Innholdsfortegnelse for 1708 i Auto Express

AS you’ll see on page 66, the highlight of my 2021 has been being able to spend time in the company of colleagues and industry folk – in person for the first time in a long time (although at the time of writing it seems that may have to take a back seat for a while). We have a car industry that’s very much focused on a bright future, with technology to the fore. And one company in particular that has impressed me is Audi – with more exciting plans revealed on page eight. Talking to Audi CEO Markus Duesmann earlier in the year, he was bold enough to admit that Tesla had a clear lead when it came to technology. His plan was to ensure Audi developed a new…

Years built: 2019-present Engines: 1.2-litre 3cyl turbo petrol, 1.5-litre 4cyl diesel, single e-motor Power: 75bhp-134bhp Price: From £17,015 A CLEAN-sheet design was required for the sixth-generation Corsa, the first to be developed after Vauxhall-Opel’s merger with the PSA Group, and now part of the larger Stellantis corporation. There’s an interesting story to tell, though, because a new Corsa was being developed by previous owner General Motors, but it was scrapped at the 11th hour following the merger. It meant the current Corsa moved to the latest group CMP platform, opening up the ability to install a new range of power units. These included the latest turbocharged petrol and diesel variants plus, crucially, a fully electric drivetrain. What strikes you immediately with the latest Corsa is just how much more modern…

AT the start of the year, we exposed an issue impacting communities all over the UK. In what was marketed as a bid to reduce car usage and increase the number of people walking and cycling, councils spent millions of pounds of taxpayer money on implementing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). The cash came from the Government’s £250million Emergency Active Travel Fund, launched in the wake of the pandemic, which made using public transport difficult. One issue was that work on LTNs had to begin within four weeks of funding being received and finish within eight weeks, meaning councils rushed to complete schemes and often didn’t think about what they were doing in enough detail. The LTNs also generated a huge amount of income for authorities. In one month, Ealing Council…

WHEN Tesla burst onto the electric car scene with the Model S, it looked like the American brand had caught established car makers napping. This trend continued with the Model 3, one of the first relatively affordable electric cars with a range comparable to a petrol car’s. That’s why it was such a big deal when the Ford Mustang Mach-E arrived, because it was a model from a big car maker that, on paper, had what it takes to fight the Model 3. Our first test of the all-electric Mustang took place in March, when we drove the entry-level Mach-E RWD Standard Range. One point to get out of the way first was the name; clearly, the Mustang Mach-E has little to do with the V8-powered rear-wheel-drive coupé that also…

THE new Dacia Sandero impressed us in our initial drives because it was clearly better value for money than virtually anything else the new-car market could offer. Yet we realised that buyers wouldn’t only be looking for a new model, but could also consider a used one – so we set up a special new-vs-used test with the new Dacia and a second-hand Ford Fiesta that we borrowed from a dealer in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. At £12,659, the Ford was slightly more expensive than the £12,305 Sandero, and both used 1.0-litre petrol engines, so it was to be a close competition. The Sandero uses Renault’s latest CMF platform, so it’s a big improvement over the old car, although it’s not as advanced as the version that the new Renault Clio…

THE new car market is rapidly evolving with the launch of many all-new electric models. But there are few more important than the affordable ones – which was why we were excited to test the new Fiat 500 against the MINI Electric and Honda e in June this year. Electric cars are expensive to make and pricey to buy as a result, but the 500 gives hope to those with a lower budget, because it’s one of the most affordable models right now – it has a decent battery and range but at a relatively cheap price. Yet the competition was no pushover – the MINI Electric had been updated for 2021 with some new tech, plus there was a true rival for the Fiat 500 in terms of visual…

DRIVER POWER arrived a little later this year because of global events, but it was worth the wait for the 20th anniversary of our huge customer satisfaction survey. We made the poll even more comprehensive than ever for 2021, with new questions on safety and infotainment, and a new category on value for money. Our rigorous analysis meant that the experiences were representative on a national level based on respondents’ age and gender, and the results were more robust, valuable and detailed than ever. Each year car owners from all over the UK report to us about the cars they’ve recently bought, covering a huge amount of detail – and we have to say a massive thank you to everyone who responded. Once the data is in, there are around…

BEFORE the Munich Motor Show in September, we hadn’t seen a full European expo since 2019, so there was an air of optimism buzzing around the halls, even if it was balanced with caution given the ongoing Covid-19 situation. But the Munich show highlighted the global automotive industry’s agility and resilience, with many new models making their debuts. Renault made a statement on its electric future by showcasing its attractive and tech-packed Mégane E-Tech Electric, one of the first production-ready fruits of the French manufacturer’s ‘Renaulution’ plan, which it unveiled back in January (Page 72). Sister brand Dacia announced it would also turn towards electrification, confirming the value-focused firm’s first electrified model in the form of the Jogger Hybrid, on sale next year. However, the Romanian firm also said it…

EQUAL ACCESS FORALL AFTER being made aware of disabled EV drivers encountering accessibility issues with public chargers, Auto Express launched a new campaign to help raise the profile of a set of problems that could confront any one of us. We kicked off our campaign by tagging along with charity Disabled Motoring UK when they conducted an audit of Brighton & Hove City Council’s public EV chargers. The expedition revealed a variety of issues, such as parking bays that are too small for unloading wheelchairs, obstructed pavements with a lack of dropped kerbs and no provision for appropriate audio-visual signage. A week later, our calls earned the support of environmental campaigner and wheelchair basketball paralympic gold medallist Ade Adepitan. “It’s a great campaign, and Auto Express is to be congratulated…

BIGGER, better and more of them – that’s how we’ve done video in 2021. Across Auto Express, plus sister channels Carbuyer and DrivingElectric, we’ve published more than 200 videos, and generated over 31 million views with almost 1.5 billion hours watched. But which were our personal favourites? Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2022 Head to youtube.com/carbuyer and search for “Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2022” EVERY year our sister title Carbuyer drives hundreds of small cars, sports cars and SUVs – as well as everything in between – with the sole purpose of helping you choose your next vehicle. And every year they reveal their favourites in the annual Carbuyer Best Car Awards. However, for 2022, they wanted to do something different. In anticipation of reaching a mammoth 600,000 subscribers on YouTube,…

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100kph), in seconds. ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles per gallon, emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2 and maximum claimed range for EVs. Figures are achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency. INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers. WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork. EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover. LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and first…

“Ogier will continue part-time in the WRC; he also wants to try winning Le Mans with Toyota” SEBASTIEN Ogier seemed in control of the World Rally Championship for much of 2021 – his last full-time campaign at the sharp end of the sport – but going into the relocated season finale at Monza in Italy, there was still an outside chance his Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans could have snatched it. Earlier wins in Monte Carlo, Croatia, Sardinia and Kenya were the foundation of Ogier’s charge, and he finished with a flourish by taking victory in Monza to sign off on a glittering career. But the Frenchman isn’t finished at the wheel yet: a part-time WRC campaign beckons, alongside a possible shot at Le Mans with Toyota in the coming years.…

RECENTLY retired nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi has tested an Audi R8 GT3 car in Valencia, Spain, as he evaluates a move into sportscar racing for his post-motorcycling career. The 42-year-old Italian took the wheel of an R8 run by Belgian team WRT, sporting his trademark bright yellow ‘46’ graphic, at a private test around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. No deal has been signed yet, with the team stating the test was to “evaluate future collaboration possibilities”. Rossi has raced GT3 machinery before, as a regular participant in the annual Gulf 12 Hours endurance race in Abu Dhabi, in a Ferrari run by Swiss outfit Kessel Racing. At the time of his retirement, Rossi declared his interest in contesting the Le Mans 24 Hours in either the LMP2 or…

• Petrol-electric supermini is a rebadged Yaris • Shortcuts Mazda’s mission to electrify its range AS part of its tie-up with Toyota, Mazda will launch a new, hybrid version of its Mazda 2 supermini next year based on the latest Toyota Yaris Hybrid. The rebadged model helps to advance Mazda’s hybrid and electric vehicle rollout, and it will be the firm’s first full hybrid vehicle. Set to go on sale across Europe and the UK in spring 2022, the Mazda 2 Hybrid is visually identical inside and out to the fourth-generation Yaris, itself launched in 2020. The only significant difference is the Mazda badging on the front and rear, as well as on the steering wheel. The 2 will be built by Toyota but marketed by Mazda, helping the latter…

MERCEDES will move to a new generation of its long-lived E-Class within the next two years, and the first spyshots of the new model have emerged. With only a relatively thin disguise on this prototype, we can see that the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series rival will stick closely to the styling convention of the latest C-Class and S-Class saloons. Also visible are the latter’s pop-out, electrically operated door handles. Expect the interior to have the same design flourishes and portrait-angled touchscreen as its siblings, plus 5G connectivity, rear-wheel steering and Level 3 autonomous driving tech. A range of mild and plug-in hybrid powertrains will also feature.…

Miura P400 MORE than any other, the Miura is the car that defined Lamborghini, and sparked a lineage of breathtaking mid-engined V12 halo cars. It was penned by legendary designer Marcello Gandini, who crafted a supercar that sent tremors all the way to Ferrari’s Maranello HQ in 1966. Powered by a 3.9-litre “Bizzarrini” V12, the Miura was the fastest production car on the planet when released, topping out at 174mph. Countach LP5000 Quattrovalvole THE Miura would always be a difficult act to follow, but the Countach arguably bettered it. Throughout an astonishing 16-year life span, the Countach morphed from a svelte, wedge-shaped supercar into a bewinged monster in LP5000 Quattrovalvole guise. With 449bhp on tap, the QV had more than enough go to match all that show. Diablo 6.0 VT…

Skoda Enyaq to Northern Ireland ISSUE 1,682 MUCH of the past two years has been spent working at home, with journeys restricted to essential trips only. So my highlight of 2021 has to be a proper road trip – and one spent in the company of legendary Auto Express snapper Pete Gibson. The plan was to drive Skoda’s new Enyaq iV in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a single charge. So day one was a long run from Dumfries down to Deeside and then up to Birkenhead to catch the overnight boat to Belfast. We trundled off the ship on that May morning under uncharacteristically sunny skies, and received a warm welcome from staff at the city’s stunning Titanic building. It was the drive after that I’ve kept…

IT’S one of the most important cars in Britain, not just because of its popularity with buyers but also because it’s built here. And the third generation of Nissan’s Qashqai immediately goes to bat in one of the most competitive parts of the market. It was unveiled with the Japanese company’s new e-Power hybrid powertrain, although that won’t arrive in showrooms until 2022. However, the Qashqai showed it had been revamped for the modern age, because the first examples to go on sale would come with a mild-hybrid petrol engine. Nissan told us how the new Qashqai offered more space inside, thanks to some clever packaging from the new platform underneath. Boot space grew to 504 litres – up by 74 litres compared with its predecessor – while the new…

JAY Leno made his name as a TV personality with a chat show in the US, but in more recent years he’s become increasingly known for his collection of cars, vehicles and machines that cover just about every corner of the industry. In March he spoke to us about his collection, electric cars, driving expensive models on the road, and more. We began by asking about his first experiences, and he told us about rebuilding a lawnmower engine as a boy, followed by a restoration of a 1934 Ford as a young man. Then Leno told us a great story about choosing the specification of his father’s Ford Galaxie – complete with the ‘police pursuit package’ – that helped to kick-start an obsession. The American still has a Galaxie just…

“The Fabia isn’t just longer than before, it has a longer wheelbase than the previous car and adds 50 litres of boot space” A NEW Skoda Fabia is always going to be of interest to Auto Express readers – we know you love this popular little car’s practicality and value for money. That’s why the unveiling of the new model was big news in May. The Mk4 Fabia is the last VW Group supermini to switch to the MQB A0 platform, which gives Skoda access to the latest engines and tech found in the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza. The new Fabia is longer than before and has styling that’s more in-line with the rest of the current Skoda range, including a large grille, creased bodywork and Skoda lettering stretched…

“Covid outbreak could have been avoided if DVLA staff were allowed to work from home” THIS summer we reported that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was faced with a “catastrophic” backlog of applications and cases caused by a variety of factors linked to Covid-19, including social-distancing rules and industrial action. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) held strikes this year in response to “unsafe” working conditions, and over 640 members of the DVLA’s 6,000 staff reportedly caught Covid-19. The PCS union said that this could have been avoided if staff were allowed to work from home. Mark Serwotka, head of the PCS, said: “We believe that if the Department of Work and Pensions can deal with three million universal credit claims, if HMRC can deliver the furlough…

WE usually focus on new models in Auto Express, but we always have our eye on the used car market. In August we published our comprehensive guide to buying a second-hand car, with our Used Car Awards featuring picks from every corner of the market to help buyers find an affordable and appealing used model. Our top used city car was the Skoda Citigo, a cheap but fantastic choice, while our supermini winner was the evergreen Ford Fiesta. The best compact family car to choose this year was the Skoda Octavia, we said, while the Skoda Superb Estate was our choice in the estate category – mirroring our new car awards from July. The Vauxhall Insignia was a worthy winner in the family car class, offering a huge amount of…

WE reported on the road-blocking protests organised by campaign group Insulate Britain right from the outset, but the issue really heated up in September. The organisation, which was calling for a taxpayer-funded overhaul of housing insulation in the UK, decided to get its argument across by forming roadblocks; first on the M25 and then on other major roads around the country. Despite the law prohibiting the wilful obstruction of public highways, an apparent hesitancy in taking strong action by police forces – driven by fears of injuring protestors during the process of removing them from the road – and increasing numbers of roadblocks led to Auto Express conducting an in-depth investigation of the issue. After we questioned the Home Office and other organisations about why the problem wasn’t being dealt…

“Performance was lively and the Mégane felt fun to drive without compromising on comfort or refinement” AFTER Renault kicked the year off in style, announcing its big electrification plans (Page 72), we rounded the year out by sampling the new Mégane E-Tech Electric, a pure-electric crossover alternative to its ageing Mégane family hatchback that still lives on (for now) in plug-in hybrid form. We loved the looks, with a slick new design that signifies Renault’s future styling direction and gives the Mégane a more premium appearance than even its inflated list price (due to being an EV) suggests. The design inside matched its exterior, too, with a new OpenR infotainment system combining a 12.3-inch digital dash and a portrait touchscreen in one seamless panel. Even bigger news was that the…

“During its time with Pete, our Puma clocked up close to 30,000 miles” Ford Puma Mileage 29,983 MPG 44.3 Pete Gibson Senior photographer ISSUE 1,688 IT was perhaps the most unlikely shot of the year, but when senior photographer Pete Gibson headed down to Llandow circuit in the Vale of Glamorgan, he couldn’t resist lining up his grey Ford Puma beside a green BMW M3 and a red Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Puma might give away three cylinders and 350bhp to each of the super-saloons, but Pete reckons that on the right road, the Puma can still elicit the same kind of grins from its driver. Pete’s journey from Essex to south Wales was made all the more memorable because it was one of the first road tests he was…

Auto Express Products editor Product Test Team IT’S been another year of disruption for our product-testing team but, thanks to the huge efforts of the companies involved, we were able to continue our programme in the face of supply and travel restrictions. We conducted more tests remotely than we would have liked but, as in so many areas, that has become the new normal as we look at more efficient, environmentally friendly ways of putting products through their paces. Despite the changes, hands-on testing is still at the heart of the programme, and the past 12 months have seen our team try a good number of products that have caught the eye, and we’ve shared them over the following pages. MiRiDER One Issue: 1,698 Price: £1,450 Contact: mirider.co.uk IF you are…

WE’RE not far away from seeing the Audi Q6 e-tron make its full debut in production form. Audi CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed earlier this year that we’ll see the firm’s new electric SUV in 2022 before expected sales in 2023. The Q6 e-tron marks a big step for Audi in terms of how it will develop future cars, as it cuts back on ICE models and focuses on EVs. Duesmann told us that software stacks will take a greater focus, leading areas of development. The PPE platform has been co-developed with Group partner Porsche, and the new architecture will also underpin an all-electric version of the Macan, due in 2022 as well. As these spy shots show, the Q6 e-tron will be a mid-size model with similar overall dimensions to…

IT’S not only registered disabled or blue badge-holders who may be challenged by the physical requirements of charging an electric car. Many drivers are concerned at the need to drag heavy cables across potentially wet or dirty pavements, or fitting unwieldy plugs into sometimes awkward sockets. It’s not just a matter of physical capacity either; some are simply put off by the prospect of cables that may get their hands or clothes dirty. Design agency Duku is at the forefront of attempts to help less able drivers, and others, overcome their obstacles or reservations about charging issues. As well as working on new chargepoints – Duku is behind an “innovative” design that will be deployed at Urban Foresight’s Dundee test bay (left) – it has received Government grants to address…

IMAGES of the upcoming pure-electric BMW 3 Series have been leaked on the Chinese patent office website, ahead of the EV’s intended launch in 2022. It’s unclear at this stage whether an electric 3 Series will be sold globally or just in China, but the car could adopt the i3 name from the brand’s electric hatch, which may not be directly replaced – something that is still to be confirmed. Cosmetic revisions over the standard 3 Series are minimal, with a blanked-off radiator grille and a new bumper, narrow side intakes like those seen on the iX3 SUV, and a new diffuser at the rear. The 3 Series EV also has slightly deeper side skirts to disguise the floor-mounted battery. BMW hasn’t disclosed details on the car’s powertrain, but we…

NEW measures are needed to keep older drivers safe on the road, a report from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) has said. It highlights that drivers over the age of 70 do not statistically pose a significant risk to other road users, but their comparative frailty means they are over-represented in deaths and serious injuries resulting from crashes. An ageing population means a surge in elderly UK licence holders is expected, and the number of drivers aged 70 to 79 killed in car accidents could rise by 40 per cent over the next 20 years. The RSF has set out proposals (right) that it believes would help protect older drivers on the road. Its suggestions have earned the backing of breakdown firm GEM Motoring Assist. A spokesperson added: “Self-reflection needs…

WE took time out from driving Lamborghini’s models to speak to Europe, Middle East and Africa boss Francesco Cresci about what the future holds for the Italian brand. Q: Electrification is on the horizon for Lamborghini. The entire range will be electrified by 2024 and we’ve already seen mild-hybrid vehicles with the Sián and new Countach. Will these new models be plug-in hybrids or self-charging hybrids? A: “At the moment, the project is not finalised. But I can tell you that they won’t be mild-hybrid, and we are going to use the addition of electric power to improve acceleration and to improve driving dynamics. With an electric motor, you can cover torque holes of the combustion engine, making it much more exciting.” Q: With the Urus and Huracán, we see…

THAT WAS 2021 How well do you remember the year? These will test your memory 1 What car was named Auto Express Car of the Year 2021? a. Hyundai Ioniq 5 b. Citroen Ami c. Mercedes C-Class 2 An electric car topped the UK sales charts in September. What was it? a. Kia EV6 b. Volkswagen ID.3 c. Tesla Model 3 3 Former Apple design boss Sir Jonathan Ive confirmed in September that he will work with which brand on new projects? a. Lotus b. Dacia c. Ferrari 4 In October, Volvo announced that it will ditch what material from its cars by 2030? a. Wood b. Leather c. Unobtainium 5 What was the name of the new Lotus unveiled in September? a. Emira b. Elvira c. Emma 6 In August…

RENAULT kicked 2021 off with a bang, taking the automotive industry by storm with a new business plan to go all-electric that the firm dubbed ‘Renaulution’. The crowning glory of the company’s announcement was chief executive officer Luca de Meo standing on stage as the reborn Renault 5 prototype made its debut, rebooting the brand’s iconic small hatch for 2021 as an electric supermini with retro-inspired styling cues. Far from just a pie-in-the-sky concept, though, it was also our first chance to hear about the brand’s new CMF-BEV platform that would underpin future small electric Renaults. At the unveiling, we were told that the R5 Prototype would go into production at a later date – which we now know is 2024. The 5 stole headlines, not least because of its…

JAGUAR and Land Rover have lived through plenty of upheaval and transformation over the years, from new owners to the fallout of financial woes. But the latest master plan announcement in February started what is probably the most radical period of change in either firm’s history. Following the arrival of new boss Thierry Bolloré, Jaguar Land Rover announced grand plans to electrify the two brands, with Jaguar forcing premium rivals to take note as it announced every new car from 2025 onwards will be electric only. It was more than just a headline-grabbing stunt, though, because a new electric Jaguar XJ saloon was scrapped at the 11th hour, with the brand announcing new platforms that will underpin future Jaguars. With the XJ expected to be unveiled in a matter of…

APRIL featured a double-header story covering two new electric Audis: the official reveal of the Q4 e-tron SUV production model and a new concept car called the A6 e-tron. The Q4 e-tron is the first Audi built on the VW Group’s MEB platform, which also underpins the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV. The Audi was launched as a more upmarket choice than those, featuring higher-quality cabin materials and a classy look to match the rest of the Audi range. It sits between the Q3 and Q5 size-wise, which explains the Q4 branding. Despite this, the Q4 e-tron’s interior space was said to be close to that of the largest petrol-powered Audi SUV, the Q7, thanks to the packaging allowed by the MEB platform. Inside, we found out that the…

“The car industry was hit hard because it is a much smaller customer to these firms than smartphone or IT makers” ONE of the biggest and most impactful news stories of 2021 was the shortage of semiconductors – electronic parts that control everything from digital displays to safety systems in cars. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), around 55,000 cars were made in the UK in May this year, compared to 116,035 in May 2019 (in Covid-hit 2020 only 5,314 were made). The crisis is a global one. Supply issues have hit the manufacturers of semiconductors, and the car industry was hit hard because it is a much smaller customer to these firms than smartphone or other IT makers. After all, demand for tech has increased…

THIS year was another challenging one for the car industry, but there was no shortage of exciting new metal for this year’s Auto Express Awards. The city car crown was grabbed by the brilliant new Fiat 500, which is great value. If you need something a little bigger, there’s always our supermini category winner, the Renault Clio. Also great value, the Clio is roomy and comfortable as well. Our family car winner this year was the latest Skoda Octavia for a second time in a row, because it majors on practicality and has loads of tech. Its bigger brother, the Skoda Superb, took the win in our estate car category this year, thanks to its capacious interior and the fact that you get lots of car for your money. Our…

“The Q4 e-tron scored very highly where the Model Y disappointed: build quality and ride comfort” A NEW Tesla is always big news. While the Tesla Model Y made its US debut in mid-2019, it was October 2021 by the time the first examples hit UK shores – and we took the chance to pit it against the talented Audi Q4 e-tron. It wasn’t a shock to discover that, in many ways, the Model Y delivered. After all, it shares a significant proportion of its tech with the Model 3, our 2019 Car of the Year. That means it uses the same 75kWh battery and twin motors as the 3, both of which help to return class-leading performance and efficiency figures. Indeed, its 3.8 mile per kWh figure was comfortably…

THE LA Motor Show was where Hyundai and Kia showed off the new all-electric seven-seat SUV concepts that preview new models in the brands’ respective Ioniq and EV full-electric line-ups. The Hyundai SEVEN was more concept-like, with many elements hinting at the Ioniq 7 production SUV’s styling, including the front Parametric Pixel lights. However, the glass tailgate and lounge-like interior were more forward-thinking design to show what’s possible from future Hyundais, but maybe further ahead than 2024, when the Ioniq 7 will arrive. However, the concept sat on the firm’s E-GMP architecture, which underpins the Ioniq 5 and will form the basis of the Ioniq 6 saloon due in 2023. This reinforced Hyundai’s production intent, and we spoke to the car’s designer, SangYup Lee, who said “I don’t do la-la-land…

NEW PRODUCT Ring dash cameras Prices: From £45 Contact: ringautomotive.com AFTER identifying dash cams as one of the fastest-growing car accessory sectors, Ring has updated its range and linked them to its Connect app. The app first worked with a tyre inflator and allowed users to store and download pressures via their smartphone. This time, the same software links with the cams to review, store and share footage. Kicking off the range is the Smart Dash Cam 2000, which records in 1080p resolution at 30fps through a 120-degree wide-angle lens. As with the other newcomers, it uses a magnetic, adhesive screen mount, and the kit includes a trim-removal tool for installing a power supply. Next up is the similar Smart Dash Cam 3000, which increases resolution to 1296p at 30fps, this…

SUVs make for the perfect Christmas carry-all, whether you’re visiting friends or family, or taking the opportunity to have a break and get away from it all. Over the following pages, you’ll find our top used SUV choices, starting from as little as £5,000. Each of the models featured makes for a superbly practical family holdall, and our picks cover petrol and diesel through to all-electric – and everything between. So if you’re looking for excellent transport to see you through the winter and beyond, read on. Sean Carson Associate editor Kia Sportage JUST about any Kia model is likely to make a good used purchase for the simple fact that you get a seven-year warranty from the factory, which means that many examples on the used market will still…