Auto Express 1468

I CAN remember few issues as emotive in recent times as the ongoing debate regarding the future of diesel. There are some very strong opinions being aired – including in this very issue by our own Mike Rutherford on Page 82. And concerns over whether to buy are now the most regular query we field from readers. On this, let me make Auto Express’s position clear: there is no standard ‘one size fits all’ answer. For certain drivers diesel will still make sense, but I’d add the caveat that at this stage it’s hard to predict exactly what form future legislation might take. Higher penalties and lower residual values seem likely, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be so excessive that diesel will become obsolete for all. While we salute the…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ “THE Stinger needs to surprise people,” says Kia’s head of vehicle test and high-performance development, Albert Biermann. The Korean firm poached him from BMW’s M Division, so it’s fair to say this German engineer knows a thing or two about developing fast saloons. Chatting to the affable but focused Biermann, it’s clear he means this in a positive way because the Stinger needs to change people’s perceptions of the brand. Ahead of the Stinger going on sale this year, we teamed up with Kia and Biermann to get early access to a pre-production model in the UK to see how Kia’s rival to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is developing. The Korean brand has already proved it can shift a £40,000-plus SUV with its topspec Sorento, but…

KIA development boss fills us in on the challenges of developing a Kia sports car, and the expectations he has in such a competitive market Q Can you say what the Stinger has to do for Kia? A It’s a brand-shaper for us. It needs to prove Kia can really surprise with a car people wouldn’t expect from us – not only in the styling, but also with a level of performance not previously seen in a Kia. Q How will lessons learned and technology developed from the Stinger help Kia in the future? A I think the biggest thing the Stinger will do is change expectations. A lot. So yes, it will therefore change how we have to develop cars to meet these changing customer demands. Q How have…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy AUDI aims to hit back against the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series by introducing hybrid and autonomous tech on its next generation of A8. The new model is due to be revealed in the summer before sales start in late autumn. The German brand’s flagship has always been a technical showcase for the firm, thanks to its use of lightweight aluminium construction. But its fourth generation will get more tech than ever, as Audi takes the VW Group lead on autonomous systems. The next A8 is expected to offer ‘Level 3’ autonomy, which allows the driver to cede control of the vehicle in many more situations than are currently possible. Audi’s technical team has also confirmed that this A8 will feature more electrification, although it’s unlikely to…

BMW 3 SERIES PROBLEM Driver airbag may fail to deploy NUMBER AFFECTED 227,849 Cars affected include the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series and X5, all part of the industry-wide Takata airbag scandal. BMW said tracking down owners of such old cars is a problem. RECALLS COMPLETED 1.5 PER CENT TOYOTA YARIS PROBLEM Passenger airbag may fail NUMBER AFFECTED 388,439 The Yaris was affected, along with Corolla, Avensis Verso, Picnic and some Lexus models as part of the Takata airbag recall. Toyota said it will be chasing owners again this year. RECALLS COMPLETED 24 PER CENT Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer MORE than a million dangerous cars are still on UK roads after our exclusive investigation revealed less than half of the top 10 vehicle recalls in the UK since 2012 have been completed.…

OFFICIAL sketches of the Skoda Vision E’s cabin have been released ahead of the car’s unveiling at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show. There are four easy-to-access individual seats, which can rotate up to 20 degrees, while the dashboard is dominated by a 12-inch colour touchscreen with the most advanced connectivity seen yet in a Skoda. A central console adjacent to the driver provides access to additional controls, while there’s also a head-up display for extra functionality. Not only is there a central infotainment screen on the dash, but each passenger also has a touchscreen of their own to control various in-car settings. In each of the suicide doors Skoda has integrated phone boxes, which allow for inductive smartphone charging. Bosses say the overall intent was to create a clean look…