Innholdsfortegnelse for 1527 i Auto Express

JAGUAR’S new I-Pace has been four-and-a-half years in the making and, as you’ll read on Page 24, it’s certainly been worth waiting for. The electric SUV is the birthchild of Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart (above), JLR’s technical design director. After 23 years at BMW, and playing a role in the creation of the German firm’s i Division, he knows a thing or two about EVs – and with the I-Pace it shows. But even Ziebart didn’t spot the gap in the market for luxury electric vehicles. He wasn’t alone – bosses at Mercedes, Audi, Ford, Toyota and Honda (among others) all missed buyers’ appetite for high-end EVs. Tesla got there first and showed the established powers within the automotive industry the massive opportunity they had missed. Without Tesla, would cars such…

“It’s a proper sports car, with sweeter steering and a stiffer chassis” mail@autoexpress.co.uk BMW has an unusually candid way of describing the key difference between the old and new Z4. It now admits the previous version was a model to drive on a Sunday afternoon, because it wasn’t really a true-blue sports car. But the new Z4, which we’ve tried here in Z40i prototype form, is a car to drive early on a Sunday morning, BMW says, before the sun has come up and when there’s no one else around; the inference being that the previous model was a softie at heart, while this new one has become a proper driver’s car. And do you know what? Having driven this virtually production-ready Z40i prototype on both road and track, with…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.2 seconds/155mph Running costs 31.7mpg (off icial) £99 fill-up Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram LUXURY GT cars have a rather difficult brief: they not only have to cocoon their occupants in ultimate opulence, but also offer hair-raising performance more befitting of a sports car. Bundling those two traits together isn’t an easy task – which is why there are so few examples of the breed. Bentley’s reinvented Continental GT and the Aston Martin DB11 are the only real competitors to the facelifted Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupé, which we’re driving here for the first time on UK roads. This updated S-Class Coupé gets many of the same visual changes first seen on its saloon sibling; a reshaped front bumper and enlarged front air intakes feature, as do new OLED rear lights.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram AUTONOMOUS driving is a hot topic. Almost every maker is investing in self-driving technology, with the rate of development accelerating by the day. Nissan is the latest manufacturer to launch its range of de-stressing semi-autonomous technologies. First seen on the all-new Leaf, the ProPilot features have now been fitted to the firm’s huge-selling Qashqai SUV. The ProPilot options arrive initially on the dCi 130, and will later be available across the Qashqai range. Nissan will also offer the tech-filled Pilot One Edition tested here, which has lots of added kit. The Pilot One builds on the well-equipped Tekna+, and its autonomous tech includes Intelligent Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Pilot, Lane Keep Assist and Intelligent Lane Change Intervention. However, unlike rival systems, many of which have been available…

SMALL MINI WE FOUND: MINI Cooper (06/06-reg, 75,000 miles) Price new £11,600 Now £995 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 116bhp Economy: 42.2mpg CO2/tax: 164g/km/£195 Euro NCAP: 4 stars (2002) HOW do you go about modernising and relaunching the most famous car in the world? It was a task fraught with peril, and yet BMW’s execution was so brilliant that you’d hardly have known. Penned by design legend Frank Stephenson (who would later move to McLaren, where he worked on the P1 hybrid hypercar), the 2001 MINI was an instant success, drawing brilliantly on the Mini’s heritage without ever feeling contrived. Countless ways to personalise the car also allowed owners to stand out from the crowd without having to spend a fortune. Admittedly the interior is a little cramped and the 1.6-litre petrol…

BUSINESS BMW 3 SERIES WE FOUND: 320d ED (11/61-reg, 70k miles) Price new £27,900 Now £7,990 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 163bhp Economy: 68.9mpg CO2/tax: 109g/km/£20 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2005) THE EfficientDynamics (ED) tweaks carried out by BMW to make this particular version of the 320d the best company car possible included a ride height that was lowered by 15mm, 16-inch wheels and a longer sixth gear for refined motorway cruising. The end result was the most fuel efficient 3 Series in the range, returning almost 70mpg in official EU tests. What’s so impressive about the 320d EfficientDynamics is that these eco upgrades don’t spoil any of the qualities that make the 3 Series such a good car to drive. It’s respectably punchy for an eco diesel saloon (the benchmark sprint…

SUVLAND ROVER DISCOVERY WE FOUND: TDV6 HSE (10/10-reg, 55,000 miles) Price new £47,695 Now £19,995 Engine: 3.0-litre V6, 242bhp Economy: 30.4mpg CO2/tax: 244g/km/£540 Euro NCAP: 4 stars (2006) THE Land Rover Discovery 4 has always been the automotive world’s equivalent of the Swiss Army knife. It’s useful in so many ways that once you’ve experienced its abilities nothing else will really do. Needless to say, its skills off road are breathtaking – which makes how utterly refined the Discovery is on the tarmac all the more remarkable. With the big V6 diesel powerplant up front (go for the 3.0-litre engine rather than the smaller 2.7 if you can afford it), a smooth automatic transmission and one of the most commanding driving positions on the market, it simply devours miles. The…

TECH NISSAN GT-R WE FOUND: GT-R (08/08-reg, 68k miles) Price new £58,570 Now £29,460 Engine: 3.8-litre V6, 473bhp Economy: 22.8mpg CO2/tax: 298g/km/£555 Euro NCAP: N/A THE GT-R has attained legendary status among car enthusiasts, many of whom became hooked on upgrading and then racing digital versions of the car in the Gran Turismo video game series. The good news is that any fan in a position to buy the real thing will find out that Nissan’s performance flagship is every bit as impressive in real life. While you’ll be looking at a leggier 68,000-mile car at this price, it’s still an affordable way into ownership of a true supercar game changer. It stands out largely thanks to the tech-laden drive system, the unrelenting acceleration delivered by the 473bhp twin-turbo V6…

Running costs 47.6mpg (on test) £44 fill-up/£140 or 23% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 251/959 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 9.1 seconds/122mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 49.7/33.8/12.1m MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen up! GTI five-door PRICE: £14,155 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp EVEN in GTI trim, the up! undercuts both of its rivals here by a big margin, costing £14,155 in five-door form. It uses a 113bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, and while it sits a class below both these competitors, it’s spacious enough to be worthy of a supermini buyer’s attention. Design & engineering THE up! uses the VW Group’s New Small Family (NSF) platform, which is also designed for its SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo sister cars. However, this is the only version offered with a turbocharged performance variant. Underneath the compact body, the NSF…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.9 seconds/118mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 377/1,160 litres Running costs 39.4mpg (on test) 136g/km/£140 or 28% tax “Some of the folds are so sharp, I liken it to a piece of intricate origami” Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram CAR design has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the boxy, square-edged hatchbacks; they’ve seemingly been replaced by curvy coupés and sleek SUVs. The latest addition to the Auto Express fleet sits in the latter category, standing proud as one of the coolest crossovers on sale. For the next six months we’ll be running the funky Toyota C-HR you see in the pictures. It’s not the fuel-sipping hybrid, but instead the punchy 1.2-litre turbo petrol model, which toppled the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai in our Issue 1,457 road test last…

Ford Kuga Kuga ST-Line TDCi 178 Years: 2012 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp Ins group: 25 Official econ/CO2: 54.3mpg/135g/km Why? Chunky looks give Kuga the most convincing SUV appearance here, and emissions are low. Prices from: £19,250 THE Kuga was refreshed in 2016, and the update brought about new styling, improved refinement and a much-needed infotainment upgrade. Handling has always been a Kuga strong point, and although it’s not quite as sharp as the Mazda, it impresses for a tall SUV. A trade-off for this is comfort: the Ford has the harshest ride of this trio. Still, the diesel engine is smooth and the all-wheel drive works well in slippery conditions. The car finished 32nd in our Driver Power 2018 satisfaction survey. Mazda CX-5 CX-5 2.2 TD Sport Nav…

• 2019 driver market hots up • Mallya takes a step back Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk DANIEL Ricciardo is the hottest prospect on the 2019 Formula One driver market, as the teams head to Canada this weekend for the annual visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Australian’s contract with Red Bull is up at the end of this year, and he drew high praise for hanging on to win the recent Monaco Grand Prix. That was despite an estimated 25 per cent reduction in power due to a technical issue with his Red Bull’s power unit. The Milton Keynes squad is currently deciding whether to follow its junior team Toro Rosso and switch from Renault to Honda power for 2019. And with Valterri Bottas not yet confirmed at Mercedes for…

• Dramatic new rival to X6, GLE Coupé and Range Rover Sport • Packed with luxury and driving technology from A8 limousine “The Q8 is shorter, wider and lower than the Q7, which helps to give it a sporty stance” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy AUDI has added an all-new model to its SUV line-up – the Q8. It’s the sister vehicle to the Q7 and a new entry in the popular coupé-SUV sector. The Q8 is 4,986mm long – so it’s about 66mm shorter than the Q7 – but it shares that car’s wheelbase and is longer overall than both of its obvious rivals, the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupé, as well as the Range Rover Sport. It’s also 27mm wider than the Q7 and this, along with a lower roofline,…

“Drivers caught speeding could receive a warning, with no action taken if no other offences are detected” SPEEDING drivers could soon be given a warning instead of points and a fine, under new plans by Police Scotland. According to the force, drivers in Scotland caught over the limit could receive a warning, with no action taken if there are no further speeding offences detected within three months. Drivers caught speeding within that time frame would be issued a ticket for the second offence. Police Scotland has yet to disclose the thresholds that would trigger a warning over a fine. Current rules allow police to issue a warning instead of a fine, but no official record is made. By formalising the system, officers would be able to accurately track speeding infractions.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram PEUGEOT has officially revealed its answer to the Skoda Superb Estate and Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer: the new 508 SW. The latest estate gets the same squat stance as the 508 Fastback saloon, and is almost identical from the nose to the B-pillar. Beyond that, the body has been extended while the new 508 SW sits 60mm lower than its predecessor. Estate buyers are often interested in just one thing: the boot. At 530 litres, the SW’s load area is 30 litres smaller than before and 130 litres down on the class-leading Skoda Superb’s. It’s a sacrifice Peugeot has decided to make for the sleeker exterior design. However, the ‘Magic Flat’ seats fold flush at the flick of a switch, and create 1,780 litres of space – the…

“You want to do what your big brother does, and by the time I was old enough to put on a pair of leathers I put my name down for the passenger seat”TOM BIRCHALL World champion sidecar passenger Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer TOM Birchall has one of the toughest jobs in motorsport. That’s because he helps his brother, Ben, steer a sidecar through the 37-mile Isle of Man TT course at record pace, leaning out of it around corners and reaching speeds of more than 150mph with nothing but millimetres separating them and the tarmac whizzing underneath. The Birchall brothers are six-time winners of the Isle of Man TT and current lap-record holders in the sidecar class. They are also the 2009 and 2017 FIM Sidecar World Champions, so not many people…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.9 seconds/121mph Running costs 55.4mpg (off icial) £65 fill-up John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THERE’S an all-new Mazda 3 on the way, but the existing model still has about a year left to run. To maintain momentum, the Japanese brand is trotting out the special-editions until the next-generation family car arrives. The latest effort is the Mazda 3 Sport Black, a limited-run special that brings extra kit and styling tweaks. It’s based on the 2.0-litre SE L Nav car and is only available as a hatchback. This version gets a jet-black roof spoiler and door mirrors, a choice of metallic paint schemes and 18-inch dark alloys. In addition to the regular car’s spec, a reversing camera, LED headlights and keyless entry are included. The styling add-ons don’t really change the…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram MEASURE a car’s value for money in terms of horsepower per pound and not much comes close to the Ford Mustang. This is an American icon that, starting from just over £41,000, offers Audi RS 5 power for the price of an A5. Yet judging by the wholesale revisions applied to the 2018 Mustang we’re driving here for the first time in the UK, it seems that Ford wasn’t satisfied. The 5.0-litre V8 now makes 444bhp – 38bhp more than before – a result of a revised fuelling system that mixes both port and direct injection. It’s enough for 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds with the new 10-speed auto, or 4.6 in the manual car. Curiously, the other engine option has lost power. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost unit improves ‘Eco’…

FAMILY VAUXHALL INSIGNIA WE FOUND: 2.0 CDTi Exclusiv (11/60-reg, 99,500 miles) Price new£20,825 Now £2,499 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 128bhp Economy: 55.4mpg CO2/tax: 136g/km/£140 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2009) IN the value-for-money family motoring stakes there’s a lot to be said for a first-generation Vauxhall Insignia. This car, which was unveiled at the London Motor Show back in 2008, was the replacement for the Vectra, but secured a new name because it represented such a big step forwards in everything from its design to the driving experience. Sure enough, the Insignia has a ride and handling balance that surprised many people when it was launched. It feels composed and comfortable on the motorway, but also agile enough to be fun to drive on a B-road. The Vauxhall is big inside, too,…

HOT HATCH FORD FIESTA WE FOUND: ST-2 Mountune (13/63-reg, 57,000 miles) Price new £18,594 Now £8,490 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 212bhp Economy: 47.9mpg CO2/tax: 138g/km/£140 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2012) FOR anybody who loves their driving, this fast Ford Fiesta is up there with the best of them – particularly as it’s been fettled by Mountune. As a reminder, Mountune is the blue oval’s accredited tuner, which means you know that any upgrades are well within the car’s capabilities and, just as importantly, didn’t void the standard warranty when the model was first produced. The modifications consist of a new airbox and a tweaked engine-management system. Together, these upgrades boost the engine’s power from 178bhp to 212bhp, resulting in an impressive 0-60mph sprint time of only 6.4 seconds. It’s also reassuring…

STYLE PORSCHE PANAMERA WE FOUND: V6 (10/60-reg, 84,000 miles) Price new £72,266 Now £24,950 Engine: 3.6-litre V6, 296bhp Economy: 30.4mpg CO2/tax: 218g/km/£315 Euro NCAP: N/A STYLE is subjective – which means that even if the Porsche Panamera isn’t your cup of tea, you might well be able to appreciate how its distinctive appearance could appeal to others. The interior is less ‘love it or hate it’ in its design, with an air of private jet about the mass of buttons on the dashboard, as well as luxurious seating for up to four people. Admittedly this petrol V6 model lags somewhat behind the Panamera Turbo for straight-line performance, but when hooked up to Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearbox it’ll still get you from 0-62mph in a respectable 6.3 seconds. As with any…

ANYONE who has driven a go-kart knows that you don’t need a lot of horsepower to have loads of fun. Like those pint-sized racers, there is a new crop of small, cheap cars promising huge thrills. The striking new Suzuki Swift Sport is completely overhauled from the previous model, with a new chassis, a new engine and loads of new technology on board. The previous version offered something a bit different to other supermini-based sporty hatches, with its revvy engine and low price point. This new car has a new turbo motor, plus a price hike; although for the first month, Suzuki is offering a discount. That leaves it in limbo between two other pocket rockets: the new Volkswagen up! GTI and the Ford Fiesta, here in ST-Line guise with a 138bhp…

Running costs 41.9mpg (on test) £53 fill-up/£140 or 24% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 292/1,093 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 9.2 seconds/125mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 48.7/30.8/11.7m MODEL TESTED: Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 140 ST-Line 5dr PRICE: £18,615 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 138bhp ALTHOUGH our pictures show a three-door car, here we’re testing a five-door version of the Ford Fiesta. Our 138bhp 1.0-litre petrol-engined model is the sportiest car in the regular Fiesta range until the ST arrives later this year – and especially so in ST-Line trim, which costs £18,615 in this form. Design & engineering THIS new Ford Fiesta has grown in size to add more usability and practicality to the mix, but Ford hasn’t sacrificed the strengths of the previous model: how good Britain’s best-selling car is to drive on UK…

Running costs 35.5mpg (on test) £86 fill-up/£450 or 37% tax Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/150mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 650/1,740 litres Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 47.1/35.3/8.9m THE F-Pace marked new territory for Jaguar. It was the brand’s first SUV, and although it was entering a competitive sector full of rivals that had been honed over a number of generations, the British firm got the recipe right first time; the F-Pace went straight to the top of the class. Under the skin the car uses much of the aluminium know-how Jag gained through the development of its current XE and XF saloons. Yet despite using some of this lightweight material in its construction, the F-Pace is quite a bit heavier than the Audi, at 1,954kg. You do feel this on the move, but…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk ON top of the world; that’s the Volvo XC60. Earlier this year it was crowned World Car of the Year, a heavyweight title to match its heavyweight ability. But why is it proving such a knockout? If our time with the car is anything to go by, a lot of its success can be attributed to the design. We’ve lost count of the admiring comments that have come our way while using the car. Yes, Volvo’s styling cues are now well established since the launch of the XC90 four years ago, but this evolution of the clean Scandinavian look remains a breath of fresh air compared with bland or fussy rivals. It’s the simplicity that really appeals; the Thor’s Hammer light signature, for example, is a straight forward piece…

SACKED Citroen driver Kris Meeke’s World Rally Championship (WRC) career could yet be rescued by Hyundai or Toyota, with both teams expressing an interest in signing the Northern Irishman for the 2019 season. Although no formal discussions have taken place as yet, both Hyundai team manager Alain Penasse and his Toyota counterpart Tommi Makinen have spoken about Meeke as a possible candidate for a 2019 season drive. Elsewhere, Toyota has moved to deny speculation that Kimi Raikkonen, who contested the WRC during his 2010-11 sabbatical from Formula One, could retire from Ferrari at the end of 2018 and return to the rally stages in a Yaris WRC next season. Kaj Lindstrom, who is currently the sporting director of Toyota’s WRC outfit and co-drove for Raikkonen during his two-year stint in…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram THIS is the all-new BMW X5; the fourth generation of the large SUV. The German brand has sold 2.2 million examples since the car made its debut in 2000, and the latest version looks to build on that success in the face of stiff opposition from the likes of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. Longer, wider and taller than the outgoing X5, the new model takes on a mild styling evolution. The most notable change is at the front: huge kidney grilles, with active flaps to improve aerodynamic efficiency, dominate the car’s face. They’re flanked by a pair of headlights with optional laser technology, able to shine up to 500 metres ahead on full beam. At the back, the split tailgate gives access to a 640-litre boot.…

THE price of petrol and diesel at the pumps of supermarket forecourts has risen every single day since March, according to a new analysis of fuel costs. On 26 March, the average cost of a litre of unleaded from one of the ‘big four’ supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco) stood at 116.66p, while diesel was 119.35p. By 23 May, those prices had risen to 124.74p and 127.69p respectively, according to the RAC, which conducted the research. The increases were blamed on the rising cost of oil, together with poor pound to dollar exchange rates which are having a negative effect on the dollar-based wholesale oil price for UK consumers. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “This is the worst series of consecutive daily supermarket price rises we’ve seen since…

AUDI is working on an updated version of one of its biggest sellers, the A4 saloon. It’ll be in showrooms by the end of the year, and there’s the possibility that it will get mild-hybrid power. Sales figures for the A4 have slipped in recent years as buyers flock to SUVs, but the saloon remains the most popular Audi in Europe. Ahead of the car being revealed, possibly at September’s Paris Motor Show, our spies have caught it undergoing testing in Germany. It’s clear the A4 won’t get a dramatic redesign; the modest disguise suggests a reshaped front bumper will be the biggest change. This could indicate that Audi is focusing more on the tech beneath the skin; Audi’s 48v mild-hybrid technology can be integrated into the new model without…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.8 seconds/124mph Running costs Range/max charge time 298miles/12.5 hours Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THIS is the most important Jaguar since the E-Type – that’s how the company describes the new I-Pace. It also creates a new segment – the luxury electric SUV – but one that is soon to be saturated with rivals from Audi, Mercedes and BMW. Bosses won’t admit it publicly, but even they are surprised to beat the Germans to market – and because of that, Jaguar has everyone’s attention. “But what about Tesla?” you ask. Jaguar doesn’t view the US start-up as a genuine competitor – it isn’t luxurious enough, apparently, although lots of people will disagree. Still, Jaguar does acknowledge Tesla as an accelerator of electric technology, and the reason why every manufacturer is…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram ALONGSIDE the 3 Sport Black (left), Mazda has just applied similar tweaks to its MX-5 roadster. This Sport Black is a version of the hard-top RF and builds on the entry-level SE L Nav car. It is only available with the 158bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, and adds darkened detailing and standard Eternal Blue Mica paint, which is normally a £550 option. It certainly looks the part. The MX-5 was always stylish, but the gunmetal wheels, black boot spoiler and gloss door mirrors give it more attitude. Inside, there’s a small plaque on the dash, unique floor mats and special scuff plates, plus leather, automatic lights and rain-sensing wipers. Mazda has made no changes to the way the car drives, although in the transition from SE L to Sport…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ WHILE PCP finance deals have made new car purchases more attractive and more modern metal more affordable for a wider group of buyers, there’s nothing like bagging a second-hand bargain. And it’s even better if you can pick up something for less than half what it cost new. That’s exactly what our used car special reveals as we’ve scoured the classified ads to bring you more than 100 Half Price Heroes. No matter what your budget or taste in cars, it’ll leave you itching to spend some money. From vehicles costing less than £1,000 to second-hand supercars, with some hidden gems and future classics in between, our picks provide sensational value for money. So sit back and enjoy the second-hand savings on offer.…

FAMILY SKODA YETI WE FOUND: 2.0 TDI SE (09/59-reg, 120,000 miles) Price new £16,965 Now £4,399 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 138bhp Economy: 46.3mpg CO2/tax: 159g/km/£195 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2009) FEW cars are as well equipped to withstand family life as the Skoda Yeti. For that you can thank the way it combines space, versatility (the rear seats slide forwards and backwards or can be removed completely), tough materials and low running costs. All these attributes come in a package that’s not only easy to drive, but also genuinely enjoyable. It’s no wonder the Czech SUV was named our Car of the Year in 2010, an accolade that has since been backed up by Auto Express readers voting the model consistently strongly in our annual Driver Power owner satisfaction surveys. The…

HYBRID BMW i3 WE FOUND: i3 REX (15/15-reg, 22,000 miles) Price new £29,130 Now £14,495 Engine: 647cc 2cyl plus electric motor, 134bhp Economy: 470.8mpg CO2/tax: 13g/km/£0 Euro NCAP: 4 stars (2013) ALTHOUGH you couldn’t class the BMW i3 as a hybrid in the same way as you could a Toyota Prius, opting for a range-extender version does give the model capabilities well beyond those of a pure-electric car. And so, while in daily driving you might get by on battery power alone, there’s also the reassurance of a two-cylinder petrol generator to maintain the battery level, boosting the range to what is realistically around 130 miles from a single charge and a tank of fuel. Plus, providing that you are happy to keep topping up with petrol, you can carry…

FAMILY BMW M5 WE FOUND: M5 DCT (15/15-reg, 41,000 miles) Price new £73,960 Now £33,999 Engine: 4.4-litre V8, 552bhp Economy: 28.5mpg CO2/tax: 232g/km/£540 Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2010) IT’S always a big moment when BMW launches a new M5, not least because every generation tends to bring big changes, mainly to the engine. The M5 started with a straight-six, then evolved into a V8 and on to a bonkers naturally aspirated V10. But the F10 model of 2011 went back to a V8, this time with twin turbochargers. However, any fears that the new 4.4-litre unit would result in the M5 losing any of its character or urgency were thankfully unfounded, largely because the 680Nm of torque results in an awesome level of acceleration, with 0-62mph taking just 4.4 seconds. What’s…

Running costs 43.1mpg (on test) £47 fill-up/£140 or 26% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 265/947 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/130mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 45.8/33.1/10.2m MODELTESTED: Suzuki Swift Sport PRICE: £16,499 ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 138bhp AS with the standard Swift, the Sport is only available as a five-door. Suzuki has slashed the price from £17,999 to £16,499 for the first month of sales, so it sits right in between its two rivals in this test. Its striking Champion Yellow paint is a reference to Suzuki rally cars of the past, but is it a worthy replacement for its much-loved predecessor? Design & engineering ONE of the new Swift Sport’s defining features is its low kerbweight, and it’s by far the lightest car of our trio here. Suzuki’s clever ‘HEARTECT’ platform, shared…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/169mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 420/1,209 litres Running costs 33.5mpg (on test) £58 fill-up/£140 or 36% tax “There are fewer restrictions on when you can use Civic’s performance than with a supercar” Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn SINCE the Civic Type R arrived with us back in December, it’s continued to surprise and amaze most of the Auto Express office – including myself. It hits the hot-hatch brief squarely on the head, bundling performance, practicality and excitement all into one package. Yes, that package comes at a price, but it’s far more attainable than you may initially suspect. Our Type R in GT spec costs £33,525, which is a hefty chunk of cash in most people’s eyes. However, Honda’s attractive PCP deals make it a truly affordable performance car.…

NEW PRODUCT Fabike Cupra Price: TBC Contact: www.fabike.it CUPRA, the performance arm of SEAT that’s recently split into its own dedicated sub-brand, is following convention and launching a range of lifestyle goodies to tie in with its own image. The first is the Fabike Cupra, created in collaboration with high-end Italian bicycle manufacturer Fabike. This bike is focused on performance, just like Cupra, so it’s specified with a carbon-fibre frame, competition handlebars, hydraulic disc brakes and a single fixed gear with a carbon drive belt. Each bike is hand-assembled by Fabike in Italy, a process that takes over four hours. The colour scheme is reminiscent of Cupra’s cars: matt black with copper highlights. This collaboration is likely to be the first in a long line of Cupra gear – the…

CO2/tax 99g/km Free Running costs 74mpg (D3) £82 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.1 seconds/130mph VOLVO didn’t have much of a small-car heritage until relatively recently, because its focus had been on building large family models that emphasised safety and practicality. The 480ES of the nineties was an anomaly, while the S40 and V40 that followed were competent, but deeply unexciting. Later came the C30, but this three-door model would only ever be a niche player in the family hatch class. It took until 2012 for Volvo to offer a small hatch with mass-market appeal, but it was worth waiting for. Well made and extremely safe, the Mk2 V40 looked distinctive and was competitively priced. As a used buy, it’s more compelling still. History THE V40 Mk2 arrived in September 2012…