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JANUARY in Detroit means the usual battle of the big three US car makers to dominate their home show. This year, Ford was the clear winner. It may not have had the biggest new model launch (although a revised version of America’s top-selling pick-up truck, the F-150, was a fairly major deal), but by running a City of Tomorrow symposium while everyone else was whipping covers off their new models, Ford laid down a pretty big marker as to where its future lies. CEO Mark Fields reiterated that Ford is now an “auto and mobility company” producing “vehicles, mobility services and transport solutions”. But it was chatting with former Auto Express Brit List winner and now Ford’s global marketing, sales and service boss, Stephen Odell, that the value of these…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE OFFICIAL AEVAUXHALL has revealed its newest SUV, the Crossland X, which will sit below the Mokka X and upcoming Grandland X in the brand’s expanding range. It’s set to arrive in the summer, and we expect prices to start from around £15,000. Since it’s joining the line-up to replace the ageing Meriva MPV, the Crossland X has been described by Vauxhall bosses as a CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) rather than an SUV – and the design reflects that. From the front, the high bonnet, large headlamps, roof rails and rugged-looking front bumper give it a more chunky 4x4 stance. But move to the side and the high shoulder and roof lines make it resemble a traditional people carrier, although it’s far removed from the outgoing Meriva. As with…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn MERCEDES EQA “EQA is set to take design cues from next A-Class, but adopt the family look of EQ range” EXCLUSIVE IMAGE A Avarvarii MERCEDES A-CLASS SALOON EXCLUSIVE IMAGE Christian Schulte AE MERCEDES has confirmed its compact car line-up will expand from five to eight models by 2020. Auto Express understands that the three new arrivals – revealed in our exclusive images – will comprise a saloon version of the next-generation A-Class, an all-new GLB crossover plus an electric hatchback, possibly called the EQA, launched under the new Mercedes-EQ sub-brand. Mercedes chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche made the announcement on the range expansion on the eve of the Detroit Motor Show. The brand’s current compact car line-up consists of the A-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA and B-Class. High-performance…

Saloon stars at Detroit; bigger than before, but 90kg lighter James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @JimmyBrods AE LEXUS has introduced its all-new flagship LS at the Detroit Motor Show, with the saloon set to compete with the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class. The coupé-like shape is clearly influenced by the LF-FC Coupé concept car from 2015, with the angular face dominated by the big grille and detailed headlights. As expected, it’s underpinned by an extended version of the new GA-L architecture that’s also used on the new LC coupé. It’s a lighter, stiffer platform, and combined with weight savings from new materials such as ultra-high-tensile steel and aluminium, the new LS is 90kg lighter than before, despite being a larger car. Making its debut in LS 500 form, it gets a new…

New top-spec Clio is a big hit for kit RENAULT has revealed a new top-ofthe- range Signature Nav version of the Clio (above), priced from £17,715. It features heated front seats and a height-adjustable front passenger seat, while tech includes a hands-free park assist function, rear parking camera, 360-degree parking sensors and Renault’s R-Link infotainment system. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen and sat-nav. The cabin is trimmed in black part-leather, too. The car is on sale now. Hit-and-runs rise with scam crashes THE number of hit-and-run accidents has reached its highest level since 2005, as many drivers are concerned about crash-for-cash scams. Research by the University of Leicester and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau found more than 17,000 road accidents in 2015 involved a driver who failed to stop or left…

Exclusive image shows how hot version of I.D. hatch is shaping up Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler EXCLUSIVE IMAGE A Avarvarii AEVW is busy hatching plans for a new range of electric cars that could wear the legendary GTI badge. While the I.D. Buzz MPV stole the show in Detroit last week (see right), a hot version of the I.D. all-electric hatchback, seen at last year’s Paris Motor Show and going on sale in 2020, is likely to arrive first. Speaking to Auto Express at the Detroit Motor Show, Volkswagen’s sales and marketing boss Jürgen Stackmann said: “I think the formula of GTI will change – it will not be the same formula that took us here. But to have an exhilarating, fun to own, fun to drive car, with electric cars it…