Auto Express October 28, 2015

IN the wake of Dieselgate, it’s only natural that the car industry has been under the microscope. But is there a pattern emerging that ensures only the negative elements are highlighted? On one day last week, there were no less than three prominent car-related stories on the home page of the UK’s most influential news website. VW led the way again with the revelation that it would investigate older EA 288 engines to see if they too contained software to rig emissions tests. There was also coverage of a spate of fires in previous-generation Vauxhall Zafiras, and a story that Tesla’s self-driving tech (above) can’t be relied on. Auto Express is a title that champions the rights of the consumer, and I acknowledge these stories tackle areas of concern –…

Essentials Honda NSX Price: £150,000 (est)Engine: 3.5-litre V6 turbo,plus electric motorsPower: 565bhpTorque: 646NmTransmission: Nine-speed dual-clutchauto, four-wheel drive0-62mph: 3.0 secs (est)Top speed: 191mphEcon/CO2: N/A ON SALE Spring 2016 WHEELS Massive, multi-spoke alloys add to the drama, and hide powerful Brembo brakes that grip ceramic discs. On our test, there was barely any fade HANDLING Magnetic dampers help to manage body control, and drivers can toggle through range of modes for the steering ratio and suspension set-up YOU may have heard about the problems Honda has endured in developing its new NSX, its complicated powertrain and its stilted, four-year incubation period. If you were a fan, you may have been worried. Well, worry no more; we’ve driven it, and it’s good. Honda’s upmarket US arm, Acura, initially revealed the new NSX at…

Essentials Aston Martin DB10 Price: N/AEngine: 4.2-litre V8 petrolPower: 430bhpTransmission: Six-speed manual,rear-wheel drive0-60mph: 4.8 secondsTop speed: 190mphEconomy: 21.9mpgCO2: 321g/km ON SALE N/A DESIGN The DB10 features plenty of familiar design cues, including 10-spoke alloys. Plus, there’s a strong shoulder line and perforations in the bonnet IT’S a bit of a cliché to make James Bond references when writing about Aston Martins, but they’re justified in this case, because we are actually driving 007’s car here. The absolutely stunning and unique DB10 was created for the latest Bond movie, Spectre, which debuted this week at cinemas around the globe. It’s the work of Aston Martin’s design virtuoso Marek Reichman, and although Bond was initially going to drive the next-generation DB9, Spectre director Sam Mendes thought the spy deserved something sportier than…

THE DB10 is more than just a slinky piece of metal for the bright lights and big screens of Hollywood. It’s the first Aston Martin in 11 years to showcase a brand new design language, hinting at the next generation of Astons we could begin to see as early as next year in the DB11 (revealed below in our exclusive image). The current Aston family design theme was established with the launch of the DB9 in 2004, and has influenced the design of the Vantage, Virage, Vanquish and Rapid since then. This DB10, however, is a radical departure from the current policy, and has set its sights on moulding the look of Astons for the next decade. Crucially, the car will also go some way to raising the brand’s profile.…

Essentials Citroen Cactus M concept Price: N/AEngine: 1.2-litre 3cyl turboPower: 110bhpTransmission: Six-speed automatic,front-wheel drive0-62mph: 10.2 seconds (est)Top speed: 117mph (est)Economy: 58.9mpgCO2: 110g/km THE C4 Cactus is quickly becoming the face of Citroen. It’s proven more popular in the UK than the company predicted, and the crossover’s success will shape the future of the Citroen product range. The Aircross concept, unveiled at April’s Shanghai Motor Show, previews a larger and more practical SUV on the horizon, but the versatility of the Cactus has allowed the brand to delve into its heritage as well. The Cactus M concept is a tribute to the classic Citroen Mehari (below) from the sixties, and Auto Express was lucky enough to be handed the keys. Only one, priceless example was built, so the car you see…

YELLOW PERIL Research shows that drivers are braking hard near cameras to avoid tickets, potentially causing accidents DANGEROUS braking “black spots” are being created by fixed speed cameras as motorists try to slow down and avoid a ticket, according to new research. The study by driver data firm Wunelli found incidents of this hard braking were on average six times more likely to take place just before speed cameras – and up to 11 times as likely at some sites. It said speed cameras are encouraging “poor driver behaviour” after analysing data over a billion miles to produce a top 10 of the worst areas near speed cameras in the UK. Wunelli defined a “hard braking event” as a change in speed of 6.5mph or more over one second –…