Innholdsfortegnelse for 1618 i Auto Express

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram • Mid-size coupé-SUV on way • Facelift will bring more tech A REFRESHED Audi Q5 is just around the corner, and when the updated SUV arrives next spring, the changes will come in the form of updated in-car tech, mild-hybrid systems, and a new look. Audi will also bolster its line-up with the addition of a second Q5 bodystyle; the Q5 Sportback will give Audi a challenger to the BMW X4. Shown in our exclusive images, the Sportback follows the theme of Audi’s other coupé-SUV models, so it bears a close resemblance to the standard car at the front, but gets a sloping roofline at the rear. Spy shots of the standard Q5 confirm that the fresh car will have new LED lighting tech and redesigned graphics to…

Volvo names its price for all-electric XC40 VOLVO’S first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge (above), has been priced from £53,155 in the UK. Sales are due to begin shortly, but first deliveries aren’t scheduled until the end of the year. That price means the XC40 doesn’t qualify for the government’s £3,000 Plug-in Car Grant (left), because it exceeds the new £50,000 limit. The XC40 is claimed to cover 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, has an electric range of 248 miles, and a top speed of 112mph. PAGE 30: XC60 B5 driven Stats reveal drivers still ignoring belt laws THE percentage of deaths on UK roads where the victim wasn’t wearing a seatbelt increased from 25 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent in 2018. That’s according to Police Forensic…

COUNCILS have blamed an increase in cars for worsening road conditions. An additional 3.6 million cars were registered in Britain between 2009 and 2019, according to the latest Department for Transport figures. This 13 per cent increase is a contributing factor in worsening surfaces, air quality, congestion and carbon emissions, says the Local Government Association, which represents 339 councils in England. The number of miles travelled on council-run roads rose 3.3 per cent each year between 2009 and 2017.…

SEPTEMBER 2006 Smart-motorway trial begins on M42. Refuge areas placed every 500 metres. 2009 TO PRESENT Mass smart-motorway roll-out begins; refuge areas up to 1.6 miles apart. MARCH 2015 Road Infrastructure Strategy sets out that smart motorways will become the standard for the busiest sections of the network. JUNE 2016 Transport Select Committee calls loss of hard shoulder a “radical change” and does not support all-lane running motorways. JULY 2017 Orange refuge areas trialled in order to help increase visibility. SEPTEMBER 2019 AA uncovers that it takes 17 minutes for broken-down vehicles to be detected on smart motorways. JANUARY 2020 BBC discovers 38 people have died on smart motorways over five years; Government orders stock-take, pauses new schemes. MARCH 2020 Stock-take sees dynamic hard shoulders axed, more frequent refuge areas.…

mail@autoexperess.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP FROM: Gareth Cuthbert IDEAL for city dwellers who don’t need the hassle of owning a full-sized car, but who also want to avoid being reliant on public transport. Maybe it could even be used by takeaway delivery companies when the weather is poor? FROM: Peter Franks I DON’T see the point of this. It’s too large to be able to weave in and out of traffic like a bicycle or motorcycle can, so it won’t save you any time in traffic jams compared with a normal car. Might as well stick to something comfortable! Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “The majority of SUV owners could probably do all their driving in one of these…

MG ZS EV Price: £22,495 Range: 163 miles MG’S cheap ZS EV doesn’t pull any rabbits out of the hat. It’s cheap for a reason, with a shorter range than many rivals, a smaller battery and a maximum of 50kW charging. It’s not convincing to drive because of the harsh ride and it has a cost-cutting cabin. But it’s aggressively priced, practical and a usable EV that’s an SUV to boot. For buyers on a budget it’s a great choice, and the most convincing new MG we’ve seen under Chinese ownership. PEUGEOT e-208 Price: £28,550 Range: 217 miles PERHAPS the e-208 will be the car most people will consider over the Corsa-e. The Peugeot is identical underneath, but has a slightly more upmarket interior and sportier exterior design on top…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy VOLVO has made so many headlines with its big stated goals on electrification that it’s easy to forget the Swedish firm is still only now really forging ahead with the policy across its range. We’ve yet to drive a pure-electric Volvo, for example, and there are still big gains to be made by offering different levels of hybrids across the line-up. Here’s a good example of this: the XC60 B5. We tried a plug-in version of this car last year, but the B5 brings mild-hybrid technology that’s supposed to replace the bread-and-butter, combustion-engined editions of Volvo’s mid-sized family SUV. The badge is being offered on petrol and diesel models, and you can have it with front or four-wheel drive. At the heart of the system is a starter/generator…

Alpine A110S PRICE: £56,810 ENGINE: 1.8-litre petrol, 292bhp THE Alpine A110S uses a version of the Trophy-R’s engine mounted transversely in this mid-engined two-seater. It’s lightweight, so performance is very strong, and the Alpine is a delight to drive. The new S version promises to be better on track than the standard model. Caterham Seven 620R PRICE: £53,640 ENGINE: 2.0-litre petrol, 310bhp A HIGH budget lets you get into one of the most extreme track models. The Seven is one of the most exciting cars around and caters for track-day fanatics. This range-topping version is one of the most visceral and exhilarating cars we’ve ever driven.…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen e-up! PRICE: £19,695 POWER: Electric motor, 81bhp AN electrified Volkswagen up! is nothing new, because the first version was unveiled in 2013. But as the market has changed and electric propulsion has become more appealing – especially in the city car sector – there’s a new model on sale. As before, it only comes as a five-door, and it starts from £19,695 after the £3,500 Government’s Plug-in Car Grant. Design & engineering ELECTRIC cars are all about battery capacity and range. The original e-up! only offered an 18.7kWh battery, whereas the new car boasts 36.8kWh (with 32.3kWh of usable energy) for a claimed range of 159 miles. Unlike the upcoming ID.3, which is based on the VW Group’s EV-exclusive MEB platform, the e-up! is still adapted from…

NEW PRODUCT AA Smart Breakdown Price: £49 a year or £5 a month Contact: www.theaa.com GETTING advance warning of a problem with your car before it becomes so serious it leaves you stranded is clearly a good idea. And that’s just what the AA aims to do with Smart Breakdown. The company claims that the system can detect faults in 80 per cent of engine-related breakdowns and determine the cause of most warning lights coming on. At the heart of the new technology – which was announced last year, but is now going on sale – is a device which plugs into the car’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) port and uses the information generated by the engine’s electronics to detect faults. Once a problem has been found, the system alerts the…

TVR Chimaera and Griffith Richard Kitchen (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 THESE guides have changed for 2020; they’re more in-depth, but still pocket-sized and quick to reference. This volume is written by an expert and cut down to short, snappy points, ideal for buyers considering these models. Useful detail and a great companion. How To Not F*ck Up Your First Car Christoph Collins (Kindle Edition, www.amazon.co.uk) Price: £2.32 THIS is a (very) brief guide to car maintenance aimed at the first-time driver. It’s simple but amateurish: the crude line drawings may be intended to be ironic, but they don’t come across as such. Little point paying for this when the info is on offer for free elsewhere. eXtreme Racing Adventure Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free SINCE we last tested…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Next Mokka to get petrol, diesel and pure-electric power • Vauxhall will beat sector competitors to market with EV THE small-SUV class is undergoing an aggressive renewal, with fresh versions of the likes of the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke hitting UK showrooms. And within the next 12 months there will be yet another generation of a familiar name in dealerships: the all-new Vauxhall Mokka. Our latest exclusive images show how the model should look when it goes on sale in the first half of 2021. They’re based on recent spy shots taken when a much more lightly disguised Mokka prototype was captured undergoing cold-weather testing. Indeed, the modestly camouflaged car is likely to have been a deliberate tactic from Vauxhall and its sister brand Opel, as…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • EVs given a financial boost • But used cars could face tax hikes • OFFICIAL THE March Budget (right) seemed like a motorist-friendly affair, but a consultation into retrospectively changing the Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) system for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 could hit millions of motorists in the pocket. Previous changes to the road tax system have only applied to future new-car purchases, but an HM Treasury document laments the fact that the flat-rate VED system introduced in 2017 “weakened the link between VED liabilities and carbon emissions after a vehicle is first registered”. To help re-establish that link, the Treasury is considering a number of options, which could be retrospectively applied to all cars bought new since April 2017. The current…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale KEY POLICIES SUMMARISED ✓ Fuel Duty frozen at 57.95p per litre ✓ Plug-in Car Grant extended until 2022/23 financial year; only EVs costing less than £50,000 are eligible and the grant itself has been reduced to a maximum of £3,000 ✓ £27billion for building and upgrading major roads ✓ £2.5billion for filling 25 million potholes on local roads THE 2020 Budget has been unveiled, bringing in a raft of grants and transport investments that should make life better for drivers. Delivering his first ever Budget in the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced another Fuel Duty freeze, the renewal of a reduced Plug-in Car Grant and EV charger grant, and a massive financial investment in major and local roads. Fuel Duty frozen THE first…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Model S competitors coming from Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes THE next 18 months could be the most challenging times Tesla has faced so far, because three big-hitters, in the shape of Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes, are all applying the finishing touches to their respective Model S competitors. Our photographers have spied the Audi e-tron GT, Jaguar XJ and Mercedes EQE all undergoing development testing within days of each other, as manufacturers continue to ramp up their EV plans. And just like the Model S, all are pure-electric cars only, with petrol or diesel alternatives not even an option. In theory, that should mean fewer compromises when it comes to packaging, performance and practicality, which should make the cars more competitive when it comes to tackling the Tesla.…

Top five hot hatches on sale now WHO doesn’t love a hot hatch? They ooze the same practicality as any other hatchback, but on the right road they sparkle – and the greatest thrill on-track, too. But which is best? In our latest video, we run down the five top buys right now. youtube.com/Autoexpress KIA SOUL EV At 280 miles, the great-value Soul has one of the longest EV ranges. Vicky Parrott tests how far it will go in the real world, and also whether it delivers as a family SUV. youtube.com/drivingelectric HEAR MORE www.autoexpress.co.uk/podcast THIS WEEK the team gives its verdict on the Vauxhall Corsa-e EV and discusses the cancellation of the Australian GP. Plus, host Vicki Butler-Henderson chats to Bentley chairman Adrian Hallmark about the company’s aim to make…

IF you’re a bit behind with your homework, who would you ask for help? Your best friend, or your rival? In the car world, companies sometimes have to go cap in hand to the competition for a bit of assistance when they are stuck with a project. Maybe their engineering departments are just overloaded with work and can’t take on any more, or perhaps they need a bit of specialist help with a tricky problem. We take a look at eight secret examples of when cars have been engineered by the enemy. Rolls-Royce and Citroen ROLLS-Royce buyers have always expected their cars to be the best in the world, especially when it comes to comfort. So the luxury car maker must have been a bit irritated when Citroen invented the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THERE’s no mistaking old and new when it comes to the Jaguar F-Type’s mid-life facelift. Compared with its usual standards, Jaguar has gone to significant lengths to make sure this refreshed version of its popular sports car – and established Porsche 911 rival – is a significant update from the model that’s been around for the past seven years; and the changes are more than skin deep. That means when you delve beneath the new look – which comprises a totally new front end with a larger grille, more aggressive, slimmer LED headlights, a clamshell bonnet and new tail-lamps – you’ll discover that Jaguar’s engineers have been just as busy as the company’s design department. The chassis has been updated with new suspension, comprising fresh components, new steering,…

ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE ROADSTER 2020 Drop-top V8 Brit coming with 503bhp and £126,950 price SMALL CARS Fiat 500 EV 2020 Honda e early 2020 Honda Jazz early 2020 Hyundai i20 2020 MINI hatch 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage 2020 Peugeot e-208 early 2020 Skoda Fabia 2021 Toyota Yaris late 2020 Vauxhall Corsa-e early 2020 Volkswagen ID. supermini 2023 FAMILY CARS Audi A3 2020 Audi A3 Cityhopper 2022 Audi e-tron hatch 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé 2020 BMW i1 2021 BMW i4 2021 Citroen C4 2020 Citroen C4 EV 2020 Citroen flagship saloon 2021 Dacia EV 2020 Honda Clarity 2022 Kia Stonic hybrid 2020 Mercedes C-Class 2021 Mercedes E-Class facelift 2020 Mercedes EQA late 2020 Mercedes EQB 2021 Mercedes EQV early 2020 SEAT el-Born 2020 SEAT Leon early 2020 Skoda Octavia mid…

MODELTESTED: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 PRICE: £75,348 ENGINE: 4.0-litre 6cyl, 414bhp THE GT4 stands out from the rest of the 718 Cayman range thanks to its aggressive bodykit and rear wing, but the most important changes are under the bodywork. At £75,348, it’s more than £30,000 more expensive than the entry-level Cayman. Design & engineering THOSE huge changes mean the extra cash isn’t just justified, it even seems like good value. There’s a totally new engine mounted just ahead of the rear axle: a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat six (replacing a turbocharged 2.0 or 2.5-litre flat four in the normal and S models) developed from the unit used in the flagship Porsche 911. The lack of a turbo here isn’t a downside, though, and keen drivers will be pleased to…

Porsche Cayman PCM Standard Key features: Sat-nav, Apple Carplay THE Porsche’s infotainment screen is good, because there are lots of buttons surrounding it. We love the use of physical controls to change the air-con, volume or radio station settings, rather than fiddling with a screen; the Renault hides most settings away in menus. There’s no Android Auto available on the 718, but Apple CarPlay is standard, plus sat-nav and DAB radio. While the Mégane has digital instruments, the Porsche uses a great physical set-up with a prominent rev counter, which is fitting for a sports car and links this car to the brand’s heritage models. There’s a small digital screen to the side that can display satellite-navigation maps and directions, so you get the best of both worlds here. It’s…

ENGINES THE two cars’ engines are significantly different. The GT4’s motor has decent midrange torque but thrives on revs and loves to be worked hard. It rasps to its rev limiter and, on track, gives everything higher up, with maximum power delivered at 7,600rpm. The Trophy-R’s turbo unit is more about the mid-range. It’ll still rev out, but on track you’re better using the fat 400Nm of torque to lug you out of bends. WHEELS OUR test car was sitting on the standard alloy wheels that come with the Trophy-R, but we tried the £12,000 carbon-fibre wheels shortly after the car was launched last year. There’s less unsprung weight, which improves agility, but the Mégane is so good in this regard already that it’s not an immediately obvious improvement. Given…

Skoda Citigo-e iV Skoda Connect Standard Key features: App-based infotainment THE Skoda gets a 6.5-inch colour screen for simple functions, while the VW gets a smaller five-inch screen. Both models feature an app-based infotainment system, which means you need to download software to a smartphone, which then sits in the dash-top cradle. The Skoda Connect app works similarly to VW’s effort, which means there are some positives and some negatives. Its response is similar, and it features similar EV-specific functions, such as checking the car’s charge level and pre-conditioning the climate control. These are useful, but when you’re in the car and your phone is hooked up, it’s much easier to use Google Maps or Waze for nav, using CarPlay or Android Auto on your phone. These programs give big-car…

products@autoexpress.co.uk Loaded Barbarian X has a long list of kit, including leather and Alcantara seats Running costs 27.1mpg (on test) £95 fill-up/£260 tax Practicality Payload capacity 1,080kg Performance 0-60mph/top speed 11.2 seconds/106mph THERE was an odd sense of ‘the same but different’ when I collected my new Mitsubishi L200 from a local dealer – EMG in Duxford, Cambridgeshire. I’d come to know the dealership quite well when I ran previous versions of the L200. But there have been big changes at the site, with new ownership, and revamped showroom and workshop facilities, making it one of the biggest Mitsubishi dealers in the UK. There was a similar feeling when general manager Mark Sturgess took me through the new truck’s features. Yes, there are signs of the previous generation, particularly on…

Give your Defender a stylish makeover LAND Rover’s original Defender has been out of production for several years, but that hasn’t stopped companies making new parts and accessories for it. The latest comes from Sterling Automotive: a high-quality alloy wheel for those aiming for a more modern look. It’s available in three finishes and is 17 inches in size. A full set costs £900, and Sterling will also supply them fitted with Davanti TerraToura all-terrain tyres if requested. Find out more, or place your order at www.sterling-automotive.co.uk. New service offers a ride in electric luxury A NEW ‘premium chauffeur’ service has become the latest to operate exclusively electric vehicles. Havn is a luxury private hire firm operating in London with a fleet of Jaguar I-Pace EVs. Havn is backed by…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 18|3|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 WHETHER you need to carry a roof box for your annual holiday, bikes for a weekend ride, or long loads for work, roof bars are an essential accessory that can turn your humble hatchback into a proper load-lugger. You’ll need to choose your bars carefully, though, because the worst can be a nightmare to fit and remove. They can hit fuel consumption, too, and cause irritating wind noise that’ll drive you potty during a long journey. While many estates and SUVs have integrated roof rails to make fitting bars easier, most cars come with plain roofs, which can make…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Low-mileage cambelt change Q I BOUGHT two brand-new cars in 2015 and have only covered around 500 miles in each. Do I still need to have new cambelts fitted as part of their five-year services this year? Graham Bastin, E-mail A AlTHOUGH your mileage is way under the limits typically set for cambelt replacement, you must change them if the schedule demands it. Belts deteriorate over time, and sitting still may have placed uneven stress on them, worsening their condition. Given a snapped cambelt can wreck an engine, changing them is the better option. Manual VW Polo GTI Q WHEN the Volkswagen Polo GTI was launched in 2017, it was only available with a dualclutch gearbox. VW said a manual would follow, but it hasn’t…

Dear Luke, I’m in my late 20s and insurance has become cheaper. What’s the best small hot hatch I can get with a budget of £8,500? Gary Stevens, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE DRIVER’S CHOICE Ford Fiesta ST FOR: You’ll never get bored behind the wheel AGAINST: Cabin underwhelms, lacks premium appeal CONSIDERED by many to be the best small hot hatch in its day, the previous-generation Fiesta ST may be outclassed by its replacement inside, but it ticks the hot-hatch boxes that matter most: it has bags of driver appeal, sharp looks, and low running costs. Only the lack of a five-door model lets things down slightly. We found a 2015 car with 45,000 miles for £8,400. Get ST-2 trim and above if you can and, as with all…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk • First three F1 races called off • Formula E suspends season MOTORSPORT events around the globe have been cancelled or postponed en masse, as government restrictions on travel and large gatherings to combat the spread of the coronavirus force organisers to pull the plug on the start of their 2020 seasons. Formula One’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix was called off just hours before the start of the first free-practice session, after a member of the McLaren team tested positive with the virus. The squad had already withdrawn from the event before it was cancelled, and 14 staff members entered quarantine conditions as a precaution. F1, the FIA and the Australian Grand Prix promoters have been heavily criticised for their handling of the situation, with many fans travelling to…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The car exhibition industry is going through its most dramatic period of change for a century or more” THIS year was always going to be revolutionary for the world’s multi-trillion dollar car and battery-manufacturing businesses. After selling disappointingly few electric vehicles from 2010 to 2019, mainstream auto makers are finally embarking on their first committed, deliverable decade of EV revolution from 2020. Hallelujah! Now, and not before time, there is greater product choice, and more realistic pricing, which is essential if EVs are to become accepted by the motoring masses. But the first quarter of this year also saw revolt in the corridors of power, where truly revolting political leaders hinted (although this is not yet confirmed) that the only new cars…

News and reviews editor DESPITE its shortcomings in a number of key areas, namely practicality and driving dynamics, the outgoing Mokka X was a huge success. Behind the Corsa and Astra it was Vauxhall’s top performer, so there’s a great deal of pressure and expectation for this all-new version to deliver. A huge boon will be the immediate availability of a pure-electric version. It’ll steal a march over Nissan, Renault, VW, Ford and SEAT, who are all years away from offering a full EV equivalent. And if Vauxhall can bring the car to market at its usual competitive price, the Mokka could be a bigger hit than even its predecessor. “A huge boon will be the immediate availability of a pure-electric version”…

ToyotaGT86 Price: £27,830 CO2 emissions: 196g/km Current annual road tax bill: £145 Possible annual bill: £1,280 Price: £27,830 CO2 emissions: 196g/km Current annual road tax bill: £145 Possible annual bill: £1,280 Jaguar E-PaceP200 Price: £35,300 CO2 emissions: 182g/km Current annual road tax bill: £145 Possible annual bill: £855 Potential increase: £710 Ford MustangGT Price: £43,645 CO2 emissions: 268g/km Current road tax bill: £465 (yrs 2-6) Possible annual bill: £2,135 Potential increase: £1,670…

Consumer Editor, Auto Express MOST of these decisions are good news for drivers. It would have been all too easy in the current climate (pun intended) to increase fuel duty, for example, but by recognising that millions rely on petrol and diesel, the Chancellor showed a moment of real-world nous that is rare among ministers. That the Plug-in Car Grant is continuing is also to be welcomed, while the road improvements are encouraging, even if they are best believed when they are seen. There is, however, a but: if the consultation into shifting road tax goalposts (left) results in a policy that punishes drivers who bought cars in good faith, all these wise decisions will be for naught.…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale SMART motorways with dynamic hard shoulders – which can temporarily become live lanes at busy times – are to be converted to permanent all-lane running smart motorways by the end of March 2025, the Government has announced. Having conducted a ‘stock-take’ of the roads, which have been dogged by criticism over recent years, the Department for Transport (DfT) says dynamic hard shoulders have “the potential to cause confusion for motorists”, and will therefore be converted to permanent live lanes. The move is intended to reduce this confusion and create “a more consistent experience for motorists”. It comes as the Government confirmed a continued expansion of the smart-motorway network in its 2020 Budget (page 11). Other results of the stock-take include increasing the frequency of Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs),…

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.consumerombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.8 seconds/155mph Running costs 23.3mpg (official) £109 fill-up IF you’re getting a bit bored of the relentless stream of new electric cars coming on to the market, Audi Sport reckons it has the antidote. Meet the RS Q8, a £111,400 super-SUV that is as quick as a Porsche 911 and as heavy as a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Everything about the RS Q8 is supersized, from its enormous 23-inch alloy wheels to its 591bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 powerplant. With the exception of the R8 supercar, it’s also the most expensive model in Audi’s vast product portfolio. In order to ensure the RS Q8 handles and goes like a true Audi Sport model, the manufacturer has raided its technical armoury and lavished the large SUV with every piece…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn IT’S been a rather tumultuous start to the automotive year, with the cancellation of the Geneva, Beijing and New York Motor Shows so far. But one thing is still certain – there is a tidal wave of new cars coming to showrooms in the next 18 months. From convertible SUVs to £2m electric hypercars, and everything in between, there has never been a more varied or exciting time if you’re in the market for a new motor. This year will eventually see the roll-out of VW’s much-anticipated ID. range of electric cars, while the future of Aston Martin potentially hangs in the balance with the DBX. Over the next 32 pages we round up everything you need to know. “There’s never been a more varied or exciting time…

MODELTESTED: Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R Nürburgring Record PRICE: £72,140 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 296bhp WITH the Nürburgring Record pack included, the RenaultSport Mégane Trophy-R costs £72,140, bringing it to within a whisker of the GT4. Our test car in these pictures doesn’t have the £12,000 carbon-fibre wheels fitted, but we’ve got extensive experience of this model, so it’s the one we’re testing here. Without options, the Trophy-R is £51,440. Design & engineering THE high price seems out of place initially; after all, this is still closely related to a basic Renault Mégane family hatch. But look closer at the spec and the cost starts to make more sense, then go for a drive and it really clicks. RenaultSport has left the engine alone, which is a stark contrast to the Cayman…

1st PORSCHE IT’S easy to run out of superlatives when talking about the Cayman GT4. As a driver’s car it’s close to perfect, with one of the sweetest engines around matched to a sublime transmission, a beautifully balanced chassis and super-sweet steering. Its driving position is spot on, the cabin is luxurious, the brakes are mighty, and it’s even comfortable on the road. It justifies its price wholeheartedly. 2nd RENAULT THE Mégane Trophy-R comes second here, but it’s still one of the most rewarding, exciting and impressive cars we’ve ever driven. It looks expensive at first glance, but the quality of the engineering here is every bit a match for its rival’s. Its hugely involving driving experience gets better the harder you push the Renault. There’s so much depth here,…

CHARGING THIS is the most important point about any EV, because it’s charging that determines flexibility. Both cars offer 40kW CCS capability, so you can make use of the 7,461 rapid chargers in the UK; most of these are rated at 50kW. They are pricey, but range should be fine for most people’s daily needs, so when you factor in the fuel savings over, say, three years, the list price looks more affordable. STYLING BOTH cars feature some design cues that are specific to these two pure-electric models. The Volkswagen’s 17-inch alloys, C-shaped LED running lights and blue trim flashes mark it out as part of VW’s electric car range, while the Citigo-e iV is distinguished by its more aerodynamic colour co-ordinated grille that helps reduce drag, and the front…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk Running costs 45.2mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£455 or 16% tax Practicality Boot capacity 390 litres OUR Bursting Blue Volvo S60 is now well bedded-in to life as an Auto Express fleet car, and a clearer picture has emerged around the crucial question of how much this plug-in hybrid actually costs to run. As you’ll no doubt be aware, the thorny issue of plug-in hybrid fuel economy hinges to a huge extent on the balance between petrol and electric running that your personal commitment to charging and type of driving allow you to achieve. The car has an official electric range of 36 miles and we’re finding that you can get into the high twenties consistently before a full battery charge has elapsed. The way Volvo’s T8 plug-in hybrid system…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Preparing a car to be left I HAVE to go in for an operation at some point this year and will be unable to drive for a couple of months, if all goes well. Is there anything I have to do to my car before I stop driving it? Sonia Nilsson, E-mail A GET it washed and waxed to protect the bodywork, and hook up the battery to a charger, such as our test-winning CTEK MXS 5.0 (above). You must keep the battery topped up because immobilisers and the like may flatten it over time. If possible, get someone to drive the car periodically to prevent the tyres getting flat spots. Q How do I clean green marks? MY uncle’s car doesn’t get used often…

WHILE the focus may have been on producing ever-more slender inspection lamps lately, advances in LED and battery technology have also spread to worklights that are designed to light large areas, rather than be directed at specific spots. NightSearcher has just released the Galaxy Hazard, so we compared it with the Philips PJH10 (launched last year) and Draper’s worklight. As with inspection lamps, we looked at light output and spread. We also wanted mounting options, battery-saving modes, a range of charging choices, plus battery-state and charge indicators. We took into account price from online outlets. NightSearcher just takes the win here thanks to its good all-round performance at a decent price. Philips’ PJH10 is a bit out of step with these rivals but is still a great product that could…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS Sponsored by 2019 Results Giulia Factfile Years: 2016 to present CO2: 128g/km Fuel economy: 53.3mpg (2.2d 160) Best options: Harmon Kardon stereo, leather seats, metallic paint, sunroof Used prices: From £14,500 OVERALL SCORE 93.00% Bars show where model finished out of 100 vehicles in our 2019 new car survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “VELOCE model is extremely responsive and has more than enough power for overtaking.” “The automatic gearbox is smooth, and never fails to select the correct gear.” “Very eye-catching styling; I’m constantly receiving attention and comments from people.” “Great driving position, plus the front seats are comfortable and easy to adjust.” “Steering response is excellent – best I’ve ever experienced.” “Fantastic balance between comfort and performance.” “It may not be perfect,…

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 (0-100kph), in seconds. ECONOMY AND EMISSIONS: The combined economy figure in miles per gallon and its emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are the best achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency. 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. EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover. LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and…