Innholdsfortegnelse for 1690 i Auto Express

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods MORGAN has revealed a new version of the Plus Four that’s designed to take on the trailblazing Ariel Nomad. It’s called the Plus Four CX-T, and the company says it is intended to pay homage to owners who use their Plus Fours in all-terrain time trials. Just eight Plus Four CX-Ts will be made, each costing from £170,000 before local taxes are applied. In the UK, that means an on-the-road price of around £204,000. The engine is the same as that in the standard Plus Four, a 2.0-litre turbocharged BMW petrol unit developing 255bhp, and sending its power to a six-speed manual gearbox. The CX-T is still rear-wheel drive, but has a BMW xDrive differential at the back that has three settings. Road leaves the differential fully open,…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: Jeff C INTERESTING move from Volkswagen. These coupé-SUVs have suddenly become very popular with premium brands like Porsche, but will it work with something based on a Polo? I personally don’t think so, but VW must know something I don’t. FROM: Chris Isaac WHAT exactly is the point of this? Isn’t the T-Cross already Volkswagen’s small SUV? I think the firm would be better off making this into some sort of estate, then at least it would appeal on its practicality rather than just being another SUV. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Exterior looks good, but the cheap plastics and dull dashboard inside are a letdown.” Paul…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 48.0mpg (est) £68 fill-up THE second-generation Kia Ceed really helped to put the Korean brand on the mainstream map in Europe. Along with the Sportage launched in 2010, it changed consumer perceptions of Kia. It’s fair to say that the third generation didn’t have quite as big an impact, but in a bid to keep it on fighting terms with the best hatchbacks on sale, Kia has now facelifted its family favourite. The first thing you’ll notice is the revised front-end styling that’s crisper and features Kia’s new logo – part of its push further upmarket as a more premium brand. There’s now greater difference between trim levels, with our GT-Line test model featuring some sportier touches, LED headlights and diamond-cut 17-inch alloys. There’s also more chrome…

Running costs 49.6mpg (official) £69 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/127mph MAZDA is a manufacturer that likes to do things differently, so while virtually all of its rivals have turned to turbocharging, the firm’s naturally aspirated Skyactiv X engine shuns it. Instead, it uses clever compression-controlled spark ignition to combine some of the best aspects of a diesel engine with all the advantages of a high-revving petrol. The tech was introduced back in 2019 in the 3 family hatchback, and now the brand’s engineers have added a mild-hybrid system to the 2.0-litre Skyactiv X. It gets a new name, too – e-Skyactiv X – and is now offered in the CX-30 crossover. The addition of a starter generator, modified pistons, revised intake valve timing and a lower compression ratio has…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Running costs 26.8mpg (on test) £89 fill-up, £490 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (front/rear) 150/270 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/182mph LET’S be straight about this, buying and running a car like the Porsche 718 Cayman 4.0 GTS isn’t ever going to be cheap. It is a lovely car to look at and drive every day, but financially and practically it is a pure indulgence; a luxury that only the very hard-working or the fortunate few can afford. As standard it costs £65,390, but then add a few options, such as the Python Green paint (£1,658) and a pair of intelligent – but also excellent – LED headlights (£1,397), and you’re soon looking at well over 70 grand. As tested, “our” Cayman GTS costs £74,343, which can be viewed…

Stephenson designs call for colouring in FRANK Stephenson has launched an official colouring book, featuring some of the greatest designs from his career. The 44 pages include cars such as the Ferrari F430, Maserati MC12 and McLaren P1, ready for young (or old) hands to start applying colour. Those who are particularly proud of their work can even share it on Instagram using #FrankStephensonChallenge for a chance to be featured on the designer’s YouTube channel. The book can be purchased from Amazon for £7.26 – just search “Official Frank Stephenson Colouring Book”. Haynes goes digital with Autofix guides ICONIC manual publisher Haynes has launched its new all-digital product. Haynes Autofix claims to cover nine out of 10 cars, and includes an interactive fault finder, DIY tutorials, videos, technical drawings and…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler HONDA UK boss Jean-Marc Streng has confirmed that the brand will introduce a second all-electric model within the next two years, joining the Honda e city car. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Streng said, “We are going to bring a new model of BEV in 2023 – that’s the next step, which will help us to have a wider offer.” Although Streng wouldn’t be drawn on any more details on the new model, he did say, “It’s going to be an offer in the right segment, which will achieve more sales.” Auto Express understands it is likely to be a crossover, similar to the Honda SUV e:concept revealed at last year’s Beijing Motor Show. Our exclusive images show how the new car could look, with slim LED lights…

EXPECT another special project from Morgan in 2021. The firm has confirmed the Plus 8 GTR will be revealed later this year, with production limited to nine units. It will be a polar opposite to the new Plus Four CX-T, arriving as a track-bred V8-powered Plus 8 inspired by the British brand’s racers from the nineties. The Plus 8 went out of production in 2018, but the chassis that will sit beneath the nine GTR models aren’t newly built. Morgan has reacquired them from a private owner, and intends to build the ultimate Plus 8 on them, using a mixture of mechanicals faithful to the new-edition Plus 8 that was built between 2012 and 2018. Power comes from a BMW V8, the same N62 4.8-litre naturally aspirated unit used in…

Hugo_Griffiths@autovia.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy has fallen to a five-year low of £430, dropping by £38 since the start of the year, and now resting at the lowest point since the first quarter of 2016. The data comes from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which attributes the reduction to savings made by the industry due to the coronavirus pandemic. In April last year, when the first lockdown was in place, the number of vehicles on the road fell by 73 per cent, reaching levels not seen since 1955. That, in turn, saw the number of collisions plummet, saving the insurance industry an estimated £1.2billion in payouts between April and June 2020. Coming from the ABI means that unlike some car-insurance-cost stories, which may…

Special-edition Clio is going for bronze RENAULT has launched its first special edition of the fifth-generation Clio. Only 300 Lutecia Limited Editions (above) will be available, with prices from £20,200. Deliveries start in September. Diamond Black metallic paint and bronze exterior detailing feature, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels that are also finished in bronze. The Lutecia is based on S Edition, but includes a larger 9.3-inch touchscreen with a reversing camera as standard. Only one engine is available – the 89bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged TCe 90 unit – which sends drive to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Chips and pings stymie new-car sales A GLOBAL shortage of semiconductors is continuing to impact UK new-car sales, with July’s market down 29.5 per cent, thanks to both a lack…

CITROEN has revised the Berlingo MPV for 2021, adding a 10-inch digital gauge cluster on the two most expensive models and simplifying the trim structure. The mid-range Flair variant has been dropped from the range, cutting the MPV’s number of trim levels to three. Prices start from £22,135 for the Berlingo Feel, which comes as standard with steel wheels, air-conditioning and an eight-inch touchscreen. Mid-range Rip Curl models start from £26,695 and get 16-inch alloys, climate control and a reversing camera. The flagship Flair XTR costs from £27,300 and comes with 17-inch alloys, orange foglamp surrounds and lime green seats.…

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

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Electric motor Power/range 221bhp/273 miles Charging 125kW DC 10 to 80% in 35 mins POLESTAR’S second model – logically named the 2 – launched to great fanfare last year, providing a genuinely viable EV alternative to the Tesla Model 3. Its handling, quality and technology hit the mark straight away, with a very ‘now’ approach to car building, including features such as a vegan interior. Thus far, the Polestar 2 line-up has only contained a single car. Now, however, the fledgling brand has expanded the range by introducing two more models. The 2 now comes in Single Motor form, and as a Standard Range car (driven here) with a smaller battery than the launch model. Priced from £39,900, this is the most affordable Polestar yet, and with a Benefit-in-Kind…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk IS IT TIME TO GO ELECTRIC? AS a company car, an electric vehicle used not to be an obvious choice. More limited range didn’t always help, but now electric cars have become more viable – offering greater ranges on a full charge in all sectors of the market, plus faster recharging – they have become a feasible proposition. This has coincided with a reduction in annual mileage over the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning an EV could now be the right choice for you. Factor in that any car that’s rated at 0g/km CO2 (which is every EV on sale today) will only attract a one per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax rate, and it makes some premium machines incredibly affordable, given the kit and quality on offer.…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Running costs 37.3mpg (on test) £94 fill-up/£275 tax Practicality Load capacity 6.0 cubic metres ACCORDING to some fella from the West Midlands, all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. As it turns out, the cargo bay of our Ford Transit Custom PHEV is one of the more appealing stages on offer. My son Rhys is a bit of a show-off, and is eager to put on a song and dance at the slightest provocation, including whenever I open up the van. I think it has something to do with the lighting inside. Ford has seen fit to deck out the Transit Custom’s six-cubic-metre cargo space with four super-bright LED light units, so the area is always well illuminated. Like a moth drawn…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q I want perfect combination I NEED a trickle charger for a car that I don’t use very often, but would also like a unit that could jump start a car. What can you recommend? Michael Slack, E-mail A WE know of no combined units, but one solution would be CTEK’s new CS Free (above), which can be used as a conventional charger and has an adaptive maintenance mode. Away from the mains it can also revive a flat battery – and in under 15 minutes, our tests showed. Q Should I fit all-season tyres? ARE summer tyres suitable for use all year in the UK, and should they be standard-fit on my SEAT Motability car? SEAT and Motability think I should pay for wheels and…

Mini test IF your workshop or garage lacks mains power, you’ll need battery-powered lighting, not just for under the bonnet, but also for the general space. There are several solutions adapting inspection-light technology, but Ring’s MAGflex Utility takes a new approach, and we’ve managed to secure a sample to see how it performs. We put it up against the Philips PJH10, which has been a front runner in previous tests for garage (rather than car) illumination. We checked light output, beam spread, and runtime, plus what you get for your money. Mounting and charging options were checked, as well as how easy each light was to use. For lighting big spaces, the Ring is now our choice. The mounting options work with or without the magnets, and this all comes…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11 seconds/105mph Running costs 53-74mpg (1.8 Hybrid) £53 fill-up CO2/tax 86-120g/km Free-£145 TOYOTA is a fascinating company with a fascinating history. Founded in 1937, it was one of the first Japanese car makers to sell its wares in the UK, arriving here in 1965. Toyota has sold more than three million cars here since then, and started building models in Derbyshire in 1992. Now one of the world’s biggest car makers, vying for supremacy with the Volkswagen Group, Toyota has built a massive following largely because of its peerless reputation for exceptional reliability, and therefore terrific ease of ownership. Stand-out design and driving pleasure have been less evident until recently, but these are no longer forgotten; and the C-HR is the evidence of that, with its distinctive…

FORMULA E heads to Berlin’s Tempelhof airport this weekend for another doubleheader that will decide the outcome of the electric championship’s 2020-21 season. Last year, the series was forced to run six back-to-back races in Berlin in order to complete its calendar in the face of Covid restrictions. This season has had a more normal spread of events, including a long-awaited return to London for last month’s double-header in the ExCeL centre. Mercedes EQ’s young Dutch ace Nyck de Vries leads the drivers’ championship on 95 points going into the weekend, with Envision Virgin Racing’s Robin Frijns and Jaguar’s Sam Bird lying second and third. With nearly 60 points up for grabs across the two Berlin sprint races, all of the top 18 drivers in the standings are in with…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods AS confirmed to us by Honda UK MD Jean-Marc Streng, the brand is busy with the development of the next Civic Type R hot hatchback. What’s more, performance car enthusiasts can breathe a little easier about the model’s future, because Streng sees the continuation of the hot Civic not as an obligation, but as a vital part of the company’s business. “Type R is still relevant,” said Streng. “So we will bring Type R on the new design – I think that it makes the brand unique. I’m glad that Type R stays, because it helps us tremendously – it has a good impact in bringing in new customers.” Streng told us nothing about the new car, but it has been spied previously, and we’ve previewed it in…

Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • New looks and tech added • Range remains at 286 miles BMW has given the all-electric iX3 SUV an early facelift to keep it in line with the recently refreshed X3 line-up. Styling tweaks include a new front bumper, which BMW says shares elements of its design with its latest electric vehicles, the iX SUV and i4 saloon. The iX3’s kidney grilles are also slightly larger than before and feature new mesh-style inserts. Reshaped adaptive LED headlights have been added, too, while the M Sport styling package is now standard across the range. This adds a lower front splitter and some new air vents on the front wings. Inside, the revised iX3 has sports seats plus upgraded infotainment with a larger 12.3-inch screen. The centre console has…

Driving instructors ramp up prices A LARGE proportion of driving instructors have increased the amount that they charge for lessons, according to a survey of 4,000 instructors. The research, from Marmalade, a company that sells car insurance geared towards younger drivers, found that 40 per cent of those polled had increased lesson costs, with the mean increase being nine per cent, making an average lesson £31.15 Instructors have reported a 227 per cent rise in enquiries since the start of 2020. This could be linked to a reluctance to take public transport, plus learners keeping their skills honed as they wait for a driving test slot. Some 30 per cent of instructors said they had reduced the number of lessons they taught, while a further 29 per cent said they…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk THIS is the Audi skysphere concept, an all-electric luxury roadster that’s a preview of the firm’s next-gen design ethos. The skysphere is fairly distinctive in that it’s designed around the concept of giving its occupants two different experiences, helped by its variable-wheelbase set-up. Its first driving mode is called ‘Grand Touring’. In this setting the steering wheel and pedals retract, and the skysphere drives autonomously using its Level 4 tech. The second mode,‘Sports’, sees the steering wheel and pedals returned to their conventional position, and the skysphere’s wheelbase shrink by 250mm. The ride height also drops by 10mm, while the 55-inch infotainment screen splits, with half of the display focused more on the driver. The skysphere isn’t based on an Audi production car platform. However, it does feature adaptive…

SEAT has tweaked the specifications for the Ateca and Tarraco SUVs. The Ateca SE and SE Technology now get a leather steering wheel, while the top XPERIENCE Lux model gains pre-crash assist, which prepares the car for an accident by tensioning the seatbelts, closing any open windows and applying the brakes. The Tarraco also gets adaptive cruise control and a telematics system, which owners use via a smartphone app. Prices start from £24,560 for the Ateca and £30,080 for the Tarraco.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 48.7mpg (official) £68 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.8 seconds/127mph RENAULT has announced an offensive in the C-segment – taking the fight to cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Nissan Qashqai. And the first model in the French firm’s new push is this: the Arkana. To all intents and purposes, the car is a family SUV like the Renault Kadjar, but it adopts a more aggressive roofline – to the point where Renault is calling it a coupé-SUV to rival the Toyota C-HR. There’s already an Arkana sold in Russia, but the version we’re being offered in the UK is 95 per cent different mechanically, and built in a different factory, in South Korea. The European Arkana is based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-B platform. That’s the…

6 ISSUES FOR £1 Then if you continue to subscribe after your trial you pay from just £26.99 every three months (saving you 43%). 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 bottle STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner worth £14.99. YOUR FREE GIFT Subscribe to Auto Express today and get a free STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner worth £14.99. STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner-Petrol is designed to clean and protect the…

NEW PRODUCT NIU KQi3 electric scooter Price: £599 (early bird £339) Contact: niu.com PRIVATELY owned electric scooters are still illegal on public roads, but that hasn’t stopped makers bringing their models to the UK, and the latest is NIU with its KQi3. NIU says it spent a long time evaluating the scooter market before coming up with this KQi3 design, which aims to top rivals when it comes to stability and comfort. It claims to be the ultimate commuter scooter. For stability, the handlebars are wider than usual at 54cm, giving greater control and a more natural hand placement for the rider. There’s also a wider (17cm) deck for improved comfort and control when cornering. Five-by-2.5-inch pneumatic tyres are also included in the package. The scooter is driven by a 48V…

Sam’s Scrapbook Sam Posey with John Posey (Evro Publishing, evropublishing.com) Price: £30 Rating: AUTHOR Sam Posey has raced in Nascar, Can-Am, IndyCar and Formula 5000, to name just some, so he has plenty of interesting stories to tell. The scrapbook format presents them in a fun way that’s a little less dry than many motoring autobiographies we’ve been treated to. Engaging and amusing, it’s packed with interesting trivia, and all the items that stretch beyond just photographs are reproduced faithfully. Another Fine Mess – Across the USA in a Ford Model T Tim Moore (Yellow Jersey Press, penguin.co.uk) Price: £9.99 Rating: WRITTEN during Donald Trump’s presidency and taking in only Republican states, this travel diary across the US uses a Model T to great effect. If you want pure motoring…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Can I reject used model for repairs I’ve just discovered? I BOUGHT a used car from a dealer in late February and have since noticed it has had major bodywork and paint repairs along its right-hand side. Can I reject the car? Name supplied, E-mail A THE Consumer Rights Act (CRA) sets out the dealer’s legal obligations. Depending on the cost and age of the car (which are taken into account when the CRA is applied), you may be able to argue it is not “of satisfactory quality”. Depending on the wording of any advert you saw, (eg ‘perfect condition’) you might also be able to argue the it is not “as described”. Note that the CRA has a six-month rule stating that before…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk “Neuville will enjoy massive home support in Belgium and sees himself as favourite for the win” • Toyota leading both title races • Neuville banks on experience THE Ypres Rally in Belgium runs as part of the World Rally Championship for the first time in its long history this weekend. The famous tarmac event came within weeks of featuring on the modified 2020 WRC calendar, but had to be cancelled at short notice due to the rising number of Covid cases in Belgium last November. Coming into the event, Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier has a 37-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings over his Welsh team-mate Elfyn Evans, with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville in third, a further 15 points in arrears. Rally Estonia winner Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota) lies fourth,…

THE biggest car, motoring, transport and tech event on the planet next week? It could have been the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), which I’ve attended countless times and always think of as America’s great exhibition, its ‘national’ event. But for a mix of Delta Variant and other reasons, the NYC show has been cruelly cancelled at the last minute. It’ll be 2022 at the earliest before the globally important event bounces back. So, I exaggerate not when I say Britain will step up to become the centre of the car world between 19-22 August. And for that we can thank the reborn British Motor Show, which has been years, and I mean many, frustrating years, in the planning and execution stage. I, as a diehard believer in and…