Innholdsfortegnelse for 1576 i Auto Express

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Electric crossover is likely to share stand with brand’s ID.3 hatchback VOLKSWAGEN will showcase the next car in its ID. line-up with a pure-electric family SUV at September’s Frankfurt show. The German brand started pre-orders earlier this month for the first editions of the initial model in the EV range, the ID.3 hatchback. VW’s sales and marketing boss Jürgen Stackmann (right) revealed that the production version of that car would make its debut in Frankfurt – but he also suggested that the second ID. vehicle, which is likely to be called ID.4 or ID.5, would at least be previewed at the event. “The next car you will see as an indication in Frankfurt,” Stackmann explained. “At that show you will see ID.3 and we’ll also give you…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● GT or SUV could be considered ● New sports cars are priority LOTUS’S line-up could expand to include a range of sporting saloons, GTs and SUVs, according to the British company’s new boss, Phil Popham. And our exclusive image shows how a Lotus GT could look. Since Chinese car giant Geely took a majority stake in Lotus 18 months ago, the firm has announced that it will launch a pure-electric hypercar this summer, before putting it on sale at the end of next year. Speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car summit last week, Popham said that the brand’s immediate focus was to develop a new range of sports cars. However, its strong financial backing means it can now explore other areas of the market.…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale ● GLE-based concept is packed with tech for accident-free future ● Raft of systems designed to protect passengers and road users MERCEDES’ vision for an accident-free future has been previewed by a concept car fitted with prototype safety tech. Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the GLE-based ESF (Experimental Sicherheits Fahrzeug, or experimental safety vehicle) is its hazard-warning robot. This emerges from underneath the rear of the car in the event of an accident, then deploys a warning triangle from its top before driving itself 200 metres down the road to warn approaching traffic of the danger ahead. A laser projector in the boot can display messages and symbols on to the otherwise-clear rear window, telling following vehicles if, for example, the ESF’s driver has stopped to allow…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk SPORTS Utility Vehicles are all well and good, and for an increasing number of us they serve a purpose, and serve it well. They provide a reasonably car-like driving experience while offering more space inside than a conventional hatchback, plus that all-important high-set driving position that has become so popular in recent years. But they are not necessarily vehicles in which you’d want to go record-chasing at Britain’s best race tracks. Not unless you are Alfa Romeo, that is, and make an SUV called the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. With its Ferrari-inspired 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 producing 503bhp, it’ll do 176mph flat out. Alfa has already blown away the SUV lap record at the Nürburgring with the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, setting a frankly outrageous time of seven minutes 51.7 seconds around the famous…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Running costs 44.8mpg (official) £66 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/122mph IS the new Mazda 3 the best-looking family hatchback in years? Its maker would certainly hope you think so. When it revealed the Kai concept some two years ago – this fresh model is based on that car’s squat, sporty design – reaction to it was overwhelmingly positive. Clearly, the firm’s design and engineering teams have pushed the boat out to deliver as much of the concept’s stunning looks as possible; and in a year when we’ll see a fresh Volkswagen Golf, Mazda’s newcomer needs to occupy a desirable spot in the minds of buyers up and down the land. It’s now on sale in Britain, and this is our first chance to drive it on home…

Expert insight James_Howe@dennis.co.uk HOT hatches and performance SUVs are hot property, but traditional sports cars still have their place in the market. While they incorporate a range of vehicles of varying sizes, layouts and power, the bottom line is that they’re all created with driving fun near the top of their priority list. There’s a sports car for just about every budget. For £20k-£30k the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GT86 are ready to thrill with their traditional low-powered, rear-drive recipe. A little more will secure a sports coupé such as the Audi TTS. Mid-rangers such as the Porsche 718 Boxster and the Alpine A110 occupy a sports car sweet spot, with plenty of power and fun to give a drive that easily matches that of much more expensive supercars. The…

MODEL TESTED: Mazda CX-3 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE-L Nav+ PRICE: £20,795 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 119bhp THE Mazda CX-3 received another facelift in 2018 to keep it competitive against newer rivals. Now there’s yet another challenger in the form of the T-Cross, so let’s see if the CX-3 can still cut it, tested here in £20,795 2.0 SkyActiv-G SE-L Nav+ form. Design & engineering IN truth, the tweaks for this updated CX-3 aren’t exactly extensive. It’s had a few facelifts now since it was launched in 2015, with this revamp focusing on bringing the trim levels into line with the rest of the Japanese firm’s range. The car is still based on the same SkyActiv platform and has a 119bhp 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine here. While that might seem familiar, this new…

NEW: Citroen C3 AirCross PT 110 Flair PRICE: £20,045 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, l08bhp TOP-spec Flair trim gets a sliding rear seat, similar to the T-Cross, so with up to 520 litres of boot space, practicality is a given. It has loads of kit, too, so you won't want for anything, while the engine is strong. It’s not as refined as the VW, though. USED: Audi Q3 l.4 TFSI S line PRICE: £20,000 ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 148bhp FOR similar sort of money you could have a more premium-feeling Audi Q3. While it might not be as practical, its 1.4 TFSI engine has more grunt and is nicely refined. A 2016 car with around 20,000 miles on the clock in sporty S line trim costs £20,000.…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk “The potential for saving money on fuel is appealing; fingers crossed that the Honda hybrid can improve my urban economy” HAVING arrived only last week, our new green machine, the Honda CR-V Hybrid, is the newest car on the Auto Express fleet. I was quite excited to get the keys; the potential for saving money on fuel is pretty appealing. I don’t have a driveway at home, so I miss out on the pure-electric cars that feature in our tests. Fingers crossed that the hybrid Honda can help improve my urban economy figures. As is so often the way, once you’re driving a new model you are amazed by how many of the same type you see on the road. I’ve spotted plenty of previous-generation examples around London recently.…

911 specialist’s fine watches go on show SINGER has announced that its Track1 collection of watches will remain on display at the Phillips Perpetual gallery in Mayfair. The classic boutique, created by Phillips and Bacs & Russo, is intended as a destination for watch collectors. Singer is perhaps better known for reimagining classic Porsche 911s. It puts the same attention to detail into the watches (above), which have a revolutionary Agengraphe movement and take styling cues from seventies and eighties watches. They cost around £30,000 from singerreimagined.com, or simply visit the exhibition. Master your Maserati in course’s 20th year THE 20th season of Master Maserati Driving Courses has begun. Since 1999, the Varano de Melegari circuit in Italy has played host to the brand and its instructors, who have taught more…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 22|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 LOOKING after your tyres pays dividends because under-inflation may cause uneven wear and make them prematurely illegal. To be within the law, a tyre must have more than 1.6mm of tread depth across the central 75 per cent of its width. The penalties for having an illegal tyre on your car are a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each one. It could also cost you more than that because under-inflated tyres use more fuel and adversely affect your car’s braking and cornering. Using a combined pressure and tread depth (DTG) gauge – or a…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Does paint affect premiums? DO insurers take paint colour into account when they’re calculating your insurance quote? And if not, why do they always ask me when I take out a new policy? Sarah Percy, E-mail A THE Association of British Insurers told us it wasn’t aware of any companies that took colour into account when calculating premiums, although it said glossy, expensive paintwork could potentially make a car more attractive to thieves. Insurers need to know a car’s colour to help find it if it’s lost or stolen. Q Claiming AC regas cash back I WAS charged £55 for an air-con regas when my car was serviced, although I didn’t ask for this to be done. I paid at the time, but…

Dear Alex, I need a four-wheel-drive estate that can handle some light off-roading. What’s my the best option for £10,000? Sid Bates, E-mail Contact: Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk • THE PREMIUM CHOICE Audi A4 Allroad FOR: Smooth ride, stylish interior, premium image AGAINST: Least practical here, oldest for the money IF badge appeal matters to you, the Audi A4 Allroad is the one to have out of our trio here. It feels much posher than is suggested by the £10k budget – which is enough for a 2010 model with 50,000 miles on the clock. The Allroad sits 37mm higher than the standard A4, so the ride is soft and forgiving. It’s not as sharp to drive, but quattro AWD gives it decent traction in mud. However, the A4 has the smallest boot…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Popular SUV is bigger inside despite being same size as old model ● Discovery Sport gets new platform and tech from latest Evoque FIVE years after the launch of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the firm’s biggest-selling model has been updated. This is no mild, mid-life facelift, however; the exterior design might look similar to the outgoing car’s, but this revamped version is heavily reworked under the skin, with an overhauled platform, new interior tech, and a range of mild-hybrid and plug-in drivetrains. Like the new Range Rover Evoque, it sits on Land Rover’s fresh Premium Transverse Architecture – a thorough redevelopment of its predecessor’s platform. This allows for a structure that’s 13 per cent stiffer than in the previous car and means 21-inch wheels can be…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Tesla Model 3 review FROM: Joe Smith YOU’RE getting a car that covers 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds, and that’s just the base model – the Performance version does it in 3.2 seconds. Imagine that kind of performance in your everyday family car. It’s definitely worth the money! FROM: Ryan O’Donnell IT’S a bit too expensive and I don’t think the charging infrastructure is ready yet; there are still only a handful of Tesla Superchargers in Scotland. Still, I’m glad the Model 3 is available in the UK now and hope it makes an impact. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Electric cars won’t be mainstream until you can get a good one…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THERE are few true automotive icons left, but it’s fair to say the Toyota Supra is one of them. It’s also fair to say that the gestation of this fifth-generation model has been pretty drawn out. But now it’s here in production spec – and we’ve driven it. We’ll start with the elephant in the room: Toyota’s tie-up with BMW, whose new Z4 has the same base. Both brands settled on the shared platform’s characteristics, which Toyota said meant a short wheelbase and wide track – to the point that the distance between the Supra’s wheels is less than in a GT86. The centre of gravity is lower, too. Following the decision on the set-up’s basic principles, the companies went their separate ways to develop their cars using…

YOU know it’s no ordinary road test when the marketing material mentions features like a spring-plate mattress, a pull-out fridge-freezer and a toilet. But the VW Grand California is no ordinary camper van. It represents a first for Volkswagen, whose smaller California has become a bit of a cult icon among camper enthusiasts. But where the standard California is based on the Transporter, its sibling is based on the larger Crafter, making it just over a metre longer and much roomier inside. Arguably the biggest news, however, is the addition of a small shower compartment with a built-in toilet, making this much more practical for longer trips or family holidays. There are two Grand Californias to choose from. Both come with a double bed but, counter-intuitively, the shorter 600 is…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115 FR PRICE: £20,410 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo, 113bhp THE Arona is one of the cars the T-Cross will have to beat, and the competition will be close given the two models share so much. We’re testing the £20,410 1.0 TSI 115 FR model – the entry-level trim with this engine and manual box combination, making it more expensive than the Volkswagen. Design & engineering DUE to the fact the Arona is also based on the VW Group’s MQB set-up, it shares many components with the T-Cross, including the same modular chassis, the front MacPherson strut and rear torsion-beam suspension, as well as the engine and gearbox. That means it’s also a 113bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder motor powering the SEAT here, with an identical…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Help plastic to stay fantastic I BOUGHT a new Suzuki Jimny and it has a lot of plastic, especially on the wheelarches. I want to keep this as good as new, so which products do you recommend? I have tried various cleaners, but they looked a mess as soon as it rained. Ken Jones, E-mail A THE car is new and plastics have improved, so ask your Suzuki dealer what it recommends. Our current pick of the bumper shines is Turtle Wax Black in a Flash gel. When we assessed the product, It performed well on an old bumper, beading water throughout our 10-week test period and did not go milky, like some rivals. Q Keeping everything charged I’VE got a couple of classic…

A CRADLE that charges your phone wirelessly is a great idea. It keeps the handset topped up and you legal, and two new ones are now available. The key is how well they charge and whether they can keep the phone powered while running apps. To find out if the new units are up to the job, we checked the rate of charge over 30 minutes with no load, and then while using a power-hungry sat-nav app for the same time. We looked for stable mounting, build quality, ease of use and reliable wireless Qi connection. The MSC, our previous favourite, is no longer available, so we put the second-placed Pama against two newcomers from iOttie and Anker. The iOttie was a bit pricey, but had the best performance, a…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ ● New car due on sale next year ● Far lighter than current model THE launch of a new Corsa is about as big as it gets for Vauxhall. Britain loves superminis and the Corsa is a perennial best-seller, even though the current model can trace its roots all the way back to 2006. That means it’s way past time for an all-new Corsa, a project that was kick-started around two years ago when Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) bought Vauxhall and European sister Opel from General Motors. The all-new car is due next year and to get an idea of what we can expect, we’ve driven two prototypes. This sixth-generation Corsa (we knew the original as the Nova, but it was called Corsa in Europe) is based on PSA’s small-car…

First peek as Ford puts the boot into Focus ST FORD has revealed the first official images of the Focus ST Estate (above). The new model will take on the likes of the Skoda Octavia vRS Estate and Volkswagen Golf R Estate with a 276bhp 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine – enough for a 5.8-second 0-62mph time. A tax-friendly diesel variant, producing 187bhp, is also available. Prices start at £30,595 for the diesel and £33,095 for the petrol; each version is £1,100 more than the equivalent Focus ST hatch. Penalty time for red X dodgers on motorway HIGHWAYS England will issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to drivers who ignore red X signs on motorway gantries when new Home Office legislation comes into effect on 10 June. Motorists caught by cameras could…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Rival for Aston Martin DB11 ● On sale now, from £163,000 McLAREN has taken a break from developing track-focused supercars and turned its attention to luxury and comfort by launching this: the McLaren GT. According to the Woking brand, its new car will deliver the same continent-crossing comfort as the likes of the Aston Martin DB11 and Bentley Continental GT, but in a lighter, faster and more exciting package. The GT is the first McLaren to be classified as a Grand Tourer, joining the existing Sports, Super and Ultimate Series models. As the name suggests, it places greater emphasis on refinement and practicality than any previous McLaren. But on paper at least, the extra comfort hasn’t come at the expense of performance. The GT will accelerate from…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor New Mercedes EQC first drive verdict YOU wait for one premium electric SUV and then three arrive. After the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron, Mercedes has waded in with its GLC-based EQC. The five-seater SUV is kickstarting the brand’s wave of EVs, but is it any good? Our very own Steve Fowler has the answer in this first drive video. Walkaround video on new Disco Sport YOU couldn’t have missed the new Land Rover Discovery Sport in our Top Story on Page 8. The British brand has updated its best-seller and given it a welcome facelift inside and out. New engines bring mild-hybrid tech, while a plug-in hybrid is due later this year. Join us for a full walkaround tour. You can watch any of our videos on…

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…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE small performance SUV sector has gone from 0-100mph in six months flat. The BMW X2 M35i follows the Cupra Ateca and Audi SQ2, and will be joined by the VW T-Roc R before the end of the year. It took the world’s car makers a little while to cotton on to the idea of quick SUVs, and even longer to match the charm and affordability of a hot hatch to the desirability of a 4x4. Now they’re coming thick and fast. For BMW, the X2 was a perfect platform; the brand’s smallest and sharpest SUV is among the most engaging cars of its type, handling neatly even in standard front-wheel-drive guise. But the M35i ramps things up a notch. It gets the same 2.0-litre petrol turbo as…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram THIS is the Tucson N Line, the second Hyundai after the i30 to receive the firm’s hot N brand-inspired treatment. It follows a similar vein to the sporty trim levels on rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line and Ford Kuga ST-Line. Like those models, the Tucson gets a few sporty upgrades without adding performance-car insurance bills. On the outside, that means there’s a smart-looking front bumper which, as on the i30 N Line, features little ‘shark tooth’ elements poking up from the front splitter. There’s a grille insert that matches the i30 N Line’s smoked metallic design, too, as well as some boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights. Extra sporting intent is added with a contrasting black finish for the door mirrors, roof rails, rear spoiler and new…

BMW M2 Competition POWERED by the same twin-turbo straight-six as is found in the M4, the smaller M2 Competition also has similar suspension and is just as much fun to drive. Its 404bhp makes for 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds; this seriously fast car is playful at its limits and is a great alternative to the Cayman if you’d rather have six cylinders to enjoy. Caterham Seven THE Seven is one of the oldest basic designs still on sale; it’s a sports car recipe that’s more or less perfect. And there’s a vast breadth of performance available. The base car has 135bhp, while the 620 range-topper gets 310bhp. A raw, unfiltered and fun drive is guaranteed, while a dearth of creature comforts makes every journey an event. Lotus Elise IF you…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 SE PRICE: £19,555 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo, 113bhp SMALL SUV sales are booming, but it’s taken until now for Volkswagen to release a supermini-sized off-roader. The T-Cross is the brand’s smallest crossover, sitting beneath the slightly larger T-Roc in the range, and we’re testing what will be the best-seller here in the UK: the £19,555 1.0 TSI 115 manual in SE trim. Design & engineering IT will be the most popular spec because it offers the best balance between cost and kit. SE trim features the kind of equipment buyers want; there’s an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Sat-nav is a £725 extra, but many people won’t bother because integration with their phone gives them all the tech…

Volkswagen T-Cross Discover Navigation £725 option Key features: Nav, connectivity OUR test car’s standard eight-inch touchscreen was upgraded with the £725 Discover Navigation option that adds sat-nav, as the name suggests, plus connected services such as traffic, fuel price and weather info. It’s a nice system that works with the slickness we’re used to from Volkswagen, but £725 just for navigation seems a little pricey when the T-Cross’s SEAT and Mazda rivals have this feature fitted as standard (even though they’re a little more expensive to buy in the first place). The VW also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, which means you can use your smartphone’s nav to get around; the two interfaces work well, too. It’s a great set-up and benefits from the option to specify…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ Running costs 51.2mpg (on test) £53 fill-up/£140 or 27% tax Practicality Boot capacity 480 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.8 seconds/149mph I’M lucky. I’m one of the few journalists who have already spent a lot of time with the new BMW 3 Series – and only a handful of months after the car officially went on sale. Things started back with a development drive of a prototype ‘G20’ 3 Series last July, where the car was shaping up for success. The launch followed in November 2018, when an official full five-star verdict was handed down. Then the 3 Series rose to the top of its class with group-test victory against two of its toughest rivals – the updated Mercedes C-Class and the Jaguar XE – at the beginning of…

Audi A6 Avant Iss 1,555, 1,558, 1,566, 1,571 BMW 3 Series New arrival Cupra Ateca Issues 1,564, 1,573 Dacia Duster Iss 1,561, 1,564, 1,572, 1,575 Honda CR-V Hybrid New arrival Hyundai Santa Fe Issue 1,575 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567 Mazda MX-5 Issue 1,573 Mercedes G-Class Issues 1,565, 1,574 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 Issue 1,574 Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572 Volkswagen California New arrival Volkswagen Touareg New arrival…

FIRST TEST U Drive Cars Price: From £59 Contact: www.udrivecars.com WE don’t need much of an excuse to drive a classic Aston Martin, so when U Drive Cars recently added one to its fleet we headed straight for Heyford Park in Oxfordshire to get behind the wheel. It also gave us an opportunity to try an experience day at the opposite end of the market to the Lotus Driving Academy Auto Express sampled back in Issue 1,561. While there’s an element of driver tuition at U Drive Cars, the main focus is getting people behind the wheel of machines they don’t normally drive, such as supercars and classics. And the company makes a good job of that, catering expertly for the driving experience gift market. The sessions flow seamlessly through the…

Ballot Daniel Cabart and Gautam Sen (Dalton Watson Fine Books, www.daltonwatson.com) Price: £270 WE’VE dropped half a star for the price, but collectors will love these volumes on a company they’ve probably never heard of. Ballot made engines and helped develop the first Bugatti motors. The books have high production values, will fascinate French car fans, and interest others. You get what you pay for. The Pit-Prop Syndicate Freeman Wills Crofts (Dover Publications, www.doverpublications.com) Price: £6.99 THIS century-old novel is set in France, following a young Englishman and a Scotland Yard detective as they look into a stolen number plate racket. It’s old-school stuff but it’s fun, and you might learn a thing or two about travelling in 1922 France. Faily Brakes Available for: iOs, Android Price: Free ADDING a…

71st PLACE 2019 Results XE Factfile Years: 2015 to present CO2: 130g/km Fuel economy: 50.7mpg (2.0d 180) Best options: Panoramic roof, bi-xenon headlights, Meridian stereo, parking pack Used prices: From £8,500 OVERALL SCORE 89.41% Bars show where model finished out of 100 vehicles in our 2019 new car survey. The longer the bar the better • GOOD “ACCELERATES faster and more smoothly than any of the cars I’ve previously owned.” “Looks attractive from any angle, thanks to excellent styling and paint options.” “The front seats are extremely comfortable on long journeys. I never have any backache.” “The steering is well weighted; it feels responsive on the road.” “Best ride I’ve ever known and really good handling as well.” “Such a fantastic all-rounder. The fact it’s cheap to run is the…

● Zandvoort deal confirmed ● Return to Africa next target Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA 1 bosses are planning further shake-ups of the sport’s calendar, following the confirmation of a new Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort for 2020. A return to Africa, either to the former South African Grand Prix venue of Kyalami or the World Touring Cars and Formula E host city of Marrakech, Morocco, is believed to be the next target as F1 bosses look to expand into new and growing markets. The huge popularity and racing success of Max Verstappen was instrumental to the new Zandvoort deal. The local driver proved a massive draw when Red Bull put on an F1 display at the seaside circuit in 2017. Zandvoort’s new race is set to take place in May 2020, on…

FERNANDO Alonso and McLaren suffered a major setback in their preparations for this weekend’s Indianapolis 500, losing a full day of practice running after a big shunt for the Spaniard last Wednesday. Alonso was sore yet uninjured after the crash, but had already seen his running cut short due to electrical problems suffered earlier in the week. His car was damaged beyond repair, however, and this forced the team to build up a spare chassis and fit a new engine, putting paid to any on-track running on Thursday. McLaren’s IndyCar sporting director Gil de Ferran said: “Not running today was a serious setback to our Indy 500 program, but all is not lost.” McLaren CEO Zak Brown added: “We’re not allowed to have a true spare car, so we’ve got…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The sooner Google is involved in selling new cars, the better. No company reacts to customer demand better than them” THE prospect of a ‘Google car’ leaves me lukewarm because such a vehicle is swamped by hype, confusion and gross uncertainty. Like most future vehicles from tech firms with zero automotive experience, there are too many question marks and too few certainties. But the sooner Google becomes directly involved in the retailing of new cars, the better. I say this because here’s a company that currently reacts to customer demand – or the lack of it – better than any other I know. For example, the company’s original Pixel 3 XL phone wasn’t selling well at around £900, despite having what is…