Innholdsfortegnelse for 1679 i Auto Express

Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Sporty electric hatch revealed • Up to 335 miles of range SEAT’S sporty spin-off Cupra has launched its first electric model, the Born. It’s a direct rival for the Volkswagen ID.3 and will be on sale in the UK in 2022, priced from around £32,000. The Cupra Born is based on the same MEB platform as the ID.3, so it shares the same battery and electric motor options. The entry-level car has a 45kWh battery and 148bhp electric motor, which Cupra says provides a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds and a maximum range of 211 miles. The 58kWh battery car has a 201bhp electric motor, and the extra capacity increases range to 260 miles, while the 0-62mph time drops to 7.3 seconds. Cupra also offers this powertrain with…

LEXUS has announced plans to quickly grow its electrified vehicle range, introducing 10 new cars in the next four years, all of which will feature either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure-electric powertrain. The two most important new cars will be a plug-in hybrid model that will make its debut this year, and a full EV, which will be unveiled in 2022. The former will be the Japanese firm’s first plug-in hybrid model and is likely to use the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and battery-electric motor system seen in the Toyota RAV4 PHEV. It’s thought that this new vehicle could be the new NX, which will be based on the brand’s GA-K platform. Meanwhile, Toyota’s e-TNGA platform is likely to be used for the Lexus EV, which will be…

Goodwood celebrates Lotus at 2021 Festival LOTUS will take centre stage at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed as the celebrated marque. This year’s theme will be “The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders”, with Lotus the main focus. Cars such as the Evija hypercar (pictured) will feature, while the brand’s new Emira sports car will make its dynamic debut. Many iconic Lotus racing cars of the past will also be on show. The festival is set to take place on 8-11 July this year, assuming no further Covid rules are imposed after 21 June. Emissions benefits of electric fleet revealed ELECTRIC cars have covered a total of 2.7billion miles in the UK, saving their drivers £164million in fuel. Data from transport researchers New AutoMotive shows the same number of miles…

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 makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.4 seconds/134mph “It features special Polymetal Grey Metallic paint to mark it out from other Mazda 6 models” MAZDA is a master of special editions; just look at its iconic MX-5 sports car and how many limited-run variants it has spawned to keep excitement high. Now the Japanese brand is trying to do the same with its Mazda 6 family saloon through this Kuro Edition trim. But is it injecting some life into a dying sector, or does the big family car still have merit in 2021 when buyers seem to be focusing on SUVs? The Kuro Edition is available in saloon and ‘Tourer’ estate bodystyles, and it’s the former we’re testing here. Limited to just 100 cars in the UK (50 examples of each bodystyle),…

Jaguar F-Pace Pivi Pro Key features: Dual-SIM set-up, OTA updates FOR the most recent round of F-Pace updates, Jaguar installed an all-new infotainment system called Pivi Pro. It features a gently curved 11.4-inch display that sits slightly proud of the dashboard. It looks great; the graphics are razor-sharp and the colours are bright. The homepage is split into three sections for navigation, media and phone settings, with a main menu for the other functions to the side. Loading times are incredibly quick; from homepage, to postcode entry to the first instruction of a fully loaded road route takes just 20 seconds, which is 12 seconds faster than the same process in the Volvo. It’s a shame that there’s no physical shortcut controls anywhere, but the system is generally so good…

6 ISSUES FOR £1 Then if you continue to subscribe after your trial you pay from just £24.99 every three months (saving you 47%). If for any reason you’re not satisfied you can cancel at any time and receive a refund on any unmailed issues. DELIVERED FREE Every issue is delivered to your door, free of charge. It’ll arrive in paper packaging, too, making it easier than ever to recycle. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY We offer every subscriber a free welcome gift when they come on board. This month get a Simoniz Cleaning Essentials set. For convenience, scan our QR code with your camera phone for quick access to our secure online store! YOUR FREE GIFT Simoniz has more than 100 years’ experience; guaranteeing results from top to bottom, inside…

Speedtail celebrated with new timepiece McLAREN and Richard Mille have released a new watch to celebrate the launch of the ultra-exclusive McLaren Speedtail. As with the car, the timepiece (above) is limited to 106 units – and its design is evocative of the car’s, with a teardrop shape and bezel indentations that mimic the Speedtail’s bonnet openings. The crystal in the watch took 18 months alone to perfect. Naturally, you’ll need several hundred thousand pounds to purchase this timepiece, and it’s probably best if you’ve already ordered a McLaren Speedtail, too. Prize bonanza for Brit Motor Show visitors VISITORS buying advance tickets for the British Motor Show could win prizes, as organisers ramp up preparations for the event, which will take place on 19-22 August at Farnborough International Exhibition and…

AMONG the extras dealers will try to sell you when buying a new car is GAP insurance. This is short for guaranteed asset protection, and covers potential shortfalls following an insurance claim if your car is written off or stolen. It’s not essential or a legal requirement. You will only usually be covered by your normal car insurance for the replacement value of the car, which will be less than the price you paid for it new. GAP insurance tops up the shortfall so you can buy new again, or at least pay off the finance. There are three main types of GAP cover: back to invoice pays the difference between the price you paid for the car and the insurance payout; vehicle replacement tops up the settlement figure enough for…

THIS year marks three decades since Volkswagen began its acquisition of Skoda, and it’s fair to say that since then the Czech brand – and its products – have been completely transformed. Although Skoda produced luxury cars in its distant past, before VW the focus was very much on cheap vehicles that weren’t always so cheerful. In 1991 the idea of Skoda offering an upmarket car was unthinkable, but such was the pace of change with VW that within a decade Skoda introduced the original Superb, a stretched saloon based on the Passat platform. It proved so popular that a sequel came in 2008 (with the option of an estate), and an all-new third edition in 2015, also in hatchback or estate forms. History THE third-generation Skoda Superb arrived in…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ELECTRIC racing is everywhere these days: from the city racing of Formula E to the open deserts of Extreme E. But one thing we haven’t seen much of to date is electric cars going head-to-head with their petrol-powered equivalents. That’s about to change in the most dramatic way, with the 2021 British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy set to pit the mighty, flame-spitting Rallycross Supercars against equally powerful zero-emissions opposition. Series boss Pat Doran has cooked up the plan, working with ex-WRC driver Manfred Stohl’s engineering firm Stard, which has developed a 613bhp electric rallycross car with a Ford Fiesta bodyshell. “We thought this would be the perfect championship to race electric against combustion cars,” Doran told Auto Express at the series’ test day. “Stard has a product to…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler • Reborn small hatch combines retro styling with electric drive • Lines up alongside R5 in Renault’s expanded EV range RENAULT’S retro reboot is set to continue with an all-new, all-electric version of the Renault 4, Auto Express can confirm. Pictures of a proposed Renault 4 design have been uncovered on a trademarking website, as well as a new version of the Renault logo featuring the number 4. Our exclusive images show how the trademarked car could look in the metal. Renault chief executive officer Luca De Meo recently confirmed to Auto Express that there would be more retro-inspired models in the forthcoming line-up after the well received launch of the Renault 5 Prototype. “There have been so many products that made history, so it would be a pity…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Drop-top arrives in summer • Prices start from £82,000 BMW has lifted the lid on its new M4 Competition Convertible, just in time for summer. The new addition to its performance car line-up will start production in July this year and deliveries of the car, priced from £81,915, will follow soon after. As the car’s full name suggests, the M4 Competition Convertible M xDrive is only available to order with M-tuned four-wheel drive. It’s powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six engine as the latest M4 Coupé and M3 saloon, producing 503bhp and 650Nm of torque. With launch control and that xDrive system, the 0-62mph sprint takes 3.7 seconds – just 0.2 seconds slower than the xDrive-equipped M4 Competition Coupé. It’s not the only impressive stat either, because the…

Fisker ready to make waves in the UK AMERICAN EV maker Fisker has confirmed that it will launch in the UK in early 2023 with a right-hand-drive version of its new Ocean SUV (above). It will be offered exclusively through a subscription service managed by Onto for the first 12 months of UK availability. The brand plans to supply Onto with up to 700 Ocean SUVs that will be accessed by customers via an all-inclusive monthly payment, although UK pricing is still to be confirmed. Drivers confess their sins behind the wheel EIGHT in 10 drivers admit to having taken risks behind the wheel. A poll of 2,000 motorists by First4Lawyers saw 21 per cent own up to drink-driving, while 17 per cent have taken drugs before getting behind the…

THE Government has “no clear plan” for how it will achieve the proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2035, a new report says. According to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC), concerns about the affordability of EVs, as well as their ranges and charging infrastructure, need addressing for the uptake of electric cars to rise sufficiently. The PAC report warns the Government faces a “huge challenge” if it is to meet the 2035 target announced by Boris Johnson in February last year, and that EVs are too expensive compared with petrol and diesel cars. Charging infrastructure plans have not been “sufficiently thought through”, either, according to the report. The cross-party committee adds that the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • Pretensioners are replaced with fixed anchorage points in a recall affecting 2.2m cars worldwide A VAST global recall is seeing an “important safety component” removed from up to 2.2m Volvos. The firm launched the recall in July 2020 because a steel cable in the front seatbelts may fatigue over time. Affected cars were built from 2006 to 2018, and include the previous-generation XC60, V70, XC70 and S80. Roughly 170,000 UK cars have been impacted by the recall, although no current models are affected. Auto Express has learned, however, that the remedy for this potential defect sees front seatbelt lap pretensioners replaced with fixed anchorage points. This would amount to “the removal of an important safety component”, according to the founder of Euro NCAP, Professor Adrian Hobbs CBE.…

THIS is our best look at Volkswagen’s new Taigo crossover. The compact coupé-SUV has been spied undisguised, giving us a chance to see the near-production-ready model’s proportions and styling details following VW’s initial rendering sketches released earlier this year. The Taigo is based on the same MQB A0 platform as the brand’s T-Cross SUV, but its rear roofline is more flowing and sits 10mm lower, giving a sleeker look. While the Taigo’s face is familiar, the sloping tailgate and full-width light bar at the rear – plus a prominent spoiler – give the car a distinctive design. That will set it apart for some of VW’s boxier, more pragmatic SUVs, but the Taigo will share the T-Cross’s engine line-up. It will launch with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, which is offered…

Tackling the motoring issues that matter TAKE a look at the driveways of the Auto Express staff on any given day, and you’ll see all manner of new cars. We adore the latest models, to the extent where we’ve been known to put our money where our mouths are, and lease or buy our own brand-new motors. But we also grew up in the era when the modern classics you’ll see over these pages were simply ‘modern’ or, if we didn’t, our parents certainly did. Either way, there’s undoubtedly a touch of automotive nostalgia at play in our hearts, and we’re suckers for a modern classic. But the era we’re talking about has more than just nostalgia in its favour: there is a sense among many that automotive design and…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/155mph FOR generations the S-Class has not only been the flagship of the Mercedes range, it has also been at the pinnacle of luxury motoring. No other brands’ offerings have come close to the blend of quality, refinement, comfort and technology – not even models costing considerably more. This latest version promises to show all Mercedes knows about cars in one premium package. And for tech, it’s a tour de force. Step inside and the soft leather is bathed in soft lighting that can be adjusted to your liking; be warned, though – go crazy and it can be a bit like a tacky nightclub. There’s a new 12.8-inch touchscreen with fingerprint recognition. The 12.3-inch driver display is available with 3D tech and it’ll…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk THINK that a classic car might be out of reach, or will be something that’s fragile and in need of regular fettling? Think again. The classifieds are bulging with the kind of cars that most of us will still remember packing new-car showrooms not so many years ago. And to celebrate that, over the next 28 pages, we’ve picked out some of the most appealing models that will make every journey an event, and are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. You don’t need to spend a fortune on one, either: a car that’s waiting in line for bona-fide classic-car status can be on your driveway for less than £1,000. Naturally, for that kind of money, you’ll probably find yourself under the bonnet from time to time,…

50 brilliant used cars to buy and enjoy Renault Clio Renaultsport 172 TYPICAL PRICE: £5,000 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 172bhp Years produced: 2000-2005 Rarity: Maintenance: Investment: IF you want a modern classic hot hatch, the Clio Renaultsport 172 (or the later 182) should be your first port of call. Not only did it sell really well, so there are still plenty around at low prices (although they are no longer the bargain they once were), it also happens to be one of the all-time-great hot hatchbacks. Given that it’s a tiny supermini with a 2.0-litre engine, performance is excellent, but it’s the chassis that’s the star of the show. It’s adjustable, lively and composed on B-roads, and makes a fantastic companion for daily driving, track days and anything in between. BMW…

MODELTESTED: Jaguar F-Pace S D165 MHEV AWD PRICE: £41,880 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl mild-hybrid diesel, 161bhp JAGUAR has always pitched the F-Pace SUV as one of the most driver-focused options in the class, offering buyers a handsome, yet sporty alternative to the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. We’re testing the F-Pace in S trim, one step above entry level, with the D165 diesel engine. Priced from £41,880, our car has the Black Exterior Pack (£650) and a Meridian Sound System (£840). Running costs 39.2mpg (on test) £78 fill-up/£545 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 616/1,740 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/121mph Design & engineering JAGUAR first revealed the F-Pace at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, and it’s been the manufacturer’s best-selling car since it…

LIGHTING BOTH the F-Pace and the XC60 get LED lighting as standard, and both make the most of the tech to create a distinctive road presence, even when it’s dark. The revised F-Pace gets a double ‘J’ lighting signature graphic on each side, while SE models and above feature scrolling indicators. The XC60 uses Volvo’s distinctive ‘Thor’s Hammer’ style, which also flash orange when the indicators are in use. HATCHBACKS STYLE plays a big part in an SUV’s appeal, but it would be pointless if they couldn’t offer the practicality to cope with family life, too. Both the Jaguar and the Volvo manage to provide both in spades. At the back, the F-Pace is fitted with a powered tailgate on all but the most basic trim level, making it that…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 600/1,555 litres PLENTY of test cars come and go at Auto Express. But occasionally a vehicle’s stay with us adds up to something more than just its qualities. It’s about timing, too. And that’s why you see not one but two Skoda Octavias in the main image here. Let me explain. Auto Express’s 2020 Car of the Year turned up on my driveway last autumn – right in the middle of the decision-making process for our next family lease car. It quickly worked its way onto the shortlist, thanks to typical Octavia qualities: huge amounts of space, clever in-car tech and, in our car’s 1.5-litre petrol form, excellent fuel economy (easily north of 50mpg on long journeys). Within a few weeks of its arrival,…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Where do I get cheap drivers? YOU recently recommended the Sealey AK64905 multibit screwdriver set (Issue 1,674). The price quoted was £21.12, but the Sealey website wants £41.94. Where did you get your price? Paul Carter, E-mail A OUR figure came from www.sitebox.ltd.uk, although it has gone up a little since the test. Manufacturer/distributor sites tend to use list prices, which often bear little resemblance to deals that can be found elsewhere. Even in their press releases some tool companies urge shopping around to get the best prices. Q Best way to clean up my act I HAVE difficulty cleaning the black inserts and inner rims of my BMW M Sport alloys, which always appear greasy. I use Autoglym shampoo, but is there any other…

WHEN we tested boot protectors in Issue 1,665, Skoda only had a design in its accessories range for the five-seat Kodiaq. Now, it has added a protector for the sevenseat model, so we were keen to see how it would fare against the floor protection category winner, the CarBox Form S. We repeated our multitest criteria by checking fit with the third row of seats down, knock protection by repeatedly dropping a hammer from a metre, plus ease of fitting and removal. Spill protection was also assessed, and we factored in price. As we saw previously, Skoda has gone its own way with its design, which provides limited coverage but excellent knock protection thanks to its thick material. If you put heavy kit in the boot this works well, but…

AMERICA is down, but it’s certainly not out. Last year the US produced almost nine million of the world’s 78 million cars and commercial vehicles, making it the global No.2 behind China, but ahead of the likes of Japan, Germany and South Korea. So who’s the newest, unlikeliest leader of that still-healthy American portion of the automotive world? Sorry Elon Musk (49) of Tesla, Mary Barra (59) of GM, and Bill Jr. (64) of Ford, but it’s an old bloke called Joe (78) of The White House. You’ve got it – this son of a car dealer, Joe Biden, is not only the President of America, he also decided last week to effectively step up and take over as the country’s most important, influential and wealthy (thanks to his Government’s…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods • Project hints at potential performance version of electric ID.3 • Concept has 329bhp, an 82kWh battery and four-wheel drive VOLKSWAGEN brand chief executive officer Ralf Brandstätter has revealed a surprise new concept car, called ID.X. It’s the closest indication yet that the German brand is weighing up a high-performance version of its ID.3 all-electric family hatchback. Brandstätter says that the ID.X isn’t a direct representation of an upcoming production vehicle, but that the firm will “take up many ideas” from the project, undertaken to prove the versatility of the MEB electric-car platform that underpins all of VW’s ID. models. In the handful of images personally revealed by Brandstätter, the ID.X clearly shows far sportier styling than the regular ID.3. A theme of fluorescent green accents contrasting with the…

EUROPE’S most powerful EV charging hub is being built in Oxford. It will open in the final quarter of 2021, with 38 fast and rapid public charge points set to be available. The Pivot Power ‘Energy Superhub’ at Redbridge Park & Ride will deliver up to 10MW of power, and is the first of 40 planned sites. There will be 10 Fastned 300kW chargers, which can charge 14 EVs at once and add 300 miles of range in 20 minutes, vehicle tech permitting. A dozen 250kW Tesla Superchargers and 16 Wenea points for 7-22kW charging will also be installed. The £41million hub will run on renewable energy, and be connected directly to the high-voltage national grid, so it won’t put a strain on local supplies.…

NEW premium brand Genesis has revealed pricing for its first models to go on sale in Europe. The G80 executive saloon will start from £37,460, while the GV80 large SUV is priced from 56,815. The Mercedes E-Class-rivalling G80 will be available in Premium Line and Luxury Line trims, with either a 207bhp 2.2 diesel or a 305bhp 2.5 turbo petrol. The GV80 also comes with this latter engine, or a 278bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel, and is available with either five or seven seats. Both cars will go on sale in the UK later this summer.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: Jack MoRudy THIS picture certainly looks awesome, but we’ve seen how much concepts change when they become production models. This design seems so styling-focused I feel as though it would have to change beyond recognition. FROM: Steve R I FEEL as though the manufacturers who are looking back to their classic designs for inspiration are coming out with more appealing new cars than those that are trying to be radical and different. This is much nicer than some large-grilled SUV. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “I wonder if this would be badged as an Opel or as a Vauxhall if it went on sale in the UK.”Oliver Gardener “I think cars like this could quickly dispel any doubts around the appeal of electric cars.”Laurence H “I personally…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Electric motor Power/range 116bhp/200 miles “The 500 handles neatly and feels nippy. The suspension is reasonably soft, so for the most part it’s comfortable” FIAT first rebooted its iconic 500 city car back in 2007, which proved a very successful exercise in retro style over cutting-edge substance. But this latest model has undergone a significant transformation to address that, because this all-new 500 is all-electric. From the outside nothing really gives away the revolution under the skin. That familiar silhouette remains, but gains sharp details; the way the semaphore-style side repeaters blend into the car’s beltline is particularly neat. In a class where style matters so much, the 500 hits the ground running. That appeal carries on inside. As with the fifties original and 2007 rebirth, a body-coloured…

ean_carson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.4 seconds/155mph WITH so many different performance Golfs launching in 2021 – the more-focused Clubsport and the all-wheel-drive R crowning the range – it’s easy to overlook the basic GTI, especially with a manual gearbox because its more powerful siblings now only come with dual-clutch transmissions. But that is exactly what we have here, and as a regular GTI leaving you to do the shifts for yourself, it’s all the better for it. Partly this is because the lowest rung of the petrol-powered performance Golf ladder is priced from £33,525 in manual form, making it the most affordable model. It’s also because the GTI ‘only’ boasts 242bhp, which isn’t all that much in the hot hatchback world these days, so the process of shifting ratios yourself…

50 brilliant used cars to buy and enjoy Lotus Elise TYPICAL PRICE: £19,000 Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl, up to 217bhp Years produced: 2001-2011 Rarity: Maintenance: Investment: LOTUS ended production of the Elise this year, but never fear – there’s a plentiful supply of second-hand models, especially the Series 2. This version has a wide range of configurations, from early Rover K-Series-engined models to the later Toyota-powered versions that are more powerful and reliable. Values are rock-solid and the Elise is one of the most exciting driver’s cars ever built, with ultra-low weight, huge performance and near-perfect steering and control weights. It’s one for track days and Sunday drives rather than everyday use, but as a pure driver’s car, very little comes close. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X TYPICAL PRICE: £20,000 Engine: 2.0-litre…

MODELTESTED: Volvo XC60 B4 AWD R-Design PRICE: £45,295 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl mild-hybrid diesel, 194bhp THE Volvo XC60 has long ranked as one of our favourite mid-size SUVs. Indeed, we named the Mk2 version our Premium SUV of the Year in the 2017 Auto Express New Car Awards, and continue to rate it highly. The B4 mild-hybrid R-Design model we tested costs £45,295. Among the £7,475-worth of options fitted were the Driver Assist pack (£1,500), a Harman Kardon hi-fi (part of the £850 Tech pack) and wireless smartphone charging (£225). Running costs 38.8mpg (on test) £92 fill-up/£545 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 483/1,410 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/112mph Design & engineering SINCE scooping our award four years ago, Volvo hasn’t stood still. Since then, the XC60 range has…

Audi Q5 Sport 40 TDI quattro S tronic PRICE: £43,765 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel, 201bhp JUST like the Jaguar, the Audi Q5 has undergone a facelift very recently, with styling tweaks, improved in-car tech and mild-hybrid powertrains. It’s a very relaxing, practical SUV; in entry-level Sport trim, it’s surprisingly good value for money, too. BMW X3 xDrive20d SE PRICE: £43,070 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel, 187bhp THE BMW X3 is a great all-round SUV. Its roomy cabin is flawlessly built, and its infotainment is the only set-up on par with Jag’s new tech. It’s not quite as sporty to drive as the F-Pace, but it’s comfy and stable, while its engine and gearbox are better.…

Humber Cars: The Post-War Years Stephen Lewis (Amberley, www.amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: AMBERLEY’S production proves small, low-priced paperbacks don’t need to be printed on loo roll, and the high-quality paper means the images look great. The rest of the book isn’t half bad either, covering a lesser-known and long-dead maker in really nice detail. A niche title, perhaps, but a good one. Morgan 4/4 Essential Buyer’s Guide Phil Benfield (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 Rating: FEW buying guides can cover a single car over a 50-year span, and to do so in such a compact book is a big ask. But because Morgan didn’t change too much over the years, it’s accomplished reasonably well here. These guides are written by an expert with real ownership experience, and they’re a good…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Is Volvo planning on making a replacement for the V40? I WOULD like to buy a new Volvo and wonder if a replacement V40 will soon be launched? I remember reading about it being a possibility in Auto Express some time ago. Bernard Botten, E-mail A WE first reported on a possible replacement for the now-discontinued V40 last summer, when our sources indicated the firm was working on a “pseudo-SUV” to fill the long-running hatch’s shoes. Since then, Volvo has announced the electric C40 Recharge, which is essentially a coupé-SUV version of the XC40. It is likely this model is a replacement for the V40, which we understand has no direct successor. A smaller SUV, possibly called XC20, is also planned. Q Feeling sapped…