Innholdsfortegnelse for 1711 i Auto Express

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler THE Vauxhall Corsa was the country’s most popular new car in 2021, marking the first time in more than 50 years that a Ford didn’t top the sales charts. The Corsa’s victory in the new-car market came at the expense of the Ford Fiesta. The Blue Oval’s supermini had enjoyed a long run as the UK’s best-selling car, but it didn’t feature in 2021’s top 10. Ford’s Puma was in eighth place, while a total of 53,394 Ford Transit Customs were registered, making it the best-selling commercial vehicle by far. Tesla’s Model 3 was the best-selling electric car and second-best seller overall, with the MINI in third place and the MINI Electric taking seventh in the EV chart. The latest end-of-year figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers…

WHEN Volvo launches its all-electric XC90 replacement later this year it will be fitted with an unsupervised autonomous driving function called Ride Pilot, the brand has confirmed. When autonomous driving is enabled, its cars “take responsibility for the driving, offering comfort and peace of mind”, the firm says. Volvo has also confirmed that its existing models will receive even more Google integration for cars with Android Automotive tech. This will include more extensive Google Assistant functionality, such as voice commands, and a YouTube app to stream content when parked. Volvo bosses confirmed, “other major streaming services are coming soon.”…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk WHEN the Hyundai Tucson made its debut in hybrid form it shot straight to the top of the family SUV sector, taking victory in its class at the 2021 Auto Express New Car Awards. This is our first taste of the plug-in hybrid model, which promises more electrification for even stronger efficiency thanks to a larger 13.8kWh battery that allows for a claimed pure electric range of up to 38 miles. Of course, you pay for that extra capability, because our Tucson Plug-in Hybrid in mid-spec Premium trim comes in at £39,330 – £4,670 more than the regular hybrid model in the same specification. The powertrain comprises the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the regular hybrid, but the bigger battery feeds a more powerful electric motor for…

Running costs 44.8mpg (on test) £61 fill-up/£155 or 28% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 391/1,069 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.2 seconds/112mph MODEL TESTED: Renault Clio TCe 90 Iconic PRICE: £18,290 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 89bhp OUR two-time Supermini of the Year has had a couple of minor spec tweaks to its engine since we last tried it, but prices still remain competitive. This Iconic model, the most basic in the Clio’s three-strong trim structure, is still generously equipped and starts from £18,290. Throw in the eye-catching Valencia Orange paint (£700) and a spare wheel (£300) and the total comes to £19,290. Design & engineering AS with the new Fabia, Renault’s designers took an evolutionary approach to the current Clio’s styling, but the familiar shape in fact covered up some fairly significant…

Skoda Fabia Bolero radio with eight-inch display Key features: Smartphone connectivity IT’S only been a few years since even the poshest supermini wouldn’t have a touchscreen infotainment set-up, so it seems a little ungrateful to criticise this fairly low-spec Fabia for featuring a fairly small display with no built in sat-nav. Compared with the Renault, its size means that on-screen buttons can be a little fiddly to use. However, the smaller screen also means that there’s space around its borders for physical shortcut buttons, which makes it easier to navigate through the straightforward on-screen menu layouts. The lack of a built-in navigation system isn’t a disaster when both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, too. The Fabia Colour Edition trim is equipped with a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, but…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.2 seconds/111mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 520/1,490 litres Electric motors Battery/range (official) 77kWh (usable)/291 miles IF you wanted to know how important the Q4 e-tron is to Audi, the fact that it’s set to become the brand’s biggest seller should tell you all you need to know. And that’s exactly why we’ve added one to our fleet – what can it tell us about Audi’s present and its future? Shooting to the top of the brand’s sales chart is a pretty impressive feat for an all-new model, especially one that is not powered by any sort of combustion engine. But that’s why the Q4 e-tron is such a key model: it’s the first Audi to sit on the MEB bespoke platform (unlike the larger e-tron…

NEW PRODUCT Powerflex suspension upgrades Price: from £67.08 Contact: powerflex.co.uk IF Powerflex’s ready-to-fit uprated track control arm replacements for your Porsche were too much for your budget, you can now put together your own. The British bush specialist has released polyurethane upgrades for the original arms, which are designed to restore steering sharpness and feedback that have been lost over the almost two decades since many of the models covered were launched. Prices start at £67.08 for the road version that uses Powerflex’s purple 80A durometer polyurethane with a CNC-machined, stainless-steel sleeve. It is designed for cars that spend most of their time on the road. For more track-biased vehicles there is the Black Series, which uses 95A durometer material, giving a 120 per cent increase in stiffness over the standard…

i-SPY Car badges: Spy it! Score it! (Collins, www.collins.co.uk) Price: £3.99 Rating: I-SPY books have been around for years and they’ve more or less perfected the formula. Simply hand over to your kids and they’ll be kept occupied on any long car ride hoping to spot every marque badge in the book. Tot up enough points and you can still send off for a certificate and badge. Lost Beauties: 50 Cars That Time Forgot Michael Zumbrunn & Axel E Catton (teNeues Verlag, books-teneues.com) Price: £35 Rating: A GORGEOUS coffee table book with excellent photography, this concentrates on the rarer and more exotic end of the spectrum, and features beautiful pictures of each car. The accompanying text seems more of an afterthought, and is bilingual, so you’ll want to do your…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q I want to silence my noisy wipers once and for all MY car’s windscreen wipers make an awful noise when I use them, no matter how much rain is falling. I went to the dealer and was told it was characteristic of the car. I find this hard to believe. Can I do anything? Paul Jones, E-mail A A SEARCH of online owners forums for your make and model of car may reveal other owners who have experienced this problem and found a solution. An independent specialist may also have seen it before and been able to solve it. Buying and fitting new windscreen wipers is one possible solution, but it’s not guaranteed to work if you don’t know the cause of the problem.…

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…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Vision-S 02 SUV revealed at US show, two years after first concept ● New firm Sony Mobility Inc. will explore entering the EV market THE world has been buzzing for several years about the possibility of Apple becoming a car manufacturer. But one of the tech giant’s key rivals looks set to beat it to the punch, after Sony revealed a second EV concept at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and confirmed that it is considering putting it into production. The Japanese electronics firm shocked the 2020 CES event when it wheeled out the Vision-S, a Tesla Model S-rivalling saloon. It insisted at the time that the car was a testbed for its sensor and 5G vehicle-to-vehicle technology, although the fact that the vehicle had been…

TO build an EV with a battery that offers close to double the range of a Tesla Model S Long Range is certainly an engineering feat. But do we really need a 621-mile EV, or are we being seduced by a case of more is better? Compare it with traditional ICE cars. When was the last time you maxed out your tank on one trip? Probably never. The average car journey in the UK is 8.4 miles, so would buyers prefer not so much range and to buy their EV for £10,000 less and save more of the world’s precious resources? Yet until we have a reliable and vast charging network in the UK, range anxiety will always be a factor. While Mercedes has done its best to optimise the…

PAGANI’S replacement for its Huayra, codenamed the C10, has been leaked online in an image thought to be a rendering of the Italian brand’s next supercar. The shot posted on an anonymous Instagram account (and subsequently taken down) showed a photo of what is claimed to be a document targeted at potential customers, which could signify that the rendering originates from a past sales event or presentation. The C10 exhibits some usual Pagani design traits, with clear styling cues from the Zonda and Huayra, including its small, individual rear wings and headlights. A number of apparent aerodynamic aids are also visible, reinforcing claims by Pagani that it intends to focus more on handling than all-out power with the C10. It’s thought the new car will use an updated version of the…

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

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler JEEP has hit some major milestones lately. Last year it celebrated its 80th birthday, while this year marks 30 years of its iconic Grand Cherokee SUV. First seen in 1992, the Grand Cherokee has been rebooted and will arrive in the UK as a plug-in hybrid around the middle of this year. But prior to its arrival here, we’ve driven the latest version in the US. The model has always majored on value, offering quality and kit for much less cash than premium rivals. Prices in the US start from $37,785 (£28,135), which undercuts everything in the Land Rover range. This latest model has grown by almost 100mm in length compared with the previous generation. In the US you can also get an extended-wheelbase model, the L, with…

Running costs 3.4mi/kWh (on test) £8 charge/£0 or 1% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 267/1,076 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/93mph MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Corsa-e SE Premium PRICE: £25,805 POWERTRAIN: E-motor, 50kWh li-ion battery, 134bhp THE debate about the cost benefits of electric vehicles has rumbled on – or should that be whirred away? – for some time. But recent price adjustments have made the Corsa-e more tempting. The car pictured here is a top-spec Elite Nav model, but we’re testing it in more affordable SE Premium spec. Before options – and after the Government’s recently reduced £1,500 Plug-in Car Grant – it comes to £25,805, which is £8,060 more than the Fabia. Can the savings made in everyday running costs offset the difference in purchase price? Design & engineering…

1st RENAULT THE Clio has faced off against its sternest test yet and passed with flying colours. In terms of refinement, it’s a close match for the Fabia, and although it’s down on power, it’s more fun to drive. But this result might have gone the other way if it weren’t for the Clio’s brilliant value for money. Despite the bargain price, it feels like one of the most expensive options in the class – and that makes it incredibly hard to beat. 2nd SKODA AS an overall package, the new Fabia has the better of the Clio, but only just. It’s more powerful than the Renault, returns slightly better fuel economy, and is a little more spacious, particularly in the back. Those margins are very small, though, and in…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk LATE last year, my wife and I were able to get out and put some proper miles on our long-term Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, with a week-long trip up to Northumberland to visit family and enjoy some beautiful coastal countryside walking. Prior to setting off, I charged the PHEV using our newly installed 7kW home chargepoint. I don’t have a driveway, but can legally park partly on the curb of my narrow London street. That means running a cable safely under a cover to the car is practical. So with 46 miles of EV range in our RAV4 (after two and a half hours of charging), and a full 55-litre tank of petrol, we set off on the 330-mile trip to the national park. I relied on the electric…

Baby II takes centre stage inside Harrods THE Little Car Company’s Bugatti Baby II (above) is now on display at Harrods department store in London. The 75-per-cent-scale vehicle is finished in Williams green with a Brun Cavalier leather interior, matching the Harrods colours, and takes top billing in the technology area on the fifth floor. Shoppers can see the car close up and reserve a build slot, and Harrods clients are offered exclusive access to the factory to watch their model being hand-built. For more information, visit Harrods or bugattibaby.com. Park and Charge boost for EV drivers IN response to the increasingly fragmented EV charging network, Parkopedia has launched Park and Charge, which lets drivers find parking with EV charging, and to pay for it, all from the comfort of their…

CO2 /tax 154-175g/km £155 Running costs 38-45mpg (xDrive30d) £101 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/155mph MANY buyers of third-generation BMW X3s will have passed their driving test and started buying cars at a time when BMW used the slogan “The ultimate driving machine”. Back then it was all saloons and coupés, with the occasional estate (or “Touring”) thrown in. But more recently BMW has become synonymous with SUVs. Thankfully, BMW’s 4x4s are better to drive than most, and they still offer many of the qualities that made those older models so appealing, such as impressive practicality, peerless ergonomics and superb build quality. Most importantly, the X3 has hit the spot for many buyers, with around two million examples sold since the launch of the first model in 2003, so it’s clearly…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ● No immediate replacement confirmed● Earlier rumours of Alpine move denied “Szafnauer waslinked with Alpine for 2022, but denied the reports” THERE’S change at the top of the works Aston Martin F1 squad ahead of the 2022 season, as team principal Otmar Szafnauer has left with immediate effect. The 57-year-old Romanian-born American has worked in F1 since 1998. Two stints at BAR-Honda were followed by him joining what was then called Force India in 2009. Szafnauer has been an integral part of the team’s success since then, culminating in fourth-place constructors’ championship finishes in 2016 and 2017. He was also a key player in the transfer of ownership from Vijay Mallya to Lawrence Stroll, which ultimately led to Aston Martin works status. According to a short statement issued by…

WHEN I first mooted the idea of asking some of the top dogs in the vehicle manufacturing, retailing and motorsport businesses to vote for their best cars of the year, I was warned off. The advice went a bit like this: the designers and engineers will only vote for the vehicles they designed; the high flyers will give the nod of approval solely to the products they built; dealer principals will feel dutybound to pick the models they sell; and, continuing the theme, the motorsport boys and girls will focus on the makers who race and ignore those who don’t. Wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again. Of the judges invited to vote for Best Cars of the Year (Best COTY) 99 per cent did the opposite. With just one or…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk “Although the EQXX is positioned as a halo model, we can expect much of what is previewed here to feature soon in series-production Mercedes models” ● Brand taps into F1 team’s know-how to produce concept MERCEDES has highlighted the future for its electric-car tech by unveiling the Vision EQXX concept. This has a range of more than 1,000km (621 miles) and previews an ultra-efficient production EV that will go on sale in 2024. The brand says that the concept’s range, typically double that of most current premium EVs, doesn’t come from a larger battery. Instead, the four-seat family car “takes range and efficiency to a whole new level [by] rethinking the fundamentals from the ground up”, using lightweight materials and a battery of a relatively conventional size but a…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods ● More upmarket look for SUV ● New infotainment from C5 X LEADING Citroen’s charge in 2022 is an updated version of the C5 Aircross SUV. It features design changes inside and out that the brand says are part of a wider effort to give the car a more premium feel. The front end of the Peugeot 3008 rival has been updated with a totally new face. Citroen says it has removed some of the curves in favour of more “structured” lines, and that the shape of the car’s nose is more upright, for a more imposing look. The old car’s split headlights have been replaced by new units with updated daytime running lights, which are incorporated into a new front grille. The lower section of this has…

Drivers miss out on cheaper petrol prices BRITISH drivers paid £156million more for petrol than they should have in December 2021, after fuel retailers failed to pass savings on to consumers. The pump price of unleaded fell by 2p per litre from 147.47ppl to 145.48ppl during the month, but a drop in the cost of oil meant retailers should have cut prices to nearer 135ppl had they not taken such an unusually high profit margin, according to RAC Fuel Watch. GMAtotakewraps off T.33 this month GORDON Murray Automotive’s next supercar will be called the T.33 and it will make its debut on 27 January, the company has confirmed, with the vehicle to be built at GMA’s new global headquarters in Windlesham, Surrey. The new T.33 is expected to retain the…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.5 seconds/155mph “Four-wheel drive hasn’t compromised fun, but some of the M3’s minor flaws remain” THE latest-generation BMW M3 is like none other that has come before it, because for the first time in its 35-year history, the performance model is now offered with four-wheel drive. Driving purists need not worry. Firstly, the rear-wheel-drive option will continue to be sold alongside the M3 xDrive. Secondly, the M3 is BMW’s core M car, so the conversion is very involved. For starters, BMW has redesigned and retuned the M3 xDrive’s front suspension. It’s still made from aluminium to save weight, but the geometry has been tweaked, while the steering response has also received attention, so that it doesn’t deviate too far from the overall feel of the…

Running costs 48.9mpg (on test) £58 fill-up/£155 or 28% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,190 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.6 seconds/120mph MODEL TESTED: Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI 95 SE Comfort PRICE: £17,745 POWERTRAIN: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 94bhp WE were very impressed with the Fabia on our first encounter late last year, testing a left-hand-drive version equipped with a 108bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine. The question is, will it remain as convincing in what will likely be its most popular form in the UK, a 94bhp model in mid-range SE Comfort trim? Before options, it’s priced from £17,745, which makes it the cheapest car here. The version you see in these images, with optional Moon White Metallic paint (£610), costs £18,355. Design & engineering AT first glance, many people would struggle to tell…

Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium PRICE: £19,145 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 99bhp WE’VE rated the Clio the most fun to drive of this trio, but the Fiesta still holds a clear lead for keen drivers. Brilliant handling doesn’t compromise comfort, and the punchy three-cylinder engine delivers great performance, too. Toyota Yaris Icon PRICE: £20,210 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl hybrid, 114bhp IF a full EV doesn’t quite suit yet, then the hybrid-powered Yaris makes a fine stepping stone. A remarkable 68.8mpg in WLTP tests shows the Yaris could be extremely cheap to run, and while it’s not as roomy as the Skoda, it’s more fun to drive.…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram Electric motor Official range/BiK 338 miles/1% Practicality Subhead Boot (seats up/down) 385/1,267 litres Caption CONNECTED cars are the future, apparently. Whether that’s our sat-nav warning us of congestion en route, or being able to keep tabs on things like EV charge status, having our pride and joy trade info with its manufacturer and other drivers will, we’re told, make our lives easier. If I’m honest, I’d largely dismissed this technology as a bit of a gimmick. But my perspective changed recently. I’d spotted notifications popping up on my VW ID.3’s infotainment screen a few times, informing me that the car was ready for an over-the-air (OTA) update. All I had to do was accept the message and leave the vehicle parked up overnight. All being well, I’d wake…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Carrying electric cycles WE’VE bought a couple of electric cycles and I’m looking for a bike rack to carry them. Have you got any suggestions as to what’s suitable? John Parker, E-mail A WEIGHT is the key factor for electric bikes, because they are heavier than conventional cycles. A tow-ball rack would be the easiest to load, because it’s closest to the ground. Our pick is the Atera Genio Pro (roofbox.co.uk), which can carry up to 60kg, often enough for two electric bikes. You’ll also need to check the weight limit of your tow bar and ensure it is sufficient for your bicycles plus the rack. Q Grip Control tyre choices MY Peugeot 2008 is fitted with Grip Control. Do I need to consider changing…

EVEN if your car is kept in tip-top condition, something as simple as a nail in your tyre could leave you stranded on a dark country lane or at the side of a motorway. Hazard warning lights are all you legally need in the UK to warn other motorists, but they might not work for long if your battery is weak or the vehicle’s electrics have failed. In Europe it is compulsory to carry a warning triangle, but we think it makes sense to go one stage further and carry a device that illuminates to attract the attention of other drivers. In a recent multi-test the Powerlantz kit impressed us thanks to its great all-round performance and keen price. The BriteAngle is a brilliant design, which would make it easy…