Innholdsfortegnelse for 1531 i Auto Express

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “We want to be faster in electrification. So we’re not planning diesel in any new cars. The XC90 will follow this”HÅKAN SAMUELSSON Volvo CEO VOLVO’S next-generation XC90 SUV, due in showrooms in 2022, will drop diesel engines completely from its range, relying on fully electric and hybrid petrol versions only, Auto Express can reveal. Volvo’s decision to ditch diesel began with the new S60 saloon in June as the Swedish brand begins its transition from internal combustion engines to hybrid and electric vehicles. By 2025 Volvo predicts 50 per cent of models sold will be fully electric. Speaking to Auto Express at the unveil of the new S60 compact executive at the new Volvo plant in Charleston, South Carolina, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson told us: “We have to…

Hugo Griffiths Highlighting an issue that hits drivers in the pocket DRIVERS in the UK are being stung by parking permit bills of up to £1,200-plus, depending on where they live. This is the conclusion of the latest investigation into the annual cost of parking in the UK by our sister title Carbuyer. Over 240 councils were contacted for the investigation, with local authorities asked how much they charged for an annual resident’s parking permit in their Controlled Parking Zones. The audit also looked at what sort of administration fees are imposed, and whether councils apply a surcharge for diesel cars. You can read some of the highlights on the right, but even a cursory look at the figures shows drivers are faced with a postcode lottery. Commenting on our…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WE delivered our early verdict on the all-new Ford Focus in Issue 1,530, heaping praise on the fresh hatchback as it took the fight to the Volkswagen Golf. We rated the petrol model highly, and while diesel may be having a tough time, it’s still a good choice for people who rack up plenty of miles. The new 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine is designed to offer that option to family car customers, piggy-backing on the popularity of the small EcoBoost petrols, which have a reputation for being strong yet efficient. There’s a 94bhp EcoBlue with 300Nm of torque and CO2 emissions as low as 91g/km, and then there’s the 118bhp (120PS) edition we’re testing here. The Focus range also includes a 2.0 diesel, with 148bhp and 370Nm. It emits…

WHY IT WINS THE Volkswagen Golf is a constant in this class, and yet again it’s taken the title of Best Compact Family Car. That’s for a multitude of reasons following the successful facelift last year that subtly revitalised the formula, tweaking the styling, adding new engines and extra safety tech to the line-up and improving the infotainment on offer. VW didn’t mess with the core of the car and the elements that make the Golf so appealing, though. So the latest Mk7.5 model still sets standards for comfort (you can improve this further with optional adaptive dampers), refinement and upmarket appeal, thanks to its premium-quality cabin and materials. Any family hatchback needs to deliver practicality – and the Volkswagen doesn’t disappoint, with more than enough space for most families,…

WHY IT WINS COMPETITION is tight in the executive car class, but for a second year in a row the BMW 5 Series has proven it’s the cream of the crop. This Mk7 model has evolved into the consummate all-rounder, offering style, refinement, quality, performance, tech, comfort and efficiency. It’s quite a package. The 5 Series was a leap forward when it arrived thanks to its new, lightweight architecture, which adopted much of the tech from the larger 7 Series. Distilled down into the more affordable model, it’s an enticing proposition and offers something that is key to every BMW: an involving drive. This is the most dynamic car in its class, with beautiful balance, impressive agility for a big executive saloon and a rewarding chassis that doesn’t compromise on…

WHY IT WINS SKODA is on a roll, and the Karoq is proof that the Czech brand knows exactly what it’s doing in the field of family SUVs. The manufacturer has confidently followed up the excellent seven-seat Kodiaq with another class-leading crossover, distilling what made its large SUV such a success into a more compact and affordable package. The appeal of the Karoq is much the same as that of its bigger brother. This is a no-nonsense mid-size SUV that does the basics brilliantly. While that means it doesn’t quite boast the wow factor of some of the Karoq’s more flamboyant rivals, the Skoda is a winner for value, refinement, practicality and tech, thanks to its excellent and intuitive infotainment options. As an all-round proposition it makes great sense. The…

WHY IT WINS THE Mazda MX-5 retains its crown as the best roadster you can buy. The soft-top and the latest ‘Retractable Fastback’ RF version that joined the range last year have their own merits, so there’s plenty of choice. Both cars are brilliant. With striking styling, the MX-5 looks distinctive, and the RF’s supercar-like design adds another dimension. No matter which version you pick, open the MX-5 up and it delivers an addictive sense of fun, with the wind in your hair and a fantastic powertrain and chassis beneath you. Mazda has avoided turbocharging, so the 1.5 and 2.0-litre petrol engines in the MX-5 are deliciously responsive and fun to rev. They’re linked to a sweet six-speed manual box that’s a joy to use – so much so that…

WHY IT WINS AFTER more than half a century of development, Porsche has honed its 911 model to the point where this GT3 version is the best performance car money can buy. It’s our 2018 champion. There’s no better place to shape a high-octane model than the competitive world of motorsport; this is exactly where the GT3 was developed. It’s a racetrack refugee, with a 4.0-litre flat-six engine that’s been carried over pretty much wholesale from the German brand’s Carrera Cup racer. It serves up 493bhp and revs to 9,000rpm, emitting an addictive, race car-like howl in the process. There are PDK dual-clutch auto and manual models to choose from. Go for the former and with launch control the 0-62mph sprint takes 3.4 seconds; opt for the latter and while…

WHY IT WINS UP until now if you wanted a premium electric vehicle your choice was basically limited to some kind of Tesla, but Jaguar has arrived and moved the goalposts with its all-electric I-Pace SUV. Jag has beaten its German rivals to the punch, delivering a technical tour de force in a premium package that breaks new ground in the class. It’s genuinely great to drive, as any Jaguar should be. Factor in the 395bhp four-wheel-drive powertrain and it only adds to the appeal. All models use the same battery and motor setup for now and it delivers devastating performance. This might be a big and fairly heavy car, but it’ll sprint from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. A lack of engine noise to drown out other sounds means refinement…

WHY IT WINS JEEP’S ‘Set your own course’ campaign was a smart connection to the Compass SUV it was focused on. SHARE Creative, on behalf of Jeep UK, undertook a social listening and cluster analysis project to identify how Brits discussed the concept of ‘change’. It developed a series of entertaining, emotionally driven content focused on inspiring people who’ve shifted careers or made other changes to better their lives – setting their own course. The stories were based around the SUV’s core values of tech, capability, design and refinement. Short videos on Facebook were used to drive users to jeep.co.uk, and were designed to engage them to find out more about the Compass. The campaign reached more than 406,000 users, generated 17,500 link clicks and almost 80,000 video views. Impressively,…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk I’VE really been putting our Peugeot 5008 through its paces since it arrived back in April – just not in the way I’d have wished to. There have been no gentle runs down to the coast or lush tree canopies flickering through the large panoramic sunroof. It’s all been heavy lifting. Some serious building and renovation work has been going on in the Wilson household of late, and since my friend and part-time carpenter doesn’t have a van (or car), the practical Peugeot has been shifting sheets of MDF, lengths of skirting board and litres of paint, with shuttle runs keeping the local builders’ yards and DIY shops in business. The 5008 has an impressive 952-litre boot with the third row of seats lowered, and if you drop the…

EV app adds route planning features ZAP-MAP, an app for finding charging points for electric cars(below), has added a new route planning feature. EV drivers can plan their longer journeys around suitable charging stations, allowing customisation of parameters such as how much of a buffer in experienced drivers may wish to leave themselves. Calculations are based on ‘real range’ estimates, but users can add in their own based on prior driving experience. The route planner links with Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions. It’s currently only available on Android, but an iOS version is coming later this year. Dash cam awards ‘honour’ bad drivers AUTO Express award-winning dash cam maker Nextbase has unveiled the first Nexty awards; a hall of fame for shocking, heartwarming and exciting dash-cam footage. The categories include…

The Elegant Solution Matthew May (Simon and Schuster, www.simonandschuster.co.uk) Price: £8.99 (Kindle Edition) AVAILABLE on Kindle for the first time, May’s book about the practices that shape the innovation of Toyota is interesting. The trouble is, it doesn’t flow very well; it feels more like short stories peppered with buzzwords. Jaguar E-Type: Factory and Private Competition Cars Peter Griffiths (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £40 THERE are plenty of books on the Jaguar E-Type, but this focuses on competition cars. Instead of detailing the most famous, it tries to catalogue every single one. Fascinating for Jag fans, but so thorough that the amount of data may put off casual readers. Sling Drift Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free TOUCH the point at the axis of each corner to drift your car…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Plate expectations for Polo I HAVE ordered a new Volkswagen Polo and wanted to choose the registration. My dealer said I’d get the one I’m given. Am I entitled to choose a number plate from its allocation? Ian Chedzey, E-mail A NEW car dealers have busy administration departments, and letting customers choose number plates would introduce delays. Even if they were to offer a choice, this would be from a limited pool; dealers apply to the DVLA each month asking for a specific allocation of plates based on how many cars they expect to sell. Q ABS light causes me concern MY car’s ABS light comes on intermittently. I have had a faulty sensor replaced, but this has not fixed the…

• Next hot supermini to benefit from electrified platform • Boss says it’s important firm doesn’t build standalone EVs John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy PEUGEOT is lining up a pure-electric 208 GTi to sit alongside the regular petrol hot hatch in the range when the new generation of the supermini arrives next year, Auto Express has learned. The brand is gearing up to introduce an all-new version of the car at next spring’s Geneva Motor Show. This will switch to a new CMP (Common Modular Platform) architecture that offers much-improved efficiency, cheaper build costs and, crucially, the scope for pure-electric variants. A pure-EV version of the next 208 has always been on the cards since PSA announced that its platform would come in two versions: CMP (also known as EMP1) and e-CMP. Now…

NISSAN and Italdesign have marked their 50th anniversaries in 2018 by teaming up to create the GT-R50 by Italdesign. The car (above) is a heavily upgraded and rebodied prototype based on the GT-R Nismo. It’s 54mm lower than a standard GT-R and the area around the steeply-raked rear screen is finished in gold, with a large, adjustable rear wing, while a new take on the GT-R’s signature quartet of round tail-lights also features. Italdesign engineered and built the GT-R50, but it was designed by Nissan. The Japanese marque has applied knowledge gained from its GT3 race car to thoroughly overhaul the GT-R’s 3.8-litre turbocharged engine. While a standard GT-R Nismo generates 592bhp, the GT-R50 by Italdesign has 710bhp and 780Nm of torque. However, it’s unlikely elements of the car’s dramatic…

HYUNDAI’S second electric car, the Kona EV, will cost from £24,995 once the Government’s plug-in car grant has been applied. Its closest rival, the Nissan Leaf, starts from £25,190. The range kicks off with a model powered by a 39kWh lithium-ion battery that is capable of a claimed 194 miles on a single charge. Prices rise to £31,795 (including the Government grant) for the top-spec longer-range version, which uses a larger 64kWh battery to increase the range to 312 miles. Both variants use one electric motor and are front-wheel drive. Three trim levels will be offered in the UK: SE, Premium and Premium SE. All models feature a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, climate control and keyless entry. Top-spec versions come…

AUDI’S all-new flagship Q8 SUV has only just arrived, but a hot version will follow soon, according to this spy shot. Caught by our photographers almost completely undisguised, this is the new SQ8, due to hit the road early in 2019. It’s set to serve as a warm-up act for the full-fat RS Q8. As such, it doesn’t wear an aggressive RS bodykit, but keeps the original bodywork of the standard car. The only giveaways are the lowered ride height, plus quad exhaust exits. Under the body we expect Audi to use the new 444bhp 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine from the latest RS 4, alongside chassis and suspension tweaks.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP FROM: Mark Geller AMAZING, especially the front with that wide, hungry look. I like the way it still conveys interior opulence with brutish exterior verve. Aston really has something going on. Can’t wait for the Volante version. FROM: Michael Joseph THIS is beautiful, but it looks too similar to the DB11, inside and out. How can this be considered a standalone model when it’s basically a hotter performance version of the DB11? Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “Absolute perfection! However, that Halfords-like lettering on the bootlid looks awful.” Alexander Jaskowski ▪ “DB11, new Vantage and now this. Take that, Ferrari design department.” James Firth ▪ “Looks stunning, although I do have the urge…

WHY IT WINS THE Ford Fiesta arrived in the UK just after our New Car Awards last year, but even after 12 months on sale its ability isn’t anything less than class leading. This supermini is now in its eighth generation, and you can easily see why it’s been Britain’s best-selling car for a decade. The combination of affordability, impressive driving dynamics, practicality and infotainment is a big draw for buyers, and when you mix this with Ford’s attractive PCP finance deals (how most people in this sector buy) it’s a winner. The 99bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost is the engine to go for. This award-winning three-cylinder turbo petrol unit is punchy, delivers all the performance you’d need and matches this with economy as long as you’ve not got a lead foot,…

WHY IT WINS WHEN Lexus revealed the LF-LC concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, few people thought the coupé would make it to production looking that good – us included. Surely Lexus wouldn’t be brave enough to bring out such a bold production car? Rarely are we so happy to be that wrong. The Lexus LC is every bit as special to look at as its concept, and to drive one is just the same. We love the hi-tech approach to making a hybrid powertrain and CVT gearbox work well, offering efficiency and smooth cruising in this luxury two-door coupé, as well as strong performance. But if speed is what you’re after, the V8 model should be your pick. The bellowing engine is a joy to drive, revving hard…

WHY IT WINS FOLLOWING a facelift in 2017 that only improved the recipe, the Mercedes S-Class again scoops our Best Luxury Car title. It was a close-run category this time, though, with the new Audi A8 narrowing the gap to the Mercedes dramatically, but it still had to give best to the S-Class. While the latest updates mean the Mercedes limousine doesn’t look all that different from the outside, there are some important areas the firm has addressed – the first of which is the engine. A new 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel has replaced the old V6 unit. With 282bhp and 600Nm of torque, the model has all the performance you need, combined with exemplary refinement. Factor in imperious ride quality, even more advanced technology, genuine luxury, plus relaxing comfort and…

WHY IT WINS FOR the all-new Mercedes Sprinter, it’s a case of evolution and revolution rolled into one. The evolution comes with the smoother lines outside, improved payload volumes, better fuel economy, lower emissions and a smarter interior that’s inspired by Mercedes’ passenger cars. Higher-spec models offer car-like features such as improved plastics, extra fabric trim and a multifunction steering wheel similar to that in the latest A and C-Class, and plush seats are designed to deliver a more comfortable work environment. The revolution starts in the cab; the Sprinter is the second Mercedes, after the A-Class hatch, to get the MBUX voice-controlled infotainment system. Simply say ‘Hey Mercedes’, and the set-up kicks into life to provide navigation information, change radio stations and offer petrol price data via a live…

Sponsored by WHY IT WINS DRIVER Power offers owners a unique opportunity to tell other potential buyers all about their car. Our annual satisfaction survey leaves no stone unturned, giving drivers nine categories and a total of 31 areas to rate their vehicles in. For a manufacturer to be crowned the Driver Power champion, it can’t afford any slip-ups, and this year the competition was extremely tough. But the brand that came out on top of all others was Lexus. For the second year running, the Japanese company takes the top spot thanks to some excellent scores across the board. You told us cars like the NX, RX and IS have the best interiors, with owners praising their quality and design. This is particularly impressive when you consider that Lexus…

WHY IT WINS BY definition, any Auto Express Car of the Year has to change the automotive industry for the better and force its competitors to re-evaluate – and that’s just what Jaguar’s I-Pace has done in 2018. The world is on the cusp of a step change when it comes to personal transport, and the I-Pace gives us the ability to peer into the future. It’s a premium electric car that doesn’t demand much in the way of compromise, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with technology. As Jaguar’s first effort at an electric vehicle, it’s a triumph. It offers performance that would humble some sports cars, practicality to shame some SUVs and the premium image many buyers seek. The integration of new technology with a long list of…

Audi A7 Sportback RELIABILITY and incidental maintenance aren’t really a concern with modern cars. You get in, turn them on and they just work. But after just a few thousand miles, the advanced 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit display on chief reviewer Sean Carson’s Audi A7 flashed up a message requesting a litre of oil. That seemed unusually high consumption to our man, but after he spent 11 euros on two litres of Total’s finest (that’s all the Carrefour in Le Mans had to offer), the Sportback was back to full health. On the trip back to Blighty from the French city the Audi didn’t miss a beat, but there’s another litre of oil in the boot just in case. Apart from this little hiccup, the A7 has been faultless throughout and…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How to get best mat finish I’VE got light-coloured mats in my car and I struggle to get them really clean; there always seems to be a darker area where the feet rest. What’s the best way to clean them? John Mathews, E-mail A USE a specialist cleaner and not soap, which creates suds and moisture that are hard to get rid of. Our test winner is Halfords Upholstery Cleaner (above, £3.50, www.halfords.com). Spray on, allow to soak then use an upholstery brush forward and back then left to right. Wipe off with a microfibre cloth and repeat if needed. Q Concerns over tyre wear THE front tyres on my Volkswagen Golf are wearing out much faster than the rear ones. Is this normal…

OUR CHOICE QI Fast Charge Wireless in-car charging pad and holder Price: £39.95 Mounting: Air vent/windscreen/dashboard Contact: 01935 825914, www.mobilesolarchargers.co.uk IT’S not cheap, but the QI has vent, screen and dash mounting options. We liked the damped push-button action on the cradle and the lugs at its base, which meant the phone couldn’t drop out when it was released. The screen mount was stable, plus the vent system impressed; it was easy to fit or remove and steadier than many set-ups. The package comes with a 12v plug and, at 1.5 metres, the longest cable here. Charging started immediately and didn’t flicker at all. In the charging test, the QI added 20 per cent in half an hour, matching the Pama.…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 4|7|2018 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 A PICNIC is as far as many of us venture when eating outdoors, but there’s no need to limit yourself to cold food as there’s a wide range of portable barbecues designed to provide the ultimate al fresco dining. There’s nothing like the smell of a sizzling barbecue to signify summer is here, and when you’re cooking away from the back garden, at the end of a long day in the car, the food arguably tastes even better. So which barbecue adds that special touch to your outdoor trip or visit to a car show? With the help of our…

CO2/tax 134g/km £140 Running costs 55.4mpg (2.0 TDI 140) £72 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.3 seconds/129mph PLATFORM sharing is nothing new to Volkswagen. A few months after the Golf arrived in 1974, a stylish three-door alternative popped up: the Scirocco. A restyled Scirocco was launched in 1981, but when production of that car ceased in 1992, VW mothballed the model. Sixteen years later the Scirocco was revived, based on the Golf Mk5 and looking as stylish as before. It wasn’t just a pretty face; the car was great to drive, came with some fine engines and gearboxes, and featured VW’s legendary build quality. Brits would go on to buy more Sciroccos than drivers in any other country in Europe. History THE Scirocco Mk3 arrived in September 2008 with a 197bhp…

• 5:19 lap beats Bellof effort • 919 Evo delivers 1,160bhp Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk PORSCHE has set a new all-time lap record around the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of 5:19.546 seconds in its modified Le Mans LMP1 racer, the 919 Hybrid Evo. The lap was set last week by two-time Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard, who managed to break the outright record at the 12.9-mile track that had stood for the past 35 years. Porsche held the previous record with a 956 Group C car, driven by the late Stefan Bellof in qualifying for the 1983 FIA 1,000-kilometre sportscar race at the track, with a time of 6:11.13 seconds. During the latest record attempt, Porsche actually broke the lap record three consecutive times; laps of 5:31s and 5:24s were recorded before…

PERU will be the sole host country for the 2019 Dakar Rally in January, with both Bolivia and Chile deciding against forming part of next year’s off-road event. There were concerns that the rally would not take place at all due to an initial negative evaluation by the Peruvian government of the economic impact of the race. But Dakar organiser the ASO confirmed last week that the 2019 event will go ahead from 6-17 January. Longer-term, the organiser is said to be exploring a possible return to Africa for the event in 2020.…

“It’s only the fourth car from McLaren to wear the LT badge, short for Longtail, which is reserved for the company’s most extreme models” Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn McLAREN’S aggressive new model roll out continues with this, the 600LT. A rival for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, it will be built in ‘strictly limited numbers’ and cost from £185,500. Sitting at the top of the Sport Series model range, the 600LT is only the fourth car from McLaren to wear the LT badge, short for Longtail, which is reserved for the company’s most extreme models. It follows on from the 675LT, which appeared back in 2015, and adopts that car’s mantra of more power, less weight and optimised aerodynamics. Under the skin the 600LT is based on the 570S coupé, but McLaren…

TESLA’S forthcoming pick-up truck will have an all-electric range of up to 500 miles and feature a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive set-up, according to the company’s CEO, Elon Musk. Once again posting on Twitter to drip-feed details of the new pick-up, Musk also claimed that 240-volt outlets for heavy power tools will feature, which will be run from the vehicle’s battery. Elsewhere at Telsa, the company also recently set up a temporary production site in Fremont, California in a bid to help reach Model 3 production volumes of 5,000 cars per week.…

Design-spec C-HR looks a hit for kit TOYOTA has expanded the C-HR crossover range by adding a new Design model (above) and a selection of fresh equipment. Design-spec C-HRs feature 18-inch alloy wheels, Toyota’s Touch 2 infotainment system and all-round parking sensors as standard, plus Cyan Blue paint. They’re available with the firm’s 122bhp 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain or a 113bhp 1.2-litre 113bhp turbocharged engine. 40mph roads are worst for speeders BRITAIN’S worst speeders can be found on 40mph roads, according to new research by Direct Line. A study by the insurance firm found that speeding drivers in 40mph zones were likely to clock the biggest percentage increase over the limit, with the average speed of those caught exceeding the limit 61.4mph. More than 148,719 drivers were caught speeding in 40mph…

ONE of the UK’s best-selling cars, the Vauxhall Corsa, has been given a range of engine updates and new equipment ahead of an all-new version arriving next year. An updated 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine has been added to the Corsa range, available with 74bhp or 89bhp and paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed auto gearbox. Vauxhall claims it’s capable of up to 50.4mpg. A new entry-level model, called the Active, has been added, too. It starts at £11,250 and boasts Bluetooth, 15-inch alloy wheels and cruise control as standard. Six other trims make up the rest of the range. A hot Corsa GSi, which will be a rival for the Suzuki Swift Sport, will also be added to the range before the end of the year. It will be powered…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First video review of new Ford Focus THE new Focus is easily one of the most important cars of the year, and for families and fleet buyers, it’s probably the car of 2018. According to John McIlroy, Ford has worked its magic again on the new Mk4 car. This is the first video review of the Focus. Watch it now. Close-up look at striking Volvo S60 MEET the new Volvo S60, the saloon brother to the excellent V60 estate. Volvo knows the compact exec saloon market is tough, so it’s doing something radical – offering the new S60 with petrol engines only. The car has a smart design and cabin, but it won’t be arriving until 2019. Log on to watch our video in the meantime. You can…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths SUPERCARS are sometimes referred to as ‘toys’ by their owners – vehicles to be enjoyed and played with. But describing the new LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron as a toy would be doing it a disservice. As part of LEGO’s advanced range of products, it comes with 3,599 individual parts, 600 pages of instructions, a £330 price tag and takes around 20 hours to build. It’s a serious bit of kit featuring an almost equal amount of detail as the real car. Bugatti is the latest car manufacturer to join forces with the Danish toy giant, with its new Chiron 1:8-scale Technic model. Porsche did it previously with its GT3 RS supercar, while Formula One Technic cars have also been found in stores. So how does such a project…

WELCOME IT’S been a fine year in the car business. Again, the pace of progress has wowed us, with a host of new models showcasing incredible tech to deliver what buyers want. Whether you’re after a city car or a supercar, the industry is at the bleeding edge, with new models evolving what’s possible – which is where we come in. The Auto Express team has put in the hard miles over the past 12 months to analyse every new car on sale and tell you which should be on your shortlist. Over the next 60 pages we name our class champions in our New Car Awards, before revealing our Car of the Year.…

WHY IT WINS THE MINI Convertible has always been a popular drop-top, and the newly facelifted third-generation version is the most convincing edition yet. It offers open-air fun and thrills in a supermini-sized package, and with a broad line-up of trims and engines, there’s plenty of choice for drivers. This is the second time we’ve named the MINI our Convertible of the Year; it previously picked up the gong in 2016. With even more customisation options for this updated model, it has enhanced what makes the cabriolet MINI so appealing, so it climbs to the top step of the podium once again. There’s more equipment, too. LED headlights are now standard, as are those Union flag motif tail-lamps that have become such a talking point. Fresh infotainment brings things right…

WHY IT WINS WHILE affordable seven-seat SUVs have stolen sales from traditional people carriers, if you’re after the most effective way of transporting seven adults and their gear, there’s no contest: you still need an MPV. And there’s no better choice than Citroen’s Grand C4 SpaceTourer. Despite a recent name change, the model is our reigning MPV class champion and takes the title for the fifth year in a row. Any MPV has to be family friendly, and with the roomy seats in the third row, lots of space in the second row and a large windscreen flooding the cabin with light, the Citroen has space covered. It also offers plenty of versatility, because you can slide the middle row of seats to prioritise legroom or boot space in five-seat…

WHY IT WINS IT’S been a good year for Volvo at our New Car Awards 2018, with the XC60 T8 Twin Engine scooping one of two victories for the Swedish brand. It’s a well-deserved gong, too; the already capable XC60 is arguably at its brilliant best when combining petrol and electric drive. Battery power lets the XC60 cover up to 28 miles on a single charge which, should you top it up daily (between two and a half and six hours, depending on your power supply), means that much of an average commute can be done using little or no petrol. It’s the reason the T8’s official economy claims stand at 122.8mpg. Take this with a pinch of salt, but still expect strong real-world efficiency. The XC60 isn’t a plug-in…

WHY IT WINS THE Auto Express team drives hundreds of new cars every year to decide the winners of its New Car Awards, but we leave it up to you, our readers, to choose which car deserves our Design Award. This year thousands of you took part in the poll at autoexpress.co.uk to pick the most beautiful car revealed over the past 12 months. And a clear winner emerged: the Aston Martin Vantage. The new baby sees the brand leave behind the elegant but conservative design language it has relied on for more than a decade in favour of something altogether more youthful and radical. As such, Aston certainly hasn’t played things safe, but according to you, it’s played a blinder. Almost nothing has been carried over to the new…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “My love of the outdoors means the SEAT Arona has been a go-to car for many trips to North Wales” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.8 seconds/113mph Running costs 48.2mpg (on test) £51 fill-up/£140 or 23% tax SINCE we took delivery of our SEAT Arona, it’s been all over the country transporting me to and from the various features I’ve put together for Auto Express. My love of the outdoors means it’s also been a go-to car for frequent trips to North Wales. So how has the little 1.0-litre petrol crossover SUV fared on the long drives? On motorways the Arona has proven surprisingly capable. Even if I leave it in sixth gear, there’s just enough grunt from the 113bhp 1.0-litre turbo to accelerate past slower traffic. The front seats…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,515, 1,526 Audi A7 Sportback Issue 1,529 Citroen C3 Aircross Issue 1,526 Honda Civic Type R Issues 1,512, 1,524, 1,527 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Issues 1,514, 1,523, 1,528 Land Rover Discovery New arrival Mazda CX-5 Iss 1,503, 1,512, 1,521, 1,530 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Issues 1,509, 1,521 Peugeot 5008 Issue 1,523 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 SEATArona Issue 1,524 SsangYong Rexton Issues 1,516, 1,525, 1,529 Toyota C-HR Issue 1,527 Vauxhall Insignia Issues 1,510, 1,520, 1,525 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520, 1,530 Volvo XC60 Issues 1,523, 1,527…

NEW PRODUCT PPT Powerpack 100+ Price: £159.98 Contact: www.portablepowertech.com WE’RE increasingly reliant on electronic kit, even when we’re away from home, with ‘essential’ items demanding ever more from their batteries. A power bank is great for topping up a phone or tablet on the move, but when you’re away from the grid for longer, for example, camping or attending a festival, then you need the kind of versatility found in the new Powerpack 100+ from Portable Power Technology (PPT). Using the latest lithium polymer battery technology, the Powerpack combines the best in both DC and AC power, delivering 150 watts from its AC modified sine wave 240v inverter. It has three 12V cigar lighter outputs with a total of 15A, plus two USB ports, rated at 1A and 2.1A. The…

MOST of us charge our phones at home or at work, but a QI (pronounced chee) inductive wireless holder lets you revive it in-car without fiddling with cables. Newer smartphones have QI built-in, but most models can be adapted by using a case or plug-in receiver. And a dedicated phone holder helps to keep you on the right side of the law. Using both an iPhone and an Android handset, we measured how much charge was delivered in 30 minutes. We checked build quality, instant and continuous connection, ease of location and removal, and stable mounting. Fitting positions were air vents, the windscreen and the dash. The more options each product had, the better. The QI Fast Charge could be placed in all three locations and this, combined with good…

2018 Results RAV4 Factfile Years: 2013 to present CO2: 116g/km Fuel economy: 57.6mpg (2.5 Hybrid) Best options: LED headlights, heated leather seats, nav, 360-degree camera Used prices: From £10,000 OVERALL SCORE 89.79% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2018 new car survey The longer the bar the better • GOOD “COMES with lots of futuristic safety features, but I got used to them quickly.” “In electric mode it is silent; when engine is running it’s still quiet.” “CVT gearbox makes for a very relaxing driving experience.” “I can get two sets of golf clubs and trollies in the boot.” “Exterior styling and finish are of very high quality.” “I think all-round visibility is excellent.” “Hybrid drivetrain makes it cheap to run.” • NOT SO GOOD…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Since Britain voted to leave the EU, motor industry employment levels here have increased to around 856,000 people” IT was great to see the British motor industry up where it belongs a few days ago: at the top of the news agenda, making the headlines in mainstream papers, creating lead stories for broadcasters, plus attracting the attention and respect it deserves from commentators, analysts and politicians. True, some of the developments have been declared discouraging, if not disastrous. The best/worst example of this is “just £347.3million earmarked for new models, equipment and facilities in the UK” during the first six months of 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). But hang on, this is £347.3m or almost £2m…