Innholdsfortegnelse for 1740 i Auto Express

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks THROUGHOUT its lifetime, the Honda Civic Type R has been a stalwart of the hot hatch class. Now there’s an all-new car – the last petrol-powered Type R ever – and we’ve already sampled it from the passenger seat. Full specifications have yet to be confirmed, but leaks of customer brochures suggest the car’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will produce 325bhp and 420Nm of torque; it will stick with a six-speed manual gearbox. We headed for the Tazio Nuvolari circuit near Milan, Italy, where lengthy, sweeping bends, tight chicanes, a hairpin and a long pit straight would stretch the Type R’s legs. Jumping in the passenger seat for some hot laps, I join Honda’s World Touring Car Championship driver Nestor Girolami. It’s very grown-up in here: the steering…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy IT’S the silence that grabs you. Under hard acceleration, not even a distant whine can be heard from the electric motor driving the front wheels of the new Rolls-Royce Spectre. We’re approaching 80mph and there’s a merest sensation of motion from somewhere beneath us, and a faint whoosh from around the A-pillars. It’s almost unnerving. Jörg Wunder, the engineer leading the project and the man driving us around the Miramas test track in southern France, is pleased, but not satisfied. He acknowledges the wind rush: “It’s a seal in the door frame,” he says. “We have improvements already identified, and we’re going to roll them into the next series of upgrades for this Spectre.” The sensation of motion, meanwhile, is there on purpose; it is, in effect, the…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Electric motor Power/range 134bhp/214 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.0 seconds/93mph RANGE remains one of the biggest deciding factors for electric car buyers. But with optimisation tweaks, many manufacturers can now unlock more miles more often and more easily. That’s exactly what Peugeot has managed to achieve with this newly updated e-2008 compact electric crossover. But it hasn’t stemmed from an increase in battery capacity. The revised e-2008 still uses the same 50kWh pack as before, and it feeds the existing 134bhp electric motor. The French brand has optimised other areas to unlock more range and push well through the 200-mile mark, with the car’s total claimed range now at 214 miles. The charging rate is unaltered, though, with 100kW capability giving an 80 per cent top-up in 30 minutes.…

Running costs 58.0mpg (on test) £76 fill-up/£155 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 280/1,100 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.6 seconds/141mph MODELTESTED: Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e S line PRICE: £36,245 POWERTRAIN: 1.4-litre 4cyl/e-motor, 201bhp WITH a list price of £36,245, the Audi A3 Sportback here is a fair chunk cheaper than the DS 4. However, as we’ll see, in some areas it can’t quite match its rival’s kit levels, which goes some way towards explaining the deficit. Design & engineering WHEN it made its debut back in late 1996, the A3 created the premium hatchback segment. Now in its fourth generation, the Audi has set a template that many rivals want to beat. The key to its success is to place a desirable badge and luxurious accommodation onto…

Mercedes A 250 e AMG Line Premium PRICE: £37,895 POWERTRAIN: 1.3-litre turbo petrol, 15.6kWh battery, 215bhp IN plug-in hybrid form, the Mercedes A 250 e is king of the current crop. It has the measure of this pair for in-car tech and performance. Plus its electriconly range of up to 43 miles promises even lower fuel bills. Peugeot 308 GT Hybrid 225 PRICE: £37,870 ENGINE: 1.6-litre turbo petrol, 12.4kWh battery, 222bhp IF you fancy a French flavour, but want to save some cash, the Peugeot is certainly worth a look. The tech is the same as the DS’s, but the styling and sportier drive will appeal to some. It’s less roomy inside, however.…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Running costs 54.6mpg (off icial) £67 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 397/1,097 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.2 seconds/106mph THE feared ‘new normal’ of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions has not arrived, or it certainly feels that way in Britain as we experience our first ‘proper’ summer since 2019. There’s plenty to do and see all of a sudden, and not wanting to miss a moment of it, I’ve drafted our Yaris Cross into action for some summer trips of my own already. One hangover of the pandemic I’ve not escaped over the past few weeks has been the chaos and cancellations at UK airports, and a last-minute fall-through of a flight to southern France put a weekend away in jeopardy. The solution: get in the car, and head to the…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,728, 1,738 BMWiX3 Issue 1,731 Citroen e-Dispatch Issue 1,733 Dacia Jogger Issue 1,739 Ford Focus Estate New arrival Ford Ranger Issues 1,694, 1,701, 1,713, 1,721, 1,728 Honda HR-V eCVT Issue 1,732 Jaguar F-Pace New arrival Land Rover Defender Issue 1,735 Lexus NX New arrival Mazda CX-5 Issues 1,726, 1,733 Nissan Qashqai Issues 1,707, 1,716, 1,724 Polestar 2 Issues 1,719, 1,725, 1,734 Porsche Taycan CT Issue 1,730 Skoda Fabia Issue 1,735 ToyotaYaris Cross Issue 1,730…

The Camper Van Bible: Glovebox Edn Martin Dorey (Conway, bloomsbury.com) Price: £12.99 Rating: RENOWNED vanlifer Dorey has distilled his more comprehensive Camper Van Bible into a pocketsized edition intended to be kept on the road with you. It’s thorough, with added checklists to ensure you don’t forget anything. Novice camper van owners will find it easy to follow and very informative. The Lance Macklin Story: A Race With Infamy Jack Barlow (Veloce, veloce.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: LANCE Macklin’s biggest legacy is no doubt the part he played in the 1955 Le Mans crash where 84 people died. He was an interesting character, and this book covers his life and career before and after the crash. Racing fans will find it fascinating, but the closely packed print isn’t easy to read.…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Advice on buying back my car after it’s written off I WAS involved in a very minor accident in one of my cars. The damage was purely cosmetic, but my insurer is planning to write the car off because it’s old and not worth much. If I ask to buy it back, is this an involved process? Mark Greenham, E-mail A ONCE the final write-off payout has been agreed between you and your insurer, you should be able to give up part of the sum to get your car back unrepaired. Even if the car has sentimental value, though, there are catches. You need to have the vehicle inspected and repaired to a roadworthy standard. Bear in mind that a written-off car may also…

PORSCHE has pulled the wraps off its GT3 racer for the 2023 season: the new 911 GT3 R. Designed to be kinder on its tyres and more consistent than its predecessor, the new car features a reworked aero platform and suspension components from the 911 RSR, which competes in the GTE class. The new 4.2-litre flat-six engine produces up to 557bhp and provides a broader spread of torque for better driveability. It’s also been tilted forwards by 5.5 degrees to allow a steeper angle for the rear diffuser. In addition, the GT3 R features swollen carbon-fibre body panels and the rear axle has been shifted back 48mm to reduce load on the rear tyres. Elsewhere, there are swan-neck supports for the rear wing to provide cleaner airflow along its lower…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowle • More luxury and electrification plus new platform for Disco 6 • Nameplate could spawn a family of models like Defender LAND ROVER’S forgotten child, the Discovery, is set for a major reinvention under Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy to halt sliding sales that are partly down to the introduction of the Defender. Speaking to Auto Express, CEO Thierry Bolloré said, “We are completely reinventing Discovery. We believe there is a space for it, but we have to be creative. Defender is such a success that it has eaten a part of what was the territory of Discovery. “Defender is a brand. We believe that Discovery could be a brand as well. We are looking at how we present our future line-up – it’s something we have in…

Classic Defender lives on: yours for £225k WHILE it might be focusing on the future with a new Discovery (Page 8) Land Rover is bringing back the classic Defender in Trophy II guise – a nod to Bob Ives’s Camel Trophy-winning Defender of 1989. This V8-powered off-roader uses a 399bhp 5.0-litre V8 and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and has longer-travel suspension and mud tyres to boost off-road performance. Just 25 examples will be built, with prices from £225,000 for the 90 model. UK production falls but optimism grows UK car manufacturing fell 19.2 per cent in the first half of 2022, with 403,131 vehicles rolling off production lines. The decline was driven by the global semiconductor shortage, which the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said isn’t receding as…

PORSCHE has confirmed that a new 911 GT3 RS is on the way, and that the latest hardcore model will be revealed in full on 17 August. It will top the 992 911 range, and will be “more optimised for track use than its predecessors”. So says Porsche’s GT model line boss Andreas Preuninger, who confirmed some of the car’s specifications. The new 911 GT3 RS will be powered by a “high-revving” 4.0-litre six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, so the brand’s most hardcore model won’t turn to turbocharging yet. Preuninger says that this engine has already proven ideal for GT versions of the 911 with its current power output of 503bhp in today’s GT3. That points to either a modest power increase for the new RS, or no extra power at all. “That’s…

Rolls’ boss explains why he’s so sure the Spectre will be a hit with customers Q When did your clients first start asking you to make an electric model? A When we launched 103EX [Rolls’s 2016 concept]. We knew after [2011’s] 102EX that they felt electric propulsion will work with Rolls-Royce. But then came 103EX, which was a clear statement that the brand would go electric in the future, and we announced our plan to do this. Our appetite to go electric was born as soon as we heard from clients that it would fit. The only discussion we had was when would the technology be at the level where it could offer a true, spotless Rolls-Royce experience. It had to be the right time. Q So why choose a…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram “Plant your foot and the EV6 pins you to your seat, with the speed building at an alarming rate” Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 480/1,260 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.5 seconds/162mph THE electric car power war shows no signs of slowing. Even some family SUVs now boast upwards of 400bhp, matched with mind-bending torque, big batteries, and dual-motors for all-wheel drive. Now it’s the turn of the Kia EV6, which has been given a once-over by former brand R&D chief-turned executive technical advisor Albert Biermann to create this GT variant. Biermann told us: “The idea with this car is for it to be a fast car, but not necessarily a true high-performance model. That’s not what the EV6 GT is about; the clue is in the name: it’s a…

Audi A3 Sportback MMI Navigation Plus Key features: Google Earth mapping IN contrast to the DS 4’s system, the A3’s layout is much more conventional, and it remains a very slick set-up. Its resolution is more than a match for its rival, and the colour-coded main menu icons make it even easier to switch between sub-menus on the move. The loading times are quick enough, with the navigation system plotting several routes to your destination and offering options that let the driver choose between speed and likely fuel efficiency. A column of icons along the right side of the screen gives shortcuts to the home page, connections, radio, phone and mapping menus; it’s just one of several small touches that make it an incredibly easy system to use. The A3 also…

INTERIOR TO compete in this segment, DS needed to deliver on cabin quality – and it really has. The use of leather (or Alcantara in Performance Line models) on the seats and across large sections of the dash really instils a feeling of expense that the Audi’s plastic dashboard can’t match. But some people might find a few of the DS 4’s smaller details a little chintzy, and ergonomically, the A3 holds the edge over its rival. CHARGING KNOWING how to charge a PHEV – and how long it takes – can help to maximise efficiency. The DS 4 is able to accept up to 7kW charging, which means topping up its battery takes just under two hours. The Audi is slower; it’s only able to accept speeds of 2.9kW,…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Charging Battery (usable) 83.7kWh Max charging 270kW DC Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.1 seconds/149mph THERE’S money to be made in cars, I’m told. Lots of it. And for a brand that doesn’t actually sell vast quantities of vehicles (compared with some brands, at least), Porsche does a darn good job of putting cash in the bank. The fact is, the German manufacturer’s margin on every car it shifts is the envy of vast swathes of the industry. Last year, this was 16.5 per cent. Having delved deeper into the spec of my Taycan Cross Turismo fleet car, I think I can see where the magic dust resides. Porsche is king, I reckon, of pitching its cars at precisely the right price, and then allowing its well heeled customer base…

High-spec 4K dash cam from Nextbase NEXTBASE has announced a limited-edition version of its high-end 622GW 4K dash cam. The 622GW Sienna comes in a unique burnt orange livery and five per cent of profits from sales will be donated to the MS Society UK. The 622GW is packed with features: 4K recording at 30fps with image stabilisation, Alexa voice control, 5GHz WiFi, emergency SOS alerts and What3Words location functionality. The 622GW Sienna costs £269 on its own or can be bought as a bundle, with the Nextbase Rear Window Camera, case, and a 256GB memory card for £399. Visit nextbase.com. New range of offroad tyres set for UK APOLLO is set to launch its first dedicated off-road tyre in the UK: the Vredestein Pinza. Designed to be a great…

A HOSEPIPE is a crucial part of any car-cleaning kit. A plentiful supply of fast-running water will not only speed up your wash, but also ensure you minimise possible damage to the delicate paint and retain the very best shine. You can buy hosepipes for less than a tenner, but they will soon frustrate you. They’ll look tatty as you try to hang them around the tap, and will restrict the flow of water with kinks and leaks. A reel will make car washing much easier, speeding up your post-clean tidy and ensuring your pipe stays kink-free and protected. All will come with dedicated connectors to make them easy to attach to a tap and swap between accessories. We put seven top performers to the test to see which was…

Search thousands of new and used cars online CO2/tax 0g/km Free Running costs 253-298 miles (EV400) £13-£22 approx. fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/124mph JAGUAR celebrates its centenary this year, and for decades it was held back by traditional styling cues that made its cars seem old-fashioned, even if they weren’t. But in 2008 Jaguar broke free from its shackles and launched the XF, a car that looked like nothing previously built by the company. Over the coming years we would see a succession of models that ditched Jaguar’s sixties styling themes, with the firm’s first SUV, the F-Pace, arriving in 2016. When the I-Pace EV was launched in 2017 the transformation was complete; Jaguar had an electric SUV before any of its rivals could offer one – and a…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk THE Land Rover Discovery is as old as Auto Express. Original prototypes began testing in the same year (1988) that we published our first issue. Over the three-and-a-bit decades since it hit the market, expanding Land Rover’s line-up beyond its iconic Series model and the Range Rover, the Disco has evolved into a core component of the brand’s range and underpinned much of Land Rover’s success. Just five generations span that time period, with iconic and sometimes challenging designs, but always superb off-road performance and a luxurious edge (set to be pushed even further for the new model) characterising the car. Here’s a summary of each generation, explaining why the Discovery’s popularity has remained strong for so long.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Pre-ULEZ emissions FROM: David Pyne IF you have a petrol car, it has to be really old not to meet ULEZ standards, even if it has a massive V8 engine. The whole scheme is a waste of time really; it’s just a way to try to take money from road users. More pedestrianisation would do a better job of improving air quality in London than ULEZ. FROM: JRM THIS doesn’t surprise me. ULEZ was never about lowering emissions or improving air quality – just revenue. If there were no money to be made out of low-emission zones such as ULEZ, no public authorities would even be considering them. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with this in London and Birmingham now. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “I avoid travelling…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 51.3mpg (official £99 fill-up NOW into its eighth generation, the latest Astra is a significant car for Vauxhall. The brand’s Corsa took the top spot for UK registrations last year, and this Astra is looking to build on that with smart design, lots of tech and electrified powertrains alongside pure-petrol models. Let’s start with the looks, because whether you like it or not, this new car is certainly more modern than the dowdy old five-door family hatch it replaced. The look features more than a few design elements that are similar to the latest Volkswagen Golf 8; as they say, if you can’t beat ’em… But that’s doing the Astra a disservice, because in the metal it’s a cohesive piece of car design that gives the Vauxhall…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 Running costs 45.6mpg (off icial) £115 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/155mph Practicality Boot (roof up/down) 385/300 litres WHEN we reviewed the new BMW M4 Convertible (Issue 1,734), we noted how lonely this latest version looks, with Audi and Mercedes no longer occupying this part of the premium drop-top market. It’s become a bit of an oddity, but things get even more niche with this M440d. A performance diesel cabriolet might seem like an odd thing to build in 2022, and sure enough, in the last three months just 7.6 per cent of 4 Series Convertible buyers have opted for it. That compares with 25 per cent for the most popular derivative – the 420i – and 17 per cent for the M440i. Potential buyers shouldn’t be put…

Running costs 56.2mpg (on test) £76 fill-up/£155 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 390/1,190 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.7 seconds/145mph MODELTESTED: DS 4 E-TENSE 225 Cross Rivoli PRICE: £42,200 POWERTRAIN: 1.6-litre 4cyl/e-motor, 222bhp THE new DS 4 range is split into two parts: the standard models and the Cross driven here. In top-spec Rivoli trim with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Cross is priced from £42,200. This range-topping trim level has a handful of options available, but the only extra fitted to our test car is metallic paint, which brings it to £42,795. Design & engineering BREAKING into the premium segment is tough. Just ask Lexus; over 30 years on from its inception, it still can’t match the sales figures of the big German three. But the Japanese brand…

1st DS CURRENT discounts make the DS 4 competitive when it comes to money, especially compared with the brand’s larger models. But the car also sets itself apart by being the first DS that gives buyers more reasons to buy than to just be different from the crowd; the DS 4 is comfortable, beautifully built, well equipped, and the PHEV powertrain has the edge over the Audi’s. 2nd AUDI THE A3 takes second here, but it remains a very desirable candidate in the posh hatchback class. The infotainment technology is brilliant, performance is strong, and the Audi’s composed chassis means that it’s a great longdistance cruiser. However, we think the DS 4 has a better ride and handling balance than its rival, and is also a little more practical. AEB = Autonomous…

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Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Aftermarket theft deterrent I HAVE just bought a 2016 Porsche Boxster and want to protect it from thieves. What is the best standalone aftermarket security device for it? Richard Cobern A FOR the ultimate security it has to be Disklok, which requires a lot of effort and noise to remove. For the best blend of security and convenience, we recommend either the Stoplock Pro or Pro Elite (above), depending on steering wheel design, and which you’ll find easier to fit and remove. Q Professional or DIY ceramic? WHY is a professionally applied ceramic coating so much more expensive than the DIY versions I’ve seen in your tests. Are they worth the extra? Pete Yeoman A PROFESSIONALLY applied ceramic coatings are harder and can last for…

THEY say it’s not worth crying over spilt milk, but anyone who has ever had dairy products slopped over their car’s upholstery may well burst into tears. Drivers with children or pets will also know the sinking feeling of discovering ‘little accidents’ that can’t be solved with a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner. To do a proper job of tackling spills, you’re going to need a wet-and-dry cleaner. These work by spraying a solution of water and shampoo on to the surface of the fabric and then immediately sucking it up – along with any dirt – into a separate tank. We have been using a Bissell Spotclean Pet Pro for a few months and pitched it against Vax’s new SpotWash Home Duo. While the Bissell is better for…

Search thousands of new and used cars online THE mid-size crossover sector is booming, which is good news if you’re looking for a used, high-riding family car. There’s plenty of variety on offer, and the second-generation Peugeot 3008 – which is a former Driver Power New Car survey winner, no less – has been sitting near the top of the tree since it launched back in 2016. The distinctive design isn’t its only strength – the interior is equally striking, equipment levels are strong and it’s very well made. But can it beat the Toyota C-HR? The firm’s coupé-like SUV counters with a rakish look of its own, feeling sportier than you might expect for a crossover. The onboard tech isn’t exactly cutting edge or user-friendly, though, and it’s not quite as…

Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars • Four-time driver’s champ to retire from F1 at the end of the season • Instagram announcement says he’ll spend more time with his family “At Monza in 2008, Vettel became F1’s youngest ever pole-sitter. He became its youngest winner a day later” F1 star Sebastian Vettel is set to bow out at the end of this season. Having achieved 53 wins, 57 pole positions and a consecutive string of four world titles, the German driver has reached the twilight of his Formula 1 career. Vettel has been famously averse to social media in the past, but took to Instagram to make the announcement. A father of three, the former Red Bull star said “Next to racing, I have grown a family, and I love being around them.…

OFFICIALLY they’re Volkswagen Group products. But I think of them as cars from the House of VACSS – VW, Audi, Cupra, SEAT and Skoda – of Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic. These are vehicles I know very well. My first car in the late seventies was a beige Beetle (AGC 829G). The first brand-new car I saved up for and bought myself was a Mk1 Golf (OYX 518Y) in ’82. Since then I must have driven hundreds of VWs, and I still own three. I’ve also pedalled 100-plus Audis – including, in 1988, a pig of an Audi 80 company car that kept breaking down. But on a happier note, I was truly honoured to be among the first in the world to pilot the little-known Le Mans (search…