Innholdsfortegnelse for 1658 i Auto Express

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • One-off SC20 revealed • Based on Aventador SVJ LAMBORGHINI’S racing division, Squadra Corse, has unveiled its latest one-off project – a bespoke, open-top supercar called the SC20. The newcomer is based on the Aventador SVJ, so is powered by the same naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 found in the donor car, and it has an output of 759bhp and 720Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox that sends drive to all four wheels. Despite the SC20’s mechanical similarities to the Aventador SVJ, its bodywork bears little resemblance. It’s an all-carbon-fibre creation, which draws inspiration from other one-off roofless Lamborghinis, such as the Aventador J and Veneno Roadster. The front splitter and bumper design are inspired by the Huracán GT3 Evo racer, too, while…

311mph Hennessey hypercar revealed US hypercar maker Hennessey has revealed the Venom F5 (above). It features 1,792bhp and 1,617Nm of torque from a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V8. Drive is sent to the rear wheels only, while the firm claims 0-62mph in 2.6 seconds, 0-186mph in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 311mph. It intends to verify the latter with a top speed attack at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 2021. Prices have not been revealed. Mitsubishi UK dealer talks fall through KOREAN firm SsangYong has confirmed that Mitsubishi has withdrawn from talks about the acquisition of its UK operations. A Mitsubishi spokesman said: “Although there has been dialogue with interested parties regarding aspects of the Mitsubishi Motors in the UK business, the decision has been made not to progress these…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Tackling the motoring issues that matter EVERY driving game these days seems to have more realistic graphics, harnessing computer processing power to deliver more detailed visuals than ever – more accurate representations of the cars we drive (or just dream of driving) on a daily basis. But what you see here is a vehicle that has gone in the other direction – because the latest Jaguar concept (the company’s first publicly released concept car in seven years, no less) is a physical version of a digital vehicle. This is the Vision Gran Turismo SV, the latest model from Sony’s Gran Turismo series to make the jump from pixels to a full 3D model. This isn’t actually an entirely new vehicle; in summer 2019 Jaguar and Gran Turismo’s creator,…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk @DeanGbsn Practicality Payload/towing weight 1,010/3,500kg OF all the pick-up trucks for sale in the UK, the Toyota Hilux is the one with a reputation that precedes it. It’s become a beacon for Toyota’s reputation for reliability and durability, and is found in all four corners of the globe. However, when it comes to the ‘lifestyle’ angle of the UK’s one-tonne pick-up class, it has never quite hit the mark. One thing that’s held the Hilux back is a relative lack of power. Unlike rivals, Toyota has never offered the Hilux in the UK with a high-power engine, but that’s all changed for the 2021 model year, with the arrival of a new 201bhp 2.8-litre diesel. That means the Hilux is now second only to the Ford Ranger in the…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE motoring world was a different place in 1966. A gallon of petrol was five shillings and sixpence, the UK’s first motorway had been open for just seven years, and three-point seatbelts had only recently appeared. Britain’s automotive love affair was firmly established by this point, though. There were fewer than two million privately owned cars in the UK in 1950 – a number that had more than quadrupled by 1966, and would climb at a similar rate over coming years. Despite this growth, money was tight for UK motorists. The cost of 1966’s best-selling car – the Morris 1100 – was £661, roughly the same as the average annual salary at the time. Today, a Ford Fiesta can be had for £16,640 – not much more than…

MODEL TESTED: VW Tiguan 1.5 TSI 150 Life PRICE: £27,980 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Running costs 35.3mpg (on test) £66 fill-up/£150 or 33% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 520/1,655 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/126mph LIFE trim is expected to be the most popular choice on the new Tiguan in the UK, which is why we’re testing it with the 1.5 TSI 150 engine, which costs from £27,980. Are the Tiguan’s advances enough to beat the Kadjar? Design & engineering FROM the outside it might be difficult to decipher exactly where the Tiguan has been updated. It looks similar to its predecessor, but then the Tiguan is VW’s best seller, so the company is wise not to rock the boat. In fact, it’s a refinement of what came before. Look…

STYLING BUYERS choose SUVs because they provide a bit more style than a traditional family hatchback. Both these machines offer attractive enough looks, but the Kadjar arguably has a little more personality when it comes to its looks. The VW’s styling enhancements have definitely helped to make it a little sleeker and more distinctive, but Renault’s facelift augmented the nice design. USABILITY AS family cars, the usability element of these two machines will come under scrutiny. We’ve already mentioned storage on both is acceptable, with touches such as electronic handbrakes freeing up space for trays and cup-holders (pictured). It’s the VW that offers slightly more clever use of space though; the dash-top cubby, for example, is a good use of the interior for storage that is a little wasted in…

SsangYong Korando THIS Korean brand has come a long way in recent years. It’s putting its eggs in the SUV basket, and the Korando is a good family crossover that offers practicality and lots of equipment for those on a tighter budget. A great seven-year/150,000-mile warranty should offer peace of mind for this strong package. Mazda CX-5 THE CX-5 family SUV is great to drive and offers some genuine premium appeal as well, thanks to a smart interior with upmarket materials. It combines all this with genuinely useful practicality and, despite a relatively involving chassis, plenty of comfort. The turbodiesel engines are extremely punchy as well. Nissan Qashqai THE Qashqai is one of the most popular cars in this class, thanks to its affordability and practicality. However, the tech inside…

Brick-by-brick build for Jeep Wrangler LEGO has unveiled another product in its high-end Technic line: a Jeep Wrangler (above). The 4x4’s proportions lend themselves remarkably well to being recreated in this medium, and Technic’s wealth of mechanical parts mean the model boasts an operational steering system, real axle articulation, a winch, chunky tyres and fold-down rear seats. With 665 pieces, it’s suitable for ages nine and above (with adult supervision) and costs £44.99. It’ll be available to buy from 1 January 2021 from Lego stores, retailers or at www.lego.com. Replacement LEDs approved in Korea PHILIPS Ultinon Essential LED headlamp bulbs have been homologated for road use in a domestic market – the first LED replacement bulbs of their kind to do so. Motorists in Korea can now legally fit an…

PRODUCTGROUPTEST 30|12|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 A TRADITIONAL fabric folding roof is at the mercy of the elements, including rain, bird lime, tree sap and airborne detritus, and so it needs more care than a metal alternative. For a car used regularly and kept outside, we’d suggest cleaning and reproofing a couple of times a year. Always treat the whole roof to avoid patches, and try the product on a hidden area first to ensure there are no adverse effects. So which combination ensures your rag-top is ready for the better weather? We tried eight to find out. Howwe tested them WE tested on a particularly ill-used…

CO2/tax 99-112g/km Free-£150 Running costs 57-65mpg (TCe90) £40 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.8 seconds/103mph THE original 1992 Renault Twingo was a brilliant piece of design that was never brought into the UK officially. The MkII did come here, but it didn’t sell very well because it wasn’t distinctive enough in an overcrowded sector. So when the Twingo MkIII arrived, Renault made sure that it really was different. Produced in conjunction with Smart (which sold a very similar car as the ForFour MkII), the third-generation edition marked a return to form for the Twingo, with its eye-catching exterior design and clever interior packaging, both helped by the fact that the engine was tucked away in the rear, under the boot floor. But sadly Renault’s efforts were once again in vain, because…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Overhauled looks and electric drive for next-generation hatch • Mild-hybrid and plug-in technology will also be offered THE Peugeot 308 made a splash when it arrived for its second generation in 2014, picking up the title of European Car of the Year and kicking off a golden era for the French brand. But now it’s time for an all-new 308 to be launched. It’s due to be revealed in late 2021 before hitting the road in 2022. Previewed in our exclusive images and caught on camera by our spy photographers, the car will change dramatically when compared with the current model. A sharper, more angular design, similar to that of the latest 208, 2008 and facelifted 3008, is coming, and…

THE Skoda Citigo has just disappeared from the company’s line-up, but a new all-electric city car is on the cards with a Skoda version of the Volkswagen ID.1. The VW Group is developing a smaller MEB-entry electric car platform, which is likely to form the basis of the VW ID.1. And new Skoda chairman Thomas Schäfer has confirmed that it will build its own version. “We would definitely try and follow suit on that,” he said. “If the platform is there we could do something clever on top of it – it would definitely look completely different. “It’s a good side of the family so you don’t have to do everything yourself.” The MEB-entry family is expected to use a low-cost version of the MEB architecture, with an overall vehicle…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths ENFORCEMENT systems designed to prevent drivers from incorrectly displaying number plates – a practice that can thwart crime and traffic-offence detection – are being under-utilised by police forces, Auto Express can reveal. A policy from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) stipulates that if the same vehicle and registered keeper are stopped more than once with a number plate that fails to meet regulations, that registration should be rescinded and the driver issued with a new, random plate. Drivers who are stopped once for incorrectly displaying their reg and fail to provide evidence to the DVLA that they have replaced their plates with correct items should also have the mark rescinded, according to the policy. These rules are intended to ensure that all number plates meet the…

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

NISSAN 2020 VISION GT(2014) YOUNG designers at Nissan’s European studio came up with the look for this futuristic GT/sports car – a nod to where the iconic GT-R could go in the next decade. It made its debut in Gran Turismo 6 and was then unveiled as a full-scale, real-world model at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed. CITROEN GTBYCITROEN (2008) THIS outlandish creation stunned Gran Turismo 5 gamers – and then cities like London, when Citroen wheeled out a real-world version powered by a Ford V8 engine. There were rumours of a tiny production run for money-noobject clients, but this plan was scrapped. Just one real example exists. VWGTI ROADSTER VISION GT(2014) GRAN Turismo studio Polyphony asked VW to create a new model to celebrate 15 years of the…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/149mph Running costs 33.6mpg (official) £98 fill-up IT’S fair to say that the first-generation GLE Coupé didn’t really worry the car that originally established the big, swoopy SUV niche, the BMW X6. The Mercedes wasn’t great to drive or especially comfortable, while the interior wasn’t all that advanced. This new GLE Coupé, however, addresses all of those problems. We’re testing it here in its most potent diesel form. The GLE Coupé 400 d boasts 325bhp and a thumping 700Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine. It does away with the less powerful GLE 350 d’s mild-hybrid assistance, but it’s actually faster, completing the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 5.7 seconds – yet it claims an identical 33.6mpg. It’s the sheer amount of torque available…

AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITE Published in 1966, this is the guide that started it all. The Sprite was taken apart, and the manual written, in Aden, Yemen. JAGUAR E-TYPE It may have been a supercar, but the E-Type was also relatively affordable and mechanically straightforward; perfect fodder for a Haynes Manual. NISSAN QASHQAI The popular MkII Qashqai’s guide is proof that modern, complex cars are as ripe for a Haynes Manual as anything else. BMC MINI It’s hard to think of a more popular and iconic car, yet the Mini’s mechanical idiosyncrasies meant a workshop guide was a must for home mechanics. VOLKSWAGEN GOLF A true people’s car needs a true people’s workshop manual, and the Haynes MkI Golf guide is its perfect companion. GRUMMAN F-14 TOMCAT Top Gun meets top tips;…

MODEL TESTED: Renault Kadjar TCe 140 GT Line PRICE: £27,695 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 138bhp Running costs 33.9mpg (on test) £63 fill-up/£150 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 472/1,478 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.8 seconds/124mph RENAULT’S rival to the Tiguan is the Kadjar – in particular this TCe 140 GT Line. This is a relatively high-spec model compared with the Tiguan Life, yet at £27,695, it’s slightly cheaper. Design & engineering THE Renault’s TCe 140 engine produces 138bhp, which is 10bhp down on the Tiguan’s 1.5-litre unit. Yet it’s lighter by quite a margin, and it also has 10Nm more torque, at 260Nm in total, so the Renault’s claimed performance is as near as makes no difference identical to the VW’s. It too uses a six-speed manual gearbox that sends…

Dawn_Grant@dennis.co.uk WHEN I received the keys to my SEAT Mii electric, I felt a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation. I was happy to embrace the idea of electric driving, but given that I would be unable to charge the car at home, I was slightly nervous of its practicalities. My nearest chargepoint is a 10-minute walk from my house and run by Source London, so when I knew the car was coming, I signed up. My membership card arrived within a few days and the £4 monthly fee means I get a slight discount, with the 7.4kW points costing 3.6p per minute of use. I’ve lived with an EV before, so I do know it’s possible to get along with the intricacies of keeping a car charged up, but what…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q How do I clean touchscreen? ONE of the downsides of touchscreens is that, when they’re off, you can see finger mark smears and dust. What’s the best way to remove these? Mark Driscoll, E-mail A SCRATCHING the screen is the concern here, so take care with any build-up of dust. If it’s part of an overall clean, make this one of the last jobs so it doesn’t attract any dust raised. Use a soft brush with plastic parts – ensure any metal is taped – to remove particles. For smears, spray a soft, long-pile microfibre cloth with glass cleaner and gently wipe over, turning to a dry section to buff. Q Why was tyre test so late? WHY do you leave it so late in…

A HEAD torch is a glovebox and toolbox essential and there’s no lack of choice, as two new designs have just been launched. Lighting specialist Philips has one as part of a revamped workshop range, while current champ NightSearcher has another option in its lineup. To see how they match up, we tried them against current test runner-up from Coast in a series of practical tests, both in the garage and outside, including a five-minute check on lens temperature. We expected all to be comfortable, easy-to-use and with lots of controllable light, while certification against dust and moisture is important, especially for outdoor use. These three were very closely matched, but we still rate the Nightsearcher Zoom 580R as the cream of the crop, with its huge power and zoom…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy MOTORSPORT’S biggest adventure of the year is actually its first major international event of the season – and that’ll never be more true than when the 2021 running of the Dakar Rally begins on Sunday 3 January. The long-distance, desert-based event has evolved from its early days as the Paris-Dakar rally raid, and the 2021 edition will be based entirely in Saudi Arabia, starting in Jeddah and finishing back in the city on 15 January. It’ll have a completely fresh schedule, totalling more than 4,500 miles, and new rules mean the crews – be they in cars or trucks, or on motorcycles or quads – will only get the crucial details of each day’s route 20 minutes before they’re due to start. It’ll be a voyage of discovery,…

BEFORE discussing the good, let’s acknowledge the bad: for most people, 2020 was the worst, most tragic, most painful year in living memory. But if ever there’s a time for positive reminders, it’s now. So here are a few of my car-related greats for 2020. There was no lack of impressive, all-new, versatile, breakthrough product – including the Citroen Ami and Honda-e for the city, plus the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i10, which seemed just as happy on the motorway (where I averaged 70mpg in the i10). The Skoda Octavia was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year. But for me, starting at £20k, it’s also the bargain of 2020. And it inherits from the VW Golf the title of ‘All the car you’ll ever need.’ You read that right:…

THE MoT test is to be made stricter, with cars having to meet tougher emissions targets, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The annual roadworthiness check will also be updated to ensure recent developments in safety technology are inspected. The news comes after Neil Barlow, head of MoT policy at the DVSA, said: “The MoT will need to change if it is to stay useful, both in terms of safety systems and emissions.” Barlow added that while “there isn’t anything immediate” in the pipeline, and changes would be fair both to drivers and MoT testing stations: “If we want to keep driving down overall emission levels… we’ve got to check that cars are performing as they were designed.” Barlow stressed that fundamental checks such as ensuring tyre treads…

THE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is warning motorists to be on the look out for scammers, following a six-fold increase in fraudulent communications purporting to be from the organisation. Drivers reported 603 per cent more fake E-mails, texts and phone calls to the DVLA between July and September 2020 than they did in the same period last year. There were 3,807 reports of scam E-mails alone, up 531 per cent from the 603 reported in the three months to September 2019. Common scams see crooks offer road tax refunds, ask motorists to verify their licence details or warn of late road tax payment, before asking drivers to provide bank details, or using gathered data to commit identity theft. Images released by the DVLA show how convincing some fake…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Maybach S-Class FROM: Greg Williams I QUITE like the way it looks, and using the Maybach name as an ultra-high-end trim level makes more sense than having it as a standalone brand. But a Bentley has more cachet, and also does without the awkward instrument screen. FROM: Mark Richards NOT sure about the two-tone paint scheme or the grille arrangement, but the interior is stunning. If I were in a position to spend upwards of £160,000 on a luxury limo, I can honestly say I would be tempted. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “People who buy these new will effectively burn £600 every day as the car rapidly depreciates.”David Watson “It’s double the price of a standard S-Class. Buying this is like putting a £50k kitchen…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 134.5mpg (off icial) £57 fill-up Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives BMW is expanding its range of electrified vehicles at a rapid rate, and this is the latest, the X3 xDrive30e. When the fully electric iX3 arrives in the UK in 2021, the X3 will be the first BMW – and the first mid-size SUV – to come with petrol, diesel, plug-in and electric powertrains. Until the iX3 arrives, the xDrive30e is the model that registers the lowest CO2 emissions of the X3 range, at 48g/km. Under the skin, a 181bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine is connected to a 108bhp electric motor for a combined total of 288bhp. Drive is sent to all four wheels through an eight speed automatic gearbox. There’s a 12kWh…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Peugeot 5008 was one of the two models (along with the 3008) that led the company’s design revolution. But recently the big seven-seat SUV has started to look a little out of kilter with the more recent arrivals in the brand’s line-up, so it has been treated to a mid-life nip and tuck. The changes are modest, but they’re relatively easy to spot, because the biggest shift comes in the styling. The car gets the same family face as the 208 supermini and 508 saloon, with a larger grille, fresh LED daytime running lights and new headlights. The big news inside is the arrival of a new infotainment set-up, with a 10-inch display for the main system, and a freshly updated 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster that…

Volkswagen Tiguan Discover Navigation Standard Key features: Connectivity, large screen THE Tiguan’s Discover Navigation infotainment system is familiar. The eight-inch screen is sound, with solid graphics and great responses to your inputs – plus there are lots of features as well. Satellite-navigation is standard, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you’d prefer to hook up your smartphone. Both of these programmes are integrated nicely and there’s a lot of tech to take advantage of – which makes it all the more baffling that there isn’t even a basic digital dash fitted as standard. If you want a digital readout on the VW you’ll have to pay £460, while wireless charging is £420 extra; the same extra on the Renault is only £180. Overall, the system offers what you need…

TWR’s Le Mans-Winning Jaguars John Starkey (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £19.99 Rating: THIS is a brief history of the Tom Walkinshaw Racing team, and its success with Jaguar in endurance racing. There’ll be plenty of evocative memories in here for fans, particularly images of the cars in their iconic Silk Cut and Castrol liveries. It’s a bit brief and heavy on stat tables, which may be good for reference but aren’t that entertaining. MG Z Cars Craig Cheetham (Amberley Publishing, www.amberley-books.com) Price: £14.99 Rating: FORMER Auto Express staffer Craig Cheetham’s most recent book is this whistle-stop tour of the last days of MG, particularly its performance cars, and what went into turning them from regular Rovers into something more sporty. It’s part history lesson and part buying guide, easy to…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q How are pedestrian rights changing in Highway Code? REGARDING the proposed Highway Code shake-up (Issue 1,653), you say pedestrians could get right of way when waiting to cross at junctions. Is this not already a rule, or is the word “waiting” the important addition here? Ian Cranston, E-mail A ONE of the proposed changes to the Highway Code concerns pedestrian rights at junctions. Rule 206 currently advises drivers to give way to pedestrians “who are already crossing the road into which you are turning”. But the consultation proposes pedestrians “who are crossing or waiting to cross the road into which you are turning” should have right of way. This would give them greater rights, so you’re correct that the addition of the word “waiting”…