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JAGUAR Land Rover is to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle as part of a £73.5million Government programme to help reduce carbon emissions. Announcing the scheme – Project Zeus – the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy stated: “Working with world-class research and industry partners, Jaguar Land Rover is developing a prototype hydrogen fuelcell vehicle. The project will deliver a zero tailpipe-emissions, premium fuelcell SUV concept with Jaguar Land Rover attributes, such as long range, quick refill, towing, off-road capabilities and low-temperature performance.” The project is still in its infancy, with no launch date yet released. And despite the mention of off-road capabilities in the Government statement, it’s still unclear whether the fuel-cell vehicle will be badged a Land Rover or a Jaguar.…

MODELTESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI 130 Life PRICE: £23,900 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THE Volkswagen Golf is a family car icon. It’s been on sale for nearly half a century and is now in its eighth generation. But is it still king of the class? We’re testing the entry-level (for the moment) £23,900 1.5 TSI 130 Life model to find out. Design & engineering LIKE the new Leon, the Golf Mk8 has a more digital focus to what it offers buyers. That means there’s much more touchscreen technology, digital dials and touch-sensitive buttons for the lights and some other functions. There are positives and negatives to the way the system works, the touch buttons for the climate control sometimes being hit and miss. The digi dash looks better integrated than…

JUST in time for the insect hordes of summer, Gtechniq has launched a new version of its bug cleaner – W8v2. The sealant specialist promises an enhanced formula that can be left longer on bugs, allowing them to be pressure-washed away. We tested its predecessor a few years ago and it fared well in the no-contact tests, so we were keen to see how this new version performed. To do that, we put it up against our current winner, multiple champion Angelwax Revenge. Angelwax Revenge. On a suitably bug-splattered grille, headlights and mirrors we performed a series of side-by-side tests to find the winner, using just a low-pressure On a suitably bug-splattered grille, headlights and mirrors we performed a series of side-by-side tests to find the winner, using just a…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler THIS is the Ineos Grenadier – an all-new car from an all-new company, but one with a distinctly familiar look. Just three years ago, in 2017, Ineos Chairman and car fan Sir Jim Radcliffe decided to do something other car makers seemed to be shying away from: produce a vehicle with off-road ability at its heart, a utilitarian car where form followed function. This is the result, the first model from Ineos Automotive, and a car that takes its name from the pub where the idea was first formed. Auto Express was invited to Ineos HQ to take a look at the Grenadier and meet some of the team behind it. At the helm of the new company is Dirk Heilmann, an Ineos employee for 20 years but,…

503bhp in Competition trim We’ve driven the prototypes FAMILIAR and immediately grininducing: that’s exactly how the first few corners in the new BMW M3 feel, and that’s precisely what we’ve come to expect over five generations of this performance saloon icon. This is despite the prototype we’re driving – alongside a similarly near-finished M4 – being only 90 per cent complete, according to BMW M Development Manager Dirk Häcker. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged straight six. This is the S58 motor used in the X3 M and X4 M SUVs, but its proper home is in the M3, developing 473bhp – or 503bhp in the flagship M3 Competition (expected to be the only version sold in the UK). A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, while Competition variants are equipped…

39kWh newcomer cuts £4k from e-Niro price KIA has added a more affordable version of its fully electric e-Niro SUV (above), priced from £29,595 (after PiC Grant). It has a smaller 39kWh battery, which not only lowers the starting price of the line-up by over £4,000, but also cuts the car’s range on a charge to 180 miles – 100 less than the 64kWh version. The battery drives a 134bhp electric motor, which Kia says allows a 0-60mph time of 9.5 seconds. An 80 per cent recharge takes as little as one hour from a 100kW fast-charger. One in six automotive jobs ‘at risk’ – SMMT ONE in six jobs in the UK car industry is at risk due to Covid-19, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has warned. Chief…

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

MODELTESTED:Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125 Zetec Edition PRICE: £22,210 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 123bhp WHILE the Focus might not be as fresh as the Leon or Golf, it has had some significant changes to its tech and trim structure since it went on sale. It’s now available in Zetec Edition trim (our pictures show an ST-Line), which is priced from £22,210 with the 1.0 EcoBoost 125, highlighting its value for money. Design & engineering THE Ford’s engineering set-up is similar to the Leon’s and Golf’s in some respects, but there are significant differences in others. While the chassis also uses MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam rear axle, the engine configuration differs from its four-cylinder rivals’ because the Focus uses Ford’s 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder EcoBoost unit. This produces 123bhp…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 01|07|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 William Burton THE average motorist in the UK spends four days a year just looking for a parking space, wasting time and causing congestion when circling the same streets hunting for a bay. These parking woes often continue if you ten discover that a space has a short maximum stay time or is restricted to residents during certain hours. Even when you find a suitable spot, you’re often faced with high fees to pay for your allotted time – and that’s assuming you have the correct change, if you’re using cash. The pain of parking has been greatly reduced in…

Visit carbuyer.co.uk for all the latest data plus indepth car reviews and videos 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…

Teams have been out testing Extensive Covid-19 measures Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA 1 teams have been out testing once again, in preparation for the 2020 season finally getting under way at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend. So far, only eight rescheduled races have been confirmed for 2020, kicking off with two in Austria and one in Hungary over the next three weekends. After that, there’s a Silverstone double, Spain and Belgium in August, and Italy in September. Efforts are ongoing to secure races in the Americas, Middle East and Asia later in the year. Should these be frustrated, however, it’s possible more European races could be added to the calendar. The Imola and Mugello circuits are said to be lobbying for an Italian triple-header, and drivers seem keen on…

THE six-month MoT extension should be brought to an immediate end following the latest relaxation of lockdown rules, according to a leading industry body. When the UK was put into lockdown, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that cars with an MoT due on or after 30 March 2020 would have their certificates automatically extended by six months. Now, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) says the extension scheme should come to an end, both to help ensure cars are in roadworthy condition, and to stimulate the UK’s garage industry. “We’ve supported the Government’s Covid measures, but it is not safe for cars to remain unchecked” IGA chief executive Stuart James made clear his organisation had “supported the Government’s measures all the way through this pandemic”, but warned: “it…

Your views We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester HOT TOPIC Lotus’s electric future FROM: Matthew Jensen THIS isn’t a bad idea for Lotus. If the engineering team get this right, they could produce sports cars of unrivalled performance. I will miss the richness of the internal combustion engine, but its time has now run out. FROM: Joseph D’Andrea I SEE this as yet another brand essentially dying in order to satisfy some questionable hype. EV fanatics won’t stop going on about instant torque, but Lotus has always based its fortune on lightness and agility, not straight-line speed. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “So Lotus could enter Formula E? Imagine those iconic black and gold colours on the…

Essentials Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupé Porsche Cayenne GTS Coupé Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.5 seconds (Chrono pack) Top speed: 168mph (Chrono pack) Economy: 20.9mpg CO2: 306g/km ONSALE NOW John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy TO those who know their Porsches, GTS models tend to be a bit special. They aren’t usually as flat-out fast as Turbo editions, but they occupy a useful space below them, delivering extra performance and handling involvement that appeal to keen drivers more than pure speed freaks. With this in mind, the GTS editions of the German brand’s SUVs have arguably the biggest challenge: to deliver extra agility under a body that’s still much taller and heavier than a regular sports car’s. And that’s what makes cars like this latest Cayenne GTS an interesting proposition. A new-generation GTS…

MODELTESTED: SEAT Leon 1.5 TSI 130 FR PRICE: £23,515 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THIS fourth-generation SEAT Leon is a carefully thought-through evolution of its predecessor, rather than an all-new car. Let’s find out exactly how with this £23,515 Leon 1.5 TSI 130 FR model. Design & engineering FIRSTLY, this Leon is still based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB chassis architecture that the Mk3 adopted back in 2012. That was a big step on for the Leon, but this latest version feels like a less extensive evolution. Instead, the focus here has been placed on the integration of more digital technology, so to that end there’s a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment set-up and a 10.25-inch digital dash on this FR model. Even if the chassis isn’t totally fresh, the infotainment is…

SEAT Leon Media system Plus Standard Key features: W’less CarPlay, Android Auto THE new infotainment set-up is a big step on for SeAT. The 10-inch panel’s graphics are very sharp and the screen’s response is really good, but the menu layouts and shortcuts to find different areas might take some getting used to. While it looks like a smartphone, it doesn’t always work quite as intuitively as the best digital technology we’ve come to know and love The dash also looks slick enough, but the panel isn’t as big as some rivals’ and looks a little small under the instrument cowling. however, there’s a good level of customisation when it comes to the data it can show. Nav, (wireless) Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, connected services and wireless charging are all…

Stephen Errity THE 2020 season originally looked like a bit of a ‘holding pattern’ for F1, with a radical 2021 rules package on the horizon and little movement on the driver market over the winter. Then the first race of the season in Australia was called off at the last moment as the coronavirus pandemic engulfed the globe. Since then, there’s been no action on track, but seismic changes have taken place off it. First, the new rules package has been deferred to 2022, while new races in Vietnam and the Netherlands have had to be postponed until the 2021 season. There have been driver moves for 2021, too, with Vettel leaving Ferrari (replaced by Carlos Sainz Jr) and Ricciardo moving on from Renault to take the seat vacated by Sainz.…

REMEMBER the good old days of 2019, when health, financial and employment woes were far less of a worry? Looking back, it was a comparatively calm and blissful year. Well, it would have been were it not for Brexit, which resulted in 2019 being the final full year when the United Kingdom could call itself a member of the European Union. So how did Brexit shenanigans affect the British motor industry last year? That’s a question that was effectively answered last week, when the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders gave me detailed data on the UK automotive sector’s performance in 2019 compared to 2018. Let’s start with the positives. In 2019, the number of engine manufacturers grew to 11, from nine in 2018. Not only that, but Britain also…