Auto Express 1544

NEW cars don’t get much bigger than an all-new BMW 3 Series – and Munich’s latest compact executive saloon (above) is the undoubted star of the Paris Motor Show, which started this week. But there was a very different feel to Europe’s ‘autumn show’, which alternates each year with Frankfurt. Although the halls are still full of fresh metal, several key brands chose to stay away; you’d have to go back a long time to find an event like this with no Volkswagen, Fiat, Nissan or Volvo. And they are just some of the names missing from the halls in the French capital. There are many reasons behind this – not least current model cycles and, in some cases, a determination to keep their powder dry until new (electrified) vehicles…

“The 3 Series’ popularity is one of the reasons why it hasn’t undergone a dramatic redesign” ● We’re in studio with saloon ● Uses 5 Series’ CLAR chassis Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ONE of the most important cars of 2019, the all-new BMW 3 Series, has been officially revealed at this week’s Paris Motor Show. The seventh generation of the German firm’s compact saloon benefits from a new platform, advanced on-board tech and a new, more efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 3 Series is the company’s most popular model, with the saloon accounting for one in five BMWs sold worldwide; over 15 million have found homes since its launch back in 1975. The latest car has been under development for five years and is the most advanced version yet. It will go…

“BMW has nailed one key area where a 3 Series should deliver: dynamics.” That was our first impression when we drove a prototype months ahead of the car’s official debut, in Issue 1,537. Chief reviewer Sean Carson (right) had two laps of the Nürburgring to assess the latest model and he was immediately impressed by how the new chassis and suspension set-up with hydraulic dampers handled the circuit’s gruelling tarmac. “The car turns in sweetly, is sharp to change direction and roll is well controlled,” he said. However, it’s not quite perfect; while the ride and handling are up to BMW’s high standards, the steering didn’t have “that much life to it”. Still, this is a criticism levelled at many electric power steering systems, and in summary our man reported:…

Q What was the main focus with the new 3 Series? A “It’s one of the main pillars of BMW, the core of the brand. It has to be the ultimate sports sedan because the competition is getting better, so we wanted to make a major step with this car. Driving dynamics were key; we have a new lightweight construction and we’ve managed to lose 55kg and increase the stiffness for better responses.” Q What did 3 Series customers want with the new model? A “A criticism was the interior. Buyers liked the great standard features, but the cabin was too cluttered, they told us. The design is much smoother and calmer now. The quality of the leather has improved, and all the buttons and switches are now grouped into…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THIS is the Skoda Vision RS Concept. It’s a preview of a confirmed, but as-yet-unnamed, new family car from the Czech company, which is designed to replace the ageing, budget-orientated Rapid and Rapid Spaceback models. The new car, scooped by Auto Express earlier this year (Issue 1,516), will go on sale in 2019 positioned as a rival to the Ford Focus. It will essentially take on the Octavia’s position of being Skoda’s alternative to the Volkswagen Golf. The Vision RS previews the future of Skoda’s vRS performance models as well, confirming that a hot version of the Rapid’s replacement is on the way. It also suggests that Skoda will look to plug-in hybrid technology for future vRS cars. Taken as a preview of Skoda’s next family hatchback, the…

SHARING the Skoda stage in Paris is the new Kodiaq vRS – not only the most powerful diesel the brand has ever produced, but also the fastest seven-seat SUV to lap the Nürburgring in Germany. Under the bonnet is a twin-turbo 2.0 BiTDI diesel. It’s the same engine found in the VW Tiguan, and it produces an identical output of 267bhp and 500Nm of torque. Drive is sent through a seven-speed DSG gearbox to all four wheels, and the big SUV manages 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 137mph. To give a little extra audible excitement, a sound boost system amplifies the engine’s exhaust note in the cabin. A few chassis tweaks should make the vRS feel sportier from behind the wheel, while a drive mode selector…