Auto Express 1635

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news THERE was a gentle reminder this week that while the car industry is packed with incredible innovation, technology and engineering, it is, first and foremost, about people. Because it has been announced that Skoda boss Bernhard Maier (above) is to leave the firm when his contract concludes in a couple of weeks’ time. It’s perhaps unusual for Auto Express to single out an individual CEO like this, but Skoda remains one of the most popular brands with our readers, and Maier’s departure marks the end of a phenomenal chapter in the company’s 125-year history. He leaves after introducing models like the Kodiaq, Karoq, Kamiq and Scala, and with sales now nudging the 1.3 million mark, pretty much double what they were…

• Ariya sits on all-new EV platform • Cabin quality moves upmarket John McIlroy John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is the Nissan Ariya, an all-new, pure-electric SUV from the company that revolutionised the family car market 15 years ago with the Qashqai, and introduced the first mainstream EV, the Leaf, in 2011. Described by the Japanese manufacturer as a ‘coupé crossover’, the Ariya sticks pretty close to the design of a concept that was revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. It’s 4.59 metres long – so closer to the dimensions of the X-Trail than the Qashqai – and has a look that’s more an evolution of the current Leaf’s than a close relation to the rest of Nissan’s line-up. At the front, there’s a closed grille – flanked by 20 LEDs…

James Brodie James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Vast touchscreen revealed • Smart cabin control systems MERCEDES has previewed the future of its interior and cabin technology by giving us a glimpse inside the next-generation S-Class, which will be revealed in September. While the car’s exterior design will be an evolutionary development, the interior will be a total transformation. Not only does it sport a new design, but also a totally new operating system called My MBUX. The main central touchscreen display of the S-Class is a Tesla-style 12.8-inch portrait screen positioned on the dashboard and flowing into the centre console. It’s also available with optional smartphone-screen OLED technology and haptic feedback for tangible touches and swipes. It’s now a hub for many vehicle functions and controls, and as a result Mercedes has…

ELSEWHERE at Mercedes, the wraps have come off the new AMG GT Black Series. This is the most extreme roadgoing version of the sports car, and it’s packed with technology from the GT3 racers. It’s powered by a modified version of the standard car’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, with reprofiled camshafts, new exhaust manifolds, larger turbos, bigger intercoolers and a tuned ECU. The result is 720bhp and 800Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a re-engineered seven-speed automatic transmission. 0-62mph takes 3.2 seconds. The aerodynamics have been given an extensive update. There’s a braced front splitter and reprofiled front bumper, while the rear features an aggressive diffuser and a manually adjustable rear wing, which can be moved through 20 degrees. Under the skin, there’s new suspension, a…

Battery and range How far will the all-new iX3 go? BMW makes a big deal about the iX3’s long-distance abilities. The 80kWh battery has a usable capacity of 74kWh. It’s also slim in construction and lightweight, and the resultant energy density helps the iX3’s cruising capability, or so it is claimed. That’s because the battery’s energy efficiency is not compromised as much by overall weight, and as such, BMW claims that the 285-mile range will hold up better than rivals on longer drives with more motorway miles – typically the type of roads where electric vehicles are least efficient. • BMW’s first electric SUV is revealed ahead of 2021 launch • New technology promises 285 miles from a compact battery James Brodie James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THIS is the BMW iX3, and…

• First Cupra EV on sale in 2021 • Expected to cost from £34k Luke Wilkinson Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson CUPRA, SEAT’s sporty spin-off brand, has officially launched its first pureelectric vehicle, called the el-Born. It will go on sale next year, wading into an everexpanding market of electric hatchbacks, currently dominated by the Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro and the new Volkswagen ID.3. In essence, the new model is a production version of the SEAT el-Born concept from the 2019 Geneva Motor Show – although the car has adopted the more premium Cupra badge and is unlikely to be badged as a SEAT at all, bosses have hinted. Save for a set of production-friendly alloy wheels, the Cupra el-Born’s styling is identical to the concept car’s, with the same short bonnet, fared-in…