Innholdsfortegnelse for 1548 i Auto Express

• Hybrid F1 successor boasts 1,036bhp and all 106 are sold John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is the long-awaited successor to the iconic McLaren F1. it’s called the speedtail and only 106 examples will be produced, all of which have already been sold at £2.1million each. McLaren is billing the speedtail as a ‘hyper-GT’ and its standout feature lives up to that billing (and brings lineage from the F1) because the car is a three-seater. The driver is positioned centrally, with each passenger behind and at either side. Unlike the F1, the driver’s seat can be accessed from either side, due to the lack of a gearlever. The car certainly won’t want for road presence, thanks to its 5.2 metre-long body; the speedtail is not far off being the same length as…

• Hot hatch unmasked as it prepares to take on Golf GTI James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods A NEW Ford Focus ST is on the way in 2019, and these spy shots reveal more of the hot hatchback than ever. The new model will be unveiled early next summer, because Ford will not attend the Geneva Motor Show in 2019. A likely engine option for the next ST would be the 2.3-litre ecoBoost four-cylinder petrol which is currently used in the Mustang and the outgoing Focus RS, but it would be tuned to directly rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the latest Renaultsport Mégane. The turbocharged motor produces 345bhp in the RS, but the next Focus ST is likely to get a lower output to suit its front-wheel-drive layout. The…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE best marketing campaigns are the ones you still remember years after they aired. From the Coca-Cola Christmas truck to honda’s Cog; the most memorable are those with timeless appeal. Another of those evergreen adverts is Skoda’s Fabia Cake Bake. Back in 2007, the Czech firm commissioned a super-size sponge to commemorate the launch of its second-generation supermini. The four-metre-long fondant-covered car took four days to create at a cost of around £500,000. The result was a 60-second promotion that won plaudits from the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival and BAFTA. A racier version was also produced to celebrate the hotter Fabia vRS. Over four million Fabias have been built since 1999, and a little over 11 years since that iconic ad first graced our screens, the facelifted…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler Performance 0-62mph/top speed 13.5 seconds/90mph (est) Running costs 41.5mpg (official) £52 fill-up EVERY now and again, a car comes along that’s so brim-full of character its imperfections can easily be forgotten. The new Suzuki Jimny is one such car. Previous versions of the Jimny have been somewhat unremarkable. But by giving the world a retro-inspired baby SUV at a time when we’re still waiting for the Daddy of all 4x4s (the Land Rover Defender) to be replaced, Suzuki has produced a car destined for cult status. The upright, squared-off style – combined with bold circular headlights and a five-slot grille – fits the ‘cute off-roader’ brief perfectly. Ask a five-year-old to draw a 4x4, and they’ll probably draw you a Jimny. They’ll likely colour it in our car’s…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 35.8mpg (official) £76 fill-up THIS is the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio 280. Aside from the flagship Quadrifoglio, it’s the fastest version of the brand’s BMW X3 rival. But if the QF is a stretch too far, does this 280 make more sense than the diesel versions? Let’s start with the money. The Stelvio 280 is £1,400 pricier than the 207bhp diesel in the same Milano Edizione trim. On a four-year PCP with the same deposit, the petrol costs almost £20 more per month. The diesel is cheaper to run, too, returning 49.6mpg to the petrol’s 35.8mpg. While the diesel is certainly easier on the wallet, the petrol is more fun to drive. In a car where driving enjoyment is placed as such a high priority, the…

WHEN we look back on this decade, there’s every chance that it will be seen partly as the time where Korea took over the world. Not the North, but the South – and the consumer world. Companies that make everything from TVs, smartphones and, crucially here, cars are reporting huge sales around the world, and with good reason. Kia is one firm that’s made great leaps and bounds in such a short period of time, and the brand’s latest Ceed family hatch is aiming to continue that trend. Going up against Kia’s latest mainstream model is the most established rival there is in this class: the Volkswagen Golf. It practically invented the segment that it still dominates today, so in every sense it’s the benchmark for the new Ceed. But the…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.0 seconds/105mph Practicality Boot capacity 377 litres Running costs 57.4mpg (on test) £130 tax or 19% tax MY constant moans about poor fuel economy and real-world range are over. Switching our turbocharged petrol Toyota C-HR (Issue 1,543) for the more frugal Hybrid has quite literally paid dividends, instantly slashing our fuel bills by almost 50 per cent. But while cutting costs was the catalyst for the swap, there have been a number of welcome side effects since we took delivery in late August. Perhaps the most prominent of these is the way the Hybrid model calms you as you drive. Being able to run in EV mode for short distances is incredibly relaxing, while the automatic gearbox helps take the strain in stop-start traffic. But…

Alfa romeo Giulia Issues 1,534, 1,544 Ford Fiesta ST New arrival Hyundai Kona Electric New arrival Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537, 1,546 Mazda 6 New arrival Mercedes x-class Issue 1,547 Mini Cooper5-door Issue 1,538, 1,546 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Issue 1,545 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Renault Koleos Issues 1,530, 1,542, 1,547 Skoda Karoq Issues 1,536, 1545 Suzuki Swift Sport Issues 1,532, 1,541, 1,544 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527, 1,535, 1,543 Vauxhall Grandland x Issues 1,536, 1,540 Volkswagen Polo New arrival Volvo xc60T8 Issue 1,541…

Schlumpf Art op de Weegh and Aroud op de Weegh (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £35 INTERESTING subject matter on a famous car collection, but the narrative leaps around and is stilted, with the ‘epilogue’ less than halfway in. Photography is good, but suffers from slightly cut-price printing. A potentially interesting book, but one that’s spoiled by some odd decisions. Cars, Coffee, And A Badass Ninja Toilet KC Hilton (Book Boss Publishing, www.bookshout.com) Price: £2.33 (Kindle Edition) THE trials and tribulations of owning a used car showroom, from the fictional and slightly foul mouth of mechanic Julia Karr. those after an accurate picture of the business will be left wanting, but many of the customers will strike a chord with anybody who’s worked in retail. A funny read. Assoluto Racing Available…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Sponsored by Q Should dealer pay for repair? MY car developed an electrical fault during servicing, and the dealer says I must pay for a new ECU. Given the car was under the dealer’s care, should the garage pay for the repair? Edward Brennan, E-mail A FIND out exactly what work was carried out on the car prior to the ECU failing. If it was anything to do with the electrics, question whether that could have caused the issue. Fault may be difficult to prove, and it’s likely you’ll have to foot the bill, but asking for a contribution or reduced labour rate won’t hurt. Q Decal insurance debate I’VE applied decals to the outside of my car, and a friend told me they…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk A NEW touring car championship for electric cars is set to arrive in 2020. The ‘eTCR’ series is being launched by WSC Technology, the same organisation behind the TCR international, European and national series that have transformed the touring car scene in recent years. WSC head Marcello Lotti presented the eTCR series concept at the final round of the TCR Europe series, held at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya last week. Lotti said that he hoped eTCR would “open a window to the future of touring car racing” and added that the series would race on homologated FIA circuits. Speaking at the official launch, Lotti added: “In the wake of the global success achieved by TCR and being aware of the automotive market’s trend towards responsible mobility, two years ago…

• Polo-based crossover completes Volkswagen’s SUV range to challenge Juke and C3 Aircross Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk • EXCLUSIVE PICTURES @Jonathan_burn THERE’S barely a week that goes by without the launch of a new SUV, and this week is no different: meet the Volkswagen T-Cross. The German firm’s latest SUV is also its smallest, and it slots in beneath the T-Roc in VW’s expanding product range. Its job is to tempt buyers away from the likes of the Nissan Juke, Citroen C3 Aircross and SEAT Arona with a greater focus on versatility and practicality, according to the German brand. Ahead of it arriving in UK showrooms early next year, Auto Express was invited for an exclusive preview of the car with Felix Kaschutzke, the T-Cross project manager for sales and marketing. The smallest…

• We drive Vision RS concept as firm spells out future plans • DRIVEN Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram SKODA’S future vRS models will embrace plug-in hybrid technology and take a more radical approach to design, Auto Express can reveal. The Czech brand gave us a thinly-veiled glimpse at the future of its performance arm with the Vision RS concept at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month. Now we’ve been behind the wheel of the hybrid performance car to learn more about the firm’s future plans. “I think this hybrid concept is a very good example of what we think is appropriate in the future,” Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier told us. “We wanted to show how the plug-in hybrid idea could evolve into the future: fun to drive, sporty and environmentally friendly.…

THIS is the Toyota Hilux Invincible 50, a limited-edition version of the iconic pick-up to mark its 50th anniversary. Only 50 examples will be sold in the UK and they have mechanical revisions and modifications from Icelandic off-road specialist Arctic Trucks. A new suspension system from Bilstein means the Hilux is 40mm higher at the front and 20mm taller at the rear. Unique 16-inch alloy wheels are finished in satin black and wrapped in BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres. Wider wheelarches are fitted, plus a double-hoop rollbar with four high-power LED lamp pods. Arctic Trucks mud flaps feature, plus unique Invincible 50 badging and detailing inside and out. All examples are finished in gloss black. Power is provided by a 148bhp 2.4-litre diesel with a six-speed auto and selectable four-wheel drive.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor On a roll with the new Cullinan SUV It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here: Rolls-Royce’s first SUV. Rolls calls the Cullinan a ‘high-sided car’. It’s the poshest and most expensive SUV on sale and a big kick in the teeth for the Bentley Bentayga. Is it worth the £250k price tag? steve Fowler went to the USA to find out. We run rule over BMW X7 flagship FROM one BMW Group SUV to another, meet the new BMW X7. this is the firm’s new flagship sUV and a car that’s been designed to take a big pop at the mighty Range Rover. It takes the 7 series as inspiration to create a credible rival to the British icon. James Brodie has poked around it…

THE Government’s move to cut the Plug-in Car Grant (Issue 1,546) prompted a sales rush that has seen the scheme end three weeks early. Buyers could previously get £2,500 off the price of a new PHEV or £4,500 off an EV under the plan. But a surprise announcement on 12 October brought that to an end, with the Office for Low Emission and the Department for Transport (DfT) confirming they would cut the PHEV grant entirely, and slash the EV grant by £1,000. The Government said it would honour 3,000 EV and 6,000 PHEV grants before introducing the new rules, with the old scheme expected to last until 9 November. But canny buyers rushed to showrooms to take advantage of the outgoing grants’ more generous terms.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.4 seconds/155mph Running costs 32.5mpg (official) £86 fill-up MERCEDES is busy electrifying its entire model range. From the C-Class to the S 560 e (opposite); a further 10 full-EVs are due by 2022. But in the melee, the firm hasn’t forgotten about its AMG performance arm. As such, Mercedes has launched a new line of 53-badged models, and this E-Class Coupé is among the first to arrive here. Using Mercedes’ new 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine and nine-speed auto gearbox, engineers have bolted on an electric compressor for 48V mild-hybrid assistance. It isn’t really designed to boost fuel efficiency; instead, it tries to eliminate turbo lag for faster responses. In the real-world, that translates to quite impressive performance. The E 53 won’t pin you in your…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram VOLVO has confirmed that the new S60 saloon (Issue 1,547) won’t be sold with a diesel engine. But the rules are different for its V60 sibling, which launched this summer with one petrol and two diesel powertrains. We’ve already tried the excellent D4, but now it’s the turn of the entry-level D3. It’s almost 40bhp down – but matches its counterpart for kit and quality. In Momentum Pro spec it’ll save you £1,000 on list price, or around £17 per month on a three-year PCP finance deal. On paper, the D4 is a far quicker car. It’s two seconds faster from 0-62mph, and packs an extra 80Nm of torque. Yet in most situations the D3 feels every bit as quick as you’d want. It picks up speed with…

Kia Ceed Touchscreen sat-nav: Standard Key features: 8-inch screen, smartphone link THE Kia’s eight-inch touchscreen display is mounted on top of the dashboard, which helps when you’re glancing over to see sat-nav directions, but it doesn’t look very well integrated into the cabin. It comes with physical buttons surrounding the screen that act as shortcuts to the most-used features of the system, including a configurable switch that you can set to do one of several different things depending on your own usage. For example, we set it to go straight to the built-in Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connection for our phones. The system doesn’t look as modern as the Golf’s, but it has comparable functionality and the user interface is easy to understand. It’s among the best set-ups of…

EVEN next to the already pumped-up standard car, the M2 Competition looks very aggressive. A new front bumper and grille, plus extra gloss black trim, have seen to that. The styling tweaks are functional, too. The larger intakes aid cooling, necessary due to the upgraded version of the M3 and M4’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo engine that produces an incredible 404bhp and 550Nm of torque. The torque figure, in particular, is huge for a small car – the Audi has ‘only’ 480Nm. Other tweaks for the Competition include extra body and chassis strengthening, uprated brakes and a re-tune for the electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Lightweight aluminium suspension parts from the M4 have been carried over, while the dampers are now fixed-rate passive units, so the changes over the standard M2 are…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk A GRINDING noise is never a good thing to hear in a car; much less when it comes from somewhere in the vicinity of the front wheels or suspension. That’s what’s been happening to my Grandland X recently, so it’s been to a Vauxhall dealer to be checked out. The grinding was slightly unusual – as it would only happen when reversing at low speed, such as when backing into a parking space and even then, only some of the time. It wasn’t affected by steering lock, nor load on the suspension when reversing on an incline. So I made a quick call to Toomey Vauxhall in Southend, Essex, and booked it in. I was impressed with the service offered. Small things really do make a difference, and I…

“The app works with Android and Apple handsets” NEW PRODUCT Pioneer SPH-10BT head unit Price: £119.99 Contact: www.pioneer-car.eu/uk SMARTPHONE connectivity is at the top of every head unit’s must-have list, and the latest product from pioneer takes it one step further. Instead of just relying on a USB cable or Bluetooth, the Sph-10Bt connects via the pioneer Smartphone Sync app. the other two options are still present, but the app allows the head unit and handset to control each other. The software works with android and apple handsets and allows voice recognition, plus it can control navigation apps such as Google, apple maps or Waze. It also links to messages and apps such as Whatsapp. Just press a button on the head unit and the message appears. there are also buttons on…

Run-flat tech for Bridgestone tyres BRIDGESTONE will offer its Driveguard run-flat technology on all of its main product lines from November. It allows motorists to continue driving safely if their vehicle gets a puncture, eliminating the need to change tyres or rely on repair kits. Driveguard will be available on Bridgestone’s Turanza, Blizzak and Weather Control ranges, and can be fitted to any car equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system. Find out more at www.bridgestone.co.uk. Renovo website gets a makeover CONVERTIBLE top treatment firm Renovo has launched its new website at www.renovointernational.com. it has been designed to be easier to use on mobile devices, plus has a cleaner, easier-to-navigate format. Content has also been revised, with advice on renovo’s range, which not only includes products for soft-tops, but also plastic windows…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The people best-qualified to talk about the problems – and the solutions – are the folk who drive on our roads daily” WE, the car users, are facing a new and growing problem caused by them, the comedians paid to run the transport show. They repeatedly fail to listen to us; they blatantly refuse to deliver the goods we’ve bought and paid for (newer, safer, better-repaired roads) and they wrongly assume they know best. It’s not just local and national politicians who’re to blame. Countless transport-related agencies funded in full or part by the state don’t ask us what we think, never mind consider and act upon our invaluable advice. The proposed closure of an entire motorway, the M26, is a perfect…

BACK in July (Issue 1,532) we drove a pre-production version of the T-Cross, and were impressed by the newcomer from behind the wheel. It will certainly give the Citroen C3 Aircross a tough time. Our test car featured the VW Group’s tried-and-tested 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, offering decent performance and impressive refinement. Special contributor Steve Sutcliffe said the SUV had the potential to be a “true class act”, thanks to its accurate steering and decent body control. It didn’t feel as sharp as a SEAT Arona, but he declared it more than capable for a car in this class. But where we felt it scored most strongly against rivals was inside. Sutcliffe said: “Good practicality and upmarket option packages should help it further stand…

Jaguar takes the chequered flag A SPECIAL edition Jaguar F-Type has been launched. The chequered Flag (above) comes with a 296bhp four-cylinder, or a supercharged V6 with 335bhp or 375bhp. All cars have unique badging, a black contrast roof and black 20-inch wheels, plus suspension tweaks and extra standard kit applied to the entire F-Type range. prices start from £51,925. BMW widens recall for diesel models MORE diesel BMWs have been recalled over a fault which can lead to fire. it affects 3, 4, 5 and 6 series models, plus four-cylinder X3, X4, X5 and X6 cars built from December 2014 to August 2016. The same models produced between July 2012 and June 2015 with six-cylinder diesel engines are included. Also 1, 2, 7 series and X1 models with four-cylinder…

• V12 Volante convertible produces 715bhp • Drop-top caught testing ahead of 2019 arrival Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ASTON Martin is applying the finishing touches to the most powerful production convertible in its history – and these spy shots show that development of the DBs superleggera Volante is well under way. Caught on camera outside Aston’s nürburgring test centre, the photos show the car almost fully undisguised. the Volante carries over many of its styling cues from the coupé, but with a shorter, more truncated roof design, leaving space for the fabric hood to retract into. The roof is nearly identical to that fitted to the DB11 Volante; it’ll take around 14 seconds to open and 16 to close, and operate at speeds up to 30mph. As with the DB11 Volante, the…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths GLASS repair companies are investing millions upgrading their workshops with new tech, because of the growing number of cars that require vital safety sensors to be recalibrated after a windscreen replacement. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as autonomous emergency braking and lane assist, typically rely on windscreen-mounted cameras to operate. However, if these systems aren’t recalibrated when the glass is replaced, lane-assist tech may not keep the car in line, while auto-braking systems could fail to detect obstacles. Back in 2015, just one per cent of cars required recalibration after windscreen replacement. That figure now stands at nine per cent for private cars and 34 per cent for fleet vehicles, which tend to be newer. To tackle this growing issue, National Windscreens has invested £2million in ADAS…

@AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC BMW 3 Series launch FROM: Dave Kelly THE interior looks decent and well made. I thought the previous 3 Series was dated and cheap inside for what was supposed to be a premium car. It’ll be interesting to see how luxurious this is compared with rivals from Audi and Mercedes. FROM: Howser PEOPLE who say this is too much like the previous 3 Series don’t understand the way buyers think. A radical redesign would put people off and, given how significant a car this is, you can understand why BMW has chosen an evolutionary design. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “The front looks good, if a bit aftermarket. It will be interesting…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ON the face of it, cars such as the Mercedes S-Class seem an odd choice for electrification; we think of them as long-distance luxury cruisers. But in truth, many limos spend lots of their time running at low speeds around places like airports and city centres. As such, the new Mercedes S 560 e plug-in may be nicely timed. This is not the first S-Class hybrid, of course; we’ve had versions before. But none of them was able to muster much of an electric-only range. Improvements in battery tech have allowed Mercedes to cram in more energy density with the S 560 e, though, to the point where the 13.5kWh battery can keep the limo rolling without any combustion engine interference for just over 30 miles. The engine…

NEW: Ford Focus PRICE: £23,440 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Ford Focus is the best car in its class to drive, and will soon be available with a 1.5-litre engine to match the Golf’s, along with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It also comes well equipped in higher-spec Titanium trim. USED: Audi A3 Sportback PRICE: £24,500 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp A MORE premium option in this class, the Audi A3 is also available with the Golf’s 1.5-litre petrol engine. We found one example with delivery miles for only £24,500, which is competitive with its rivals in this test.…

Skoda Karoq WEB editor Steve Walker has been for his first long drive in the Skoda Karoq: a 200-mile jaunt down to Devon for half-term. “That’ll never fit,” was Steve’s verdict on viewing the mountain of luggage the family had assembled by the front door. But he was completely wrong, because the compact Skoda’s 521-litre boot swallowed the lot with the parcel shelf still in place. The space is square, flat and wide enough to easily take a pushchair lengthways; as with the rest of the car, it just works. At around six feet tall, Steve has to sacrifice about an inch off his preferred driving position to give his three-year-old son enough legroom in his booster seat, but passenger space is good for two adults and two kids in…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Helping a learner along MY younger brother has asked me to sit alongside him while he practises for his driving test. Are there any legal restrictions on who can do this that I should know of? Jamie Yates, E-mail A PRIVATE practise alongside professional tuition is a good way of gaining experience. the law requires you to be at least 21 and have held a licence for the vehicle you’ll be supervising in for at least three years. you’ll be in charge of the vehicle as if you were driving, so laws about alcohol, drugs and mobile phones apply. Q A garage as safe as houses I’VE just moved into a house with a garage. I plan to put my classic car and tools…

ONE of the key features of our current best buy dash cam, the Nextbase 612gW, is the polarised lens that helps the unit cut glare and add depth to its footage. Rivals are now adding similar lenses to their cameras. the latest to do so is Garmin, with its stylish Dash cam 55 Plus edition, which has a polarising filter as standard. to see how it compared with our current champ, we lined the two units up for a head-to-head test. clarity of footage was key. We looked for video where details such as number plates could be picked out. Ease of use was a priority, with price the final factor. While the 55 Plus has an improved picture quality, it still cannot match the crisp 4K footage from Nextbase.…

Dear James, I have £9,000 for a car that must tow a 2,000kg boat, handle three kids and my husband’s work tools. What do you suggest? Crystal Birchmor, Twitter Contact: James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk THE RELIABLE CHOICE Toyota Land Cruiser FOR: Immense space and practicality for the money AGAINST: Big running and insurance costs THE Toyota Land Cruiser is an SUV with a reputation for being tough and capable. The 2005 3.0-litre D-4D LC5 we found for £9,000 with 106,000 miles, one previous owner and a full service history has all the attributes needed for a reliable family workhorse. A 2,800kg braked towing capacity means it’ll haul your boat with ease, too. The Toyota is a little uncouth on the road, but immensely capable when the going gets tough. There’s plenty of space…

THE 2019 edition of the Race of Champions will be held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City, Mexico, on 19-20 January. The annual event, which sees drivers and riders from different motorsport disciplines race head-to-head, will use the Foro Sol amphitheatre section of the venue, which also hosts the Mexican Grand Prix. RoC president Fredrik Johnsson said: “We are delighted to be bringing RoC to Mexico. The Foro Sol is an incredible arena to watch motorsport.”…