Auto Express 1712

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news AROUND the age of 12, I was a passenger in a car accident. Two vehicles were written off and, while there were no serious casualties, I vividly recall the panic, consternation and distress of the adults involved. Calm and order were restored only when a police traffic patrol arrived to deftly take charge. Even at such a tender age, I shared the relief that accompanied the reassuring appearance of that Ford Granada ‘jam sandwich’. Later on, as a youthful car enthusiast with a budget that stretched only to a series of decrepit old bangers, and then having enjoyed the performance of various exotics as a motoring writer, subsequent encounters with ‘Mr Plod’ may not have been quite so welcome. But… when…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates ● New high-performance four-door to share tech with XM SUV ● Plug-in drivetrain could have as much as 737bhp BMW’S M division celebrates its 50th birthday in 2022, and a flurry of new models is planned to mark the occasion. However, one big-hitter won’t arrive until a little later. A new BMW 5 Series is set to appear in 2023, and as these spy shots reveal, the Bavarian manufacturer has begun development work on the new M5 super-saloon, which will arrive a year later. As evidenced by the ‘hybrid test vehicle’ stickers and the charging flap behind the front left wheelarch on this early development mule, the next BMW M5 will use electrification, which will probably be shared with the forthcoming…

M2 The M car most people are looking forward to seeing in 2022 is the new M2 when it arrives in Competition form in the UK. A sharper, squarer look than the regular 2 Series Coupé is expected, as is a power output in excess of 400bhp. XM SUV Last year’s surprise new concept previews what will be a standalone BMW M model, and a new large performance SUV coming with plug-in hybrid power. Up to 737bhp is expected from the XM when it makes its production-ready debut later this year. M3 TOURING BMW’s plans for an estate-bodied version of the latest M3 have been public for a while now. It will be the first time the brand has had a direct rival for the Audi RS 4 Avant, with…

ONE previously mooted solution to the problems of roads policing is the creation of a nationwide road-traffic police force, following a similar model to the British Transport Police. The idea was first raised when Theresa May was Home Secretary and although it’s not something that’s officially being actioned at the moment, Auto Express understands the Department for Transport (DfT) is keeping it on the table in discussions with the Home Office, in case funding for roads policing continues to decline. For now, it’s more likely that police and crime commissioners will be advised to dedicate more funds to road policing. Advocates of a national force believe it would address the common problem of roads police being diverted to non-traffic incidents. Another issue that could be dealt with is the lack…

WE pulled these quotes from a damning HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report on roads policing published in May 2020 during the first lockdown. It paints a bleak picture of cuts, inadequate training and strategic failures. HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr told us: “Since the report was published, I think there have been some minor improvements in some areas, but the updates forces have given us have been a bit bland and I’m not completely convinced by their analytical capabilities. “The fundamental point,” Parr told us, “is traffic is not considered a priority in police forces.” Main report findings: ● “Roads policing in some forces is inadequate” ● “Often capability and capacity don’t meet demand” ● “Lack of co-ordination hinders effective engagement with partners and the public” Report quotes “The number…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Sharper GRMN Yaris revealed ● Circuit and Rally packs offered ONE of the biggest hits of the past 18 months has been the Toyota GR Yaris. Now the car’s creator, Gazoo Racing, has honed the sports car-rivalling hot hatch even further to create the GRMN Yaris. Revealed at the tuning-focused Tokyo Auto Salon, the GRMN Yaris takes the already-extreme GR model and introduces a host of upgrades. The car’s three-cylinder turbocharged engine has the same 268bhp output as before, and only a small increase in torque (from 370Nm to 390Nm), but there are a raft of mechanical alterations elsewhere that should make the car significantly different to drive on road and track. The car’s transmission has been tweaked, with closer ratios and a lower final drive, plus…