Innholdsfortegnelse for 1632 i Auto Express

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news OVER the past few days, I understand Tata Sons’ top people have been conducting final interviews for the person who’ll step into some of the most prized and most difficult shoes in the business as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover. The process has been going on for a while; it was announced back in January that Sir Ralf Speth would be stepping down (or should that be up?) to become non-executive vice chairman of JLR and to sit on the board of Tata Sons. No doubt he is involved in the process of appointing his successor, along with chairman of the board of Tata Sons, Natarajan Chandrasekaran. But with just three months until the new CEO takes over, they haven’t got…

Chunky look of upcoming ID.4 SUV shown in Chinese documents Based on same platform as ID.3, but taller and longer than hatch James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THIS is an unofficial but unobscured look at what will become Volkswagen’s rival for the Tesla Model Y. It’s called the ID.4, and it’s an all-electric SUV based on the same underpinnings as the recently released ID.3 hatch, intended to move the brand’s growing ID. line-up of allelectric cars into a new area of the market. These images have not been issued by Volkswagen. Instead, they’re registered with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as part of the homologation process for the new ID.4 in China. While the Chinese-specification ID.4 may be slightly different from what will be on roads here in Britain in 2021,…

New 720S celebrates McLaren enduro win McLAREN has launched a limitededition 720S (above) to mark the 25th anniversary of its win at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Only 50 Le Mans models will be made, each priced from £254,000. The firm claimed outright victory in 1995 with the F1 GTR – and the 720S draws inspiration from the race car. There’s a new gloss-black roof scoop, carbon-fibre louvres for the front wings, gold brake calipers and unique fivespoke alloy wheels. The standard car’s 710bhp 4.0-litre V8 remains untouched. F1 turbo tech reaches Merc-AMG road cars MERCEDES-AMG has confirmed that its next-generation engines will include electrically assisted turbocharger technology. The system will comprise larger turbos that feature a turbinemounted electric motor for improved response under hard acceleration. The technology comes directly…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson THIS is the new, fourth-generation Lexus IS saloon. However, this might be the closest that UK buyers will get to it, because the firm has announced that the compact executive won’t be sold here. The IS has long been a strong performer in the Auto Express Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, but dwindling sales and the popularity of Lexus’ SUV range in Europe mean the current model won’t be replaced. While this is the fourth-generation IS, most of the changes focus on design and technology updates, because it uses the same platform as the current car. The front end is marked out by a large ‘spindle’- style grille used across the Lexus line-up, while the headlight units are more compact than before and feature a strong LED running…

John McIlroy John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy OF all the recent car industry trends, the decline of the MPV is one of the easiest to plot. Buyers have moved away from these traditionally boxy models towards SUVs, forcing many brands to leave the market altogether. Back in the nineties, though, the MPV was king. And Renault, a pioneer of the breed, provided perhaps the peak of the era by offering a ‘coupé MPV’ – even though the original idea for the car didn’t come from within the French manufacturer at all. This is the tale of the Renault Avantime. IT’S hard to define the first true MPV, but the Renault Espace would be on the shortlist. Introduced in 1984, the car was actually conceived by British designer Fergus Pollock in the previous decade,…

FORD FOCUS Price from: £20,690 IF the new Leon really is meant to be the sportiest of the VW Group family hatchbacks, then the Focus is probably the car it has to beat. Ford’s offering is now 18 months into its life, but it remains a strong benchmark in this class for handling, not to mention its tolerance of the UK’s poor road surfaces. On paper, prices are similar, but Ford is being generous with its finance deals. And that makes the Focus a very appealing option indeed. TOYOTACOROLLA Price from: £24,185 A TOYOTA hatchback for keen drivers? Don’t laugh; the TNGA chassis under the Corolla is every bit as accomplished as anything from the VW Group. The Corolla isn’t the cheapest offering out there, but its efficient hybrid powertrain…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives RICH has been a member of the Auto Express family for almost a decade, recently moving to head up EV sister site DrivingElectric.com. Not swayed by huge power or trick technology, his motoring back catalogue is best described as diverse – reflected in this list of the greatest cars he’s ever driven. Rich Ingram DrivingElectric editor @rsp_ingram No1. McLaren 600 LT I REMEMBER my first time driving a McLaren 600LT like it was yesterday. It’s the car that springs to mind now when I’m asked, “What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?” Despite being based in Woking, Surrey, in 2018 McLaren went to Hungary for the international media drive of its latest LT (Longtail) model. The chance to sample this hardcore…

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NEW PRODUCT Shelby car care Price: From £16.99 Contact: www.clansmanscotland.com YOU would be forgiven for thinking that a new car-cleaning brand called Shelby, boasting the iconic cobra logo, would be a US import. But you’d be wrong because it’s from much closer to home. Scotland, to be precise. Clansman’s Graham Burns developed the ceramic car care range and, being a Shelby fan, decided to approach the US company to secure a licensing deal, which it was happy to grant. At the heart of the range is the latest ceramic technology, which was originally designed to protect yachts. The ceramic coating costs £29.99, which gets you a 60ml bottle. To complement the coating is a Ceramic Shampoo, designed to top up protection as you wash. A 500ml bottle is £16.99. For…

ELSEWHERE at Volkswagen, the firm has launched a new Arteon Shooting Brake as part of a facelift for the range. A hot R model and a plug-in hybrid have also been added to the line-up. The Shooting Brake has the same new-look front-end as the saloon; updates are minor but include a new set of LED headlamps, a reshaped grille and new daytime running lights. From the B-pillar rearwards, though, the Shooting Brake is all new, with revisions including a less steeply raked roofline, new quarterlight windows and tailgate, plus updated rear lights. Boot capacity is up to 590 litres and there’s more headroom throughout, VW says. Across the range there’s also the choice of three new paint finishes and three new alloy wheel designs, measuring between 18 and 20 inches.…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ A QUICK glance at the new Audi S5 Sportback might have you thinking it’s nothing more than a light makeover on the outside and a new infotainment system grafted to the dash. But you’d be wrong, quite wrong. While those things are undoubtedly true, underneath the big, five-door hatchback’s striking, sharply styled new skin lie a lot of impressively detailed engineering changes In its simplest form, the old S5 was a petrol, but this new car is now a diesel. It uses a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, with new Electric Powered Compressor (EPC) tech. That means a small electric motor ramps up the turbo’s compressor wheel to 65,000rpm in just 300 milliseconds. These figures will be indecipherable to many, but what we can tell you is that it gives…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDI 150 DSG SE L First Edition Price: £29,515 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 148bhp 0-62mph: 8.8 seconds Test economy: 49.2mpg/10.8mpl CO2: 141g/km Annual road tax: £150 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 VVT-I Hybrid Trek Price: £29,225 Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl + e-motor, 120bhp 0-60mph: 11.1 seconds Test economy: 48.8mpg/10.7mpl CO2: 113g/km Annual road tax: £140 SUVs might have eaten into estate sales, but if you’re after a practical family car, then this traditional big box on wheels remains a brilliant solution. That’s why Skoda is still plugging away with the formula and has given us this: the new Octavia Estate. It’s a thorough overhaul of what came before it, with a little more space plus higher-quality materials and…

Skoda Octavia Estate IF you’re buying an estate car, then space has to be a priority. Thankfully, the Octavia absolutely delivers on that promise, as you can see from our pictures here. The Skoda’s seats fold nearly, but not quite flat, too, so the carrying capacity with the seatbacks down is a cavernous 1,700 litres. To put this into context, you should be able to easily carry a bike on its side in the back without taking the wheels off. If you have a longer, narrower load to carry there’s a ski hatch fitted to the Octavia, which means the car can still seat four people, but will offer versatility without the need for a roof rack. The seats split 60:40 and can be folded easily from the boot by…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ UNTIL the recent past, we’ve all been in the same situation when it comes to our automotive adventures, or lack of them. But despite this, with a brand-new Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible sat on the drive, I still managed to venture out to explore the car’s ability. R55 BML was delivered the day before lockdown, so I did at least have one day to cover a few hundred miles and get a good impression for what the characterful V8-powered Continental Convertible can do. But that did make the following months before its return to Bentley not so long ago all the more testing – knowing the brilliance that was sat outside, yet not being able to sample it all that frequently. However, in the early days of…

2020 Results Arona Factfile Years: 2017 to present CO2: 112g/km Fuel economy: 48.7mpg (1.0 TSI 95) Best options: Eight-inch touchscreen, nav, rear parking sensors, Beats stereo USED PRICES: From £9,700 OVERALL SCORE 90.63% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2020 new car survey The longer the bar the better WE SAID “You like the drivetrains and the high-riding looks – the Arona getting a silver medal here. Factor in low running costs, good reliability and comfortable seats, and it’s clear this is a car many owners would recommend.” ✓ GOOD “THE Arona stands out from most other compact SUVs, and SEAT offers plenty of neat exterior styling options.” The optional sports seats are very comfortable, and offer good support on long trips.” “All-around visibility is…

THE SPORTY CHOICE BMW 2 Series AT FOR: Sharp handling, smooth ride, efficient engines AGAINST: Wind noise, small boot, limited rear legroom WHILE a typical MPV doesn’t usually promise much visual excitement, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer avoids looking bland and boxy. Instead, it offers a smart, premium look, together with relatively compact proportions that make it easy to place on narrow roads. This budget gives plenty of choice on the used market. We found a 13,000-mile, 18-plate 220d xDrive Luxury for £18,000. The same amount will also buy you a 69-plate 218i Sport model that’s covered just 3,000 miles. WITH top-notch build quality and an ergonomically sound cabin, the Active Tourer might have a little less rear legroom than some MPVs, but it’s pretty spacious. The larger Gran…

RENAULTCAPTUR Price from: £30,495 EV range: 30 miles THE latest generation of Captur represents a major jump forward for Renault’s baby SUV, with much-improved quality and finish inside, more efficient powertrains and an altogether more grown-up experience. The Captur can’t match the Mokka’s all-electric credentials, but there is a plug-in hybrid version called E-Tech. It takes a hit on boot space but it can travel up to 30 miles on electricity alone – while still offering the long-distance flexibility that comes with a petrol engine. MG ZS EV Price from: £25,495 EVrange: 163 miles CHINESE-owned MG used technology from its parent company to come up with one of the early pure-electric small SUVs – and the ZS EV is one of the more keenly priced offerings in the market. The…

Electric people carrier joins the Vauxhall fleet VAUXHALL has launched a new, all-electric version of its van-based people carrier, called the Vivaro-e Life (above). It comes with a 50kWh battery pack and a front-mounted electric motor, which has an output of 134bhp and 260Nm of torque. The van’s maximum range is 143 miles, while top speed is electronically limited to 80mph. As standard, the Vivaro-e Life comes with a 7.4kW on-board charger, which can fully replenish the van’s battery pack in just under eight hours. Buyers have their choice of two body lengths and seating for five, six, seven or eight passengers. DVLA offers faster log book changes for movers THE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) now lets drivers alter the address on their V5C log book online, it…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.4 seconds/130mph Running costs 46.3-51.4mpg (off icial) £54 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,210 litres John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy IT’S fair to say that SEAT has never been in better shape. But it’s equally valid to suggest that this is down to the trio of SUVs that have arrived in recent years, because the Arona, Ateca and Tarraco took the Spanish brand to countless new customers. Don’t forget the Leon, though. SEAT’s family hatch was one of the brand’s first hits under Volkswagen Group ownership, and the model made a useful leap with its third generation back in 2012, adopting the MQB platform architecture and a slightly rakish look that set it apart from its stablemates, the Skoda Octavia and…

Tomas Hirschberger MAZDA isn’t the first car maker you’d think of when talking electric cars. While rivals fall over themselves to promote their all-electric developments, the fiercely independent Japanese marque’s main priority remains the perfection of the petrol engine. However, it’s still found time to entertain the electric-car lobby with this, the MX-30. The newcomer is a compact all-electric SUV that you can think of as a rival for the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4 (Page 12). However, it has been created with a radically different theory to those vehicles. Put simply, Mazda isn’t interested in the battery and range arms race that’s unfolding across the industry. The power pack is just 35.5kWh in size, and the maximum range on a single charge is 124 miles, a figure that…

NEW PRODUCT Lego Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 Prices: £349 Contact: www.lego.com THE Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 is the latest supercar to get the Lego treatment, topping 2018’s Bugatti Chiron as one of the most complex and expensive car sets ever created by the Danish toy maker. Comprising 3,696 pieces and measuring 60cm long and 25cm wide, the kit features a recreation of the Italian car’s V12 engine, plus a rising spoiler, all-round suspension and a working eight-speed gearbox. The Sian FKP 37 is a limited-run 808bhp hybrid supercar, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last year. It’s based on the Aventador’s platform but has more power, thanks partly to the addition of a 48-volt electric motor to the 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 powertrain. Only 63 examples are being built and each…

Total CarC heck Price (singlecheck): £8.99 Price(fivechecks): £19.99 Rating: Contact: www.totalcarcheck.co.uk BEST BUY The first surprise about the TotalCarCheck site was how much data it gives away for free. It flags stolen cars, gives MoT info, mileages, recall and technical data without you having to pay a penny. This is great for browsing through adverts and making a shortlist, and from there an £8.99 Gold Check adds finance status, insurance write-off listings and a series of valuations. The only minor black mark is the mileage information - it’s only MoT data and doesn’t include figures supplied by the DVLA. But TotalCarCheck was among the cheapest for single and packaged tests, so is our solid favourite. AA Car Check Price (singlecheck): £14.99 Price(fivechecks): £29.99 Rating: Contact: www.theaacarcheck.com RECOMMENDED The AA’s data…