Auto Express 1666

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news WE’VE been waiting with bated breath for the first announcements from new Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bolloré and in his first press conference he didn’t disappoint. He confirmed what Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern told us last year, that Jaguar was in for a total revamp in 2025, with the design team leading the way. He also confirmed that Jaguar will be going all-electric – as exclusively revealed by Auto Express last summer. And that the all-new, all-electric XJ, due to be revealed this year, has been axed – we weren’t expecting that one. So, knowing that the brand is going to be completely reinvented in 2025, why would you invest in a Jaguar in the next four years if…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Third generation of Nissan’s groundbreaking family crossover • Due on sale in summer, and available as a hybrid for the first time THIS is the all-new Nissan Qashqai, the third generation of the UK’s best-selling small SUV. It’s due to roll off the production line at the firm’s plant in Sunderland this summer as a ground-up overhaul, with a hybrid powertrain available for the first time. The 2021 Qashqai comes following Nissan’s recent announcement that it has sold over one million crossovers in the UK since the first Qashqai was launched in 2007. That model set the template for a whole generation of new cars, taking SUVs into the mainstream for family car buyers. The new Qashqai’s design evolves its…

2006 Mk1 (2006-’10) THIS is the car that defined a sector. With the original Qashqai, Nissan cottoned on to the SUV boom earlier than many mainstream rivals. It offered off-roader style at much more affordable prices than had previously been available, with plenty of practicality, too. 2010 Mk1 facelift (2010-’13) AN update to freshen the styling came later, followed by a revised engine-line-up in 2011. Diesel was popular at that time, and new dCi engines boosted efficiency, while more tech such as Nissan’s Around View Monitor made an appearance. 2013 Mk2 (2013-’17) THE second-generation Qashqai was a huge styling leap – it was a game changer for Nissan and picked up plenty of awards. The old seven-seat Qashqai+2 model was dropped, while diesel still dominated at this point. The Mk2…

Vice president, Product Planning, Nissan Europe Q There’s a lot more technology in this generation of the Qashqai, and a sharp new look as well. Will it set a template for Nissan? A Yes, this car is super-important. It’s important not only for business, but because of what the Qashqai stands for. We tried to leapfrog some of the trends and not offer gimmicks; offer technology that’s functional. We’re proud of this car. Q Given that plug-in hybrid technology is available within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, why didn’t you opt for a PHEV? A Plug-ins have limitations – it’s great on paper but adds weight, and when the battery is empty both things mean lower efficiency. Plus PHEVs are expensive, because you have the cost of the [bigger] battery and the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Saloon and Estate revealed • Petrol, diesel and hybrid, too “The newcomer embraces exterior design cues that were introduced on the facelifted E-Class” MERCEDES has revealed the latest version of its C-Class – its most popular car internationally over the past decade. As the model enters its fifth generation in 2021, it lines up in a changing premium family car landscape that’s now populated with pure-electric options and more SUVs. Facing a more varied field of competition than ever before, Mercedes has shaken things up with the new C-Class. It has introduced a sportier new image, S-Class-derived cabin technology and wide-reaching electrification across the powertrain line-up. This now includes a plug-in hybrid capable of 62 miles on electric power only. Under the skin, the C-Class rides on…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Striking new Ioniq 5 EV hatch •Set to take on VW ID.3 and ID.4 HYUNDAI has revealed the Ioniq 5 – a new, tall-riding, all-electric hatchback intended to take on the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, and even the Tesla Model 3. The company’s head of design for Ioniq, Luc Donckerwolke, told us: “I didn’t want to do business as usual with this car.” The production model is a striking creation from a brand that’s becoming extremely confident in its designs, and is very close to the 2019 45 concept. It boasts a number of new steps for Hyundai, such as a clamshell bonnet and flush door handles, but the overall treatment is very clean. The 45’s ultra-slim headlights have been transferred, while a ‘sensor area’ has replaced…