Innholdsfortegnelse for 1487 i Auto Express

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE Volkswagen Scirocco will be reinvented as a sporty two-door EV coupé for its next generation, and it will be based on the company’s new all-electric MEB platform, Auto Express can reveal. Previewed here by our exclusive images, the Scirocco EV will share many of its components with VW’s forthcoming I.D. family of pure-electric cars. That will allow the new model to keep the current car’s compact dimensions and offer vastly improved interior space. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Volkswagen R&D boss Dr Frank Welsch told us that in order to use the Scirocco name – which joined the VW range in 1974 – there were aspects of the new car that would need to remain intact. “For me, we can only use [Scirocco] for a sporty two-door…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Videowatch AT youtube.com/Autoexpress this week, we put a GT-R head to head with a GT R, and drive McLaren’s new 570S Track Pack. GT-R meets GT R in muscle car battle WHO makes the better GTR? Nissan has long attached the three letters to the backs of its Skylines and supercars, and although the current GT-R is 10 years old, it’s still a mightily impressive package. But in time for its 50th birthday, Mercedes-AMG has created an R version of its GT supercar. Special contributor Steve Sutcliffe takes the wheel to see which GTR he prefers. We drive McLaren 570S Track Pack THE 570S is one of the best cars McLaren makes, but now the company has added a Track Pack version to spice things up a little.…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ McLAREN might not explicitly admit it, but its new 720S is near-as-dammit as quick as its P1 hybrid hypercar around a tighter, twistier circuit. This is the brand’s second-generation Super Series model and forms the middle rung of McLaren’s three-tier line-up, sitting between the Sports Series and Ultimate Series. The 720S gets a new Monocage II carbon fibre chassis and the maker’s nextgeneration Proactive Chassis Control II system, while the twin-turbocharged V8’s capacity has been enlarged to 4.0 litres. The engine produces 710bhp and 770Nm of torque, and 41 per cent of its components are new. However, thanks to its carbon core, the car weighs only 1,283kg, which gives it massive performance potential. Launch control helps the McLaren sprint from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds; another 4.9 seconds later…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE JUST over a decade ago, hybrids were still niche products, and it looked as if electric vehicles would never seriously get off the ground. How times have changed. Now, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, pureelectric cars and even fuel cells are big news; nearly every major manufacturer has either entered or is preparing to enter this increasingly lucrative market. But if you’re ready to take the plunge yourself, you need to know which brands have invested in which tech, plus which have something new and exciting on the way. Over the next eight pages, our A to Z guide spells out the electrified models all the big names already sell, and what’s due soon. It’s essential reading for any buyer. ALFA ROMEO ALFA has no official plans for electrified cars, but…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “THERE must be a little fire somewhere,” is a joke Stephen-Remell Coleman, station manager for Central Operations at the London Fire Brigade (LFB), has heard a lot. “The public’s reaction to the BMW i3 is wide and varied,” he says, “but for the most part it’s great. I do get a lot of double takes, though; it’s not the sort of thing you see every day.” Back in March 2016, the LFB acquired a fleet of 52 BMW i3s, on top of three Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs and a couple of Volkswagen Golf GTEs. The move was a bid to help tackle the capital’s poor air quality, and reduce the force’s CO2 emissions. The cars replaced a fleet of diesel-powered Vauxhall Astras, and members of the force use them…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THINK of a London taxi and you’ll probably picture a dirty black cab with plumes of smoke belching out the back. Yes, there’s a new hybrid model on the way, but it’ll be a little while before we see lots of them lining the capital’s streets. Private Hire firm Green Tomato Cars (GTC) is one step ahead, though. It calls itself London’s ‘Original Ethical Car Service’, and was founded 11 years ago by two lawyers who saw a gap in the market for a more environmentally conscious cab company. A full charge takes 45 minutes, but if I’m only topping up I can be there for 15 minutes ROBERT McLEOD EV taxi driver So what’s it really like to run a hybrid or electric taxi in the heart…

RANGE ROVER VELAR score 4.3 Navigation Pro Standard Key features: InControl, two touchscreens LAND Rover has gone to town with the Velar’s systems. You get a pair of high-res touchscreens and a digital dashboard, and all three are bewilderingly configurable. The upper screen on the centre console rises forward from the dash to help reduce reflections, but the lower screen is fixed, and can suffer from glare. Still, the screens accept push, pinch and swipe finger commands, plus the two rotary dials control different functions depending on the sub-menu you’ve chosen. The system looks good and works well, although the steering wheel controls that operate the dash display take a bit of getting used to. The sat-nav has a facility to ‘learn’ a commute, so it can pick faster alternatives…

Volkswagen Golf R PRICE: £32,710 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 306bhp THE VW Golf R is still one of our favourite hot hatches, and thanks to its powerful turbo and 4WD, it’s nearly as fun to drive as our rivals here. It’s also more practical than either and easier to live with – just not as exciting. Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC PRICE: £41,875 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 376bhp IT has the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 4WD combination as the Focus and Golf, but the A 45 is much more powerful. Performance is incredible and the cabin feels upmarket, but it’s not as involving as its rivals and costs quite a bit more.…

products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Budget sat-nav solution I’M planning a touring holiday in the UK and like the idea of a sat-nav to take the stress out of map reading and route-finding. But I don’t have a big budget, so what is the cheapest way to get one? Billy Redman, E-mail A IF you already have a smartphone, a sat-nav app can cost you nothing as many are free to download. Our favourite is Waze (above), which not only provides route guidance but will also steer you around jams. While the download is free, the app will use your data allowance, so make sure your phone package will be up to it. Q How do I get vinyl to shine? MY Mini has a black, vinyl-wrapped roof; it was cheaper then…

NOBODY likes searching for parking spaces. It’s estimated British drivers spend an average of four days a year looking for a gap, and with cities becoming increasingly crowded, that looks certain to rise. But there are smartphone apps to help, and we’re testing two here to see which is better at finding you a space. AppyParking won our Issue 1,442 test; it scored five stars because it provides a vast choice of parking spaces, and has a slick interface. It’s going up against newcomer YourParkingSpace, which offers some clever features. Ultimately, we’re looking for the app that gives us the widest selection, and here AppyParking wins by a country mile. YourParkingSpace is good if you need to park for a longer time, but it simply doesn’t offer the same breadth.…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA One is back in action this weekend after its summer break, with the Belgian Grand Prix at the fan-favourite Spa-Francorchamps circuit providing the next instalment of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel’s championship battle. The German enjoys a 14-point lead over Hamilton coming into the event, with the Briton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas only 19 points behind in third position. And beyond the front of the grid, midfield teams are angling for a strong finish to the season, with some having tried out new car components at the post-Hungarian GP test. Williams currently lies fifth in the team standings, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Force India, although it failed to score at all at the Hungaroring, where Felipe Massa had to be replaced by Paul di Resta at…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer RECENT dips in real wages could lead to an increase in the number of drivers running on illegal tyres, experts have warned. According to figures from tyre specialist Micheldever, recessions, rising prices and declines in real wages are associated with a rise in motorists looking to save money by waiting until their tyres are below the legal minimum of 1.6mm of tread before they replace them. Auto Express obtained data from Micheldever’s Protyre retail arm going back to 2008. Protyre recorded the tread levels of over 239,000 tyres that were swapped for new ones and found that since the 2008 credit crunch, the number of drivers with illegal tyres has increased significantly. In 2008, on average 15.27 per cent of motorists were found driving on at least one…

Cool new Peugeot 108s a hit for kit PEUGEOT has announced two new trims for its 108 city car. The Collection models (above) come in five colours, accompanied by contrasting interior shades. ‘Speed’ decals and 15-inch wheels are included, while inside there’s a leather steering wheel and gearknob. Meanwhile, the TOP! Roland Garros flagship features an orange retractable roof, as well as orange highlights inside and out, and a long list of kit. Limited-run Celerio to be big in the City A NEW limited-edition Suzuki Celerio has arrived in showrooms, with only 500 earmarked for the UK. Called the Celerio City, it’s based on the SZ2 model but adds more equipment – with alloy wheels now featuring as standard. Prices start from £7,499, with £500 off, and on Suzuki’s current…

Michael_Cox@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “A DfT consultation last year received wide support to allow teaching on motorways” ALLOWING learner drivers on Britain’s motorways will improve road safety, according to the Transport Secretary. Chris Grayling was speaking after last week’s announcement from the Department for Transport that learners could drive on the country’s M-ways from next year. The first time new drivers take to the motorway will now be in a dual-controlled car and with a trained instructor. Currently, they can’t drive on a motorway until after passing their test. The change follows a DfT consultation, launched last year, which received broad support from learners and instructors to allow teaching on motorways. Studies have identified younger and more inexperienced drivers to be up to seven times more likely to be killed or seriously…

Contact Michael Cox mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Pay-by-phone parking FROM: Justin Jones I’M more than happy to embrace new technology when it is appropriate, but I think pay-by-phone parking is a terrible idea. If and when you get a mobile signal it is still very time-consuming. Cash should still be accepted, along with contactless cards. FROM: Stephen Hawkins I WORK all over London and love these machines. If I had to pay with cash, as in the past, I’d need £100 in change every few days. Pay-byphone does away with this and any chance of my card being scanned. I can also extend my parking time remotely. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “You get a text…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods IN Issue 1,486, we drove the all-new SsangYong Rexton, a high-spec 4x4 that is designed to take on giants such as the Skoda Kodiaq. But before the Korean brand’s latest SUV arrives in October, it has given its ageing Korando model a minor mid-life facelift, too. Among all the glitzy and glamorous SUVs we’ve seen this year, you’d be forgiven for missing the changes SsangYong has made to its good-value Korando. The tweaks are minor, but should keep the car fresh until the all-new model is launched in 2019. It’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stuff, though. The exterior has been refreshed with a new grille and lights, while interior updates are limited to a new steering wheel. Everything else is as it was before, which means the core Korando is still…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE phrase ‘electric car’ is becoming more and more heavily used, but what does it actually mean? As recently as five years ago, fewer than 10 electric vehicles were being offered to car buyers in the UK. Now the figure is more than five times that. As the range of ‘electric cars’ on sale has widened, so has the proliferation of technologies that the manufacturers are offering in their vehicles. And as a result, the decisions are becoming more complex for consumers. Do they want an electrified vehicle? Or an electric one? And do they need to plug in at all to get the benefit of battery power? Here, then, is Auto Express’s rundown of the four key types of vehicle currently on sale in the UK that…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan WHILE sales of hybrid and electric cars look set to increase rapidly over the next few years, there are many motorists who remain unconvinced. Improvements in range and charging options have made EVs more practical for daily use than ever, but a large section of the public still believes electrified vehicles can’t match the pace and excitement of a purely combustion-engined car. To try to dispel this myth, staff photographer Otis Clay and I head for some of the best driving roads in the country, in North Wales, in what we think is the most captivating plug-in hybrid on sale, BMW’s i8. Our aim? To see if adding battery power reduces driver appeal. And our two-day return trip would neatly go from Electric Avenue in Brixton, south London,…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk EVERY once in a while you come across a car that delivers more than you expect it to. More performance, more usability – more of everything, basically. The BMW M240i is one such car, especially as a coupé, although even the convertible version I ran for a while before swapping it for the hard-top turned out to be far better than I anticipated. There are various reasons why, but I believe the main one concerns the car’s styling. Maybe it’s the relatively small 18-inch wheels; maybe it’s the absence of any extrovert skirts and spoilers such as the ones you get with the full-on M2. But for whatever reason, the M240i doesn’t look anywhere near as potent as it actually is, and I rather like that in a car.…

Citroen SM Brian Long & Phillippe Claverol (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £45 Rating: IT’S hard to think of many cars more deserving of a book than the SM; it’s arguably one of the most interesting Citroens ever. This is a thorough and well written history, starting with a brief introduction to the brand, then a vast selection of period pictures, interspersed with brief snippets of text and captions. We enjoyed the old adverts in particular. Fans of the marque will love it. E-Type Jaguar Restoration Manual David Barzilay (Crowood Press, www.crowood.com) Price: £40 Rating: THIS book is a step up from the traditional Haynes-style manual. It gives you a detailed run-through of a groundup, nut-and-bolt restoration of an E-Type. Clear colour pictures are backed up with simple captions and instructions.…

Michael_Cox@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Which Jag to tow with? I HAVE two Jaguar X-Types and I’m not sure which one to use as a caravan tow car. One is a 2003 2.5-litre V6 AWD saloon and the other is a 2009 2.0-litre diesel estate. Which would be the better car for the job? Brian Lydamore, E-mail A WE asked the Caravan Club. It said while the saloon has the edge on power, it would go with the estate because it benefits from diesel torque, more practical load carrying and a higher towing weight. Make sure the cooling system and rear suspension are in good order. Q Car falls short of advert THE second-hand car I bought through a dealer doesn’t have the infotainment system or tinted glass listed in the ad.…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods AS the wraps came off the new Z4 in concept form (Page 6), BMW unleashed the production version of its sixth-generation M5 saloon, revealing a revised V8 engine and new all-wheel-drive powertrain. The brand has confirmed a February launch for the car, a rival to the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S. At the heart of the new M5 is a 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 – the same unit as is found under the bonnet of the previous model. It’s been given an overhaul, however, to ensure that the BMW is on par with the flagship E-Class. Newly developed turbos have been installed, working alongside revised exhaust manifolds. The set-up is enhanced with fresh cooling and lubrication systems. It now produces 592bhp; that’s 40bhp more than before. Torque surges to 750Nm,…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods HYUNDAI has revealed a nearproduction version of its unnamed next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell SUV, which will arrive early in 2018. The new concept car fleshes out the FE Fuel Cell Concept revealed at March’s Geneva Motor Show. The same svelte, low-drag shape of the earlier concept is carried over, but it gains a load of nearproduction parts with thin LED daytime running lights and a wide mesh grille (the previous car used a Tesla-style blanked nose), as well as new tail-lamps. Inside, the layout is the same as on the Geneva concept car, although it’s been toned down for this almost showroom-ready version. When it goes on sale, the final car will be Hyundai’s fourth-generation fuel cell, delivering a total output of up to 161bhp. The brand claims it’s…

A FREQUENT complaint made by motorists to Auto Express is that their insurance premium has gone up even though their circumstances haven’t changed. Some of this is down to premiums reaching record levels thanks to new Government tax changes, but these drivers often point out that they could buy cheaper insurance if they switched providers. Now, a chief executive for one of the biggest insurers in the country has explained why loyalty isn’t rewarded in the industry and why the market is “dysfunctional” to those who stay with the same provider. Mark Wilson, chief executive of Aviva, told the BBC new customers are lured by offers that are “too low”, which in turn means existing clients have to pay more for their premiums to fund the loss. In other words,…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy MERCEDES didn’t really pull up any tree stumps when it facelifted its GLA small SUV earlier this year. Based on the A-Class, the company’s rival for the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 got a chunkier look and, for the UK at least, comfort suspension, plus a raised ride height. However, when we drove the car back in April (Issue 1,468), we concluded that it was still more of a crossover or a beefed-up version of Mercedes’ family hatch than a true small SUV. Our test drive on foreign roads confirmed that it remained firmly in the middle of the pack at best. Now we’re trying one of the punchier versions of the updated GLA in the UK: the GLA 220 d 4MATIC, which sits in the upper half…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler N SUV terms, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is in its dotage. Launched the best part of seven years ago and facelifted a while back, it’s under assault from an increasing number of new challengers in a seriously competitive (and lucrative) part of the market. It faces an uphill battle to make it on to buyers’ consideration lists, in fact, as high-spec SUVs continue to blur the lines between luxury and mainstream. Yet owners love their Grand Cherokees. The car scored highly when it last appeared in our Driver Power satisfaction survey, and the brand managed an impressive third place in this year’s dealer round-up. Jeep keeps improving the Grand Cherokee, too, as this latest version of the top-spec Summit model proves. Auto Express was invited to the US…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE development of all-new electric cars is firmly at the front and centre of nearly every major manufacturer’s future plans, with most makers teeing up electric product offensives in the next decade. It’s firmly seen as the future, but the EV is hardly a new development. Electric cars have been quietly humming in the background for generations. “A MILD REVIVAL IN EVS WAS SPARKED BY THE OIL CRISES OF THE SEVENTIES” A quick glance at the history books reveals production electric cars have been around just as long as their internal combustion-engined counterparts , dating back to the late 19th century . This is no big surprise ; electricity has been seen as a conceivable means of propulsion since the car ’s inception , especially compared with alternatives…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer IS there a tougher test of quality than letting hundreds of learner drivers practise in your car? Vehicles owned and operated by driving instructors go through a lot, which is why reliability is key. So is fuel economy, because trips to the pumps can easily add up to thousands over the year. It’s no surprise then that many instructors stick with tried-and-tested models such as the Vauxhall Corsa, but some are starting to make the jump to electric vehicles because these offer rock-bottom running costs. Paul Tomlin, owner and operator of Green Driving School in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, was one of the first to make the switch and has been using an electric Nissan Leaf to teach automatic learners since 2011. He’s racked up 126,000 trouble-free miles in his…

Michael_Cox@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer SHOPPING for a new car can be a daunting process for many people, and pushy sales staff only add to the stress. Throw in a decision about whether to buy an electric vehicle and you’re likely to be left reeling. But what if you could compare the electric cars on the market without the pressure to buy one? “The centre has funding from the Government’s Go Ultra Low Cities programme and will be in place for five years” Charging point operator Chargemaster is offering just that with the UK’s first multi-brand EV showroom. Dubbed the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre, it gives motorists the chance to explore the latest electric and hybrid cars, although they can’t be bought at the facility. Auto Express joined the centre’s ‘EV gurus’ and…

Range Rover PRICE: £60,000 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6, 254bhp IF you’re willing to buy used, it’s possible to head even further upmarket. We found several 2016 Range Rovers on sale with about 10,000 miles on the clock for around £60,000. The big SUV’s luxury interior and ride are on another level to the Velar’s. Tesla Model X PRICE: £70,000 ENGINE: Two electric motors THE all-electric Tesla Model X SUV offers something totally different. Used examples are all low mileage, because the car is so new, so they’ll cost you more to buy. But if you plug in your Tesla at home, you’ll save a fortune on your fuel bills.…

Racy styling THE Focus RS is even more pumped up than its ST stablemate, with its huge grille and roof spoiler. But the Honda takes things to another level with its outlandish wheelarches, racy bodykit and massive wing. It makes the Ford look toned down when you put the two together like this. Brakes EACH of these hot hatches offers ballistic straight-line performance, but they’re also fantastic at scrubbing off speed. The Ford’s brakes are very strong and inspire confidence, but the Honda’s seem even sharper and the pedal gives plenty of feel. RS vs Type R BOTH the RS (Rallye Sport) and Type R brands have heritage and loyal UK fans. Type Rs arrived in the nineties, and fast Fords have used the RS badge since the seventies. They…

We roll back years in endurance Bug AUTO Express and our products editor Kim Adams turned the clock back 10 years when they competed in the Giti tyres-backed Fun Cup sixhour race at Snetterton, Norfolk. We contested the first four seasons of the former Uniroyal Team Challenge, running competitions for readers to win a chance to race. Kim, fellow journalist Jonathan Benson and Giti engineers Martin Gibson and Ellis Handley finished a creditable 12th in the 32-car field. Giti, whose UK brand is GT Radial, supplies GitiCompete GTR2 control tyres for the championship, which is for VW Beetle lookalike racers. On-demand roadside cover from new app MANY people want the reassurance of roadside assistance cover but don’t fancy paying out for it. RESQYOU is a new app offering pay-on-demand motoring…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 23 | 8 | 2017 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. IF you want to maximise the value of your car come trade-in time, a set of mats could be the answer. This simple solution can dramatically reduce wear on the pricey-to-replace fitted carpets, ensuring that they still look showroom-fresh when you’re selling your car. Fully tailored sets can be expensive, though, so we tested four semi-tailored and four universal sets, in each case two front and two rear mats. All rubber mats repel water and mud better, whereas carpet sets add an air of luxury. Some sets mix and match the two types in hybrid…

For every excessive price published, there are several tempting ones – including the ‘bargain’ McLaren 540C at £127,820 I’VE been reading plenty of highly entertaining, occasionally hilarious fiction this summer. Some – not all – car manufacturers are responsible for keeping me amused, with their published official price lists (not to be confused with discount prices that may be available). Before you can appreciate the comedy of what some of these documents contain, it’s important to remind yourself of a few oft-forgotten parameters. World-class city cars still start at a not-unreasonable £9,000, and around £11,000-£12,000 places you in quality supermini territory. Think £16,000-£17,000 as a fair official price for a credible family hatchback. Make that nearer £20,000 for a pukka family saloon. And even if you impose a cap of…