Innholdsfortegnelse for 1646 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk • Choice of three power outputs • Range of 224-323 miles VOLKSWAGEN is wasting no time in rolling out its fleet of new pure-electric vehicles as it unveils this, the all-new ID.4. It’s a Tiguan-sized SUV designed to take on the Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq. The new SUV is based on the VW Group’s MEB platform, like the smaller ID.3 hatch, and two battery sizes have been confirmed for the new model: 52kWh and 77kWh. However, from launch, which is likely to be in early 2021, only versions using the larger battery pack will be offered, with the cheaper 52kWh models available later. ID.4s with the smaller battery are claimed to have a maximum range of 224 miles on a single charge, with a 146bhp or 168bhp…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • Arkana joins firm’s SUV range • Goes on sale in July 2021 THIS is the new Renault Arkana. It’s the French brand’s first foray into the coupé-SUV market, where it will offer the style of the Mercedes GLC Coupé and BMW X4, but in a smaller, cheaper package. The Arkana will go on sale next July, with first deliveries expected in September 2021. The new SUV is built on the same CMF-B platform as the current Clio and Captur – and it shares elements of both cars’ design. The front end features the same C-shaped daytime running lights and radiator grille as the Clio, while the SUV’s glasshouse and ride height are similar to the Captur’s Renault’s biggest styling change for the Arkana is its coupé-like rear end,…

THE all-new Mokka, which will be delivered to its first customers in April 2021, will cost from £20,735 and rise to £34,970 for the range-topping model, Vauxhall has confirmed. The SUV range will include six trim levels, and every version will be fitted as standard with alloy wheels, LED headlights and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity Top-spec models start at £27,415, and add larger 18-inch alloys, keyless entry and start, Matrix LED headlamps and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The all-electric Mokka-e starts at £30,840 (including the government’s £3,000 plug-in electric vehicle grant), and the flagship version costs £34,970.…

Mercedes names its price for new S-Class THE new Mercedes S-Class range is on sale now, costing from £78,705 for the S 350 d in AMG Line trim. The S 500 4MATIC AMG Line with a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine and all-wheel drive costs from £89,105, while long-wheelbase models kick off with the S 400 d 4MATIC, which is priced from £94,135. Standard kit on the base AMG Line car includes Nappa leather, the semiautonomous Driving Assistant package, augmented-reality nav, and a new 12.8-inch central touchscreen. First UK deliveries are scheduled for this winter. Government said to want ICE ban in 2030 SALES of new cars with an internal combustion engine could be banned from 2030, rather than the 2040 and 2035 dates previously mooted. Reports in several newspapers say…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk WHEN you’ve never driven a hillclimb course before and you find yourself behind the wheel of a car with a deafeningly loud exhaust, hurtling up a steep and narrow ribbon of Tarmac at what feels like a million miles per hour, a few thoughts run through your head. As you set off from the start line in a cloud of tyre smoke, you try to recall which lines the instructors told you to take through the first section. This initial intention is made more difficult, however, by the fact the car is moving almost more quickly than you can think. At the end of your first run, you breathe a sigh of relief that you and the car are in one piece. Then, if you’re ambitious, foolhardy, or maybe…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk HONDA may not have too many class benchmarks in its line-up right now, but the Civic Type R is definitely the king of the hot hatchbacks, and has been for a while. Now, with a fresh (and more extreme) Volkswagen Golf GTI fast approaching, it’s time for a facelifted version of the Type R. Not that Honda is going to mess around too much with a winning formula. So the heart of the Type R remains the same; it’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 316bhp and 400Nm. There are some changes to the chassis, though, with a fresh software profile for the Civic’s trick adaptive dampers, along with different suspension bushings and ball joints. There are new ‘floating’ brake discs that save 2.5kg of unsprung mass and,…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 53.2mpg (official) £57 fill-up THERE isn’t all that much new about this particular Lexus ES, except for one detail: the Japanese executive saloon is now available with digital wing mirrors. Lexus calls them ‘Digital Side-View Monitors’, and they’re only available on top-spec Takumi trim. They add £1,600 to the price of the car, which takes the total for this model to £47,280. We’ll cut to the chase: at that price, the technology isn’t good enough and it doesn’t add sufficient extra usability to warrant the increased spend. In fact, the digital wing mirrors are less useful than the standard car’s glass mirrors. That’s because the resolution of the screens – one mounted on the nearside A-pillar, the other on the driver’s side windscreen pillar – isn’t high…

MODEL TESTED: Ford Tourneo Custom 1.0 EcoBoost PHEV Titanium PRICE: £61,000 ENGINE: Electric motor/1.0-litre 3cyl range extender, 124bhp Running costs 25.8mpg (on test) £80 fill-up/£465 or 19% tax Practicality Boot (rear seats removed) 6.0 cubic metres Performance 0-62mph/top speed N/A/75mph (limited) THE Ford Tourneo Custom is the passenger-carrying variant of the Transit Custom van. It uses the same engines, including the firm’s new plug-in hybrid option, and we’re testing it here in mid-spec Titanium trim, which costs £61,000. Design & engineering WE first saw the Transit Custom in 2012, and it was facelifted in 2018. It’s Ford’s medium-sized van, and the passengercarrying version is the Tourneo Custom. It looks largely identical to the van, save for its extra windows and a grille with a couple of extra bars. Van makers…

Ford Tourneo Custom SYNC 3 Standard Key features: Touchscreen, Applink WHILE van-based MPVs of the past would have had basic infotainment, these two use systems that are bang up to date. in the Tourneo Custom, Ford’s SynC 3 system is standard, and while it doesn’t have sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and it’s simple enough to connect and use your phone. Other features include Bluetooth, voice control and a responsive eight-inch touchscreen, while the rotary dials for volume and station selection are easier to use on the move than the VW’s touchscreen system. The Ford also has a button-heavy multifunction steering wheel, which helps you choose various functions. One disappointment is that there are no screens dedicated to the PheV’s drive system. The only controls for this…

Tomorrow’s car designers get busy WHAT does the car of the future look like? Now, what does it look like through the mind of a six-year old? That’s what Electric Ride-on Cars asked when they invited children to submit their designs. The winning entry was penned by Muhammad, aged six from Bolton, who had his vision for a pick-up truck with LED projectors under the door mirrors, leather seats and ‘big Jeep tyres’ realised by the brand’s designers. He also won his very own ride-on car. You can see it and others, as well as the company’s full range of cars, at www.electricrideoncars.co.uk. Falken’s five-year tyre guarantee FALKEN customers now enjoy a five-year warranty across the firm’s complete tyre range. Whether you’ve purchased them from a retailer or had them…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk • Uses Fiesta ST’s 197bhp engine for 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds • Driving modes and optional Quaife diff boost dynamic appeal BUYERS can’t get enough of compact crossovers, but few mainstream brands have a performance version in their line-up. Happily, Ford has addressed that with the all-new Puma ST. It’s the third model to join the Blue Oval’s current performance range, following the Fiesta and the Focus, and is the first crossover to receive the go-faster treatment by Ford Performance. With a power output of 197bhp and 320Nm, the Puma ST can’t match the likes of the 296bhp Volkswagen T-Roc R when it comes to firepower. However, it’s set to significantly undercut the VW on price; when the ST goes on sale in early 2021, it’s expected to start…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk THE practice of ‘loyalty’ pricing, where insurance firms dramatically and automatically increase premiums for drivers renewing their policies, looks set to end, after the insurance industry regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced it intends to outlaw the practice. Car insurance policies can bring with them automatic renewal, where drivers re-enrol with their provider for another year unless they actively cancel their policies. Those not shopping around tend to find renewal prices are significantly more expensive than their expiring insurance was, a practice that is claimed to unfairly affect certain demographics. Under the new proposals, insurers will have to offer renewing customers the same price they would be quoted were they a new customer purchasing via the same route the policy was originally bought through. The changes will no…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @Autoexpress FROM: Jules Vernet THIS is one incredibly good-looking car. The proportions, the curves… it’s all spot on. It seems Maserati took a bit here and a bit there from other supercar makers, which is fair enough. The V6 is simply the icing on the cake. FROM: Joseph Lynn IT’S very pretty and the specs are impressive. Good to see a new sports car from Maserati rather than another saloon or SUV. I still think Maserati needs to do a new GranTurismo to compete with Bentley and Aston Martin, though. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I think it looks like a Jaguar from the front, which is by no means a bad thing!” Keith Pattinson ■ “Seems odd Maserati is doing this while Ferrari has the Roma –…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk MCLAREN’S ‘Longtail’ LT models have always hit the mark. The first roadgoing model, the 675LT, arrived in 2015 to critical acclaim, and Woking is hoping its new creation, the 765LT, is as well received. Familiar numbers, re-ordered, but the car is – technologically, at least – a big step on. In McLaren’s own words, “the next chapter in the Longtail story begins with the 765LT,” which is quite some statement. But then you look at the numbers and you realise the British supercar brand is telling the truth. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 makes 756bhp (765PS, hence the name) and 800Nm of torque. The car weighs just 1,229kg dry; that’s 80kg less than the already-slender 720S and around the same as a Ford Focus, yet it has six times the…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk IF one car perfectly demonstrates Kia’s transformation from budget brand to premium player, it’s the Sorento. What started as a Mercedes ML-mimicking SUV in 2002 has evolved over the years to become a genuine alternative to the likes of the Volvo XC90 and Land Rover Discovery. This fourth-generation model has now arrived in the UK, packed with cutting-edge tech, a sharp new look and a range of hybrid powertrains. But in the process of shaking off its budget-conscious image, Kia has also left behind the associated pricing; the latest Sorento starts from £38,845. While that’s a good chunk less than its upmarket rivals, it’s considerably more than the likes of a Skoda Kodiaq or SEAT Tarraco. That entry-level price gets you the car we’re driving here, in base-spec 2…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk WHY WAS IT SO GOOD? MARKET niches come and go. In 2020, the compact crossover is the must-have accessory, but back in the nineties, dinky coupés were all the rage. Some might argue that buyers had it better back then, but regardless of the end result, the aim was much the same. Whether coupé or SUV, a supermini spin-off helps to squeeze a little more money out of tried-and-tested mechanicals in an area of the market where profit margins are slim. Plenty of brands hopped on the small, sleek and stylish bandwagon: Mazda had the MX-3, Vauxhall the Tigra, and Fiat even went open-top with the Punto-derived Barchetta. But the best of the bunch – and by some margin – was the Ford Puma. By the time the Puma…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Caravelle 2.0 TDI 199 DSG Executive PRICE: £58,071 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 196bhp The Caravelle’s ancestry can be traced back to Volkswagen’s origins. It’s based on the T6 Transporter, which is the company’s sixth-generation van, the first being the Beetle-derived Type 2 from 1950. here we try the 197bhp 2.0 TDI, DSG auto executive model, which costs £58,071. Design & engineering WHILE the Caravelle has an illustrious lineage, the current model is a thoroughly up-to-date machine. The T6 Transporter van arrived in 2016 – although it can trace its roots to the previous T5 launched in 2003 – while a facelift to T6.1 spec at the start of this year introduced a new look and technology from VW’s passenger cars. An all-electric e-Transporter has joined the van range,…

VAN OR CAR? BOTH vehicles are classified as cars for insurance and tax purposes, because their primary job is to carry people. However, Ford and VW also offer passenger versions of their Transit Custom and Transporter vans. They often have a more basic interior and features such as a load area partition, so they can still be classified as vans and benefit from the tax structure that applies to them. THE FUTURE WHILE these two van-based MPVs are distinctly different, the lines will blur in the coming years. As with rival commercial vehicle makers, Ford and VW have joined forces to co-develop their next-generation of CVs. That means the next Transit Custom and Transporter will share running gear developed by Ford in the UK, although both brands have promised that…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 47.3mpg (on test) £48 fill-up £150 or 26% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 391/1,069 litres OUR Renault Clio is hot property on the Auto Express fleet, and it’s not just its sleek lines, smart 16-inch alloys or vivid orange paint job that have been the attraction. While the supermini arrived back in June, within a week it was whisked away on a job. No sooner had the distinctive white key card been handed back to me than, a day or so later, it was loaned out again, and then again, as a number of my south London-based colleagues borrowed the Clio to get away after months of being shut up indoors. Regular readers will have already seen a few updates on the Renault, but this is the…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q I want roof bars back in black THE roof bars on my car were originally black, but the colour has now faded to grey in places. Is it possible to restore the original black colour? Matt Gerrard, E-mail A WHILE the roof bars will be made of some kind of metal, the coatings can vary between manufacturers. If it’s a plastic-based coating, treating it with a trim restorer that contains a black pigment can help. A trim restorer can also help reduce the grey. We’ve had good results with Angelwax Enigma Corona (right). If the finish is metallic, a cutting compound and polish can remove oxidisation. Q Had enough of sticky fingers IN my 2010 Jaguar XJ, the switches for the hazard lights and central locking, and…

HAVING a dash cam can be slightly addictive, making you feel vulnerable if you go out without one. We’ve tested the latest models, but what if you want to take your protection to the next level by adding a rear-view camera? We added rear cams to three of our favourite 4K cameras to see if this made a difference to our choice. All have slick apps to download footage and make adjustments, plus parking modes. We tried the three in bright sun and low light levels. We looked for sharp images, with clear number plates, and factored in cost, ease of use and fitting. Taking price and extra features into account, the Nextbase 622GW wins on overall points, but the Kenwood deserves an honourable mention because it represents exceptional value…

Dear Tristan, I’m after a £40,000 executive saloon with driver-assistance features to ease my commute. What would you recommend? Chris Roberts, E-mail Contact: Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk • THE SMOOTH CHOICE Audi A6 FOR: Plush cabin, strong engines, smooth ride AGAINST: Many features optional, screens divide opinion AUDI has a well earned reputation for high-tech luxury and, while some of its models in the past could be rather stiffly sprung, this A6 offers an impressively smooth ride, making it perfect for long-distance cruising. Optional features to suit your brief include the Tour Pack (adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist), and four-wheel steering, which reduces the A6’s turning circle and gives it a bit more agility at speed. Your budget nets a 1,000-mile 68-plate S line 50 TDI quattro with this kit. THE A6’s…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk • ‘Invitational’ slot suggested • Drivers cool on reverse grids “It’s great that F1 is going to these different venues. It keeps up the competition for a place for one of the slots on the calendar”CHRISTIAN HORNER Red Bull team boss FORMULA 1 team bosses have reacted positively to suggestions that the sport could include slots on its race calendar for ‘rotating’ events that would happen every few years, to add variety to the schedule The major calendar reorganisation in the wake of coronavirus disruption has led to circuits such as Mugello and Imola in Italy, as well as Portimão in Portugal, being added to the 2020 calendar, and key figures now say they would welcome more one-off additions to the schedule in future. Red Bull team boss Christian…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off The Lib Dems’ target date for killing new petrol and diesel car sales is little more than a 48-month PCP deal away ME and my big mouth! There I was – a mere seven days ago, via this column, passionately pleading for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth from politicians, industry execs and others who have our automotive future (assuming we’ve got one) in their scarily powerful hands. What’s transpired since? Yet more uncertainty and confusion poured on already murky waters. Much crucially important information is being held back from the 55 million car users of Britain; that’s 41 million drivers, plus around 14 million passengers. And what we are being told is often clear as mud. Let’s…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk • On sale by end of this year • Should be cheapest car in UK THIS is the Dacia Sandero, unveiled in detail a few weeks after the Renault-owned brand released a couple of teaser images that showed the new face of what is expected to be the UK’s cheapest new car. Following years of being based on ageing Clio mechanicals, this Mk4 Sandero switches to the same CMF-B platform as the latest Renault ’mini. But despite that, the new Sandero’s styling is evolutionary, with a Y-shaped LED light signature at the front and a wider track that gives a stronger look. There’s a more comfortable shape of door handle and, at the rear, the old-fashioned boot release is being kept only on basic editions, with the rest of…

MG adds a 254bhp PHEV to its large SUV MG has revealed a new plug-in hybrid version of its largest SUV, the HS. Priced from £29,995, the HS PHEV uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, six-speed automatic gearbox, a 16.6kWh battery pack and a 120bhp electric motor for a combined 254bhp. The 0-60mph sprint takes 6.9 seconds, the top speed is 118mph and the HS PHEV can run on battery power alone for 32 miles. MG claims the PHEV will deliver a WLTP fuel economy figure of 155.8mpg and emit 43g/km of CO2. When plugged into a 7kW charger, the battery takes three hours to replenish. Page 37: MG 5 EV driven Griffiths announced as SEAT’s new CEO THE new boss of SEAT is a Brit: former Cupra front…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk • Peugeot’s most powerful car • 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds “Buyers get a more aggressive front bumper than on the regular car, a gloss black rear diffuser, and black exhausts” THIS is the new Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered. It’s the first model from the brand’s newly formed performance arm. The car is available as both a saloon and SW estate, and its plug-in hybrid powertrain comprises a turbocharged 1.6-litre fourcylinder petrol engine and an electric motor mounted on each axle. The set-up generates a combined output of 355bhp and 520Nm of torque, making it the most powerful powertrain Peugeot has ever fitted to a production vehicle in its 210-year history. Peugeot says that this tuned 508 will dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2 seconds, before reaching an electronically limited…

POLESTAR is set to take aim at the Tesla Model S after the fledgling Swedish EV brand revealed that it was going ahead with plans to put its striking Precept fastback concept into production. The firm’s boss, Thomas Ingenlath, said that customer reaction to the digital reveal of the Precept had made the project viable. It’ll be made in China in a bespoke carbon-neutral factory and will be a halo model for Polestar’s investment into sustainable materials. The car is likely to have a maximum range of around 310 miles. No date has been given for a launch of the new model, but Ingenlath told us, “Three years will pass before we can talk about the start of production.”…

ASSUMING no change in car or personal circumstances, the best method for keeping premiums down is to shop around. For many, the easiest way to do this is to use an online price comparison site; once you have prices from here, it can be worth directly contacting insurers whose quotes and policies you like. They may be able to improve on the comparison site’s prices, because they won’t have to pay its commission. An insurance broker could also net you savings. While brokers take commissions, too, they can offer decent savings and can be helpful if you have a classic or modified car, health issues, or other complicating factors. If neither of those options appeals, pick up the phone and start ringing around. Begin with your current provider if you…

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) 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: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk TESLA boss Elon Musk has hinted that his company will be in a position to offer a £25,000 EV in just a couple of years. But Chinese-owned MG can sell you one today in the form of the MG 5 EV. It’s MG’s second electric car, sitting alongside the ZS EV, but at a lower price. Running from £24,495 to £26,995 for this top Exclusive model we’re driving here, the MG 5 is, in effect, a European version of the Roewe Ei5. It’s one of the most affordable ways into emissions-free family motoring in Britain, undercutting key favourites like the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf. As well as a cheaper price than those cars, it brings another key bonus: space. The MG 5 EV isn’t a small hatchback, but…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk THE Lexus LC has worked wonders for the Japanese brand, its design boosting the wider image of Toyota’s luxury division and raising interest in its more mainstream offerings. Now, three years after the coupé’s arrival, it’s time for it to gain an important new model line, in the form of the LC Convertible. Unlike the coupé, which is available as a V8 petrol and a V6 hybrid, the convertible comes as a pure-petrol LC 500 only. The raw specs on the V8 aren’t at all bad. This 5.0-litre Atkinson-cycle motor produces 457bhp and 530Nm of torque, all of which is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s enough for a 0-62mph time of exactly five seconds and a top speed of 167mph. The fabric hood…

Mercedes V 300 d Sport PRICE: £59,115 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 239bhp THE V-Class is another mainstay of the VIP shuttle fraternity. This V 300 d manages 0-62mph in a faintly ridiculous 7.8 seconds, while the less powerful V220 d is also on offer. Both come in three body lengths with up to eight seats in various layouts. Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life Elite PRICE: £49,415 DRIVE: Electric motor, 136bhp IF you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, then Vauxhall has added a passenger version of its new Vivaro-e van. It’s available with up to nine seats and in two body lengths, while the 50kWh battery means there’s up to 143 miles of range.…

Driverless Cars: On a Road to Nowhere? Christian Wolmar (London Publishing Partnership, londonpublishingpartnership.co.uk) Price: £9.99 Rating: TWO years on from this book’s original publication, the future of driverless cars is every bit as uncertain today as it was then – but the landscape has definitely shifted since 2018, and so this revised edition takes note of that. Driverless Cars doesn’t pull any punches, remaining very rational and cutting through what many fail to see as marketing hype – yet it’s not particularly anti-car, which is an easy trap to fall into. Fiat & Pininfarina 124 Spider and Azzura Spider: Essential Buyer’s Guide Campbell Robertson (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 Rating: THE Spider is very desirable and, as with all fragile, old European sports cars, buying one requires careful planning. With…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Can you explain how Mazda parking brake works? I AM having trouble with the electronic parking brake (EPB) on my Mazda CX-5. If I start the car with my seatbelt unbuckled, it won’t move until I press the foot brake. If the seatbelt is buckled, then I don’t need to press the foot brake to move off. Why is this? John Whalen, E-mail A WE’VE checked the online handbook for the Mazda CX-5 and it looks as though the EPB will automatically release when the accelerator pedal is pressed, as long as the driver’s seatbelt is fastened, the engine is running, the driver’s door is closed and the car is in-gear. This is likely to stop you driving without a belt. It’s a good idea to…

Electric VW ID.R sets another lap record VOLKSWAGEN’S ID.R electric racer (above) has set another lap record, this time at the Bilster Berg circuit in Germany. With test driver Dieter Depping at the wheel, the car lapped the track in 1m 24.206s, nine seconds better than the previous best. The ID.R will be in action again at the Goodwood SpeedWeek event on 16-18 October, with a potential lap record attempt around the historic West Sussex circuit in the offing. DTM to adopt GT format for 2021 GERMANY’S DTM touring-car series has decided to adopt GT technical rules for 2021. It’s a bid to keep the series alive following the withdrawal of Mercedes in 2018 and Audi at the end of this year, leaving BMW as the championship’s sole remaining manufacturer…