Innholdsfortegnelse for 1491 i Auto Express

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy VOLKSWAGEN’S Frankfurt Motor Show star, the I.D. Crozz II, will join two full-blown SUVs, a saloon and a microbus in the German company’s initial all-electric line-up – and the first model in the range, the I.D. hatchback, has just been signed off in production form. “The coupé-like I.D. Crozz II is being referred to as a ‘variant’ of the smaller of the SUVs” Five vehicles are expected to form the core of the early range on the VW Group’s MEB platform, a chassis that’s been designed from the ground up to accommodate all-electric powertrains. VW boss Herbert Diess confirmed to Auto Express last week at the Frankfurt show that the hatchback would be joined by not one but two sizes of SUV. “We already have the Tiguan and…

Autonomous VWs on road by 2021 VOLKSWAGEN CEO Matthias Müller has confirmed that fully autonomous (level five) vehicles will be on the streets of “two to five” cities by 2021. The driverless cars could be badged MOIA (the group’s mobility brand) and will be similar to the Sedric concept (above) that reappeared at the Frankfurt show last week. Müller also confirmed a family of Sedric autonomous vehicles. Vauxhall exports could refloat brand BRITISH-built Vauxhall-badged models could be exported in the future – according to Carlos Tavares, chairman of the brand’s new owner PSA Peugeot- Citroen. The decision depends on Vauxhall and Opel’s CEO Michael Lohscheller presenting a viable turnaround plan in November to return the brand to profit. “Exporting for us is very good, as long as the business plan…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods TOYOTA revealed a high-performance hybrid version of its C-HR crossover at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Called the C-HR Hy-Power, it’s a concept for now, but Auto Express understands that it will enter production next year. Created by Toyota’s European design centre in the south of France, the C-HR Hy-Power features subtle revisions to the crossover’s exterior including gloss black trim pieces, 20-inch alloy wheels and chrome window frame trim. No body panels are physically changed, but a diamond cut film covers the roof in crystalline shapes ranging from black to orange. Inside, there’s orange detailing on the doors and dashboard, orange stitching on the centre console, and the side bolsters of the quilted leather seats are also trimmed in orange material. No specific performance figures have been revealed,…

Hypercar could look to Formula E’s tech MERCEDES-AMG could follow up the Formula One-powered Project One (above) with a flagship EV hypercar, borrowing electric tech from Formula E. Boss Dr. Dieter Zetsche said it is “no accident” that the brand will enter the racing series for the 2019/20 season, confirming the technology could power a Mercedes-AMG model, although such a car is a project for the next decade. Renault, Nissan, Mitsu in EV plan THE alliance made up of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi has announced it will launch 12 new electric vehicles between the three brands by 2022. A further 40 new vehicles will all feature some level of autonomous driving technology, all the way up to full self-driving capability. The trio aims to be saving 10billion euros per annum…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Videowatch WE drive Mercedes’ new S-Class at youtube.com/Autoexpress this week, plus don’t miss our Frankfurt Motor Show round-up. Behind the wheel of the new S-Class THE Mercedes S-Class has long been the top choice in the luxury limousine market. Rivals have for years been trying to better its combination of state-of-the-art tech, a sumptuous interior and a refined ride, but few have ever quite managed it. However, now that Audi is raining on Mercedes’ parade with its clever new A8, is the S-Class still the best? We drive the latest car to find out. Video round-up of the Frankfurt show MISSED our live coverage from the glittering Frankfurt Motor Show? Don’t worry. Our round-up video shows off all this year’s key reveals. Join me as I take you…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods WITH the arrival of the Optima PHEV last year, Kia added another string to its electric bow. Joining the Soul EV, the saloon was the brand’s first plug-in hybrid model. Kia’s engineers have now added the Niro PHEV (Page 32), as well as an SW estate version of the plug-in Optima – driven here for the first time. It gets an enlarged battery pack (now 11.26kWh), which means an improved all-electric range of 38 miles. Broadly speaking, the standalone PHEV model sits between the mid-range ‘3’ and flagship GT-Line S versions of the regular SW on spec (if not price), boasting an eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, black upholstery with fake leather trim and heated front seats. Kia adds a premium edge with a standard Harman Kardon audio system…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn CONSUMER confidence in diesel is lower than it’s ever been, so the launch of a new T6 petrol engine in the Volvo V90 range couldn’t have come at a better time. There is a slight snag, though; the company doesn’t offer the 2.0-litre unit across the range, so the only way to get one is by splashing out more than £50,000 on the Cross Country model. That’s not an insignificant sum when you consider that the V90 CC line-up starts at £40,640 for the basic all-wheel-drive D4 diesel. The T6 engine is intriguing because it’s a 316bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which is both turbocharged and supercharged. The benefit of twincharging, in theory at least, is the instant power delivery of a supercharger and high-end shove of the turbo –…

AS with our Driver Power new car survey (Issue 1,476), we asked owners of used models to rate their vehicles across nine categories that comprised a total of 31 different areas. These ranged from the level of safety kit on board to how refined the engines were and whether the sat-nav was easy to use. Second-hand cars bring many pitfalls and our category rankings will help you find out which makes and models are the most reliable, cheapest to run and most spacious. As in our previous surveys, we spotted some interesting themes in this year’s results. In the engine and gearbox category, owners seemed most impressed when their cars came with a hybrid drivetrain, rating them far above conventional engines for not only refinement but for acceleration, too. The…

VOLKSWAGEN is doing its best to present the Arteon as being a separate car from the Passat on which it’s based, but as soon as you get inside you can see the family connection. That’s no bad thing, because the interior has an elegant, high-quality ambience – crucial in this company, because the VW manages to feel nearly as upmarket as the Audi. There are a few hard plastic surfaces, but it’s nothing you can’t ignore. The dash has a clean, modern look, especially with our car’s Discover Navigation Pro system, with its 9.2-inch touchscreen. The Active Info display between the dials is as functional and up-to-date as the Virtual Cockpit in the A5 Sportback, too. So the interior is a winner, but the exterior is what really impresses about…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk YOU might think that running the smallest car on our test fleet could be a challenge with a family of four – including two teenage sons – but that’s really not the case. While our appetite for long weekends away and the occasional need to do some heavy lifting sounds like it would catch out our little Suzuki Ignis, it has more than managed all that we’ve thrown at it. My family loves the quirky city car’s red paint, black grille and chrome details. It may divide opinion, but the Ignis is characterful and the boxy shape means there’s more space than you might think inside. First opinion “I like the steering and braking on the Ignis; both feel more precise than in the Vauxhall Corsa run by my…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Fine mess needs resolving TWO weeks ago I sold my Skoda Superb privately, and informed the DVLA of the owner change. Last week I was mailed a fine for illegally driving in a bus lane – but this is clearly the new owner. What do I do? Rodney Wise, E-mail A IF it hasn’t already, the DVLA will send you a letter confirming the change of ownership. The letter will also include the date of the sale. Send a copy of this letter to the council and explain that you no longer own the vehicle. The council will then send the fine to the new owner instead. Q Used rubber conundrum I AM in the process of buying a used car and have come across a Vauxhall…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ASTON Martin is considering entering Formula One as an engine supplier from 2021, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin CEO, told us: “We are studying 2021 regulation changes that might provoke us to supply an F1 engine if the conditions are appropriate.” Aston already has a technical partnership with Red Bull Racing, with its Valkyrie road car developed with input from the team. Becoming an engine partner of the squad would therefore make some sense. Red Bull’s relationship with Renault has become fractious over the past few seasons with the French company’s F1 hybrid engine lagging some way behind the performance offered by rivals Mercedes and Ferrari. Renault’s announcement last week of an engine deal with McLaren for 2018-20 and junior team Toro Rosso’s move…

Colossal, costly, static motor shows like Frankfurt with stands the size of small countries are surely unsustainable I DON’T like motor shows. I love ’em. Yet even this car exhibition addict has to question the somewhat bonkers 14-24 September Frankfurt event which covers more square kilometres than any other static car gathering on the planet. The sheer scale of the ever-expanding event troubles me. But the costs involved are even more worrying as the big three Germans each spend millions – possibly tens of millions – on their respective multi-storey, symbolic monuments constructed by thousands of workers. Why should you care that they’re blowing obscene sums employing thousands of builders, then demolition experts, for weeks if not months, while also renting acres of space on what must be one of…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn BMW has given us a thinly veiled glimpse of the four-door, all-electric saloon it will launch by the end of the decade, as predicted by Auto Express in February. Called the i Vision Dynamics concept, it was revealed last week at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will sit between the i3 hatchback and i8 sports car as a rival to the Tesla Model S. It’s one of 12 all-electric cars BMW is planning to release by 2025, which will include a fully electric X3 SUV and MINI hatchback. According to the German brand, the concept boasts an all-electric range of 600km (373 miles), a top speed over 120mph and a 0-62mph time of four seconds. BMW bosses have told Auto Express that those are the figures the production…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn BENTLEY has confirmed that it’ll build a new, fully electric sports car, which will arrive towards the end of the decade. The model will form the marque’s fifth product line, and has been favoured over an extra, smaller SUV that was also on the table. The EXP12 Speed 6e concept (above), which was revealed earlier this year, previewed design cues we could well see on a future electric Bentley. Speaking last week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer said: “At present, a smaller SUV is not in the plan any more, and we favour a car with a full electric drivetrain. This is the direction we’re heading.” The new Bentley EV is understood to be several years away from production, but Dürheimer confirmed that it’ll be based…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer VEHICLES first registered over 40 years ago will be exempt from MoT tests on a rolling basis starting from May next year, the Government has announced. Currently, only those built or first registered before 1960 do not require an annual MoT. However, the Department for Transport has now agreed that cars, vans and other privately used vehicles first built or registered over 40 years ago will be exempt from an MoT. This rolling scheme follows a successful consultation into reforming the criteria for the roadworthiness test launched at the end of last year. The changes will come into effect from 20 May 2018. There are 197,000 vehicles registered that are currently exempt from MoT testing annually, and the Government predicts the changes will mean an additional 293,000 classic…

Contact Lawrence Allan THE following provide help mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC 2018 Nissan Leaf FROM: JoeR NISSAN has improved the looks of the Leaf with the 2018 model. It’s as stylish as a Volvo V40, and the 235-mile EV range sounds promising. I’m not that impressed by the lack of development in the recharging time, but hopefully the quality will be there. FROM: pjh64 MY existing 30kWh Leaf does about 110 miles in the real world. This is below the 155-mile quoted range, so I take Nissan’s 235-mile claim with a pinch of salt. If the brand can bring the real-world mileage up to over 300 miles, I think more people will take the plunge. Join the…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram IF you ignore the Opel badges on the inside, the car you see here is the production-ready version of Vauxhall’s allnew Nissan Qashqai rival, the Grandland X. The new crossover was revealed earlier this year, and it’s the third SUV in Vauxhall’s growing line-up. Born from a joint venture that was arranged before PSA Peugeot Citroen took over as owner of Vauxhall/Opel, the Grandland X is based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008. It shares many parts with the French crossover, and comes with a similar range of engines and gearboxes. Here we try the Grandland X powered by a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. “The Grandland X is a comfortable and capable cruiser, with fine urban and motorway manners” Those familiar with the 3008 will notice…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE Skoda Citigo has always been a smart city car choice – and for one reason in particular; it’s the cheapest variation of the VW Group’s junior trio. That means it undercuts the posher VW up! and more stylish SEAT Mii on price, while offering the same solid all-round credentials. After half a decade on the job, the Citigo has now been refreshed with a new look and redesigned interior, plus a dash of new tech. The changes are minor, but bring the Skoda in line with its Volkswagen sister car. The up! was given a host of updates last summer, so it’s only right that the Citigo gets a handful of fresh additions, too. It’s just a shame that no new engines form part of the package.…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer RATINGS 88 TO 76 88 Ford Ka Mk2 87 Peugeot 107 Mk1 86 Vauxhall Zafira Mk2 85 Peugeot 207 84 Renault Clio Mk3 83 Suzuki Alto Mk4 82 Vauxhall Astra Mk6 81 Citroen C1 Mk1 80 Vauxhall Corsa Mk3 79 Kia Venga 78 Vauxhall Meriva Mk2 77 SEAT Ibiza Mk4 76 Toyota Aygo Mk1 BACK in Issue 1,476 we introduced you to our new Driver Power format, with more questions than ever before resulting in better analysis to narrow down the best new cars in the UK. Now, we’ve moved the focus on to the second-hand market by asking owners of models between three and six years old what they think of their current motor In order to identify the country’s best used cars, we asked drivers to…

1. Lexus 90.12% THE Skoda Yeti may be the best used car in Britain, but Lexus tops our brand survey. 2. Volvo 88.64% NO Volvo car had enough responses to make our individual top 88, but when we crunched the numbers it ranked second in our brand countdown. 3. Mercedes 88.62% MERCEDES does well in most categories, but higher servicing fees are a sticking point. 4. Skoda 87.83% HAD it not been for a 10th place in infotainment, Skoda would have challenged for the podium. 5. Honda 87.35% GREAT scores in the practicality and reliability categories help Honda to secure a top-five finish. 6. Land Rover 87.05% 7. BMW 86.51% 8. Kia 85.32% 9. Toyota 85.28% 10. Mazda 85.19% 11. Audi 84.63% 12. SEAT 84.42% 13. Volkswagen 84.35% 14. Ford…

WHILE the latest Audi A5 Sportback’s styling didn’t move on a great deal from the previous-generation car, we’re still fans of the way it looks. There’s an understated quality to the shape but it’s still handsome, and it still has one of the best interiors in its class. Although the infotainment system feels a bit older than the touchscreen in the VW, the Audi’s cabin is modern, fresh and comfortable to sit in. The Audi’s ride is soft as well, with the £600 adaptive dampers fitted to our car in comfort mode. However, the Volkswagen’s standard-fit Dynamic Chassis Control suspension is softer still, and while it doesn’t firm up as much in the Sport setting as the Audi, it’s actually better suited to UK roads. Both models tighten up enough…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn JAGUAR Land Rover has confirmed that plug-in hybrid variants of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are on the way, with both new Land Rover hybrids to be unveiled towards the end of this year and going on sale at the beginning of 2018. On stage last week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, JLR’s chief executive Dr. Ralf Speth made the announcement just days after the British company laid out its electrification strategy for the coming years, revealing that every model the manufacturer produces from 2020 will be available with the option of an electrified powertrain. “At Jaguar Land Rover we are shaping our future whilst remaining true to our values and so take care of our customers,” Dr. Speth said at the German show. “Innovation is…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn AFTER much hype and expectation, the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show did a thorough job of setting up what should be one of the most exciting and varied periods in motoring history. The flurry of model launches within the vast halls of the Frankfurt Messe turned up some fantastic new cars, and it made the job of choosing the best vehicles at Frankfurt 2017 all the harder. Concept cars appear to have dominated the stands at the 67th IAA (International Automobile-Ausstellung), with the likes of the BMW i Vision Dynamics, Audi Aicon, Honda Urban EV, Kia Proceed, Mercedes EQA and MINI Electric among the many designs previewing the shape of things to come in the automotive world. That said, the present looks rather exciting, too, with the arrival of…

AS Auto Express went to press, images of Volvo’s new XC40 surfaced online – leaked a week ahead of the car’s scheduled reveal by one of the brand’s national importers. The new model – a rival for the Audi Q2 and Q3, as well as the BMW X1 – was shown clearly in a video accidentally released by Volvo Hungary. It appears to get a funky, more youthful evolution of the styling cues already seen on its bigger stablemates, the XC60 and XC90. There’s an new version of the Thor’s Hammer headlight motif, and the profile is dominated by a kink rising towards the C-pillar. The video also mentions wireless smartphone charging, and shows details such as a flexible load area in the boot, and special textured material on the…

THIS September saw the new Ford Fiesta score five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test – making it only the second supermini alongside the new SEAT Ibiza this year to reach the maximum score in the standard vehicle category. That’s significant for two reasons. First, the Fiesta Mk7 is likely to take over the crown of the Mk6 as Britain’s best-selling new car, so it’s good to see that the model tens thousands of people will end up buying each year will keep them as safe as possible. Second, it also shows the important strides made in safety over the past 20 years. September 1997 was the first time a Ford Fiesta was tested by NCAP, with the Mk3 car receiving just three stars. Matthew Avery, head of Thatcham…

www.consumer-genie.co.uk WHEN buying a car, you’re protected by the Consumer’s Right Act 2015. The Act says the car should be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. If that’s not the case, then you may be able to reject the car for a full refund or have it repaired and replaced. But there are caveats. Satisfactory quality will depend on the car’s age and price paid, and the remedies open to you depend on how quickly you flagged up the fault after buying the car. This can often result in long disputes with dealers. For an extra safety net, you could buy a car with a credit card, because any claim you may have against a garage can also be brought against your card provider. When you make…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram KIA launched its first dedicated hybrid last year. Unlike many of the brand’s current models, the Niro was designed for electrification from the outset. It arrived only as a hybrid, before a plug-in version was revealed at March’s Geneva Motor Show. Offering all the tax benefits of Toyota’s latest Prius PHV, but in a more desirable, crossover-style package, the Niro PHEV has an 8.9kWh lithium-polymer battery teamed with a 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine. It’ll charge from empty in just over two hours, and should do up to 36 miles on electric power alone. But even when the batteries are depleted, the car operates as a mild hybrid and claims up to 67.3mpg – more than the standard hybrid, which promises 64.2mpg in 3 spec. “29g/km CO2 emissions put…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram MERCEDES has never offered British buyers a 4MATIC version of the AMG E 63 before. Although this car has sold well elsewhere, we’ve had to make do with the livewire, tail-happy rear-wheel-drive models. However, the introduction of the latest saloon changed this. The maker has now added a more practical Estate to its range, too, and we’ve driven it for the first time. On paper, the stats are impressive. The wagon weighs more than two tonnes, yet will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. It’ll do 155mph flat out, and claims 31mpg, too. Just 10 years ago the E 63’s forefather did 19mpg and emitted 345g/km of CO2. The new car is 40 per cent cleaner, but is still in the highest bracket for company car tax. The…

CITY CAR Kia Picanto Mk2 85.53% KIA’S Picanto Mk2 takes the city car crown in a hotly contested class that includes the likes of the Volkswagen up! and Mk1 versions of the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo. The little Kia was voted the number one thanks to excellent scores in the running costs category – a key area for city cars – as well as good reliability and build quality results. SMALL CAR Honda Jazz Mk2 88.07% MOST people would expect small cars to score poorly for practicality; the Mk2 Jazz is the exception. This is because of its 337-litre boot and its Magic Seats that owners rated well for versatility. Great scores for running costs and reliability saw the Honda beat rivals such as the Ford Fiesta Mk6 and…

Dawn_Grant@dennis.co.uk AS far as driving aids go, you can definitely count me as a technophobe. While linking my smartphone and being guided by sat-nav have become second nature when I get in the car, once I’m driving I don’t even like using cruise control. Our Mégane has convinced me to at least give it a try, though, as it’s packed with helpful technology. This includes Renault’s Parking Pack Premium, which costs an extra £500 and adds hands-free parking, 360-degree sensors and blind-spot warning. It’s also got the £400 Safety Pack Premium, which brings adaptive cruise control along with safe-distance warning and autonomous emergency braking. I thought I would dive straight in at the deep end with the self-parking first, as it’s something I’d never tried before and wasn’t sure what…

products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer IT’S around this time of year that the great driving debate begins: should I fit winter tyres or stick with summer ones? But many drivers have already answered the question, having bought winter rubber, which is in the garage or at a dealer waiting to be fitted. Some will have them fitted to a second set of rims, ready to be put on the car in a few minutes to give them the best chance of getting through winter unscathed. For those still not sure we have this test, which will reveal the best winter product to fit and show how the other options – allseason and summer – match up. All-season versions may be getting renewed attention from tyre makers, but for the ultimate year-round performance, swapping rubber…

59th PLACE 2017 Results VW Polo Factfile Years: 2009 to 2017 CO2: 107g/km Fuel economy: 60.1mpg (1.2 TSI) Best options: Sat-nav, reversing camera, lane departure assist, AEB, folding mirrors, sunroof Prices: From £3,795 GOOD “THERE’S a good level of feel through the Polo’s steering. It inspires real confidence.” “Very cheap to run. Road tax costs me £20 and I pay very little for fuel and insurance.” “Comes with a good amount of tech for a small car.” “The brakes are great – sensitive and come with plenty of feel.” “Mine is only a 1.2 but the turbocharger gives it plenty of boost and performance.” “A great car for the city – nimble and easy to park.” “Isofix child seat mounts make it family friendly.” NOT SO GOOD “THE Polo’s interior…