Innholdsfortegnelse for 1573 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Halo large model could make its debut in two years ● New car draws inspiration from Cxperience concept CITROEN is preparing an unconventional return to the D-segment market and will launch a new electrified halo model in “a couple of years”. That’s according to Citroen CEO Linda Jackson, who gave Auto Express the latest update on the progress of the brand’s large flagship car project. “In order to be credible as a world brand, we have to have a range of vehicles that covers small cars, medium cars, SUVs and large cars,” said Jackson, speaking at the Shanghai Motor Show last month. “Citroen has as much credibility as any other manufacturer to have a large car. It’s just that we won’t do it in a very traditional…

Jordan_Katsianis@dennis.co.uk @JordanKatsianis ● ID. R set for Nürburgring bid ● Follows 2018 Pikes Peak win VOLKSWAGEN Motorsport has revealed an evolution of the fully-electric ID. R racing car, which has been transformed from a Pikes Peak challenger into a racer aiming at the Nürburgring lap record for battery-powered vehicles. Last year the ID. R went to the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado, US, with the intention of beating the existing electric car record for the climb. The result? The VW set the course record outright. It was also the fastest car up the hill at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, smashing the course record for electric cars and setting the third fastest time ever posted at the venue in the process. The updated ID. R still uses a…

SEAT wants the cars in its range to look more different from each other in the future, the company’s design boss has revealed. Alejandro Mesonero told Auto Express that the arrival of the firm’s first vehicle on the VW Group’s all-electric MEB platform, the el-Born, will start a period of diversification. “It is true that in the group in the past, we had a certain harmonisation of design. “But now at SEAT I think we’re in a mature moment where we can make our cars different. We made the Leon and Ateca similar. We did it to set up the base of what is a SEAT. With the Ibiza we went a bit further, and the Tarraco brought in a new front end. “Now, we have different things on el-Born.…

VAUXHALL has issued its fourth fire-related recall for the second-generation Zafira MPV, calling back 234,938 cars previously thought to be fixed by two campaigns issued in 2015. This latest recall affects Zafira B models built between 2005 and 2014 fitted with no air-conditioning or with manual air-con. Vauxhall identified “a small number of vehicles that have had the recalls completed and subsequently experienced melting to the plug that connects to the resistor fuse”, and worked with German company Institute Fraunhofer to determine the cause. The fix involves a revised wiring harness with more fixing points, and a new resistor. The work will be carried out for free and takes around an hour. Vauxhall is writing to affected owners, and customers can contact the company on 08000 260866.…

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…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram “On the road, GLE does a fairly decent job of disguising the fact that it’s such a big SUV” THIS is the new Mercedes GLE. The firm’s answer to the BMW X5 is in its fourth generation, and we’re driving it in the UK for the first time in basic GLE 300 d form. The 300 d is the smallest of a four-strong engine line-up, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. Above it sit the 350 d and 400 d diesels, plus a GLE 450 petrol – all of them using 3.0-litre straight-six turbo engines. There are plug-in hybrids on the way, and hot AMG models will follow, too – first, a mild-hybrid GLE 53 and later the full-fat, V8 GLE 63. But is the 300 d all…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor THE Aventador is destined to be the last naturally aspirated Lamborghini V12. Its replacement will still offer 12 cylinders, but it’ll be boosted by a hybrid system. So you’d expect a dinosaur like this to quietly disappear into retirement – yet this new £356,000 SVJ would suggest otherwise. Instead of putting the eight-year-old model out to pasture, Lamborghini has given it a thorough going-over to create the ultimate version. It’s the loudest, hardest and most extreme Aventador ever, and it’s the fastest production car to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, too. As last hurrahs go, this is really rather special. And special is certainly the word to describe the engine. It’s the same 6.5-litre V12 with which the Aventador was launched way back in 2011, but here it produces…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 5008 1.5L BlueHDi 130 Allure PRICE: £30,450 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 129bhp THE larger 2.0-litre diesel 5008 performed well in our previous test, but we’ve tried the 1.5-litre version this time. With a manual gearbox and seven seats to match its rivals here, it costs £30,450. Design & engineering THE second-generation 5008 moved on to the manufacturer’s latest EMP2 platform, which also underpins the smaller five-seater Peugeot 3008 and cars from sister brands Citroen and Vauxhall, such as the C4 SpaceTourer MPV and Grandland X SUV respectively. With the switch to the new architecture, the car has completely changed its appearance, and while there are still seven seats, the 5008 is now much more like an SUV in terms of styling. There’s no four-wheel-drive model, though, and it…

SsangYong Rexton 2.2 EX PRICE: £28,995 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 178bhp THE SsangYong Rexton isn’t a top choice in this class, but it does have a few tricks up its sleeve. It’s a strong off-roader, thanks to its rugged roots, and great for towing, too. For the price, it’s very spacious and really well equipped. Sadly it’s noisy and uncomfortable as well. Citroen C4 SpaceTourer BlueHDi 130 Flair PRICE: £28,455 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 129bhp IF you need space for seven people on a regular basis, an MPV is a better choice than an SUV. Citroen’s Grand C4 SpaceTourer is one of the best, featuring a very roomy cabin and a comfy ride. The rearmost seats are large enough for adults, and access to them is easy.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor IT’S hard to cover up the smile on my face, because I know I have the keys to a Mazda MX-5 for the next six months. My last three cars have been saloons, so the prospect of a two-seater sports car as the weather starts to warm up is an exciting one. You’d be beaming as much as me. While I was loath to relinquish the keys to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce I was running before, I did spend some time with the now-departed Mazda 6 (Page 52). And I concluded that, just like the Alfa, it had its flaws, but it was a deeply likeable car to live with. The 6 offered something different to its rational rivals like the Skoda Superb and Vauxhall Insignia Grand…

Audi A6 Avant Iss 1,555, 1,558, 1,566, 1,571 Cupra Ateca Issue 1,564 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564, 1,572 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567 Mazda 6 Issues 1,549, 1,555, 1,560 Mercedes A-Class Issues 1,550, 1,559, 1,568 Mercedes G-Class Issue 1,565 Mercedes X-Class Iss 1,547, 1,557, 1,563, 1,571 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560, 1,568 SEAT Tarraco New arrival Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572 Volkswagen California New arrival Volkswagen Polo Iss 1,549, 1,558, 1,562, 1,570 Volvo V60 Iss 1,553, 1,560, 1,567, 1,571…

Docker’s Daimlers Richard Townsend (Amberley Publishing, www.amberley-books.co.uk) THIS is a small book that doesn’t waste its time on boring charts or diagrams. Instead, it’s the story of a little-known period – Daimler and Lanchester cars produced between 1945 and 1960, when Daimler was taken over by Jaguar. It’s a quick but interesting read, with photos you actually want to see, including interior shots. Sauber-Mercedes: Group C 1985-1991 John Starkey (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) ANOTHER very specific subject here, but the author doesn’t seem to be straining for material. It’s an interesting recollection of a thrilling time in racing, which introduced F1 world champion Michael Schumacher to the scene. There’s no contribution from him, but several other drivers add depth and background. Crash of cars Available for: iOS, Android THERE’S actually quite…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q When will cars self-drive? AUTONOMOUS cars are rarely out of the news, but how far away from reality are they? Can I lease or rent a self-driving car? David Schindler, E-mail A SELF-driving cars are classified into five levels. Level 1 relates to systems like adaptive cruise control, and Level 5 cars need no driver input. We are many years away from Level 5 cars, but some (like Audi’s A8) have Level 3 functionality. This is ‘geofenced’, though, so works with local laws. In the UK, the A8’s Level 3 functions are switched off because of regulatory constraints. Q Long wait to get Fiesta parts MY Ford Fiesta ST was damaged while it was parked, and I have been waiting two months for…

THE UK will host plenty of Blancpain GT Series action over the coming weeks, with round two at Brands Hatch this weekend, followed by Silverstone on 12 May. The championship kicked off at a rainy Monza, delivering a shock win for the Dinamic Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R (above). Starting 23rd, drivers Klaus Bachler, Zaid Ashkanani and Andrea Rizzoli took Porsche’s first series win since 2012. The Orange 1 FFF Racing Lamborghini Huracán and Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 completed the podium.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● M3 switches from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive for first time ● Will be revealed alongside M8 Coupé at September’s Frankfurt show “The M3 will undergo one of the most comprehensive overhauls since its launch more than 30 years ago” BMW is putting the finishing touches to a trio of high-end performance vehicles that will all go on sale this year. Bookending the German manufacturer’s range will be a hot version of the new 1 Series, the M135i, and a new flagship M8 coupé that will be the firm’s most powerful road car ever. Between them will sit a new generation of the firm’s most iconic performance model, the M3 saloon. Due to make its official debut at September’s Frankfurt show, and previewed in our exclusive images,…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First drive report on Jaguar’s F-Pace SVR THE Jaguar F-Pace SVR is finally here. It was revealed more than a year ago, but now we’ve got our hands on it. Have the past 12 months dulled the car’s appeal? We sent Steve Sutcliffe to find out, and it’s fair to say he enjoyed this 542bhp SUV, developed by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division. Ford Ranger Raptor walkaround video PICK-UPS are all the rage at the moment, especially posh ones. But few makers have launched premium models that are developed to be driven in extreme off-road conditions. However, that’s what Ford has done with its new Ranger Raptor. Join me on a walkaround tour of this mad truck. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply…

LOCAL roads are “not in a great state”, having been treated as “something of a poor relation within transport”, a senior MP has admitted. Roads minister Jesse Norman told a group of MPs that “a new round of capital investment” was needed in the local road network, with small, unclassified roads the most neglected. “That has an impact on safety, it has an impact on productivity,” he said. Norman added that autonomous cars would bring these issues into sharper focus, because they need “better-marked, better-lined roads”.…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale “First, it was mainly tyre testing, but now it’s more and more for vehicle testing”JANNE SEURUJÄRVI Test World MD YOU could, if you wanted to, jump into your car right now and, after a quick train or ferry journey, end up in central Europe. Assuming all your documentation was in order, there would then be nothing to stop you from driving uninterrupted to some seriously cold places. Fancy a trip to marvel at the Northern Lights in Norway? No problem. Need to make a reconnaissance visit to Lapland before taking the kids next Christmas? That can be arranged. Want to explore Siberia? You can do it in a car. It stands to reason that you might want to take a few supplies, and it would probably be a…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE highly competitive and hugely desirable compact executive class is moving on, following a stagnant few years in which no new models were launched. Over the past six months or so we’ve seen a brand-new BMW 3 Series, as well as updated versions of the Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-Class. A heavily revised Audi A4 is just around the corner, too, and the latest arrival is this: the all-new Volvo S60. The estate-bodied V60 has been around long enough for us to run one on our test fleet (Issue 1,571), covering around 8,000 miles in just six months. So we did have some idea what to expect from this new S60 saloon. That’s no bad thing, though, as we were thoroughly impressed with our diesel V60’s refinement and…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 150 4x4 SE (7 seat) PRICE: £30,260 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Skoda Kodiaq is the car to beat here, because it has previously been a test winner in diesel form. Our pictures and performance data are of a five-seater variant, but our figures relate to a seven-seater as well. The 148bhp diesel manual seven-seat Kodiaq in SE form costs £30,260. Design & engineering THE Kodiaq’s MQB underpinnings mean it shares its engine and some other fundamentals with the new SEAT, but manual versions of the Skoda get four-wheel drive as standard. Both of the other models here are front-wheel drive, and even though the 5008 is available with Grip Control (Peugeot’s traction-control system designed to help with off-roading), the Skoda will still be…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk I TOOK our Cupra Ateca to Brands Hatch recently and, at long last, discovered why it is that the sportiest setting within the SUV’s adjustable drive programme (called Cupra) makes the ride so impossibly harsh on the road. It’s because on the right road or, better still, the right track, the Cupra’s chassis really does come alive in its most aggressive setting. The Ateca is still no outright sports car; nothing this big ever will be, no matter how clever its electronic trickery might be. But the steps up in body control, handling crispness and steering feel when you switch from Comfort (my normal on-road choice) to Cupra are significant. On the road Cupra is too stiff, but Comfort is too soft on a track. So it’s great to…

Haynes manuals get the personal touch HAYNES may just have your Father’s Day gift wrapped up: why not get dad his very own personalised manual? The personalisation service is available for 210 models, and allows buyers to customise the manual with their own title, their dad’s name and a photo of his actual vehicle. Each personalised manual costs £35 and is available to buy from www.haynes.com. And remember; Father’s Day is on 16 June this year! Have tea for two with Vauxhall check-up VAUXHALL is offering service customers some added incentives this summer. For just £29, technicians will carry out a 29-point check that will test the lights, electrics, brakes and suspension, and will also top up vital fluids and tyre pressures where needed. The offer also includes a free treat:…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 01|05|2019 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive A DASH cam remains one of the most popular aftermarket purchases for motorists. The footage they capture can prove essential in processing an insurance claim, while some providers now discount policies by more than 20 per cent for drivers who have a camera installed. The latest units feature crystal-clear 4K Ultra HD quality footage, ensuring ever y detail is captured and stored. Many of the cameras now also include WiFi, allowing users to download footage directly to their phone, as well as to change settings via bespoke apps. To find out which is the best one to spend your…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Brit brand joins Audi, BMW ● First round at Hockenheim THE new DTM German touring car series kicks off this weekend at Hockenheim. And major changes to the rules, cars and driver line-ups should make the 2019 season one of the most exciting in years. The biggest news involves the departure of Mercedes from the series. A stalwart of the DTM since its inception in the eighties, the brand has instead diverted its resources towards a full assault on the Formula E championship for the 2019/20 season. Following Mercedes out of the series is 2018 champ Gary Paffett. The Brit is already competing in Formula E with the same HWA squad that prepared his 2018 DTM C 63. Despite Mercedes’ exit, there will still be three brands…

Senior reviewer, Auto Express FOUR-wheel drive is a key part of a modern performance car’s toolbox in many cases. With power outputs always on the rise, many brands have turned to this tech so that their sports cars remain safe, easy to drive and, above all, fast. BMW has already shown with the M5 that four-wheel drive can work brilliantly in a sports saloon – a great-handling car doesn’t have to be rear-wheel drive. But the best of the best are also always lightweight – and that’s what makes us wonder if it’s the right direction for these lighter, smaller models. If BMW wants to build the fastest car in each respective class, then four-wheel drive is probably needed to control the huge power outputs. But if the brand wants…

Final desert test before Defender hits dealers THE new Land Rover Defender is entering the final stages of its development programme, the company has confirmed. Engineers have already logged 750,000 miles as the new Defender (above) begins its final field test. The 4x4 will be put through trials at the 34,500-acre Borana Conservancy in Kenya, where prototypes will be used in real-world tests in arid, desert conditions. Nine per cent rise in reported car theft A TOTAL of 113,037 vehicles were reported stolen in the UK last year, a nine per cent rise on 2017. While the rate of increase has slowed from the previous year’s figures, when the number of stolen vehicles was up by 56 per cent, the latest stats mean a vehicle was stolen roughly every five…

Technical director, Volkswagen Motorsport AS technical director at Volkswagen Motorsport, Francois-Xavier Demaison is the man with total oversight of the project and, ultimately, the man who decides which records the ID. R will attempt to break. He’s been at Volkswagen just over eight years and was the project manager for the brand’s highly successful World Rally Championship outfit until 2016. Prior to joining the company, he spent over a decade at the peak of world rallying, in top roles at various world-class outfits, including Peugeot Sport and the works Subaru team. Q What does Volkswagen gain from your efforts here? A “Motorsport is an excellent accelerator for development. We can move quickly to build our expertise, and that will filter down to the Volkswagen Group.” Q How does this program…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths VOLVO is the latest company to embrace internet car sales, with the launch of Volvo Online. The service will let customers specify and arrange finance for a new car in as little as 20 minutes, and give them a guaranteed online valuation for their old car if they want to part-exchange it. Customers will be able to configure their new car in the specification they desire, then choose whether to finance it via PCP, contract hire, cash or conditional sale. The impact that any changes to trim levels, paint schemes or options have on the monthly repayments will be displayed in real time. Volvo dealers will remain a part of the process, with the company keen that buyers find the right model and finance option for them, rather…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Audi e-tron vs Tesla FROM: Ray Hancock TESLA owners may not like the fact that the e-tron won this test, but the fact of the matter is that Audis are incredibly well built, and the Model X is a far more expensive car. Tesla isn’t going to be top dog in the EV market forever. FROM: Charles in Charge THE e-tron has an amazingly quiet interior and is much cheaper to buy or lease. But the Model X’s giant windscreen and Autopilot functionality are hard to beat, plus Tesla’s Superchargers make a mockery of all other networks. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “The Audi has a huge advantage over the Tesla:…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ Running costs 46.3mpg (official) £50 fill-up FOR every mainstream passenger car Volkswagen sells, there’s now an SUV variant. That’s thanks in part to the brand’s new T-Cross compact urban offering; think of this small SUV as a raised version of the Polo, but with lots of practical advantages. The first is space. The T-Cross has a 385-litre boot, so there’s an acceptable level of luggage room – as much as a Golf, in fact. But this is with the standard sliding rear seat pushed all the way back. Slide it forward and that figure rises to 455 litres. However, this set-up leaves hardly any legroom in the rear of the cabin, so you’re better off compromising in the middle. Then, the T-Cross is spacious enough, helped by a…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram “It gives the more affordable end of the Stelvio range a dose of flagship Quadrifoglio style” THE Alfa Romeo Stelvio has been one of the finest-handling SUVs ever since it launched in 2017. Rivalling the Porsche Macan for fun, but with space for all the family, it’s one of our top mid-size SUVs. It’s pretty well equipped, too, hence why our pick of the range up to now has been the basic Stelvio Super. With 18-inch wheels, an 8.8-inch widescreen sat-nav, dual-zone climate control and part-leather seats, it easily rivals a similarly priced BMW X3 or Audi Q5 for standard kit. But what if you want more, yet can’t afford to step up to the pricier Speciale? Well, Alfa has just the ticket: the new Stelvio Nero Edizione.…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Tarraco 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology PRICE: £30,820 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp IN SE Technology trim with a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and a manual gearbox, the SEAT Tarraco costs £30,820. That makes it the dearest car here, but it’s only £370 more than the Peugeot. These three models are closely matched on price. Design & engineering THE Tarraco uses the versatile MQB architecture in its construction, which is the same platform that underpins the Skoda Kodiaq. SEAT’s smaller Ateca and even cars like the VW Golf are also based on MQB. In this latest SUV, the Spanish brand has opted for MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle, which is a more complex set-up than the torsion beam at the back of the…

SEAT Tarraco Media system colour Standard Key features: Nav, smartphone link THE Tarraco comes with an eight-inch touchscreen display as standard, and on SE Technology models it offers sat-nav as well. It’s the best system here, and although it uses a similar screen to the Skoda, the SEAT’s interface is slightly easier to operate. In most ways the two set-ups are very similar, though, and if you use a smartphone then they’re virtually identical. That’s no bad thing because Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – which are standard on all three cars – work very well, because the system is responsive and displays the smartphone interface over the full screen. A digital instrument cluster is also standard on the Tarraco, so you can look at sat-nav maps and directions without…

THE Berlingo is all about space and how much of it you can use. In XL trim there’s masses of room thanks to packaging made possible by the EMP2 platform. Seven seats are standard and they all fold individually, too. Those in the middle row fold and slide independently (Citroen calls it ‘Magic Flat modularity’) to either compromise passenger space in the first two rows or maximise load space if you’re not using the third row of seats. These are easy to fold away and can be accessed from the boot area. When stowed, the seats reveal a fully flat load floor and plenty of cargo space. In seven-seat form the Berlingo offers a boot capacity of 322 litres – which is about as much as a family hatchback, but…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Running costs 38.9mpg (on test) £79 fill-up/£140 or 34% tax Practicality Boot capacity 480 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/138mph AS one door closes, another opens. That’s literally the case on our test fleet, because as soon as one model leaves our car park, there’s another to take its place. Our new MX-5 (Page 54) is from the same brand – and even in the same colour – as the departing Mazda 6, so my colleague James Batchelor joined me to say a sad goodbye and a welcoming hello at the same time. I’ve become quite fond of our 6 over the six months or so it’s been in our care. I don’t think this flagship GT Sport Nav+ model, with its 2.5-litre petrol engine and automatic gearbox,…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Is car cover a sensible idea? I HAVE a second car in which I cover only a few thousand miles a year. It’s kept outside, so would it be a good idea to buy a cover for it? Victor Hayes, E-mail A A COVER can protect a car from bird mess, tree sap and the like, but bear in mind it needs to be breathable to stop damp gathering underneath and damaging paint. A cover must also only go on a clean car, so if you use the car often it could mean more frequent washing. Our current Best Buy is Halfords’ Advanced All Seasons (above). Q Mixing different tyre types IT’S time to replace two of my car’s tyres and I’m tempted to go for an…

DESPITE the popularity of sat-nav apps, standalone units still make sense for many drivers. Instructions are often better than on an app and, with a large screen, are easier to view, too. Many devices also feature a split view, with more detailed guidance shown on one side, while several units now also feature the latest in traffic alerts. To find the best of the current crop, we tested four products. We looked for an easy-to-understand map layout and clear voice instructions, as well as clever route choices and traffic updates. Ease of use was another priority, while price was also taken into account. TomTom’s GO 6200 remains our top choice because of its clear map layout, highly accurate traffic alerts and simple-to-use interface. The Garmin DriveSmart 65 is a close…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Where better to display future models than in front of motorists who pay to attend shows, then pay again to buy new cars?” CONFUSED about the future for homegrown and international motor shows? Me too. Even some leading car manufacturers can’t seem to decide whether they’re for or against. For example, a month ago in Korea a spokesman from Hyundai Motor Europe assured me that motor shows are toast. Yet in the same week the company, plus sister brand Kia, starred at the Seoul show with several new cars, a couple of them highly significant. Then, weeks later, the same Hyundai-Kia-Genesis (H-K-G) Group unveiled a fleet of important, fresh models at the New York and Shanghai shows. And this month, at the…