: 62.8mpgCO2: 118g/km ON SALE Now WITH the Vitara hogging the limelight in Suzuki’s crossover range, it’s easy to forget the existence of the humble SX4 S-Cross. But now you can buy one with the company’s first-ever dual-clutch auto gearbox, which we tested alongside the new Euro 6-compliant diesel engine. The six-speed TCSS transmission, as with the diesel engine, is sourced from Fiat and commands a premium of £1,350 over the manual car. It’s expected to be a reasonably strong seller, as Suzuki’s research claims nearly one in six crossovers are diesel autos. There’s now a set of paddles behind the steering wheel, allowing manual changes if your mood dictates.…

Lights LIGHTS are a big part of car design, as manufacturers explore new technologies. All three cars here boast smart headlamps and tail-lights so you know exactly what car you’re following in the dark. But clever LED headlights also help improve visibility and safety, so there’s a practical benefit to these design-led developments, too. Driving modes ALL our cars feature adjustable driving modes to tailor throttle response and steering weight for sportier driving or comfortable long-distance cruising. The systems impact on every model’s character, but the biggest differences come in the Jaguar, where Dynamic, Normal and Eco offer a broad change. Rear access EXEC saloons need to cope with modern family life. The old XF struggled when it came to rear access, but the larger doors on the new car…

YOU can take out flexible finance on the Kadjar, with Renault Selections offering 5.9 per cent APR representative. A deposit of between £250 and £8,500 is required, and repayments must be made over 24-48 months. The dealer makes a modest contribution of £429. Go for hire purchase, and you get zero per cent APR and the option of putting down between £6,500 and £12,700, while the dealer contributes £600 towards your deposit. Hyundai has flexible finance plans, including zero per cent interest if you sign up to a two-year PCP deal, which requires a £6,389 deposit and monthly payments of £159. Or you can choose a 49-month plan with no deposit, monthly payments of £315 and a £1,000 dealer contribution. Both plans have a final balloon payment option. New car…

Price: £10 Contact: 0345 504 5353 www.halfords.co.uk DRIVING in winter brings a variety of issues that can be potentially dangerous, including wet roads, foggy days and misted-up windows. Condensation can be a real hassle and hard to shift in cooler months, but there are products to help. One is the Thomar airdry Car Dehumidifier, which has been given the scented treatment, so your interior is not only dry but smells good by neutralising any bad odours. While looking like a small cushion, the product acts as a sponge to take the extra moisture out of the air in your cabin, through its ‘action granules’. The material, stuffed into a 36x16cm discreet, black pouch, is environmentally friendly and can absorb up to 800ml of water. The cushion can be placed on…

NEW PRODUCT JBL Trip Best price: £79.99 Contact: 01707 278113, uk.jbl.com PAIRING via Bluetooth, this uses its own visor-mounted speakerphone rather than connect to your car’s audio system. Soft buttons on the edge of the speaker cover operate the voice control with one touch. The device heavily relies on ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘OK Google’ for proactive voice control commands – for example if you want to make a call without touching the device. The accuracy can be variable, depending on your accent and what phrases/names you say, but the call quality is clear. The unit is weighty, so suited to a vehicle with a robust sun visor. It’s essentially a portable, albeit pricey, speaker so it can be charged in the car and used to stream music while you’re out…

RENAULT’S family car revolution is nearly complete. The Kadjar crossover is now on sale and the next-generation Mégane (driven on Page 6) is just around the corner – so attention turns to the all-new Scenic MPV, due later in 2016. It’s set to launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and our exclusive main image shows its more stylish, dynamic design. At September’s Frankfurt show, design boss Laurens van den Acker told Auto Express the Scenic formula needed to be refined to “make parents fall in love again”, using a “sensuous and voluptuous” design. And it’s clear from these spy shots and our image that the design has progressed into a curvier shape and less upright profile. This camouflaged prototype (right) is French-registered, but was spotted in Maidstone, Kent,…

Landmark Landie’s £400k charity sale THE two-millionth Land Rover Defender has gone under the hammer at Bonhams Charity Auction – raising £400,000 for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation. Sold to a buyer from Qatar, the landmark 4x4 (above) featured special logos on the bodywork and seats, and a plaque signed by those who built it. John Edwards, boss of JLR’s Special Operations division, said: “This sale will go down as part of our history.” Free breathalysers from Honda dealers HONDA is giving away nearly 10,000 free breathalysers at its 196 UK dealers over Christmas and New Year. The move comes after the brand teamed up with AlcoSense, which found nearly one in three Brits (29 per cent) had admitted…

SIX months ago in this very column (Issue 1,375), I bemoaned the continued lack of action on the digital radio switchover – and, sadly, nothing has changed. This year, 2015, was meant to be when analogue radio was turned off but, with just a week until we pop the champagne corks on 2016, it’s fair to say that target has been missed. Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, has admitted that it’s likely to be 2020 before anything happens. For clarity, I’m not advocating we rush through the switchover. There are plenty of owners of older cars who simply can’t afford a car fitted with DAB. It’s estimated that one in four new cars still doesn’t come with a digital radio as standard. And that includes some…

THE sight of shops filled with tinsel and the crunch of frost on the ground don’t always signal good cheer – they can spell trouble for motorists. On cold, dark mornings, it may be tempting to avoid those freezing minutes spent de-icing the car by starting the engine and leaving it to warm up and defrost the windscreen while you nip back inside to finish getting ready. Beware – this is an ideal opportunity for thieves to simply drive the vehicle away. What’s more, many motor insurance policies now exclude claims for car theft where the keys are left in the vehicle while it’s left unattended. Insurers would also be well within their rights to reject a claim on the basis you were not taking reasonable care of your vehicle…

FORD is facing a tough challenge with this new Mondeo Vignale. It’s priced to compete against competition from BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar, yet the transformation from mainstream Mondeo into executive saloon isn’t wholly convincing. Rather than creating a direct competitor to the 3 Series and C-Class, Ford says the Vignale has been designed to allow existing customers to get a little bit more from the Mondeo. Bosses told us that a large number of owners already choose top-spec models, and this car is a further step up, with more kit, attention to detail and exclusivity. Ford also pointed out that it’s not expecting huge sales from the Vignale. Instead, it hopes to retain customers who may be looking for something more luxurious from the brand. The range starts at £29,345,…

WHEN it was launched in 2012, the third-generation Mercedes A-Class marked a sea change for the German brand’s smallest model. Gone were the upright MPV lines of its predecessor, replaced by swoopy, low-slung bodywork designed to attract buyers away from rivals such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. On the whole, the latest A-Class has proven a hit in showrooms, but as Mercedes is updating and revising its entire range with a new naming policy, the car has been given a bit of an update to keep it competitive. We’ve already tried the A 250 AMG (Issue 1,398), and now we’ve got our hands on the A 200d Sport. As Mercedes’ new naming structure suggests, the A 200d is a diesel-powered car featuring a 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine under…

Nissan e-NV200 CombiTekna Rapid Plus Price: £26,429 (after Gov grant)Engine: AC electric motorPower/torque: 108bhp/254NmTransmission: Single-speed auto,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 14.0 secondsTop speed: 76mphRange: 106 milesCO2: 0g/km ON SALE Now FOR those with a large family seeking zero-emissions transport, Nissan has the answer: the seven-seater version of its van-based e-NV200 people carrier. It uses the motor and lithium-ion battery pack from the Leaf EV and features two fold-down seats in the boot. The car has been built primarily for private hire taxi drivers, fleets and hotels, but it could also work as a cheap-to-run family car for private buyers. It’s not suitable for long journeys, though. Nissan quotes a range of just 106 miles, yet admits 70 miles is more realistic. Still, the e-NV200 has its merits on short trips. As it’s based…

1 st JAGUAR THE XF beat the A6 in our V6 diesels test, and it’s conquered the BMW and Audi here in a battle of the more popular 2.0-litre engines. It’s slightly more expensive, but with all running costs considered, the Jag is a real competitor. Plus, it’s fun to drive and boasts superb agility for a car this size. The XF has really improved its usability, while modern styling completes its evolution. 2nd AUDI OUR 2015 Best Executive Car has been toppled. The A6 is cheaper than the XF, but it can’t match it for overall appeal. Although quality is good, it feels a generation behind the Jag inside, while the A6’s chassis can’t compete in this company. It’s more efficient on paper, but savings for company car buyers…

1st RENAULT IT’S two out of two for the Kadjar, as it sees off the Tucson. Renault really has found its feet in the crossover class, and this car offers more space and a smarter cabin layout. It’s well built and drives reasonably well, while lower running costs make up for the diesel’s slightly poorer performance. The standard car rides well, but the 17-inch wheels are a no-brainer for company car users. 2nd HYUNDAI THE Tucson brings the Santa Fe’s family face to the compact crossover class, but, apart from that, it’s much like the old ix35. That’s no bad thing, as it’s well built and has decent kit, but in a class where the competition is so intense, it’s treading water rather than making an impact on the front-runners.…

Richard Ingram Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “It’s clear how much time and thought SsangYong has put into this important car” THE first car I drove as an Auto Express journalist was a 2011 SsangYong Korando ELX. Back then, the South Korean brand was a relative newbie in the UK car market. It had just a handful of dealers and an even smaller model line-up. But four years and several new cars later, it should be an established player, right? Not quite – SsangYong has sold just over 3,000 cars in 2015. While that’s a 114 per cent increase year-on-year, it’s some way behind the 97,000 Peugeots that have found new homes, or the 312,000 models that Ford dealers have shifted since January. But when we were offered a Tivoli to run on…

Lifetime updates for basic TomTom navs WITH the launch of its latest two products, the GO 51 and 61, TomTom has introduced its Lifetime services across the whole range. These includes ongoing updates for speed camera spots, traffic conditions and world maps. The 51 and 61 are entry-level models, priced from £139.99, with five and six-inch screens respectively, and have touchscreen functionality, including pinch and zoom actions. Corinne Vigreux, co-founder and managing director at TomTom Consumer, said: “We want to take the headache out of driving, and make every journey easier.” In-car DAB set for a major expansion DAB provider Pure is set to deliver the UK’s biggest expansion in national radio stations via a new device expected in March next year. Working in partnership with Sound Digital, which has…

HANDS-FREE kits are a great option if you need to make a call in your car and there’s no in-built system. You have the choice of an earpiece or sun visor device to avoid falling foul of laws regarding the use of a phone behind the wheel. A new sun visor option is the JBL Trip, which combines Bluetooth speaker tech with hands-free calling. We put it against the Plantronics K100, to test its hands-free and music streaming capabilities, looking at build and sound quality, ease of use and price. In terms of quality and versatility, JBL has done a fine job, and it will only get better as voice recognition software improves. For a more modest outlay, the K100 offers a relatively seamless integration with your existing tech, despite…

Dear Lawrence, I’m retiring in 2016 aged 65 and I want to get myself a fun, fast two-seat roadster to celebrate. What should I be shopping for at £15k? David, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk CARS THE STYLISH CHOICE BMW Z4 FOR: Sharp styling, premium feel, efficiency AGAINST: Ride and handling, four-cyl turbo THE latest BMW Z4 is a more mature, refined car than the first generation. That’s no bad thing, as you get the benefit of the most modern and classy cabin here, and a neat folding metal roof. Lower-spec models get a characterless four-cylinder turbo, so the 3.0-litre straight-six is the best choice. It’s fast and pleasant to drive, but the Boxster outclasses it for fun and handling feel. We spotted a 59-plate sDrive30i with 32,000 miles for £14,595.…

MORE car manufacturers are set to join Jaguar in Formula E in the coming years. Speaking at the announcement of the British brand’s team last week, series boss Alejandro Ajag said: “It’s transforming for Formula E, it changes totally the appeal of the series and confirms it as a platform for OEMs that are not in motorsport already. “I think it’s going to provoke almost a landslide of other OEMs. We’re talking to many, they are waiting to see who is first.” At least one more manufacturer entry is expected to be announced before the end of the current season, which runs until summer 2016. This will be in the form of a partnership with an existing team, similar to how DS joined with the Virgin Racing outfit. Formula E…

NORTHERN Ireland’s Kris Meeke has re-signed with the Citroen World Rally Team for another three years. The Rally Argentina winner will spend next season running selected events in a private DS 3, while also developing an all-new Citroen WRC car before the manufacturer makes a full return in 2017. “I chose to stay with Citroen to reap the rewards of the work done over the last two years,” said Meeke (above). “It’s also a way to thank the team for its faith in me.”…