Innholdsfortegnelse for 1596 i Auto Express

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Renault: EV is future of fun ● CO2 rules kill off hot Clio A RENAULT Sport version of the Zoe electric hatch is being eyed up as an indirect replacement for the Clio RS, Auto Express can reveal. Bosses at the firm told us a successor to the hot Clio is no longer a viable business proposition, and that a hot Zoe is currently the favoured option within the company to plug the gap. Renault previously flirted with the idea of a performance-based EV back in 2017 when it showed the Zoe e-sport concept. The running prototype featured technology learned from the French firm’s efforts in Formula E; a twin-motor set-up delivered 454bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds, but the concept was never intended to…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Heralds future Nissan designs ● Platform created for EV power A FUNKY new Nissan concept car will be one of the headliners at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show, and is intended to show that city cars aren’t quite dead yet. Called the IMk concept, it’s a tiny, boxy runaround that’s described by the brand as the “ultimate urban commuter”. While A-segment city cars are struggling in Europe, similarly sized Kei cars are still massively popular in Nissan’s native Japan. The IMk measures just 3,434mm long, 1,512mm wide and 1,644mm tall, and is underpinned by a new platform created for electric vehicles. It would be easy to look at this concept and predict a Nissan rival for the Honda e is in the offing, but the concept is…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor All-new 208 shows plenty of promise IT’S time to trot out the old cliché: Can the Peugeot 208 take on and dethrone the Ford Fiesta? Well, it has the armoury, since it comes in petrol, diesel and EV flavours (the latter driven on page 26). There’s lots of tech, too, quality to rival the VW Polo’s and smart looks. Has it worked? Watch my video to find out. Extended-range Zoe looks to impress MEANWHILE big rival Renault has launched the second-generation Zoe, designed to take on the likes of the electric variant of the Peugeot 208. It immediately has an advantage by offering a longer range than the e-208, but there’s more to the story than that. Richard Ingram reports. 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…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale WEEK in, week out, our reviews team endeavours to bring you the most comprehensive assessments of the latest cars and model variants. However, one factor our reviews don’t tend to consider is how well a car protects its occupants from an assailant armed with an assault rifle and hand grenades. For the small number of buyers around the world who need to take these considerations into account, though, the Volvo XC90 Armoured would score very well indeed. Arguably Volvo is most famous for making safe cars, and the XC90 is certainly no exception. In fact, figures released last year suggest that no fatalities have ever been recorded in an XC90 in the UK, while the US-based International Driving Authority describes the Swedish SUV as the safest car in…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Running costs 38.7mpg (official) £85 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.0 seconds/136mph SKODA has updated its Superb flagship hatchback for 2020. The facelift has added new bumpers, a different grille and LED headlights, and there’s also new Skoda lettering on the boot as the Czech brand continues the roll-out of a new branding approach that was given its first airing on the recent Scala hatchback. There are a few specification changes in the line-up too, but of course, the basic recipe hasn’t changed that much – so the Superb remains a rival for the Mazda 6 and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, plus the Volkswagen Passat, which was also recently facelifted. Indeed, the Skoda and VW share an engine range, thanks to their common MQB architecture. To check the Superb’s…

The UK will be leaving the EU on 31 October. This will bring important changes to doing business. Here are five things automotive companies can do now to get ready. Prepare for Brexit at gov.uk/brexit 1 Ensure your vehicles and components are approved for sale in the UK and the EU If you are a manufacturer and want to register new vehicles in the UK, you will need to apply to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) to convert existing EU vehicle type approvals. To sell in the EU you will also need to apply to an EU-based approval authority to transfer existing UK approvals and, if necessary, appoint an EU representative. The VCA can also provide assistance with this transfer process. Further information can be found by searching ‘vehicle type…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk Running costs 45.9mpg (on test) £62 fill-up/£145 or 30% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 273/1,354 litres “Driving a Focus ST just reinforced what a fundamentally good car my one is” MY Ford Focus has been doing the rounds in the office recently, while I spent time in our Volkswagen California and recently departed Skoda Fabia. Both are outstanding vehicles for all sorts of reasons, but the Focus is so simple to slip back into that returning to it is like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes. It just feels right, and I’m rather sad that it’ll be heading off to a new owner very soon. In a world where the SUV is king, getting behind the wheel of a comparatively low-slung hatchback feels good. It’s easy to live…

Skoda launches new ‘digital assistant’ SKODA’S latest offering is a new Amazon Alexa-style digital assistant, who’ll make her way into most of the brand’s new models, beginning with the Kamiq SUV and Scala hatchback. She is named Laura and is activated by saying “Okay, Laura”. Skoda says she can understand ‘natural’ speech patterns in six languages. So far, she can answer questions on a variety of topics, navigate to a destination, take voice dictation for a message or play music. In future, Skoda says she’ll accomplish more, both on and off-line. Powerflex bushes get the traditional look IF you’re restoring or upgrading a heritage motor it can be tempting to fit modern parts, but often they look out of place. Powerflex has responded to this with its new Ford Heritage…

CARRYING a torch in the glovebox is always a good idea, but not so clever if the battery is flat when you need it. So a rechargeable model makes more sense, particularly when it can be revived in the car. Modern LEDs provide lots of light for a small amount of charge and are tough, reliable and usually last the life of the torch. So which flashlight is the one to slip into your car? We charged up eight to find the shining stars. PRODUCT GROUP TEST 09|10|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 Ring Zoom 300 LED Rechargeable Torch RIT1050 Price: £25 Contact: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.com BEST…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Plummeting TT sales have forced rethink of car’s future ● Range of up to 340 miles, plus four-wheel drive “At the top of the range will be a model comparable with today’s TT RS, with power in excess of 400bhp” AUDI bosses have finally settled on a proposal for the next-generation TT, which will morph into a fully electric crossover, Auto Express can reveal. There has been a fierce boardroom battle within the German company over how the next TT should evolve. It’s been a debate that has raged since 2014 when the firm’s then-boss, Rupert Stadler (who was later charged and removed from his position for his involvement in the VW Group’s Dieselgate scandal), proposed the idea that the model could develop into a petrol-powered five-door…

THE Mazda 2 supermini has been given a thorough refresh, and the revised car will cost from £15,795 in the UK. Visual updates include new 16-inch alloy wheels, thinner foglamps, a new mesh grille and reshaped headlights that are intended to make the car appear wider. At the same time, Mazda has re-trimmed the car’s cabin using some more premium materials and fitted a new pair of front seats that are claimed to be more supportive than the old ones. Beneath the skin, new dampers and a revised version of Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control chassis-management software have been added, which, the company says, will increase comfort as well as vehicle stability at speed. The diesel engine has been dropped, so only two versions of the non-turbo 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol motor, with…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale MOTORISTS who failed to ‘look properly’ were the biggest cause of fatal accidents last year, causing 383 such collisions. A total of 32,124 accidents were caused by a lack of driver observation in 2018, out of a total of 84,968. The data comes from the Department for Transport (DfT), which has compiled a statistical breakdown of the biggest contributory factors to fatal accidents, and those in which at least one person was injured, recorded by police between the years of 2013 and 2018. Observation proved to be critical to safety – not only were there 383 fatal accidents involving a driver failing to look properly, but a further 117 involved a pedestrian not looking properly, either. In fact, unobservant pedestrians contributed to 7,106 accidents of all severities last…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 54.3mpg (official) £67 fill-up BMW’s smallest SUV, the X1, has been a hit with buyers since its release in 2015. But while it’s always been at the top of the class when it comes to driving fun and build quality, a huge crowd of talented rivals has popped up over the years. So, to keep the X1 looking fresh against the likes of the latest Audi Q3, the Volvo XC40 and upcoming Mercedes GLB, the baby BMW SUV has undergone a refresh with new interior tech, mild styling updates and tweaks to the engine range. The most obvious external change is at the front, where BMW’s latest grille design dominates. Fresh headlight graphics mean that the old, round spotlights just beneath the main units have gone,…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WITH a bloodline that dates all the way back to the fifties, the Volkswagen California is arguably the quintessential compact camper van. Like the rest of the new T6.1 range – including the Transporter van and Caravelle MPV – the California has been treated to a nip and tuck, heralding a fresh look and more convenience features. It’s not due in the UK until the spring, but we’ve been given early access to the revised camper to see if it’s worthy of your consideration. Among the changes on the outside, there are new lights and a slimmer grille, some new wheel designs, and fresh tail-lights at the rear. The white over bronze two-tone paint on our van is new, too. But it’s inside where the biggest updates take…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Hybrid system Power/EV range 449bhp/26 miles (est) Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.0 secs/150mph (est) THE new Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid isn’t the first such vehicle to be offered in the Q7 line-up. But while the previous incarnation used a diesel engine, the latest version, badged 60 TFSIe Competition, follows the industry (and customer) trend by switching to petrol. In fact, the Q7 60 TFSIe Competition is one half of a new hybrid duo within the range. Audi is also offering its largest SUV as a 55 TFSIe, with 375bhp. This model is available across Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung trim levels, with prices starting from around £67,000. But the 60 TFSIe driven here is restricted to Vorsprung spec, which means a tech list longer than your arm…

Volkswagen Touran VOLKSWAGEN’S Touran is a masterclass in packaging because it’s one of the smallest cars on this list, making it better suited to urban streets. It also drives well, comes with a good spread of engines, and all models are well equipped, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB radio and individual rear seats as standard. Kia Sorento IF you’re after a big SUV, but your budget is relatively limited, then the Kia Sorento should be on your shortlist. Its 2.2-litre diesel engine offers plenty of pulling power, even if its running costs are on the high side. Still, every model except the entry-level KX-1 Sorento comes packed with standard equipment. SEAT Alhambra IT’S longer in the tooth than most of our choices in this list, but the Alhambra is…

THE XCeed sits on Kia’s compact car platform, the same as the regular Ceed hatchback, but the transformation into an SUV means there’s now 44mm more room between the road and the car’s side sills, while the body itself is also longer and wider than that of the hatch. These increases in dimensions are only marginal though, while the wheelbase is the same as the standard Ceed’s, so the relationship is clear to see, even if the changes mostly comprise subtle styling tweaks to make this model look a little sleeker, even with its big, chunky wheel arches. They’re relatively successful. The XCeed’s engine line-up is more compact than that in the Ceed range, and it’s the 134bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel we’re testing here, which comes only in 3 specification. Although…

Pete_Baiden@dennis.co.uk @PeteBaiden Running costs 41.7mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£145 or 33% tax Practicality Boot (7/5/2-seat modes) 230/700/1,775 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.3 seconds/126mph “I’ve been impressed with how it drives, how much space it has, and how it looks” TWO months after joining our test fleet, the SEAT Tarraco edged out the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 to win the Large SUV of the Year honour at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2019. Now, as my time with our Tarraco comes to an end, I think it deserves to be crowned again. Six months of rigorous real-world testing can sometimes highlight problems that wouldn’t have otherwise been noticed when a car was driven for the first time, but the Tarraco has just got better and better. I’ve been impressed…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Be careful in floods MY commute has changed and it goes through an area prone to flooding. What’s the best way to drive through a flood? I’ve been told you can suck water in to the engine – is this true? Ray Ladbrooke, E-mail A IF water is sucked in via the air intake or exhaust it can often cause terminal engine damage. However, if you know the road and can judge the water depth is no more than 15cm or so, drive slowly through it keeping the revs up by slipping the clutch or gently pressing the brakes in an automatic. Avoid fast-flowing water. Q How to remove badges I’VE seen cars that have had their badges removed and like the look. What’s…

THE dash-cam boom shows no sign of slowing, so makers are trying to provide added value by designing products that do more than just capture incidents. The new Thinkware M1 combines a motorcycle incident cam with an action camera. Our test focused on the sporting element, so we pitched the M1 against our current action cam favourite – the GoPro Hero 7 Black. Both were fitted to a Lotus Elise, used on a variety of circuits, and the footage was compared on a computer. We also looked at ease of use, connectivity and value for money. GoPro hangs on to its crown thanks to its superb video and sound, making it ideal for capturing on-board action. The M1 has a lot to offer, although combining two roles does compromise its…

Dear Luke, “I’ve got £9,000 to spend on a Kei car. Which is better – the Suzuki Cappuccino, the Honda Beat or the Daihatsu Copen?” Ian Smythe, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk ⚫ THE DRIVER’S CHOICE Suzuki Cappuccino FOR: Sharp handling, brisk acceleration, economical AGAINST: Rust issues, gearboxes suffer weak synchros IN its day, the Cappuccino occupied an odd niche below the comparatively large first-generation Mazda MX-5. Like all the cars here, its compact dimensions are governed by Japan’s Kei-car rules, which restrict a car’s size and engine displacement, rewarding drivers there with lower taxes. Most Kei cars weren’t officially sold here, but the Cappuccino was one of the few that did make it to the UK. Used prices vary wildly, with £3,000 enough to find you a scruffy example, and the…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● British driver joins Mitch Evans ● New i-Type 4 racer revealed JAGUAR has unveiled its Formula E season-six entry, the i-Type 4, and confirmed James Calado as a new driver alongside New Zealander Mitch Evans. The 30-year-old Brit finished third in GP2 in 2013, but has spent the majority of the past five seasons racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Ferrari. Calado completed several test sessions with Jaguar over the summer months before being confirmed last week in the seat vacated by fellow Brit Alex Lynn. He said: “This was one of the most sought-after seats in Formula E and I’m extremely proud to have been offered it. Jaguar’s motorsport history is iconic and to be a part of this team is a great opportunity.…

MAZDA has launched a TCR touring-car verson of its 3 family hatchback, joining the likes of Audi, Honda, SEAT, Peugeot, Hyundai and Volkswagen in producing a car for the popular global category. Launched by Mazda North America and initially racing in the US-based IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the Mazda 3 TCR will be available for privateer teams to purchase. It’s eligible for competition in all of the 36 officially sanctioned TCR series around the world, included the top-level World Touring Car Cup. A turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 350bhp provides power, paired with a six-speed paddle-shift transmission. Commenting on the launch of the Mazda 3 TCR, Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s North American operations chairman and CEO, said: “TCR represents a great opportunity for us to showcase the all-new Mazda 3…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Inverted grille for future EVs ● New chassis being developed ELSEWHERE at Audi, the firm has given us the first hint of how its next generation of electric cars could look, by revealing the front end of a concept designed on the VW Group’s new PPE platform that the company is creating in conjunction with Porsche. The unnamed vehicle is at the rear of an official image designed to showcase Audi’s approach to electrification; the e-tron, forthcoming e-tron GT, and Q4 e-tron sit in the foreground of the image. The concept has been partly revealed, showing a potential new grille treatment that Audi is considering for its electric cars. It looks like an inverted version of the current set-up, with a very obvious panel replacing the conventional…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Developed in half usual time ● Big improvement in quality THE latest Corsa, and in particular the all-electric Corsa-e, is one of the most important cars in Vauxhall’s history. And before this crucial new supermini arrives in showrooms at the beginning of next year, Auto Express has been invited into the passenger seat to take a closer look. Our driver for the day is Thomas Wanke, Corsa global lead development engineer. “This is the most challenging car I have ever worked on at Vauxhall, it was very difficult,” Wanke tells us. Work only started on the Corsa in 2017 as Vauxhall/Opel was bought out by PSA, the owners of Citroen, DS and Peugeot. As such, engineers had only half the usual time they are usually granted to…

Ford Puma prices set to start from £20,845 PRICES for the new Ford Puma crossover (above) have been set, with Ford’s new Nissan Juke rival on sale from £20,845. That’s for mid-range Titanium spec – cheaper variants will follow later in 2020 – with Titanium First Edition models due for delivery in January. From launch, the Puma will also be available in sporty ST Line and ST Line X trims, and it will be powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol turbocharged engine with 123bhp or 153bhp. Prices for the new car will rise to £27,345. No-deal Brexit: jobs worries for Nissan NISSAN will review the future of its Sunderland plant in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to reports. The site produces the Qashqai SUV and the Leaf EV,…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor WHEN the third-generation M-Class (now GLE) was launched in 2012, a coupé version was never on the cards. Times changed, though, and so the GLE Coupé was born in 2015, although it never drove as well as it looked. The latest model, however, was designed from the outset to be both a conventional SUV and a coupé. “Feedback from our customers on the old car was that it didn’t drive well enough,” says Mercedes’ director of SUV development, Dr Andreas Zygan. Indeed, so confident is Mercedes of giving the Coupé a more sporting flair than the standard GLE, the company took us for a ride up the tortuous Transfagarasan Highway in Romania in the new, much more performance-focused Mercedes-AMG 53 Coupé. At the wheel was Steffen Nowack, project…

1 Sun glare A full 2,643 crashes in 2018 involved a driver being dazzled by the sun, of which 27 were fatal. 2 Dirty windscreen or visor In 2018, 118 accidents were caused by a vehicle’s windscreen or a motorcyclist’s visor being dirty, scratched or frosted. Three of these were fatal. 3 Uncertainty, nerves or panic Drivers who were nervous or uncertain at the wheel, or panicked when something went wrong, contributed to 1,278 accidents last year, nine of which resulted in fatalities. 4 Door opened or closed negligently Two of the 297 crashes caused by someone opening or closing a car door involved a death. 5 Inexperience of driving on the left In the UK last year, 315 accidents – six of which involved a fatality – were caused…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC New Porsche Taycan FROM: Quixotica BEAUTIFUL, fast, and almost certainly superb to drive, there’s much to like; even the range is good. But this remains a relatively low-volume, six-figure supercar. It may be a technological tour-de-force, but the VW ID.3 is far more important. FROM: Georgi Popov TESLA should be worried. The Taycan is the only production EV with a top speed of more than 250kph/155mph. Even the Mercedes SLS Electric Drive that most people seem to have forgotten about had a top speed of 155mph. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Power and top speed should be ignored with EVs; range and usability are the priorities.” David Collinson ■ “A ‘Turbo’ EV reminds me of the eighties, when calculators and fridges had ‘turbo’ badges. Jokeycokey…

Vicky_Parrott@dennis.co.uk @VickyParrott Running costs 211-mile range (official) 100kW rapid charging Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/94mph PEUGEOT has an interesting take on the electric car. While rivals are going down the route of delivering EVs on bespoke platforms with deliberately different styling, the French brand is telling customers that electric power is normal; nothing to fret about, just the next step. Hence the e-208, which looks, feels and drives in much the same way as the petrol equivalent, and has a 211-mile range. Peugeot could be on to something with this, by giving a slightly bewildered car-buying audience something so recognisable and familiar. It’s very competitively priced too, starting at just over £25k, or £26,250 with the mid-range Allure trim that we’d recommend. That equates to around £330 a month with…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE mighty VW Group sells vehicles in most areas of the market, but the Grand California marks a new niche for the firm as it tries to take on motorhomes. The big brother of the iconic Cali (left) is up against converted Fiat and Peugeot vans, custom-made by a network of independent manufacturers. And it’s sold to a discerning clientele who really know about camping. For the base of the Grand California, VW has turned to its Crafter vans, powered by a 175bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. The ‘entry point’ is the 600, a six-metre-long motorhome that has a double bed across the rear cabin and sleeping quarters for two children in an area over the cabin. Here we’re trying the 680, a 6.8-metre-long behemoth that costs more…

Expert insight James_Howe@dennis.co.uk SINCE the early eighties, British buyers have taken the idea of driving a seven-seater to their hearts. The concept was pioneered in Europe by the original Renault Espace, but it took almost a decade for rivals to catch on in a big way. Those multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) offered a safe, comfortable and practical way to transport big families, and have since become favourites of cab drivers up and down the country. Remarkably, the MPV market is on the wane today; a victim of the success of the SUV. These models offer much of the seven-seat practicality of a people-carrier in a more stylish and desirable package. SUVs generally sport the same sort of boxy shape as an MPV, which helps to make the most of interior space.…

Otis_Clay@dennis.co.uk FROM cars to groceries, to fitness, the general level of quality for the average consumer is sky high at the moment. This has been brought to my attention more since I have been running our Dacia Duster; the standard of my most frequently used conveniences, services and goods seems to be really good, and I think the Duster sits at the front of the pack in that regard. Thanks to the on-the-road price of £15,995, I can’t think of a car that better exemplifies value for money. You see, despite the Duster sitting at the cheaper end of the market, I’ve found the quality in it to be just as high as I would expect of new cars costing far more. That’s especially true if I limit that to…

Audi e-tron Issues 1,579, 1,585, 1,594 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, 1595 Jaguar XE Issue 1,593 Mazda MX-5 Issues 1,573, 1,585 Renault Mégane R.S. Issue 1,581, 1,593 Ssang Yong Musso Issue 1,590 SEAT Tarraco Issues 1,574, 1584, 1,590 Volkswagen California Issues 1,578, 1,583, 1,586, 1,592, 1595 Volkswagen Touareg Issues 1,580, 1,585…

How to be a Motorist W Heath Robinson and KRG Browne (Bodleian Library Publishing, bodleianshop.co.uk) Price: £9.99 IT’S from 1939, but there’s little to match the insane brilliance of W Heath Robinson and his illustrations. Even though “the modern motor is so nearly foolproof that the veriest cretin can make it start and stop”, the two authors have an excellent working knowledge of the car of the time. A fantastic read that’s well worth the price. Ford versus Ferrari John Starkey (Veloce, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £15.99 THE tale of the Ford GT40 at the Le Mans 24 Hours has even been made into a film, but it’s rare to find a book that covers Ferrari’s half of this saga in detail. This book pays near-equal attention to both makes for a…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Will I need to pay to log on? MANY new cars come equipped with a WiFi hotspot, either as standard or as an optional extra. Is this a free service, or does it have to be paid for and renewed on an annual basis? Philip Mason, E-mail A THIS varies between manufacturers, but typically hotspots will be free for a set period before subscription rates kick in. For example, the WiFi element of Ford’s Pass Connect package comes with a free three-month 3GB trial followed by various purchase options. Check with the dealer for any car you’re interested in buying. Q Help finding car park culprit I PARKED in a public car park the other day and came back to find a large…

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-lOOkph), in seconds. ECONOMY AND EMISSIONS: The combined economy and emissions figures in miles per gallon and grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are the best figures achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but are unlikely to be representative of actual efficiency in everyday driving. INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers. WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork. LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months' road tax, number plates and first registration. WILL IT FIT? Is your garage big enough? Our…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Often these brands pointlessly compete with each other, and it’s you, the consumer, who pays for this competition” THE largest employers on the planet – the likes of the Chinese Army, McDonalds, our NHS, and the Volkswagen Group – don’t get everything right. For instance, despite having more workers, brands, versatility and street cred than its closest rival (Toyota), the German giant sells fewer cars, suffers bigger fines (mostly Dieselgate-related) and makes lower profits. Yes, I’m impressed that the group employs up to 700,000 people across the globe, but more of these staffers must start the long-overdue process of separating out the four (five if we include Cupra) mainstream sister brands within this ever-growing family. The way I see it, Skoda and…