Innholdsfortegnelse for 1719 i Auto Express

“IN a 50-year career as a motoring journalist, I worked for 23 years in Fleet Street and 11 years at the BBC as a Top Gear presenter, as well as writing columns for publications ranging from Auto Express to Good Housekeeping. “After training in local papers and a year running a news service at Brands Hatch, I joined the London Evening News as a reporter in 1970. Two years later, aged 24, I was appointed motoring correspondent, the youngest on a major paper and the only female at the time. “Being something of a trail-blazer in automotive journalism meant coping with a few issues, such as older male colleagues who were sometimes put out by a young female invading ‘their’ territory. But as a good friend once told me, you…

LOOKING beyond Kia’s new Niro (left), the Korean brand has revealed its 2030 road map for electrification. It’ll offer a 14-strong line-up of EVs by 2027, up on its previous target of 11 cars by 2026. Kia will launch two electric models globally every year from 2023, with the first set to be the EV9 large SUV. This will make its debut with the brand’s next-generation ‘AutoMode’ autonomous driving tech. Kia claims a 0-62 mph time of 5.0 seconds and a range of around 335 miles. However, it’s not yet known if the EV9 (or Kia’s new electric pickups) will be offered in the UK.…

Sneak peek from seat of the first Lotus SUV LOTUS will enter a new era when it unveils its all-electric SUV on 29 March, with this teaser image (above) giving us a glimpse of the vehicle’s dashboard. The first ever off-roader from Lotus, codenamed Type 132, will be based on the new all-electric Premium Architecture platform that can accept batteries up to 120kWh. This will be used for more future ‘lifestyle’ models, with the SUV set to be built in China. PAGE 10: Lotus Emira prototype driven Drivers back speed cams checking data MOTORISTS are overwhelmingly in favour of speed cameras also checking if drivers have the correct documentation to be on the road. IAM RoadSmart’s safety report showed that 89 per cent of 2,000 drivers surveyed “support the use…

Delays in supply of MG’s petrol models MG’s petrol-powered cars are proving so popular that the brand has had to cut back orders as a result of short-term supply issues. A spokesperson told Auto Express that MG has “seen a very strong start to 2022 with a lot of demand, which has led to some delays in the supply of certain models. Our dealers are being asked to only place orders for vehicles in the existing supply pipeline.” Reports the brand’s petrol allocation is sold out are “untrue”. Insurance costs rise after new FCA rules CAR insurance prices rose £76 year-on-year in the first two weeks of February, following new Financial Conduct Authority rules that came into force at the start of the year to make insurance fairer for existing…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● Electrified crossover goes on sale in the UK this summer AS a pioneer of EVs, Nissan has been slow to electrify its line-up. But it’s now coming on strong with the new Juke Hybrid. Nissan promises the car’s petrol-electric powertrain will deliver a 40 per cent increase in fuel economy over the current ICE model, and that up to 80 per cent of urban journeys can be completed on electric power alone. Drawing on tech from Alliance partner Renault, under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 93bhp and 148Nm of torque. It’s joined by a Nissan-supplied electric motor offering 48bhp and 205Nm. The set-up produces 25 per cent more power than the petrol Juke, with a total output of 141bhp. The electric motor is fed by…

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 @AutoExpree HOT TOPIC MG4 FROM: Grant Rossouw MG can’t really compete with other brands when it comes to internal combustion-engined cars, but I think the EV boom will make it more of a player. Its electric running gear seems to meet approval from those who use it. FROM: Jamie Webb THIS seems to be a hit when you have major car makers trying to charge a premium for no good reason. MG’s cars may not be as nice as some rivals in terms of trim, but they’re affordable and the electric tech is very good. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “The MG4 may be ahead on price, but a…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk “With the engine rotating, you get to sample one of the best elements of the 296: the sound” FERRARI is entering a new era. Soon an SUV will join its line-up, and in 2025 we’ll see the first-ever Ferrari EV. But the brand isn’t turning its back on combustion-engined sports cars just yet, because its latest offering – the 296 GTB – has arrived, featuring some incredible technology. It packs an 819bhp punch in one of the most compact packages we’ve ever seen roll out of the gates of the Maranello factory. While some firms focus on ‘mobility’, Ferrari feels that ‘driving’ shouldn’t be a dirty word, and its customers should have fun in their cars. So this is what the 296 has been developed to deliver, according to…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram BMW’S back catalogue is a greatest hits of illustrious compact two-doors, and this all-new 2 Series Coupé is aiming to be the latest smash to join the line-up. This 220i is the most affordable model in the range, but whichever version you choose, rivals are scarce – the Audi TT and Toyota GR86 are its closest competitors when it comes to dynamic compact coupés. On that front, the new 2 Series is unrelated to the front-wheel drive 2 Series Active Tourer MPV, or the 2 Series Gran Coupé. BMW’s engineers know that rear-wheel drive is a necessity to uphold the engaging handling that fans demand. That’s why the coupé uses the same CLAR underpinnings as the larger 4 Series. The outside looks fresh and modern, yet there are…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.7 seconds/108mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 591/1,780 litres Running costs 40.5mpg (on test) £81 fill-up/£155 or 34% tax MODEL TESTED: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 3 PRICE: £30,945 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE fifth-generation Sportage tested here comes in mid-spec 3 trim, powered by the 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine. It costs £30,945, with the only option being premium paint, which adds £650 to the price. Design & engineering FIRST things first: the front end of the Sportage is probably its most divisive feature. The firm’s ‘tiger nose’ design motif has been stretched to its limit, and the broad grille, wide-set LED headlights and arrow-shaped daytime running lights have a hint of Citroen about them. The fussy details are a long way from the clean look of the Sportage Mk3.…

Kia Sportage 12.3-inch Display with Navigation Key features: Twin curved screens SPORTAGE models in 3 trim or above come with the same pair of curved 12.3-inch screens as seen in the all-electric EV6 – one for the instruments and one for the touchscreen infotainment system. The set-up works very well, with their near-vertical positioning and concave screens all but eliminating reflections. There’s lots of information on offer via the simple menu system, which is easy to navigate. Loading times are fast, while the sharp graphics with black backgrounds are easy to read. The brightness of the screens can be turned all the way down at night so that they don’t dazzle and cause a distraction, too. There’s a useful strip of dashboard trim between the touchscreen and lower control panel (which…

NEW PRODUCT Ickle Bubba Radius child seat Price: £189 Contact: icklebubba.com NURSERY brand Ickle Bubba reckons it has taken the strain out of lifting your children in and out of the car with its new Radius 360 child seat. As the name suggests, the chair can be rotated 360 degrees so parents can put their baby in the seat facing the door, then turn it 90 degrees to be rear or front-facing, depending on the weight of the child. It then locks in place until being released to rotate so the child can be lifted out. It is suitable for youngsters from birth to around seven years old or 25kg, and can be used for longer when rear-facing than many standard seats, accommodating youngsters up to 13kg or approximately 15 months.…

Recreational Vehicles: A World History Andrew Woodmansey (Pen & Sword, www.pen-and-sword.co.uk) Price: £30 Rating: YOU might reconsider your opinions after reading this book. Packed with photos and charting the history from the first caravans up to modern classics, it’s an interesting read about how they developed and how they differ the world over. Encyclopaedia Britalicar Chris Rees (Quiller Print, www.quillerprint.co.uk) Price: £48 Rating: THIS charts the history of British cars that benefitted from Italian design expertise. It’s well written and plenty of space is given over to lesser-known models. The section on the history of each design house is particularly interesting. Zombie Derby 2 Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free Rating: A BIT of daft fun. Blast through side-scrolling levels, attempting to make it to the end with limited fuel.…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Are cyclists obliged to use dedicated bike paths? THE road between my village and the next one along is too narrow to safely overtake cyclists on. A new cycle path has just been installed, but cyclists are still using the road. Are they not obliged to use the path? Brian Gilbert, E-mail A CYCLISTS are free to use local roads and there has never been any requirement for them to stick to cycle lanes/paths. The latest changes to the Highway Code advise cyclists to use separate lanes and paths when it makes their journey safer and easier, but highlights that there is no obligation for them to use them. You could ask your local council to advertise the location of the new path more…

ENERGY and how it’s supplied. How much we’ll be paying for it. Why we’ve got to use it more efficiently than ever. Might we consider rationing the increasingly precious, already expensive stuff? I’m talking here about fuels sold to drivers of road vehicles: petrol, electric, diesel, LPG or hydrogen. Fact is, we’re already at the mercy of energy suppliers to deliver our transport fuel of choice. Thanks to many dried-up forecourt pumps and power outages that rendered EV chargepoints useless, last year was a rotten one – the worst in recent memory. And adding insult to injury, the energy industry sent retail prices for petrol, diesel and electricity through the roof, and thereby shattered the annual inflation rate. This, remember, was at the start of winter when I revealed in…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Sports car concept based on running gear of upcoming Polestar 5 ● Coupé or convertible possible, but there’s no official plan POLESTAR has already showcased its forthcoming 5 flagship with a concept called Precept. Now the all-electric Swedish brand is previewing how it might introduce an emotional 2+2 convertible with this dramatic-looking creation, called O2. The show car is also designed to prove that the modular aluminium architecture that will be the base of the 5 can be adapted to support a more dynamic, focused sports car. And Polestar’s boss, Thomas Ingenlath, has already suggested that while there are no firm production plans, it would be “irresponsible” to not try to make it happen. The O2 is a 4.7-metre-long 2+2 – so it’s closer in length to…

Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars ● Audi, BMW and Mercedes SUV competitor costs from £43,950 ● Upmarket PHEV SUV on sale now, with mild-hybrids to follow MAZDA is moving upmarket to face premium German rivals with the new CX-60, which brings a sumptuous cabin, hybrid power and a sleek design to the table. The flagship SUV is on sale now, with prices starting from £43,950. The CX-60 is larger than the CX-5 and is an evolution of Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language that majors on simplicity. The bluff front has a large, winged grille and slim LED running lights, in keeping with the firm’s current family face. At the rear, quad exhaust tips and a roof spoiler hint at its status as the firm’s most powerful series-production car. It will be offered as a…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods ● First sight of new Jeep EV ● To be launched next year EMBRACING a bold new era of full electrification, Jeep has revealed what its first fully electric model will look like. Set to launch in Europe in the first half of 2023, the as-yet-unnamed compact SUV was revealed by Carlos Tavares, CEO of Jeep’s parent firm, Stellantis, during the group’s financial report and long-term strategy update. He said “electrification will amplify Jeep’s core attributes”, suggesting that the upcoming model will be four-wheel drive. The new SUV is expected to sit below the Renegade in the brand’s line-up, but it’s not yet known if it will be based on the Stellantis CMP/e-CMP platform, which also accepts combustion engines. A launch date for the new model next year…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods RENAULT’S ongoing product push has been bolstered by the arrival of an all new model. The Austral is the replacement for the Kadjar family SUV, but UK sales of the Peugeot 3008 rival have yet to be confirmed. The Austral uses Renault’s CMF-C/D platform, evolved from that used by the Kadjar. At 4.51 metres long, 1.83 metres wide and 1.62 metres tall, it’s barely any larger than the car it replaces, but its design is quite different to the Kadjar’s. The Austral is the first combustion-engined model to use the brand’s new ‘sensual tech’ style. The interior is based on the new ‘Open-R’ cockpit with Android Automotive-powered infotainment displayed on a 12-inch digital dash and a 12-inch portrait-orientated central touchscreen. Renault will offer the Austral with an engine…

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 Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.7 seconds/111mph Running costs 53mpg (official) £68 fill-up DESPITE its relationship with Toyota for hybrid tech, Suzuki is going it alone with the new Vitara Full Hybrid. Every model in its range has electrical assistance, and to replace the automatic version of the Vitara Mild Hybrid, the firm has developed its own set-up for this Vitara Full Hybrid. It combines a new 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 33bhp electric motor fed by a compact 0.84kWh battery for a total output of 113bhp. It’s paired with a six-speed automated manual gearbox, which seems odd, but the electric motor’s torque is said to sustain forward momentum during gearchanges, smoothing them out. On paper then, the Vitara Full Hybrid shows some promise. It’s priced from £23,499 in SZ-T trim…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.5 seconds/125mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 522/1,638 litres Running costs 40.2mpg (on test) £84 fill-up/£155 or 34% tax MODEL TESTED: Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-G Sport Ed PRICE: £30,765 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 163bhp THE CX-5 has been given a nip, a tuck and a range overhaul for 2022. We’re testing the Sport Edition here, which costs £30,765, undercutting the Sportage 3 by £180. The car in our pictures is in Newground trim, a new spec introduced with the range update that slots in below the Sport Edition, priced at £29,145. Design & engineering IF you’re after a handsome-looking compact SUV, then the Mazda CX-5 easily fits the bill. It’s neatly proportioned, while the narrow headlights and smart grille are in stark contrast to the Kia’s fussy front end. Inside, the…

KIA 1st THE Kia Sportage takes the family-friendly formula set out by the previous generations and builds on it by offering even more space, adding some neat practical touches and a dazzling infotainment system that makes its rivals here look a generation behind. The looks might be divisive, and it’s not the most fun car to drive, but it’s hugely refined at all speeds, and it fits the brief perfectly as versatile family transport. MAZDA 2nd IF you’re looking for driving fun from a family SUV, then few rivals can match the Mazda CX-5. It’s a sharp-looking machine, too, and while the interior isn’t quite as large as the Sportage’s, there’s still a useful amount of space. Factor in the long kit list, and there’s lots to like. We just…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk THE pandemic may have forced many car manufacturers to do business very differently, but for others, that was always part of the plan. And that’s why I didn’t collect my new Polestar 2 fleet car, but had it delivered, on the back of a truck, directly to my front door. The idea of not having to travel to one of Polestar’s three outlets was appealing, not least because the closest, in London, is two hours away on a good day. And so, right on time, ‘my’ Void black Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor was reversed onto my drive by one of the firm’s reps, Andre, who was very happy to talk me through the car’s many, many features. It was all enormously reassuring, but in no time I’d…

Bentley seeing world in 3D with printing BENTLEY has invested £3million into 3D printed vehicle components, allowing for greater personalisation in customer cars, and for producing a large number of heritage parts in-house. The firm can also use the system to print tools for manufacturing, such as historically accurate tooling equipment for continuation models. This tech speeds up development and offers a 50-per-cent cost saving on parts. It’s already been used to create components for prototype Bentleys and powertrain models. Digital synthesiser is a sound move for Kia KIA has branched out into the world of music-making with ‘move. ment’, a downloadable digital synthesiser built around the sounds of nature. Teaming up with renowned synth-builder Arthur Joly, move. ment uses digitised versions of eight natural sounds, such as streams and…

DASH cams are falling rapidly in price, but you probably already have one in your pocket that you can use for free. Your smartphone can perform all sorts of tasks, and with the help of an app it can become a fully functioning dash cam, too. As with a dedicated device, the best apps will be able to record footage as you drive, marking the video with GPS location and speed data. They can even detect an incident using the phone’s internal sensors and will save files automatically. If you don’t want to tie up your regular smartphone for dash cam duties, you can use an older model or even a tablet that is currently sitting in a drawer gathering dust. Besides being cheaper than buying a dedicated cam, using…

CO2 /tax 147g/km £155 Running costs 50mpg (D180 auto) £86 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.7 seconds/127mph Search more than 50,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee JAGUAR celebrates its centenary this year, and for almost all of its life this quintessentially British company (albeit now under foreign ownership) has focused on graceful saloons, coupés and roadsters. When SUVs became popular, Jaguar said that it wouldn’t jump on the bandwagon because that would compete directly with its other half, Land Rover. But with buyers clamouring for premium SUVs, Jaguar could no longer resist making its own model, and when the F-Pace was launched in 2016 it soon became the firm’s most popular model. It made perfect sense to introduce a smaller, more affordable SUV…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk ● Champion staying put to 2028 ● Future races in Russia axed “Verstappen’s latest Red Bull contract renewal makes his deal one of the longest ever seen in F1” REIGNING Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has agreed a contract extension with Red Bull that’ll keep him at the Milton Keynes-based squad until the conclusion of the 2028 season. The Dutchman was already signed until the end of 2023; the latest renewal makes his deal one of the longest ever seen in F1. As is customary with driver contracts, there was no official confirmation of Verstappen’s new salary, but reports suggested the deal is worth around 50 million Euros a year. On the deal, Verstappen said: “Choosing to stay to 2028 was an easy decision. I love this team…

Polestar CEO Q What does a car like the O2 mean for Polestar? A “On the one hand, it’s to help to define the perception of what the brand is about in the public eye. On the other hand are the energy and vision it gives inside the company.” QHow far is the O2 from becoming a production reality? A “The packaging and how it is constructed make it possible to put such a car into production. Our concept cars have that spirit of being tangible, being realistic. That being said, we have not put it into our business plan.” Q Was it hard to adjust the Polestar 5’s platform for this car? A “It’s good to prove we can do it. We already worked hard on the height of the Precept…

ELECTRIC car battery developer StoreDot has revealed bold plans to manufacture batteries capable of charging speeds far in excess of those available today. As part of its 10-year plan, the tech start-up intends to develop a new battery that, it claims, can receive enough charge for 100 miles of driving range in just two minutes. It’s suggested this ‘ultra-fast’ charging will be commercially viable by that time, too, putting its debut at 2032. To allow these speeds, StoreDot says these batteries won’t use the lithium-ion chemistry commonly used in electric and hybrid cars on sale today. Currently, lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are more cost-effective and easier to make in large numbers than more expensive solutions, such as solid-state tech. But li-ion batteries can’t hold as much energy as a similarly sized…

ALONGSIDE the debut of Jeep’s first EV, parent company Stellantis has confirmed that it will only sell electric cars in Europe by 2026, a key part of its Dare Forward 2030 plan. Stellantis will offer more than 75 electric models globally by the end of the decade, and the significant ramp-up in the availability of electric cars will see the group’s portfolio grow from 19 models to 45 by 2024. In Europe, all the group’s luxury and premium brands (DS, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia) will launch only electric vehicles from 2025, while the company’s volume brands (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel/Vauxhall and Fiat) will launch fully electric models only from 2026 onwards. The electrification of Jeep and Abarth in Europe will take place by this time too.…

AS part of the recent Stellantis EV announcements, Vauxhall has said it will launch a new all-electric Manta by the middle of the decade. However, unlike the 2021 Manta GSE Elektromod concept (above), the new car is likely to be a coupé-SUV. Vauxhall said “New Manta is set to be a fascinating and astoundingly spacious new interpretation of a classic” that will “appeal to the heart and mind”. The British brand also confirmed that an Astra Sports Tourer EV will be available from 2023, while the replacements for the Insignia and Crossland models will be full-electric.…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 44.8mpg (official) £80 fill-up Performance 0-60mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/122mph IT was June 2021 when the updated Vauxhall Grandland was first unveiled, but Covid put paid to us driving the car in the UK until now. The Grandland family SUV is an important car for Vauxhall, and this update is crucial to the British brand’s fortunes under the Stellantis umbrella. As with the smaller Crossland, it’s dropped the ‘X’ from its name, and this has coincided with a slick redesign using Vauxhall’s ‘Vizor’ flush grille, with the headlights as neat extensions flanking this panel. There’s a much cleaner look at the rear, too. Under the bonnet the engine line-up is familiar. We’re driving the 128bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit, which will continue to be the most popular…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.3 seconds/125mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 510/1,604 litres Running costs 32.6mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£155 or 34% tax MODEL TESTED: SEAT Ateca 1.5 TSI Evo 150PS Xperience Lux PRICE: £32,190 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp AN update in mid-2020 gave the SEAT Ateca a new lease of life, with a subtly revised front end and new tech on board. Here we’re testing it in top-spec Xperience Lux trim, which costs £32,190, although the car in our pictures is the DSG auto-equipped version, which costs £33,570. Design & engineering WHEN the Ateca was launched in 2016, not only was it SEAT’s first SUV, but it was also one of the first models within the Volkswagen Group to use the A1 version of its MQB modular platform system. The Ateca’s underpinnings…

Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi Premium PRICE: £30,810 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 148bhp IF the Sportage’s looks are too challenging for you, then there’s an alternative in the shape of the Tucson. It comes with the same powertrain, and Premium trim largely matches the Sportage 3 in terms of standard kit. Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI Sportline PRICE: £31,835 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp A CLOSE relative of the SEATAteca, the Karoq has also been the subject of a facelift. Sportline versions offer racier looks, but the practical touches remain, although the Varioflex sliding back seats found in other versions aren’t available here.…

Dawn_Grant@autovia.co.uk Battery/charging 54kWh battery 50kW DC (0-80% in 52 mins) Practicality Boot (seats up) 367 litres OUR pure-electric Lexus UX 300e spends most of its time in London, where its practicality is rarely tested by anything larger than a supermarket shop. If we ever need more space, my husband grabs the keys to his work van instead. However, we are currently renovating a place down on the south coast, and the UX 300e is our preferred mode of transport to and from the seaside. The latest job on a (long) list was to sort out the bathroom, and this resulted in a pile of rubbish that needed to be taken to the local recycling centre. Fortunately, the load didn’t quite stretch to a full-sized bath, since that would have been…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Thinking out of the box MY tool collection has grown and I’m struggling to carry it out to the car. I can’t afford a roller cabinet system, so is there an alternative? James Marks, E-mail A THERE are some boxes that can be wheeled using a telescopic handle like luggage, or you could split the tools over a couple of boxes – although that would mean two trips every time they’re moved. We’ve had good results with the Vonhaus Roller Tool Box (above), which combines a wheeled box with a conventional one clipped on top for less than £35. Q Should I upgrade screenwash? I’VE seen screenwash advertised online claiming it contains a rain-repelling additive. Are these products better than the standard versions? Peter Brown,…

STARTER packs with the latest batteries have long sidelined jump leads, and the tech is developing with new mixes of power, capacity and features. One of the latest products to hit the market is GC’s PowerBoost, with a 16Ah battery and lots of handy add-ons. But can it topple our current champion, the MSC Overland? We charged both to find out. The focus was starting a car with a failing battery, so each had to turn over a 1.6-litre petrol engine five times, for five seconds, with a two-minute break between tries. We noted clamp strength, cable length, spec, weight, instructions and extras, all balanced against price. The high-capacity PowerBoost impressed, particularly in its ability to charge a car battery and having three sockets capable of powering the latest phones…

WEC grid gears up for Sebring curtain-raiser THE World Endurance Championship will get its 2022 season under way with the 1,000 Miles of Sebring on 18 March – a day ahead of the IMSA series’ 12-hour race at the same Florida venue. A 36-car grid will contest the event, with the top Hypercar class consisting of entries from Toyota, Glickenhaus and Alpine. Peugeot has ruled out a debut for its 9X8 until after the Le Mans 24 Hours, meaning July’s round at Monza in Italy is the earliest the car will be seen. In the GTE class, home fans will be cheering on the start of Corvette’s first full-season WEC campaign; the brand has previously tended to contest only the flagship Le Mans round. Björk and Urrutia stick with Lynk&Co…