Innholdsfortegnelse for 1698 i Auto Express

CEO, Polestar Q What impact will the new corporate structure and public offering have on Polestar? A “It is a very important step for the company growing up externally and internally, to make people understand that this is a company that is striving for independence, and independence financially as well.” Q But you can still rely on Geely Group? A “This is one of the advantages Polestar has compared with start-up competitors: having access to basic platforms, services and the manufacturing footprint, which is crucial for our business model. It would be a waste of our energy to try to do everything.” Q Can you use a Geely platform for a car smaller than the Polestar 2? A “You can but at this moment in time we cannot see that.…

“OUR research identified that by 2035, up to 1.35million disabled people will be wholly or partially reliant on public charging infrastructure, but that it has not been designed with their needs in mind,” said Catherine Marris, Head of Innovation at Motability. “As the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars approaches, it is imperative that disabled people aren’t left behind in the race to install the UK’s charging infrastructure. Work to secure accessibility standards is vital as the rapidly expanding chargepoint market means that many operators may lock in designs and infrastructure for many years without considering accessibility for disabled users.”…

ASTON Martin is preparing a higher-performance SUV, possibly using V12 power and badged DBX S, and our spies have captured it in the hands of the brand’s engineers. A sportier front end, wider in appearance and with additional air vents, plus a new quad-exit exhaust system, hint at the uprated power and performance of this DBX prototype. Reports from our spies suggest that the exhaust note of the DBX S matched that of Aston’s V12-powered coupés. As a rival to the likes of the 631bhp Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and 626bhp Bentley Bentayga Speed, a V12 would provide the necessary firepower. However, the 542bhp 4.0-litre V8 of the standard DBX can also be upgraded.…

NISSAN has unveiled its new van line-up, with the all-new Townstar model (above right) joining the range. It’s available in 128bhp 1.3-litre petrol form, or as a 120bhp EV with a 44kWh battery for a claimed range of 177 miles. It’s joined by the Primastar and Interstar, updated versions of Nissan’s medium-sized NV300 and large NV400 vans. There are styling tweaks for both models, while more safety tech is also available, including a revised 8.0-inch infotainment system on the Primastar. This model will likely use a 2.0-litre diesel engine, but expect an electric alternative to feature in time, too. The larger Interstar model is powered by a 2.3-litre diesel engine, which generates up to 178bhp.…

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 OUR current Car of the Year offers hi-tech looks and kit, and up to 298 miles of range. Find out more in this week’s test (p32). RENAULT ZOE THE best small and affordable EV remains the Renault Zoe, with up to 245 miles possible on a full charge. MG 5 EV A 250-mile range, lots of space and it won’t break the bank. This family estate is priced from just over £25,000. VOLKSWAGEN ID.3 THIS electric Golf alternative provides solid EV family motoring from £30,935, and offers up to 264 miles of range. FORD MUSTANG MACH-E FORD’S all-electric SUV offers a great drive in a practical, stylish body. There’s loads of kit and a long range of up to 379 miles. For information on electric…

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…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale THE Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works headquarters is a vast building, with a warehouse to the rear housing an incredible collection of the two brands’ historical and noteworthy cars. We were given a tour by its curator, business development manager Matthew Bailey. The sheer breadth of the vehicles is staggering. On the one hand, you have SNX 910 – an original Land Rover displayed at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show. This was missing for decades before eventually being found disused in a garden in Solihull in 2016 and then restored to roadworthy condition for the first time since the 1960s. On the other hand, there are the eye-catching orange Jaguar C-X75 stunt doubles, which were used during the filming of the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre. In the…

Running costs 100.9 mpg (off icial) £97 fill-up Electric motor Power/range 86bhp/32 miles Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson HOW do you improve on a winning formula? That’s a question that this facelifted version of the Volvo XC60 has been tasked with answering. For starters there are some conservative styling revisions, comprising a new grille, revised front bumper and some fresh alloy wheel designs. Inside, the XC60 still leads the way for design, with its cool Scandinavian cabin complemented by a new vegan leather-trimmed steering wheel, and an updated 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with improved graphics. However, the biggest change inside is a new Google-powered infotainment suite. Volvo has fully embraced the Android Automotive operating system, and it’s a big improvement over the firm’s old in-house set-up. All of the XC60’s functions are still…

MODELTESTED: BMW iX3 Premier Edition Pro PRICE: £60,945 POWERTRAIN: 74kWh battery/single motor, 282bhp THE iX3 Premier Edition Pro tested here is priced at £60,945. However, this is a pre-facelift model, which existed only briefly. Order an iX3 today and you’ll receive a facelifted car with slightly tweaked styling; the trims available are M Sport and M Sport Pro, which cost £59,730 and £62,730 respectively. Design & engineering BMW slightly mistimed the arrival of the iX3 in the UK, because it went on sale just before a range-wide update. As a result, the car you see here, a pre-facelift model, has almost instantly been replaced with a version that benefits from minor cosmetic upgrades outside (slimmer headlights, revised tail-light graphics and new bumpers) plus a few other minor tweaks. While we…

BMW iX3 iDrive infotainment system Key features: 360-degree parking camera AS we covered earlier in this review, the iX3’s infotainment comes with a caveat, because the revised model features a slight upgrade. While the screen is set to get larger (the 10.25-inch unit here will make way for a 12.3-inch display) and the graphics sharper, few rivals can compete with the German brand’s mix of usability, a logical interface and fast loading speeds. The fact that BMW offers the choice of touchscreen or physical inputs through its iDrive controller is a smart decision. The former is great to use at a standstill – where entering addresses is quick and easy – and the click wheel is great for small tweaks on the move. All three cars here have digital dials.…

NEW PRODUCT Kenwood CAX-AD100 breathalyser Price: £129 Contact: kenwood.eu MAKE sure you’re safe to drive the morning after a night out with this new alcohol tester from electronics giant Kenwood. The CAX-AD100 uses a semiconductor gas sensor to measure alcohol on the breath, and it’s good for 5,000 tests or a year’s use. The sensor is heated so you can get a quick reading, plus it removes impurities from the surface, and an indicator illuminates when the sensor needs replacing. Breath samples can be provided either through a 4-6mm straw and supplied adaptor, or directly in to the tester. A sliding cover protects the sensor when the CAX-AD100 is not in use. The LCD screen, lights and buttons guide the user through the test, starting with a countdown to when you…

DESPITE sat-nav’s ubiquitous presence nowadays, many motorists prefer a paper map for planning, and there’s lots of choice. We reckon the A3 size is best, because these atlases show lots of detail, plus the surrounding area, and typically have a large scale. But they’re a bit bulkier, and if that’s a problem, an A4 version might be better. After a while away, the AA has relaunched its atlas range, updated for 2022. Titles include atlases for Britain and France, Easy Read editions, and hardback options. Sizes run from A5 up to A3, but we tested the spiral-bound AA Big Easy Read Britain 2022 against our current champ from A-Z. We did our usual accuracy check, awarding points for approach roads, town maps, air/sea ports etc, and for showing the London…

• New generation of engines set to be Audi’s ‘best ever’ • Full-EV version possible later in the car’s lifecycle John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy AUDI has stated that it will become an all-electric manufacturer by the end of this decade – but in the meantime the company is planning a last hurrah for combustion engines on a new, potentially final version of its A4 compact executive. Expected to arrive in 2023, the next A4 will stay on the same MLB platform as the current generation. But while it will feature increased electrification, including mild and plug-in hybrids, it will still be based on a new generation of petrol and diesel engines, described by Audi’s head of technical development, Oliver Hoffman, as “the best we have ever launched”. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express,…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk ACCORDING to the UK Equality Act 2010, it’s illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Why then, do so many companies and organisations involved in the installation of new EV infrastructure seem oblivious to that responsibility? Whether you look at facilities provided by national charging networks, retailers, car park providers or local authorities, the picture is the same. There’s been a systematic failure to anticipate disabled needs when installing charging infrastructure, and there’s no Government regulation as a back-stop to ensure disabled needs are met. We’ve talked to a range of charity and mobility organisations, who all paint a bleak picture of the current state of the EV sector from an accessibility perspective, and point to an urgent need for action so the UK’s 14 million disabled people aren’t…

• New SUV arrives in 2022 • Delivers same off-road ability sean_carson@autovia.co.uk US 4x4 maker Jeep has confirmed that the new Grand Cherokee will be coming to the UK in the second half of 2022, and it’ll arrive with plug-in hybrid power. The UK model will be a five-seater only, but other markets will get a seven-seat option, too. The 4xe powertrain combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a 17kWh battery that feeds a pair of electric motors, helping the hybrid model to retain the car’s off-road capability. The petrol and electric motors produce a combined total of 370bhp and 637Nm of torque, while the brand is targeting an all-electric range of 25 miles from a full charge. The Grand Cherokee 4xe will be…

Fisker conjures up UK centre of engineering ELECTRIC car brand Fisker is setting up a UK engineering base. Fisker Magic Works will be run by former Aston Martin Special Operations boss David King and will focus on low-volume custom projects. The renewed Fisker brand is due to launch its first production-ready model at next month’s Los Angeles Motor Show. The all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV (above) is due to go on sale in 2023. DVLA logs the excuses for lost registrations The DVLA has released a list of bizarre and funny reasons why UK motorists have lost their V5C logbooks. Strange reasons given by drivers included “my parrot destroyed it” and “I wasn’t concentrating and shredded it”. “I left it at a hotel in the Gobi Desert when driving across Asia…

GENESIS has confirmed specifications for its GV60 coupé-SUV, the Korean premium brand’s first bespoke EV. A 77.4kWh battery feeds a 225bhp rear-mounted motor for a claimed range of 280 miles for the RWD model. The AWD car boasts a 215bhp rear motor and a 99bhp unit on the front axle for a total of 314bhp (and 605Nm of torque), while claimed range drops to 248 miles. A performance-focused version with AWD serves up 429bhp (or up to 483bhp for 10 seconds using Boost Mode) for a 4.0-second 0-62mph time. A 10-80 per cent charge takes 18 minutes. Facial recognition and fingerprint-sensing technology can be used to unlock and start the car.…

Revised CX-5 brings fresh spec choices THE facelifted Mazda CX-5 (above) is available to order in the UK now, with prices starting from £27,845. The range is divided into five specifications: SE-L, Newground, Sport, Sport Black and GT Sport. The second, fourth and fifth options are new for the 2022 line-up and, for the first time on the CX-5, each new specification will have model-specific styling tweaks. There are two petrol options: either a 163bhp 2.0-litre unit or a 191bhp 2.5-litre option with four-wheel-drive. Both diesels are based on the same 2.2-litre motor and are offered in either 148bhp or 181bhp outputs. UK car manufacturing drops by 27 per cent CAR production in the UK fell 27 per cent year-on-year in August 2021 as the global semiconductor shortage continued to…

THE Government is consulting on the availability and accessibility of public electric car charging infrastructure, with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) calling for the introduction of four pieces of primary legislation. The first would grant new powers to set a minimum level of charging infrastructure in non-residential car parks, to which landowners must adhere. The DfT suggests one chargepoint per 10 parking spaces would be a potential target, with cable routes for chargers in one in five spaces. This would apply to both new and existing car parks, although the DfT says it would “not have immediate plans” to use the powers; instead it would “continue to monitor the delivery of charging infrastructure”, using the powers only if it was deemed appropriate.…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale THIS year marks the 70th anniversary of the Jaguar C-Type and its victorious debut at the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours. In celebration of this, the team at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works chose the C-Type as its latest continuation model, with a very limited run of “new” examples being built using original methods and materials, and sold to a lucky few customers. We visited JLR Classic Works’ HQ in Coventry to find out how its engineers went about recreating one of the most recognisable and desirable racing cars of all time. Prior to its unveiling, the Jaguar C-Type Continuation had been worked on for two-and-a-half years. Dan Pink, director of JLR Classic Works, couldn’t help but laugh when we pointed out that’s two years longer than it…

Stuart_Milne@autovia.co.uk AS facelifted cars go, the new SEAT Ibiza doesn’t appear to shout too loudly on first impressions. But inside it’s – mostly – all change. The big-selling supermini gains new tech, plus a freshly updated cabin, addressing one of our key criticisms of what otherwise remains an Auto Express favourite. The fifth-generation Ibiza has been on sale since 2017, but the market has moved on, particularly when it comes to interior quality and tech. The remodelled dash is therefore a welcome change; it injects extra flair into the mix, and houses some significantly overhauled technology. All models feature new infotainment plus full smartphone integration, while every version from SE Technology upwards gains a responsive 9.2-inch screen, which displays clear, sharp and vibrant graphics. This new panel is in a…

MODELTESTED: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium 73kWh RWD PRICE: £41,945 POWERTRAIN: 73kWh single motor, 215bhp WE’RE big fans of the Ioniq 5, so much so that we named it our Car of the Year for 2021. That was before we’d sampled the entry-level version you see here, though. The question is, does this single-motor Premium-trim model hold the same level of appeal? It’s priced from £41,945, making it the cheapest car here by some margin. Design & engineering VIEW the Ioniq 5 in pictures and you might assume that it’s a Golf-sized hatchback. However, that’s a clever design trick that highlights the car’s neat proportions; at 4,635mm, it’s longer than the XC40 and only slightly shorter than the iX3. The resulting open feeling inside is suitably luxurious. Even in the black…

1st HYUNDAI GREAT though each of these EVs is, choosing a winner isn’t difficult. The simple fact is that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a significantly cheaper car than either of its rivals here, but judge it on either its superficial or technical strong points, and it really doesn’t feel like the budget option. Badge snobbery aside, it’s really hard to think of a valid reason to choose the premium options over our deserved winner. 2nd VOLVO IT’S a close call between the Volvo and BMW for the runner-up spot, but the XC40 takes it on account of much lower monthly payments than the BMW – especially considering the level of cover that the Volvo’s package provides. It’s only marginally less efficient, despite offering significantly stronger performance, and while it’s…

Time for little ones to play as baby Bond THE Little Car Company is heralding the release of the James Bond film, No Time To Die, with a limited-edition Aston Martin DB5 (above). The two-thirds-scale electric model is fully drivable and comes with a host of gadgets. Controlled via a hidden panel in the passenger door, you’ll find imitation Gatling guns behind the headlights, a digital number plate, and even a smokescreen. The car is limited to just 125 models, so there’ll no doubt be huge demand – despite the £90,000 price tag before local taxes. If you’re interested, visit 007junior.com. Recycling for child seats made simpler SILVER Cross will become the first child car seat manufacturer to offer its customers a recycling service. For safety reasons it’s not recommended to…

Mazda Rotary-engined Cars Marc Cranswick (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £27.50 Rating: MAZDA’S long history with the rotary engine is summed up well here, although it’s a little dry for an extended read. There’s plenty of good colour imagery, which is welcome, especially when it’s of rare models. Comprehensive specification tables make it a useful reference title, too. The Big Book of Car Trivia Simon Heptinstall (Independently Published, amazon.co.uk) Price: £10.99 Rating: YOU can’t really go wrong with a good trivia book, and this from TV researcher Heptinstall is an excellent example. There’s loads that even the most dedicated car nut will find interesting, and plenty more that’s genuinely amusing, with lots of interesting titbits even in the first chapter. It’s ideal for a long journey and excellent to dip in and…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Plate expectations dashed by gap in road tax history I’M selling my car and went on the DVLA website to retain the private plate, but it wouldn’t work because of a gap in my road tax history. Why must I now use a postal application, taking six to 10 weeks? SR, E-mail A THE DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) told us that when it receives an application to retain a private plate, it makes checks against its database to ensure the applicant is entitled to the plate. A gap in the applicant’s vehicle excise duty history means additional checks are required to prevent fraud, so a postal application is needed. The average lead time is currently six weeks. Q Can I accompany a…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ● Losail event on 21 November ● Qatar signs 10-year GP deal FORMULA 1 has finalised the remainder of its 2021 calendar by adding a race at the Losail circuit in Qatar on 21 November. The facility has played host to both the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and MotoGP motorcycle series in the past, but this will be the first time the small Gulf nation has hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix. In addition to this year’s event, Qatar has also signed a 10-year deal to host Grands Prix from 2023, and it’s thought the location will move to a street circuit set around the capital city of Doha when the race returns. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are very pleased to welcome Qatar…

World RX gets 14-car electric grid for 2022 THE FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) has confirmed a shift to electric power for the 2022 season. Seven as-yet-unnamed teams are signed up to each run a pair of zeroe missions 680bhp rallycross supercars developed by Austrian firm Kreisel Electric (pictured above). While retaining the spec drivetrain, teams will be able to run different bodyshells, enabling several brands to be represented. Sutton is supreme as BTCC hits home stretch BRITISH Touring Cars are preparing for the penultimate round of the season, taking place this weekend at Donington Park. Reigning champion Ash Sutton is currently on course to defend his 2020 crown, with a tally of 285 points going into the event in his Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50. Tom Ingram is…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “I’ve no doubt thatlate September marked the worst, most disorderly period for transport in the past half-century or more” I’M ashamed and embarrassed to admit this, but the UK has just had transport meltdown cruelly visited upon it. The ‘system’ is broken, as are the souls of the drivers and passengers frustratingly trying to use it on a regular basis. I’ve no doubt that late September 2021 marked the worst, most disorderly period for transport in the past half-century or more. I’ve never known it to be more difficult, soul-destroying and chaotic to get petrol. Of all the controversial transport matters, ministers and mayhem I reported on during the eighties from the Houses of Parliament to the European Union HQ, nothing I…

BP PULSE: 8,000+ charge points “WE’RE working with the DfT, Motability and others to identify current challenges, and with BSI on chargepoint accessibility standards. We have a number of accessible bays across our network, including at least one accessible bay wherever we deploy ultra-fast chargers on BP forecourts (40 sites and growing) and we’ve set up an accessibility team to focus on these issues.” INSTAVOLT: 600 chargers, plus plans for 5,000 by 2024/5 “WE know as an industry we have to do more to accommodate less able drivers. I often speak to customers directly on these issues and we are engaged with Motability to further understand the challenges that drivers who need accessibility spaces face when trying to charge their car. We know more must be done to make EVs…

• Munich show car gives taste of brand’s 2025 ID.1 and 2 EVs WITH difficult-to-navigate Euro 7 emissions regulations due to arrive in the coming years, cars the size of the Volkswagen T-Cross and Polo are under serious threat of being priced out of reason for the manufacturers who make them. But salvation could be at hand for the small car. More electric vehicles are being produced and enjoying the economies of scale of flexible platforms, while the cost of their batteries is decreasing, too. It means that, by 2025, Volkswagen thinks it will be able to offer you a Polosized electric car on a modified version of the MEB platform, called MEB Entry, for around 20,000 Euros – or about £17,000 at current exchange rates. The ID.Life crossover concept…

CHEVROLET has unveiled its hard-edged, track-honed C8 Corvette Z06, which the brand will reveal in full later this month. The C8 Z06 features a new, more aggressive front bumper than the standard car, which incorporates a pair of ‘fangs’ and three deep air vents. The front wheelarches bulge out with an additional sharp crease, suggesting a significantly wider track for improved circuit performance. The Porsche 911 GT3 rival’s distinctive side vents have been opened up, too. These feed extra air to help cool an all-new midmounted V8 engine, which will replace the standard car’s 495bhp 6.2-litre unit. It’s thought that lurking under a new engine cover is a 5.5-litre turbocharged V8 that could produce up to 700bhp for a sub-3.0-second 0-62mph time. “The front wheelarches bulge out with an extra…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale • Dramatic rise in number of online searches for electric cars • Fuel crisis caused by industry shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers DRIVERS across the UK have been struggling to buy petrol and diesel, as ongoing panic buying and the HGV driver shortage have stopped retailers restocking their fuel supplies in good time. While industry experts and Government authorities alike urge motorists to only buy the amount of petrol or diesel they need, new data indicates interest in electric cars has spiked because of the crisis. EV interest spikes ON Monday 20 September, 21 per cent of visits to car manufacturer websites saw users click on an EV. By Wednesday, this had risen to 31 per cent and remained as high as 28 per cent on Sunday, according…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Citroen Ami FROM: Joseph Lynn AS a safer alternative to an e-scooter or moped that also protects you from the elements, I can see this selling in similar numbers to the Renault Twizy and G-Wiz, although I’d be surprised if it performed any better than that. FROM: Myrfyn Jones IT’S certainly popular with 14-year-olds here in France. Some may deride the 28mph top speed, but it suits the blanket 30km/h (19mph) limit imposed in our town perfectly. The same would go for the 20mph limits in UK cities. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “This only works if you think of it as a quadricycle, not a car. No good outside cities.”Paul Biggs “It’s not small enough to lane filter, so you’d just be stuck in traffic.…

MODEL TESTED: Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pro PRICE: £56,645 POWERTRAIN: 78kWh battery, twin-motor, 402bhp THE XC40 Recharge that we’re testing here is in the top-spec Twin Pro trim. While the range starts from £49,950, the Twin Pro weighs in at £56,700. However, metallic paint, a £585 option on the base car, is offered free of charge here. Design & engineering WHILE a fully electric powertrain is a relatively new arrival to the Volvo line-up, we have seen this technology before. That’s because the electric XC40 – and the new C40 coupé SUV – share their running gear with the Polestar 2. The XC40 Recharge uses the same Compact Modular Architecture and comes with a 78kWh battery. Less potent versions of the XC40 will appear at a later date, but Volvo’s first…

Audi Q4 e-tron Edition 1 50 quattro PRICE: £56,850 POWER: 82kWh/2-motor, 295bhp AUDI’S challenger in this class is closest in philosophy to the Hyundai, because it rides on an EV-only platform. As a result, it’s also spacious inside, and although it isn’t as sharp to drive as the BMW, it starts at a much more affordable price. Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD PRICE: £55k (est) POWER: 75kWh/2-motor, 434bhp IT’S only a matter of time before one of the most hotly anticipated options in this class makes its UK debut. Tech is similar to the Model 3’s, so we expect class-leading performance, infotainment tech and the benefit of Tesla’s brilliant charging network.…

Dawn_Grant@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.0 seconds/107mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 328/1,108 litres Running costs 36.9mpg (on test) £68 fill-up £175 or 29% tax THE world is still emerging from lockdown, so it’s been harder than usual to start putting proper miles on my Dacia Sandero Stepway. But that situation has improved dramatically in recent weeks, thanks to my partner and I getting part-time use of an apartment on the south coast. Suddenly, we have a reason to travel again. The flat is in Southbourne in Dorset, around 100 miles away from our home in Putney. The place needs a bit of work, and our access is conditional on us helping with it, so we’ve had a proper excuse to load up the Sandero with DIY and decorating kit, and start…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Is price right on Best Buy? THE price of the Best Buy Bickerton (above) in your recent folding bike test is £900-£1,000-plus, not £760 as stated in the review. This gives it less of a price advantage over the Brompton. Jim Yule, E-mail A WE’VE also seen those prices online, but we found our figure at Costco, and it was still current at the time of writing. The price includes shipping, but you do need to be a member of Costco. Our prices can’t cover all options for purchases, but online Costco membership is £15 a year. Q Which speed rating on tyre? I AM looking to change all four tyres on my car soon. The original tyres have a Y speed rating. Do I…

NEW PRODUCT AA Big Easy Read Britain 2022 Price: £14.99 Contact: amazon.co.uk Size/scale (mpi): A3/2.5 Rating: THIS atlas has a large scale that gives lots of detail, and as you’d expect from the AA, it’s aimed at tourist drivers. There are two pages of caravan/camping sites, plus one of tourist sites with postcodes for sat-nav, and a list of smart motorways. It marks the congestion charge zone, but gives no information on it. It has just 55 town plans – lower than its rival – but the number of sea-port plans was the highest at 16. Strangely, no airport plans are included and it has just one approach plan (London). We found our small locations, but it missed two of the proposed roads. It’s good to have the AA back, but…