Innholdsfortegnelse for 1612 i Auto Express

MK1: 1996-2003 Audi’s first Golf rival was launched as a three-door specifically to make it seem more glamorous than its sister car. A five-door version and the rapid S3 arrived in 1999. MK2: 2003-2013 Second A3 brought in an expanded range. Two-door A3 Cabriolet slotted in alongside the three- and five-door versions, while the hot five-cylinder RS3 model appeared, too. MK3: 2012-2020 Yet more bodystyles for the third A3, with a saloon joining the line-up to sit below the A4 in Audi’s range. Dwindling three-door sales make this the last A3 to be offered in this form.…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale ● Three quarters would spend rather than use public transport MORE than three quarters of motorists would pay to drive into a town or city clean-air zone instead of using public transport, Auto Express can reveal. An online poll of more than 1,400 readers saw 77 per cent say they would drive into an area with emission restrictions rather than use the bus, train or tram, despite such zones adding to the cost of their journeys. London is the only UK city with a charging zone at present; its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) costs drivers of non-Euro 6 diesel (roughly pre-2015) cars and non-Euro 4 petrol (pre-2006) cars £12.50 a day to enter the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone. The ULEZ is to expand to…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths ● No changes until transition period ends ● Current licences and insurance are valid BARRING dramatic developments in the hours after this magazine went to press on Friday, Britain is now no longer part of the European Union. Much has been written in the 43 months since we voted to leave the EU, but we can now say with certainty how Brexit will affect motorists – until the transition period is scheduled to end on 31 December 2020, at least. So what is going to change for drivers? Not much. During transition most EU rules stay in place, to the extent you can still use EU passport lines and European health insurance cards remain valid. Transition aims to give negotiators time to strike deals, or agree that no…

Peugeot 508 PHEV tested DO company cars have to be dull? Not if the Peugeot 508 Hybrid SW has anything to say about it. A plugin hybrid powertrain matched with gorgeous styling means that it should be a purchase that satisfies both head and heart. But is it any good? Alex Ingram finds out. youtube.com/Autoexpress VAUXHALL CORSA The good old Corsa: it’s one of Britain’s favourite cars and has been around for years. There’s now a new one that has a lot in common with the Peugeot 208. Is it still a worthy buy or is the Renault Clio (Carbuyer’s Car of the Year) a better choice? James Batchelor finds out. youtube.com/carbuyer MINI ELECTRIC While rivals such as Renault and Honda have built standalone electric superminis, the MINI Electric is…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New VW Golf GTI FROM: Ben Clark I’M fairly ambivalent about the standard Mk8 Golf, but I really like the look of it with the GTI badge, stripes and wheels. It looks very sporty – as a hot hatch should – and a bit futuristic. I hope the production version looks like this! FROM: Aaronster CONSIDERING the Mk8 Golf is essentially a reskin of the Mk7, I’m not sure what this will offer. VW seemed to have got the previous GTI to a point of perfection; you’d be better off getting a used one of those rather than wait for a Mk8 Clubsport S. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “It would…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WE’RE likely to see plenty of new Vauxhalls arriving over the coming months, as the company taps into the huge resources of its new owner PSA to expand its horizons. And here’s one of the more intriguing newcomers made possible by new ownership: the Grandland X Hybrid4. It boasts some promising specs. The car has a 197bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, along with a pair of electric motors – one on each axle – for a combined total output of 296bhp and 520Nm. That makes it the most powerful model in Vauxhall’s current line-up – and by some way. There’s an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the electric motors help to deliver punchy performance; 0-62mph takes a claimed 5.9 seconds, and the car is capable of up to 84mph…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE changing landscape of Europe’s premium car market is captured quite well by the Mercedes GLC. It’s an SUV, but it’s also offered as the sportier-looking Coupé for buyers wanting to stand out. Of course, the reality is that it’s a less practical model for more money, with a 500-litre boot that’s 80 litres smaller. For 2020, the GLC has been refreshed with a minor exterior redesign, while inside there’s a new 10.25-inch floating display sitting in the middle of the dashboard. The new MBUX infotainment system looks great, but we’ve found it lacking in logical operation in other models. For those who like using touchscreen inputs, that’s now available in the GLC. Wireless smartphone charging becomes an option, too. Digital dials are also available, with a bright…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE new-car market is rich, varied, and populated by hundreds of appealing models, each cleverly marketed and vying for your hard-earned cash. So in advance of the arrival of the new 20 plate on 1 March, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to buying a new car, taking in everything from the changing face of finance, to the best new cars on the market. We also give you a steer on options, tax and consumer protection, covering everything you need to know before buying. Don’t visit a dealership or open a configurator before reading these pages.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths MORE than nine out of 10 buyers take out some form of finance when buying a new car; 91.3 per cent, to be precise. With 1,052,202 private buyers purchasing a new car last year, that works out at just under a million finance packages issued, as buyers opt to spread the cost of getting behind the wheel of a brand-new car. Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) has long been the mainstay of new-car finance, with around 80 per cent of finance customers opting for this type of package, and buyers like the flexibility a PCP deal offers. Pay your deposit, make your monthly payments and then, at the end of the agreement, select one of three options: hand the car back with nothing further to pay, use any ‘equity’…

BiK (Benefit-in-Kind): the tax on a non-salary perk such as a company car, provided by an employer to an employee. CO2 (carbon dioxide): pollutant produced by cars with a petrol or diesel engine, measured in grams per kilometre (g/km), and used to set tax. BiK rate: the percentage of a company car’s value that is taxed. The more CO2 a car emits, the higher its BiK rate. NEDC (New European Driving Cycle): the old test procedure for measuring car emissions and fuel economy. WLTP (Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure): the new economy and emissions test procedure; all new cars registered from September 2019 are assessed under WLTP. RDE2 (Real Driving Emissions, Step 2): RDE emission tests take place on the road as an element accompanying the lab-based WLTP assessments. RDE2…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale YOU’VE ventured into the new car market and chosen the model that’s perfect for you. But from the moment you first take delivery, you have another task to grapple with: keeping it in good condition. After all, buying a car is highly likely to be the most expensive purchase you make, apart from buying a house. And from the day you take delivery, your car will be exposed to a variety of weather conditions, tight parking spaces, and the carelessness of other drivers. Fear not, however: there are a number of steps you can take to keep your car looking good and running smoothly, while keeping its resale value as high as possible and avoiding any additional charges when you hand it back at the end of a…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths HOWEVER good a car is, however perfect a specification you’ve chosen, and however delighted you and your family are with it, the fact remains that a car is a hugely sophisticated piece of kit. And with myriad moving parts cars – even brand-new ones – can sometimes go wrong. In theory, the 2015 Consumer Rights Act (CRA) means that, if should you be in the unfortunate position of buying a car that goes wrong, you’re protected by very strong legislation. We say in theory, because while the CRA is a comprehensive law that affords greater protection than the Sales of Goods Act it replaced, if buyers and dealers are unaware of the rights it grants, things can fall down. Knowing your rights is key, therefore, so here we’ll…

BMW X6 Live Cockpit Professional Standard Key features: Digi dash, connectivity, nav BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional is standard and features two 12.3-inch digital displays, one for the dash and one for the infotainment. The central touchscreen can also be operated by the rotary iDrive wheel, which is still the best way to use it on the move. It makes the system easier to manipulate because you don’t have to divert as much attention to where you want to touch it, as in the Q8. The graphics are great, it processes inputs quickly and has lots of features. CarPlay works well, but it’s a shame there’s no Android Auto. Still, the standard nav and traffic info are so good that it’s worth using them. Gesture control (a gimmick) and wireless charging…

MODEL TESTED: Audi A1 Citycarver 30 TFSI PRICE: £22,040 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 114bhp WE’RE testing the Audi A1 Citycarver 30 TFSI. The ‘30’ in the name refers to the engine’s power output, and because the Citycarver is in effect a trim level of the A1 range, this manual model is the only version with this powertrain. It costs £22,040. Design & engineering APART from a few key changes, the Citycarver is identical to the normal Audi A1 Sportback supermini. The ride height has been raised by around 4cm and there are different styling details on the outside, plus some underbody protection, but fundamentally this is an A1. It’s the same story with the Fiesta Active, too, so this is not particularly surprising. The latest A1 uses the Volkswagen Group’s MQB…

STYLING THESE raised-up superminis use clever exterior styling details to make them look more like SUVs, but they aren’t much different from the base-model A1 and Fiesta. The main trick is the wheelarch cladding, which is a different colour to the body and beefed up slightly, matching the sills. A set of more rugged-looking bumpers and a higher ride height complete the look on both. NAMING THESE cars’ names tell you a lot about the way the makers expect to sell them. The Active moniker hints that Ford wants to attract customers with an active lifestyle, or at least those who want one. Audi’s Citycarver name indicates that it’s not rural buyers that will want a jacked-up supermini; they’re more likely to want a proper SUV. Instead, this A1 is…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk Running costs 36.7mpg (on test) £59 fill-up/£145 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 422/1,088 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/112mph WHEN the Nissan Juke was launched in 2010, it changed the automotive landscape forever. It was one of the first cars of its kind, and buyers flocked to it just as music lovers did to the first iPod. So, like the updated model that followed the original iPod, this new second-generation Juke had a lot to live up to. Apple provided people with the ability to place thousands of songs in their pocket, in much the same way the novel Nissan introduced the concept of small SUVs to fashion-conscious buyers. As time wore on, the Juke’s compromised packaging and underwhelming driving experience saw it fall behind the competition.…

New book celebrates racing Bugatti EB110s THE Bugatti EB110 is to be honoured with a book detailing the inception, accomplishments and technical aspects of its racing variants in massive detail. The 300-page book took three experts seven years to research, and includes more than 350 photos from the firm’s archives, plus historic drawings, data sheets and racing reports. Just 255 copies will be produced – 110 each of the 459 Euro (£390) IMSA and Le Mans editions with silver and blue covers, and 35 Publishers’ Editions with leather covers, at 1,100 Euros (£934). For more details or to order, visit theeb110book.com. Fixed-cost insurance for vans through VW FOR van drivers who are sick of switching insurance providers every year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) has a new offer. Drivers buying insurance through…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 05|02|2020 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 IF you like to clean your own car, a hosepipe is an essential piece of kit. But it can become a nightmare of tangles, leaks and kinks that will lead to frustration and sodden shoes. The answer is to get reel with something that will keep the pipe neatly stowed away when it’s not in use, and has proper watertight connectors. We tried eight of the best, choosing a variety of manual and automatically winding hose reels. All come with attachments to plumb into the most common types of outside tap, along with adjustable spray nozzles and connectors for…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● We join engineers developing next-generation Audi A3 ● Hot S3 will be offered at launch with 306bhp and new tech THE Audi A3 is possibly preparing for the fight of its life, as it enters its fourth generation and 24th year. That’s because even regular compact family hatchbacks have been on a drive to become ever more premium in recent years. So the A3 has to work harder than ever to carve out a niche beyond just being a more upmarket alternative to the mechanically similar Volkswagen Golf. The A3 will make its full debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but before all is revealed, Auto Express has been granted a sneak preview of this big 2020 arrival. The Mk4 A3 is still based on…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy AUDI is set to axe the A3 Cabriolet from its range when the fourth generation of the family hatchback arrives, Auto Express has learned. The three-door hatchback version of the A3 is being dropped altogether, due to falling sales. And this, coupled with a desire to simplify production and concerns about increased complexity, cost and weight, has prompted Audi to also cull the Cabriolet (the company’s entry-level drop-top) from the range. Audi’s product marketing chief Fermín Soneira Santos declined to confirm that the A3 Cabrio would be axed, but he told us that the industry in general was looking very hard at the viability of open-topped models. “Probably cabrios are going to become under pressure in the near future; it’s not only an Audi thing,” he said. “At…

THE number of cars, vans and engines built in the UK in 2019 fell dramatically when compared with the previous year. According to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief Mike Hawes, the 14.2 per cent drop in the number of new cars built here was “gravely concerning”. With 1.3 million cars built, 2019 was the worst year for UK manufacturing since 2010. One glimmer of growth was to be found in the number of alternatively-fuelled vehicles (hybrids and EVs); UK production of these rose by 34.7 per cent, with AFVs making up about 15 per cent of the total number of cars built here. The SMMT data reveals that the number of cars made for the UK market fell by 12.3 per cent, but with 81 per cent…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ASTON Martin Lagonda has secured a £500million investment that has helped to guarantee the firm’s future. Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has taken a 16.7 per cent stake in the company, becomes chairman and will rebrand his Racing Point Formula One team as the Aston Martin works team for the 2021 season. Andy Palmer, Aston’s CEO, told Auto Express that the investment was “a big moment for the company,” and that “we’ve got what we need to deliver a luxury strategy.” However, the new investment doesn’t come without difficulties, and redundancies are likely at the company’s Gaydon HQ. There will probably be a net gain in the workforce, though, with new staff joining at the DBX factory in South Wales. Aston’s future product plan has also been rocked by…

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…

james_howe@dennis.co.uk THE Fiat 500 is still doing Italy’s biggest brand proud 13 years into its life. After a major refresh in 2016, mild-hybrid power is the city car’s big news for 2020. It’s the first step in Fiat’s efforts to cut fleet tailpipe emissions ahead of a new, all-electric 500 that’s coming later this year. The 500 Mild Hybrid is powered by a new three-cylinder petrol engine that doesn’t follow the modern trend for turbocharging, creating an unusual combination of naturally aspirated power and electrified assistance. The latter is made up of a 12-volt belt-driven starter motor and a tiny 11Ah battery. Fiat is yet to confirm WLTP CO2 emissions but claims this powertrain delivers a 30 per cent reduction over the outgoing 1.2-litre model; average WLTP economy is 53.3mpg.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Running costs 24.6mpg (official) £83 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.9seconds/155mph THIS is the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé, the German brand’s answer to hot versions of the Porsche Panamera. It’s tasked with doing a multitude of things: firstly, being based on the 8 Series coupé, it’s a GT at heart and not a full-on sports car, but the use of BMW’s M Performance tag for this M850i means it must marry that cruising ability with performance and handling, so it has to be fundamentally good to drive. Plus those extra doors and rear seats mean it now has to pull off 7 Series levels of luxury and comfort. Quite a list, then. There’s no doubting its performance credentials. Beneath the bonnet is a 522bhp 4.4-litre V8 that develops…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk THERE have never been more purchase routes for buyers. Traditional dealers vie with online brokers and intermediaries for the attention – and wallets – of motorists. But however you buy your car, you’ll need to make sure that you buy right. It’s crucial that you do your homework in order to choose the best model, select the correct finance and get the most from both your dealer, and the car you order. That’s why we start this guide with our 10 commandments of car buying. Here you’ll find some familiar, and not so familiar, gems of information and advice, all of which are intended to make the whole car-buying process just that little bit easier. 1 Thou shalt gather a range of offers FOR some, there’s nothing as reassuring…

Brush with danger AUTOMATIC car washes are quick and convenient, but despite advances in their brush technology, they still have a tendency to leave minor scratches on your car’s paintwork. It’s best to avoid them. Value for valet WHILE some professional valets charge hundreds of pounds for their services, there are plenty who are more affordable. If you can find a reputable local valeter offering a full inside and out job for less than £100, this is worth considering. Breaking the ice IT’S important to remove snow from your car before driving, but don’t be tempted to scrape ice off your car’s bodywork – you’re likely to scratch it. Mechanical sympathy WHEN you take delivery of your car, treat the first 1,000 miles or so as a running-in period, avoiding…

MODEL TESTED: BMW X6 xDrive30d M Sport PRICE: £63,840 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl in-line turbo, 254bhp THE third-generation X6 is larger and more luxurious than ever, and in xDrive30d M Sport specification – what’s likely to be the most popular engine and trim combination – it costs £63,840. There’s plenty that is new with this model, too, so let’s see how it gets on against the Q8. Design & engineering THIS X6 uses BMW’s CLAR platform and has grown in size slightly compared with its predecessor. It’s a big car that’s 26mm longer and 15mm wider than before, so the fresh model has plenty of presence on the road. It’s a striking car, there’s no doubt about it, but we’ll leave it up to you to judge the merits of its…

DESIGN SOME people will love the X6’s looks, with its design jewellery, such as the huge, enlarged kidney grille that has come to characterise modern BMWs. Others will hate these points, including the new backlighting for the X6’s nose. Both cars use LED tech to create a recognisable image at night. The Q8 is a lot more reserved, though. We’ll see if the BMW’s design means the X6 continues to sell well. LUXURY MANY, many points contribute towards a luxurious feeling. Both models score well in some areas – the BMW its standard spec, the Audi its build quality and materials – but both have drawbacks. The X6 is more cramped in the rear, while the Q8’s gearbox could be better. Neither is perfect, so we’d recommend going for the…

MODEL TESTED: Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 125 Active X Edition PRICE: £21,605 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 123bhp FORD saw the opportunity to add a jacked-up version of its Fiesta to the range when the new model was launched in 2017, so it’s the established rival for the A1 Citycarver. To match its premium competitor we’re testing the top-spec Active X Edition, which costs £21,605, although lesser models offer a cheaper way into ownership. Design & engineering THE Active is available with a range of engines, including 99bhp and 138bhp versions of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, and this 123bhp motor. Whichever option you go for, there’s a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels, so the set-up is similar to the A1’s. The Ford has less torque than its rival,…

Other options in this category… Renault Clio 1.3 TCe 130 R.S. Line EDC PRICE: £20,795 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 128bhp INSTEAD of a high-riding supermini-SUV, we recommend a proper supermini. The Clio is our current favourite, and at this budget you can get a top-of-the-range car, with a 128bhp petrol engine and a dual-clutch auto. Lower trims are even better value. Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 115PS SE L PRICE: £21,980 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp IF you’re set on a small SUV, a Skoda Kamiq makes more sense than the halfway houses above. It’s more spacious and is loaded with kit in SE L form. It’s better value than either car above as a result, and is nearly as good to drive, with a comfy ride and slick gearbox.…

Pete_Baiden@dennis.co.uk Running costs 33.5mpg (on test) £54 fill-up/£145 or 28% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,200 litres DO you like the way the new BMW 1 Series looks? It’s a question I’ve been asking a lot of people recently, because the car’s styling, especially the grille, seems to divide opinion almost as much as Marmite. I actually think it’s a pretty smart-looking car. Maybe it’s not quite as attractive as a Mercedes A-Class, but I can’t think of many other premium hatchbacks that I’d rather look at on a daily basis. I always admire it sitting on my driveway when I leave the house. It definitely seems to work better in M Sport trim, with the flared wheelarches, extra vents, sporty exhaust and boot spoiler all adding to its visual…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q How to jack up a low car? I’VE just bought a Mazda MX-5 which I intend to use on a few track days in the future. I’m planning to take spare wheels and tyres with me, but my trolley jack doesn’t fit under the car. Do I need to buy a new jack?Harrison Yaxley, E-mail A YOU could get away with running the car up on to pieces of wood or ramps that are specifically designed for low cars. However, for the same cost as the latter, you could easily get a more suitable jack. When we tested these, our winner was Wolf’s Black Jack (above), which is a low-entry design and costs less than £45. Q Running out of run-flat tyres MY BMW X3…

Dear Luke, I’ve got £15,000 for a fast, fun car that can carry two sets of golf clubs and two trolleys. Is there anything out there for me? Steve Salter, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE POPULAR CHOICE Ford Focus ST Estate FOR: Hot-hatch handling with estate-car practicality AGAINST: Nicer cabins in rivals, diesel could be quicker OFFERED as both a hatchback and an Estate, the previous-generation Ford Focus ST gives the choice of petrol or diesel power, with both versions featuring a 2.0-litre engine. The similarities stop there, though, because while the diesel has 184bhp and gets from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, the petrol ST produces 247bhp, although its economy won’t match the diesel’s. Both versions still offer sharp handling, however, and whichever one you pick, a 2016 car with…

“IN my opinion, there are some very important new developments for the chassis of the new S3. All the systems work together, and the new adaptive damping gives the driver the opportunity to spread the properties of the car in a wider range than before.” So says Gunnar Schultz (above left), a member of a large team of development engineers. He adds that the regular A3 is destined to take on some of the sporty characteristics of the S3, but these mainstream, everyday versions of the new model will not do this at the expense of comfort requirements. “We differentiate the Audi cars from other MQB models by having our own chassis application, steering application and developing our own tyres so the whole chassis is different,” he says. Schultz focuses…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Performance division Gazoo Racing to produce hot Corolla, C-HR ● Power will come from petrol turbo triple seen in GR Yaris TOYOTA’S Gazoo Racing division is lining up a product blitz over the next three years. And it could see the number of performance models in the Japanese brand’s line-up doubling between now and 2023. Hot versions of the Corolla hatchback and C-HR crossover are among the projects under consideration, as the skunkworks sports division, created 13 years ago by current Toyota president Akio Toyoda, tries to build the brand’s reputation for fun-driving cars. The key to Gazoo Racing’s plans is the new three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that features in the recently launched GR Yaris. Codenamed G16E-GTS, the motor is the world’s most powerful three-cylinder unit, with…

Lotus reveals road-biased Evora GT410 LOTUS has expanded its Evora line-up with a more comfort-oriented model. The GT410 (above) gets more padded seats, air-con, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera and a DAB radio. Sound insulation and cabin storage are improved, a glass tailgate increases rear visibility, and the car has more road-biased Michelin tyres. The 410bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine is unchanged, and the £82,900 GT410 undercuts the Evora GT410 Sport by £3,000. Smart motorways on hold during stocktake NO new smart motorways will open until a safety “stocktake” has been completed, and the schemes could be stopped if they are less safe than motorways with permanent hard shoulders, the Transport Secretary has announced. Grant Shapps told the House of Commons: “Stretches that are being worked on will not be…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Hybrid model joins hatch range ● New tech inside, R.S. upgrades THIS is the revised Renault Mégane. The facelifted model gets a mild cosmetic update, but the biggest change comes under the bonnet, where a new plug-in hybrid powertrain can be found for the first time. Called the Mégane E-Tech Plug-in, this model uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine, 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors. Total power output stands at 158bhp, although full performance details are to be confirmed. However, Renault does say that the plug-in will be able to drive at speeds of up to 84mph in zero-emissions mode, and there’s a claimed range of 31 miles. The new PHEV set-up will first find its way into the Sport Tourer estate, with the hatchback following later in…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods SLOVAKIA has a secret: it’s an automotive giant. Since 2007, no other nation has produced as many vehicles per capita as this former communist land, with car-making a fundamental part of the country’s transition from early crony capitalism post Czechoslovakia, to a highly developed free-market economy. More than one million new cars were made here in 2018; almost one for every five people living within its landlocked 19,000 square-mile territory. Volkswagen has been building cars in Slovakia since the fall of the Iron Curtain, and continues to to this day. The cute little up! has enjoyed a prolonged stint on the firm’s Bratislava production line, alongside its SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo sisters. Big SUVs like the VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne are born here, too.…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ Performance 0-62mph/top speed 14.6 seconds/97mph Running costs 54.3mpg (official) £46 fill-up IS the city-car sector dead? Brands have been leaving this area of the market, but Hyundai remains confident it can make the formula work with its new i10. It’s doing so with a tech offensive and a more practical body for this third-generation car. As well as offering more inside, Hyundai has sharpened up the styling to keep it fresh for image-conscious buyers in the class. Our SE Connect test car is the sweet spot of the range, and although the i10 still offers a relentlessly grey cabin, you do get an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This works well, with decent graphics and plenty of screen area to show lots of functions, giving…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.8 seconds/138mph THIS is the Skoda Superb iV Estate. It’s the second plug-in car to join the Czech brand’s line-up, following the Citigo e. But while the dinky city car is fully electric, the Superb mixes petrol and electric drive in a plug-in hybrid system. The petrol-fuelled element comes in the shape of a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo, and it’s paired up with a 113bhp electric motor and 13kWh battery. Charging takes place via a port hidden neatly behind the grille, and it takes three hours and 30 minutes to top up the battery from a 3.6kW wallbox. Combined, the two systems develop 215bhp. That’s slightly short of one of this car’s closest rivals, the Peugeot 508 Hybrid, although the Skoda’s 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds…

Consumer editor, Auto Express Super credits help make super deals EVEN if the thought of emission regulations makes your eyes glaze over, know this: 2020 is the year dealers are likely to be bending over backwards to sell you an EV or a plug-in hybrid. The reason for this is that from this year, car makers need to start meeting EU rules that require them to sell model ranges that emit, on average, no more than 95g/km of carbon dioxide. To put this target into context, the average car sold in the UK in 2019 emitted 127.9g/km, so many makers have a way to go. To make 95g/km more achievable, the EU is granting manufacturers concessions, one of which is termed ‘super credits’. This means that every car sold in…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths REMEMBER the old HMRC advert that claimed “tax doesn’t have to be taxing”? Whoever coined that slogan obviously had no idea what would happen to the company car Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax system in the 2020/21 financial year, which starts on 6 April. These changes, announced in July last year, are a response to the new European WLTP (World harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure) emission and economy tests, which see new cars assessed using stricter, more realistic criteria than the old NEDC tests involved. One of the results of these new tests is that a car will have higher on-paper CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions if assessed under WLTP rather than NEDC regulations – even though its on-the-road emissions will be identical. Because company car Benefit-in-Kind tax rates are based…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths KEEPING up to speed with the latest technology can be exhausting. Because as cars become increasingly safer, more reliable and more efficient, manufacturers turn to attention-grabbing technology to draw you into the showroom and get you signing on the dotted line – hopefully after splashing out a bit more on a few choice extras. But with so many pieces of technology available, much of it optional, buyers can end up being left bewildered. To give you a steer on which features you should be sure your next car has, we asked Auto Express staff members what they would spend their own money on when specifying a new car. We drive around 700 cars a year, and the majority of these come ‘fully loaded’, as makers give us the chance…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale THERE are some cracking deals to be had on the new-car market, but quirks in manufacturer and dealer business models mean nearly new, or pre-registered cars, can be enticing propositions. In order to meet sales targets and receive manufacturer bonuses, franchised dealers often buy and register cars themselves, before selling them as pre-registered. This allows dealers to receive their bonus, with any customer discounts applied to the cars being outweighed by the bonus the dealer will receive from the manufacturer. Pre-reg cars usually come with less than 200 ‘delivery’ miles and are sold with attractive discounts. Choosing one over a brand-new motor means you’ll be limited in spec, because dealers tend to order popular versions that they can sell on easily. You’ll also have to be happy that…

MODEL TESTED: Audi Q8 50 TDI quattro S line PRICE: £67,760 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6 turbo, 282bhp IN sporty S line spec to match the M Sport BMW, the Audi Q8 is pricier, at £67,760 with the brand’s entry-level 50 TDI turbodiesel engine – but there are some differences in the powertrain, as we’ll see. The question is, can the Q8 pull off the win? Design & engineering LIKE BMW, with its CLAR architecture that it’s adapted for the X6, Audi chose to base the Q8 on its MLB Evo platform, which is also used for other Volkswagen Group SUVs, such as the VW Touareg, the Porsche Cayenne, the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus, not to mention Audi’s own Q7 SUV. That means the tech is tried and tested, with…

Audi A1 Citycarver MMI Navigation Plus £1,695 option  Key features: Digital dash, smartphone link THE A1 Citycarver comes with an 8.8-inch touchscreen as standard, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – but no sat-nav. This is a £250 option individually, but our car was fitted with the £1,695 Technology Pack that adds an upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s an excellent set-up and works brilliantly with the standard digital instrument cluster. The screen is sharp and responsive, and perfect for use with the smartphone connectivity. It loads up faster than the Ford’s system, too. The menus are also more modern-looking than the Fiesta’s, even with that car’s updated system. Traffic information comes with the Technology Pack, too, plus other connected services, including Google Earth, parking info, Twitter, weather and…

NEW PRODUCT Dometic cool boxes Price: from £749 Contact: dometic.com IF you plan to spend some serious time in the great outdoors this year, or just want more cooling than is usually provided by 12V cool boxes, then you need to check out Dometic’s new range. The CFX3 coolers are serious bits of kit and provide similar levels of performance to domestic fridges and freezers, yet they can run from a car battery, solar panels or the standalone power pack, as well as the mains. The new range also includes an ice maker, which Dometic claims is a world first, plus the boxes can be controlled by using a smartphone app. The range is new for 2020 and kicks off with the £749 CFX3 35, a 36-litre box that can cool…

Two Jeeps Alex Kefford (Self-published, twojeeps.com) Price: £9.99 WHAT car enthusiast hasn’t dreamt of taking their car on an epic road trip? Author Kefford and his friend did just that, shipping their UK-spec Jeeps across the Atlantic for a coast-to-coast tour from New York to LA, tackling off-road trails and the best drives in the process. It’s a cracking read, and while it’s a shame the photography is black and white, a limited-edition run in colour is available on the website. Alfa Romeo Arna: The True Story Matteo Licata (Self-published, amazon.co.uk) Price: £25.29 LICATA’S third book is typically well researched and, in this case, tells the story of a car that is perhaps unfairly maligned. It’s good to hear the other side of the Arna’s story, although the assessment is…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Cambelt quality conundrum I BOUGHT a used car and the cambelt was diagnosed as being too tight within just a month. This cost £600 to put right, and the dealer has offered to pay £100 – is this fair?Darren Parker, E-mail A NO, it’s not. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that any fault that occurs within six months is assumed to have been in existence when the car was purchased. Therefore it’s the dealer’s responsibility to put it right at their own expense. Set out your case in writing, citing the “of satisfactory quality” clause of the Act. Q Am I eligible for scrappage? WHAT are the conditions for the London scrappage scheme? I live in London and want to scrap my car…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● Ferrari will be first to unveil ● Six days of pre-season tests FORMULA 1 teams are preparing to launch their 2020 contenders, with the majority of squads having confirmed event dates for the second week of February, and others choosing to roll their new cars out in the pitlane ahead of testing the week after. Ferrari’s new challenger will be the first to appear, with a launch event in a theatre in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on 11 February. Renault is up next, revealing its car in its home city of Paris on 12 February. On 13 February, McLaren will hold a launch event for its MCL35 at its Woking HQ in Surrey. The former Toro Rosso team, now known as AlphaTauri, will take the wraps off both its…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The affordability gap has to be smaller – or non-existent – if EV purchases are to catch up with and overtake ICE sales” I’M more convinced than ever that the shift from 100 per cent petrol or diesel (ICE) cars to their pure-electric counterparts (EVs) ain’t going to happen in one short, sharp, revolutionary burst. The transition will be more drip, drip than tidal wave – not least because of major problems within the UK’s entrepreneurial, sometimes iffy, EV-charging industry. Then there’s the separate disaster of inadequate Government investment; if the state is willing to seriously consider blowing £100billion-plus on the HS2 rail project, how about a tenth of that on EV infrastructure? On top of all this sits another tricky issue:…