Innholdsfortegnelse for April 22, 2015 i Auto Express

IF there’s one thing to take from this year’s Driver Power, it’s that you’re happier than ever with your cars – we’ve seen an increase in the satisfaction levels, with the models placed in fourth, third and second scoring so highly they would’ve topped our survey in previous years. Which makes Lexus’ achievement with the new IS all the more impressive, knocking the three-time champion, the Skoda Yeti, off the top spot. It’s no flash in the pan for Lexus. All its models score highly, including the new NX SUV in sixth place – this car has only been on sale a matter of months, yet owners are already thrilled to bits. Customer satisfaction is something that Lexus has always valued highly, so much so that when we went to…

SVELTE and sporty cars, with a nod towards practicality, are the order of the day at Mercedes. According to AMG CEO Tobias Moers, the new AMG GT (driven on Page 40 ) won’t be a one-off: as well as a high-performance Black Series version of the coupé, there will be a family of bodystyles. A Roadster is certain, but more intriguing is the idea of a four-door. Moers couldn’t give a timeframe, but was positive about such a car. However, he said it would require a different platform from the AMG GT Coupé. This could be lifted from the C-Class, as the C 63 AMG version already uses the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. PAGE 40 : AMG GT first UK drive…

SARAH Sillars also told Auto Express that Government and GPs needed to better prepare elderly drivers for the future. The number of older motorists on UK roads is only set to increase with the ageing population, and the IAM wants action. It doesn’t support compulsory testing at a certain age, but Sillars said talking about it shouldn’t be a taboo. “We need support with information and help from GPs and some kind of voluntary assessment of your driving,” she told us. “Government and medical professionals need to take it much more seriously.” “As population ages, number of older drivers on roads is set to rise”…

CAR valuation experts claim retro colours are making a comeback. There’s been a resurgence in interest in models painted green, beige (above), gold, bronze, brown, yellow and orange. CAP said these shades had been shunned by drivers since their seventies heyday. CAP’s Philip Nothard said: “You can’t underestimate the power of ‘retro chic’ in the world of consumer taste. People are actively searching for used car alternatives to the new car market’s mainstream offerings.”…

Special Mulsanne Speed unveiled BENTLEY has revealed the Mulsanne Speed Blue Train (above) to mark the 85th anniversary of a race from Cannes to London won by its then chairman and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours champion, Woolf Barnato. Produced by Bentley’s coachbuilding division, Mulliner, and limited to four cars, the Blue Train features historical references and modern interpretations of design details from the original Speed Six driven by Barnato back in 1930. Lotus to build cars, engines in China LOTUS’ parent company DRB-HICOM has signed a joint venture agreement between Lotus UK and Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. The agreement will see Lotus-branded cars and engines built in China – currently the world’s largest market for new cars. The venture will initially see the creation of a new company that…

Q What are your sales targets for the Mondeo Vignale? A “It’s not so much a target, but considering 70 per cent already buy Titanium, in my mind I am thinking around 10 per cent of Mondeo sales.” Q Is the Vignale sub-brand a reaction to being squeezed by cheaper and more premium car makers? A “Everyone is looking for new opportunities, so just as premium manufacturers are looking to go smaller and more affordable, we’re pushing back towards them. There are lots of customers who are more than happy with Ford, and we want to give them no reason to want to leave the brand.” Q What other models are next in line for the Vignale treatment? A “The only models confirmed at the moment are the Mondeo and…

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 RMIF: 0845 839 9205 (m) Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers…

SINCE 2013, the number of plug-in vehicles on the UK’s roads has tripled, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. But just how viable are these cars for longer journeys and how easy is it to make the most out of their money-saving battery tech? To find out, we decided to drive our favourite plug-in hybrid, the BMW i3 Range Extender, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire to Amsterdam – as the Netherlands has the second highest concentration of plug-in cars in Europe. Where possible, we’d try to run the i3 in pure EV mode, using its on-board petrol generator to top up the batteries only when necessary. But even with this class-leading car at our disposal, the 340-mile road trip wouldn’t be simple. In fact, it turned…

Essentials Volkswagen Golf Alltrack 2.0 TDI Price: £30,595Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl dieselPower: 181bhpTransmission: Six-speed twin-clutchauto, four-wheel drive0-62mph: 7.8 secondsTop speed: 136mphEconomy: 56.5mpgCO2: 132g/km ON SALE Now THE new R model (left) proves the VW Golf is one of the best estates out there, but in a world of SEAT Leon X-Periences and Skoda Octavia Scouts, its range still looks a bit limited. So, to broaden its appeal even further, the company has also introduced this rugged Alltrack model. The Golf Alltrack is cut from the same cloth as the bigger Passat Alltrack, which means it adds a 20mm increase in ride height, all-wheel drive and distinctive body cladding. All of these are features you’ll also find in the Leon X-Perience and Octavia Scout (tested on Page 94). In fact, the trio…

Essentials Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC EX Price: £34,120Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower/torque: 158bhp/360NmTransmission: Nine-speed automatic,four wheel drive0-62mph: 10.4 secondsTop speed: 122mphEconomy: 53.3mpgCO2: 139g/km ON SALE Now HONDA has facelifted its CR-V for 2015 with a few styling tweaks, a new high-output 1.6-litre diesel engine and a nine-speed automatic gearbox. We got behind the wheel of the top-spec EX model to see if these changes add up to a big improvement. It doesn’t take long to realise the CR-V still isn’t the best crossover to drive. It might be 35kg lighter than before, thanks to the new auto gearbox, but the chassis still feels dull and lifeless. Despite quicker steering it’s slow to change direction, and although the ride is comfortable, the soft suspension means it never feels quick to respond. There’s…

Alpina XD3 BiTurbo 270 Price: £56,450Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyltwin-turbo dieselPower/torque: 345bhp/700NmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic,four-wheel drive0-62mph: 4.9 secondsTop speed: 156mphEconomy: 42.8mpgCO2: 178g/km ON SALE Now THE BMW X3 was treated to a mid-life refresh late last year, but it’s taken until now for the updates to filter through to the wild Alpina XD3. Hand-built by the legendary tuning company at its factory in Bavaria, the XD3 now gets the same reprofiled headlamps and revised grille as the standard X3, plus it benefits from minor tweaks to the cabin. Elsewhere, it’s pure Alpina, which means there’s a bold bodykit, as well as the brand’s distinctive 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. Our test car was given extra visual impact courtesy of its larger 21-inch rims and garish body decals that run down the side. Inside, you…

Reliability 1. TOYOTA IQ 98.81% RELIABILITY is key when it comes to buying a car, and it’s one of the few things that you are unwilling to compromise on as an owner. The most reliable car, according to our Driver Power 2015 satisfaction survey, is the Toyota iQ, which finished just ahead of its premium cousins, the new Lexus NX and IS Mk3. In fact, Toyota and Lexus make up half of the top 10 for reliability, although we’ll have to wait until next year to see if the all-new models can maintain their strong form. Seven out of the top 10 cars are Japanese, while there are two South Korean models in the shape of the Hyundai i10 Mk2 and Kia Picanto Mk2. At the other end, it’s…

FIRST TEST Audi Driving Experiences Price: From £299 Rating: Contact: 0800 699 888, www.audi.co.uk AUDI is the latest manufacturer to give the public the chance to try its cars on a range of driving experiences. There’s a variety of activities on offer, from taking control of a hot hatch or the formidable R8 to tackling tough terrain in a 4x4 – and it’s all held at Silverstone, Northants. We headed to the home of the British Grand Prix try out them out. Starting off with the quattro experience, we practised high-speed avoidance manoeuvres in an Audi Q5. These were fun yet informative, as tutors taught skills that can be used on the road. However, we were soon out on the Stowe Circuit, taming the RS5 around bends and controlling a…

Essentials Vauxhall Corsa VXR Price: £17,995Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo petrolPower/torque: 202bhp/280NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 6.5 secondsTop speed: 143mphEconomy: 37.7mpgCO2: 174g/km ON SALE Now • We get behind the wheel of range-topping performance supermini • Optional Performance Pack brings limited-slip diff, bigger alloys VAUXHALL’S VXR brand has quite a cult following in the UK – so much so that 60 per cent of General Motors’ hot European cars end up here. In eight years, a total of 9,000 examples of the old Corsa VXR were sold to British buyers. Step forward the new version, which has been designed to take on the brilliant Fiesta ST, and on paper it has the Ford licked. The Corsa packs 202bhp against the Ford’s 180bhp, while 0-62mph takes 6.5 seconds (6.9 seconds for the ST).…

PEUGEOT caught the attention of the Shanghai Motor Show this week with a brand new concept: the 308 R HYbrid. Developed by the company’s in-house racing division, Peugeot Sport, the plug-in hybrid hatchback produces an astonishing 493bhp from a 1.6-litre turbo and electric motors on each axle, making it four-wheel drive. The 308 R HYbrid is loosely based around the 308 R Concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 – a decision on whether to build that car still hasn’t been made – but the newcomer ups the game in terms of performance. As well as converting it into all-wheel drive, Peugeot Sport has widened the front and rear tracks by 80mm and added beefier brakes. The powertrain combines the 267bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo found in the…

Six millionth Land Rover rolls off line LAND Rover is celebrating building its six millionth production model in style. The landmark car is a white Range Rover LWB Vogue SE, and it has taken pride of place on the company’s stand at the Shanghai Motor Show. It’s a subtle affair, however, as the only alteration is a new projector puddle light marking the occasion (above). The first Land Rover 4x4 rolled off the line in 1948, and the Range Rover celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. Prices revealed for revamped Evoque THE firm has also announced pricing for the facelifted Range Rover Evoque. The chic SUV will kick off at £30,200 in base eD4 SE spec. This features a 148bhp diesel engine and is claimed to be the brand’s most…

MG is readying a new Nissan Qashqai rival, called the GS, for 2016. And Auto Express reader Paul McCann has spied the SUV on test in the UK with the lightest disguise yet. He saw it at Leigh Delamare Services on the M4 in Wiltshire to give us our best look so far at the new car. It’s been toned down from 2013’s CS concept, and shares design cues with the rest of MG’s range, including the single-bar grille and sharp side creases. Gone is the concept’s wraparound front window, but the angled roofline and rear screen, curved bootlid and rugged stance remain. While Paul didn’t manage to get a shot of the interior, expect a seven-inch touchscreen, similar to the new MG6’s. We looked up the reg, and found…

MINI has created a set of virtual reality ‘goggle’-style glasses that you can wear while driving, and displayed them at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. The Augmented Vision goggles were developed by telecoms giant Qualcomm as a cleverer alternative to a head-up display, and can display navigation instructions, speed warnings and even help you park. They also claim to be able to safely display text messages in the driver’s line of sight. The most interesting feature is ‘X-ray vision’-mimicking tech. This uses cameras mounted around the car to display an external view through the bodywork, allowing for easy manoeuvring. It’s just a design concept for now, but Qualcomm’s Jay Wright claimed it’s “a compelling example of what’s possible today and what we can expect in the future”.…

FORD is now going after premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Jaguar with the launch of the new range-topping Mondeo Vignale. It goes on sale next month priced from £29,045, and is the first in a string of luxurious models designed to help Ford hang on to aspirational customers. The Mondeo Vignale will be available as a five-door hatchback or an estate. It gets sound-deadening and active noise cancellation through the speakers – an option that will be rolled out across Ford’s range in due course. Unique hexagonal quilted leather ups the luxury on the inside, while a 12-speaker stereo and the latest infotainment system are also standard. On the outside there’s a Vignale-specific hexagonal mesh grille, splashes of chrome on the door cladding and door mirrors, plus LED…

CHINESE company Qoros showed off the Qoros 2 small crossover concept at its home market motor show in Shanghai. The Nissan Juke-sized car is the third model we’ve seen from Qoros and it gets a 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine. The new model is predicted to debut in China at the end of 2015, but there is still no word on European production. Qoros is, as yet, unavailable in the UK, but the company told Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show that it could launch in Europe in the next two to three years.…

WE are inherently creatures of habit, so when something changes that we’re accustomed to, we’re not always the quickest to keep up or catch on. In the past year, there have been two significant examples of this for motorists and their cars. The first was the SMART motorways scheme launched by the Highways Agency – now rebranded as Highways England since becoming a private standalone outfit – that began a year ago last week. The plan was to use hard shoulders as an added lane when congestion got too much. This would all be done with the help of clever gantry signs. But the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is concerned that drivers still don’t know how to use them and that they are potentially compromising safety. Whether all of…

SO you’ve found the used car you want advertised described as ‘immaculate’, with a three-month warranty from the garage. After 3,000 miles and just over three months, the engine develops a water leak – diagnosed as a cylinder head gasket failure. You ring the garage only to be told: “Your warranty ran out last week.” Is there anything you can do? Yes, there is, under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. First, write a letter or E-mail to the garage headed “Letter Before Action” telling it what’s happened, giving it an opportunity to fix it. Ask for a response in seven days, or threaten further action. If it refuses, write another letter telling it an independent expert will inspect the engine. Invite the garage to agree on the expert if…

Essentials Audi RS3 Sportback Price: £39,950Engine: 2.5-litre 5cyl turboPower/torque: 362bhp/465NmTransmission: Seven-speed twin-clutchauto, four-wheel drive0-62mph: 4.3 secondsTop speed: 174mphEconomy: 34.9mpgCO2: 189g/km ON SALE Now WE first drove the new Audi RS3 on a frozen lake in Ivalo, Finland, back in January, and walked away grinning after sliding around for several hours. But almost any car is fun to drive on ice. This, then, is our first ‘proper’ test of the RS3 – on the crumbling country roads around Rome and the tight turns of the Vallelunga Circuit. Thanks to an evolution of its predecessor’s 2.5-litre turbo engine, the RS3 is the most powerful hot hatch on sale. With 362bhp and 465Nm of torque, it outguns both the 355bhp Mercedes A45 AMG and the upcoming 320bhp Ford Focus RS. The Audi covers…

Essentials Volkswagen Golf GTD Estate Price: £29,700Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl dieselPower: 181bhpTransmission: Six-speed twin-clutchauto, front-wheel drive0-62mph: 7.9 secondsTop speed: 143mphEconomy: 58.9mpgCO2: 125g/km ON SALE Now IF the new Golf R Estate (Page 30) is a little too hot and the Golf Alltrack (Page 31) a bit rugged, fear not, because the third instalment of Volkswagen’s Golf Estate offensive is this new GTD – and it has all the makings of a winner. It’s the first time the brand has applied the GTD treatment to the Golf Estate, but with GTD hatch sales outstripping those of the more powerful GTI version by almost three-to-one, it makes sense. Under the bonnet is the familiar 2.0-litre diesel, which produces 181bhp and 380Nm of torque. The ever-accessible torque allows you to pick up the pace…

Essentials Suzuki Vitara SZ5 1.6 DDiS Price: £19,499Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower: 118bhpTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 11.5 secondsTop speed: 112mphEconomy: 70.6mpgCO2: 106g/km ON SALE Now THE all-new, fourth-generation Vitara arrives 27 years after Suzuki’s SUV first entered the fray, but does it retain the rugged charm of its predecessors? We’ve driven it in the UK for the first time to find out. Suzuki clearly knows who it’s targeting with the Vitara, making the newcomer as stylish as it is robust without impacting on its value-for-money ethos. The range kicks off from only £13,999, and while you can have a SsangYong Tivoli from £1,000 less and a Dacia Duster for just £9,495, the Vitara is still at the value end of the class. The line-up is refreshingly simple, too, with only 118bhp…

WHICH is the best car to own? That’s the question we wanted you to answer, and more than 61,000 of you responded, whether you were praising or criticising your cars. We wanted to know everything about your experience with your car. Has it been reliable during your time with it, or have you endured constant problems? What about practicailty? Is the boot big enough to swallow plenty of flat-packed furniture, or do you struggle to squeeze in your weekly shopping? Over the next 38 pages, we reveal your top 200 cars to own. We kick off by counting down from 200 to 101 (right) – listing 50 more models than we did last year – before focusing in more detail on the cars that broke into the all-important Driver Power…

Towing IF you want to go towing, then both cars are capable of pulling a maximum of 2,000kg. You can add a tow bar preparation kit for £155 on the SEAT and £175 on the Skoda, while a removable tow bar is £550 for the Scout. Surprisingly, the same piece of kit on the X-Perience is £599, even though the preparation is slightly cheaper. Off-road ability? ASIDE from part-time 4WD, neither of these cars has any useful off-road features, such as hill descent control or an off-road mode for the traction control. Think of them more as cars with raised ride height and extra grip for slippery conditions, and you won’t get into trouble. Boot options IN the Leon, you can add a metal dog guard for £285, while a…

Q Online sat-nav app needed I READ your recent review on sat-nav apps with interest. I need a smartphone solution – but I have no space to download maps so it has to be one I can use online. What can you suggest? Jane Paddington, E-mail A COPILOT and TomTom were the best apps in our Issue 1,363 test, but as they work offline they won’t be of much use to you. Waze (above) was the highest-rated app in our test that’s always online. This is free to download and will give you step-by-step directions as long as you’re connected to the Internet. Q Improving stereo quality THE speakers in my car aren’t great and I think changing them could improve sound quality. Would I need any other extra kit?…

Harman signs deal to buy out B&O auto CAR tech company Harman has signed an agreement to acquire Bang & Olufsen Automotive, the Danish company’s car audio division. B&O sound systems are fitted to some Audi, Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes models. Harman – which makes factory-fit head units (above) for makers including Ferrari – will develop the hit B&O Play brand to include more in-car solutions, having already released a number of luxury headphone and speaker products. Bang & Olufsen joins marquee car audio names such as JBL and Infinity in the Harman group. Breakdown giant’s mobile tyre fit move THE AA will launch its new mobile tyre fitting service, AA Tyres, this month. The breakdown company says punctures and tyre-related problems are the second most common reason for…

Wheeler Dealers: Car Restoration Manual Chris Randall, Mike Brewer, Edd China (Haynes, www.haynes.co.uk) Price: £22.99 (hardback) Rating: THE Wheeler Dealers team has joined forces with Haynes to present its 10 favourite restorations in a mock workshop manual style. Fans of the show should remember the cars featured, and the detail is almost as in-depth as on TV. Edd’s practical tips are particularly useful for wannabe restorers. VW Camper Buyers’ Guide Richard Copping (BehemothPublishing, behemothpublishing.co.uk) Price: £14.99 (paperback) Rating: ANY of the main five generations of VW’s long-standing Transporter are undeniably appealing, but buying one presents some potential problems, so it’s worth investing in a buyer’s guide before shelling out. Copping’s book addresses most key points to consider – and while it focuses more on older, air-cooled vans, it’s a useful…

Q Delay on Discovery Sport DAYS before my Land Rover Discovery Sport was due for delivery, the dealer told me there was a safety issue and that no cars were being released by Land Rover. What’s the problem? Peter Abbott, E-mail A WE spoke to Land Rover, which assured us that there’s no safety issue at all and that this must have been a miscommunication with the dealer. The delay in your delivery is more likely to be down to high demand for the car in your area, according to the company. Q No help on Tiguan box fix MY 2010 VW Tiguan needs a new gearbox and clutch, at £2,700. But as I had the car serviced independently, VW is refusing to inspect the part and offer any contribution.…

OUR politicians often tell us – the humble, patronised subjects of Britain – that we’re damned lucky to enjoy the best, cleanest democratic system in the world. At the same time, those squeaky-clean (yeah, right) political pros argue that certain Third World, developing or corrupt countries can’t and don’t do democracy. Apparently, in such politically iffy nations, huge sections of the population are ignored by even iffier rulers. It’s almost as if the masses don’t exist. I know the feeling. Not because I’m from one of those foreign fiefdoms, but because I live in a Britain that’s fast shedding its ‘best democracy in the world’ status. Since 2010, we’ve had what nobody voted for – a Conservative/Lib Dem Coalition Government with David Cameron as Prime Minister and Nick Clegg as…

THE Mercedes GLC Coupé concept has been revealed at this week’s Shanghai Motor Show, previewing a new model that’s likely to appear soon to take on the BMW X4 It also drops a big hint to how the standard GLC will look when it’s launched in June. The GLC Coupé gets a raised ride height, oversized grille and sloping roofline, and has a very similar rear end and boot spoiler to the larger GLE Coupé the brand revealed a couple of months ago. Mercedes says the show car is near-production-ready. This latest coupé SUV sits on huge 21-inch wheels, and has a bluff front end with a very short overhang. The darkened door pillars emphasise the sleek lines, with the bulges in the bonnet and large air intakes hinting at…

THE Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has laid down its blueprint of key priorities it would like the next Government to tackle to try to improve road safety. In an exclusive interview with Auto Express, IAM chief executive Sarah Sillars said she had four key areas she hoped would be looked at after the General Election is decided on 7 May. And top of the list is addressing the growing concern that in-car tech is proving a distraction for drivers. Connectivity is a key battleground for car makers, but the IAM believes the likes of smartphone mirroring, social media interaction and sat-nav programming present a danger for motorists. Said Sillars: “Cars are so advanced that they have become surrogate living rooms. But we are concerned about the distraction element of…

BMW is throwing its engineering might at the new 7 Series in a bid to finally knock the Mercedes S-Class off its perch. The new version of the much-loved luxury limo debuts a raft of clever technology and industry-first construction materials that will soon appear on more accessible BMWs. And we drove an early prototype at the top-secret Miramas test site in the south of France. BMW started from a blank sheet of paper for its latest car, beginning with the way it’s built. Key parts of the passenger cell are made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, reducing weight and lowering the 7 Series’ centre of gravity. Overall, the new model weighs 130kg less than before and is around 300kg lighter than an S-Class. Under the conservative styling, BMW’s engineers haven’t…

WITH the General Election just two weeks away, all the major UK parties have revealed their manifestos in order to secure the public vote. But while many of them have previously talked of halting the war on motorists, car owners have been largely ignored in the latest manifestos, even vilified by some. The Labour Party makes scant mention of motorists, the Conservatives mostly repeat what they have promised before, while the Lib Dems are focusing on diesel car owners. Meanwhile, the Green Party is calling on people to ditch their vehicles for public transport. UKIP, however, wants toll roads abolished – yet offers no detail on how to fund the upkeep of these roads – and no Europe-wide pay-as-you-go driving scheme (although no such scheme has been floated). The Scottish…

Mercedes’ stunning GLC Coupé unveiled THE new GLC Coupé Concept points to Mercedes’ second entry in the growing coupé SUV market – and after it debuted on the stands at Shanghai this week, you can bet it’s already causing concern at BMW, as it looks much more stylish than the X4 it’s aimed at. Read all about the car in our story on Page 10, then check out its gorgeous shape and neat detailing in our video. Peugeot’s 493bhp hybrid 308 is here TAKE a 308, fit the RCZ R’s 276bhp 1.6-litre turbo, then add electric motors on the front and rear axles. That’s what Peugeot’s done, and as you can read on Page 12, the 308 R HYbrid has 4WD and a total output of around 500bhp. Could it…

Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD HOT TOPIC Citroen Aircross concept FROM: blue mike IT’S interesting that the SEAT 20V20 crossover concept and this emerged at the same time. The contrast is like night and day. The SEAT is handsome and elegant with minimal clutter, while the Citroen Aircross looks a complete mess to me. FROM: ANTZ28 THERE will be those who only like Bauhaus car design, but then there are many of us who prefer a completely new direction. So, Citroen, I congratulate you with the new Aircross concept. This, if followed through, will be a fresh look for our eyes. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk • “Looks nice, but the gap between the concept and final production offering is…

Essentials Volkswagen Golf R Estate Price: £33,585Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turboPower: 297bhpTransmission: Six-speed auto,four-wheel drive0-62mph: 5.1 secondsTop speed: 155mphEconomy: 40.4mpgCO2: 164g/km ON SALE Now WE’VE been blown away by the VW Golf R in every environment we’ve tested it in, so the idea of a more practical, load-lugging estate model had us very excited indeed. Beneath the bonnet sits the same 297bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine, feeding power to an intelligent four-wheel-drive system. Unlike the hatch, the Estate is only available with the popular and slick six-speed DSG box. It costs just £695 more than the five-door. The R Estate hauls around a larger, 605-litre boot and an additional 100kg. Its nearest rival, the SEAT Leon ST Cupra, may be a little short in the power stakes with ‘only’ 276bhp, but it…

Essentials Fiat 500X 1.6 MultiJet II Cross Price: £20,095Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower/torque: 118bhp/320NmTransmission: Six-speed manual,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.5 secondsTop speed: 116mphEconomy: 68.9mpgCO2: 109g/km ON SALE Now FIAT is treading a fine line with the new 500X. While it hopes the car will trade off its association with the ever-popular 500 city car, it also needs the 500X to be a credible crossover in its own right. This is our first taste of it on UK roads. The 500X has a similar stance to its city car sister, but the muscular rear wheelarches and swooping roofline are new. There’s the choice of the city look for a more upscaled 500 image, or Cross and Cross Plus models that have a more rugged appearance. Climb inside and the 500’s classically styled dashboard has…

Essentials Mercedes-AMG GT S Price: £110,500Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turboPower: 503bhpTransmission: Seven-speed twin-clutchauto, rear-wheel drive0-62mph: 3.8 secondsTop speed: 193mphEconomy: 30.1mpgCO2: 219g/km ON SALE Now WHILE Mercedes can trace its supercar history way back to the fifties with the 300 SL Gullwing, the new Mercedes-AMG GT is something different. Instead of trying to provide a step up on the brand’s last offering, the SLS AMG, the coupé forgoes big numbers to take on more everyday sports cars, such as the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type V8. As a result, it’s around £90,000 cheaper than the SLS – although the flagship GT S tested here still costs £100,000-plus – and it’s smaller and more efficient. Thankfully, performance hasn’t been compromised, and the new 503bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine helps the GT S sprint…

A. Percentage is the car’s overall rating, which we calculate from an average of all its scores in our 10 Driver Power judging categories. B. These individual category scores are listed down the side, with the figures showing how each car ranked in 2015 top 200. C. Each category score is represented by a bar – and the longer the bar, the better. D. This is the car’s position in the Driver Power top 100. If your model isn’t here, or in the 200-101 countdown (right) , this is because we didn’t get enough responses to include it. E. This shows how long the car’s been in production for. F. At a glance, this shows how the model has performed over our past five satisfaction surveys, and is a useful…

Cash vs quality THE 308 is easily the most luxurious car on test – but so it should be, as it costs £26,450. Still, even without the options, it has a classy feel inside and mixes this with decent practicality. The Kia is cheaper, but look beyond the smaller boot and the cabin is spacious. Unfortunately for the pricey Renault, its interior is short on premium appeal. Styling IT’S the Cee’d GT that’s most recognisable as a tweaked version of the standard car, with its sporty design add-ons. The 308 is more understated, but the extra few touches make it look smart and muscular. Again, the GT 220 falls short – it doesn’t look as racy as the other two. Sport mode WHERE the Renault claws back ground is with…

Facts, figures and advice powered by carbuyer.co.uk SEAT is offering a £1,000 deposit contribution on the Leon X-Perience when you take out a Solutions personal contract plan. There are two finance deals available: one at 5.5 per cent APR, the other at zero per cent. The former is over 48 months with a deposit of £5,915 and monthly payments of £235. The latter is over 36 months, with a big deposit of £11,401 and monthly payments of £339. Get to a SEAT dealer quickly to order your Leon X-Perience, and you’ll also be rewarded with £500 of vouchers to spend at triathlon store TRI UK. If the Octavia Scout is more appealing, then Skoda has the same zero per cent Solutions PCP offer on its crossover estate, although…

GREAT-VALUE CHOICE EE Buzzard 2 Best price: Free (Contract required) Contact: 0800 956 6099, shop.ee.co.uk SIMPLY plug the Buzzard 2 into a car’s 12V cigar lighter socket, and it is ready to go out of the box. It comes with a speedy 4G data connection as standard, making for super-fast loading of screens when we were surfing the web on a laptop in our car – and it also gave a steady connection for music streaming on the road. We had the Buzzard 2 working within minutes of hooking the unit up, as we found it via WiFi and had four devices streaming content at once, all with a fast connection – it claims it can take up to 10. Not only did it excel on tests, it’s good value…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 22|4|2015 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. SMARTPHONES are an increasingly useful tool for drivers, with a number of apps made especially for the car. But it’s illegal to hold and use handsets behind the wheel – and there’s a slick solution available so you don’t have to. App-ready stereos mirror selected software from phone screens on to a car’s head unit, and can replace the existing hardware in most vehicles. Whether giving sat-nav directions, streaming music or helping to dictate and send text messages, they’re an innovative new direction for car audio that offers drivers the latest tech without having to replace their vehicle in…

THE FIA World Rallycross Championship blasts back into action this weekend for its season opener in Montalegre, Portugal. At the front of the field, reigning drivers’ champion Petter Solberg has linked up with Britain’s sole World RX representative, Liam Doran, to form a new superteam that’ll be known as SDRX (Solberg Doran Rallycross). Both drivers contested the 2014 season in 600bhp Citroen DS3 Supercars, and so a link-up for 2015 was seen as a logical move. “It’s going to be a very exciting season for sure,” confirmed Doran. “If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d be team-mates with Petter Solberg, I would’ve laughed at you, so to be doing this now is pretty cool.” Doran is particularly looking forward to his home round of the series,…