Innholdsfortegnelse for 1751 i Auto Express

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler • Coupé is first of a fully electric Rolls-Royce line-up by 2030 • Prices upward of £300,500 and first cars delivered in 12 months AN electric car has been a long time coming for Rolls-Royce. Back in 1900 the company’s co-founder, Charles Rolls, bought himself an electric vehicle and said, “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.” Charging points may be out of Rolls-Royce’s control, but the Spectre arrives with the aim to be the pinnacle of electric motoring thanks to, the company claims, the most exhaustive testing procedure of any car it’s ever launched – the equivalent of 400 years’ use for a Rolls-Royce. Although the Spectre is…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler “MINI Oxford is hugely important to us – it’s the heart of MINI, so it’s great the new MINI Convertible is finally coming home”STEFANIE WURST Head of MINI • New British-built soft-top MINI Cooper gets petrol power • Hot JCW petrol and electric MINIs also part of future plans NEW MINI boss Stefanie Wurst has confirmed that a Convertible model will join the all-new MINI Cooper range – due to launch in 2024 – and that it will be ‘coming home’ with production in the UK at the MINI Oxford factory. Petrol and electric versions of the new hatch – set to be called MINI Cooper – have already been confirmed, and now MINI has said a Convertible will join the line-up. Our exclusive image shows how it…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler LOUIS: WHY I LOVE TO RACE“The adrenalin rush you get from driving around the track on the limit is definitely something and I don’t think there are many better feelings than doing that. But also I am quite a competitive person, and just I guess the level of competition; battling other people out on track and having a good race.” TALENT spotting in the sports industry is both difficult and lucrative, but here’s a tip: Louis Sharp is destined for the very top. Louis, a 15 year-old British-born New Zealander, has just finished his first season in British Formula 4, coming fourth in the championship and winning two races in the process. Impressive, but not on the face of it that remarkable. That’s until you realise that Louis…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 2.9 seconds/205+mph Braking 124-0mph 107m THIS is the all-new Ferrari 296 GTS. That ‘S’ stands for Spider, which means what we have here is the open-top version of one of the most mind-bending supercars we’ve ever driven. That doesn’t guarantee that all will be perfect, though. Some performance purists will tell you that open-top sports cars will never be as good as a hard-top one. That cabrios are heavier, and lose their edge. But Ferrari says the GTS is the most “fun” model in its line-up. At 1,540kg, the GTS weighs 70kg more than the GTB as a result of extra chassis strengthening. Ferrari says it’s almost as rigid as the coupé, though. The 296 GTB is the first-ever V6 Ferrari (The 1960/70s Dinos aren’t…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Running costs 48.7mpg (off icial) £77 fill-up YOU’D be forgiven for not recognising the latest Suzuki S-Cross. It’s been on sale since January, but supply issues mean limited numbers have arrived in the UK. The issues are being resolved, though, and Suzuki has introduced this full-hybrid model. It replaces the 1.4 Boosterjet auto (the manual version remains) and features a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine, electric motor and battery to deliver more efficient progress, while Suzuki’s AGS automated manual gearbox is also fitted. The Hybrid offers 48.7mpg combined in Allgrip guise, which is slightly better than the Boosterjet manual’s 47.8mpg. However, the Hybrid is less powerful than the 1.4 turbo – 113bhp, compared with 127bhp. That’s not too much of an issue, though, because it will be the frustrating…

NEW: Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD PRICE: £129,725 ENGINE: 5.2-litre V10, 562bhp IT lacks the track focus of the Cayman or M4, but the R8 is a bona-fide supercar. It’s stunning to drive on road or track, and thanks to its glorious naturally aspirated V10 engine, it’s one of the few cars on sale that can match the Porsche for aural drama. USED: Nissan GT-R Nismo PRICE: £122k (’15/15k) ENGINE: 3.8 V6TT, 591bhp JUST as with the BMW and the Porsche, the already potent GT-R was transformed into a fiercely capable performance car. It’s seven years old, but its trick four-wheel drive system will allow it to monster either of our challengers on track.…

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In association with WHEN we last tested this size in 2020, the Vector 4Seasons was pipped to the win by the Continental. This time it reverses the positions, but both tyres now trail newer or revamped designs. It was happiest in the wet, where it dealt with deep water well, and it was at the front of the pack in the other tests, with a win on the circle. On the handling circuit the front had good grip, but the balance wasn’t quite there, with the rear moving as the steering was applied on the limit. It is controllable and this helped its lap time. The rear grip returned in the dry at the expense of the front, where it needed lots of lock through the longer turns. Where it…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk IT might be an SUV, but F-Pace owners in the Driver Power 2022 survey tell us they love how their Jaguar drives. It sits in 10th place for the powertrain and fourth for its ride and handling. Better still, the overall driving pleasure is rated highly enough by owners for the Jaguar SUV to take third place in this category. There’s a top-10 spot for practicality and boot space, too, although there’s criticism that a split-fold rear seat isn’t standard. There are some predictable frustrations. Owners rate reliability as average, but the worst score, 71st place, is reserved for servicing costs. Some drivers are also unimpressed by the quality of the materials used on both the interior and exterior of their F-Paces. WE SAID “Great F-Pace attributes include tech,…

IT’S make your mind up time for mainstream motor manufacturers. To price motorists out of their brand-new cars, or to price them in? That is the question. And what follows goes some way towards providing the answer. Ten years ago – Auto Express issue 1,239 – I argued that consumers “had never had it so good” and, to illustrate the point, raved about the just-launched Mk7 Golf, which I claimed was “priced right” (from £16,330). Today, the bottom-of-the-range Mk8 version (not as good as its predecessor) is £25,610. The most affordable Polo then was £10,420 – today it’s £19,030. The bog standard up! was £8k. It’s £14k now. These price hikes of up to 82 per cent over a period of 120 months are bad – but not the worst.…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Renault 4 to be rebooted as small family-friendly all-electric SUV • Chunky-looking show car marks 4L Trophy rally’s 25th birthday FOLLOWING the rebirth of the Renault 5 hatchback in concept form, the French manufacturer has reinvented yet another icon from its back catalogue in the shape of the Renault 4Ever Trophy concept car, revealed at the Paris Motor Show. A concept – for now – the 4Ever directly previews a future production car from Renault. A reborn 4 will go on sale in 2025 as a compact family SUV with an all-electric powertrain, and it will feature many design cues from this striking-looking prototype. According to Laura Gregoire, product leader on the 4Ever project, the silver-coloured parts of the body are very close to the production-ready Renault 4’s…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram WE’VE only just driven the Mercedes EQS SUV, but already the manufacturer is trotting out its next electric family car. The EQE SUV is in effect a shrunken version of that flagship model, and it will be offered with a choice of zero-emission powertrains, plus as an AMG range-topper. Mercedes has yet to reveal battery and trim specifications for the EQE SUV, but we expect the new range to mirror that of the existing EQE saloon. That is likely to mean just one standard version – the EQE 300 – with a 90kWh battery. AMG model aside, the saloon is only offered with a single motor, but the SUV will get 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Visually, there’s little to distinguish the EQE from the equivalent EQS; with five seats…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Electric R8 successor FROM: Mike McKeown I THINK this looks absolutely fantastic. The arrival of more exciting performance-focused electric cars is undoubtedly a good thing. I expect this will be faster than the old ICE versions of the R8, even if it doesn’t sound as nice. FROM: Grant Collins EVERYTHING is going to be electric. The age of interesting, unusual, unique, quirky cars is over. They will all be the same apart from number of seats, trim level and colours. They will be about as individual as your smartphone or TV. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I’m not an EV hater, but I’m not sure we have the raw materials for all these electric cars.” Grant Rossouw ■ “For me, the point of buying an…

I’VE been lucky enough to be a passenger alongside plenty of racing drivers, from F1 stars to rally champions. But I’m sitting on the grid of a slightly damp Thruxton circuit, one of the fastest in the UK, alongside 15-year-old British Formula 4 race winner Louis Sharp. Our conversation has made it clear that Louis is a massive talent behind the wheel of a single-seater race car. But an Abarth 595? Abarth provides the power for Louis’s Carlin-prepared F4 car, but has he ever actually driven a road car before? “I think maybe once,” he quips. Right. But what about a car with a manual transmission? “Hmmm, I think so. Of course, my race car uses paddles, but I think I’ve moved a manual around a car park,” Louis replies.…

Shane_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @WilkiWheels THE XCeed is an important car for Kia. It only accounts for 10 per cent of the brand’s UK sales, but if the results of our Driver Power new-car survey are anything to go by – it topped the 2022 satisfaction poll – then owners are clearly over the moon with it as an ownership proposition. With a steady flow of new Kia models being released this year, such as the latest Niro and Sportage, the XCeed has received a dose of updates to keep it up to scratch with the rest of the range. As part of the facelift, the XCeed’s line-up has been simplified; buyers now have the option of 2, 3, GT-Line and GT-Line S trims. The engine options have been slimmed down, too. UK…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale IF you ever need to have your car’s windscreen repaired or replaced, there’s a good chance the name Autoglass may pop into your head. That’s in no small part due to the catchy “Autoglass repair, Autoglass replace” jingle that’s so often played during television and radio adverts, but that’s also because this brand is far bigger than one might expect. The parent company of Autoglass is Belron, which was founded as a family-run glass firm in South Africa way back in 1897. Today, Belron is a vehicle-glass repair and replacement provider headquartered in the UK and operating across 34 different countries around the globe. Its name and advertising jingle vary across these different regions. It’s Autoglass in the UK, Ireland and Poland, Carglass in most of Europe, Safelite…

MODELTESTED: BMW M4 CSL PRICE: £128,225 ENGINE: 3.0-litre 6cyl turbo, 543bhp AT £128,225, the M4 CSL costs nearly £46,000 more than the standard M4 Competition, a car that’s not exactly cheap to start off with. So what do you get for roughly the price of a BMW M240i on top – and is it worth the premium? Running costs 21.8mpg (on test) £96 fill-up/£520 or 37% tax Practicality Boot capacity 440 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.7 seconds/190mph Design & engineering THE ‘L’ in CSL stands for lightweight, and while the car’s price is nothing of the sort, you’re paying for the fitment of plenty of weight-saving components. Among the biggest savers are the carbon-shelled bucket seats, which weigh 24kg less than the M4’s standard items. The rear seats are removed…

BMW M4 CSL iDrive Key features: Drift Analyser IF there’s one area where the BMW is clearly more advanced than its rival, it’s in terms of in-car tech. The touchscreen is larger, sharper and more responsive, and its high-set position means that the information is in your peripheral vision; in the Porsche you need to divert your eyes away from the road for much longer. The integration of both touch and physical controls has been refined to perfection over the generations of BMW’s iDrive tech, so through a mix of those two input methods – plus fairly natural voice recognition – the system is exceptionally easy to get along with. We’re not sold on all of BMW’s in-car tech, though. The digital instruments provide plenty of information and can be…

STYLING BOTH cars have a strong motorsport look. The CSL’s design is boosted with red decals to distinguish it further from the standard M4 – as if the bodykit weren’t enough already. The Cayman’s key elements are its huge rear wing and the bare carbon-fibre panels on Weissach models. The wheels are significant on these two cars, because they influence both the aesthetics and the driving impressions. BMW has fitted 19-inch rims up front and 20-inchers at the rear, but the GT4 RS has 20-inch items all round. Their motorsport-derived centre-lock design will be a touch impractical if you get a puncture, but they look utterly stunning. Inside, both steering wheels are trimmed in Alcantara, which is more grippy than leather. The Porsche’s simple three-spoke design has a fairly delicate…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk AS winter approaches, it’s time to take stock of the SUVs and four-wheel-drive models that can really cut it when the going gets slippery. Here we’ve picked 101 of the best models across every category, from small to large, as well as the best seven-seaters and dedicated four-wheel-drive machines. We’ve also listed our best used buys, while a round-up of selected test-winning accessories will help you tackle the worst that the winter can throw at you. With the take-up of electric cars gathering pace, we’ve done some mythbusting about winter EV ownership, while we round off our special with a look at some of the most extreme machines to ever tackle winter roads.…

products@autoexpress.co.uk DRIVERS looking for the best way to cope with increasingly extreme weather are turning to all-season tyres, because they provide vastly improved grip in winter over conventional alternatives, without the cost and aggravation of changing tyres twice a year. But no tyre can be best in the wet, dry and snow, so manufacturers have to decide where they want their tyre to perform best. That decision and how much performance they give up elsewhere is why we test all-season tyres every year, and this time round we return to the massively popular 225/45R17 size. We’re also back to some sort of normality after two years where our testing was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions. We were able to buy almost all of our tyres,…

In associatio with MOVING up a tyre size meant we tested Vredestein’s all-season tyre for the UHP (ultra-high performance) sector, the Quatrac Pro. It has an asymmetric tread pattern, which the firm says works better on the larger sizes on the high-performance saloons and SUVs the range is aimed at. Our 17-inch tyre is at the bottom of its size range and struggled to match the third-place finish of the Quatrac last year. With high-performance cars targeted, the focus is on wet and dry grip and the Pro struggled on the white stuff. It was last across all of the tests, almost five per cent off the leaders. It was happiest on the handling track, where the tyre had a stronger front than the Avon, but that prompted more rear…

CO2 /tax 89-118g/km Free-£30pa Running costs 47-64mpg (0.9T IG-T 90) £66 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 12.1 seconds/109mph THE Micra has been a staple of Nissan’s price lists for 40 years, the small runabout having been launched four decades ago in the Japanese market as the Nissan March. The following summer the Micra reached the UK, where it sold in big numbers, thanks to its combination of excellent reliability and keen prices. Over the years, the Micra has grown ever more sophisticated, and after a hiccup with the underwhelming fourth-generation model, the current Mk5 version (codenamed K14 by Nissan) was far more impressive when it was unveiled in 2016. More than 17cm longer than its predecessor, almost 8cm wider, but 5.5cm lower, the fifth-generation Micra was packed with the latest comfort and…

LAURA Gregoire was at the sharp end of the 4Ever’s design and development. We quizzed her on the challenges of bringing such funky design to market. Q How do you reinvent a car like the 4 for the modern era without it being a total pastiche of the original? A We wanted to keep that iconic silhouette and the DNA of the original 4. However, it’s easier to modernise a hatchback like the 5, which we showed at the start of the Renaulution; the 4’s shape and volumes are more difficult to reimagine with what we need for today, but with these cars we achieved it twice! Q Who will the new Renault 4 production car be aimed at? A We want the 4 to be more versatile. The 5…

Yousuf_Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars • All-new electric SUV revealed • Up to 379 miles on a charge THE high-end electric SUV market is contested by the likes of the BMW iX and Audi e-tron, and now the Polestar 3 has joined the ranks. It heralds the firm’s next generation of models, and features a new EV platform, plus revised interior tech. It’s on sale now, with prices from £79,900. Under the skin, the Polestar 3 shares Its SPA2 platform with the upcoming Volvo EX90, although the Polestar has a slightly smaller footprint than a BMW iX. There are dual electric motors for a total of 482bhp and 840Nm, while Polestar is targeting a 0-62mph sprint time of five seconds. The Performance Pack increases the output to 510bhp and 910Nm for an extra…

More range and new kit for smallest Lexus LEXUS is giving its UX 300e (above) a huge battery and range boost as part of its 2023 facelift. The battery is being increased from 54kWh to 72kWh, a move which, Lexus claims, will extend its range from 196 miles to 280 miles. The 201bhp electric motor remains unchanged, but cabin updates include the removal of the controversial touchpad infotainment controller in favour of an upgraded touchscreen system with a choice of eight-inch or 12.3-inch displays. Jogger hybrid will be first electrified Dacia DACIA has confirmed plans to launch a hybrid version of its Jogger seven-seater early next year, with first deliveries by the spring. The first electrified model from the Renault-owned value brand will use the same 138bhp, non-plug-in set-up as…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk • Guidelines from British Standards Institute are designed to improve access for less able EV drivers THE long-awaited PAS 1899 Accessibility Standard for public electric car chargers has been launched by the British Standards Institute, and it’s been significantly upgraded from the draft consultation published in April, which Auto Express criticised heavily. As well as meeting our demands for limits to the maximum weight that users can be expected to grapple with when using public EV charging cables, the new PAS 1899 also stipulates that public chargepoint operators with cables exceeding the limits must offer “additional assistance” to less able users. This puts the onus on chargepoint operators to ensure they don’t discriminate against less able drivers who can’t use heavy cables by routinely providing staff to assist with…

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.consumerombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks RENAULT says it wants to take back the family-SUV initiative after ending production of the Kadjar earlier this year. The French firm is hoping the car to achieve this will be the new Austral – or the “Australe” if the boot badge is anything to go by. The blue “e” on the end is a nod towards the electrification of the powertrain. It’s not a fully electric car, though, because the new SUV will only be sold here in the UK as a hybrid: the E-TECH Full Hybrid 200 auto. Underpinning the new Austral is the same third-generation CMF-C platform used by the latest Nissan Qashqai. The base has been designed with electrified power in mind, so the impact on practicality as a result of adding a battery…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 IF you want to know how seriously the Lamborghini Urus Performante takes itself, then know this: it comes with the option of shodding its vast 22-inch wheels in Pirelli Trofeo R tyres, super-sticky rubber that’s usually the preserve of the most focused of supercars. The tyres are only part of the story. The Performante ditches air suspension for steel springs and rides 20mm lower than its lesser sibling, the Urus S. Front and rear track widths are up 16mm, and a new, quicker Torsen centre diff sends more torque to the rear more often. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 develops 657bhp – 16bhp up on the outgoing Urus, but no more than the S. Its 3.3-second 0-62mph time is 0.3 seconds better than the S’s, though, thanks to a…

DURING our visit to Autoglass, we tried out some of Belron’s patented windscreen-fitting tech and had a go at changing a screen. Staff from the firm did the preparation, ensuring the car’s exterior and interior were protected and removing the car’s windscreen wipers. Belron’s toolbox consists mainly of sophisticated clamps and lifting devices. A clever cutting tool – similar in appearance to a large fishing reel – is used to garrote the glue holding the screen in place and break it free. Most impressive is the ‘1-Tek’ that allows a technician to lift and manoeuvre a windscreen that would normally require two people. We were amazed by just how heavy the screen was, but we were shown the correct technique to use and were eventually able to do the job…

MODELTESTED: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS PRICE: £113,700 ENGINE: 4.0-litre 6cyl, 493bhp Running costs 22.9mpg (on test) £88 fill-up/£520 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (front/rear) 125/136 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.4 seconds/196mph IT might seem bizarre to even suggest that Porsche’s most extreme 718 looks like good value, but at £113,700, it undercuts the starting price of the M4 CSL by £14,525. Add the optional Weissach pack, which includes a titanium roll cage, six-point seatbelts, and carbon finishes for various parts inside and out – most notably the bonnet and side intakes – and the price climbs to £124,886. Design & engineering IN isolation, the Cayman GT4 is already a fascinating engineering spectacle, but upgrading it to full-blown RS spec lifts things to almost race car-like extremes. From the off,…

PORSCHE 1st IT’S hard to know where to start with the superlatives for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. For many, the glorious noise of the flat-six engine will be worth the asking price on its own, but its response and the gearbox are just as impressive. Then there’s the chassis, which is at least as spectacular as the powertrain. It’s an instant performance car icon, and one of the greatest of the breed we’ve ever driven. BMW 2nd IT takes a very special car to beat the M4 CSL, but that’s exactly what it has faced up to here. In isolation, the BMW is incredibly fast, thrilling and fun to drive, but beside the Porsche – or even compared with some of the M Division’s past hits – it doesn’t feel as…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.7 seconds/124mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 510/1,626 litres DIESEL has been a bit of a dirty word over the past few years – and the fallout from the VW emissions scandal has been compounded by tightening efficiency targets and a push towards electrification. But just as EVs are brilliantly suited to urban environments, some brands believe that diesel still has a place for those drivers who rack up many thousands of miles every year. And after six months and more than 10,000 miles in a diesel-powered Mazda CX-5, I think they may have a point. The Japanese brand has long taken a slightly different approach to its rivals on fuel choices and engine sizes, and Mazda continues to invest in diesel tech. Indeed, I’m told that…

ENTER the world of four-wheel-drive vehicles, and you’ll be exposed to a potentially confusing lexicon of new phrases and terms. Our handy guide will help you understand the jargon when you’re looking for a 4x4 this winter. 4x4 Four-by-four signifies a car that sends engine power to all four wheels. More specifically, it usually refers to cars with a permanent set-up, which is good for off-roading, but not so good for fuel economy. 4MATIC The name for Mercedes’s four-wheel drive system. 4MOTION The name for Volkswagen’s four-wheel drive system. Air suspension A set-up with heavy-duty airbags that are often electrically adjustable so a car can be raised for improved ground clearance when driving off road. All-terrain tyre A specialised tyre that is designed for better grip when driving off road.…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram “Norway’s electric-car uptake far surpassed that of any other global market – in spite of its extreme winters” MAKE no mistake: electric cars are less efficient in the winter. The cold weather affects battery performance, reducing range and forcing you to charge more often. But with EVs accounting for 14.5 per cent of new car registrations, what sort of mileage might go missing? And can you still drive an EV in sub-zero temperatures? The short answer to the second question, of course, is yes. For years (thanks to strong incentives) Norway’s electric-car uptake far surpassed that of any other global market – in spite of its extreme winters. The UK, in contrast, has a relatively mild climate, so driving an EV year-round over here should be a piece…

Andy_pringle@autovia.co.uk THERE’S nothing like a bit of snow and ice to prompt the greatest minds in automotive engineering to put on their thinking caps. And when the weather gets really extreme, the engineering solutions do, too. From sprouting extra wheels to bolting on tracks and skis, pretty much anything and everything has been tried in an effort to make it easier to get around when the going gets very, very tough. Here we’ve gathered together some of the wildest and wackiest creations from around the world. Some are pure concepts, while others are available on a website near you right now – but all are as extreme in their ambitions as they look. Brabus 800 Adventure XLP FEW people would think you could toughen up a Mercedes-AMG G63 – but…

RECOMMENDED MICHELIN revived the all-season market with its CrossClimate, which it called a summer tyre with winter capability. There was nothing like it and, while its snow grip was not a match for more conventional designs, it was still surprisingly good and far better to drive. There seems to have been a change of thinking for this third iteration, because instead of sacrificing snow performance for wet and dry grip, it topped our tests in Finland, taking three wins. It was a joy to drive, with a strong front, and rear grip to match. When it did slide, the rear was quick to recover, and traction on lock, where many rivals struggle, was good. It also impressed in the dry, with a win in braking and a lap only 0.1…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Battle for second in driver’s championship rages on ● Hamilton chases down Merc team-mate Russell THE 2022 Formula One world driver’s championship was wrapped up in strange fashion last time out at Suzuka. A post-race five-second time penalty awarded to Charles Leclerc meant the Ferrari driver dropped below Sergio Perez to third in the standings, with the result that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen scooped up his second successive championship win. This season’s result had looked inevitable for some time before Suzuka, especially since Ferrari kept shooting itself in the foot with curious race strategies, plus a string of driver errors. But there are plenty of positions and seats to race for elsewhere during the remaining four events. Next up is the United States Grand Prix at the…

THE world of Formula E has been shaken up ahead of the 2023 season, with this year’s champion Stoffel Vandoorne (below) moving to DS Penske. The Belgian will join two-time winner Jean-Eric Vergne, creating one of the most decorated driver line-ups in the series. The partnership between DS and Penske Autosport is also new. Until now, the French brand has been successful in the Formula E series with Techeetah, winning two team’s championships and three driver’s titles since 2018.…