Innholdsfortegnelse for 1629 i Auto Express

SITTING at the top of the 4 Series line-up will be an all-new M4, which is expected to join the range next year. One big change with the arrival of the new M4 will be the powertrain. For the first time, the two-door coupé will employ four-wheel drive. However, just like the system on the larger M5 saloon, it will be a selectable set-up, so drivers can engage a rear-wheel-drive mode if they want. The M4’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine will be lifted from the X3M, and is expected to develop upwards of 500bhp in Competition spec. A lesser-powered model will also be developed, although it’s unlikely to be sold in the UK. Further down the line, we can expect a stripped out, lightweight M4 CS to appear, too. In terms…

1996 (EK9) THE very first Civic to wear the Type R badge was built in Japan as a three-door hatch. It had a 1.6-litre VTEC engine that developed 181bhp. 2001 (EP3) THE EP3 generation Type R was the first to be manufactured at Honda’s Swindon plant and sold overseas. It was powered by a 197bhp 2.0-litre VTEC engine. 2006 (FN2) TWO versions of third-generation Type R were launched: a four-door saloon for Japan and a three-door hatch for Europe, both with the same engine as the EP3. 2012 (FK2) HONDA moved to a five-door hatchback body for this generation. The Type R also had turbo power for the first time, with a 306bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder. 2016 (FK8) CURRENT Type R will be the last produced at Swindon. It’s the most…

PORSCHE has only just revealed the 992-generation 911 Targa, but there’s already a special version: the £136,643 Targa 4S Heritage Edition. It will be in showrooms from this autumn and is limited to 992 units globally. The Heritage Edition features the 4S powertrain, so has a 444bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged flat six. Power goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed PDK gearbox, and 0-62mph takes 3.6 seconds. Four paint colours are matched with historic motorsport graphics on the front wings, plus racing numbers on the doors. Classic Porsche badges and ‘classic look’ instruments are used inside, while red or black leather on the dash contrasts with the standard beige leather and corduroy seats – a nod to the interior of the classic 356. PAGE 28: New 911 Turbo S driven…

Aston partner’s badge of support for the NHS THE company that makes the badges that adorn the nose of every Aston Martin has created the NHS Rainbow Badge, with proceeds from sales going to NHS Charities Together. Vaughtons, the company behind the idea, stamps and polishes each badge using tooling which has been in operation since 1819. Every one is made by hand. Badges can be ordered directly from www.vaughtons.com for £9.99 including postage and packing. Lockdown decimates UK car production CAR production in the UK plummeted by 99.7 per cent in April 2020 as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. Just 197 cars left British factories – 45 for the home market and 152 exports, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). These were…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk CARS are rolling off production lines once more and dealerships have opened their doors, but the British car industry will never be the same again in the aftermath of coronavirus, and unfortunately thousands of jobs are set to be lost. The pandemic has cost the automotive sector billions and produced the perfect storm for one of the UK’s last world-class assets, which turns over £82billion every year, and employs more than 800,000 workers, either directly or indirectly. The UK car industry was already struggling before the outbreak; the victim of three years of economic uncertainty caused by Brexit, UK automotive had already shed more than 6,000 jobs in 2019, with Ford announcing the closure of its Bridgend factory last September, and Honda confirming its Swindon plant will shut in…

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E Price from: £40,270 (Before PiCG) ONE of the most controversial and eagerly awaited Fords in years, the new Mustang Mach-E will aim to steal sales directly from the Model Y. It’s due in UK showrooms at the beginning of next year with a choice of two battery sizes: 75kWh and 99kWh. The range varies depending on battery size and power, but Ford says entry-level versions will be able to cover 260 miles, which rises to 370 miles on top-spec models with four-wheel drive. KIAE-NIRO Price from: £34,995 (After PiCG) YOU won’t find Kia mentioned in the same breath as Tesla all that often, but the brilliant e-Niro is one of the only compact pure-electric crossovers on the market today. Its badge may not have the kudos of…

Running costs 2.5 miles/kWh (on test) £12 fill-up/£0 or 0% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 656/1,453 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 4.4 seconds/124mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 46.8/34.6/8.8m MODEL TESTED: Jaguar I-Pace EV400 SE  PRICE: £69,995 ENGINE: Dual e-motor, 395bhp A PREVIOUS Auto Express Car of the Year, the I-Pace represents an alternative for those after a premium SUV in 2020. It’s fully electric, and in SE trim (our pictures show an HSE) starts from £69,995. Design & engineering THE I-Pace sits on Jaguar’s D7e electric car platform. The battery is situated in the floor and supplies two electric motors – one on the front axle, one on the rear – to give 395bhp and 696Nm of torque. This means the I-Pace is four-wheel drive, just like its rivals, and as with the…

Tesla Model X Long Range PRICE: £87,190 ENGINE: 2 x e-motor, 469bhp IF you want an SUV that’s a full EV, then the Tesla Model X is worth a look. It offers 314 miles of range and 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds, so it’s more practical and just as fast as the Jag, but it’s pricier. Build quality isn’t quite as good, but the infotainment is much better. Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge R-Design PRICE: £67,495 ENGINE: 2.0 4cyl/e-motor, 385bhp THE XC90 T8 was the first premium plug-in SUV that really made sense. It has a similar power output to the BMW, but the Volvo also features seven-seat practicality. The interior is beautifully trimmed, too.…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Covering up against gulls I LIVE near the coast in Dorset and have a problem with dive-bombing seagulls (very large ones!). Can you recommend a waterproof cover for the roof and windows of a Skoda Karoq?David Chandler, E-mail A A FULL car cover might be a better option since bird droppings can etch the clearcoat, leaving unsightly marks if not removed from the car. Our test winning-outdoor cover is the Halfords Car Cover (£35), and its All Seasons Car Cover (£55, above) is also good. But, we haven’t tested partial car covers, so can’t offer any suggestions there. Q Will snow foam hurt plants? I’M interested in using a snow foam like Autoglym Polar Blast, but where I clean my cars slopes to a grassed…

CERAMIC is the new big thing for car care, with makers including it across much of their range of sealants, protectants and washes. US manufacturer Meguiar’s was one of the ceramic pioneers, and has now given a detailer the tech. We put it up against our last test winner, Farécla’s G3 Spray Wax, to find out if it’s an advance on a more conventional detailer. We assessed ease of use and the cleaning results on a dusty car bonnet. We masked off two sections, applied the products, ensuring there was no overspray, and monitored beading over three weeks. Price was the final factor. Meguiar’s has clearly moved the game on; Hybrid Ceramic Detailer topped the cleaning and durability tests by some margin. G3 Pro’s Spray Wax is not a poor…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Controversial coupé’s new design revealed for the first time ● Plus, we talk to BMW design boss, and look forward to M4 flagship FEW big car makers have as much history and presence in the coupé market as BMW. And here is the brand’s latest offering: the new 4 Series, which aims to finish a job started by its predecessor. That’s because, while the 4 Series is still a rival for cars such as the Mercedes C-Class Coupé and Audi A5, BMW has started to dramatically change the way the car looks. The last 4 Series saw BMW separate the coupé and the 3 Series it was based on. What was once the 3 Series Coupé became the 4 Series, although outsiders saw it as little more…

Head of BMW Design DUKEC has been in charge of the BMW brand’s various design teams since April 2019, and has been at BMW for nine years. Previously, he was the chief designer for the M and i divisions of the company. Q Can you explain the design of the new 4 Series? A “It’s not a car you should understand rationally. It’s irrational. You don’t just have parallel lines, you have treatments which are very central and sculptural, and combine with the low centre of gravity. And then some very iconic and expressive design elements. For example, the kidney grille on this car is very prominent.” Q Why did you separate 3 Series and 4 Series even more than before? A “We were differentiating 3 and 4 in the…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson ● Fresh seven-seater caught ● Mild-hybrid tech coming AN updated version of the Land Rover Discovery will appear in showrooms later this year, and our spy photographers have caught prototypes on test in the UK. The SUV will receive minor cosmetic revisions outside, a subtly updated cabin, and a range of new mild-hybrid diesel engines. Styling changes are restrained, stretching to new LED front and rear lamps, while the reshaped bumpers are hidden beneath the disguise of this test mule. Interior updates will be a little more substantial; the Discovery should benefit from JLR’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment set-up, which incudes a new 10.2-inch central screen and a separate display for controlling the car’s heating and air-conditioning systems. However, the biggest news is the introduction of mild-hybrid…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Two-seater teased for first time ● One of 12 forthcoming models NISSAN has revealed a significant plan to restructure its entire business model over the next four years. It will see the firm introduce 12 new cars in the next 18 months, including a brand-new Z sports car. Nissan has even showed a teaser image of the new car, which will enter the line-up as a replacement for the ageing 370Z. Classic Nissan Z-car proportions can be seen in the hazy images, with a rakish fastback profile, long rear window and pronounced rear shoulders. The nose tapers down to a sharp, low-set nose, but the teaser image is all that is known about the mystery sports car, which will become a rival for the likes of the…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Hyundai’s biggest SUV gets substantial revisions ● New looks and improved materials inside THIS is the new Hyundai Santa Fe, a heavily updated version of the Korean firm’s Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sportage rival. And for the first time, the family SUV will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Although described as a mid-life update, the changes to the Santa Fe are so far-reaching that it’s pretty much an entirely new car. European sales will begin in September. The visual updates are quite extreme by facelift standards, with a completely new front end comprising a wide grille with new integrated headlamps, while T-shaped LED daytime running lights rest just above the grille. Elsewhere, reprofiled bumpers, new 20-inch wheels and a redesigned tailgate, featuring a full-width LED…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC New Fiat Panda FROM: Nicko612 IT’S good to see a manufacturer thinking about small cars for a change, rather than huge SUVs. Let’s hope the production model is not excessively wide like the Fiat Centoventi concept, as urban roads are becoming more narrow. FROM: Vince de Simone FIAT arguably started the crossover SUV segment with the Panda 4x4 all those years ago, so it’s good to see it’s making its mark again. Fiat deserves to lead this segment, especially with its expertise in building light, affordable cars. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I like the idea of keeping the Panda as intended – a low-price, basic, entry-level car.”Rhys Andrew Cook ■ “Why would you buy one of these over a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy CONCEPT cars can excite us all, showcasing models that are coming soon, or merely ideas that could still be 20 years in the future. But occasionally they are used to help gauge how big a leap the buying public is prepared to make. We’re highlighting such a litmus test in our latest episode of Concept to Reality. For while there are few differences between the BMW i3 Concept and the production model that followed it, at least one tweak was instigated not by production considerations or profit margins, but by what potential customers told the brand they were willing to buy. THE BMW i3 is now pretty much the oldest model in the manufacturer’s line-up. But when the car was conceived, it represented a huge leap of faith…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ The 911 Turbo – and more recently the Turbo S – is Porsche’s halo car. It delivers the most of everything: power, torque, acceleration and top speed. So, you won’t be surprised to read that the all-new, £155,970 Turbo S still fills that role, yet the jump in the numbers is huge. This 992 model features a new 3.7-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine that generates 641bhp and 800Nm of torque. It then sends that considerable force to all four wheels through a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. With launch control, the car will romp from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds, while its top speed stands at 205mph. The result is the world becoming a greeny-yellow blur though the side window as you squeeze the throttle to the floor exiting a sleepy…

Running costs 24.4mpg (on test) £86 fill-up/£465 or 6% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 500/1,720 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 5.6 seconds/127mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 50.0/35.6/10.7m MODEL TESTED: BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport PRICE: £68,245 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl/e-motor, 389bhp THIS new xDrive45e model brings electric power to BMW’s X5 range in conjunction with a 3.0-litre petrol engine. In M Sport trim it costs £68,245. Design & engineering THE X5 PHEV’s 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six produces 282bhp and 450Nm of torque; while the latter figure is the same as the Porsche’s, it’s less powerful than the Cayenne and I-Pace. The total combined output of the BMW’s set-up, including the electric motor, is 389bhp, while the Jag has 395bhp and the Porsche a total of 456bhp. However, the BMW’s key bit of tech is…

BMW X5 Live Cockpit Professional Std Key features: Nav, digital dash The X5’s standard Live Cockpit Professional set-up is brilliant. It comprises a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and a central screen of the same size, operated by touch or BMW’s rotary iDrive controller. There’s lots of standard functionality, including nav, a WiFi hotspot, wireless charging, CarPlay connectivity, connected services (the traffic info works very well, as does the charging point locator) and a rear-view camera Many rivals boast this level of tech too, but it’s the way it’s integrated here that makes it so easy to use. The menus are logically laid out, the graphics are sharp, it’s a responsive system, the ergonomics are good and, with more than one way to control it, you have options on the move.…

BMW 1 series Iss. 1,608, 1,612, 1,615, 1,622 Ford Focus sT estate Issues 1,608, 1,616, 1,623 Mazda 3 Iss. 1,607, 1,613, 1,622, 1,628 Mercedes e 300 de Iss. 1,609, 1,613, 1,619, 1,625 MINI clubman Issues 1,603, 1,617, 1,624 Mini electric Issue 1,626 Mitsubishi L200 Issues 1,618, 1,628 NissanJuke Issues 1,612, 1,620, 1,627 Skoda superb iV New arrival SsangYong Korando Issue 1,625 Toyota corolla Iss. 1,602, 1,610, 1,621, 1,626 Volkswagen T-cross Issue 1,611, 1,619, 1,627 Volvo s60 Issues 1,604, 1,618, 1,623 Volvo xc40 recharge Issue 1,624…

NEW PRODUCT Laser mini hammer set Price: £37.34 Contact: www.lasertools.co.uk IF you do any work on car interiors, you’ll know that dealing with the clips and fasteners that hold plastic trim in place can be difficult. The latest addition to Laser’s line-up aims to make this, and other tasks, easier. At the heart of the new 7615 kit is a 175mm long composite hammer with a flexible shaft, which is designed to deliver a dead blow without damaging trim or fasteners. The handle also doubles as a pry bar, to safely remove trim clips without marking paint or the surrounding trim. The hammer can be used for basic panel beating, and the kit also includes six 25mm screw-in hammer heads to suit different tasks. There’s a steel head for working on…

How to Build a Patina Volkswagen Mark Walker (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £30 THIS guide teaches you how to achieve the fashionable ‘rat look’ patina that’s a massive part of the Volkswagen community. We prefer more unmolested cars, but if carefully controlled rust revs your engine, this is a good book. It’s concise and is backed up with lots of experience behind the guidance. Exceptional Cars: Ferrari 857S Ian Wagstaff (Porter Press, www.porterpress.co.uk) Price: £30 SUCH a gorgeous race car makes a great subject, and the inclusion of full-page, studio photography at the end of the book is almost worth the asking price alone. But the period photography throughout is extensive, as is the well researched story of this four-cylinder Ferrari, which contested some of the most important sports car…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Keeping the pressure up on my classic Mercedes’ tyres I OWN a 1992 Mercedes SL300 R129. It has 16-inch wheels as standard, but I’ve fitted 18-inch alloys with 245/40R tyres at the front, and 275/35R at the back. What pressure should they be at?Ronald Cavill, E-mail A WE checked with Mercedes, who advised us that cold tyres in this configuration should be inflated to 29psi at the front and 35psi at the rear with the car partially laden, and 32psi front/39psi rear when fully laden. This is suitable for speeds of up to 130mph. If your tyres are warm, inflate to 32psi at the front and 36psi at the rear when the car is partially laden (32psi front and 42psi rear when fully laden).…

• Lights The headlamp and foglight seals are known to perish, leading to water getting into the units and causing condensation. • Exhaust Some owners remove the exhaust’s catalytic converter to improve performance, guaranteeing MoT failure. Avoid cars with this alteration. • Wipers The windscreen wiper fuses can blow when the motor develops a fault; you have to replace both the motor and fuse to fix this. • Gearbox The gearbox should have a smooth change, but reverse tends to be hard to select on examples fitted with the Rover K-Series engine.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy SOME racing cars are so good that they define the era in which they competed. But it takes a really special model to revolutionise the sport as a whole. The Audi Quattro is one such vehicle. The Quattro was the brainchild of Volkswagen engineer Jörg Bensinger, who noticed when testing the company’s Iltis military 4x4 that it was much quicker in poor conditions than more powerful machinery. He and colleague Roland Gumpert proposed the idea of a four-wheel-drive performance car to VW overlord Ferdinand Piëch, and approval for the Audi Quattro was given in 1977. The car premiered at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show, but Piëch had already decided that the coupé’s four-wheel-drive technology made it ideal for motorsport. Indeed, in 1979, before the Quattro was made public,…

“WE can’t see the 4 Series being knocked from the top spot in its class,” we said following an early drive in a prototype (Issue 1,624). We knew the look of the coupé was going to be controversial, but from behind the wheel, it was immediately obvious BMW hadn’t messed it up. “You sit low, cocooned by the cabin, and it feels tight and taut on fast roads,” we said at the wheel of the flagship M440i xDrive model (left). The 369bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo packs plenty of punch, but the engine “feels as if it has more to give,” we thought. Perhaps BMW wants to keep its core models at a distance from the hot M4 that is also in the pipeline (Page 9).…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Next-gen hot hatch on the way ● No hybrid drive for new model “It’s almost certain that the Type R will retain its six-speed manual and front-wheel drive set-up” HONDA is well under way with developing a replacement for the Civic Type R. And it should delight enthusiasts when it arrives in 2022 by shunning a hybrid powertrain. The current Type R only landed in showrooms three years ago, but Japanese manufacturers work on significantly shorter production cycles, typically between four to five years, as opposed to the eight years employed by European rivals, such as Renault, Peugeot and Volkswagen. Our spy photographers have caught the very first prototypes of the upcoming hot hatch on the road, which clearly show that the Type R will increase in…

RENAULT is to cut 15,000 jobs across the world as part of a three-year “transformation” programme. A third of the jobs (4,600) will be cut in France, with “more than 10,000” being lost across the rest of Renault’s global operations. Chief executive Clotilde Delbos said the firm would “look at all departments, with no taboos”, when making the cuts, with the company citing “the major crisis facing the automotive industry and the urgency of the ecological transition”. The Alpine sports car brand is under question, with a final decision on the marque to be taken when new CEO Luca De Meo joins Renault next month.…

SUPERCAR maker McLaren is making 1,200 staff – roughly a quarter of its workforce – redundant. Jobs will be lost from the firm’s Automotive and Racing businesses, as well as back office roles, and in its technology arm, McLaren Applied. The Woking-based company cited coronavirus as a factor in the decision, with suspended retail and manufacturing operations having a “sudden impact” on revenue. F1 rule changes that limit the amount teams can spend on a season are also said to have played a part in the cuts. McLaren Group’s executive chairman, Paul Walsh, said: “We deeply regret the impact that this restructure will have.”…

HOT on the heels of the updated Rio (Issue 1,628), Kia has launched a facelifted Picanto, with a range of styling and technology upgrades, plus three revised powertrains. Sales begin in the autumn. Cosmetic changes include fresh lights front and rear, while 10 new paint finishes and two new wheel designs are available. Interior updates include improved materials and an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The petrol engines get efficiency tweaks, but the line-up stays the same, with the entry point remaining the 66bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder, plusan 83bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder and 99bhp 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder.…

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…

Electric motor Power/range 449bhp/298 miles (est) ONCE again, Tesla is aiming to turn the tables on the mainstream car makers – this time by selling a premium fully electric compact crossover before anyone else. The Model Y is the fourth and final member of the current-generation Tesla line-up. It’s based on the same platform as the Model 3 saloon and will compete against the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4 – when they eventually arrive. Customers in the US are receiving their Model Ys now, but European buyers will have to wait until the middle of 2021, because cars for this continent are going to be built at the firm’s new European production base in Berlin, Germany, from next summer. However, Auto Express has managed to…

Running costs 25.0mpg (on test) £93 fill-up/£465 or 20% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 645/1,605 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/157mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 52.9/38.3/9.5m MODEL TESTED: Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid PRICE: £68,358 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl/e-motor, 456bhp THE Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid costs from £68,358, and the model stands as a trim level in its own right. Is it a better bet than the BMW, though? You get a 3.0-litre V6 mated to a smaller 14kWh battery and electric motor, but a combined output of 456bhp is up on the X5’s 389bhp. Design & engineering THE Cayenne’s MLB Evo platform means it shares parts with other luxury SUVs in the VW Group stable, including the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. It features a multi-link suspension set-up at both the front and…

1st JAGUAR THE I-Pace proves that, if you’ve got the budget, right now is the time to go electric. The car’s performance and handling are brilliant for an SUV, while the battery tech also means super-cheap running costs and gives you access to more than enough range for most tasks, great charging capability and, thanks to the impressive packaging, surprising practicality. Jaguar’s infotainment set-up is still a letdown, though. 2nd BMW THIS X5’s plug-in powertrain sets the template for how big, hybrid SUVs should do it. The combination of six-cylinder smoothness, electrically assisted torque, and a zero-emissions range of more than 50 miles is a convincing one, while refinement, quality, kit and space back up this appeal. The X5 is not as good as either rival to drive, but it…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk REGULAR readers might recognise the familiar picture on the far right. It’s already appeared twice in the pages of Auto Express: firstly in Issue 1,591 back in September 2019, then as my highlight of the year in our Christmas issue (1,604). To recap, my mother and stepfather, Tina and Peter Woolger, joined me at work for a quick test drive of the Honda CR-V Hybrid that I was running at the time. Peter had taken a keen interest in hybrid Hondas, and at the time he was on his fourth CR-V after also owning an Accord and a Honda-engined Rover over the years. Peter was clearly a fan of the Japanese firm, citing his trust in their engine reliability, but he had never driven a hybrid or electrified Honda.…

NEW PRODUCT Greaves 3D Engineering Race Simulator Price: £36,129 Contact: www.greaves3d.com “Sim racing has been in the spotlight, with pro drivers from F1 down taking part” IN the absence of the real thing, simulator racing has been in the spotlight, with pro drivers from Formula One downwards taking part. If you want to join them, Greaves 3D has come up with what it believes is the ultimate sim. The Greaves’ LMP2 endurance race team has used such sims for driver training and, based on that experience, has put together the ideal parts combination, making it a plug-and-play purchase for customers, with no component compatibility problems. A key feature is that it can be easily adjusted without tools to suit a range of drivers, making it ideal for dad and lad use. The…

Timepiece celebrates Porsche’s iconic 911 THE latest Porsche 911 doesn’t disappoint, but owners wishing to further their commitment to the ultimate everyday sports car can now indulge in Porsche Design’s latest 911 watch. The chronograph (above) is limited to 911 units and features a titanium case, sapphire crystal glass and a strap made from original Porsche interior leather. A 911 silhouette is printed on the face and it’s a sleek, no-nonsense design. It costs 4,911 Euros (around £4,390) and can be purchased – while supplies last – from www.porsche-design.com. Punters are ready for some supercar action GOVERNMENT lockdown restrictions are still in place, but that’s not stopping people from planning a day of supercar thrills once it’s all over. Driving experience provider trackdays.co.uk is currently offering vouchers for dates up to 18 months…

TYRES are an expensive but essential motoring consumable. Whether you pick up a puncture or have worn rubber from many miles of driving, getting a fresh set is paramount to road safety, not just for you but also for other road users. It’s not a case of just going for the cheapest option, with Auto Express tyre tests showing the benefits of premium brands when it comes to cornering and braking, both in the wet and dry. Finding the best deal on tyres is something of an art; and that’s where our test of online tyre retailers comes into play. Many offer a choice between mail order (so you have to sort fitting yourself), delivery to a partner fitting centre, or a mobile service. And the good thing is, many…

CO2 /tax 149g/km £150-£165 Running costs 45mpg (1.6) £43 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.5 seconds/127mph EVER since Lotus built its first car in 1948, the British brand (now majority owned by Chinese company Geely) has focused purely on producing cars that are great to drive. Even its more family-friendly models in the seventies and eighties were light and agile, while its best sports cars, such as the Seven, Elan, Exige and Elise, put an emphasis on dynamic excellence, with practicality often getting little more than lip service. Aimed at those who wanted to turn every drive into an adventure, the original Elise made its debut in 1996, and immediately set the sports car market alight with its relative usability, fabulous handling and efficiency, thanks to its light weight. It’s a formula…

IF you’re after a sports car that offers more connection with the road than almost anything else, buy an Elise. It makes greater concessions to comfort and wet weather than a Caterham, while handling in a manner that can best be described as ‘pure’. Some owners use their cars daily, but for most an Elise will be a second or third car; whichever group you fall into, it’ll put an enormous smile on your face. Common faults THE K-Series engine has a reputation for blowing head gaskets, but uprated seals and cooling systems can fix this. Buy a car that’s been loved and serviced carefully, and look underneath, and in the cabin, inspecting the aluminium chassis, because damage is costly and difficult to put right. “The Elise handles in a…

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…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Now all the dealers have to do is become more ambitious and creative as they fight like never before to move the metal” BUSINESS as usual? Hardly. But at least regular car showrooms were given permission by the UK Government to reopen from 1 June. Now all the dealers have to do is become more ambitious and creative as they fight like never before to move metal. The usual discounts and low or zero per cent finance deals will not, on their own, be enough. Franchised, non-franchised and online retailers need additional support from manufacturers. Peugeot has, in recent years, done a fine job in offering city cars with free insurance. Some rivals like the idea, but might not want to seem…