Innholdsfortegnelse for 1594 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk ● BMW engines for F-Type, facelifts for F-Pace and XF ● Substantial revisions for E-Pace, plus all-electric XJ FIVE new Jaguars are on the way in 2020, with Tata-owned JLR due to turn its attention away from Land Rover. While Jaguar has focused on shaping an SUV line-up in recent years, one of the big newcomers ties into the brand’s heritage. The F-Type sports car is due for replacement, with a radical development of the current car set for showrooms next year. It’s been spied numerous times on the Nürburgring, and our exclusive main images preview how it will look, with a more chiseled front end the main change on the outside. Underneath the subtly reworked metal will be the current F-Type’s aluminium-intensive chassis, albeit with the tweaks necessary…

Skoda reveals prices for new Kamiq SUV THE new Skoda Kamiq SUV (above) goes on sale in November, with prices from £17,700. Standard equipment will include 16-inch alloys, LED headlights and a 6.5-inch infotainment system. Prices rise to £21,180 for the SE L, with 17-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and a 9.2-inch screen. Skoda will also launch a flagship Kamiq Monte Carlo, with a racy bodykit, sports seats and a panoramic glass roof. Its price will be confirmed shortly. Car makers speak out against no-deal Brexit EUROPEAN carmakers have delivered an unprecedented condemnation of the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, warning of “catastrophic” and “irreversible” damage if the UK leaves with no deal. The statement, from 22 European organisations including the UK’s SMMT, says that Brexit is “not…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk We run rule over the new GT from McLaren McLAREN wants to take on Aston Martin and Bentley and their grand tourers. Meet the McLaren GT – a new type of McLaren we’ve apparently never seen before. It still uses the Woking firm’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and carbon tub, but what’s it like? Richard Ingram reports. Take a peek at our Frankfurt bloopers HOPEFULLY you’ve watched our Frankfurt Motor Show video coverage and thought “My, what a professional team”. We are, but we’re also human, and this video reveals the best and funniest outtakes from this year’s exhibition. Head over to our YouTube channel to view the bits we wouldn’t normally let you see. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply scan this QR…

UNDECLARED modifications can see your insurance voided – although given how complicated this subject is, even insurers can get things wrong. One case highlighted by BIBA concerns ‘Mr T’, whose car was stolen from the street. Mr T’s insurer refused to pay out, because it had discovered that he had fitted an aftermarket infotainment system to his car, yet he ticked ‘no’ when asked if it was modified when buying his insurance online. Mr T appealed to the Financial Ombudsman Service, who found his insurer had asked only about “changes to the engine, plus any cosmetic changes to the bodywork, suspension, wheels or brakes”. The Ombudsman found Mr T could not reasonably have been expected to know his car would be deemed modified, and ruled that the insurer should settle…

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 Running costs 37.6mpg (official) £86 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/155mph BMW reckons that the 8 Series Gran Coupé is a unique concept – in that it’s the only four-door sports car on sale that’s derived directly from a two-door model. That sounds like a long-winded way to describe what is, in effect, an 8 Series with four doors, but it’s the most accurate way to look at it. This is a four-door, four-seat sports car that also has a decent 440-litre boot and space for four inside. So what’s the difference between this car and a Mercedes CLS or Audi A7? And why such a specific definition? Well, the Gran Coupé is based almost entirely on the regular two-door 8 Series beneath the skin, despite the fact that…

Tesla Model S 17-inch Touchscreen Standard Key features: Massive screen, great tech THE Tesla’s 17-inch portrait touchscreen is huge and dominates the dashboard. It’s clearer than the Jaguar’s, the menus are more logically laid out, the interface is more responsive, and there are plenty of features. However, one big omission is that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t included. There’s still plenty of connectivity though, because the Model S has a data connection to allow internet browsing when stationary, over-the-air software updates to improve the car’s ability throughout its life, and mobile app remote control. You can even play classic arcade-style games when static. This is secondary to the system’s main functions though, which are great. You rapidly get used to controlling everything through the screen. The only major improvement…

products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer THERE’S no doubt all-season designs are the SUVs of the tyre world. But while they provide a good compromise, if you want the ultimate all-year-round performance, you need to swap tyres to suit the seasons. A summer tyre, the type most UK drivers fit and use, works considerably better than any alternative in dry and warm conditions, while a winter design has a substantial advantage in the cold and on snow. But not all tyres are made equal – so which winter option should you fit when the temperatures start to drop? To find out, we headed for Finland and Germany with the help of Finnish tyre maker Nokian. We did the snow tests in Finland at the state-of-the-art White Hell proving ground. The cabin noise and aquaplaning…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Will yellow put me in peril? I HAVE a classic Citroen and want to make the car look more authentic by fitting yellow headlights. I don’t want to get pulled over or fail an MoT, so are yellow headlamps legal?David Evans, E-mail A YES, they are legal. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (amended 2005) say that the two headlight colours allowed in the UK are white and yellow. Be sure to declare this as a modification to your car insurance company, though. The firm may or may not increase your premium as a result of this cosmetic change. Tips for a reliable used car Q I AM after the most reliable model possible because I’m about to buy second-hand, most likely a…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk ● New Taycan aims to redefine the electric car class ● Luxury and performance in a convincing package “With 751bhp and 1,050Nm of torque on offer, there is no scenario where you could wish for more power” EVERY time a new electric car launches, the clichéd ‘Tesla killer’ catchphrase rears its head. The US tech giant is the benchmark against which all new EVs are measured – and never has this been more true than with Porsche’s inaugural electric sports saloon: the Taycan. Despite the fact it was only revealed at this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, we’re already behind the wheel of Porsche’s first EV. It’s based on a completely new platform, which will later underpin cars like Audi’s sleek e-tron GT. On paper, the Porsche has more than…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk ● Spy photos reveal design of VW’s big-selling hatch ● Mild-hybrid technology joined by new engines FOLLOWING on the tail of the new all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 will be the Mk8 Golf, and these new spy shots bare almost all, also confirming that plug-in power will return when the car arrives next year. The mule in our spy shots is a Golf GTE plug-in hybrid, which we expect will get the turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol and electric motor set-up used in the latest Passat, which means more than 40 miles of running on electric power only is a possibility. The next Golf will also be the first VW to feature 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Conventional powertrains will remain, with a new turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine and a new 1.5-litre…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk CAR insurance can be something of a closed book. We all know, for example, that a more powerful car will cost more to insure, while points on your licence are likely to see your premiums rise. But things are rather less clear-cut when it comes to modifications. Should you tell your insurer if you fit an aftermarket stereo to your car, for example, or kit it out with winter tyres? What about optional extras fitted from new? Auto Express has teamed up with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) and Ageas insurance to help answer these questions and others, shining some much-needed light on a complex subject. If in doubt, tell All insurance firms are different, BIBA says. “Some treat locking wheel nuts or a roof rack as a…

OUTSIDE: Decals, graphics, badges and stickers, including those “indicating increased performance” Non-standard paintwork Bodywork changes (eg: spoilers, arches) Luggage systems and panniers Aftermarket alloy wheels INSIDE: Replacement seats Aftermarket stereos Bluetooth interface MECHANICALS: Tuning of any kind (electrical or mechanical) Uprated clutches Quick-shift gearlevers Removal of catalytic converters Cosmetic or performance exhausts Uprated brakes Altered suspension…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk AN empty motorway carriageway is an uncanny sight. Where once there were four lanes of traffic hurtling along at 70mph, now there’s an expanse of concrete with countless vehicles held back, as if caged, by traffic cones and emergency vehicles. We’re out on patrol with Highways England traffic officers as they watch over their patch of the M25, and we’ll return to this scene later on. Our day starts in the calmer environment of Highways England’s eastern regional control centre (RCC), tucked away behind South Mimms services on the M25. The control room is dominated by a screen that can display live footage from 24 cameras simultaneously, or be configured to show one camera’s feed, with individual displays forming a cinema-sized screen if the situation demands it. Operations manager…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk A SMALL nip and tuck to the evergreen Passat isn’t Volkswagen’s biggest news of 2019, but it’s certainly significant to British business buyers. This is a popular company car and motorway mile-muncher, and almost four out of every five Passats sold in the UK go to fleets, not private customers. While there’s an updated plug-in hybrid model with low company car tax, the Passat also retains a wide diesel line-up, ensuring a lot of choice for high-mileage drivers. There’s an all-new 2.0 litre with 148bhp and cylinder-deactivation technology, plus a hot 237bhp bi-turbo model. Somewhere in the middle sits this: the 187bhp 2.0-litre TDI. Driven here in less popular saloon format, the Passat remains fairly restrained in a class becoming ever more obsessed with sporty looks – although a…

MODEL TESTED: Tesla Model S Long Range AWD PRICE: £78,050 DRIVE: Dual electric motors/100 kWh battery, 469bhp THE Model S has lost a little ground to its premium EV rivals, as more established manufacturers have dipped their toes in the all-electric pool, but Tesla hopes it has addressed this with updates to its saloon. We test the £78,050 Model S Long Range to see if they’ve worked. Design & engineering UNDER the skin, the Model S uses the same skateboard-style architecture that’s defined Teslas for years, with the 100kWh battery sandwiched in the floor within the car’s wheelbase. The usable capacity is 95kWh, but this is still bigger than the Jag’s total battery capacity. In the Tesla, it supplies two electric motors for a total of 469bhp and 750Nm of…

CHARGING THE Tesla’s charging port is integrated into its rear left light cluster, while the Jag features a charging port door on its front left wing. The Tesla’s port is closer to the ‘extremes’ of the car, so the cable won’t have to stretch as much, but you will have to reverse park mostly. However, given the Model S’s bigger battery, charging should be less frequent than in the I-Pace, and faster, too. APPROACH ALTHOUGH the I-Pace does feel decidedly more like an SUV than the Model S, as you can see from the picture below, there’s not too much difference in size between the two all-electric models. The Jag’s driving position is nicer, thanks to the more supportive seats. Visibility of the car’s extremes is also slightly clearer, so…

THE Audi A6 Allroad uses the brand’s MLB Evo platform, which means it shares parts with several other Audi models, as well as various VW Group cars such as the Volkswagen Touareg and even the Bentley Bentayga. This architecture allows the use of air suspension, mild-hybrid engines and even four-wheel steering (which is available only on high-spec Vorsprung models). The upgraded suspension is the star of the show in the new A6 Allroad, because it helps the car ride smoothly, even on poorly surfaced roads. In fact, it remains composed and relatively comfortable even when off the tarmac, which gives the Allroad an advantage over the Volvo here. The Audi deals with potholes and ruts better than its rival, but it’s also able to keep the wheels in contact with…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk OUR time with the latest iteration of Skoda’s Fabia is at an end, and over the last six months we’ve clocked up 6,000 miles in our ‘simply clever’ supermini. It’s fair to say that the current Fabia isn’t the newest kid on the block. As solid as we’ve found the Fabia in our time with it, one thing is quite apparent: this Mk3 car is ready to move on and graduate, hence why I chose Oxford University as the destination for one last drive. I’ve used the Fabia for my regular commute in and out of central London, while staff writer Luke Wilkinson has chalked up plenty of miles, shuttling the Skoda up and down the long motorway between his home in London and family in Cumbria on several…

Audi e-tron Issues 1,579, 1,585 BMW 3 Series Issues 1,576, 1584 Citroen Berlingo XL Issues 1,579, 1,591 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564, 1,572, 1,575, 1,583, 1,590 Ford Focus Issues 1,582, 1,589, 1,592 Honda CR-V Hybrid Issues 1,576, 1584, 1,591 Hyundai Santa Fe Issues 1,575, 1,580, 1,587 Jaguar I-Pace Issue 1,588 Jaguar XE Issue 1,593 Mazda MX-5 Issues 1,573, 1,585 Renault Mégane R.S. Issue 1,581, 1,593 SsangYong Musso Issue 1,590 SEATTarraco Issues 1,574, 1584, 1,590 Skoda Fabia Issues 1,572, 1,582 Volkswagen California Issues 1,578, 1,583, 1,586, 1,592 Volkswagen Touareg Issues 1,580, 1,585…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● Jakarta event on 6 June ● Da Costa makes DS move FORMULA E has announced a race in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta as part of the upcoming sixth season of the electric single-seater series, which kicks off in Saudi Arabia in November. The full circuit layout has yet to be confirmed, but organisers have said it will incorporate the National Monument (pictured above) in the centre of the city. Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo said: “The calendar for this season was already shaping up to be something special, but to add another race in Asia, and Indonesia in particular, is incredibly exciting. Indonesia is an emerging market for electric vehicles, with increased investment already being made to push production and clean up the air around the cities.…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “As Frankfurt proved, the death of tried and tested, more affordable internal combustion-engined family cars is decades away” THIS month’s Frankfurt Motor Show intrigued and impressed me with its glorious glut of often unproven, comparatively expensive, alternatively fuelled cars for the future – when their petrol and diesel-powered counterparts are supposed to decline before being wiped off the face of the earth. But, as Frankfurt and elsewhere still prove, the death of tried and tested, more easily affordable internal combustion-engined family cars remains decades away. For the foreseeable future at least, such ‘old-school’ beasts remain far more desirable and considerably cheaper to purchase than pure-electric or hydrogen models of similar size. That’s why I, not unreasonably, wanted Volkswagen of Germany to officially…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk ● Next-generation MINI could be electric from the start ● Reduction in size will see it match BMW’s 2001 original “Cute proportions mean the new MINI would join a growing pool of small, smart, design-focused EVs” THE future of the ever-popular MINI is being shaped behind closed doors right now, and brand boss Bernd Koerber has admitted that he has some very key goals in mind. He wants to shrink the car and turn it all-electric, and he wants to do it in time for the next-generation model, which will arrive early next decade. Parent company BMW has been here before. In 2011 it revealed the Rocketman concept at the Geneva Motor Show, hinting at a future MINI city car powered by a range of three-cylinder engines. However, Koerber,…

INEOS Automotive has confirmed that its spiritual successor to the previous-generation Land Rover Defender will be called the Ineos Grenadier. The brand – led by British billionaire chemical engineer Sir Jim Ratcliffe – has also announced that the upcoming 4x4 will be assembled at a brand-new production facility in Bridgend, Wales. This will create up to 500 jobs in the region in the long term. The Ineos Grenadier will reach the global market in 2021. Its maker says that, at its projected peak in 2024, the new Bridgend plant will support an annual production volume of 25,000 vehicles. A second facility will be opened in Portugal, and this will produce the Grenadier’s body and chassis components.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Nissan Juke FROM: Ant Spencer I OFTEN hear rude remarks about the Juke, but while it’s not my cup of tea, it’s nice to have something unique in a market with so many SUV lookalikes. The new car is sharper and smarter, but is still clearly a Juke. I hope it does very well. FROM: Joseph Lynn THE first Juke was a revolutionary car, but rivals have now caught up. In addition, by toning the design down for the second-generation model, Nissan has created something that looks rather average. Smart, but nothing special, sadly. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Reminds me of a jacked-up Micra, but I like it! Harks…

Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk Electric motor Power/range 141bhp/26 miles Running costs 108.6mpg (official) £69 fill-up WHAT could be better than a plug-in hybrid Audi Q5? All that roominess, the plush interior, neat dynamics and enviable brand swagger, complete with an official 26 miles of electric running and a 2.0-litre petrol engine to keep you going. It could be the hybrid that buyers have been waiting for. There are two plug-in Q5 TFSI e models on offer, each complete with a 14.1kWh battery and 141bhp electric motor. Audi’s familiar four-cylinder turbo petrol engine features in both, alongside quattro four-wheel drive and a dual-clutch S tronic gearbox. The combination of electric motor and petrol engine produces 295bhp in the 50 TFSI e, and 362bhp for the 55 TFSI e we try here. The idea is…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk MINI’S Clubman has always suffered from an identity crisis. The first new-generation car, with its rear door that opened on the driver’s side, was quaint, but a bit odd. This second-generation car is part hatch, part estate, but has just had a refresh. This is it, and on the surface at least, not much has changed. MINI has chosen to lightly freshen the look, so the Clubman’s slightly confused personality remains. New lights and a larger grille brighten up the front, while there are also new, squarer door mirrors. But it’s at the rear where you’ll tell a facelifted Clubman from the old one. The tail-lights are now full-LEDs and adopt the Union Flag design first seen on the MINI three and five-door hatch. With their wider, slimmer shape…

MODEL TESTED: Jaguar I-Pace EV400 AWD HSE PRICE: £74,995 DRIVE: Dual electric motors/90 kWh battery, 395bhp AS the first-ever electric car to take the Auto Express Car of the Year crown, the I-Pace isn’t just a great EV, it’s a brilliant car, full stop. It’s not quite as expensive as the Tesla at £74,995 in HSE trim, but does it offer better value for money? Design & engineering THE I-Pace sits on Jaguar’s D7e platform, which it developed for electric vehicles from its D7 family – and more all-electric Jags will follow the I-Pace in the future. There’s plenty of aluminium to keep weight down, but the car is still heavy – at 2,208kg, it’s heavier than the Tesla. As in the Model S, the high kerbweight comes from the…

Mercedes EQC 400 AMG Line PP pack PRICE: £74,610 ENGINE: 2x e-motors, 402bhp THIS is a better EV than the e-tron, but doesn’t drive quite as nicely as the Jag, and can’t match the Tesla’s range. However, it’s beautifully refined and rides sweetly, too, even if it’s a little less practical compared with the Audi. Audi e-tron 55 quattro plus PRICE: £71,560 ENGINE: 2x e-motors, 402bhp IT’S well priced, but the e-tron’s lack of efficiency compared with the EQC, I-Pace and Model S in particular mean it’s not quite as practical, despite its big boot and roomy cabin. The interior is a fine example of Audi build and material quality, though.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk Running costs Official range/tax 237 miles/£320 Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/124mph THERE comes a point in every spell of ownership where you like to think you’ve managed to exploit your car’s potential to the full. And that’s precisely how I now feel about our Audi e-tron. If you’re expecting to hear of me barrelling down a country lane in 2.6 tonnes of SUV, or maxing Audi’s electric model on a stretch of autobahn or one of Auto Express’s drag race videos, you’re going to be disappointed. And yet the picture above is clear evidence of me using every scrap of the e-tron’s potential. That’s because while we’ve shown you photos of the e-tron charging before, it has generally been operating at a maximum of 50kW, or considerably less when…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk THERE’S nothing like a relaxing family holiday to put cruel and unusual pressure on the family car, and that’s exactly what our Hyundai Santa Fe has just been subjected to. The £43,320 SUV is well bedded into the daily routine but a two-week family break in the south west pushed it out of its comfort zone. It’s a model that’s great from a practicality standpoint: there’s loads of room for luggage and enough space in the back seats to stop the kids getting narky. If you need to charge tablets, phones, DVD players and run coolboxes, you really are spoilt for choice, with sockets in the boot plus USB charging points for the rear seats and, usefully, a two-pin socket to which you can connect a continental adapter. Then…

Dear Luke, I’m after a mid-size 4x4 SUV and I’d like something a bit different. My budget is £25,000; what do you recommend? Aaron Edwards, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE GO-ANYWHERE CHOICE LR Discovery Sport FOR: Off-road ability, seven seats, handsome looks AGAINST: Confusing trim levels, weak infotainment IT doesn’t have the cachet of a Range Rover, but the Land Rover Discovery Sport has found favour, particularly with family buyers, thanks to the breadth of its abilities and the fact that most models have seven seats. It’s also talented off-road because of its sophisticated Terrain Response system, and all versions of the Discovery Sport have a four-wheel-drive powertrain. It’s pretty sophisticated on the road, too. A high-spec 2016 HSE Luxury auto with a 178bhp diesel engine is within budget. IT’S…