Innholdsfortegnelse for 1466 i Auto Express

Joe Finnerty Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer MOTORISTS will shell out almost £1billion in extra vehicle excise duty (VED) over the next three years before seeing it reinvested into improving UK roads. The new VED rates that kick in from 1 April will see new car owners pay higher first-year rates (excluding zero-emission vehicles), plus a flat rate of £140 per year thereafter. HM Treasury forecasts it’ll net an extra £175million this year alone. And before 2020, when the National Roads Fund starts to ring-fence VED for motoring projects, the Government will rake in an extra £895m without diverting it back to support motorists. The Treasury already collects almost £6billion a year from VED, but Auto Express research has revealed just a fraction of this has been ploughed back into road maintenance projects…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods SKODA will present a thinly veiled glimpse of a radical new electric vehicle at April’s Shanghai Motor Show with the Vision E concept. Official teaser images released by Skoda show that the car will be a coupé-SUV, and it’s likely we’ll see a production version of the Vision E on sale by 2020. Skoda has had ambitions to develop a coupé-SUV for some time, but the Shanghai concept reveals that the firm is at least considering switching the vehicle from being just another Kodiaq derivative to an all-electric flagship. The teaser sketches show a rakish, tallriding SUV with clear Kodiaq influence in places. Angular rear lights are plucked from the SUV, while the sculpted bonnet and chiselled lines have similarities, too. The Tesla-style nose gets a grille-shaped profile…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE CITROEN is preparing a range of new stylish, quirky and practical SUVs, starting with the C5 Aircross – previewed by our exclusive images – that will be revealed at April’s Shanghai Motor Show. It’s likely that all of Citroen’s future SUVs will be badged Aircross, a name that first appeared with the original Aircross concept seen at Shanghai in 2015. That design study itself was a thinly veiled version of the production model. The C5 Aircross is based on the same EMP2 platform as Peugeot’s 5008, and it will use cues seen on other recent Citroens, such as a slender, high-set grille and front light design, as well as the distinctive Airbump styling features. Although the concept was similar in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe, spy shots…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ▪ Emissions scandal has tarnished diesel’s reputation ▪ As car buyers wonder whether to commit, we ask what future holds IN the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal, there appears to have been only one victim: diesel. Despite being the sole offender, the VW Group posted healthy profits for 2016 (£6.2bn) and sold over 10.3 million cars. However, diesel engines now have a poor reputation that they appear unable to shake off, and it’s a problem that the industry must come to terms with. Governments in France, Mexico, Spain and Greece are drafting plans to ban diesel-powered vehicles from major cities, while here in the UK, the Government is being lobbied to exclude diesel vehicles from the centre of London. Medical professionals are increasingly flagging up the potential health…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “As car makers come up with innovative ideas, it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake” CARS capable of driving and parking themselves, cleaning robots and drones that hover over your car to keep a watchful eye as you navigate through traffic – the future has it all. Or does it? With car makers and tech companies coming up with innovative ideas about what the future of motoring will look like, it can be hard to tell the difference between what’s already been promised and something you might see on April Fools’ Day. To make the line between reality and imagination even more blurred, Auto Express has teamed up with various companies and found six real pieces of tech that will feature in future cars,…

AMG’S continuing evolution and rampant global expansion reaches another new level this month, with the introduction of the undeniably handsome and arrestingly excellent to drive AMG GT Roadster. It’s available in two trim and power specifications – a standard GT costing £110,145 and boasting 469bhp and 630Nm, plus an even faster, more sophisticated GT C model with electronic four-wheel steering, 549bhp and 680Nm. We’ll concentrate on the headlinegrabbing GT C model here, which uses the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that propels pretty much everything within the AMG line-up – from the C 63 to the new E 63, and all versions of the AMG GT – albeit in different states of tune. In the GT C’s case, the V8 dishes up enough energy to fire the 1,735kg Roadster from 0-62mph…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ WE’VE already driven the Mazda CX-5 in 2.2 diesel 4x4 form, and came away impressed by the all-new model. But while diesels dominate the class, here we test a pre-production 2.0-litre petrol version to see if it’s a worthy alternative. This might seem like a relatively large capacity compared with modern rivals using downsized turbo units, but Mazda’s ‘right size’ policy means there’s no forced induction here. That means claimed emissions aren’t as impressive as some competitors’, but Mazda says it delivers better numbers in real driving conditions. Out on the road, the CX-5 is excellent. It’s always been one of the best cars in its class to drive, and nothing’s changed here. The steering is nicely weighted and grip is good. There’s not much roll, which helps…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI (110) SE Nav PRICE: £20,120 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 108bhp THE latest VW Golf is essentially an update of the seventh-generation model that made its debut in 2013. The brand has left no stone unturned in its quest to propel the evergreen hatchback to the top of the class. New engines, updated infotainment, more safety features and extra kit all make an appearance. Here we test the 108bhp 1.0-litre TSI petrol in £20,120 SE Nav guise. DESIGN & ENGINEERING WHEN it comes to design, the Golf has always been a model that embraces evolution over revolution. At a glance, this facelifted model could easily be mistaken for its predecessor, but you’ll spot the new LED tail-lights, reprofiled bumpers and subtly altered headlamps. The same low-key…

AS hot hatchbacks continue the trend towards downsized turbocharged engines, the GT86 sports car remains resolutely free of forced induction. It offers snappy throttle response and a six-speed manual gearbox to better connect car and driver. It’s a similar set-up to the MX-5 RF, although the Toyota’s 197bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is arranged in a flat ‘boxer’ configuration, rather than the Mazda’s more conventional in-line unit. As a result, the motor’s bark gives the Toyota some of its distinctive character. The engine note is naturally enhanced and piped into the cabin, and while it’s not the sweetest sounding unit, it has plenty of presence on full throttle. And you’ll need to use full throttle quite a lot, as while the GT86 produces 5Nm more torque than the MX-5, it’s delivered…

I CAN’T name the bloke concerned, or reveal the precise location of his high security office suite in North America. But I can tell you he’s a trusted senior employee of world renowned accountancy firm, KPMG. This man is doing serious number crunching at the minute. Within a week or so, he’ll be carefully placing the names of six cars into six envelopes that will be tightly sealed ahead of a security van ride to Manhattan. Next they’ll be opened on stage at the 2017 World Car Awards (WCA) prizegiving ceremony which opens the New York International Auto Show on 12 April. As WCA is independently rated as the number one automotive awards programme on the planet, this is a big deal. The biggest. After the Oscars fiasco (involving a…

www.hpicheck.com ON Saturday (1 April), we will see the introduction of reforms to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), which will have an impact for anyone buying a new car. The changes apply to all new cars which produce as little as 1g/km of CO2 or more. First-year payments are split across 13 bands, with vehicles emitting more CO2 paying more tax in the first year. From year two, the annual rate is a fixed £140, no matter what the car’s CO2 (unless it’s a zero-emissions vehicle.) There will also be a new supplement of £310 per year on cars costing more than £40,000 for five years, and that also affects zero-emission cars. There are concerns that many motorists are still in the dark about changes. Car buyers need to be fully…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy SUZUKI is rapidly developing a complex range of small cars. We’ve already been impressed by the Baleno and quirky Ignis. Now it’s time for a new generation of the firm’s ‘centre ground’ supermini, the Swift. The latest Swift makes use of the same lightweight construction as the Baleno, and with kerbweights as low as 890kg, it’s just about the lightest offering in the class. The new model is about 10mm shorter than the outgoing Swift, but crucially, its wheelbase is 20mm longer – and this has improved cabin space. Boot capacity also increases by 54 litres to 264 litres, although it still falls short of what you’ll find in a Ford Fiesta or Kia Rio. Just two petrol engines will be offered in the Swift. The entry-level unit…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Running costs 51.4mpg (official) £71 fill-up IT’S been a long time coming, but after sampling a left-hand-drive Skoda Kodiaq on British roads earlier this year, we’ve been given the keys to the big SUV in UK spec for the first time. It’s one of the most important Skodas ever, entering a new market for the brand and appealing to SUV buyers who want quality and value. The Kodiaq is a rival for the Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sorento, and is priced below both in equivalent specs – but the best thing about the Kodiaq is that it’s a great car in its own right, rather than just being a cheap option for those wanting a seven-seater SUV. While the sixth and seventh seats are only suitable for kids…

MODEL TESTED: Renault Mégane 1.2 TCe Dynamique S Nav PRICE: £19,750 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THE latest Renault Mégane is a real contender, thanks to its blend of slick style, classy cabin and top-notch refinement. In combination with the brand’s punchy 1.2-litre TCe petrol engine and well equipped £19,750 Dynamique S Nav trim, the Renault makes a very desirable choice and sets a tough benchmark for the Civic and Golf. DESIGN & ENGINEERING RENAULT has gone for bold with the styling of the latest Mégane, which is packed with eye-catching details, and beats the swoopy Honda for kerb appeal. Highlights include the new full-width rear lamps and distinctive C-shaped LED running lights at the front. Under the skin, you’ll find Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-CD scalable platform architecture, which underpins the firm’s…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk OUR last report on the C4 Picasso (Issue 1,459) proved that it’s not just good at carrying people. Having easily done its best impersonation of the Tardis, it swallowed a whole load of furniture as well. Straight away, it highlighted Citroen’s five-seat MPV is just that – a truly multipurpose vehicle. However, to be a great people carrier, it has to excel at its primary brief – carrying a full complement of passengers in comfort. I’m glad to report it does, offering much more in the process, too. I’ve been ferrying friends and family around recently and noted feedback from each of them, so here’s a perspective from each seat, starting with my view from behind the wheel. The expansive windscreen and split A-pillars give great visibility, so everything…

Porsche Sounds Earbooks (www.earbooks.net) Price: £23.79 Rating: ONCE we’d dug out a CD player for the included audio disc (could we have a digital download version, please?), the glorious engine notes on it were a great accompaniment to the book itself. Stuffed to the rafters with great pictures and interesting facts, it’s a good read for the discerning Porsche fan. Set yourself up with some decent headphones and settle down for a great audio experience, too. Pontiac GTO 50 Years Darwin Holmstrom (Motorbooks, quartoknows.co.uk) Price: £35 Rating: THE Pontiac GTO was one of the first muscle cars, becoming a massive favourite in America – and it’s well covered in this book. Chronicling such a wide-ranging model is difficult, and overall the book is packed with content, although we felt it…

UNTIL the arrival of the original A-Class in 1997, Mercedes had built saloons, cabriolets, estates and off-roaders – but it had never offered a hatchback. While mainstream car makers produced huge numbers of these practical and popular cars, Mercedes focused on bigger, more profitable models. But while the A-Class was revolutionary thanks to its innovative twin-floor construction, it didn’t prove quite as popular as Mercedes hoped. Despite this, Mercedes introduced a bigger version of this model in 2005 – the B-Class. Once again this five-door hatch failed to set the sales charts alight, but as a used buy we reckon it’s worth a closer look, thanks to its spacious cabin, excellent practicality and safety, plus keen prices. History THE B-Class arrived in September 2005 in B150 (1.5-litre), B170 (1.7-litre) and…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan SEAT has officially confirmed that its SUV range will expand to include an all-new seven-seat model. To be positioned above the Ateca and upcoming Arona, the Kia Sorento rival could be called Formentor when it arrives in mid-2018. President and CEO Luca de Meo made the announcement at SEAT’s annual press conference last week, where the brand also confirmed an operating profit of €143m (£124m) for 2016 – the highest in its history and first full year of profitability since 2008. During the conference, images of the upcoming flagship SUV were displayed, and they indicated that the model will have similar dimensions to Skoda’s seven-seater, the Kodiaq. Also evident from the images is a rear-end design heavily influenced by the Ateca, and a nose with a prominent SEAT…

Citroen’s E-Berlingo joins the space race CITROEN has revealed the E-Berlingo Multispace (above), an all-electric MPV that will go on sale in the UK in autumn. The E-Berlingo Multispace borrows its powertrain from the van version of the Berlingo, which uses a 66bhp, 200Nm electric motor. Citroen claims the EV has an all-electric range of 106 miles. It comes with smartphone-operated remote controls, allowing the driver to pre-heat the cabin or check the charge. Financial incentive to beat price fixing WHISTLE-blowers are being offered up to £1,000 for information as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launches a campaign to crack down on motor-trade cartels. The CMA is targeting illegal groups of businesses in the automotive industry that cheat customers by agreeing not to compete, keeping prices high when buying…

Porsche adds colour and power to 911 PORSCHE’S 911 range has been updated with more connectivity features, new colour options – including a new fourcoat Saffron Yellow – and an optional 30bhp power boost for some variants. The power upgrade kit adds larger turbos, and is offered on the Carrera S, Carrera 4S and Targa 4S, priced at around £8,800. It adds 30bhp, raising total output to 444bhp. Also included is the Sports Chrono pack with dynamic engine mounts, a fruitier sounding sports exhaust and extra brake cooling. Call for new driver insurance ‘cap’ INSURANCE premiums for young drivers could be capped at £1,200, after a petition signed by 180,000 people was discussed by ministers in the Houses of Parliament. The signees want the Government to halt the rising costs…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Footy ace reveals his fast Ford fetish THINK of a footballer’s car and a brand-new Range Rover or Bentley might spring to mind. But Gareth Ainsworth does things differently. He’s the manager of Wycombe Wanderers FC and he’s had the usual stream of Porsches, but he’s now a self-confessed Ford Mustang nut and owns a 1969 Mach 1. See what happens when we introduce him to the latest Mustang V8. First drive of Audi’s new 395bhp RS 3 IN the battle to have the most powerful hyper-hatch on the market, Audi has overtaken Mercedes, thanks to its revised RS 3. It now has a monstrous 395bhp and there’s a four-door saloon to join the standard Sportback. See what we think with our first-drive video.…

THE drive to clean up the UK’s major cities is well under way, with clean air zones in the pipeline for many urban areas. At the forefront of this is London, which will have an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) from 2019, so any vehicle that doesn’t meet Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel emissions levels has to pay a charge. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has brought the introduction of this forward from 2020, so many motorists will have to pay more money sooner. While that’s a budgetary bind, cleaning up city air is vital, as emissions are responsible for hundreds of deaths a year. But there’s one group of vehicles that have been ignored from coverage so far. Taxis and minicabs are thought of as public transport, but what…

Inbox What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen FROM: Stu889 NO surprise with the design. Volvo has a winner with the XC90, so why change the styling of its smaller sibling? I really like the look of it, and the interior quality looks to be top of its class. Can’t wait for the hybrid versions to come, too. FROM: antonyr THE XC60 is a perfect answer to the more bland SUVs from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. It looks better and the interior seems more modern with more tech. Clearly some won’t like the design, but I think they’ll be silenced by Volvo’s sales figures. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “Disappointing considering the excellent designs put out by Volvo’s rivals. I think it could have put more effort in.” LakhiD “Very…

lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/121mph Running costs 43.5mpg (official) £91 fill-up THE iconic Land Rover Defender is worshipped globally as an off-roading legend, but the almost as capable Discovery is often overlooked. It’s been on sale for 28 years now, bridging the gap between the now-defunct Defender and luxurious Range Rover in the British maker’s line-up. Now in its fifth generation, the seven-seat Discovery has moved towards the premium end of the market. We’re trying it in the UK for the first time, with the entry-level SD4 diesel engine in high-end HSE Luxury trim, to see if the Disco has gone soft. You’d be forgiven for thinking it has, on first impressions at least. Gone is the boxy look of the outgoing car, replaced by a much more…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram LAST year, Ferrari announced plans to fit its award-winning turbo V8 into its V12-only FF successor: the GTC4 Lusso. Aimed at younger buyers, the Lusso T (for turbo) is a rear-wheel-drive four-seater for those who want a Ferrari for “daily use”, and in “mainly urban environments”. It’s the first time that Ferrari has offered more than one engine in a single model, but bosses insist this isn’t just another version of the GTC4; this Lusso T is the sixth member of the Ferrari family. It sits above the 488 GTB, but below its V12 sibling. Prod the starter button, and the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 fires into life with a feral bark. A stab of the throttle sees the engine rasp to 7,500rpm, dispelling any fear the new GTC…

MODEL TESTED: Honda Civic 1.0 Turbo EX PRICE: £23,040 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 127bhp OVER the course of more than four decades, the Honda Civic has grown from a frugal city car into a fully fledged family hatch. The 10th generation is all new inside and out, and takes a more subtle and upmarket approach than its predecessor. There’s an overhauled engine line-up, too, and for its first test we sample the 1.0-litre petrol in £23,040 EX guise. DESIGN & ENGINEERING HONDA has taken a relatively low-key approach to the design of the new Civic. Elements of the old model’s angular shape remain, but the newcomer has traditional hatchback proportions. However, the fussy treatment at the front and heavy-handed rear means it can’t match the classy Golf and stylish Mégane for…

HONDA CIVIC Honda Connect Standard Key features: Smartphone apps, nav HONDA’S Connect infotainment system appeared first on the previous-generation Civic, so it’s already starting to look a little dated. It has an aftermarket look, and its seven-inch screen is the smallest here. Plus its graphics look a little blocky in this company. The set-up is standard on SR models and above, with S and SE variants getting more conventional radio units. Yet while it’s a little old fashioned to look at, the Connect system is a full touchscreen, with no rotary controls or physical keys. It also comes packed with all the features you’re likely to need, including enhanced smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aha app also gives you access to a wide range of Internet…

FOLDING hard tops are generally only found on high-end two-seat models like the Mercedes-Benz SL, or supercars like the Ferrari 488 Spider. But this MX-5 RF offers some of the appeal of those cars in a much more affordable package. By adapting the standard MX-5’s design to accommodate the hard roof, Mazda has created something really rather unique in this sector. Unlike the Mk3 MX-5 RC, the RF has buttresses that slope down from the back of the cabin and into the slightly kicked up rear wheelarches. The result is something discernibly different from its soft-top relative, despite sharing the same sharp-looking front end design. This is definitely part of the RF’s appeal, but you’ll have to really like the looks, as the intricate roof arrangement has added another £2,000…

Run-flat rubber range expanded BRIDGESTONE’S DriveGuard run-flat tyre is a former Auto Express Product of the Year, and now it’s available in even more sizes. These run-flat tyres broke new ground, because they can be fitted to cars that don’t come with run-flats as standard. Now they’re available in 19 summer and 11 winter sizes, and the Japanese firm says the range covers around 60 per cent of eligible vehicles. A wider range of sizes is planned for 2018, with expansion into the SUV and performance markets planned. You can fit DriveGuard tyres to any car, as long as it is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system. Booster seat ban to protect kids in cars A BAN on certain booster seats was introduced at the start of March, so…

Halfords 24L Electric Coolbox Price: £50 Contact: 0845 057 9000, www.halfords.com Capacity/mains? 24 litres/no Rating: BEST BUY WITH a temperature drop of 15.3 degrees, this 12V cool box was joint best on test. It shared most of the impressive build quality of its larger sibling (opposite) as well as the cable storage, strong lids and comfortable latch. We got four 1.5-litre bottles in the corners of the box – more than enough for its size – and the depth gave plenty of space for food storage. There was no temperature control and the carry handle wasn’t quite as taut as the larger Halfords box, but overall we liked it a lot, especially when you consider it costs just £2.08 per litre. PRODUCT GROUP TEST 29 | 3 | 2017 Every…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ANOTHER FIA World Rallycross season gets under way this weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. Reigning champion Mattias Ekstrom is back to defend his title, with enhanced works support from Audi, but faces a very strong grid of competitors for 2017. Chief among them will be double champion Petter Solberg, whose family PSRX team has switched from a Citroen DS3 to a Volkswagen Polo, run with support from the German brand’s motorsport arm and backing from its Swedish importer. Solberg is driving alongside Swede Johan Kristofferson and told Auto Express that he’s relishing the challenge: “I said no to many teams with good contracts; I’m too old to drive for others and my dream was to run my own team; I want to do it myself. “We’re…

HYUNDAI has signed veteran touring car star Gabriele Tarquini (right) as a test and development driver for its upcoming i30 TCR touring car. The 55-year-old Italian, who won the World Touring Car Championship in 2009, said: “You can see from Hyundai’s rally team that they’re working at a very high and very professional level. “This will be my first time developing a TCR car, so to be the lead test driver for the project is an exciting new challenge for me. I’m looking forward to starting.”…