Innholdsfortegnelse for 1727 i Auto Express

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • All-electric SUV driven for the first time • New tech in the shape of steer-by-wire system “Steer-by-wire allows you to change direction rapidly with little input at the wheel” ELECTRIFICATION isn’t a new concept for Lexus, but until now the hybrid pioneer hasn’t had a bespoke electric car. That all changes with the RZ 450e. This mid-size SUV is based on the firm’s e-TNGA architecture – the same platform that underpins the Toyota bZ4X SUV – and the RZ uses the same 71.4kWh battery, which Lexus’s engineers are predicting will deliver more than 250 miles from a full charge. All fairly conventional so far. There’s a dual-motor set-up, too, with the front motor offering 201bhp and the rear 108bhp for a combined output of 309bhp. Again, all fairly…

May 10 debut for new Range Rover Sport LAND ROVER will follow the new Range Rover with a new, third-generation Range Rover Sport, which the brand has confirmed will be revealed on 10 May. We expect that as with the full-size Range Rover, the new model, which has been teased (above), will adopt an evolutionary look in keeping with its positioning as a more dynamic SUV in the British firm’s line-up. Experts attack EU’s zero-emissions plans THE European Commission’s plan to only allow battery and fuel-cell electric vehicles on the European market from 2035 has been criticised by experts. The Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) – a Frankfurt-based group of German and European firms – says that fossil fuels are the problem, but not internal combustion engine technology. The VDMA…

Jaguar sharpens XE and XF executives FOLLOWING the launch of new Sport versions of the Jaguar F-Pace SUV, the brand has given similar treatment to its XE compact executive saloon (above) and the larger XF. Prices start at £42,345 for the XE 300 Sport, with the XF on sale from £47,730; the latter is also available as a Sportbrake estate. Exterior and interior tweaks are combined with 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol power. Stats cast shadow over e-scooter plans PRIVATELY owned e-scooters could be legalised for use on the roads, the Transport Secretary has hinted. That’s despite an 82 per cent increase in ambulance call-outs to e-scooter-related accidents between 2020 and 2021. Grant Shapps told the Transport Committee that he would make an announcement on 10 May, but official data acquired…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk AN electric car chargepoint of a type said to meet draft proposals for the long-awaited Government-backed accessibility standard, drawn up by the British Standards Institute (BSI), has been condemned by disabled users during an Auto Express test. We have been leading the campaign to highlight EV accessibility issues, and charging problems are one reason why EVs are off-limits to many disabled people. As with many drivers, we were eagerly anticipating the Government-backed Publicly Available Specification (PAS 1899) for chargepoints, which was published in draft form by the BSI in April for consultation. Although compliance with the PAS will be voluntary, the DfT and the chargepoint industry have long promised it will be a lever for meaningful change. At the end of April, charging provider Osprey unveiled its vision of…

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…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 570/1,726 litres Running costs 188mpg (official) £81 fill-up MAZDA is going after buyers more accustomed to driving Audis, BMWs and Mercedes with the new CX-60, which it hopes will kickstart its bold plan to move into the premium car market. It is also a move in the direction of electrification, because the Audi Q5 and BMW X3-rivalling CX-60 is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid. The PHEV version leads the initial attack, but within the next year we can also expect to see a 3.3-litre straight-six diesel with mild-hybrid technology, and then a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol MHEV, both with Mazda’s trick variable compression-ignition tech. In the PHEV, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an e-motor combine for a total output of 323bhp and 500Nm of torque…

Running costs 38.2mpg (official) £83 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.8 seconds/155mph THERE’S nothing really wrong with the BMW M135i that launched in 2019. In fact, it does a whole lot right. It’s well made, capable and quick. It’s just lacking the excitement of some of its rivals, and it had the added challenge of following up the unique rear-drive, straight-six-powered ‘F20’ M140i. Using the much more familiar four-cylinder, four-wheel-drive set-up, it’s always struggled to fill those shoes. Happily, BMW has had a second go, curiously, quite early on in the M135i’s life. This isn’t part of a facelift as such; the German firm says it didn’t want to wait that long before making changes. They are fairly significant alterations, too, taking inspiration from the 128ti. The negative camber of the…

MODELTESTED: Peugeot 508 SW Sport Engineered PRICE: £56,465 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl PHEV, 355bhp Running costs 33.9mpg (on test) £107 fill-up/£510 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 530/1,780 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.2 seconds/155mph THIS striking estate is Peugeot’s most potent road car ever on paper, but it’s also the most expensive. If you want to get your hands on the 508 SW PSE, it will set you back £56,465. Design & engineering AS you’d expect of a flagship from Peugeot’s new performance division, the Sport Engineered has received quite a few mechanical and cosmetic upgrades to set it apart from the rest of the 508 line-up. First, there’s the looks: the 508 gets a menacing bodykit, with a deep front splitter, wide side sills with fins flicking out at…

BMW 1st PAIRED with pretty much any powertrain we’ve tried, the 3 Series continues to be the consummate all-rounder. Quick and engaging yet comfortable, this 330e backs up its well rounded driving experience with cracking in-car tech, and at least the possibility of low fuel bills with a topped-up battery. Based on the trim we’d go for, the BMW costs less than the 508 on a typical finance deal. PEUGEOT 2nd WHILE Peugeot hasn’t quite bridged the gap to premium rivals, the 508 PSE is still a convincing effort. It’s a quick and mostly refined performance car that’s packed with standard equipment – it’s spacious, too. Unfortunately, when a BMW is not only more sophisticated to drive, but also cheaper to buy and run, you’d need to be a committed Peugeot fan…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk I WON’T lie: it’s taken me a while to get to grips with my first fully electric car. I’ve had the usual issues – cold weather affecting the range, and the resulting anxiety – but wouldn’t you know? It turns out the main problem has been me. When our Citroen e-Berlingo arrived back in February, it seemed the perfect vehicle for the situation I found myself in. My son George required regular hospital visits while he was recovering from a car accident, meaning he needed easy access to the car, and room for his crutches and wheelchair, plus ideally a smooth ride. Sure enough, the Citroen is spacious and great around town, quietly using very little charge thanks to my preference of using the Brake setting, which claws back…

SAVE 43% ON THE SHOP PRICE After your initial 6 issue trial, your subscription will continue at £26.99 every 13 issues representing a saving of 43% on the shop price. FREE DELIVERY Never miss an issue with every copy delivered straight to your doorstep. FULLY FLEXIBLE You are able to cancel at any time using a dedicated customer portal or by getting in touch. There are more options than ever to subscribe to Auto Express with both print and digital versions available, or perhaps you’d like a combination of both, the choice is yours OK I’M IN! HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE? 1 ORDER ONLINE AT autoexpress.co.uk/subscribe (or call 0330 333 9491 if you prefer the human touch). 2 ENTER THE OFFER CODE DMAY22 and select the offer you’d like to…

FIRST TEST Nuna Todl NEXT Price: £300 (seat), £200 (base) Rating: Contact: nunababy.com CAR seats that grow with your child are popular with parents looking to avoid buying multiple set-ups throughout their offspring’s early life. To see how well they work, we’ve been trying the Nuna Todl, which is compatible with the firm’s NEXT 360-degree rotating base and is designed to transport babies from newborn to when they weigh 19kg – around four years old. The solid NEXT base clips into the car’s Isofix points, and green indicators show when it’s fitted correctly. It takes two hands to release the catches either side of the seat so that you can rotate or remove it from the base. It’s a little fiddly at first, and while it becomes easier over time, it’s…

DRIVING an electric or hybrid car will almost always reduce your running costs when compared with a petrol or diesel. But increasing energy costs mean drivers will be looking to plug in where there is the chance of some free power, such as a supermarket, public car park or at work. In addition, there are some big savings to be made by moving to a cheaper overnight tariff, which will allow you to top up at a third of the cost while you are asleep. To take advantage of these cheaper miles, you need to have the right cable to make sure you can top up wherever you find a three-pin socket, so long as the mains wiring is up to the task of charging a car. Our leading lead…

WTCR confirms 17-car grid for 2022 season THE Pau street circuit in France will play host to the opening rounds of the 2022 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) this weekend, with 17 cars confirmed. Chinese brand Lynk&Co is fielding five cars, while Audi and Honda have four apiece, but Hyundai and Cupra have reduced to a pair of entries each. The series also made a late calendar change in recent weeks, replacing the round at Most in Czechia with a visit to Anneau du Rhin in France. Vallelunga in Italy was also confirmed as replacing the cancelled round at Sochi in Russia. Lamborghini revamps Huracán racer for GT3 LAMBORGHINI has unveiled the second major update to its Huracán GT3-class customer racing car, named EVO2. Presented as a racing version…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @JPBrods • Vauxhall to bring back Manta name on flagship for EV range • New SUV will have coupé-like roofline to give sporty look VAUXHALL is forging ahead with its electric revolution as part of the Stellantis Group, where the brand has a future thanks to a fresh approach to design that will be underpinned by its transformation to selling electric cars only by 2028. An all-electric version of Britain’s bestselling car, the Corsa-e, has already proven to be a big hit with buyers. And next year, the Astra family hatchback will aim to perform a similar feat when a fully electric version goes on sale in the UK. The use of familiar names for these new electric cars will take on an altogether more desirable edge a few…

Q Are there any differences between the chassis of the conventional steering set-up and the steer-by-wire car? A No, the steering rack, amount of steering lock, the suspension – they’re all the same. Even the steering ratio at high speed is the same. The extra hardware and software calibration allows us to do clever things with the steering ratio and the steering set-up’s map at different speeds. Q Does this tech have a future in different models – such as a sports car? A Yes, yes, yes. We can programme and tune everything, the yaw rate, the amount of lock, the amount of steering angle, the steering ratios and how fast the ratio changes – the whole lot. We are looking into the possibilities of what can be done with…

ELECTRIC vehicles are a new focus for TVR after it announced it will sponsor Formula E this year and develop an all-electric version of its Griffith sports car. The move comes as TVR looks to concentrate on electrified vehicles, with chairman Les Edgar saying the Formula E sponsorship “not only demonstrates our commitment to revolutionising the TVR brand, but to EVs, and becoming a sustainable, net-zero business.” TVR says the Griffith EV will be produced in limited numbers at the firm’s Ebbw Vale factory in Wales and the car could hit the market as early as 2024. Outlining its Formula E deal, the British sports car maker revealed it will sponsor this year’s Monaco E-Prix in April and London’s E-Prix double-header in July.…

• Fresh tech includes digital door mirrors and smart dampers Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars HYUNDAI has revealed a host of upgrades for its all-electric Ioniq 5, the radically styled crossover that took Auto Express Car of the Year honours in 2021. The tweaks unlock more power from cars fitted with the larger battery, which has now increased to a 77.4kWh unit, delivering more range. New technology such as Smart Frequency Dampers and optional digital door mirrors are now available, too. Performance and range figures for the 168bhp rear-wheel-drive model with the smaller 58kWh battery remain unchanged, but stepping up to the 77.4kWh variant provides a claimed range of 315 miles, 17 miles more than before. This version also gets a 10bhp boost, to 225bhp in total. Heading the line-up is the 77.4kWh…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale PLANS to make MoT certificates last two years instead of one could result in one in 10 vehicles on the road having dangerous defects. At the end of April, newspaper reports emerged about a cabinet meeting in which transport secretary Grant Shapps suggested drivers should only have to get their cars’ MoT checked once every two years instead of annually, saving them £54.85 (the maximum legal cost of an MoT test) as the cost of living crisis deepens. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency data analysed by BookMyGarage.com shows that in the 2020/21 financial year, 30.23 per cent of the 30.25million Class 3 and 4 vehicles (cars and vans) MoT tested failed the first time. Of these circa-10 million unroadworthy vehicles, more than 2.57 million failed with a dangerous…

THE BSI’s PAS 1899 draft stipulates that accessible chargepoints should use cables suspended at one end to help manage weight and prevent trip hazards, but it doesn’t address maximum allowable cable weight. If not amended during the consultation, it will leave installers free to state chargepoints meet the approved standard, knowing they will be unusable by many drivers. Following the Government’s mandate to switch to EVs, a ‘tick box’ approach that lets charging providers off the hook will anger many. Although cables for lower-powered chargers are lighter, barring disabled drivers from any service is discriminatory. We asked the BSI for comment, but it hadn’t responded by the time we closed the magazine for press.…

mailto@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: Roderick Davidson I WOULD have hated this idea as a teenager. However, I now see more and more speeding in residential areas with no thought of the consequences. People hate anti-speed measures, but if they obeyed the law we’d not need them. FROM: Barry Nicholson AS a Class 1 HGV licence-holder with experience of speed limiters, I’m firmly against this plan. What happens when one car is overtaking another at a difference of 1mph or so? Sometimes, it’s necessary to increase speed safely. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Good idea. No more lane-hogging, tailgating or risk-taking. What’s there to lose?” Josh Wellman ■ “How do you overtake anyone doing 3mph less than you? It would create more danger.” Maurice Moritz ■ “If implemented, the limit should…

Running costs 35.8 mpg (off icial) £107 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 2.9 seconds/196mph THIS, to give its full, lengthy title, is the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door 63 S E-Performance. In short, it’s AMG’s first plug-in hybrid model. It takes just 2.9 seconds to hit 62mph, thanks to a powertrain that delivers 831bhp and 1,400Nm of torque. It’s based on the familiar 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine, which is supplemented by an electric motor on the rear axle. Like the non-hybrid version of the car, it places that power down with the assistance of a nine-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The electric motor is supplied by a fairly compact 6.1kWh battery, with just 3.4kWh used to travel in e-mode. The rest is saved to augment performance; the motor’s output is rated…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Electric motor Power/range 181bhp/196 miles IT’S rare to see a van review within the pages of Auto Express, but we’re reporting on the Ford E-Transit here for a number of good reasons. Firstly, Transit is a name that’s synonymous with the van itself, and the arrival of a new version is always a significant event. Secondly, this is Ford’s next step in its plans for electrification, and while we’ve seen plenty of rival electric vans already, the E-Transit is aiming to set new standards for what we can expect from these models. Finally, the arrival of the E-Transit coincides with the launch of Ford Pro, the company’s new approach to van ownership, which offers not just the van, but also the software and technical support needed for businesses…

MODELTESTED: BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Touring PRICE: £50,985 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl PHEV, 288bhp Running costs 54.1mpg (on test) £65 fill-up/£510 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 410/1,420 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.9 seconds/139mph IT’S not often that a BMW undercuts a comparable Peugeot on price, but before options the 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Touring starts from £49,435. While the Peugeot’s price is pretty much what you’ll pay, it’s possible to load the 3 Series with options, and the car you see here costs £56,675 with extras. These include the £1,900 Tech Pack (including a head-up display, a Harman Kardon hi-fi, wireless smartphone charging and gesture control) and the £1,950 Comfort Plus Pack (a heated steering wheel and electric front seats, among others features). Design & engineering…

NEW: Mercedes C 300 e Estate AMG Line Premium Plus PRICE: £53,160 ENGINE: 2.0 4cyl PHEV, 308bhp IF sporty handling isn’t a priority, then the C 300 e is worth a look. Its huge 25.4kWh battery means it can travel up to 65 miles in electric mode, more than either rival here, meaning more mpg and lower BiK rates as a result. USED: Audi RS 4 Avant (2018/19 reg) PRICE: £55,000 ENGINE: 2.9 V6 turbo, 444bhp SOME buyers will want to enjoy pure combustion power for a little bit longer, and a second-hand Audi RS 4 would be just the ticket. Yes, it’s far more thirsty than these PHEVs – expect fuel economy in the mid twenties – but its 444bhp twin-turbo V6 delivers savage speed.…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk Running costs 166-188mpg (off icial) £70 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 555/1,752 litres THE launch of the DS brand in 2014 as a separate entity was part-white flag, part-clean-slate bid by the French to build some of the brand equity that underpins the German marques. Premium-car buyers are making the same kind of calculations today as they were a decade ago, and we’re now living with a DS 7 Crossback to see if France can finally deliver the right answers. The problem for DS is that Audi sold just under 118,000 vehicles in the UK in 2021, making it the country’s second most popular car brand (closely followed by BMW), while DS sold only 2,362 units. The DS 7 Crossback is a mid-size SUV and our car has the…

Hats off to Tex for new classic-inspired caps TEX Automotive has launched a range of licensed baseball caps, to keep the sun off the faces of classic-car enthusiasts this summer. Choose between Austin Cooper S, British Motor Heritage, MG, Morris, Morris Cooper and Triumph designs in high-quality embroidery on a one-size-fits-all cap. The £19.99 caps are available from texautomotive.com, where you’ll also find a selection of aftermarket parts, model cars and other accessories. Street artist trades artwork for new car POLESTAR Cars has traded a car for an art installation as part of its Art for Art initiative. The program allows artists to swap pieces of art for the brand’s halo model, the Polestar 1. The first trade took place in March 2022 with a Swedish street artist, who swapped…

North Eastern Motorsport Larry Carter (Amberley Publishing, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: THE North East of the UK has a great deal of motorsport heritage and the author takes a look into the region’s events, competitors and venues over the past century. Cars and bikes are featured, and there’s a good focus on venues that have since closed and events that have declined. It’s an interesting, nostalgic book. Moggy Goes To Cornwall Peter Walters (Hubble & Hattie, hubbleandhattie.com) Price: £8.99 Rating: IF you drive to Cornwall on holiday, this puzzle book might keep a child amused. There are 12 picture puzzles and a list of destinations if you want to follow Moggy’s trip. Gorgeously illustrated, it’s aimed at youngsters, because there’s not much of a challenge here. Hyperdrome Available for: iOS,…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Cost of non-warranty repair leaves me hot under collar MY car is only a little over two years old, but the air-con system doesn’t pump out cold air anymore. The dealer agreed to regas it, but is charging £300 because the issue isn’t covered by the warranty. What are my options here? PB, E-mail A YOU could ask the dealer and/or the car manufacturer for a goodwill gesture in light of the age of the vehicle, although there’s no guarantee you’ll get one. The £300 fee still seems high, so it may be worth getting a quote from an independent garage to see if the same job can be done for less. If you go down this route, make sure the work is completed…

SO, which camp are you in? The one that says electric cars are greener, superior to and better value than rivals powered solely by combustion engines? Or are you of the more traditional view that ICE still beats EV on all-in price, flexibility and more? Me? I sit in neither. Instead, I argue that it’s not a case of either-or. Just as there is a need for pure-EVs, there’s a time and place for part-electrics (hybrids), 100 per cent petrol-powered cars (overwhelmingly, still the biggest-selling new vehicles in the UK), and even the best diesels capable of almost 1,000 miles before their tanks need replenishing. Also, don’t forget the stalwart that is LPG. Or that new, disruptive kid on the block, hydrogen. Now that’s what I call consumer choice. But…

NAMES are an overlooked but important part of the process of creating a new car, and good names with longevity can build a brand on their own. According to Steve Saxty, a Brit with a wealth of automotive branding experience, “Memories of a name can help a new model. Ford’s new Bronco has been a smash hit, in no small part because it was designing an authentic Bronco, not applying the name afterwards. That’s where Vauxhall went a bit wrong in 2015 with the Viva. It brought back a name from the sixties and seventies that only resonated with buyers of pensionable age. Far from ideal for a low-cost city car aimed at young buyers. “But Ford struck gold with the Puma, and Stellantis must have noticed,” says Steve. “So…

Alastair_crooks@autovia.co.uk • New special edition features classic Porsche design touches • Rear-wheel-drive only with manual gearbox CELEBRATING some of its iconic models from the sixties and early seventies, Porsche has revealed its new 911 Sport Classic. It’s the second model designed under the brand’s ‘Heritage Design strategy’. It incorporates plenty of famous touches, and the firm says it aims to “bring the spirit of past Porsche decades back to the road, while creating something new”. One of the stand-out features is the reintroduction of the ducktail spoiler, which references the iconic 911 Carrera 2.7 RS from 1972 and is made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic to help save weight. Another is the Fuchs-style wheel design. The alloys are 20-inch (front) and 21-inch (rear) centre-lock items that pay homage to the 911 S…

EV manufacturer Polestar has given the electric 2 the biggest round of updates since it was launched in 2020. There are upgrades to the car’s underpinnings, a reduction in its carbon footprint during manufacturing and fresh design and trim specs. Improved cell chemistry means the battery now holds more energy, resulting in an improved maximum capacity of 69kWh for the Standard range, single-motor model. Maximum range is now up to 295 miles. This car’s rear-mounted electric motor is more powerful, too, with an extra 7bhp bumping total output up to 228bhp. Polestar has also updated the Standard range car’s charging tech, raising capability from 115kW to 130kW, edging closer to the 150kW compatibility of the Long Range car. Two new exterior paint colours are offered, while revised 19-inch and 20-inch…

IF YOU’VE ever visited Bentley’s Crewe headquarters, or taken a factory tour, the impression you’ll come away with is one of passion and dedication. Sure, Cheshire folk might not be as extroverted as those from Maranello, but a tangible love of cars permeates every building. Yet most Bentley colleagues will never get behind the wheel of a Bentayga or Continental GT, let alone own one of the luxury cars that start from over £140,000. Wouldn’t it be interesting, then, to know what the Bentley boys and girls drive? The inaugural Colleagues, Cars and Coffee, run by the Pyms Lane Motor Club, was our chance to find out. More than 65 owners took the opportunity to line their cars up on the famous Pyms Lane – once a public road, but…

Alastair_crooks@autovia.co.uk “A near-50:50 weight distribution means fairly neutral handling, despite the rear-drive layout ” IT feels like we’ve been waiting for the Cupra Born EV for a while, given that the virtually identical el-Born concept was revealed back in 2019. But, finally we’ve had the chance to drive a UK-spec model. Three battery options will be available; an entry-level 45kWh version will go on sale later this year, as will a high-capacity 77kWh model. Splitting them is the 58kWh battery model that’s available at launch. The Born is offered in three trims – V1, V2 and V3 – although not all levels are available with every battery. As it stands, Cupra says that the 58kWh V3 model we’re testing will be the most popular option. At £38,590, it costs £845…

Stuart_Milne@autovia.co.uk ABSENCE, they say, makes the heart grow fonder. And as once-familiar cars start disappearing from our roads, it’s hard not to be stirred on the rare occasions that you see them. When was the last time you spotted a Ford Puma coupé, Citroen BX or Lexus LS 400? It’s even more of a cause for celebration when you spot something that wasn’t exactly ten-a-penny when new. Seeing a Vauxhall Monaro, Fiat Coupé or Volkswagen Phaeton might even elicit a sharp intake of breath. Over the next 28 pages, we’ve rounded up 70 cars just like these, the models produced over the last two or three decades that are a joy to spot. We’ve uncovered the facts about these cars, and rate their rarity allowing you (and the kids) to…

Peugeot 508 PSE 10-inch HD touchscreen Key features: Night vision camera MORE than any other area, it’s the 508’s infotainment system that shows where Peugeot must improve if it wants to bridge the gap to premium brands such as BMW. We’ve seen improved set-ups in the latest Peugeot 308 hatchback, but the system fitted here is a little slow, frustrating to use and occasionally glitchy. While the screen measures a reasonable 10 inches, a large portion to either side of the panel is occupied by climate controls that are always displayed. These rob space from functions such as the mapping screen, or apps including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The piano-style keys along the bottom are pleasing to use and look great, but the touchscreen sub-menus are a little contrived,…

CHARGING TO get the best out of each of these PHEVs, it’s important to maximise the distance covered on electric power by keeping the battery topped up whenever possible. The Peugeot has the potential to charge quicker than the BMW. Thanks to a 7.4kW onboard charger, it takes roughly one hour and 45 minutes to replenish the battery. However, this is a £300 option. Otherwise, there’s a 3.7kW charger, which takes closer to three and a half hours instead. BMW’s 3.7kW charger means a battery top-up of a similar time: three and a half hours. It’s also possible to use a 1.6kW charger via a threepin plug for both of these models, which takes seven hours for the Peugeot and six hours for the BMW. The 330e’s charge port is…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q I want roof in top condition I’VE just bought an old Mazda MX-5 and the roof has been neglected. What’s the best way to clean it, and should I apply a sealant? Paul White A TAKE care if you’re using a pressure washer – use a wide spray and don’t get too close. Our pick for shifting grime is Gtechniq’s W5 Citrus All Purpose Cleaner, used diluted. Rinse the roof, then apply the cleaner and work in with an upholstery brush. Roofs are not designed to be sealed, but older ones may need to be treated. Gtechniq’s I1 Smart Fabric gave great results in our last test. Q Getting rid of rust forever THE mesh grille on my classic car is showing signs of rust…

NEW PRODUCT Simply Auto Premium Type 2 to UK 3-pin 5M EV cable Price: £335.99 Maximum kW: 2.2kW Rating: Contact: jrpdistribution.co.uk SIMPLY Auto’s new range of charging cables includes simpler (and cheaper) connectors, but we tested the Premium model, which has a fixed three-pin plug and some handy smart features. You can manually adjust the current flow between eight, 10 and 13 amps, which allows owners to make the most of the output from solar panels. There’s also a timer to delay the charge to take advantage of cheaper overnight energy. Settings are controlled via a simple screen that displays how much charge has flowed through the cable – handy if you’ve got to pay for the energy. It costs at least £150 less than most genuine manufacturer-branded cables.…

CO2/tax 164g/km £210 Running costs 39mpg (1.6i GT) £97 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.9 seconds/130mph SUBARU has never been a big player in the UK market, but since it arrived here in the seventies, it has appealed to a select band of people who love its impressive reliability record and standard-fit four-wheel drive. For a while the Impreza Turbo was a must-have performance car, its reputation bolstered by impressive results in the World Rally Championship. But those days were long gone by the time the Levorg arrived, with Subaru very much a niche brand in the UK. The firm campaigned the Levorg between 2016 and 2019 in the British Touring Car Championship, with some success, but sales were hard to come by. Does the Subaru deserve a higher profile as…

Stephen_Errity@autovia.co.uk • All-new track at NFL stadium • Ferrari aiming to bounce back FORMULA One will break new ground this weekend with the inaugural Miami Grand Prix – the first time the World Championship has raced in the US state since 1959, and the 11th different location it has visited in the country. The event has taken a long journey coming to fruition, having first been proposed in 2018 for an inaugural date in 2019. After a series of complications and a shift in location from the original downtown proposal to a new circuit built around the Miami Dolphins NFL stadium, the lights will finally go out on Sunday 8 May. Tom Garfinkel, president and CEO of the Hard Rock Stadium said: “We have worked with specialist designers to create…