Innholdsfortegnelse for 1675 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods • Semi-autonomous tech and styling follow Mk8 Golf’s lead “For the first time, the Polo will also be offered with a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display” VOLKSWAGEN has made its Polo supermini more of a miniature Golf than ever before, with a significant mid-life facelift for the Mk6 model. On sale in the UK this autumn and priced from around £18,000, the car gets a fresh bumper and new headlights. An LED lighting bar also now runs between the headlamps (available with IQ. Light matrix LED tech for the first time) to the centrally placed VW badge. The Polo has new badging at the rear, while the LED tail-light clusters have been redesigned, with a new Mk8 Golf-inspired shape. Optional versions of these lamps have dynamic indicators, the ‘scrolling’-effect…

VW ID.4 EV named World Car for 2021 THE Volkswagen ID.4 (above) has been crowned World Car of the Year 2021. The 93-strong jury, which includes Auto Express’s editor-in-chief Steve Fowler and chief columnist Mike Rutherford, voted the electric SUV into top spot. Elsewhere, the Mercedes S-Class, Honda e, Porsche 911 Turbo and Land Rover Defender scooped the Luxury Car, Urban Car, Performance Car and Car Design awards respectively. PAGE 82: Rutherford’s take on WCOTY Rap music improves drivers’ reaction times DRINKING coffee, listening to rap music or having noisy children in the car will cut your reaction time and stopping distance, according to a study by Uswitch. The study found that women are better at spotting hazards than men, and have better reaction times on average. Rap, techno, heavy…

Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Petrol-electric model revealed • More space and tech than ever HONDA has revealed full specs for its new hybrid-only HR-V crossover. The third-generation model receives a bold new look, extra technology, a more spacious interior and Honda’s clever e:HEV hybrid powertrain, adapted from its Jazz supermini. This comprises a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors – one driven by the engine that charges the battery pack, and one that drives the wheels. In the HR-V the set-up makes 129bhp and 253Nm of torque to cope with the bigger car’s extra mass. Despite the powertrain’s focus on electric running, Honda hasn’t actually confirmed a maximum electric-only range for the HR-V. But Kojiro Okabe, one of the head engineers for the new HR-V project, told us that EV…

MINI opens up a hot new JCW convertible MINI has lifted the lid on its hot new John Cooper Works Convertible (above), a soft-top version of its performance-focused JCW line-up. The 228bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine gives a best 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds with an auto ’box A new five-inch digital dash features, plus plenty of sporty styling, including a more aggressive bodykit. Prices start from £30,515 for the manual model. Chip shortage hits car production worldwide A GLOBAL shortage of semiconductors is taking its toll on the automotive industry. Jaguar Land Rover has adjusted its production schedules and temporarily closed both its Halewood and Castle Bromwich plants. Peugeot has announced the outgoing 308 will only be available with analogue dials rather than a digital dash due to the shortage,…

MOTORWAY traffic is increasing every year, and we can either do nothing, reduce demand, or increase capacity. The first option would increase congestion, and drivers would divert to less-safe A-roads to avoid this. Tolls could achieve the second option, cutting congestion for those able and willing to pay, but they too would see drivers divert to A-roads. Collisions, injuries and fatalities on non-motorway roads would rise with these two options. The alternative is to increase capacity. The traditional way to do this is by widening, but this is not possible in many locations (urban or elevated sections, and complex junctions, for example). Even where practical, widening takes years longer than conversion to smart motorways and costs upwards of £50million more per mile. That diverts cash from A-roads where, per pound…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE cost of car insurance quotes has fallen by 14 per cent over the last year, the sharpest drop ever recorded by one price comparison site. While the figures relate to insurance quotes rather than policies actually taken out, they’re based on data from six million motorists, and show drivers are being quoted £87 less for a year’s comprehensive cover than they were 12 months ago. The average motorist is now quoted £538, with cover for men coming in at £574 on average, and women quoted £477. The data comes from comparison site Confused, which also commissioned a survey of 2,000 adults that found a 43 per cent drop in mileage over the same period. Some insurers have offered payment holidays or goodwill payments of around £25 to…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods Tackling the motoring issues that matter CONSIDER this: you’ve just bought a brand-new car, but no one on your street quite knows what it is. It’s fully electric, cutting-edge in design and wears an unfamiliar badge. It’s creating quite a stir among the neighbours, and you haven’t seen another one out on the road just yet. Sound enticing? If you were one of the first people in the UK to get your hands on a Tesla Model S when it launched here in 2014, you probably know the feeling. But in 2021, cars from Elon Musk’s attention-grabbing electric car company have become a common sight on Britain’s highways and driveways. However, the electric revolution is gaining traction in such a manner that Tesla certainly won’t be the only…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 38.2mpg (official) £85 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.1 seconds/116mph GRADUAL improvements over the years and a push upmarket have turned Hyundai’s largest SUV into a proper Land Rover Discovery Sport rival. The latest facelift only helps to reinforce that, because for 2021 the Santa Fe features significant changes to its styling inside and out, new cabin tech and the introduction of hybrid powertrains. A reshaped, enlarged grille dominates the front end, along with slim headlights, while at the rear there’s a bar connecting the light units, and a cleaner-looking bumper. The cabin feels plusher than ever, too, although when compared with the button-shy approach taken by many rivals now, the Santa Fe’s sheer number of physical switches is almost bewildering at first. But even if it…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram AT the other end of the new E-Class range to the E 220 d (left) is the E 53 4MATIC+ Night Edition Plus Estate. It’s the second most powerful model, and has a vast 640-litre boot due to its estate body. The latest E 53 features a new grille inspired by the AMG GT, and a revised bumper, but the cabin is much the same, aside from the split-spoke steering wheel and touchpad infotainment set-up. It’s an AMG, though, so performance is key. The E 53’s growly 3.0-litre straight-six engine is augmented by a mild-hybrid system, which can deploy up to 22bhp, but is mostly used to reduce load on the engine. Total output is 429bhp, sent to the road through all four wheels. The mild-hybrid set-up immediately…

MODELTESTED USED: Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 95 Titanium PRICE: £12,659 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 94bhp THIS used Ford Fiesta was, at the time of writing, for sale at Stebbings Car Centre in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, priced at £12,659. It’s a 20-plate five-door Titanium model with fewer than 4,000 miles on the clock, and has the 94bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine under the bonnet. Running costs 39.8mpg (on test) £53 fill-up/£150 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 292/1,093 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.3 seconds/110mph Design & engineering THE Fiesta is one of the best-selling cars in the UK, so there are plenty for sale second-hand at any one time. You don’t always have the kind of choice you get with ordering a new car, so you might have to settle for a colour or…

NEW: Kia Picanto 1.0 2 PRICE: £12,500 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 66bhp THE Picanto demonstrates what you can get at this price point when buying a new car. It’s much smaller than the Sandero inside, has a tiny boot, and the engine is a 66bhp non-turbo petrol. It’s fun and good value, but the Sandero is roomier and better equipped. USED: Renault Clio 1.0 TCe Iconic PRICE: £11,500 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 90bhp THE Clio uses similar tech in its construction to the Sandero, but is better to drive and has more kit. A used one is a fine choice because it’s even better value than the new Dacia, yet it’s comfy, roomy and has a very grown-up interior. The engine is similar to the Sandero’s.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/90mph Running costs Official range/tax 137 miles/£0 AFTER eight months, my time with the little Honda e is up, so now I shall attempt to answer the question I posed last year: is it possible for someone with neither off-street parking nor the ability to charge at home to run an electric car? In a word, yes, but it does require some compromise. As for the Honda e itself, it’s a cracking little city car, and is the perfect retort to anyone who says electric cars are boring. First of all, look at it! I’ve never driven any car in my eight years at Auto Express that has generated so much interest from other road users and passers-by. I’ll admit the Charge Yellow paintwork…

products@autoexpress.co.uk Q What’s wrong with sponges? CAN you explain why I should use a wash mitt rather than a sponge when cleaning my car? I see loads of car-wash sponges advertised and they’re much cheaper. What’s wrong with them? Gary Maskell, E-mail A IT’S to cut the risk of marring paint by dragging grit across it. A sponge has a fairly hard surface and few places where grit can be absorbed. A mitt has soft strands – usually microfibre but sometimes lambswool – that hold grit safely out of the way. And you don’t need to spend a fortune – our test winner (above) costs less than £4. Q Charge of the old brigade I’VE come across an old battery charger in my father’s garage. He says it works fine,…

USING a cordless vacuum is the simplest way to ditch the dirt from your car’s cabin. Not only will it be a nicer place to spend time, but it’ll also help retain its value come sale time. Ultenic is a new name in the cordless vacuum market, and we put it up against multiple test winner Vax. Both units were tested on mats sprinkled with a mix of salt, rice and damp grit, and we looked for quick, efficient cleaning. Each was used in car for 15 minutes, working on flat surfaces, in the footwells and in awkward spots, such as between the seats. We balanced performance against specification, warranty, accessories, domestic capability and price. The Ultenic makes a serious case in its debut. It’s capable, well specified and keenly…

WARNING: This column raises several questions about what is and isn’t the best car for the world. Trouble is, I’m not necessarily in possession of all the answers. How about you? For starters, I’m unapologetically asking if the Volkswagen ID.4 deserved to win the World Car of the Year title a few days ago. All things considered, is this EV really the best all-new car on sale in 2021? Can it truly consider itself the genuine world champ when several other all-new models available at similar or lower prices were effectively prevented from competing for the WCOTY gong this year? Should rigid World Car rules, regulations and red tape get in the way of a simple fight that allows every internationally available model (regardless of price) to have a crack…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • All-new electric family car marks new era for Korean maker • 300-mile range and fast charging boost its versatility ON paper, it’s hard to not get a little excited by the new Ioniq 5. Hyundai’s electric spin-off sub-brand comes from good stock; ever since its parent group first aimed for the electric car market with the Kona Electric and the mechanically similar Kia e-Niro, it’s long been topping the class when it comes to zero-emission range and efficiency. Now the Korean brand has set its sights on the Tesla Model Y. Hyundai is approaching the market with a ground-up design, because the Ioniq 5 rides on the group’s E-GMP platform. It’s a fully bespoke EV architecture, and one that’ll eventually…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy • New platforms and tech coming • SUVs to join two-seater range LOTUS’S new sports car will be called Emira – and it will kick-start a major technology and product push from the British brand as it triples production within two years and introduces new models, including ‘lifestyle’ vehicles, by the second half of the decade. The Emira will be unveiled in full on 6 July before making its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will be offered with a choice of two powertrains, including a “small-capacity, high-output” engine sourced from outside the Geely Auto group that Lotus is now a part of. The company’s recently appointed CEO, Matt Windle, has confirmed to Auto Express that the engine partnership is an entirely new one for…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler • ‘Father of the Focus’ dies at 69 • Engineer made family cars fun RICHARD Parry-Jones, former Group Vice-President – Global Product Development, Chief Technical Officer and Head of Global R&D Operations at Ford, has died at the age of 69 following an accident on his farm in Wales. RP-J, as he became known, led the development teams responsible for some of the greatest cars in Ford’s history, including the Mondeo and Focus, the Ka and the Puma. Parry-Jones’ focus on a car’s dynamics won an army of fans among enthusiasts and car buyers, lifting Ford’s reputation for building great-driving cars that still stands true today. Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, commented: “Richard Parry-Jones was a rare talent who left an indelible mark on Ford…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • Safer smart motorways • More SVD systems HIGHWAYS England has published its first-year stocktake report on all-lane-running (ALR) smart motorways – roads where the hard shoulder is permanently converted to a live lane. The investigation was requested by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and summarises what improvements have been made since Highways England was told to implement an action plan to improve both the safety of the roads, and the public’s confidence in them. Many of the announcements in the report concern Stopped Vehicle Detection systems (SVD). These radars automatically alert Highways England staff to vehicles broken down in live lanes, and the roll-out of SVD will be accelerated, with all all-lane-running motorways having the technology by September 2022 – six months earlier than initially planned – while…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths NOSTALGIA is a hell of a drug, and it’s one two companies are hoping people will pay at least £7,200 for a hit of. That’s the sum you’ll need to get behind the wheel of the Wild One MAX, the latest creation from radio-control and model maker Tamiya, and The Little Car Company – the firm behind ‘junior’ cars such as the three-quarter-scale Bugatti Baby II, which we drove back in Issue 1,641. The Wild One was an iconic Tamiya model, launched in 1985 when radio-control cars were becoming more mainstream, capable and affordable. A one-tenth-scale rear-wheel-drive off-road buggy, the Wild One was emblematic of Tamiya’s eighties range, as the firm played a huge role in the rising popularity of radio-control cars, at least partly due to a…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AurtoExpress FROM: Joe Clark THIS looks fantastic and has a starting price of less than £30,000. If the driving experience matches the looks, this could be a big hit. I really hope it is – there are enough Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on the road, so fingers crossed. FROM: Paul Harvey I’M a Citroen fan, but I’m not really impressed with the looks of this. Its design plays things too safe, possibly to the extent of almost being a little bland. I hate the fake exhaust trim at the back, too. Hopefully it looks better in the metal. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Looks spectacular, but I can’t help feeling it won’t be profitable. Hope I’m proved wrong.” TE ■ “Hate the crossover aspect. I wish it were…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 37.2mpg (official) £73 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.1 seconds/155mph WHEN MINI launched its most controversial model to date, the Countryman SUV, in 2010, die-hard MINI fans might not have been impressed. Yet more than a decade later the Countryman is part of the fabric of the brand; so much so, in fact, that this second-generation version has been updated to keep its appeal against an ever-growing number of rivals, including the Volkswagen T-Roc and Audi Q2, SUVs that offer a more premium image. This is our first chance to sample the updated model, tested here in £37,825 John Cooper Works form. This performance SUV sits at the top of the tree, with the Countryman line-up receiving some styling updates that include a redesigned grille and front bumper.…

WHEELS THE Dacia’s ‘flex’ wheels aren’t actually alloys, but they look convincing to our eyes. One thing to look for when buying a used Fiesta, or any other second-hand model, are the wheels, because many have kerbed alloys. Thankfully the used example we tested didn’t. DAMAGE OUR used Fiesta did, however, have a cracked door mirror. It’s something that we could have either asked to have fixed by the dealer or get money off the asking price. If we wanted to replace the mirror and fit it ourselves, low parts prices for this common model would be a big help.…

Ford Cars David Rowe (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £16.99 Rating: ANOTHER entry in this series deals with all Ford models sold in the UK from 1945-1995 – so not entirely exhaustive, but covering a fairly wide spectrum. Photography is once again centred on car shows across the UK, which are accompanied by comprehensive stats and a short history lesson. A useful reference title, if not particularly entertaining. Growing Up Automotive Charles Rose (Independently published, www.amazon.co.uk) Price: £7.32 Rating: REALLY interesting tales here from an automotive engineer who’s worked his way up from small-time garage repair to work on the latest EVs and self-driving tech. Ideal reading for anybody teetering on the edge of wanting to make a career of engineering; it’s loaded with great stories and insight, but it’s quite…

Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Fuel pump failure leaves owner with bill for £12k MY 67-plate car broke down and the dealer identified a fuel pump failure, necessitating a replacement fuel system at a cost of £12,000. The maker has issued a recall for a similar issue, but the dealer says it’s nothing to do with this. What should I do? Name withheld, E-mail A WE advised this reader to ask the dealer and manufacturer to state in writing that they don’t consider the fault to be due to a manufacturing defect or the recall issue. We also suggested that, given the scale of the repair, consulting an independent engineer and legal expert could be wise. The reader has subsequently informed us that the manufacturer and its finance arm agreed to pay for…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk All the action from the world of motorsport • Toyota and Alpine do battle • Big LMP2 and GTE entries THE delayed 2021 World Endurance Championship finally gets under way this weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. It’s a milestone race for the series, since it marks the debut of the new Hypercar category at the head of the field. The class will only have three entrants for its first outing, however: a pair of Toyota GR010 works cars and a single Alpine A480 – effectively last year’s Rebellion LMP1 car performance-balanced to Hypercar levels. US privateer Glickenhaus has put back the debut of its 007 Hypercar to the second round at Portimao in Portugal on 13 June, while another privateer entry from ByKolles is now not expected…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Hot new 286bhp SUV revealed • Clever tech on board, but no 4WD HYUNDAI has revealed its Kona N hot SUV, the third model in the firm’s sporty UK line-up and the first performance-focused SUV from the Korean firm. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which develops a maximum of 286bhp and 392Nm of torque. This highest power figure is obtained with Hyundai’s ‘N Grin Shift’ mode selected for the new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There’s no manual model, but the auto’s gear ratios have been optimised and durability improved to handle the high output. The gearbox’s calibration has also been tuned, with a further two modes offered, called ‘N Power Shift’ and ‘N Track Sense Shift’. Hyundai hasn’t revealed specifics on the parameters of these…

RICHARD Parry-Jones dispels the myth that you should never meet your heroes. As a young engineer developing Nissan’s European product range, I vividly recall the fruits of Richard’s labour with the 1993 Ford Mondeo. The transformation of the Ford of Europe range under Richard’s engineering stewardship was stunning and continues to this day, not only in Fords, but in almost every car company that his disciples went to, including Volkswagen. But who could forget the 1998 Ford Focus? I was just in the process of launching the Nissan Almera hatchback, and the Focus’s multi-link rear suspension forced Nissan to reconsider its whole approach to the family car segment, eventually giving rise to the Qashqai. Parry-Jones left Ford in 2007 and became a consultant to the industry, including Aston Martin; it…

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…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.3 seconds/155mph THE Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds. While we’ve seen other rapid estate cars – the Mercedes-AMG E 63, for example – get close to that figure before, it’s even more mind-bending here. Maybe it’s the disconnect between such amazing speed and the accompanying noise – little more than an augmented starship hum – or the fact that the instant response from the twin electric motors (which develop 671bhp in overboost mode) can whack your head back into the headrest in a way many supercars can’t. The Taycan’s acceleration is absolutely savage. All of this is true in the standard Taycan of course, but this Cross Turismo introduces a…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/146mph Running costs 53.2mpg (official) £85 fill-up WHAT you see here is the newly revised Mercedes E-Class in E 220 d Sport form, which is pretty much as basic as it gets for the brand’s long-serving executive saloon. Perhaps ‘basic’ isn’t the right word to describe it, however. While Sport is the least expensive trim level, in isolation it still feels every bit as plush as you’d hope for from a Mercedes costing around £40,000. It has the same styling tweaks as the rest of the line-up, and inside it’s as cavernous and supremely comfortable as ever. But the entire E-Class range now gets Mercedes’s MBUX system, which brings a new 12.3-inch touchscreen and a touchpad. There are pros and cons, but overall it…

MODELTESTED: Dacia Sandero TCe 90 Comfort PRICE: £11,595 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 89bhp THIS Dacia Sandero is the popular 1.0-litre TCe 90 model, in Comfort trim. It costs from £11,595 in this specification, although our test car had premium paint and a spare wheel, bringing the price to £12,305. It’s possible to buy a Sandero in entry-level Access trim for as little as £7,995. Running costs 42.2mpg (on test) £63 fill-up/£150 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 328/1,108 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.7 seconds/111mph Design & engineering THIS is an all-new Sandero, and while the look is the most obvious change, it’s also been upgraded from an engineering and technical standpoint. It looks lower and wider due to more sculpted bodywork, new LED daytime running lights and more pronounced wheelarches.…

Dacia Sandero Media Nav Standard Key features: Nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto IT’S great to see that this new version of the Dacia Sandero comes with both sat-nav and smartphone connectivity, so there’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, too. You can link your phone and use apps on the screen, including Spotify and Google Maps. There’s even a phone holder at the side of the screen with its own USB port, which is a handy place to put it, as long as you’re not prone to getting distracted by it. The media screen has all the features you need, including built-in sat-nav, which works well enough. The screen isn’t very sharp or high-res, but it does the job, and the menus are simple and easy to navigate, because there aren’t…

GT3 exhaust offers fresh aural thrills PORSCHE has unveiled a new premium home audio system. The Limited Porsche Design 911 Soundbar Special Edition (above) is built into the real rear silencer and tailpipe from a 911 GT3. Hand-finished in white, high-gloss and matte black and fitted with 300-watts of Dolby Atmos 2.1 stereo sound, the soundbar will connect via HDMI, Spotify Connect, WiFi or Chromecast. It’s limited to just 500 units and costs 3,900 Euros (£3,384) from www.porsche-design.com. Cullinan kitted out for country pursuits ROLLS-Royce has revealed its Recreation Module for the Cullinan SUV. Rather like a pod for Thunderbird 2, the Recreation Module sits in the boot floor and comprises a motorised drawer that can be configured to suit the owner’s on-the-go needs. Two examples given are an Urban…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 28|04|2021 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 THE bad old days of a car having rust holes before its first MoT have disappeared, but look underneath the average five-year-old vehicle and you might be shocked at how much corrosion lurks below. Even on the bodywork a stone chip or scratch can soon grow into a nasty blister, and you need to treat rust properly to stop it spreading. Rust removal involves spending hours with a wire brush or strong acidic chemicals that are dangerous to use, so it is far easier and safer to use a rust converter. These stop reaction in the metal using special ingredients,…

CO2/tax 137-160g/km £155-£205 Running costs 35-47mpg (SLC 200) £76 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.0 seconds/149mph MERCEDES kick-started the coupé-cabriolet revival in 1994 (60 years after Peugeot had created the sector) with the unveiling of its SLK concept, which would go on to be launched in 1996. The arrival of the SLK would lead to a raft of rival cars from the likes of BMW, Ford, Nissan and Peugeot bursting on to the scene, and while the trend for folding metal roofs has now faded, it was arguably Mercedes that got the closest to hitting the spot with its neatly styled two-seater. While the first version was a decent effort and the second take was much better, this third generation featured improved build quality, dynamics and design. History THE SLK Mk3…