Innholdsfortegnelse for 1555 i Auto Express

GLE COUPE Autumn 2019 Mercedes is set to continue matching BMW coupé-SUVs; Mk3 X6 rival is coming E-CLASS FACELIFT Late 2019 Big-selling exec saloon to get tech and styling updates towards end of the year ALL-NEW MAYBACH SUV Late 2019 Maybach brand to move beyond limousines with this Rolls-Royce Cullinan rival NEW GLA Early 2020 GLA will continue as rugged, raised alternative to A-Class, despite arrival of GLB ALL-NEW AMG ONE 2020 Formula One-engined hybrid hypercar will lock horns with McLaren Senna NEW S-CLASS 2020 Flagship limo will be reinvented in 2020, with coupé and cabriolet set to follow later ALL-NEW EQA 2020 Compact EV to lead onslaught of EQ-branded electric vehicles from 2021 NEW C-CLASS 2021 BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 fighter to enter its fifth generation early…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First drive review on all-new BMW 3 Series LIKE it or loathe it, the 3 Series will be one of 2019’s top cars. Brits can’t get enough of the BMW compact exec, and this latest version has been improved in every area. In the only verdict that matters, chief reviewer Sean Carson has driven the car, and predicts it’s the new class leader. We run the rule over convertible Conti GT IT’S no real surprise to learn that luxury brand Bentley has created a drop-top version of its new Continental GT coupé. The third-generation model goes on sale in the spring, priced from £175,100, and it’s more customisable than ever. You can even have a tweed roof. Alex Ingram gives you the full walkaround. You can watch any…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Jimny ‘Defender’ kit FROM: Mr J THE tough look is great, but I wouldn’t go for the lookalike Defender grille; Suzuki’s current style in matt black would be fine for me. Either way, it’s interesting to see aftermarket makers getting involved; it’s usually a sign of market approval. FROM: Tom G THE new Jimny looks good enough without being put in a dress. Can’t help thinking this bodykit appears a bit cheap and nasty. That said, this car is certainly a better fit for narrow country lanes then most of the oversized SUVs available nowadays. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Driving a car with ‘Little D’ written across the front for…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/123mph Running costs 29.4mpg (official) £126 fill-up THE G-Wagen has always been one of motoring’s intriguing anomalies. It was designed back in the late seventies as a light-use military vehicle; used and abused mostly in the deserts of the Middle East. It gradually gained a cult following as a road car, though, and over time it became a popular left-field alternative to the Land Rover Defender and Jeep Wrangler. But it was always a bit of a shed mechanically, much like the models it sought to compete with. By 2018, the G was in desperate need of a mechanical upgrade inside and out. But rather than redesign its exterior, Mercedes decided to completely overhaul the car beneath the skin and keep its looks all-but identical…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE UK accounts for a couple of thousand ultra-fast luxury SUVs every year – mostly Range Rover Sport SVRs, but also the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW X5 M and Lamborghini Urus. Now there’s a fresh face in the market: the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Under this jumbo 4x4’s bonnet is a 6.2-litre supercharged HEMI V8 engine producing a frankly-astounding 707bhp and 881Nm of torque. The Sport SVR manages 567bhp and 700Nm and even Lambo’s first SUV has a mere 641bhp in comparison. Performance sounds impressive to the point of being foreboding. The Trackhawk can reach 180mph and crack the 0-60mph dash in just 3.5 seconds. Straight-line acceleration really is its forte. The launch control button sits beside the gearlever; you put your foot on the…

Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi ‘3’ PRICE: £18,600 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 118bhp THE Stonic is a stylish and relatively new entrant to this class, but in ‘3’ trim it blends decent practicality, a refined engine and lots of attractive kit, especially the infotainment. We’d recommend this small Korean SUV over the 500X. Mazda CX-3 SkyActiv-G 2.0 SE Nav+ PRICE: £18,995 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 119bhp MAZDA has updated the CX-3 this year, and it’s still a fine compact crossover. It’s as sporty as the SEAT Arona, but not quite as practical. However, even in SE Nav trim there’s loads of kit and a nice cabin, while it’s more affordable, too.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk TO be honest, I was perfectly happy with the factory-fit sat-nav on the Mazda 6 we’re running on our fleet, as well as its excellent Bose stereo and fine hands-free communications package. But when I found out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay could be retrofitted to our car (it costs £350), I wasn’t going to say no. Apple CarPlay allows me to hook my phone up to the infotainment system, so I can drop pins to navigate to the most remote spots and use my phone’s features on the move without having to take my hands off the wheel. Let’s face it, that’s pretty useful. Hendy Mazda Horsham in West Sussex also upgraded the Bose stereo as part of the fitment package, so my music sounds better than ever,…

End of the road for ultimate LEGO 911 THE final LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS has ‘rolled off the line’ – or rather, with the launch of the 992-generation 911, LEGO has discontinued the kit. The 2,704-piece Technic kit (above) features a working PDK gearbox and steering, a unique dashboard plate, movable rear wing and even a bespoke luggage set, making it one of the most detailed models LEGO has ever made – although it’s since been beaten by the 3,599-piece Bugatti Chiron. The Technic GT3 RS is still available in a few retailers while stocks last, at £259.99 RRP. Tyre maker seals deal to supply big sellers VREDESTEIN has been confirmed as original equipment tyre supplier on the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza, plus the Ford EcoSport. The…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● SUVs, EVs, commercial vehicles and flagship hypercar on the way in firm’s biggest product expansion ever “The marque’s latest SUV design language will be repackaged into a small and boxy shape” MERCEDES is in line for a bumper 2019 and will reveal a host of new models next year, plus its first all-electric cars under the new EQ nameplate. Continuing the most rapid product offensive in the company’s history, a total of 15 all-new, new-generation or facelifted Mercedes products will emerge before the end of 2021. They will range from commercial vehicles and new SUVs to electric models and a flagship hybrid-powered hypercar. Ultimately, the biggest news coming in 2019 will be the unveiling of a brand new member of the brand’s SUV family. Likely to be…

Renault names price for ultimate Mégane RENAULT has announced that its new flagship Mégane R.S. Trophy hot hatch (above) will cost from £31,810. That’s £4,315 more than a standard Mégane R.S., but the Trophy benefits from styling, engine and chassis upgrades. The 1.8-litre turbo develops 296bhp, a 20bhp boost, while the 0-62mph time is cut by 0.1 second to 5.7 seconds. A new exhaust, Cup chassis with tuned dampers and a limited-slip diff are all standard. ‘Dangerous’ MoT fails pass one million mark OVER one million cars have failed their MoT for a ‘Dangerous’ fault since new test criteria were introduced last year. MoT defects are now judged according to Minor, Major and Dangerous criteria, with Dangerous faults posing “a direct and immediate risk to road safety”. The data, obtained…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths COBALT. Unless you’re a geologist or an electrical engineer, you’d be forgiven for never giving this metal much thought. But cobalt is a vital component of the lithium-ion batteries fitted to almost all EVs and PHEVs, maintaining the structural integrity of battery cathodes. No viable alternative currently exists, and while cobalt is also used in mobile phone and laptop batteries, a single EV requires between six and 12kg of the material. As EVs and PHEVs grow in popularity, an estimated 120,000 tonnes of cobalt will be required each year by 2030, and its price has increased from around £17,000 per tonne in 2013 to £44,000 today. Around 60 per cent of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), though, one of the world’s least…

Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls DVSA: 0300 123 9000…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.0 seconds/136mph THE VW Group has gone sports car crazy recently, with countless hot Golfs – as well as new Polo and up! GTI models. It even spun off SEAT’s Cupra performance division into a standalone brand. Skoda has experienced the complete opposite, though, focusing on practical family cars to cash in on the SUV boom. Yes, there has been the stalwart Octavia vRS, but ever since the Fabia vRS was culled in 2013, Skoda’s performance brand has looked a little sorry for itself. The marque is adamant the vRS badge isn’t dead, though; as a clear statement of intent, the Czech firm revealed a new Vision RS Concept at October’s Paris Motor Show, alongside this: the Kodiaq vRS. Three months on, the manufacturer has…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods BY 2040 the UK Government hopes to completely ban the sale of pure petrol and diesel cars. Yet look at the statistics for 2018 and you’ll see that a mini-revolution has been brewing. While diesel models used to account for nearly half of all British new car sales, registrations are down by 29.8 per cent and now stand at one third, and falling. The petrol-powered Mercedes GLC 250 therefore seems like a car appropriate for the times. It’s a relatively new addition to the GLC line-up; aimed squarely at buyers nervy of diesel’s demise. On paper at least, it fills a neat, emerging gap in the market, and out on the road it feels like a pretty convincing option. Using Mercedes’ latest 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, the…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 39.2mpg (on test) £84 fill-up/£450 or 30% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 565/1,680 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/149mph IS there a better car for an Auto Express photographer during the winter months than an Audi A6 Avant? That’s the question we hope to answer over the next half a year, because this week it’s time to say hello to the latest car I’m running on the fleet. Regular readers will have spotted that the car has already featured in these pages, both in our fleet watch section (Issue 1,549) and as part of a twin test against the Mercedes E-Class Estate in Issue 1,553. There’s something I instantly love about my new Audi that I’m sure you’ve noticed, and that’s the design. As a photographer I’m…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Winter service necessary? IREAD on a forum that cars should be serviced before winter even if a check-up is not due. Is this really necessary, or are garages just trying to get more money out of us motorists? Justin Richings, E-mail A THERE’S probably an element of drumming up business, but a check-up isn’t a bad idea before the poor weather bites. Many of these things you can do yourself, such as monitoring tyre pressures and tread depth, coolant mix and whether bulbs are working, plus underbonnet inspections like hoses, belts and brake fluid. Q Plagued by condensation SINCE the winter began, thick condensation has started building up on my car’s windows. I’ve not had the problem before and it seems to take the…

DESPITE selling in their hundreds of thousands every year, air fresheners are still either loved or hated by drivers. Spray versions tend to be the best solution for many people, because they can get rid of unpleasant smells, but don’t hang around in the interior for weeks. Car care specialists Autobrite Direct and Angelwax have recently launched spray-on products, but how do they compare with our long-running favourite in this market from Jelly Belly? We lined up a team of judges to rate the fragrances, and this formed the main part of our scoring. We also factored in how long each air freshener remained detectable, plus cost from makers and online sources. Jelly Belly hangs on to its crown, but it was close, with the durable Angelwax pushing it hard.…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk YOU’VE probably heard of multiple World Rally champions Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier, but what about their co-drivers Daniel Elena and Julien Ingrassia? The person who sits in the passenger seat in a rally car is just as vital to the final result as who’s behind the wheel. No driver, however accomplished, can remember the many hundreds of miles of competitive stages that make up a typical rally, which is why you have the co-driver sitting next to them, reeling off a series of sometimes cryptic-sounding instructions about the nature of the route ahead. We recently had the chance to join Skoda’s rally team in its native Czech Republic to get an insight into life in the co-driver’s seat. Skoda runs rally-prepared versions of its Fabia supermini in several…

NEW CLA Early 2019 Second-generation CLA lands as rakish alternative to A-Class saloon V-CLASS FACELIFT Early 2019 Popular minivan is due a slight design refresh and upgraded technology NEW CLA SHOOTING BRAKE Spring 2019 Swoopy new CLA estate will be brand’s most practical small car on sale GLC FACELIFT Spring 2019 Audi Q5 rival to be revised inside and out; gets plug-in hybrid tech as well GLC COUPE FACELIFT Spring 2019 Coupé-bodied mid-size SUV to arrive alongside refreshed regular version of GLC NEW GLS Spring 2019 Largest model in SUV range could appear on stage at April’s New York show ALL-NEW GLB SUV Summer 2019 Brand new member of the family will take the fight to BMW X1 and Audi Q3…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn AUDI’S upcoming e-tron GT will have silently whirred its way into showrooms by the end of 2020. But the German brand is so keen to see its Tesla Model S rival out in the wild that Auto Express has been invited to take a closer look and get behind the wheel of the concept that previews it. The e-tron GT will be the marque’s new ‘hero’ car, according to its design team, and by and large the concept you see here is what the finished model will look like. Audi’s head of exterior design Andeas Mindt told us: “The whole concept is very close to what you’ll see in showrooms – about 95 per cent, but the production model will be a five-seater.” Away from the bright lights…

Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk @VickyParrott THE Tesla Model 3 is being displayed in UK showrooms for the first time, ahead of predicted deliveries in mid-2019. And we’ve spoken to some of the buyers who placed a reservation before they’d even seen it in the metal. Prices are expected to start from £52,000 for the long-range, all-wheel-drive versions that the compact, four-door saloon will be launched with in the UK. WLTP range has been confirmed as 338 miles, or 329 miles for the flagship AWD Performance, the latter of which will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds. Cheaper, rear-driven Model 3s with a shorter range will follow, although there is no confirmation of prices or when they will arrive, given the issues with production at the Tesla factory in California that have seen four…

BMW SOME of the batteries BMW buys from suppliers contain cobalt from the DRC (as well as other countries). But it considers this supply chain “high risk”, and will buy cobalt directly from mines “in the near future”. When this happens, BMW will not source the metal from the DRC. The firm highlighted it was a founding member of the Responsible Cobalt Initiative, an industry framework that requires brands to trace how cobalt is sourced, refined and sold. Hyundai HYUNDAI simply said it is “committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to safeguarding against any form of unethical activity taking place within our supply chain”. Jaguar Land Rover JLR told us “it is almost certain” its batteries contain “at least some DRC-mined cobalt”.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths Tackling the motoring issues that matter IMAGINE a future in which you can order a test drive as easily as you can an Amazon delivery – or one where you can have a car delivered to your house without ever having seen it, let alone driven it. How about being able to put any model you like on your driveway, instantly? If that sounds like a brave new world, we’ve news for you: the scenarios described above are all possible, and we’ve tried out some of the schemes currently available to see how they work. We’re talking about the dealership of the future; the dealership that comes to your house. Mazda MyWay WE start by asking for a car to be delivered to our home courtesy of Mazda’s…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 47.9mpg (official) £68 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/126mph RENAULT has treated its C-segment crossover, the Kadjar, to a variety of tweaks to keep it fresh. It’s a timely update, given that it sits in arguably the busiest and most competitive part of the market. So are the changes enough to make the car worth choosing over a SEAT Ateca or Nissan Qashqai? As before, the Kadjar is mechanically similar to the Qashqai, and the latest tweaks include the introduction of the same overhauled engine line-up recently launched in its Nissan cousin. The diesel range kicks off with an updated 1.5 dCi; there’s now an Adblue filter to reduce emissions, more soundproofing and a nominal power and torque increase. The old 1.6 has been redeveloped into…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 608/1,653 litres ONE criticism of the old Ford Focus Estate was that it simply wasn’t big enough. The boot, compromised by the standard car’s dimensions, simply couldn’t compete in such a space-focused class. Keen to rectify its most obvious failing, the maker has stretched its C-segment family car in every direction to make it much more practical than before. In fact, the 608-litre boot is now just two litres shy of the class-leading Skoda Octavia Estate. Fold the rear seats and you’ll uncover a whopping 1,653-litre load bay. It’s not as big or usable as the 1,740-litre space in the Skoda, but it trumps most other cars in this segment (including the Volkswagen Golf wagon), as well as Ford’s Kuga SUV. Space in the…

Fiat 500X 3D Navigation £250 option Key features: CarPlay, Android Auto FIAT has improved its infotainment, but it’s still not the best. The angle of the seven-inch screen and its placement in the dash could be more user-friendly, while the graphics aren’t as bright as the SEAT’s. The Uconnect system can be frustrating to use, so employing the smartphone tech might be a better bet; both CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. That’s a benefit, because it gives you nav through your device. Without it, you’d have to spend £250 extra on the Fiat system, which isn’t the easiest to programme. On paper there’s plenty of functionality, but in practice it frustrates and is hard to use, often not responding to your inputs. It’s easy to hit the wrong option,…

ALL versions of the latest 5 Series are based on BMW’s CLAR architecture, which features weight-saving materials, so it’s lighter than its rival here. Although our test car is an M Sport model, it doesn’t come with the sportier suspension usually added to this trim, because that set-up isn’t available on the 530e. Still, our model featured BMW’s Variable Damper Control (£985), which lets you adjust the ride depending on the driving mode. The BMW’s 2.0-litre petrol engine combines with an electric motor for a total of 248bhp, which is well behind the Volvo’s 385bhp total output. The Volvo is also four-wheel drive (only the BMW’s rear wheels are driven), so it performed better from a standing start than the 530e, with the S90 T8’s 5.0-second 0-60mph sprint time beating…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler Running costs Efficiency: 3.6 miles/kWh Real-world range: 144 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/90mph I’M loving my time with our Nissan Leaf. As well as being electric, it’s just a really good car that’s easy to live with. It has lots of space, rides okay, delivers swift acceleration that I enjoy and offers all the gadgets I like to play with – and all for just under £30,000. But what do other owners think? I met up with Middlesex-based Ian Bryant, who regular readers will remember won a Leaf for 12 months in our competition, to see how he’s getting on. And the first thing Ian told me summed things up. “I’ve persuaded eight other people to buy a Leaf,” he said. “It doesn’t cost much to run,…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,534,1,544,1,550 Audi A6 Avant New arrival Dacia Duster New arrival Ford Fiesta ST Issue 1,552 Hyundai Kona Electric Issue 1,551 Mazda 6 Issue 1,549 MercedesA-Class Issue 1,550 Mercedes X-Class Issue 1,547 MINI Cooper5-door Issues 1,538, 1,546, 1,552 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Issues 1,545, 1,553 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551 Renault Koleos Issues 1,530,1,542 Skoda Karoq Issues 1,536, 1545, 1,552 Suzuki Swift Sport Issues 1,532, 1,541, 1,544 Vauxhall Grandland X Issues 1,536, 1,540,1,548 Volkswagen Polo Issue 1,549 VolvoV60 Issue 1,553…

Touring Car Racing 1958-2018 Matt James (Evro Publishing, www.evropublishing.com) Price: £60 Rating: FANS of the series will enjoy this hefty, high-quality book with its superb photography. It’s well written, too, although squeezing 60 years into one book makes individual sections short. But it’s packed with driver profiles and every photo is captioned. Jaguar E-Type Factory and Private Competition Cars Peter Griffiths (Veloce, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £40 Rating: JUST about every racing E-Type is covered here, and the ones with known histories are at times fascinating. But it does descend into a list of stats in places, and the initial history of racing E-Types feels rushed. And while it’s well researched, we’d like more larger images of these beautiful cars. Beach Buggy Racing Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free Rating: MARIO Kart-style…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Paint tale left me pondering IWAS told by my Jaguar dealer I couldn’t have a green F-Pace because the brand doesn’t like too many cars to be the same colour, so had discontinued the paint. How likely is this? Gary Herman, E-mail A JAGUAR confirmed the British Racing Green paint you were after is no longer available, although not because it was too popular. While it sold well in the UK, on the global market it was not so frequently specified, and Jaguar decided to discontinue it. Your dealer was right not to offer it, but not for that reason. Q Will warranty cover charge? MY dealer thinks a fault message is caused by my car’s dual-mass flywheel (DMF), but isn’t sure, and…

“Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off” Drivers without an off-street space would be wise to search for bays or garages they can buy for parking and recharging IF you’ve got a few thousand to invest in 2019, my humble advice would be to avoid risky territories such as the premium classic car game, racehorse ownership and the Bitcoin nonsense. Instead, play safe. Put some money into parking bays, single or blocks of garages, plus any slices of urban land where it’s legal, safe and convenient to park. Oh, and make sure there’s a legitimate power supply on site or nearby, ready to be cabled in. Demand for such off-street spaces is, I predict, about to explode. And for this we can largely thank/blame the pure-electric car. Here’s why.…