Innholdsfortegnelse for 1538 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “Many of the concept’s design elements will be found on the next Corsa, Mokka and Astra” VAUXHALL has pulled the covers off an all-new concept car called GT X Experimental, which will set the design tone for a flood of future Opel and Vauxhall models arriving in the 2020s. The concept ticks nearly every niche box you can think of and is described as a five-door, all-electric, coupé-inspired compact SUV. It isn’t a direct preview of an upcoming new production model, and is instead a design study showcasing the brand’s future face. So many of the design elements in the GT X Experimental will be found on the next Corsa, Mokka and Astra. It’s also a warm-up act for Vauxhall’s impending electrification push. The brand recently promised that…

THE final model in BMW’s new 8 Series range, the Gran Coupé, has been caught on camera for the first time. The large four-door will face the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS when it arrives next year. Sitting at the top of the 8 Series line-up, the Gran Coupé will be the biggest model in the range; the spy shots clearly show the wheelbase and body have been extended over the coupé to allow rear doors to be fitted. That longer body will mean much improved space inside for passengers sitting in the back. The Gran Coupé will distance itself from the 7 Series, with which it will share a similar footprint, by focusing more on performance. BMW bosses have already said the 8 Series model range…

WE’VE gone all sporty this week with features on the Ford Fiesta ST and Alpine A110. See both at youtube.com/Autoexpress. James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Has new Fiesta ST still got the magic? TO say there was a huge sense of anticipation for the new Ford Fiesta ST would be an understatement. The last car will go down as a classic fast Ford and was tremendously well loved, not least by Auto Express. Can the new one impress us as much, though? We find out on UK roads. Log on and join us for an Alpine tour RARELY does a once-great nameplate come back from the dead, but Renault has done just that with Alpine. The French sports car brand has returned after more than 20 years, and what a comeback it is.…

Porsche 911 Turbo (1975 to date) WHEN the turbo 911 arrived in 1975 it was a handful, but it has been honed into one of the world’s ultimate performance cars. Audi Quattro (1980-1991) BEST known for bringing all-wheel drive into the mainstream, the Quattro also showed how potent a five-cylinder turbo could be. Nissan Skyline GT-R (1999-02) Nissan Skyline GT-R (1999-02) Ford Escort Cosworth (1992-96) CLOSELY related to the Sierra Cossie, the hottest Escort was a mixed bag on rallies, but a dream car for a generation of Essex boys. Subaru Impreza WRX STi (1994-07) FORGED in a hot rivalry with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, the Impreza STi had one of the great turbo engines: a flat-four ‘boxer’.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet was our Convertible of the Year as recently as 2017, but the transfer to the facelifted model meant it wasn’t included this year. This is our first chance to try the revised car and see if it stands a chance of regaining its crown. From the outside, the tweaks mirror those that we’ve already seen on the Saloon and Estate. There are slightly different bumpers, with flashes of chrome, new headlights and, if you pick an AMG Line version like our test car here, a new pattern in the front grille. The revised C-Class Cabriolet has three engine options so far: the C 200, a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol with mild-hybrid tech, the diesel C 220 d and the six-cylinder petrol C 43 AMG. Here…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WIN A 508 Find out how you could get the keys to a new 508 in our brilliant competition PAGE 52 THE family car has changed beyond recognition in the past decade, squeezed by German premium models and SUVs. So it seems a strange time to launch a new one – but Peugeot is doing just that with its latest 508, and over the next 16 pages we’ll look at what’s different about it. We’ve been behind the scenes, joining engineers testing the 508’s durability and rating 2019’s SW estate against rivals on the road. Peugeot’s global and UK bosses discuss the car’s prospects, and we’ve explored the design and tech. Buyers will decide whether the 508 is a hit. But it’ll be fascinating to see if Peugeot’s…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “Belchamp has miles of road, simulating everything from a motorway to Belgian cobblestones” DEEP within a 1,000-acre site in eastern France, a fleet of 508s is being put through hell. Every minute of every day, for weeks at a time. This is Belchamp, one of PSA’s biggest development sites and the base for not only dynamic evaluation, but also the sort of endurance and quality scrutiny that has helped the firm to transform its image over the past two years. PSA engineers call it the ‘Quality in Use’ department. Applied to every Peugeot since the current 208, it’s based on the principle that every car should be as good as new after three years. The aim is that as the average customer comes to the end of their…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy DEVELOPING the 508 has taken a major commitment in finances and resources from Peugeot. Selling it – and selling it ‘correctly’ – is going to require similar amounts of patience and resolve. In these days of fleet sales for businesses and finance deals for everyone else, the residual values of the car are crucial. In effect, a private PCP customer is paying the depreciation over their three years with the vehicle. So it stands to reason that if there’s a big drop in value over 36 months, the monthly payments over that period will be larger, too. The man in charge of ensuring the fall is minimised with the 508, or any Peugeot, is David Peel (below, right), the firm’s UK boss. When the former dealer took on…

WIN 6 MONTHS WITH A PEUGEOT 508 GT LINE AUTOMATIC YOU’VE seen over the previous 15 pages how much work has gone into the new Peugeot 508 – and how it’s aiming to shake up the family car market. But how about the chance to put it to the test yourself over six months of everyday use? That’s what’s on offer to the lucky winner of our brilliant competition – and Peugeot will even cover the cost of your insurance*, leaving you to put the fuel in and rack up the miles. The 508 in question will be a GT Line automatic, so it’ll have plenty of kit and technology for you to try out, including i-Cockpit Amplify, full-LED headlights and the 10-inch HD infotainment touchscreen. It couldn’t be easier to…

Ford Focus RS THE previous Focus is the latest in an illustrious list of fast Fords to wear the Rally Sport badge. The Sierra and Escort RS Cosworth fetch huge values now, even though you could argue (whisper this) that they weren’t that good to drive at the time. They couldn’t be further from the reality of the Focus RS, however. Fast, raucous and a huge amount of fun, the third-generation car makes a great modern-day cut-price alternative to four-wheel-drive hyper-hatches like the Audi RS 3 and Mercedes-AMG A 45. The irony is that the RS is likely to be worth more than either in the future. Its relative rarity and the reputation that precedes it ensures the hot Focus holds its value strongly, and almost immediately. Keep one well maintained…

Porsche 911 996 Carrera Years produced: 1997-2004 THE 996 caused consternation among die-hard Porsche enthusiasts when it was released in 1997. If it wasn’t enough for some that its ‘fried egg’ headlights made it look frumpy next to the 993 it replaced, this car further troubled fans by ditching the traditional air-cooled engines. Despite these worries, the 996 was – and still is – a truly special car to drive. Much of the lairiness of previous 911s was eradicated, replaced with an agile yet predictable chassis which, thanks to the engine’s position over the rear wheels, delivers stunning traction. The introduction of water cooling didn’t harm the engine’s character, either; whether in 3.4 or 3.6-litre form, the flat six sings to a wonderful tune. Its relative undesirability is one factor…

Volvo V60 Sensus Navigation Standard Key features: Nav, digital dash AS with many of its siblings, the V60 gets Volvo’s nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The portrait set-up brings nav, Bluetooth, DAB and apps such as Spotify, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are £300 extra, which seems a little stingy at this price point. The screen could be a little more responsive, too. Although it works like a smartphone with pinch and swipe gestures, the display can lag behind your inputs. At least the firm’s 12.3-inch digital dash panel is standard across the range, but it isn’t quite as versatile as Audi’s set-up, even if it offers similar functionality and lots of other standard tech to compliment it. Our car’s Harman Kardon stereo (£825) was punchy and a nice addition…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “With the customisation tools MINI gives you, I managed to get quite creative, and come up with a decent design” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.2 seconds/129mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 278/941 litres Running costs 29.9 mpg (on test) £51 fill-up/£140 or 25% tax SAY hello to the latest addition to the Auto Express fleet: our new MINI Cooper 5-Door. I’ll be spending the next six months getting to grips with the hatch, and learning what the current-generation MINI has to offer as it enters the second part of its lifetime following its recent facelift. Those Union flag tail-lights are the dead giveaway that this is the updated model. However, infotainment and technology updates aside, there’s one thing in particular that interests me about this refreshed MINI. Announced late last…

Suzuki Swift Sport THIS week’s news on the Swift Sport is positive: the squealy brake issue staff writer Alex Ingram noted in his first report (Issue 1,532) has been fixed. A quick stop-over at Suzuki’s workshop revealed the problem to be nothing more than a piece of grit fouling the disc. The car now stops in blissful silence, and our man was without the keys for little more than a day. It seems that keeping hold of the keys is proving to be quite a tough task at the moment, however; the tiny hatch is in constant demand in the Auto Express office. The compact dimensions, lightweight chassis and lively engine mean that in many ways it makes the perfect city car. But the Swift doesn’t just work well around…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Leather cleaner confusion THE handbook for my Ford Fiesta Vignale says not to use leather cleaners with oil, petroleum or silicone-based ingredients. What product would you recommend? Gary Forrest, E-mail A MULTIPLE leather cleaner test winner Dodo Juice Supernatural (above) contains none of these ingredients. But a lot of products we’d recommend to moisturise the leather once clean are excluded. Dodo Juice suggests its Supernatural Leather Sealant, which contains petrochemicals, would be suitable despite Ford’s restrictions. Test on an unseen area first. Q Can I spray my wheels? I’D like to change the colour of my wheels, but powder coating or getting a mobile repairer to do it is too pricey. Is there an alternative? Chris Long, E-mail A DIY kits are available or…

BRITAIN’S scorching summer, with hosepipe bans in some parts of the country, has thrown the spotlight back on waterless cleaners. So the arrival of Armor All’s new waterless range could hardly have been better timed. Waterless Wash and Wax is a conventional liquid spray, but the brand’s Express Wash & Wax Wipes revive an earlier product and former test winner: Car Wash Wipes. So how do the new products stack up against multiple test winner Meguiar’s Wash & Wax Anywhere? We cleaned several panels with all three, then assessed how much grime was lifted with limited wiping. Beading was checked, plus we looked at where the products can be used. Price was the final factor. Meguiar’s remains our favourite, although Waterless Wash & Wax worked well. The wipes are easy…

Dear James, Having just retired, I’m after a car to carry golf bags and weekend luggage. What would you recommend for £18,000? John Hands, E-mail Contact: James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk THE STYLISH CHOICE Peugeot 3008 FOR: Sharp design inside and out, newest car here AGAINST: Unusual driving position, rivals more agile WE’VE been big fans of the latest Peugeot 3008 since its arrival last year, and second-hand prices are beginning to look favourable. This is by far the newest choice here. While most cars within budget are entry-level Active models, we found a 20,500-mile, mid-spec 1.6 HDi diesel Allure for £17,500. It’s one of the more eye-catching SUVs on sale today, and the 3008’s flamboyant interior means it feels like a smart place to sit, too. We’d recommend going for an automatic transmission,…

“Many new car showrooms will soon become about as relevant as branches of Blockbuster selling and renting DVDs” AT the centre and surroundings of the High Street you’ll see evidence of major retail outlets going or gone. Much of the talk has concentrated on deceased or depleted department store chains such as BHS and House of Fraser. But there are casualties among DIY retailers (Focus and Homebase) and in countless other areas – from Borders to Blockbuster, MFI to Maplin, Tie Rack to Toys R Us. Put another way, all sorts of household-name shops, stores and showrooms selling a colossal variety of goods are now dying or dead – despite high public demand for products. Who’s next to disappear? New car dealers or dealership chains, I believe. Actually, their slow…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • SUVs will give Italian brand full range in the premium market • Hybrid engines expected, along with plug-in hybrid power “The smaller SUV is likely to become the best-selling model in Alfa Romeo’s 108-year history” ALFA Romeo is planning to add two new SUVs to its expanding product line-up to bookend the popular Stelvio in the range, and both newcomers will be on sale in the next three years. The two new models will give the Italian brand almost complete coverage of the SUV market and will play a pivotal role in helping the marque achieve its target of 400,000 annual sales by 2022. Neither of the SUVs has been named yet, but the smaller one – previewed by our exclusive main image – is likely to…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “The firm has been without a flagship saloon since the Phaeton was axed” VOLKSWAGEN will return to the luxury class at the turn of the next decade with an all-electric Mercedes S-Class rival based on the I.D. Vizzion concept. Bosses have tasked the unnamed model with helping to instill the brand with a sense of luxury that failed to stick with the Phaeton back in 2002. VW has been without a flagship saloon since that model was axed in 2015. “Phaeton is a symbol of what VW needed at the time. It was the positing of VW into the upper market and showed the capability of the brand, in terms of quality and tech,” sales and marketing boss Jürgen Stackmann told Auto Express. “I.D. Vizzion takes the same…

Ranger Raptor gets set for 2019 launch AS Auto Express exclusively revealed in July, Ford will bring its Ranger Raptor (above) to the UK. Developed by the team behind the Fiesta ST and Focus RS, the Raptor will launch here in the middle of next year, powered by a 210bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. It will feature race-bred suspension and shock absorbers, along with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. Audi A6 and A7 in diesel engine boost AUDI has added a new four-cylinder mild-hybrid diesel engine to the A6 and A7 Sportback ranges, badged 40 TDI. The 201bhp 2.0 litre is the new entry point to both model line-ups, and is capable of claimed 62.8mpg economy and emits 117g/km of CO2 in the A6. To boost efficiency, the engine…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram EFFICIENCY: not one of the sexiest words you’ll hear in the automotive world, but it’s one which always creates a huge talking point. Emissions tests become stricter with every passing generation of new models, and the demands on manufacturers to produce ever-more frugal vehicles places them under increasing pressure. Pressure, as it turns out, is behind the device to which many car makers have turned in search of an answer. Turbochargers, and the increased density of air that they generate, can – in principle – allow smaller engines to comply with the latest and most stringent regulations, while producing similar power and torque to the larger units they’ve replaced. Turbocharging has been commonplace on diesel cars for a while, but in a trend often referred to as ‘downsizing’,…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram “Fabia is easy to drive, visibility is good and the suspension irons out bumps” EVEN by the usual standards of facelifts, Skoda’s designers have breathed gently on the Fabia for this update. But this is it, a freshened-up version of one of Skoda’s biggest sellers that has been around since 2015. Visual changes are minor, but the new car’s front grille is wider, the lights are slimmer and there are some new reflectors in the rear bumper. Top-spec Monte Carlo models, like the car we’re driving here, are now available with LED brake lights as standard (optional on the rest of the range), with options of full-LED headlights (at £980 extra) and 18-inch alloy wheels. The fuel filler flap isn’t something that most of us will inspect too…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “With 201bhp and 500Nm of torque, the V6 diesel feels strong” IF you think special-edition specs and trims are reserved for city cars and superminis, think again. This is the limited-run Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label: a one-tonne pick-up with attitude. It’s based on the flagship Amarok Highline, and just 200 examples will come to the UK. As the name suggests, each Dark Label truck is loaded with black trinkets – including 18-inch wheels, matt-black mirrors and black side steps. There is a choice of black or grey paint, too. Inside, the Amarok Dark Label is less conspicuous. Aside from the bespoke floor mats, you’d be hard pressed to tell it apart from the standard VW. The seats are trimmed in Alcantara and there’s a black headlining, but it’s…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “The 508 is not a car to be thrown at one guy for 15 minutes around Coventry; I want you to drive it for a day, a weekend then come back. If you drive it for a day or a weekend, you’ll buy it”JEAN-PHILIPPE IMPARATO Peugeot chief executive officer EVEN by modern car executive standards, Peugeot boss Jean-Philippe Imparato has the figures at his fingertips. And for two reasons. Firstly, on the day we visit his office in Paris for a chat, he’s just come from briefing media and colleagues on the latest results at an event at nearby Roland Garros. And secondly, because the figures are good ones. “It’s an interesting adventure at the moment,” says the 51-year-old, who joined the PSA Group (Peugeot and Citroen, and…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “Peugeot has packed plenty of tech into the latest 508, with some features new to the class” THE devil, they say, is in the detail. And that’s certainly true of the hundreds of small touches that can make or break a new car in the eyes of buyers. This is why Peugeot has packed plenty of technology into the latest 508 – including some features that are new to the class. The car is based on the PSA Group’s EMP2 platform, a common set of components that underpins the 508’s highly rated SUV stablemates, the 3008 and 5008. This, in itself, marks a significant step on from the previous 508, because that model sat on PSA’s older PF2 architecture. EMP2 means a number of things: less weight (the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “It’s not retro design at all in any way, but it’s little hints from the past that we find relevant today”GILLES VIDAL Peugeot design director “We need to find fresh ideas that bounce towards the future all the time but also, because we are one of the oldest brands in the world, we have a lot of interesting history”GILLES VIDAL Peugeot design director THE two cars you see here share a bloodline, but the newer one will inevitably go on to lead quite a different life and write quite a different story in the annuls of all things Peugeot. Between 1968 and 1983, more than three million examples of the older model, the 504, were built in Europe. Among them were saloons – like the 1979 TI we’ve…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram JaguarXJ-S Price range: £4,000-£25,000 Renaultsport Clio182Trophy Price range: £6,500-£13,000 Volkswagen Corrado Price range: £5,000-£12,000 SCANNING through the classifieds section of an old motoring magazine can make for depressing reading for a classic car fan. Whether you’re after an eighties hot hatch or a clean Ferrari 355 – or anything in between – a look at values today will leave you asking yourself: “Why didn’t I buy that 10 years ago?” But all is not lost. While some cars are out of reach for all but serious collectors, many have avoided the bubble of insane values. We’ve rounded up a selection, many of which can quite reasonably be bought for less than the price of a new mid-range VW Golf, and for each model we’ve included rarity and maintenance ratings.…

Ford Mustang Years produced: 1964-73 WHEN order books opened in 1965, the Mustang became the fastest-selling car in history. It’s easy to see why: with striking looks, a wide range of options and US prices from $2,368 – just over £14,000 in today’s money – Ford had given birth to an icon. That price bought a less-desirable straight-six model, but Ford furnished the Mustang with a range of V8s, the most powerful delivering 276bhp. There are still lots of Mustangs available today – a decent running V8 will fetch £20k, with restoration projects half that – and only the rarest, most immaculate specials command silly prices. The customisation scene surrounding them means spares are plentiful, although the US is still the best source of parts. Porsche 944 Cabriolet Years produced: 1989-1991…

TECH AS we’ve seen, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is optional and Volvo’s digital dash is standard, but the A4 Avant’s TFT dial panel is more flexible, more customisable and displays more data. It’s a real tech highlight of the cabin. Although the Volvo’s system offers a comparable level of usability, it doesn’t feel quite as advanced, but it does score points for coming fitted as standard. SIMPLICITY BOTH cars get powered tailgates and levers in the boot to fold the back seats down, making loading up easier. But the Volvo is the vehicle that offers a little more attention to detail. The folding flap in the boot floor to stop items sliding around and a 12V plug in the rear are neat but simple touches that will make life with the…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,534 Audi A7 Sportback Issues 1,529, 1,536 Citroen C3 Aircross Issues 1,526, 1,532, 1,537 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Issues 1,514, 1,523, 1,528, 1,533, 1,537 Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537 Mazda CX-5 Iss 1,503, 1,512, 1,521, 1,530 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 SEATArona Issues 1,524, 1,531, 1,535 Skoda Karoq Issue 1,536 SsangYong Rexton Issues 1,516, 1,525, 1,529 Suzuki Swift Sport Issue 1,532 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527, 1,535 Vauxhall Grandland X Issue 1,536 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520, 1,530, 1,536 Volvo XC60 Issues 1,523, 1,527, 1,534…

NEWPRODUCT Nuna PIPA lite lx child seat Price: £250 Contact: www.nuna.eu/uk MANHANDLING babies and their seats into cars is not the easiest of jobs, but Nuna aims to take the strain out of it with what it claims is the lightest infant carrier on the market. The new PIPA lite lx weighs in at just 2.6kg without the canopy or insert, but comes packed with safety features. There’s side impact protection and a crumple zone with a stability leg to reduce the forces of an impact. The tough, lightweight shell is packed with energy-absorbing Aeroflex foam and the carrier comes with Nuna’s PIPAFIX True lock base, which is installed in the car with ISOFIX connectors. The maker says the connecting system means the seat can be installed in seconds. Lining…

Gaston Grummer: Art of Carrosserie Philippe Grummer with Laurent Friry (Dalton Watson, www.daltonwatson.com) AN amazing feat of research into the workings of a little-known coachbuilder. The two volumes are packed with an incredible number of period photos, plus catalogues, ads and drawings. Fewer than 10 of Grummer’s cars are in existence, so this is impressive, despite the price. 10 Step Guide to Flipping Cars 10 Step Guides Inc (Amazon Kindle, www.amazon.co.uk) MORE of a pamphlet than a guide; each ‘step’ takes up a single page. The advice given is sound, yet includes nothing groundbreaking and certainly nothing you couldn’t get from 10 seconds online. There’s no imagery, either, and a few errors. Not worth even this low price. Torque Burnout Available for: iOS, Android SINCE we reviewed this game last…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Number plate spacing rules I WAS recently pulled over by the police for having incorrectly-spaced characters on my number plate, even though they were the correct font. What are the rules for this? Name withheld, E-mail A NUMBER plate spacing rules are strict. Since September 2001 there must be an 11mm gap between each character, with 33mm separating the two age-identifying numbers and the final three letters. Rules for personalised plates vary, as many were originally issued pre-2001, but it’s an offence to alter the spacing. Q USB in rear-view mirrors HAVING rear-view mirrors incorporating a USB port would be a great way of powering a dash cam, while minimising the mess caused by wires. Do any car makers offer this…

• Ex-champ set for IndyCar? • Gasly tipped for Red Bull Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “Another attempt at winning the Indy 500 is thought to be Alonso’s most likely option” SPANIARD Carlos Sainz Jr will take the 2019 McLaren seat vacated by his compatriot Fernando Alonso, with the two-time world champion having confirmed last week that he will not race in Formula One past the end of 2018. The decision brings to an end 17 seasons of F1 competition, during which Alonso has to date scored 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 97 podium finishes. “It’s time for me to make a change and move on,” he said in a statement. “I have enjoyed every single minute of those seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who’ve contributed to make them all…

NEW GIULIETTA DUE: 2020 HEAVILY revised Golf rival, previewed in our image, is expected to land at turn of decade. Investment in Giorgio platform means Giulietta goes rear-wheel drive. BABY SUV DUE: LATE 2020 BASED on the new Giulietta hatch, Alfa’s Audi Q3 rival, previewed in our image, will be launched with hybrid tech and Level 3 autonomous driving capability. GIULIA DUE: 2020 SALOON will soon be one of the oldest models in Alfa’s line-up, so a mid-life facelift will help keep it fresh in 2020. A long-wheelbase model will also arrive. LARGE SUV DUE: 2021 NEXT up for Alfa is the large SUV, again previewed in our exclusive image. A 400bhp hybrid powertrain has previously been hinted at by engineering bosses. STELVIO DUE: 2021 NEXT in line is a…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram • Big-selling A-Class rival spied; set for new look, more tech • Coupé expected to join hatch, Saloon and Cabriolet models AUDI is deep into the development phase of its all-new A3, and these exclusive spy shots are the first time we’ve seen it out testing in public. The fourth generation of the Mercedes A-Class rival will be one of the brand’s most vital cars leading into the next decade because the current A3 is Ingolstadt’s best-selling car in Europe. Auto Express expects the next lineup to expand to include a five-door hatchback, Saloon and Cabriolet ranges, while the three-door will be dropped in favour of a coupé. The styling isn’t likely to take a radical departure from the previous model. Through the heavy camouflage worn by the…

Contact Hugo Griffiths mail@autoexpress.co.uk @Autoexpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Audi Q3 FROM: Harry Gregg A SUCCESSFUL redesign. The front end borrows cues from the Q2, itself a distinctive and funky car, while the rear looks crisp and modern, yet is recognisably Q3. Definitely the right decision to keep physical dials for the air-con, too. FROM: Wheats I HAVE never been a huge Audi fan; other than the TT, its cars have been a bit samey over the past few years. Having said that, the new Q3 is just about right inside and out. Looks modern, crisp and grownup without trying too hard. I like it. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “New Q3 will be lighter and…

TO generate its power, an internal combustion engine mixes fuel with oxygen. While naturally aspirated motors draw oxygen from the air at atmospheric pressure, a turbocharger compresses it. By forcing in denser air, more fuel can be burned, resulting in more power per engine cycle. A turbo is a pair of turbine fans joined by a common crank. One of the turbines is located in the intake manifold, the other in the exhaust. Exhaust gas flow increases with engine load, which causes the exhaust turbine to spin. This spins the intake fan, drawing more air into the combustion chamber.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.3 seconds/112mph Running costs 65.7mpg (official) £66 fill-up WE’VE been pretty impressed so far with the latest MPVs from Citroen and Peugeot: the Berlingo and Rifter. They’ll soon be joined by the Vauxhall Combo Life, too, but in the meantime, we’ve had our first experience of one of the French models in the UK, with a diesel version of the Berlingo. The three PSA Group cars are van-based people carriers, offered in a range of lengths and with five or seven seats. You can take your pick from petrol or diesel power, too, and here we’re trying the 99bhp 1.5-litre diesel version of the Citroen, equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. This is the mid-spec diesel (the other options are a 74bhp unit and a…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “RX’s hushed hybrid powertrain mixes a bit of electric power at low speed for more support” “Focus is on comfort with cosy front seats and a squishy ride over most surfaces” Running costs 51.4mpg (official) £83 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.7 seconds/124mph THE relentless rise in popularity of family-friendly SUVs means it’s a bit of a no-brainer for Lexus to join the fray with a slightly extended, seven-seat version of its flagship SUV, the RX 450h. If you like your SUV to offer a comfortable ride, exceptional refinement, plenty of kit and superb quality, then the RX 450h could be the car for you. The fact that Lexus dealers consistently top our Driver Power satisfaction poll is icing on the cake. Sure, you’re not going to feel as…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “Elegance is important; we want people to turn back on the streets to look at the car. We worked for a year and a half on the morphology. We compared our car constantly with what else was available in the D-segment to make sure ours was different”PIERRE-PAUL MATTEI Project design director, Peugeot 508 AS London was being gripped by Olympic fever in the summer of 2012, Peugeot’s designers were starting work on something that would prove to be a game-changer for them, too. The ageing 508 would need replacing, but the D-segment in which the car competed was in decline. Yet at the same time, an opportunity existed to move the model upmarket – following plans that were already under way to do the same with the 3008…

THE 508 introduces a further evolution of Peugeot’s radical i-Cockpit layout, which is designed to allow easier focus on the road ahead. The most noticeable visible element is the smaller steering wheel, which you look over (instead of through) to see a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The driver display can be configured to prioritise traditional dials, display navigation instructions, driver assistance information or, if the car is so equipped, night vision (right). GT Line and GT versions of the 508 take the set-up one step further, with i-Cockpit Amplify. It aims to offer more dynamic or relaxing experiences by adjusting the lighting of the head-up digital instrument panel and touchscreen, the level of engine noise (using active speaker technology) and, if the option is fitted, the massage function on the…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “We’re basically the first people outside of the research and development engineers to drive the SW”OLIVIER DESSERPRIT Head of Customer Synthesis, Peugeot THE new 508 hatchback is on sale now – but we’ve already had our first look at its stablemate, the 508 SW estate, which has been revealed ahead of sales starting in early 2019. The 508 SW is designed to be an estate that scores on desirability as much as practicality, and its design certainly tries to deliver this, with a distinctive, muscular look. This is especially true at the rear, where a pair of strong shoulders give the 508 SW a ‘shooting brake’ form instead of a conventional load-lugger’s. To get an idea of how this is going to translate into real-world usability, Auto Express…

Land Rover Defender Years produced: 1983-2012 CLASSLESS yet rugged, simple yet brilliant when off road, the Land Rover Defender is a classic car with a difference. Around £4,000 or so will be enough to get the keys to a late-eighties version – although rare last-of-the-line models can fetch eye-watering sums of money. Parts are widely available, and there’s a strong dealer network, as well as a whole host of independent specialists who can look after your Defender if you decide to take the plunge. Many owners maintain their Landies themselves, though, and if you choose to join them, there are plenty of owners’ clubs to tap into for advice. MG Midget Years produced: 1961-1980 FEW sixties classics deliver top-down thrills at a price as low as the MG Midget. There…

Reliant Scimitar Years produced: 1968-1986 THERE’S something innately cool about a shooting brake, and the Reliant Scimitar is one of the prettiest of the breed. Early models were powered by Ford’s famous ‘Essex’ 3.0-litre V6 engine, and from 1980 the Scimitar featured the 2.8 ‘Cologne’ V6 which was also used by the Ford Capri and Granada. As a result, many mechanical spares are still both readily available and cheap. Scimitars on the whole are reasonably rare, though, with fewer than 1,000 now on the road. They remain fairly cheap to buy, however; a clean example can be yours for around £10,000. Rover Mini Years produced: 1986-2000 A MINI might be a rather predictable choice for a list of classics, but there’s a host of reasons stretching as far as its…

Hyundai i20 7” Touchscreen Display Standard Key features: Smartphone link, Bluetooth HYUNDAI’S updates for this new i20 included fitting every model with a seven-inch colour touchscreen display. It’s integrated into the dashboard, and while it could do with being angled more toward the driver, it’s still the best system of the three available here. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, there’s no real need for sat-nav to be included, which is handy because you’d have to move up to a higher spec to get that; there are no options available on the i20 SE. The smartphone integration works well on the screen, responding quickly to inputs and loading up speedily. The menus on the built-in system are easy to understand and navigate, and the bright graphics look modern and…

Mercedes C 220 d Estate AMG Line PRICE: £38,835 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 191bhp THERE’S a new C-Class Estate to fight the V60 with updated infotainment and new engines. The 191bhp 2.0-litre C 220 d is well priced, at £38,835 in top-spec AMG Line trim. But the 460-litre boot looks small by comparison. BMW 320d auto Touring M Sport PRICE: £38,070 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp BEFORE the new 3 Series Touring goes on sale next year, now is a great time to pick up a deal on the outgoing car. The sweet spot is 320d M Sport auto spec. It’s even better to drive than the Audi, even if it’s slightly less practical.…

Mexican supercar first drive on Xbox GAMERS can get their hands on the new VUHL 05RR before anyone else. The lightweight Mexican supercar (above) goes into production later this year, but it can be raced around the globe on Forza Motorsport 7. The Xbox One title aims to replicate the car’s 2.7-second 0-60mph time, carbon-fibre body and sequential box. Gamers can download the upgrade pack including the 05RR now. Mountune kit heats up Focus ST diesel FORD’S previous Focus ST TDCi mixes the thrills of a petrol ST with diesel economy. And now owners can boost the hatch’s 182bhp, with Mountune. The specialist’s M460d upgrade kit ups power by 20bhp and cuts seven tenths from the 0-60mph time by focusing on real-world performance. It comprises engine recalibration and some OBD…