Auto Express 1483

WITH UK buyers (like those around the world) seemingly obsessed with SUVs, you’d think that Jeep would be making hay over here right now. But year-to-date sales figures down 50 per cent look worrying out of kilter with the rest of the market, especially given the strength of the Jeep brand and a line-up that’s comprised solely of SUVs. I met up with Jeep’s global boss and Auto Express Hall of Fame member Mike Manley (above), and he gave us his thoughts on why Jeep has been underperforming in the UK, as well as how he hopes the brand can hit new highs over here. “Our historic product portfolio in the UK has not been as competitive as it needs to be,” Manley admitted. “We were not competitive enough for…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ▪ Behind wheel of sexy new Range Rover, priced from £45k ▪ Hugely capable both on and off road; beautiful interior EVERYTHING Jaguar Land Rover touches seems to turn to gold. But with such award-winning success, and the sales growth to match, the expectation from each new launch continues to grow. So can the all-new Range Rover Velar prove the company still has the Midas touch? The Velar slots in between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport models, and brings a fresh look to the family. Slim LED head and rear lights that wrap farther around the sides of the car, a more sloping grille and flush door handles update the Range Rover look. It’s a clean and uncluttered style with subtle detailing, such as the…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk “The ZOE E-Sport takes off in a way that only electric cars do, and the resulting thump of acceleration is immense” THE Renault ZOE E-Sport will never see the light of day as production car, according to Renault. Instead, it’s a concept that offers a glimpse into the future as to what might be possible from an all-electric hot hatch in years to come. And we’ve driven it. In many respects, it’s a shame the E-Sport won’t go any further, because it flips the idea of an EV on its head. It’s one that has huge power and performance, stunning good looks and a highly amusing four-wheel-drive chassis. Beneath its bespoke, lightweight carbon fibre bodywork, the E-Sport boasts a unique chassis and two electric motors, one for each axle,…

DRIVEN “E-Class 4x42 feels as capable as any other Mercedes SUV off road” MERCEDES is no stranger to radical off-roaders – just think of the bonkers G-Class-based G 500 4x4² and six-wheeled AMG G 63 6x6 models. Now the German brand has applied the same philosophy to this: the E-Class All-Terrain 4x4² – and we’ve been behind the wheel. The project started six months ago as a hobby of Jürgen Eberle, an engineer in vehicle development for the E-Class, who wanted to build something that gives the All-Terrain name some credence. Initially the ground clearance was raised by 40mm and cladding was added to the body, but Eberle thought he could take it one step further and fitted portal axles from the G-Class 4x4². It certainly wouldn’t look out of…

FIRST RIDE WITH its all-new X-Class, Mercedes says it’s looking to redefine the pick-up sector, bringing premium levels of comfort, quality and tech to a market that has historically been populated by tough workhorses. We’ll get behind the wheel of the new X-Class in October, but Mercedes gave us an early taste of what to expect with a passenger ride on and off road. Equipped with the 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that will top the range from launch – a V6 diesel will arrive as a flagship later in 2018 – our X-Class X 250 d model idled quietly, with the trademark pick-up rumble consigned to the background. Even on the move, refinement seemed a particular strength. The X-Class seems impressively composed for a pick-up truck being hurried around. It…

MERCEDES has started “early work” on the successor to its F 015 concept, a senior company engineer has revealed. The F 015 made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show at the start of 2015, where it showcased autonomous technology and explored how users will spend time in vehicles that can drive themselves. The car visited the UK last week as part of a world tour that hasn’t stopped since its original unveiling. Mercedes concept engineer Thomas Jaeger says the firm has gathered “a huge amount” of information from an estimated 300,000 people who’ve interacted with the vehicle during its ravels. “We haven’t adjusted the F 015 during its life,” he said, “but we already know a lot of how we would improve it.” He added: “This is what we’re…