Innholdsfortegnelse for 1625 i Auto Express

THIS week, Citroen’s ground-breaking Ami (above) went on sale in France. Sadly it’s not coming to the UK – yet. Let’s just remind you what the Ami is: it’s a small two-seat urban runabout that’s shorter and narrower than a Smart ForTwo, uses battery power for a range of 44 miles, and lets your smartphone do the job of an instrument binnacle. In short, it’s very clever – and very Citroen. Then there’s the cost. It’s gone on sale with a price from 6,000 Euros (£5,252) – or it can be leased for 2,641 Euros down (£2,311) and 19.99 Euros (£17.50) per month! In a world where public transport is increasingly looking like an unattractive proposition, an affordable personal transportation solution such as the Ami really does seem like the…

Essentials SEATLeon Mk4 Entry point: £19,855 (1.0 TSI 110PS SE) Engines: 1.0 108bhp petrol 1.5 128bhp petrol 1.5 148bhp petrol 2.0 113bhp diesel CO2: 111g/km-133g/km Trim levels: SE, SE Dynamic, FR (FR Sport, Xcellence & Xcellence Lux later) ONSALE Now Essentials Skoda Octavia Mk4 Entry point: £22,390 (1.5 TSI 150PS SE First Edition) Engines: 1.5 148bhp petrol 2.0 113bhp diesel 2.0 148bhp diesel DSG CO2: 113g/km-130g/km Trim levels: SE First Edition, SE L First Edition, SE Technology (S, SE & vRS later) ONSALE June “A lower starting figure gives the SEAT Leon an early price advantage over the Octavia” “Cheaper Octavia S due before the end of 2020 will pretty much match the SEAT’s entry point” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE new SEAT Leon is set to undercut its near-stablemate the Skoda…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk IT’S easy to get wrapped up in the nostalgia of yesteryear – the feeling that everything was better in the old days. That’s especially true of motorsport: where naturally aspirated Formula One cars have given way to the latest muted turbocharged fours, and sideways Ford Escorts have been replaced by grippy world rally cars. For a growing number of enthusiasts, the rather anodyne cars in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) don’t cut it – certainly not when there’s the lure of a brawny Ford Sierra RS500, Rover SD1 or BMW 635 CSi. And it’s men like Alan Strachan of AWS Engineering who are taking neglected bodyshells, and offering well heeled petrolheads the chance to live out their childhood dreams. Today, Alan takes road car shells and turns them…

No. 1 Ferrari 458 Speciale (2014) JOHN fell in love with cars watching rallies in his Northern Irish homeland, and started his writing career reporting on the World Rally Championship. He turned to regular cars more than 15 years ago, and enjoys the thrill of hot hatches, the eco-buzz of EVs and the self-torture of studying the auction prices for heavily used BMW 840s. Auto Express Deputy editor @johnmcilroy No1. Ferrari 458 Speciale (2014) ALL Ferraris are special in one way or another – but when the company really nails it, the results are spectacular. And this is the case with the 458 Speciale, my all-time greatest drive, and a car whose like we are all unlikely to experience again. The extreme evolution of Ferrari’s mid-engined 458 Italia, the Speciale…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths TOWARDS the end of last year (Issue 1,605), I was lucky enough to take a Jeep Wrangler around the Icelandic highlands for a few days (above). During this time I drove across almost every kind of terrain imaginable, crossing lava fields, navigating blizzard-strewn mountain tops, fording rivers so deep water lapped the car’s windscreen, and even driving to the top of a volcano. During this time the Wrangler didn’t miss a beat. It coped with everything I threw at it, the only hiccough being a puncture – and hey, Jeep doesn’t make tyres, after all. As impressive as these feats were, though, this was the Wrangler very much in its element. Few cars, after all, are so capable when the going gets tough. But we’re somewhat short of…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THE plan was simple: take Alfa Romeo’s updated 2020 Stelvio – the brand’s first SUV – to the road that its second off-roader will be named after: the Tonale pass. This was going to be a test of the Stelvio in its home country to prove that it was still a proper Alfa, but also a modern car that came at the right time for the brand, bringing it into a new era. And then things changed. By the time our scheduled trip to Italy arrived, COVID-19 had already gripped the nation and, while the UK wasn’t suffering anywhere nearly as badly by that point, still weeks away from lockdown, it was safe and sensible to re-evaluate – which is what we did. We wanted to test the…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “We haven’t tweaked a current platform. It’s all-new. And this little car, once again, is totally relevant. This is our urban Tesla”OLIVIER FRANÇOIS Brand president, Fiat VERY few cars are real icons. But where they exist, they’re a treasure and a curse for many makers: a banker when it comes to sales figures, but a nightmare when it comes to evolving them and keeping them up to speed with customer trends and developments. So when the new generation of a car like the Fiat 500 arrives, it’s significant. And the latest new 500 – only the third iteration, after the original in 1957 and the reborn model, which arrived half a century later – is, in some ways, a huge departure from what’s gone before. Because for its…

Points to ponder when buying a hot hatchback HOT hatchbacks often have to act as one car to cover many bases for their owners, which means these models are some of the most talented around, given what buyers demand of them. It also means that your checklist should be pretty long for any hot hatchback you might be interested in buying and owning. Like any car purchase, work out what you’ll mainly use the car for. Even if a significant proportion of this might be commuting, we know that you’ll maybe sacrifice a little comfort and fuel economy to make sure there’s plenty of fun and performance on offer when you want them; otherwise you’d just have a regular family hatch. However, because many of these cars are based on…

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Skoda Superb iV ‘SIMPLY Clever’ is Skoda’s marketing phrase, and we reckon it’s a good one. The ice scraper in the fuel-filler flap and the umbrella in the door are two well known smart features, but executive editor Stuart Milne reckons the Simply Clever DNA runs much deeper than that. Our man swapped an Audi Q5 PHEV for a Superb iV, but while the charging cable rattled around in the boot of the Audi, it stows neatly under the floor in the Skoda. The cable is bright yellow, rather than black, so it’s less likely someone will trip over it. And the charging port is behind the grille, so our man can park nose-in on his drive; the Q5’s socket was in the rear quarter, meaning he had to make…

Hyundai warms up its next hot hatchback THIS is our first official look at what will be the next car to enter Hyundai’s burgeoning performance car line-up: the i20 N. As we revealed a month ago (Issue 1,620), the company is in the final stages of developing a hot supermini to rival the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTI. Hyundai says the prototype you see on the right is undergoing winter testing in the Arctic Circle, and while the camo is slowly coming off to reveal the sporty bodykit, technical details are firmly under wraps. In a new teaser video on YouTube, Hyundai World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville puts the i20 N through its paces. Although the company has not confirmed any technical specifications, you can clearly hear…

Essentials Hyundai Ioniq Electric Premium SE Price: £32,950 (after Gov’t grant) Engine: 38.3kWh battery, single electric motor Power/torque: 134bhp/395Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 9.7 seconds Range: 193 miles (NEDC correlated) Top speed: 103mph CO2: 0g/km ONSALE Now John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WHEN it was launched in 2016, the Hyundai Ioniq was the Korean brand’s first proper crack at building an eco-car. Similar to the Toyota Prius in profile, this efficiency-focused creation proved a very decent effort across all three of its versions: pure EV, plug-in and hybrid. Indeed, the car’s success, particularly in all-electric form, was compromised as much by early supply issues as anything else. Over the past couple of years, though, the Ioniq Electric has been overshadowed by other pure EVs from the same company, such as the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods IN September 2016, Alfa Romeo test driver Fabio Francia momentarily caught air at 162mph while heading over a crest into one of the fastest, most daunting corners on the world’s most fearsome race circuit. Minutes later, he was in the record books. He was, of course, at the Nürburgring, and he had claimed the lap record for a four-door production saloon in the newly minted Giulia Quadrifoglio. The lap time of seven minutes and 32 seconds had confirmed Alfa’s return to performance-car form with a proper BMW M3-baiting super-saloon. Of course it has since been followed by a hot SUV, the Porsche Macan-rivalling Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Nürburgring lap records are broken almost as quickly as they are set these days. But while the Giulia has since lost its crown,…

THE Jeep Wrangler is an American icon like few others. Its looks echo the legendary World War II 4x4, yet continual updates mean it’s still relevant today. And as you’ll have read earlier (Page 40), not only does the Wrangler ooze charm, it also makes for entertaining and practical family transport – something that we’re giving one lucky Auto Express reader the chance to find out for themselves. Our winner will enjoy six months behind the wheel of the very latest Wrangler, and Jeep will even cover the insurance costs. You’ll get to experience the thrills of a Wrangler Overland four-door, which features equipment such as Apple CarPlay, a rear parking camera and removable body panels, as well as leather upholstery and 18-inch alloy wheels. It really couldn’t be easier to enter…

NEW PRODUCT Pioneer SPHEVO8TAB-BT tablet head unit Price: £399 Contact: www.pioneer-car.eu INFOTAINMENT specialist Pioneer has taken its smartphone head unit concept one step further with the launch of a tabletbased design. Unlike the smartphone unit, where you use your own handset, the SPH-EVO8TAB-BT includes an Android tablet (SDA-8TAB) alongside the double-DIN head unit mount (SPH-T20BT). The result is an eight-inch touchscreen that connects to the car’s sound system, and can be used for streaming music, internet radio, and navigation. It has full tablet functionality and comes with pre-installed Pioneer Smart Sync for Tablet, plus a host of Google apps including Gmail, Chrome, Maps and Waze; additional apps can be downloaded from the Play Store. The tablet hooks on to the head unit, making it easy to use it both inside…

BMW X1 2020 Results X1 Factfile Years: 2016 to present CO2: 125g/km Fuel economy: 42.8mpg (sDrive18i) Best options: 10.25-inch touchscreen, head-up display, Apple CarPlay, leather USED PRICES: From £10,000 OVERALL SCORE 89.08% Bars show where model finished out of 100 vehicles in our 2020 new car survey. The longer the bar the better WE SAID “A TOP-10 place for acceleration confirms that the X1 is a car for those who don’t like to hang about, while a still more impressive mark for its sat-nav means you should reach your destination even faster.” YOU TELL US Small SUV is practical and quick, but could come with more kit GOOD “ACCELERATION is decent in Comfort mode, but selecting Sport makes it really rapid.” “High-quality interior with really nice leather trim – there’s…

Kia Stinger GT-S Years: 2017 to present Engine: 3.3-litre V6 petrol, 365bhp Ins group: 41 Official econ/CO2: 27.7mpg/225g/km Why? Sharp looks, sharp name, sharp handling; the Stinger is fast, well kitted-out, and offers good value Prices from: £25,500 ENGAGING Rear-drive set-up and adaptive dampers combine to make the Kia more exciting, although it does use more fuel Audi S5 Sportback Years:2017 to present Engine: 3.0-litreV6 petrol, 349bhp Ins group: 41 Official econ/CO2: 37.7mpg/174g/km Why? The sheer breadth of the S5’s abilities makes it easy to recommend, plus you get an Audi interior Prices from: £28,500 CLASSY Audi is very clearly the more premium of these two, with higher quality and a more desirable badge DO you ever think you deserve a treat? Well, what better way than buying a performance-focused…

“Meeke became only the sixth non-Nordic driver to win Rally Finland in 66 years” ohn_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy BRITAIN has had two World Rally Champions – Colin McRae and Richard Burns – but even they never managed to win one of the most famous rounds of the series: the legendary 1000 Lakes, otherwise known as Rally Finland. The mix of super-fast gravel roads and blind crests has made the event one of the toughest for non-locals to win. Northern Irishman Kris Meeke clearly didn’t get the message, though, because in 2016 he scored the UK’s first-ever victory on Rally Finland – at a pace which remains the fastest recorded in any World Championship rally. Meeke started 2016 as a factory Citroen driver, and was focusing on development of its C3-based challenger ahead…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy MOST concept cars are created for a reason – usually to grab a bit of publicity at a motor show or, in some cases, to preview a production model that’s a further six or 12 months down the line. But in the case of the third vehicle in our series looking at how some of the most famous show cars made it to dealers, we’re highlighting a model whose entire existence was designed to prepare the public for what they were about to be sold. It’s the Ford Probe III. LOOK at the Ford Probe III now, and details aside, you probably think it looks relatively normal. But back at the start of the eighties, Ford had a problem. Its design team, led by Uwe Bahnsen and with…

Andy_Pringle@dennis.co.uk AFTER umpteen generations of E and S-Class saloons, Mercedes is synonymous with executive limos. But, what do you do if you have to whisk half a dozen execs from airport to boardroom in something with an appropriate level of class? Merc’s answer is the V-Class, and a revised version has just gone on sale. Its only real rival is Volkswagen’s Caravelle, but the Mercedes badge carries much more kudos. Plus there’s a strong list of standard kit, covering comfort, safety and technology. For such a high-end MPV, there’s a surprisingly wide range on offer. Buyers can pick from two diesel engines – well, one 2.0-litre unit with 161 or 236bhp – plus three lengths: standard, long or extra-long. Standard models have seven seats, while long and extra-long-wheelbase versions have…

MORE than 70 years since the company was founded in March 1949, the Abarth name still resonates strongly with car enthusiasts around the world. What began with the downfall of the old Cisitalia racing team at the end of the forties has gone on to blossom into among the most respected names in Italian automobiles. And while today’s Abarth range is not as diverse as it once was, the company’s ability to turn small and humble Fiats into tiny, growling monsters remains deeply appealing. That know-how has given us some remarkable vehicles over the years, from the early sleek sports cars, to hotted-up versions of Fiat’s more recent models. Abarth’s touch has also led to wins in events like the Mille Miglia and World Rally Championship, which in turn created…

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA THE original Giulia GTA reinforced Alfa’s reputation for building beautiful drivers’ cars. A number of versions were offered throughout the production run, but all were lighter and more powerful than base models. Compact dimensions meant agility was assured, and huge success in competition cemented the GTA’s status as being among the most collectable Alfas. 2001 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA THE 156 GTA remains one of the more evocative recent Alfas, with gorgeous saloon and estate styling cloaking the firm’s famous ‘Busso’ 3.2-litre V6. The cars were assembled on a separate line to standard 156 models, and featured faster steering and stronger Brembo brakes. 2002 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA LIKE other hot hatches of the time, the 147 GTA relied on displacement rather than turbocharging. Its…

Sean Carson Expert insight Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk WE love a good hot hatch at Auto Express. Because a brilliant example of the breed is inherently a relatively small car with a powerful engine that’s fun from behind the wheel. And when one is done well, it can be spectacular to drive. Spend more than five minutes in a really good one on a road that’s quiet and has a few twists and turns, and a hot hatch can be more fun than a supercar. You can often get closer to its limits and extract more of a hot hatch’s potential on the road. Yet a hot hatch can also be perfectly at home doing the weekly shop, or carrying four people to wherever they wish to go in acceptable comfort. On top…

NEW Skoda Octavia vRS iV THE new Skoda Octavia vRS has all the tech upgrades from the standard Octavia, but you can now opt for a 242bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain if you want your performance with CO2 emissions as low as 30g/km, a 37-mile electric range and 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. There’ll still be a 2.0-litre petrol model that matches the hybrid vRS iV’s output if you’re more of a purist. NEW Toyota GR Yaris TOYOTA’S GR Yaris boasts a mouth-watering spec. The 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine produces 257bhp and 360Nm of torque sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, with two limited-slip diffs and an advanced centre coupling to distribute torque. It’s three-door only and at around £30,000, it isn’t cheap, but it promises to be superb…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for our extensive product archive “It could prove the perfect antidote to lockdown boredom” NEW PRODUCT LEGO Technic Dom’s Dodge Charger Price: £89.99 Contact: www.lego.com/en-gb THE ninth film in the Fast & Furious franchise may have been delayed until 2021 by coronavirus, but that hasn’t stopped LEGO from unveiling a 1,077-piece Technic version of main character Dominic Toretto’s Dodge Charger. And with much of the world on enforced lockdown, it could prove the perfect antidote to homebound boredom. The Charger featured in 2001’s The Fast And The Furious movie, and after putting in various appearances in the sequels, is set to return in the forthcoming film. The LEGO Technic version comes with a model V8 engine, complete with moving pistons. Working steering, double-wishbone suspension, boot-mounted nitrous bottles, a wheelie…

SMALL, front-wheel-drive hatchbacks have been popular since the late sixties but didn’t really gain momentum until the seventies, when cars such as the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Renault 5 arrived. Vauxhall was a bit behind when, in 1980, it introduced the Nova, sold in mainland Europe as the Corsa, before the UK followed suit and adopted the Corsa name in 1993 with the arrival of the second generation. Switching names hasn’t done this evergreen supermini much harm, because the Corsa has been a staple of the top 10 biggest-selling cars in the UK for years. History THE Mk4 Corsa landed in UK showrooms in October 2014, with a choice of 69bhp 1.2-litre, 89bhp 1.4-litre, 99bhp 1.4-litre Turbo, or 89bhp/114bhp 1.0 turbo petrol engines. There was also a 1.3-litre CDTi…