Innholdsfortegnelse for 1652 i Auto Express

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Update for seven-seat SUV • New mild-hybrid engines LAND ROVER has pulled the wraps off a facelifted version of the Discovery. The update features a series of cosmetic and technological tweaks inside and out, along with a revised range of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines. Exterior updates are fairly restrained, stretching to a pair of new matrix LED headlights, a revised front bumper with a new body-coloured insert and redesigned air intakes, and a new set of LED tail-lights. A fresh range of alloy wheels is offered, in 20, 21 and 22-inch sizes. One thing Land Rover’s engineers have left untouched is the car’s controversial offset rear number plate, although a repositioning of the Discovery name badge and new black trim surrounding the plate help to disguise…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths ENGLAND has entered its second coronavirus lockdown. The regulations that are in place are less strict than those present during March’s lockdown, but the new rules, introduced on 5 November and due to run until 2 December, are significant. Here, we outline their impact on motorists, highlighting what has and hasn’t changed, and what you can and can’t do with your car. Car showrooms closed HAVING only re-opened from March’s lockdown on 1 June, car dealerships have been deemed ‘non-essential’ retailers, and must shut their showrooms once more. Dealers were quick to learn lessons from March, however, and anyone in the market for a new car who is willing and able to carry out much of the process online can use click-and-collect ordering or home delivery. These see…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WHILE the new SEAT Leon was the last of the VW Group’s MQB mainstays to be launched in the UK, it’s actually the first to be fitted with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Of course, the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Audi A3 40 TFSIe and Skoda Octavia iV are all just around the corner, but it’s the SEAT we get to sample ahead of the rest. Fitted with a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and a 13.1kWh battery, the Leon produces a warm hatch-rivalling 201bhp and 350Nm of torque – plus a zero-emission range of up to 40 miles. It’s available in all but entry-level SE and SE Dynamic trims, and with prices starting from just under £31,000, it’s one of the most affordable plug-in hybrids on the market; the Kia…

MODELTESTED: BMW 420i M Sport PRICE: £40,460 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 181bhp BMW can arguably be credited with creating the four-seat coupé class back in the sixties with its 02 Series. Although there have been several identity changes on the way to the current 4 Series, it’s always remained the car that every rival wants to beat. So does the latest G22 model line continue the brand’s success? Design & engineering WHILE the controversial new nose is undoubtedly a talking point, the rest of the 4 Series under the skin is very familiar. It uses the same mechanicals as the latest 3 Series, including the lightweight, rigid Cluster Architecture (CLAR) that forms the basis of everything from the next 2 Series Coupé to the vast X7 SUV. The rear track is…

BMW 4 Series Live Cockpit Pro Standard Key features: Large twin screens BMW’S infotainment systems have long been among the best in the business, with only a lack of Android Auto as a criticism. That has now been addressed, while Apple CarPlay works as smoothly as ever. Beyond smartphone connectivity, the BMW system’s strengths remain; the graphics look clear and sharp, the user interface is well laid out and loading times are quick. Aside from slightly contrived gesture controls, the input methods are great; the touchscreen is brilliant for entering addresses and postcodes when the car is stationary, while a click wheel surrounded by physical shortcut buttons on the centre console mean it’s easy to make small adjustments. Even the voice assistant works effectively, but if we’re being picky, the…

NEW PRODUCT Ryobi cordless tools Prices: From £79.99 (plus battery and charger from £60) Contact: www.ryobitools.co.uk TOOL manufacturer Ryobi has been busy adding to its One+ cordless system to broaden its appeal and increase its ability to tackle even more jobs. The attraction of the system is that by using just one charger and battery for a wide range of tools, Ryobi can undercut the price of standalone cordless units. The four newcomers are ideal for car cleaning, and are led by a portable Power Washer, which is ideal if you can’t get mains power to where you clean your car. The washer even works without mains water, because a syphon kit is included. It has a 182 litres-per-hour flow rate and a maximum pressure of 320PSI. The £129.99 washer…

Watch out for DB5 bonnet timepieces IF you want to wear a slice of British motoring history on your wrist, a new watch is available with its face cut from a section of an Aston Martin DB5 bonnet. Limited to just 600 units across four variants, the Atelier Jalaper Aston Martin timepieces cost between 800 and 1,150 euros (about £724-£1,041) each. All four are finished in silver and black, with a day and date dial, as well as three-hand movement. Find out more, or place an order at www.atelierjalaper.com. Get on your bike with limited-edition G3+ ELECTRIC folding bike maker Gocycle has launched a special edition that combines all the firm’s latest tech. The G3+ is limited to 300 models worldwide and comes in new Red, Green and Yellow editions,…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 11|11|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 WHETHER you’re just starting to build your tool kit or replacing older, worn-out screwdrivers, buying them in a set is often the most cost-efficient way to do it. There’s plenty of choice, so check your car for which fasteners are the most common. Kits typically come with a mix of slotted, Phillips, Pozidriv and Torx heads, but some also include a selection of driver bits or hex keys. So which is the set to ensure you have the right tool for the job? We got to grips with eight to find out. Howwe tested them A COMFORTABLE grip is…

Search more than 40,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee CO2/tax 211g/km £330 Running costs 31mpg (Boxster S) £73 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.1 seconds/174mph NEXT year it will be 25 years since the introduction of the original Porsche Boxster, and it would be hard to imagine a world where this game-changing mid-engined sports car didn’t exist. Porsche was in dire straits when the original Boxster arrived, and it’s no secret that it, and later the Cayenne, helped save the maker from oblivion. Porsche now sells more SUVs than it does sports cars, but the company hasn’t forgotten its roots, and models such as the Boxster still put the emphasis on driving thrills. Beautifully made, a dream to drive and usually very…

DTM planning electric support class for 2023 GERMANY’S DTM touring-car series is planning to introduce a pure-electric support class, as it continues to map out its post-manufacturer future. A concept car (above) built by German automotive technology firm Schaeffler was demonstrated ahead of last week’s DTM season finale. DTM Electric will be part of a group of series, comprising the DTM (GT3 cars), DTM Trophy (GT4 cars) and DTM Historic (DTM cars of the past). WEC wraps up era of LMP1 in Bahrain THE delayed and elongated 2019-20 World Endurance Championship comes to a close with the 6 Hours of Bahrain this weekend. It’ll be the final race for the current LMP1 cars, now solely represented by the Toyota TS040s. In the title battle, just seven points separate Kazuki Nakajima,…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Behind the wheel of Audi’s flagship electric model • 591bhp, 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a 250-mile range AS landmark cars go, the new RS e-tron GT is quite a big one for Audi – perhaps its most important of the last 20 years. Not only is it Audi’s Tesla fighter, it’s also the first fully electric model to wear an RS badge and a car that will “shape the future of premium high performance” at the German company. Ahead of the car going on sale early next year, Auto Express joined Audi’s engineers for an early drive. Save for the sci-fi disguise, this is the very model that will arrive in showrooms in the spring. Having said that, if you really want your RS e-tron GT…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • Drivers targeted on main roads • 10,000 caught in a fortnight TAILGATERS are being targeted on motorways and A roads in a trial that is pioneering new camera technology. The cameras take pictures of tailgaters and record number plates, while software determines if drivers are genuinely tailgating, or if they are driving close to another vehicle due to a car in front braking suddenly, for example. Almost 10,000 tailgaters a fortnight have been detected by the trial, run by Highways England and police. Roads bosses want to cut tailgating, which is linked to about 130 fatal or serious collisions a year and something 90 per cent of drivers say they have experienced. Tailgaters detected by the trial will receive a letter telling them they have been caught,…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale THE search for fresh thinking, and fresh talent, often starts with young people, whose imagination, energy and optimism have yet to meet the realities more worldly minds have encountered over the years. The car industry is no different from others in this regard, and the search for the next generation of designers often starts young. Yet with cars being hugely complex machines, created against a backdrop of safety, environmental and financial considerations, blending the fresh talent of youth with the benefit years of experience brings is a delicate balancing act. Skoda’s Azubi project is a great example of this. Each year, design students from Skoda’s vocational school in the Czech city of Mladá Boleslav, near Prague, create a one-off concept car that celebrates youthful free thinking, while also…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 47.9mpg (off icial) £67 fill-up Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.8 seconds/112mph THE Kia Sportage has been given the mild-hybrid treatment for 2020. It’s part of a wider electrification strategy for the Korean brand, which involves launching seven new dedicated full EVs by 2027, a hydrogen fuel cell car by 2025 and a host of plug-in hybrids in the meantime. So this Sportage is at the conservative end of the emissions-busting masterplan, then. It starts with the 1.6 CRDi diesel, which loses an alternator and gains a belt-driven starter/generator unit. This harvests energy from the engine when coasting and charges a 0.44kWh 48-volt battery. This lets the engine switch off more readily and start up instantly when power is needed, and can even deploy a little torque boost…

MODELTESTED: Audi A5 40 TFSI S line PRICE: £41,805 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE Audi A5 has always majored on flawless build quality, great in-car tech and a relaxing driving experience. It steals a march on the BMW here with stronger on-paper performance figures, too. But is this all enough to keep the 4 Series at arm’s length from the top of the class? Design & engineering AS with the 4 Series, the A5 uses the familiar underpinnings of a conventional, yet very capable, compact executive saloon – in this case, the A4. Like the four-door, the A5 received a mild refresh for 2020, which introduced a subtle styling nip and tuck, a tweaked engine line-up and improved infotainment. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Its 201bhp maximum…

1st BMW THE new 4 Series is a deserving winner here, because it shows many strengths and very few weaknesses. It delivers the best combination of ride and handling, the cabin is refined and has the roomiest back seats, while its infotainment tech is the best. While it’s thirstier than the Lexus, it offers the lowest tax rates for company car users and is the cheapest to buy for private customers, too. 2nd AUDI IN many areas the A5 runs the BMW very close. Build quality is excellent, it’s the quickest car here and the in-car tech is very slick. However, the A5 isn’t as much fun to drive as the 4 Series, and without the optional adaptive dampers, it’s not as comfortable, either. Given that it’ll also be the…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs Economy (on test)/tax 4.2miles/kWh/£0 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 211/731 litres SINCE becoming the editor of Auto Express’s sister site DrivingElectric.com back in January, it’s been my job to exude the benefits of low-emission hybrids and EVs to anyone who will listen. Some are easier to convince than others, but to date I’ve had reasonable success. A couple who live locally recently traded their clapped-out Peugeot 206 in for a lightly used Kia Niro, while a mate from school now runs a BMW 330e as his company car. My parents are looking to make the switch, too. Having experienced the virtues of electric motoring by proxy, they’re looking to exchange their diesel SUV for something kinder to the environment and lighter on the wallet. But one person…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Gasping for in-car coffee stop I LIKE to break up journeys with a decent coffee, but in the current climate I’m reluctant to use drive-thrus and service areas. I’ve seen in-car coffee makers advertised – are they any good? Jeremy Andrews, E-mail A IF you like an espresso, then we can recommend the Handpresso Auto Capsule (above), which uses Nespresso-style capsules. It takes a minute or so to work, but the kit includes bespoke cups and a cloth. It makes a good espresso with thick crema, but costs around £175. The company also has machines which make larger coffees. Q Secret wheel cleaning trick? I’VE seen detailers online removing alloy wheels to clean them, but is this really necessary? I’ve never done it and my…

CERAMICS are sweeping through the car care world as makers seek to take advantage of their protective properties. Alongside paint sealants and trim cleaners, the technology has filtered through to detailers – the inbetween wash and wax treatment to remove light dust and add shine and protection. There are new ceramic products from US giants Meguiar’s and Turtle Wax, which we put up against a ‘craft’ product from the Artisans of Car Care that doesn’t use the tech. We assessed cleaning on a lightly soiled panel, then applied each product to a bonnet and monitored water beading over four months, our longest protection test in more than two decades of car-care testing. Finally, we took price into account. Despite the length of the test, the trio was closely matched, with…

Dear Tristan, We have a baby on the way and want a practical, reliable SUV, no more than four years old. We have £15,000 – any ideas? Gary Strong, E-mail Contact: Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk THE PRACTICAL CHOICE Honda CR-V FOR: Comfortable, good boot space, well made AGAINST: Sub-par infotainment, big alloys spoil ride HONDA has a strong reputation for good build quality, so buyers looking for a reliable SUV should definitely consider the previous-generation CR-V. You can also expect strong economy from diesel models, but the petrol engines are thirstier, and not much quicker. For £14,700, you can buy a 67-plate 1.6-litre diesel SR with xenon lights, parking sensors, a reversing camera and just under 31,000 miles. Less well equipped SEs can be had for similar money, with fewer than 11,000 miles.…

WHO’D have thought it? Joe Biden is a bit of a car nut – a petrolhead for well over half a century and, more recently, a cautiously optimistic electric vehicle enthusiast, particularly if that EV is made in the USA. Reading between the lines, I get the feeling that the President-Elect – if that’s the outcome of the vote counting that’s happening as we go to press – is fairly relaxed if a driver opts for a gas-guzzling sports car or classic for weekend fun, plus an EV as their runabout. Fair enough? I reckon so. IF you’ve got the funds. The quiet, retiring, retreating (or maybe not!) ‘former President’ Trump hasn’t had many kind words for the US number one, General Motors. Among other things, he’s accused it of…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Huge transformation outlined • Fully electric range by 2030 BENTLEY is to undergo the biggest transformation in its history after the British company confirmed that it will become an electric-only car maker by 2030. The announcement was made as part of the brand’s Beyond100 strategy, which outlines how Bentley will aim to become a ‘global leader in sustainable luxury mobility’. The firm is the world’s biggest producer of 12-cylinder engines, but will phase them out entirely over the next six years. In the short term, Bentley’s full product range will move towards plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Bentayga is currently the only plug-in model in the line-up, but the company has confirmed that two further PHEVs – expected to be the Continental GT and Flying Spur – will…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram THIS is our best look yet at the all-new Mercedes C-Class, which is undergoing final development ahead of an unveiling planned for the first quarter of next year. The compact executive’s exterior design will take an evolutionary step forward from the current model. The near-undisguised flanks show a car whose profile is similar to its predecessor’s – unsurprising given that the new model will ride on a reworked version of the existing car’s MRA platform. The wheelbase is expected to grow, though, to create more space for passengers inside. Through the disguise, it’s just possible to see the more subtle detail changes; the car’s head and tail-lights will become sharper, for example, while those at the back will also take a more horizontal shape – a nod to…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.5 seconds/143mph ‘A WORLD Rally Car for the road’ – that’s how Toyota describes the astonishing new four-wheel-drive, 143mph, 257bhp GR Yaris. Originally conceived to form the basis of the firm’s 2021 World Rally Championship campaign, 25,000 road versions have been made for homologation purposes. Cash-saving steps as a result of Covid-19 mean the WRC version of the new GR Yaris won’t race in 2021, with Toyota opting to run its 2020 car in next year’s competition before all-new rules in 2022. The road-car project was spared the axe, though. It costs from £29,995, rising to £33,495 with the Circuit Pack fitted, as tested here. This brings an even more focused pair of Torsen locking differentials for extra adjustability and fun to its on-the-limit handling, plus…

MODEL TESTED: Lexus RC 300h F Sport PRICE: £43,500 ENGINE: 2.5-litre 4cyl, 220bhp Running costs 42.2mpg (on test) £76 fill-up/£465 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (seats up) 340 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.6 seconds/118mph LEXUS has often chosen to take its own path in the premium segment, while hybrid tech, faultless build quality and excellent dealer service are among its many strengths. The RC 300h certainly has the looks to stand out here, but are those Lexus qualities enough in a class where driver appeal and the latest in-car tech will attract many buyers? Design & engineering THE RC was first introduced in 2014, and a subtle facelift at the start of 2019 introduced some styling flourishes inspired by the stunning LC coupé. A couple of mechanical changes featured, too,…

NEW: Mercedes C 200 AMG Line Edition PRICE: £43,090 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 181bhp MERCEDES’ C 200 Coupé benefits from mild-hybrid tech, and while it might be down on power, it’s quick and frugal enough. AMG Line Edition is the trim to choose since you get kit like wireless charging. Tech, quality and style are on par with rivals’. USED: BMW 650i M Sport PRICE: £36,999 ENGINE: 4.4-litre V8, 438bhp IF your budget is around £40,000, but you want something bigger, a lightly used BMW 640i is within reach. Quality is just as good as in the 4 Series and interior tech not far behind, but the V8 has more character. It’ll be more expensive to run, though.…

FIRST TEST Caura Price: Free Rating: Contact: www.caura.com IF you’re fed up with using numerous apps and websites to pay for parking, tolls or congestion charges – risking fines if you forget or get it wrong – then Caura is the answer. The simple and free-to-download app for Apple devices is Financial Conduct Authority-approved, meaning you can use it to pay for everything from parking in your local high street to the London congestion fee and even the DART charge for using the Dartford Crossing. Previously, it would mean using official Government websites or apps for various private parking companies. But Caura covers the lot and will either securely store your payment information, or you can use Apple Pay with just two clicks. It’s not all about parking, either. Once downloaded,…

Austin and Rover Metro: The Full Story Craig Cheetham (Amberley, www.amberley-books.com) Price: £14.99 Rating: FEW people are more qualified than former AE staffer Craig Cheetham to write about these cars (he’s owned six). That experience shines through when reading about the Metro’s genesis, which makes for an interesting tale and covers the before, the during (including the car’s sporting variants and racing success) and the unrealised plans for an after. Cars On Film Giles Chapman (The History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £14.99 Rating: CARS in the movies often play such a big role that the film wouldn’t be the same without them. This book is based on the author’s collection of movie stills and behind-the-scenes photos, showing a side you may not have considered before. They’re very interesting to see and…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Must I tell DVLA if I change the colour of my car? I WANT to get a vinyl wrap for my car in order to change its colour for less money than it would cost to have a respray. If I do this, do I need to inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) of the change? John Britt, E-mail A WE contacted the DVLA and were told that if the vinyl wrap changes the colour of the car, then the agency must be informed, so you do need to tell them. You will also need to inform your insurer, because a change such as this would be classed as a modification, and it is likely your insurance would become invalid if you…