Innholdsfortegnelse for 1636 i Auto Express

AS with so many things in life, the car business is cyclical. Some car makers shine, then the limelight (and sales success) shifts onto someone else. Ford is a case in point. Through the nineties and the start of the 2000s, every model in its line-up was a winner. Well, almost (Scorpio…). Then the company lost its way with product that, frankly, wasn’t very Ford. You might well blame the leadership of the time; the global One Ford plan never really brought us cars that shone in any market, let alone across the world. Now, though, Ford is on a roll and – from my point of view – is one of the brands we should be getting most excited about in the coming years. Cars like the Mustang Mach-E…

John McIlroy THE current Hyundai i30 has been with us for more than three years now. So this VW Golf and Ford Focus rival has received some timely mid-life updates, and we’ve been able to try a prototype on UK roads. The exterior tweaks to the i30 are minor, with a slightly wider front grille, slimmer headlights, different daytime running lights and a fresh rear bumper. Inside, there’s a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and a widescreen 10.25-inch infotainment system. The big news comes under the bonnet, where there’s a new 1.5-litre petrol engine, called T-GDI, that has a 48-volt starter/generator which stores energy under braking and then uses it to aid acceleration. This 158bhp unit will be available with either a sixspeed ‘intelligent’ manual gearbox (tested here) or a seven-speed…

AUDI has updated its SQ7 and SQ8 performance SUVs by replacing the pair’s V8 diesel engine with a new 500bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol. The new motor is the same unit that’s found under the bonnet of the Bentley Continental GT V8, and develops 500bhp and 770Nm of torque; it drives through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a four-wheel-drive system. The new V8 also features cylinder-deactivation technology that can temporarily shut down four of its eight cylinders, which Audi claims will improve fuel economy. Yet the firm says the SQ7 and SQ8 will return from 23.3-23.5mpg on the WLTP cycle – far less than the 36mpg returned by the old diesel-powered models. According to Audi, the new powertrain gives its SUVs a 0-62mph time of 4.1 seconds, 0.7 seconds quicker…

“The car’s key design feature, that single side crease that runs all the way from the front wheelarch to the tail-light, was retained” John McIlroy John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy FEW cars can claim to be original enough to have created a genre, but the subject of our latest journey from concept to production is one such model. It was a car that melded two types of vehicle together, mixing clever market analysis with shrewd manufacturing nous to make not only a profitable car but also a trend that is still developing and expanding more than 15 years later. This is the tale of the original Mercedes CLS. MERCEDES has long had a strong reputation as a purveyor of fine saloons like the E-Class and S-Class, plus luxurious coupés. But by the start…

Andreas May THIS is the Audi e-tron S Sportback, a high-performance version of Audi’s Tesla Model X rival. It’s the very first performancebased electric model from Audi, but there’s a lot more to it than simply a more powerful electric motor beneath the skin. The drivetrain layout of this e-tron S has changed quite dramatically over the regular e-tron. It’s the first mass-produced EV to make use of a triple electric-motor set-up, which is an upgrade from the dualmotor arrangement found in the standard e-tron 50 and 55 models. In the e-tron S, one motor drives the front axle while the other two motors power each rear wheel individually. The end result, when the driver flicks the car into its ‘sport’ mode, is a total output of 496bhp and a…

NEW PRODUCT Laser brake-service tools Price: From £18.74 Contact: www.lasertools.com IF you want to save money on garage bills by tackling maintenance yourself, you’ll need to get kitted out, and Laser has launched a range of tools to look after your brakes. If you’re working alone, you’ll need the £18.74 One Man Bleed Valve. This allows brakes to be bled without a second person pressing the pedal, since a one-way valve stops air being sucked back in to the system. To properly service brakes you need to clean away corrosion and grime, and to make the job easy, Laser has launched a five-piece kit, costing £100.58. There are steel and brass brushes to clean calipers, plus a narrow 10mm-wide file to remove corrosion and restore movement to carriers. There’s also…

2020 Results ZS Factfile Years: 2017 to present CO2: 155g/km Fuel economy: 41.4mpg (1.5 VTi) Best options: Digital dashboard display, 360-degree camera, leather seats USED PRICES: From £10,700 OVERALL SCORE 89.119% Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2020 new car survey. The longer the bar the better WE SAID “The ZS is immensely practical thanks to its generous boot and plentiful interior storage, plus it’s cheap to service. Reliability is an issue, though, while owners also criticise the acceleration and handling.” ✓ GOOD “RED metallic paint looks amazing, especially in sunlight. Exterior has tasteful chrome trim; it’s a classy car.” “Quality is decent and there’s lots of kit. It’s on a par with cars from bigger brands.” “I’m a foot taller than my wife, but…

“In Race mode, the SF90 Stradale makes almost 1,000bhp feel friendly and accessible” First drive of near-1,000bhp SF90 Stradale, Ferrari’s first hybrid Advanced engineering creates the ultimate plug-in supercar Richard Meaden Ferrari flagships have always been special. For many years they were midengined poster cars that epitomised italian exotica. Then came the 550 Maranello – an elegant front-engined V12 that majored on the everyday usability of a great GT. in recent years, Ferrari’s front-engined V12s have become increasingly potent, culminating in the outrageous 812 Superfast. Such is Ferrari’s commercial confidence and engineering prowess that rather than replace the 812, it has created an entirely new upper tier to the series production range. How do you top the 800bhp-plus Superfast? By building a 987bhp plug-in hybrid that melds old-school mid-engined drama…

Jonathan Burn Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Design boss sees EV rethink • SUV-coupés likely to lead way VOLVO’S model range expansion will see the company develop a fleet of sleeker and more aerodynamically focused vehicles, the firm’s design boss has revealed to Auto Express. The Swedish firm has promised to launch an all-new electric vehicle every year up to 2025, with a focus on higher-riding or crossover vehicles. On top of this, Volvo will also move into new segments to help grow the company and its model portfolio. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Volvo’s Senior Vice President of Design, Robin Page, told us that in combination with the firm’s focus on electrification, Volvo’s future model line-up will be very different to what we see today. “Moving into electrification gives us an opportunity…

VOLVO will need a bespoke EV platform as it moves more of its range across to pure-electric models, the firm’s European boss has admitted. The Swedish brand’s first pure EV, the XC40 Recharge P8, sits on CMA, an architecture designed for a range of powertrains. But Volvo’s European chief Björn Annwall has conceded that a bespoke platform is likely to be needed. “There are advantages to having a hardware mechanical platform devoted to EVs,” Annwall said. “And as we’re saying that we’re becoming a fully electric car company, with 50 per cent of our sales pure-electric by 2025, we need a bespoke fully electric hardware platform. This isn’t as dramatic as it was before – because the majority of the cost is not in that physical hardware; it’s now in…

• Cars are ‘inherently safer’ • But accident statistics rising Hugo Griffiths Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE UK Government is to officially investigate whether infotainment touchscreens are distracting drivers and preventing accidents rates from falling. The news comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) opened a call for evidence into the future of roads policing, in the face of road-injury figures that have actually increased over the past decade. The consultation says that despite the fact that “vehicles have become inherently safer with more warning systems,” the number of people killed and injured on our roads has been “plateauing” since 2010. The DfT warns that one explanation for this may be that “advances in car infotainment systems and mobile-phone technology mean that there are increasing sources of potential distraction for drivers.” Touchscreens…

Running costs 201.8mpg (off icial) £42 fill-up Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.6 seconds/99mph Steve Fowler Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler WHEN it comes to electric vehicles and SUVs, it seems everything Kia touches right now turns to gold. The big Telluride SUV is current World Car of the Year, no less, the Soul EV is another World Car winner, and the Niro has garnered a load of gongs, too. So surely things bode well for the new plug-in hybrid version of the XCeed? First a quick recap, though. The XCeed is Kia’s family hatch with a light sprinkling of the brand’s SUV gold dust. With an internalcombustion engine, we liked the XCeed apart from its price. But at just over £30,000 with a 1.6-litre petrol and small electric motor for a combined 139bhp, this…

SUPERMINIS are perfect for electrification. These small cars often spend a lot of time covering shorter journeys in more built-up areas, where air quality already isn’t the cleanest, so switching to a zero-emissions power source makes plenty of sense. That’s why manufacturers such as Vauxhall are joining the electric revolution with cars like its allnew Corsa-e. The British firm’s move into all-electric propulsion is possible courtesy of its new parent company, Groupe PSA. However, as this test reveals, it also means that the Corsa-e is right in the firing line of our current favourite small EV: the Renault Zoe. This car moved the goalposts for what a small fully electric model must achieve, offering plenty of usable range, some strong recharging tech, a great level of standard kit and a…

RECHARGE times will be a big part of EV ownership, and with 100kW DC charging capability, there’s the potential to charge the Corsa-e’s battery to 80 per cent in just half an hour. The Zoe can’t match this, because it only offers up to 50kW rapid-charge capability. Using this slightly slower DC rapid-charge supply, the Corsa takes 45 minutes for an 80 per cent recharge. For most owners, home charging means a supply of around 7kW. So with the standard 7.4kW on-board charger, a full recharge of the Vauxhall’s battery will take seven hours and 30 minutes. The £850 11kW on-board charger won’t improve home charging times that much, because it’s the feed that limits this point. You will get quicker top-ups at public AC charging posts – but then…

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NEW PRODUCT Vredestein Wintrac Price: N/A Contact: www.vredestein.co.uk DUTCH tyre manufacturer Vredestein has revamped its Snowtrac winter tyre, improving its performance and giving it a new name. The Snowtrac has become the Wintrac, and joins the Pro and Xtreme S in the winter tyre range. The name change is designed to better reflect the tyre’s all-round winter performance, rather than just how it fares on snow. The new tyre sits below the ultra-high performance (UHP) Wintrac Pro, and initially caters for 15 and 16-inch wheels, in 27 sizes. Production of the Wintrac has already started for the coming winter, while Vredestein is planning to introduce more sizes for 2021. Its tread design follows the current trend for directional patterns on winter tyres, while a V-structure ensures optimal water drainage, both…

Richard Dredge DESPITE having a climate that’s often dismal, Britain is home to more than its fair share of open-topped cars. For decades we’ve snapped up more convertibles than any other country in Europe, although buyers’ appetites have waned recently, with the sector losing popularity. Vauxhall has offered a string of drop-tops over the years, generally based on the Astra or Cavalier, while the Tigra was a neat Corsabased two-seater coupé-cabriolet on sale between 2004 and 2009. For its last opentopped offering, Vauxhall went to the other end of the spectrum with a full-sized fourseater called the Cascada, which arrived in 2013 and was axed five years later. Affordable, roomy and well equipped, the Cascada looks like a good bet on paper, but how does it stack up in reality?…

John McIlroy John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Early taste of new supermini • Mild-hybrid tech boosts MPG AMID Hyundai’s torrent of fresh models over the past couple of years – i30 N, Kona, updated Ioniq and new Tucson – the company’s Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio rival, the i20, has faded into obscurity. But that’s about to change with an all-new version due in showrooms this autumn. Now we’ve had a chance to try a late prototype of the car on UK roads. The new generation of i20 does actually sit on a very heavily modified version of the old car’s platform. But that’s pretty much where any connection ends, because the cabin promises to be transformed, and under the bonnet there’s a fresh turbo engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Indeed, the…

NISSAN’S all-new Qashqai – due to be unveiled later this year – will be one of the first cars offered with the Japanese manufacturer’s innovative e-Power hybrid system, Auto Express can confirm. Speaking at the unveiling of the new allelectric Ariya, Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta told us: “Qashqai will come to Europe with e-Power – it’s one our core technologies.” E-Power uses an internal-combustion engine as a generator to charge a battery, which then drives an electric motor. E-power models feel like an electric car to drive, with an instant hit of torque and near-silent running, while offering fuel consumption similar to that of a full hybrid model. The new Qashqai, which has already been caught testing, is expected to go on sale early next year. An e-Power model is…

NOT wanting to be outdone by the new Bronco (left), Jeep has taken the opportunity to preview a new V8-powered version of the Wrangler. Officially it’s a concept, called the Wrangler Rubicon 392, but Jeep has strongly suggested that it will become a reality. The 392 in the name refers to the cubic-inch capacity of the Hemi V8, which translates to 6.4 litres. It’s enough for a total output of 444bhp and 610Nm, and as a result, the Wrangler will cover 0-60mph in less than five seconds. Power is sent to all four wheels through an uprated eight-speed automatic gearbox. Off-road ability is assured thanks to a variety of mechanical upgrades, such as the latest generation of Jeep’s tried-and-tested Dana 44 axles, a two-speed transfer box, locking front and rear…

Sean Carson sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ MEET the Honda e, the Japanese brand’s first electric car for Europe – and doesn’t it look cool? Honda’s Urban EV Concept wowed crowds when it was revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and while in transformation to production form the Honda e has lost a few smart styling cues, it’s still a great-looking little EV. This continues inside, because the cabin is dominated by an infotainment screen that spans the full width of the dash. It comprises an 8.8-inch TFT panel in front of the driver showing data such as speed and efficiency, while two 12.3-inch touchscreens make up the main infotainment display. There are five screens in total, with two six-inch displays at either side of the dash showing the picture from the…

Renault Zoe OUR pictures show Renault’s ZE charging cable storage bag, but there’s space under the boot floor to keep them, too. The former is great if you’ll use the cable frequently when out and about, but if your charging is mainly at home with a tethered wallbox, it’s a better solution to store them out of sight under the boot floor. When it comes to charging, the Renault can’t match the Vauxhall’s 100kW capability; a 50kW feed is the maximum the Zoe accepts, so the fastest charge to 80 per cent capacity is one hour and 10 minutes. It takes three hours for a 22kW AC charge – two hours faster than the Corsa-e – nine hours 25 minutes for a 7.4kW charge (the kind you’ll do overnight at…

James Brodie James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods THE evening before the nation went into lockdown back in March, a Mazda MX-5 appeared outside my London flat. It was supposed to be with me for just one week – a regular test-car delivery to allow us to publish a first drive of the 2020 version of Mazda’s constantly evolving icon. However, only half an hour after getting the keys, it became apparent that I’d be using the little Mazda as a getaway vehicle for a pre-dawn dash out of London to Sheffield, to spend the next 11 weeks of lockdown life with mum and dad. The 156-mile cruise up the M1 and onto the eastern border of the Peak District at sunrise threw up no real revelations. This is a car we’ve grown to…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 22|7|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 Dave Pollard WITH a set of pliers you’ll be able to cut, turn and hold most things while working on your car. The best way to get started with these tools is to buy a set that comprises hefty combination pliers, a long-nose version for delicate work, and side cutters for snipping through wires, hoses and cable ties. Adding adjustable water-pump (slip joint) pliers adds to a set’s versatility, while handle covers are important for comfort and to provide grip when working around fluids. Pliers are a tool box essential, so which set can get to grips with your car…

THE DRIVER’S CHOICE BMW 435i FOR: Sharp handling, best infotainment, neat cabin AGAINST: Not as relaxing to drive as the Mercedes WHILE four-cylinder engines are increasingly replacing six-cylinder units in BMW’s range, the straight-six, rear-wheel-drive 435i is a really appealing GT car, offering much of the performance of an M model, but with greater comfort. It’s also significantly cheaper than the M4. The 4 Series is still a current car (although soon to be replaced), but it’s a newer model than the Audi and Merc. We found a 16-plate 435i Luxury with 16,000 miles, and a 15-plate M Sport with 32,000 miles, for £18,500. THERE’S a sense of solidity about the 435i’s cabin, plus clear instrumentation and an excellent driving position. It also has impressive technology thanks to the iDrive…

“Bäumer and von Hanstein finished up 15 minutes clear, at an average speed of 104.2mph” Stephen Errity Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ALTHOUGH war had broken out in Europe in late 1939 and the event had been suspended after 10 spectator deaths during the 1938 running, the famous Italian ‘Mille Miglia’ road race went ahead in 1940, albeit in rather different form than before. Officially known as the ‘Gran Premio di Brescia’ for this instalment, it consisted of nine laps of a triangular circuit running between the cities of Brescia, Mantua and Cremona in Lombardy, rather than one run along a much longer route from Brescia to Rome and back, as had happened before. The majority of the entry list was made up of Fiats, Lancias and Alfa Romeos, as well as two ‘Auto…