Innholdsfortegnelse for 1568 i Auto Express

NO manufacturer sells more electric vehicles in Europe than Renault. The French firm claims that almost 25 per cent of the EVs sold on the continent have a Renault badge on the nose. The size of this market share may be a surprise, given how little noise Renault makes about its EVs. Currently the market is dominated by the fanfare being made by the VW Group, despite none of its new generation of MEB EVs being on sale, while the constant hubbub around Tesla is one that is never likely to recede. In contrast, Renault’s current real-world EV line-up is rather left in the shade. Its Z.E. (zero-emissions) range comprises the ZOE and Twizy in its passenger car stable, plus the Kangoo Z.E. and Master Z.E. in the more profitable,…

JAGUAR has broadened its F-Pace SUV range by launching two new variants: the 300 Sport and Chequered flag editions. The 300 Sport costs from £52,980 and is marked out by 22-inch alloy wheels, satin grey mirror caps and a choice of three exclusive paint colours. Yellow stitching has been added to the leather upholstery, while a 12.3-inch digital dial cluster and 10-inch infotainment system come as standard. Buyers can choose from two engines: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and 3.0-litre V6 diesel, both with 296bhp. The petrol car is quicker, covering 0-62mph 0.3 seconds faster than the diesel, in 6.1 seconds. Cheaper Chequered Flag editions cost from £46,995 and build on Jaguar’s popular R-Sport trim by adding black alloy wheels and exterior trim, plus a redesigned front bumper. They’re available with…

● New cameras, sensors, speed limiters aim to prevent accidents Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram VOLVO has announced a range of hi-tech new measures to help it achieve its target of eliminating fatalities in its cars by 2020. The features are designed to tackle the three main causes of road deaths – excessive speed, distraction and intoxication – by preventing or mitigating the effects of each. These include the introduction of on-board cameras and sensors designed to work out if the driver might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and speed limiters. Some limiters will be imposed by the maker – all future Volvos will be limited to 112mph – and others by the driver, via the new ‘Care Key’. Both systems will be fitted to Volvos as standard from 2020.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Merc-AMGA 35 vs Golf R, Civic Type R DRAG races are a speciality at Auto Express, and this week’s is a treat. We’ve got our hands on the thrilling new 302bhp, four-wheel-drive Mercedes-AMG A 35 and put it up against the Volkswagen Golf R and the class-leading Honda Civic Type R. Which one will you put your money on? Verdict on BMW’s luxurious new X7 THE Range Rover has had the luxury 4x4 market sewn up for decades, and despite Mercedes launching its GLS in recent years, the Brit is still top dog. But for how much longer? BMW’s new flagship X7 has the Rangie in its sights, and reviews and features editor Richard Ingram finds out how good it is. You can watch any of our videos…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler THIS year’s Geneva Motor Show was a landmark event for the various brands that make up the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) group. You could choose between Fiat’s surprise electric Centoventi concept and Alfa Romeo’s Tonale SUV as the star of the show. But with Jeep showing its first plug-in hybrid models and Maserati strengthening its upmarket hand with a one-off Levante, this was a joined-up FCA that we hadn’t seen before. Another big change in the group is the man at the top – Brit Mike Manley. Of course, he’s no stranger to the pages of Auto Express, having topped our Brit List back in 2016 and been inducted into the Auto Express Hall of Fame at the same time. Back then, Manley was the boss of Jeep…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 SE L PRICE: £25,660 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Skoda Karoq is our favourite mid-size SUV, so it’s the car the Kadjar will need to beat if it is to take victory here. We’re testing the Czech model in SE L form powered by Skoda’s 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, which costs £25,660. Design & engineering JUST like both of its rivals, the Karoq is built using a widely used platform; in this case it’s the Volkswagen Group’s MQB set-up, which is shared with cars such as the VW Golf plus other SUVs, like the SEAT Ateca. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is the most powerful in this test, producing 148bhp at 5,000rpm and 250Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm – 10Nm more than…

Citroen C5 Aircross PureTech 130 Flair PRICE: £25,325 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 129bhp CITROEN’S new C5 Aircross has the same platform and engines as the 3008, but with its own typically French styling inside and out. It has a soft ride and is well equipped, but isn’t as good to drive as its rivals, although it has an even bigger boot than the Skoda. Toyota C-HR 1.2 Excel PRICE: £25,600 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 113bhp IF you prefer the Japanese approach to family SUVs, the Toyota C-HR is a fine choice. It’s great to drive and rides smoothly, too, plus it’s well equipped. However, it’s quite cramped in the back and the engine isn’t as powerful as rivals’ motors.…

Round the clock with Nürburgring watch THE official Nürburgring Nordschleife accessories store has launched a new watch with an unusual 24-hour face, to pay homage to the track’s annual round-the-clock race. This shows the entire day in one sweep – so the nine o’clock position on a standard watch would show it to be 6pm on a 24-hour face. Finished in black stainless steel with a black leather strap and bright yellow face, the ‘YELLOW ALERT’ watch (above) features a ‘Nordschleife 1927’ logo to commemorate the circuit’s beginnings. It’s available to buy exclusively from www.nordschleife.us and costs 129 Euros (£110.78). Sat-nav app doubles up on new features NAVIGATION app Sygic has added two new features for 2019. The first is a tie-up with the SYNC infotainment on Ford commercial vehicles, allowing buyers…

BUYING a screwdriver set to suit all the different fasteners and sizes you’re likely to meet when working on your car would cost a fortune – and take up far too much storage space. It makes a whole lot more sense to purchase a single driver with a range of interchangeable bits, especially because most of them also work with a cordless drill – although you may need an adaptor. But which is the best? To find out, we tested eight sets, three of which also had a range of 1/4-inch drive sockets, adding to their versatility for smaller jobs. How we tested them WE looked for a wide range of bits, with the most important for car work being slotted, crosshead (Philips), hex (Allen) and star (Torx). Pozidrivs are…

Dear Alex, I want a cheap, petrol-engined convertible that looks great and won’t cost much to run. What should I pick for £3,000? Fabian Danker, E-mail Contact: Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk • THE DRIVER’S CHOICE Mazda MX-5 FOR: Fantastic handling, engine and gearbox AGAINST: Only two seats, manual roof IF you want a stylish convertible and really enjoy driving, the Mazda MX-5 is the car to have. It follows the classic British sports car format of a front-engined, rear-driven, compact two-seater, so it’s huge fun along a twisty road. Your £3,000 budget is enough to get into a third-generation model from 2006 with around 90,000 miles on the clock. A 2.0-litre version falls within the price limit but, if looking good is the main concern, the 1.8 litre is more than adequate –…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “If Brexit happens, the Government should be free to subsidise and create high-quality jobs at a new, Brit-owned-and-run car firm” I’M glad it exists, because it creates so many jobs and consumer products which, in turn, offer freedom of movement to people across the world. But even I concede that when looking at the numbers, global car manufacturing is a bonkers business. This industry is colossal, superbly organised, highly efficient and deeply impressive. But there’s also an unfathomably illogical side to the car-building game. For example, I know of one large, wealthy, rough-around-the-edges industrialised country (China) that, with apparent ease, produced almost 24 million cars last year. Yet not far from China, another large, wealthy, ‘more sophisticated’ industrialised country (Australia) didn’t build…

RENAULT launched the ZOE electric supermini with a battery leasing programme. Instead of buying the cells outright, customers could pay monthly to reduce their costs. It looks like this will form part of the firm’s future, too, as a Renault spokesman told us: “It’s still a great way to guarantee the worthiness of the batteries in our cars. It takes away the concern of battery life. “We’ve been happy so far, and it benefits customers,” he added. Whether the current cell rental system will form part of the buying process for the forthcoming Symbioz-inspired production car remains to be seen, however. But if the battery leasing set-up has been such a success, as the brand has suggested, it seems logical that the programme will be rolled out across Renault’s entire…

HYUNDAI has added a new range-topping N Line trim to its Tucson SUV line-up. First seen on the i30, N Line brings a sporty look that apes the hot N models, but without the performance or expense. These new Tucson variants ride on 19-inch alloys, which – like the roof, door mirror caps and rear spoiler – are painted black. Unique front and rear bumpers have also been added to the car, along with decorative red stitching in the cabin. In the UK, N Line models will offer the choice of a 174bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and a new diesel option. It’s based on the existing 134bhp 1.6-litre engine, but gains a 48-volt electrical system to create a mild hybrid set-up. While it’s not able to operate in a…

ASTON Martin has released sketches of its upcoming DBS GT Zagato, which will form part of the DBZ Centenary Collection. It follows the announcement of the modern, track-only reinterpretation of the classic DB4 GT Zagato; the cars will be sold as a pair, at a cost of £6million. Only 19 pairs will be produced. Sketches show that the new, road-legal DBS GT Zagato, which is based on the brand’s new DBS Superleggera, will feature a redesigned body with a wider wraparound windscreen, unique headlamps, a new grille and a swooping carbon-fibre double bubble roof. It’s expected to be powered by the 715bhp 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 from the regular DBS Superleggera. Customers will first take delivery of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation at the end of the year, with the DBS…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Peugeot 208 FROM: Omar Barakat I LOVE this car. Peugeot’s designers and engineers have done a top job. The 208 looks so pretty, and works well as a city car. Not only will I check it out in person, but I will also take it for a test drive and seriously consider buying one. FROM: Pip Cannon LOOKS good, but please drop that ridiculous steering wheel design that blocks the driver’s view of the instruments, including the speedometer. I didn’t buy the current 208 because no matter how much I adjusted it, I couldn’t read the dials. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “This looks so cool! The GTi version should…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 3008 PureTech 130 Allure PRICE: £26,375 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 129bhp THE 3008 is Peugeot’s best SUV, so it’s a strong competitor in this class. We’re testing an Allure model (our pictures show a GT Line) to match the Renault and Skoda’s specs, and it costs £26,375 with the PureTech 130 petrol engine in manual form. Design & engineering AS with its competitors in this group test, the 3008 uses a versatile platform in its construction, with the Peugeot based on the French firm’s EMP2 architecture. It uses MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam rear axle, the same as its rivals. Yet the 3008 differs from them with its engine, because the 1.2-litre unit is a three-cylinder rather than the four-cylinder motors in the Renault…

THE competition is tough in the coupé sector, so Lexus has revitalised its RC with spruced-up styling and more kit. There’s also a different trim range, which includes this new, top-spec Takumi model to follow in the footsteps of the luxury LS limo and ES exec saloon. In this class efficiency is still important, though; that’s why the Lexus is facing off against the Audi A5 in 40 TDI S tronic Black Edition guise. The A5 is a former winner of our Best Coupé crown, and blends quality with technology, performance with efficiency and handling prowess with comfort, so this is still the car the Lexus has to beat. But with a shift in the market meaning a petrol hybrid like the RC 300h is now more attractive than ever,…

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross FUEL economy has been an issue with our Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross since it joined the fleet, so web producer Pete Baiden was hoping that the mpg figure would improve as he ventured out of town and hit the motorways. But that’s not been the case. Despite being subjected to a range of driving conditions, the SUV is still struggling to average much above 30mpg. Are we expecting too much, though? Over the same period we ran a Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI, which returned 37.5mpg, while our 1.2-litre petrol-powered Vauxhall Grandland X averaged 33.5mpg in its time with us. Both performed slightly better than the Mitsubishi, then, while there’s one big difference: the Karoq and Grandland X are available with diesel engines, meaning high-mileage drivers are not just…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Training for young driver MY son has just passed his test, but has had a near-miss already and I’d like him to get further training. Is there anything you can suggest? William Walker, E-mail A PASSING your driving test is not the end of the learning curve and there are several options. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s own Pass Plus training covers all conditions, including motorway and night driving. Advanced training is also available with organisations like RoSPA, IAMRoadSmart (above) and Drivers Domain UK. Q How to clean steering wheel WHEN my steering wheel got wet recently I was shocked at how much grime came off as I dried it. How can I best clean a leather steering wheel? Jason Sutton, E-mail A…

A CORDLESS rotary tool is a useful addition to your DIY armoury, enabling you to grind, clean, sand, polish and sharpen where a conventional drill is too large or there’s no mains power. These devices aren’t as powerful as their corded counterparts, and performance is limited by the battery, but they’re more versatile and can be used anywhere. We repeated our corded-tool test of cutting through a 6mm bolt, then ran them at full speed with no load for five minutes, followed by five minutes of wire brushing rusty steel. Finally, we tried to cut into some 2mm aluminium sheet. Performance, stamina and ease of use were all marked, as were controls, batteries, noise level (ambient 40dB), instructions and number of accessories. Although the Sealey is the most expensive multitool…

● Finn starts season strongly ● Ferrari vows to bounce back Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk VALTTERI Bottas is the man to watch ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix after a dominant Australian GP victory. Much pre-season talk had focused on Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Bottas’s Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton renewing their title rivalry, but the Finn was right on the pace from the off, just losing out to the reigning champ for pole. In the race, Hamilton suffered damage to his car’s floor in the early stages and crossed the line 20 seconds behind. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said after the race that Bottas has rediscovered the form that marked him out as a star of the future when racing in the junior formulae. “I think that maybe his years at…

● Porsche coupé-SUV due in May ● Extra kit over standard model Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THIS is the Porsche Cayenne Coupé, a completely new model from the German brand that has been developed to muscle in on the market occupied by the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupé. It arrives in UK dealers this May, priced from £62,129. That’s £6,000 more than a standard Cayenne, but Porsche says the premium is justified by extra equipment. The Cayenne Coupé’s design adheres to the coupé-SUV rulebook. At the front, it’s almost identical to the standard car, but from the A-pillar back the roofline is completely new, while the rear window tapers more sharply towards the bumper. Other differences include a fixed roof-mounted wing, an adaptive spoiler on the tailgate and flared wheelarches. “When…

Fisker’s new EV is out to rival Tesla Model Y AMERICAN EV manufacturer Fisker has announced it will build a rival for the Tesla Model Y in late 2021, with prices expected to start at $40,000 (£30,000). The image above hints at how the unnamed electric crossover will look. It’s the first of three EVs planned as part of the brand’s revival, and early specs indicate an 80kWh battery pack and a range of 300 miles on a single charge. Confirmed features include a grille-mounted radar, support for inductive charging and a head-up display, as well as the option of 22-inch wheels. BP opens UK’s largest rapid-charging hub THE UK’s largest rapid-charging hub for electric cars has been installed. The BP Chargemaster hub is located at Milton Keynes Coachway, just…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m) 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…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk AT a time when so many new cars are turning hybrid or EV – and more often than not are morphing into either an SUV or a crossover – the slightly old-school, but still brand new, BMW Z4 roadster comes as a refreshing interlude. Available with three different petrol engines and in three different specs, the new front-engined, rear-wheel-drive Z4 is aimed squarely at the driving enthusiast, BMW says. And the engineers have an intriguing way of describing the difference between the old model and the new. The previous Z4 was a machine to be driven on a Sunday afternoon, they say, ideally when the sun was shining, but not necessarily when there was no one else around. The old Z4 was not, BMW now concedes, a full-blown sports…

MODEL TESTED: Renault Kadjar TCe 140 S Edition PRICE: £23,595 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 138bhp RENAULT’S Kadjar has been updated with fresh engines and a subtle new look. We’re testing the big-selling £23,595 TCe 140 S Edition. Design & engineering THE Kadjar’s new engine is the main change with this refresh, because in the years since the car was launched, buyers have switched from mainly diesel to petrol power. That’s why we’re focusing on the new 138bhp 1.3-litre turbo petrol unit, although Renault has also updated its diesel engine range, which will be of interest to buyers who still do higher mileages. The facelift involves new bumpers front and rear, along with LED lights at the back, but the exterior changes are pretty minor overall. It still sits on the Renault-Nissan…

Renault Kadjar R-Link 2 Standard Key features: Sat-nav, smartphone link THE Kadjar comes with Renault’s R-Link 2 system as standard, but unlike the portrait-orientated display in the brand’s Mégane, here it’s a more common landscape screen. The unit features sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus DAB radio and traffic services. While the smartphone integration works well here, the screen isn’t as responsive as the Skoda’s. It’s pretty much on par with the 3008’s similarly sluggish system, but the seven-inch screen is smaller and the graphics aren’t as modern as either rival’s. The Kadjar also comes with a digital instrument cluster, but it’s largely fixed in terms of what it can show, so it’s not as useful as the optional set-up on the Skoda or the 3008’s i-Cockpit. One frustrating…

IT doesn’t seem like two minutes since Audi launched this second-generation A5 Coupé, but more than two years have passed since we first tested the car. Its fresh feel is thanks to the advanced interior, which was easily the best in its class when the A5 was launched, and is still right up there thanks to the technology on offer. While newer models from the brand might have even more digitisation, the multimedia set-up is still easily the better of the two cars’. It includes a large 8.3-inch central screen and a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital dash display. Cabin quality is also excellent. Black Edition trim gets the same half-leather, half-Alcantara sports seats as the S line model shown in our pictures, while the rest of the materials inside are…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk OUR A 200 is heading back to Mercedes shortly, and my family and I are gutted. Regular readers might be surprised by that. After all, I’ve struggled to return a decent urban mpg figure over the six months I’ve been running the car and questioned whether the ride and performance match the drive modes or live up to its sporty styling (in particular the stunning interior design and tech). But what I have learned is that the A-Class perfectly suits my city lifestyle. It turns out I’m far more bothered about premium design and tech than I expected and less fussed about daily performance. In fact, I’m a sucker for the augmented navigation, active voice control (that works!) and ambient lighting. If the A-Class were judged on its interior…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Iss 1,534, 1,544, 1,550, 1,565 Audi A6 Avant Issues 1,555, 1,558, 1,566 Cupra Ateca Issue 1,564 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564 Ford Fiesta ST Issues 1,552, 1,557, 1,561 Hyundai Kona Electric Iss 1,551, 1,556, 1,561, 1,566 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567 Mazda 6 Issues 1,549, 1,555, 1,560 Mercedes A-Class Issues 1,550, 1,559 Mercedes G-Class Issue 1,565 Mercedes X-Class Issues 1,547, 1,557, 1,563 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Iss 1,545, 1,553, 1,559, 1,562 Nissan Leaf Iss 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560 Volkswagen Polo Issues 1,549, 1,558, 1,562 Volvo V60 Issues 1,553, 1,560, 1,567…

F1: Drive to Survive Available on: Netflix Price: Subscription from £5.99 per month NETFLIX’S original F1 series is well worth watching. It’s a fine review of the 2018 season told in a way you won’t have seen on TV – covering everything in detail without feeling impenetrable. While Ferrari and Mercedes don’t really feature, it’s nice to see other teams get some focus – and Haas and Red Bull have plenty of exciting events to cover. Clarkson: If you’d just let me finish… Jeremy Clarkson (Michael Joseph Publishing, www.penguin.co.uk) Price: £7.99 A COMPILATION of Clarkson’s newspaper columns, rather than original work. Like him or loathe him he’s a fine writer and, while many relate back to cars, you’ll also find his opinions on wine, vegans and Tom Cruise. A good…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How to park safely on road MY new house doesn’t have a driveway, and I’m worried about my car being bashed into or stolen on the street. What steps can I take to mitigate against these scenarios? Eve Sales, E-mail A YOUR car may be less likely to be stolen off the street, with thieves unable to easily tell which house its keys are in. A steering-wheel lock will act as a deterrent, though. There’s not much you can do to prevent vandalism or accidents, but fold your wing mirrors, park close to the kerb and consider investing in a car cover. Q Pros and cons of self-parking I’M reluctant to use the self-parking function on my car in case it causes my…

BRITISH Formula 1 hopeful Callum Ilott starts the 2019 Formula 2 season this weekend in Bahrain driving for the Sauber Junior Team. The Cambridge-born 20-year-old has been placed there by the Ferrari Driver Academy young driver programme. Ilott makes the step up having finished third in last year’s GP3 series and fourth in the 2017 Formula 3 Euroseries. His team-mate at the squad will be the Ecuadorian-American Juan Manuel Correa, who last week was named as a test and development driver with the Alfa Romeo (formerly Sauber) F1 team, a role he’ll fulfil alongside his F2 racing campaign. The only other British driver confirmed so far on the 2019 F2 grid is Renault junior Jack Aitken, who’s embarking on his second season in the category and has moved from ART…