Auto Express 1460

EXACTLY 10 years ago this week, Auto Express ran a feature introducing the then new Kia Cee’d to readers. They were suitably impressed, as they were entitled to be; the Cee’d was the car that started the process which transformed the company from lightly regarded budget brand to genuine mainstream contender. The journey, frankly, has been amazing, with thousands of buyers wooed by astonishing leaps in quality and an appealing seven-year warranty. But where does the firm go next? This week, a full decade after our Cee’d feature, we’ve tested the latest Kia, the new Rio supermini (above), and in truth it’s a bit underwhelming. While perfectly acceptable in isolation, it failed to match the VW Polo for quality and Suzuki’s Baleno for value, falling into a bit of a…

▪ BMW boss Robertson reveals details on cutting-edge four-door ? Due to hit showrooms in 2021; distinctive BMW design cues @stevefowler EXCLUSIVE IMAGES BMW’s next i model, the i5, will arrive in 2021 and come with a level of autonomous tech that’s never been seen before, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. The new model, previewed in our exclusive images, will take its design cues from 2016’s Vision Next 100 Concept, which was revealed as part of BMW’s centenary celebrations. It’s expected the saloon will go head-to-head with Tesla’s forthcoming Model 3, sitting somewhere between BMW’s 3 Series and 5 Series in terms of size, and be fully battery powered. However, early designs are understood to have included the possibility of hydrogen fuel-cell power for the electric motors, too. BMW has…

▪ V8 supersaloon is shaping up ▪ Set to develop around 500bhp @Jonathan_burn EXCLUSIVE IMAGES JAGUAR Land Rover’s exclusive Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, which is responsible for developing high-performance and ultra-luxury versions of existing models, is applying the finishing touches to a fully-fledged BMW M3 rival, the XE SVR. Auto Express understands that the SVO engineering team is currently in Northern Spain benchmarking the supersaloon – previewed in our exclusive images – against its closest rivals from BMW and Mercedes (see panel, opposite). The XE SVR will be Jaguar’s first attempt at developing a genuine competitor for the likes of the M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63. Until now, the only other models to receive the SVR treatment in JLR’s product portfolio are the F-Type and Range Rover Sport. As…

@AE_Consumer BUYERS are expected to flock to car showrooms across the country to snap up last-minute deals on new models to beat the upcoming tax hike. Motorists are on a six-week countdown to cash in on the latest offers and savings before the new, higher Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates kick in on 1 April. Thousands of pounds worth of discounts are currently available on best sellers, like the Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost, that are road tax-exempt under the existing regime but will cost more than £500 over four years under the new laws. Experts predict March will be “a bumper” month for car sales with dealers across the UK already stockpiling models to ensure they meet the expected surge in demand. The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) said dealers…

OFFICIAL THE Audi RS 3 has reclaimed the title of world’s most powerful hot hatch with the unveiling of the facelifted 395bhp model ahead of its debut in the metal at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Based on the recently facelifted A3 hatchback, the RS 3 Sportback has more power and torque than its predecessor, and benefits from some small design tweaks. Under the bonnet is a reworked 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, now producing 395bhp and 480Nm of torque. That’s 33bhp more than before, while the new engine is 26kg lighter than the old unit, thanks in part to an aluminium crank case. The 395bhp power figure also means the car trumps the Mercedes-AMG A 45 by 19bhp. Audi claims the new RS 3 is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph…

Mitsubishi Qashqai rival is Eclipse Cross MITSUBISHI has teased its new Nissan Qashqai rival, and confirmed the SUV (above) will be called the Eclipse Cross. Although official specs have yet to be confirmed, we know the car will be available with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol or 2.2-litre diesel engine. Four-wheel drive and automatic transmissions will also be offered. The car will be revealed in full at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Fiats ‘skip tests’ in emissions probe FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) vehicles were allowed to skip key tests by the authorities during Italy’s emissions probe into cheating software. According to an unpublished report by Italy’s transport ministry, seen by news agency Reuters, seven FCA models lacked data for tests that adjust the EU lab regime to reflect urban driving styles.…