Innholdsfortegnelse for 1578 i Auto Express

IT was my love of cars that got me into this business the best part of three decades ago – and the same is true for most of my colleagues. The thrill of the drive, the beauty of the design and the cleverness of the engineering are what thrilled me most. And they still do. It wasn’t long before my fascination with and interest in the great characters that exist in the car business became a real draw, too. To be in the company of so many extraordinarily talented people remains something that I have to pinch myself for. There are three people I’ve met recently who have all been heroes of mine and have left (or are about to leave) roles that have had a huge influence on us…

FERRARI will trickle down the new plug-in hybrid technology that’s used in the SF90 Stradale into smaller, less expensive vehicles and models in all-new segments as the brand goes in search of new customers. Speaking to Auto Express, Ferrari Chief Technology Officer Michael Leiters said that it would be “very easy” to adapt the SF90’s hybrid technology for use in other new cars. “There will be other [hybrid] models, but with specific powertrain characteristics,” Leiters explained. On stage at the reveal of the SF90, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri reiterated plans to launch five new models in 2019, with the SF90 being the second of these. Late last year, Camilleri revealed that the marque would release 15 new models by 2022, 60 per cent of which will feature an electrified powertrain.…

BACK in March (Issue 1,565), Auto Express was handed they keys to an early prototype of MINI’s Cooper SE, ahead of the finished models rolling down the production line at MINI’s plant in Oxford towards the end of this year. We know that the electric runaround will be one of the more powerful models in its segment when it arrives, because it packs a 181bhp electric motor. “There’s the typically strong instant EV shove as you pull away from rest, and then a pleasing linearity to the throttle modulation and surprising heft to the steering,” we reported from MINI’s private testing facility in Germany. “The front end is quick to respond to steering wheel inputs, and it hangs on well,” we said. However, given the extra weight of the batteries on…

Running costs 51.4mpg (official) £74 fill-up Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WHEN we drove the all-new Peugeot 508 SW late last year (Issue 1,552) we declared it a car you should buy with your heart rather than your head. Despite its bona fide estate car credentials, its rivals are bigger and more practical. But does that statement ring true after spending a week driving one on UK roads? To see if there’s more to the latest 508 SW than a swooping roofline and some flash leather trim, we’ve put the popular BlueHDi 130 to the test in big-selling GT Line trim. First things first; an estate car must be spacious. And, of course, there’s a benchmark here against which all others should be measured. In the 508 SW’s case, it’s the fantastic Skoda…

Running costs 34.5mpg (official) £67 fill-up Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Toyota Supra is finally back in the UK. As one of the giants of the Japanese car scene, the nameplate still has plenty of cachet in the hearts of British buyers. But can the reborn model live up to the legend? Toyota has been teasing the launch of the latest car for years now. But whatever your opinion, there’s no arguing it’s a striking design. It reflects what’s under the skin, too: the long bonnet hides the six-cylinder engine, the double-bubble roof covers a cosy cabin, and the aggressive lip spoiler at the back sits over the two driven wheels. It follows the same formula as previous Supras, but Toyota needed a partner to help develop it. As such, it turned…

SMALL MINI WE FOUND: One (2005/55-reg, 85k miles) Price new £10,832 Now £1,000 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 90bhp Economy: 41.5mpg CO2: 164g/km Euro NCAP: 4 stars (2002) FOR many people, the MINI is the ultimate small car. It combines some of the most important factors that buyers consider in a supermini: style, fun handling, comfort and easy parking in tight city spaces. Our budget here means you can stretch to a first-generation MINI One, which was the entry-level model in 2005. However, for less than £1,000, beggars can’t be choosers, and the core appeal of the MINI is still very much present in this car. It might be short on kit next to higher-spec versions, but you won’t mind when you get behind the wheel and enjoy the MINI’s responsive steering and…

SMALL Ford Fiesta WE FOUND: 1.0 T 100 Zetec 5dr (2017/17-reg, 30k miles) Price new £15,395 Now £7,150 Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 99bhp Economy: 65.7mpg CO2: 99g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2012) THE latest, seventh-generation Ford Fiesta has been on Britain’s roads for a while now, but the Mk6 car still holds its own as a fantastic supermini. It’s made even better by the number of hugely affordable examples you’ll easily find in the classifieds. Remember, right up until it was replaced two years ago, this was still comfortably Britain’s top-selling car and one of the class leaders. The current model continues the trend. We’ve picked out a late Mk6 five-door in mid-spec Zetec trim, equipped with Ford’s EcoBoost three-cylinder petrol turbo, as the one to go for. The 99bhp EcoBoost…

ESTATE Volvo V90 WE FOUND: 2.0 D4 Inscription (2017/66-reg, 82k miles) Price new £38,955 Now £18,499 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp Economy: 62.8mpg CO2 : 119g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2017) WHILE Volvo might have been focusing on SUVs of late, the brand is synonymous with family estates – and with the V90, you could pick up a great second-hand buy. This is one of the largest executive wagons on sale, and with its 560-litre load bay there’s plenty of space – even if its boot capacity is a little down on that of an equivalent BMW 5 Series Touring or Mercedes E-Class Estate. However, those dimensions also mean the Volvo is roomy in the rear. What the V90 lacks in outright practicality, though, it more than makes up for in quality…

Audi R8 WE FOUND: 4.2 FSI V8 Coupé 2dr manual (2009/09-reg, 54k miles) Price new £79,420 Now £34,995 Engine: 4.2-litre V8, 414bhp Economy: 20.3mpg CO2 : 332g/km Euro NCAP: N/A AMAZINGLY, you can currently buy a bespoke, V8-engined supercar with an open-gated manual gearshift for similar money to a new high-spec family model. You won’t only have one or two examples to choose from, either, as there are plenty of R8s on the second-hand market with sensible-mileage low prices. If you’re looking for a great-value supercar, this is absolutely it. The current R8 is V10 powered and automatic only, so enthusiasts might prefer the added connection offered by this original manual model. Also, the 4.2-litre V8 is a fantastic unit, delivering low-down punch and high-rev power in equal measure, accompanied by…

HOW do you establish a new premium car brand? That’s a question the PSA Group is continually attempting to answer with its infant DS brand, which is only just starting to find its feet after a tricky start as a rebadging of a Citroen supermini – the DS3. After a few years of building below-par alternatives to upmarket German saloon cars and hatchbacks, DS has turned its attention to SUVs – and it seems to be working. Last year’s DS 7 proved that the brand wasn’t just going to carry on producing reimagined versions of Citroens. The firm had cemented its own identity and style, and this car was the closest DS had come to making a genuine rival for the established premium brands. Now there’s this, the DS 3 Crossback,…

YOUR GREAT OFFER ▪ FREE Renovo Soft Top Care Products ▪ All the latest news, road tests & reviews delivered to your door each week ▪ FREE delivery of every issue ▪ Save 50% on your subscription ORDER ONLINE: dennismags.co.uk/autoexpress CALL NOW: 0330 333 9491 quoting offer code D1578 YOUR FREE GIFT Breathe new life into your soft top with your FREE Renovo Soft Top Care Products. Renovo Fabric Soft Top Cleaner (500ml) is ideal for regular cleaning of canvas, double duck and mohair soft tops of all colours. It effectively removes grime, ingrained dirt and that annoying, unsightly green haze that is so often a problem. Renovo Ultra Proofer (500ml) re-establishes a fabric convertible top’s original 'as new' waterproof weather barrier. With the added benefits of UV protection and…

Practicality Payload capacity 1,067kg Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer ONE of the downsides of taking your car to a workshop, apart from the cost, is that the driver’s seat gets moved. Quite understandable, because we’re all different shapes and I’m sure there are shorter staff who couldn’t move the X-Class with the seat in the right place for my six foot three inch frame. The mystery is why it takes me days to find the right combination of adjustments that felt just right before. It’s irritating, and now I inflict it on myself on a regular basis in the X 350 d. There’s nothing wrong with the electrically adjustable seat but, just this once, I’d prefer a manual version. Why? Because there’s something about the way I get out of the truck that…

Nextbase 322GW Dash Cam offers protection on the road THE new Nextbase 322GW Dash Cam is the perfect gift this Father’s Day. Not only does it record in 1080P HD resolution, it also includes the revolutionary Emergency SOS feature to protect your loved one on the road. This new Series 2 model has the upgraded Nextbase car mount, as well as the option to add a rear-view camera to record vehicles behind you. Find out more at www.nextbase.com. Range starts at just £49. 312GW model shown RRP £99 Q²M LeatherSet cleans and protects your leather Q²M LeatherSet is the complete solution for maintaining the hide trim inside your car. Combining a cleaning product with a protective coating, it’s the ideal leather maintenance package. This full set comprises the Q²M LeatherBrush…

FIRST TEST Goodyear Asymmetric 5 Price: £80.23 (225/45R17 94 Y) Contact: www.goodyear.eu WHILE the spotlight may be on Goodyear’s return to the ultra ultra high performance (UUHP) market with the SuperSport range, in volume terms the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 is a much more important new tyre. It sits under the SuperSport range, covering 17-22-inch rims in the ultra high performance (UHP) sector. It replaces the Asymmetric 3, which was still good enough to finish a close fourth in our 2018 tyre test. It’s a hard act to follow, so is the new tyre an improvement or more of the same? We headed to Goodyear’s Mireval proving ground in southern France to put the old and new designs through our usual selection of tests, using a VW Golf GTI fitted with…

● Concept previews forthcoming new pure-electric Skoda ● Will be available as both coupé-SUV and boxier model “Concept iV is rather special to look at and to sit in. Aspirational, even” Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk @VickyParrott SKODA’S pure-electric future has been overshadowed by the fanfare around VW’s imminent ID. range of EVs. But, as we potter tentatively around a sunny Czech car park in the striking Vision iV concept, it seems like the understated, ‘sensible’ brand is inching closer to its German counterpart when it come to appeal. It doesn’t feel like it’s just about the 301bhp electric powertrain in this car, although the twin motors – one on each axle, delivering four-wheel drive and a range of 310 miles courtesy of the 83kWh battery pack – are, of course, critical to the…

GERMAN brand Audi appears to be putting the finishing touches to a performance version of its pure-electric e-tron SUV. The latest spy shots, snapped while the new model was testing on and around the Nürburgring, show the e-tron riding on a more purposeful set of alloy wheels and sitting slightly lower to the ground. It’s an indication that the manufacturer has ramped up performance under the skin – and it is possible that the newcomer could adopt the e-tron S name. The 95kWh battery will remain, so to boost performance from the existing e-tron’s 402bhp twin-motor (one front, one rear) set-up, the S is likely to gain a second rear-mounted motor to up the output to around 500bhp. As a result, expect a small drop in range over the regular…

Success breeds success, they say. But for a British brand like MG, there’s more to its continuing growth than its reputation and one of the most famous badges on the road. This is a tale of huge investment, all-new products, the right technology at the right price, and smart customer service. MG recently posted the best single month for sales in the company’s history, capping a quarter when its numbers were up a staggering 70 per cent on the same period in 2018. And that after a year when MG doubled its numbers to become the fastest-growing car manufacturer in the UK. This success has been driven by a number of factors – expansion of the product line-up into the types of vehicles customers increasingly demand, the addition of extra…

Running costs 41.5mpg (official) £56 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.3 seconds/155mph Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram BUYERS are spoilt for choice when it comes to small premium cars. Audi makes the A3 in a wide variety of guises, the VW Golf remains ever present, and there’s an all-new BMW 1 Series on the way. But one glance at the Mercedes range suggests that the Stuttgart brand could cover the sector on its own. Joining the two new A-Class models (hatchback and Saloon), there is now a pair of CLA versions: a swoopy Shooting Brake estate, and the four-door Coupé driven here. On the face of it, it’s hard to work out why Mercedes offers the CLA alongside the A-Class Saloon. This £36,630 250 AMG Line Premium Plus – which is as pricey as…

FUN Fiat Panda 100HP WE FOUND: 100HP (2007/07-reg, 70k miles) Price new £11,485 Now £2,195 Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 99bhp Economy: 43.5mpg CO2 : 154g/km Euro NCAP: 3 stars (2004) THE Fiat Panda 100HP has been a motoring hero since it was launched in 2004, and now you can pick one up for around £2,000, it’s got to be one of the best-value hot hatchbacks on the used market. While 99bhp doesn’t sound like a lot, a kerbweight of 975kg means the Panda is quick enough. But it’s not about outright speed; this Fiat’s focus is on fun. You can rev the lively 1.4-litre petrol engine to the limit without risking your licence, using the six-speed manual box and enjoying the sporty engine note. Then once you reach a corner you can…

FAMILY Volkswagen Golf WE FOUND: 2.0 TDI SE 5dr (2014/14-reg, 77k miles) Price new £22,905 Now £8,000 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Economy: 68.9mpg CO2 : 106g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2009) THE VW Golf is a consummate all-rounder and one of the best used buys around. We found a pre-facelift 2014 car, which is largely the same underneath as the latest Mk7.5, and it features a frugal yet punchy 2.0-litre diesel and decent kit in SE spec, all for less than half its new price just five years after its launch. All the usual Golf traits apply: solid build quality, great refinement, impressive packaging and confident – if not particularly thrilling – handling. The Golf is quietly competent, and a well-kept example should still feel just as impressive long after it’s…

HYBRID Lexus RX WE FOUND: RX 450h Advance (2014/64-reg, 30k) Price new £48,360 Now £24,290 Engine: 3.5-litre V6 hybrid, 293bhp Economy: 44.8mpg CO2 : 145g/km Euro NCAP: N/A HYBRID power is becoming ever more desirable, which means cars such as the third-generation Lexus RX 450h are now in demand on the used market. And given that the brand is known for its build quality and reliability, there’s nothing to be afraid of from this technology second-hand. The RX’s petrol-electric powertrain will still be just inside its five-year warranty, but there should be little to worry about anyway because the batteries have proven reliable. The swell of electric torque helps out the smooth petrol V6 to give stronger low-down performance, while the CVT transmission means relaxed progress as long as you don’t…

FAMILY saloons used to be at the very heart of the automotive industry, but fashions change and now everyone wants an SUV instead. The new Toyota Camry – a big family four-door car that’s also reintroducing the Japanese brand’s famous nameplate back into the UK after a 15-year break – is offering an alternative, though, and it’s no surprise this new Toyota is a hybrid. Diesel used to dominate this sector, but a rapid change in policy has seen a switch to petrol, so even since the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport was launched, diesel sales have died off. However, there’s no hybrid option with the British brand’s hatch, so to line up on price, it’s the 1.6 Turbo 200 model we’re testing. This offers similar power to the Camry as well.…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.0 seconds/122mph Running costs 32.9mpg (on test) £94 fill-up/£450 or 37% tax Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram I’VE always been a bit of a fair-weather camper. The prospect of setting up a tent in the pouring rain, or traipsing up a mountain in the biting wind, isn’t my idea of fun. Having somewhere warm and dry to retreat to is a top priority, so visiting pubs is a particularly pleasing pastime of mine. The concept of a camper van had always seemed like an ideal solution. While I’d never been able to explore the idea of owning one, you can trace back the obsession to my childhood bedroom, where a sixties VW Type 2 money box nestled itself among a vast array of 1:18-scale diecast supercars. I’ve still got the…

Mazda MX-5 THERE are many ingredients that make an enjoyable sports car, but without one thing a good roadster like the MX-5 can never become great: a decent driving position. The way you sit in the car and the relationship between all the controls is such an important point, and although there are a few minor tweaks that chief reviewer Sean Carson would make to the Mazda’s seating set-up if he could, the MX-5 gets many things right. One of those is that this recently updated model now offers reach as well as rake adjustment for the steering wheel, which means more drivers can get comfortable. You sit a little high, maybe, but a recent roof-down drive in the Mazda rammed home how the positions of the wheel, gearlever and…

NEW PRODUCT Nextbase Series 2 Price: From £49 Contact: www.nextbase.com MULTIPLE test winner Nextbase has launched what it hopes will be the next step for dash cams, with new camera modules, Amazon Alexa control and an SOS system. There are five Series 2 models, with prices ranging from £49 to £149. Dash cams from the £99 322GW and above are compatible with Nextbase’s new modules. Costing £49 each, these additional rear-facing cameras can be plugged into the main unit. There are currently three modules: one for the interior and two for a rear view. One zooms through the cabin from the front, and another is attached to the back window and connects to the main unit via a wire. The three range-topping models also work with Nextbase’s new SOS system. This…

“Brand new V8 turbo and three electric motors combine to develop 986bhp and give four-wheel drive” ● Plug-in hybrid system will allow 15.5 miles on electric power ● Expected to cost somewhere between £350,000 and £400,000 James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods AN all-new flagship Ferrari has arrived and it’s the first of the brand’s products to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Say hello to the 986bhp SF90 Stradale. Unlike the LaFerrari, the SF90 is a proper series model and won’t be produced in limited numbers, so this is new territory for Ferrari. While the company hasn’t set a price yet, it’s likely to set buyers back somewhere between £350,000 and £400,000. The SF90 Stradale name refers to Ferrari’s 90th anniversary in F1, which the brand celebrates this year, and is taken from the…

MINI’s first pure-electric production car, the Cooper SE, has been inadvertently revealed in all its glory months ahead of its official debut in the summer. It was spotted on the streets of Los Angeles during a secret promotional shoot for the new model, and our spies managed to snap the Peugeot e208 rival before it was whisked away. Based on the three-door hatchback, the new model sports various unique design cues that mark it out from the rest of the MINI range. The aerodynamic wheel design, yellow detailing and blanked-off grille clearly indicate this as the Cooper SE. This is a different tactic to those of other firms, like Vauxhall and Peugeot, who have chosen not to highlight their cars’ EV credentials from the outside. “Pure-electric Cooper SE sports various…

LEXUS has revealed an updated version of its RX SUV, the Japanese manufacturer’s competitor to the BMW X5. Updates over the outgoing model include a minor styling refresh. Redesigned front and rear bumpers have been added, along with new adaptive LED headlamps. Lexus also says it’s reworked the third row of seating in the RX L, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appear for the first time. Mechanically, the company has added new shock absorbers, revised power-steering and Active Cornering Assist, all of which the brand claims will reduce understeer and offer more stable handling characteristics. The only engine option remains a 308bhp 3.5-litre V6 hybrid. The new RX will go on sale in the UK this autumn, in both five and seven-seat forms.…

James_Howe@dennis.co.uk THE new Jeep Compass Trailhawk brings a dose of off-road ability to a class that’s almost entirely dominated by road-biased mid-sized SUVs. Sitting at the top of the Compass range, the Trailhawk adds a suite of all-terrain hardware and a mild makeover; it’s more or less unique in its sector thanks to its mix of off-road prowess, compact dimensions and a price that includes a hefty amount of equipment. Among its rivals are toughened-up family SUVs such as the Skoda Kodiaq Scout, but also more capable offerings like the Subaru Forester and – if you’re willing to forgo some kit – the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Key to the Trailhawk’s off-road talent is Jeep’s Active Drive Low four-wheel drive. This incorporates a low-range gearbox with a crawl ratio of…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ EVERYONE loves bagging a bargain, and this is especially true when buying a car. The rise of PCP finance deals has brought a wide range of brand new models within reach of plenty more buyers than they used to be, but there are some compelling alternatives if you look towards the second-hand market, too. We’ve combed the classified ads to compile this 29-page used car special, bringing you more than 100 Half-Price Heroes – top-value buys that in 2019 cost 50 per cent or less of their original purchase price. We’ve split our list into different budget classes, covering everything from bargains for less than £1,000 to second-hand supercars that won’t break the bank to buy. No matter how much you spend, though, each model represents great value.…

FAMILY Skoda Yeti WE FOUND: 2.0 TDI SE (2011/11-reg, 80k miles) Price new £17,880 Now £4,995 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 108bhp Economy: 52.3mpg CO2 : 140g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2009) THE Yeti shows how SUVs have supplanted MPVs like the Ford C-MAX – and what a car the Skoda is. It’s won numerous Auto Express awards because it blends practicality with the kind of individual but thoughtful design for which Skoda has become known, and in 2.0 TDI guise it mixes performance, economy and dependability. Although the car feels a little dated next to Skoda’s current range, much of the tech is similar, so with nav and climate control available, there are enough features to complement the 416-litre boot and roomy cabin. Ride quality and refinement are good, and the Skoda…

FAMILY BMW 5 Series WE FOUND: 520d SE auto (2016/16-reg, 57k miles) Price new £34,165 Now £12,600 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp Economy: 68.9mpg CO2 : 109g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2010) THE unassuming BMW 520d is undoubtedly one of the great all-rounders of the automotive world. Quick, frugal, practical and even fairly fun to drive given its size, this executive saloon really has all of the bases covered. There are more powerful options in the 5 Series range but for most people, this 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel is more than adequate. It sprints from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, yet BMW also claimed 68.9mpg; you should easily see 50mpg-plus on the motorway. Throw in a chassis that mixes sharp handling with a smooth ride – especially on the SE’s modest 17-inch rims –…

SPACE Mercedes E63 AMG Estate WE FOUND: E63 AMG Estate (2015/15-reg, 40k miles) Price new £75,590 Now £32,989 Engine: 5.5-litre V8, 549bhp Economy: 27.7mpg CO2 : 237g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2010) PICTURE the scene. You’ve just cut back an unruly hedge in your garden, or cleared out the garage, but realised the local tip is about to shut. You’re probably wishing for a Mercedes E63 AMG Estate, because it’s about as fast as you can go with a full load on board. You can now pick up a 15-plate model for less than half its new price, which is great value for a 549bhp missile with a gigantic 1,950-litre boot. It’s not the most economical choice, and the ride is a little firm, but for many people, those will be…

Running costs Official range/tax 168 miles/£0 Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk “HOW far do you get on a charge in that?” If I had a pound for every time a friend, neighbour or passer-by has asked me this question after seeing my Nissan Leaf, I’d have enough to cover my electricity costs from London to Edinburgh – and back again. But it’s the way they ask that fascinates me the most. About half of the people seem to be genuinely interested; the remainder simply seem keen on using it as a chance to tell me that the 150-odd miles of range I’m achieving isn’t nearly enough. This is often followed by some examples of hypothetical routes the Leaf ‘couldn’t do’. The truth is that my ambitions haven’t been curtailed while running the Leaf. It…

DEBATE rages over whether the original Range Rover was the first luxury SUV. When it arrived in 1970, the Jeep Wagoneer had already been on sale for seven years, and this was undoubtedly more luxurious than the surprisingly utilitarian first Range Rover. Yet by the time the original Rangie bowed out in 1994 it had set the standard, and the all-new Range Rover Mk2 was plusher than ever. With each subsequent generation, the bar was raised still further when it came to luxury, sophistication and comfort. However, Land Rover never watered down the off-roading abilities of this large SUV. When this fourth-generation Range Rover arrived in 2013, it was the most capable, sophisticated and luxurious edition yet. History THE Range Rover Mk4 went on sale in September 2012 priced from…