Auto Express 1494

AS the political party conference season drew to a close last week, so news of the latest car registration figures were released: down nine per cent – a worrying, if not unexpected, trend. So why link the two things? If the car market isn’t healthy it has a massive effect on the UK economy. Yet politicians from all parties had nothing to say, preferring to stick their heads in the sand. There are over 800,000 people in the UK who rely on the car business for their livelihoods. That’s 800,000 people being ignored by politicians. Nobody expected car sales to continue growing, but the lack of showroom traffic is a concern for an industry that is so vital to the UK. I’ve no doubt that people want to buy cars,…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE ▪ Our verdict as we get first taste of production version of SUV ▪ Sits on MQB platform; promises strong practicality, lots of tech SKODA’S new range of SUVs started with a winner. The excellent Kodiaq seven-seater was crowned Best Large SUV at the 2017 Auto Express New Car Awards, and has subsequently won a series of tough road tests. That’s set expectations high for the smaller Karoq – but can it match its bigger brother’s top mix of practicality, dynamics and standard equipment? Despite the demise of the outgoing Yeti, the Karoq is not a direct replacement for the boxy SUV. It’s 20cm longer than the old car and much bigger inside. We first drove a prototype version of the Karoq way back in May (Issue 1,471),…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan FOLLOWING on quickly from the reveal of the updated Range Rover Sport in Issue 1,493, Land Rover has now pulled the wraps off its revised full-size 2018 Range Rover. The luxury SUV is available to order now from £79,595, which is £2,800 more than the outgoing car. It features a more luxurious cabin, new tech and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. As part of the model year change, the British maker’s long-standing flagship has received some mild exterior revisions. The front grille has been tweaked to bring it into line with the new Velar, while four new LED headlight systems are available. These include an adaptive Pixel-Laser High Beam option that can project light up to 500 metres ahead of the car. At the back, a new bumper integrates…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ THE original 2004 Mercedes CLS created a new niche, carving out the four-door coupé sector with its elegant styling and sportier set-up. It’s these elements that Mercedes has elevated to the next level with the third-generation CLS – and we’ve sampled a final pre-production car from the passenger seat in the UK. Here is our verdict ahead of the model’s global debut in November at the LA Motor Show. This CLS marks the introduction of the new Mercedes 242bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but it was the 3.0 straight-six petrol and diesel models we experienced during our ride. The 3.0-litre petrol boasts advanced tech for the brand, too; a new 48V electrical system allows an integrated starter-alternator to deliver a 27bhp hit as part of the new EQ…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler NISSAN is gearing up for the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October by previewing a hot version of its new allelectric Leaf – hinting that the brand’s aggressive EV rollout won’t come at the expense of performance models. Called the Leaf Nismo, the car is only a concept for now. However, when it takes to the Tokyo stage, it’ll boast sporty styling and a more potent all-electric powertrain. For now, Nissan is remaining tightlipped about the Leaf Nismo’s figures, but one insider hinted at performance close to that of a Ford Focus RS. “Expect a 0-62mph time of below six seconds,” we were told. It’s easy to see how the Leaf Nismo differs from the standard hatchback, with large alloy wheels, lowered ride height, two-tone black…

Fiat gives 500X a minor makeover FIAT has revealed an updated version of its 500X crossover (above) for 2018. As well as minor front and rear tweaks, there are new bronze and green paint colours, plus extra personalisation options. Inside, Fiat has added the latest Uconnect HD Live touchscreen to higherend models, bringing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and other online services. The car will go on sale early next year, with prices to be confirmed at a later date. Renault planning major expansion RENAULT is planning to introduce 21 new vehicles across its brands – including budget marque Dacia and sports car firm Alpine – before 2022. CEO Carlos Ghosn announced last Friday a new alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi will generate more than £62billion in revenue by the…