Innholdsfortegnelse for 1535 i Auto Express

LATE 2018 KODIAQ vRS Next up for Skoda is the hot Kodiaq, previewed in our exclusive image. A 237bhp 2.0 TDI is confirmed and it’s set to star at October’s Paris show. EARLY 2019 RAPID A totally new proposition, the next Rapid (previewed in our exclusive image) will get a new name as it takes on the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. 2019 KODIAQ COUPE A coupé variant of the Kodiaq, previewed in our image, is confirmed for China, although Skoda has no current plans to bring it to Europe. 2019 VISION X Expanding Skoda’s new family of SUVs to three models, the Vision X-inspired crossover is set to be based on the next Rapid. 2019 SUPERB Skoda’s flagship saloon is due for a facelift next year, and our spies…

KIA has announced prices and specs for the latest versions of two of its biggest sellers, the Sportage and Ceed. The Sportage SUV range offers six trim and five engine options. Standard kit across the line-up includes alloy wheels, daytime running lights, air-con, DAB radio and a reversing camera. Prices start at £20,305, with the range topped by the hybrid £34,545 GT-Line S, which comes with ventilated seats, wireless phone charging and parking sensors. The Ceed hatchback line-up isn’t as extensive: buyers have a choice of four trim levels and three engines. Prices kick off at £18,295 for entry-level cars, which come with cruise control, air-con, automatic lights, alloys and a seven-inch touchscreen fitted as standard. At the top of the Ceed range is the First Edition, priced from £25,750.…

THE successor to the legendary McLaren F1 will be called the Speedtail, the British sports car manufacturer has confirmed. Due to be revealed before the end of the year, and teased by several hazy official images, the Speedtail will adopt the same three-seat layout as the F1; the driver sits centrally with two seats positioned slightly behind and to either side. McLaren has confirmed that the Speedtail will boast the highest top speed of any car it has ever produced, exceeding the 243mph limit of the F1. The firm also claims that, alongside its performance credentials, this will be the most luxurious model to leave the Woking factory in Surrey to date. While power and torque figures have yet to be confirmed, the Speedtail is known to feature a hybrid…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP FROM: Jeremy Grant IN isolation, the idea of an electric Skoda SUV and a range of sporty eRS models makes sense. But sporty SUVs are almost always a contradiction in terms due to their weight and height. Skoda should make an eRS hatch first. FROM: Jermaine Sabatelli ELECTRIC vehicles are here to stay, and sporty EVs add up. They give you instant torque and even regular, non-sporty electric cars like the new Nissan Leaf have proven more rapid than the combustion-engined equivalent. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Electric cars are a good opportunity for Skoda to get into the premium market.” Michael Horn ■ “How long can you drive it in a ‘sporting…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ WE’VE already tasted Aston’s new DBS Superleggera super-GT car in prototype form (Issue 1,532) and were impressed with its potential. So we’re glad to report that the production version of the British company’s new brute has built on that further still. In many respects, a GT is defined by its engine; the DBS uses the same 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 as the DB11. The hardware is identical, but added boost and a remap mean Aston has liberated a colossal 715bhp and 900Nm of torque. It requires a new gearbox to handle it. You don’t need many gears, though, such is the ever-present swell of performance. Maximum thrust is available from just 1,800rpm, which results in a 0-62mph sprint time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 211mph. This…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram FORD’S smallest car wants to be an SUV. The new Ka+ Active joins the line-up as part of a mid-life refresh for the full Ka+ range, sitting above the Studio and Zetec trims. As with Ford’s other Active models, the jacked-up Ka+ comes with a tougher 4x4-inspired stance and bodykit. There is a diesel option, but Ford reckons that only four per cent of buyers will choose it – with most favouring this new 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol-powered car instead. It’s priced from £12,950 (£1,150 more than the Zetec), with the changes limited largely to a set of extensive cosmetic tweaks. There’s extra body trim finished in black plastic around the arches, and some fake skid plates on the front and rear bumpers. The Active gets unique…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.5 seconds/186mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 640/1,820 litres Running costs 25.4mpg (on test) £85 fill-up/£450 or 37% tax PLENTY of Auto Express readers want advice on which car they should buy. But plenty more have already settled on the model they want, and are after tips on how they should spec it up. And they have my sympathy at that point, because it’s a minefield. Our Mercedes-AMG E 63 S illustrates this point perfectly. Assuming you’re in the market for a twin-turbocharged V8 estate with space for a wardrobe, you have a couple of model choices: the ‘regular’ E 63, with a mere 563bhp, and our S edition, which packs 604bhp for a 0-62mph sprint time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 186mph.…

Renault Koleos WITH the 147th edition of the Open Championship taking place last month, staff photographer Otis Clay was inspired to get the suncream out and recruit a more-than-capable French caddy – his Renault Koleos – to ferry him and his rather dusty golf clubs down to the south coast. Unlike the top players, Otis was hoping not to spend too much time in the rough. The Renault’s 579-litre boot expands to 1,795 litres with the seats folded, which meant that as well as being able to carry more golf equipment than Otis is ever likely to own in his lifetime, the car has plenty of space for his golfing rivals, their clubs and luggage for a weekend away. The Koleos proved right at home on the motorway on the…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Struggling with car cover I’VE just bought an indoor fitted cover for my Honda S2000. It fits well, but it takes me ages to put on, walking around the car several times. Surely there’s an easier way? Bruce Michaels, E-mail A THERE is. If you fold the cover correctly as you take it off your car, it will be easier to get on again. Lift the sides on to the roof and bonnet so there is a strip around half a metre wide the full length of the car. Then, starting at one end, fold it in manageable lengths a couple of feet or so to the other end. Fitting is the reverse. Q When is best to clean car? MY car got really…

2018 Results Giulia Factfile Years: 2016 to present CO2: 109g/km Fuel econ: 67.3mpg (2.2 diesel 150) Best options: Leather, metallic paint, panoramic roof, Performance Pack Used prices: From £21,000 OVERALL SCORE 93.06% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2018 new car survey The longer the bar the better • GOOD “LOOKS stunning and turns heads wherever I drive.” “Offers the most seamless performance I’ve encountered in over 50 years of driving.” “Leather seats and carbon-effect trim are a great mix.” “Boot takes two weeks’ luggage for two adults and two children.” “Steering is tight, sharp and rewarding.” “Engine is quiet on a cruise, but rorty when driven hard.” “The driving position is absolutely spot on.” • NOT SO GOOD “AT motorway speeds there is an…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THE Volkswagen Group’s rather predictable approach to new products means it’s now SEAT’s turn to offer a family-friendly seven-seat SUV. It’s called the Tarraco, and we’ve driven it in prototype form before it’s unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October. Think of this as SEAT’s rival to the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Tough competition, then, but SEAT has form when it comes to seven-seaters. The brand’s Alhambra MPV was a stalwart of the class for years, but with traditional MPV sales waning and seven-seat SUVs on the rise, the Tarraco is the car that aims to mix practicality and versatility with style. And it delivers. Even in camouflaged form, you get a hint of how the new car looks – its proportions and the lines…

Top L&K trim takes Kodiaq upmarket SKODA’S Kodiaq has been pushed upmarket with the addition of a new flagship Laurin & Klement trim (above). As with existing L&K versions of the Octavia and Superb, it features a chrome grille, unique bumpers and 19-inch alloys. Kit and luxuries are expanded over the Kodiaq Edition, with leather upholstery and a glass panoramic roof as standard. Prices start from £35,945. Auto box option for diesel Civic THE Honda Civic is now available with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, although only with diesel power for now. The new nine-speed auto lines up alongside the Civic’s six-speed manual and CVT transmissions, and is paired exclusively with Honda’s 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel. Compared with a manual transmission version, the new automatic option commands a premium of £1,670. Lambo…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram “Shape makes Saloon even more aerodynamic than slippery hatch” MERCEDES’ compact car range will grow to include eight models by 2020, and this is the latest: the all-new A-Class Saloon. It’s a booted version of the fourth-generation hatch and gives the brand a direct rival for Audi’s A3 Saloon. We’ve already seen a four-door variant of the latest model – the Chinese-market A-Class L Sedan – but this version will be coming to the UK. From the outside, the saloon looks near identical to the A-Class hatch to the C-pillar. From there, the roof drops away more sharply to accommodate the new boot section. The rear end is the same as on the L Sedan, featuring bold light clusters with a Y-shaped LED signature above a bumper flanked…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Walkaround video on new Audi Q3 THE Q3 was starting to look a bit sorry for itself in Audi’s range, but that’s set to change with this all-new version. While the styling is a little familiar, the latest SUV takes key themes from the new Q8. There’s a posh interior, and under the skin are new engines. Join Johnny Burn on a walkaround. Thrilling ride in all-electric DS X E-Tense YOU’LL be able to order the new Audi Q3 this autumn, but I’ve been sitting in something more forward-thinking. The DS X E-Tense is the posh PSA brand’s take on the type of car we’ll be driving in 2035. It’s pure electric, naturally, but it can be driven or piloted fully autonomously. Watch my video on this wacky-looking…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “The Low Energy post (below) has a plastic housing the post sits on. When struck, the post will simply pop out of the housing, distributing the force of the crash elsewhere”IAN McDONALD National sales manager, Pole Products EVERY now and then a practical demonstration has a far better impact than a highly detailed engineering report packed with facts. Ramming two cars into street lamps to show how a simple change of construction can save lives is an example of this. One of the lamp posts is a conventional steel design, found on roads and motorways around the UK; the other is an aluminium, passive safety post that’s slowly becoming more common across the network. In the first collision, with the original lamp, the driver and passengers would all…

THE Mazda 3 Fastback is based on the regular 3, but with its rear-end redesign it’s a true saloon. As a result, the boot is deeper and it offers more space than in the standard hatch. However, it does impact practicality a little in other ways because for most people the hatch version’s easier access will be preferable – and even the i30 Fastback uses a hatchback boot to improve access to the load bay. Mazda offers a limited range of 3 Fastbacks, with only two trim levels and one engine: this 118bhp 2.0-litre petrol. The good news is that the engine is a highlight of the driving experience. With no turbocharger, the naturally aspirated unit is smooth and very satisfying to use. You’ll need to keep on top of…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “In Sport, the C-HR feels sharper and more urgent. It’s certainly more fun than a Qashqai or Kadjar” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.9 seconds/118mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 377/1,160 litres Running costs 41.3mpg (on test) £55 fill-up/£140 or 28% tax PEOPLE really don’t like to compromise. But when picking a new car we’re so often forced to choose whether we want style or practicality, performance or low running costs. Budget is a big factor, too; is added kit a bigger boon than a lower list price and reduced monthly payments? However, as our time with the Toyota C-HR goes on, we’re realising it’s a car of many talents. While few crossovers can claim to be truly fun to drive, our SUV has proven very capable during its first four…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,534 Audi A7 Sportback Issue 1,529 Citroen C3 Aircross Issues 1,526, 1,532 Honda Civic Type R Iss 1,512, 1,524, 1,527, 1,534 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Iss 1,514, 1,523, 1,528, 1,533 Kia Stinger Issue 1,533 Mazda CX-5 Iss 1,503, 1,512, 1,521, 1,530 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Issues 1,509, 1,521 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 SEAT Arona Issues 1,524, 1,531 SsangYong Rexton Issues 1,516, 1,525, 1,529 Suzuki Swift Sport Issue 1,532 Toyota C-HR Issue 1,527 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520, 1,530 Volvo XC60 Issues 1,523, 1,527, 1,534…

Morris Minor – 70 years on the road Ray Newell (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £35 UPDATED to mark the Minor’s 70th anniversary, this book looks back through period and contemporary material. It’s well researched and thorough, but we’d like to see such an occasion marked with some rather higher-quality printing than you get in this paperback. Stress-free Car Buying Mico Silver (Amazon Kindle, amazon.co.uk) Price: 99p ALTHOUGH it’s aimed mainly at the US dealership structure, this provides tips and tricks that could prove useful to any British car buyer, helping you get the best deal. As well as advice, it offers an interesting look into the ins and outs of the American car dealership. Motor World: Car Factory Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free THIS game puts you in control…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q What does SUV stand for? THE term SUV seems to be used for almost every other car on sale, but people seldom explain what it actually means. Could you please define it? Alfred Kessler, E-mail A SUV stands for sport utility vehicle and is a car with a raised ride height and styling cues inherited from 4x4s. While many SUVs are two-wheel drive, their design is intended to suggest ruggedness and off-road ability – even if they are often based on conventional saloons or hatchbacks, and not very capable off road. Q Oily rag under the bonnet MY father was with me when I was checking my car’s oil the other day, and advised me to keep an old rag in…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk THE World Rallycross Championship heads to the Trois-Rivieres circuit in Canada this weekend, with no sign of VW works driver and reigning champion Johann Kristoffersson’s dominant run to a second driver’s crown faltering. The Swede has won six of the seven rounds so far, with Peugeot’s Sebastien Loeb the only other driver to make the top step of the podium during 2018. Kristoffersson has amassed a total of 165 points to date, 30 clear of his closest rival, Audi’s Andreas Bakkerud. Second to sixth in the championship standings are covered by just 10 points, and Bakkerud’s Audi team-mate Mattias Ekstrom, currently sixth, has all but conceded the title to Kristoffersson, saying the battle for second place will be his focus for the rest of the season. “It’s a five-man…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Last year, 20 of the planet’s top car firms collectively enjoyed $2,000bn in income, from motoring consumers mostly” EVER wondered how many billions of dollars the world’s leading motor manufacturers rake in? Think around $2,000billion per annum – that’s what 20 of the top car firms on the planet collectively enjoyed in income last year. It’s the likes of you and me buying our vehicles, parts and related products that are annually handing over this colossal sort of money to what can loosely be described as the largest vehicle manufacturers. Mazda sits rock bottom of my league table with revenues that amounted to ‘only’ $31billion (or, if you prefer, $31,000million) in 2017. Given that Suzuki is one of the world’s top 12…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “Newcomer will be the brand’s smallest SUV when it arrives. It was previewed by the Vision X concept, and the production model could be badged Anuq or Amiq” THE next three years could prove to be one of the most transformational periods in Skoda’s near-123-year history, as the Czech brand prepares up to nine new cars. Leading the charge will be a new version of the firm’s biggest nameplate of all: the fourth-generation Octavia, previewed in our exclusive main image. Although much of Skoda’s focus in recent times has been on expanding its SUV line-up, the Octavia remains its most important car and its true breadwinner. The Octavia has been part of Skoda’s range, on and off, since 1959, and last June the six-millionth example was built. The…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer CAR makers may be tampering with emissions tests again, but this time by increasing tailpipe emissions. Previous scandals have involved car manufacturers cheating tests so that their vehicles registered lower emissions, but a new report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) suggests makers are now rigging cars artificially so they appear to pollute more under test conditions, in some cases by as much as 13 per cent. The report found some cars had their stop/start system disabled, while others came with a depleted battery. Makers were also found to have overstated their CO2 emissions in official declarations by an average of 4.5 per cent, compared with values measured. The European Commission set new emissions targets for car manufacturers last year: by 2025, they have to achieve…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ASTON Martin’s first ever SUV is nearing its debut, and Auto Express can reveal that the final design of the new car has been signed off. A select number of buyers have been invited to see the finished item, which was previewed in three-door form at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015 as the DBX concept. The production model – likely to be called Varekai – has been transformed into a more conventional five-door, and we’ll get to see it next year. We could have our first unofficial glimpse towards the end of 2018, though. The Varekai will be built at an all-new Aston facility in St Athan, Wales, and CEO Andy Palmer has previously suggested that prototypes could begin rolling off the line before the year is…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer THE next time you turn on your windscreen wipers or switch radio station, consider the impact it has. If you’re in an old car, it’ll be minimal. If you’re in a new, ‘connected car’, this activity is likely to be noted by one of hundreds of sensors on board, sent to the maker which passes that info to a third party developing a driving app. Big data is revolutionising the car industry, giving accurate traffic reports and cutting the emergency services’ accident response times. Yet drivers are leading this transition; they’re the ones generating all of this data. Auto Express spoke to one of the firms gathering and selling data generated by the latest cars to see how it works. THE DATA EXPERTS “TO get an idea of…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 49.6mpg (est) £81 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 439/1,428 litres THIS is the 2018 Kia Sportage. It may be hard to tell, but the subtle facelift – a new front bumper with extra shiny bits and a revised rear featuring a full-width light bar – hides some significant changes under the skin. The Sportage accounts for about 40 per cent of all Kia’s UK sales, so it’s not surprising that the mechanical upgrades show little sign of complacency. As part of a revamped engine line-up, both of the outgoing car’s petrol units benefit from tweaks to help them pass the latest Euro 6 Temp emissions regulations. The old 1.7-litre diesel has been replaced by a cleaner 1.6, too. Perhaps most interesting is the car we’re driving…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram THE Volvo XC40 is our favourite small premium SUV. But is the basic T3 petrol version still a class leader? The T3 is the entry point to the XC40 range, as the most affordable model with the smallest engine on offer. Prices start at £27,610, which makes it £1,400 cheaper than the base D3 diesel. Standard kit includes 18-inch alloys, LED lights and a set of 12.3-inch digital dials. This Pro model adds adaptive lighting, folding door mirrors, a heated windscreen and an electric driver’s seat. The engine is a three-cylinder turbo, and comes only with a six-speed manual box. For now it works alone; it’ll eventually form part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The new unit isn’t completely unfamiliar. In effect, it’s three quarters of Volvo’s existing…

Subaru Impreza Subaru Infotainment Standard Key features: Reversing camera SUBARU’S infotainment system is a little unusual. There’s a lot of standard functionality included, but the fact that sat-nav isn’t is a strange omission, even if Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted to give a form of navigation through your smartphone. The eight-inch colour touchscreen is bright, but the graphics aren’t quite as high resolution as the Golf’s. The screen itself is also glossy, unlike the matt finish of the Honda’s system. In direct sunlight, this means there’s some glare, and fingerprints are more noticeable. You also get Bluetooth, voice recognition, DAB and a reversing camera, which are useful features. Its menus are laid out fairly logically and most functions are easy to find, while the screen responds fairly quickly…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer WITH no end to the excellent weather and scorching sunshine in sight, I took our SEAT Arona on yet another trip to North Wales recently for some outdoor pursuits. The SEAT’s 400-litre boot was loaded with hiking gear, a tent, a couple of sleeping bags, plus food and other essentials. And while all the kit could have been packed in a more orderly fashion, the space on offer proved more than adequate for the 500-mile round trip. In fact, the Arona continues to impress on long journeys. Since our last report, I’ve racked up more motorway miles in the car, and have been impressed by its comfort and usability. The tech inside is working well, too. So far the sat-nav’s traffic alerts have proven useful, helping us navigate…

2CV notepad is a real French fancy ARE you a fan of the Citroen 2CV? If so, 69 Pit Stop has something for you. Perfect for owners and wannabes alike, the Vive le 2CV Tricolore notepad features an exclusive caricature of the famous tin snail from noted artist BOD, sitting on top of the colours of the French flag – of course. 69 Pit Stop suggests it’d be ideal as a restoration diary for those in the process of returning a 2CV to the road. Priced at €22.50 (around £20), the notepad is available exclusively from www.69pitstop.com. Dunlop in BTCC ticket giveaway IN celebration of its sixth decade supporting the British Touring Car Championship, Dunlop has a great new offer to get motorists on to its rubber. Customers who purchase…

BRITS waste hours every year trying to find a parking space in increasingly busy urban centres. Drivers on the lookout for empty bays are also responsible for causing traffic jams as they cruise slowly along in the hope a space will appear. But the parking misery doesn’t end there. After finding an empty bay, you need to know how to pay; do you have the correct change, will the machine accept cards and how long can you stay for? Fortunately, in the smartphone era, parking is becoming easier, with a host of apps available to guide you to an empty spot and pay remotely. And all these apps are free. We downloaded eight. PRODUCT GROUP TEST 1|8|2018 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to…