Innholdsfortegnelse for 1764 i Auto Express

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler ● We talk to Renault UK boss ● Wants brand to be ‘big again’ RENAULT’S bold new product line-up, including the electrified revival of the famous 4 and 5 badges, is set to arrive in the UK from next year. But the ‘Renaulution’ is already having an effect over here, with some fresh plans already put into action. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Renault UK MD Guillaume Sicard revealed plans for a publicly available charging network based at many of Renault’s 140 dealers, while a new subscription service has been running for just over a month and is set to be expanded over the coming year. Renault UK is lagging behind other countries in terms of the company’s market share, but it bucked the overall trend of Renault’s…

@johnmcilroy ● Improved charging capability ● More performance offered, too POLESTAR is introducing a significant facelift to its first all-electric model, the Polestar 2. Described as a ‘2024 model year’ update, it’s designed to bring the electric fastback into line with the evolved look seen on the recently launched Polestar 3, while also incorporating improved electric motors, revised batteries and tweaked drivetrain options. The exterior changes focus on the Polestar 2’s front end. Up to now it featured a regular grille, but the 2024-spec car gets what Polestar calls the ‘SmartZone’ – a body-coloured panel with a slim surround. This houses safety-related tech such as a front-facing camera and radar system. The cabin remains unchanged, but under the skin there are new electric motors across the range, while two-wheel-drive versions…

THE collapse of Britishvolt is the opening note of the death knell for Britain’s auto industry. Simply put – without a battery manufacturing base on UK shores, the wider auto industry will collapse. Without a proper strategy to back-up the transition to electric vehicles, the targets and lofty ambitions of politicians are not worth the House of Commons-headed paper they are written on. Without a domestic battery manufacturing industry and with no investment in battery technology, the UK’s proud and long history in the automotive sector risks becoming just that – history.…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Speed cameras FROM: Colin Post SPEED cameras do nothing to improve people’s driving standards, concentration, observation, consideration or respect. The camera vans near me are always out at weekends when the roads are quiet, never during the busy rush hours. FROM: Dan Litt GETTING caught speeding twice slowed me down, so the deterrent can work. If some drivers can’t be trusted to show restraint behind the wheel and obey the limit, the authorities are unfortunately going to sting us all like this. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Don’t speed, don’t get fined. Speed, risk getting fined. It’s a simple choice to make.” Jeremy Andrews ■ “Mobile speed cameras have…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.6 seconds/174mph Running costs 27.7mpg (official) £94 fill-up THE new £85,165 BMW M3 Touring could be the ultimate do-everything high-performance car. It’s only available in the UK in Competition form, and it also comes exclusively with BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel drive system, while it builds on the M3 saloon’s distinctive looks. It uses the saloon as its mechanical starting point, to which BMW M has added a collection of upgrades. These include the under-body brace from the M4 Cabriolet that’s bolted between the rear axle and transmission tunnel, to compensate for reduced stiffness in a body that lacks the saloon’s rear bulkhead. Front spring and damper rates have also been modified, while the rear dampers are completely new. These upgrades are in addition to the M3 saloon’s…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 THE up-front price of a car has become less and less relevant in recent times. For most motorists, it’s about how much they’ll have to pay a month to get behind the wheel, and one of the most popular ways to do this is leasing. Also known as Personal Contract Hire, it’s best thought of as a long-term rental agreement, because you never own the car. Leasing is ideal for people who are happy to hand back the vehicle at the end of the agreement. It lets them take advantage of typically lower monthly payments than a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Personal Hire (PH) arrangement. The car market is in a strange place right now, with numerous challenges, including demand often outstripping supply due to production problems,…

Running costs 42.5mpg (on test) £77 fill-up/£155 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 330/1,022 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.5 seconds/134mph MODEL TESTED: Mazda 3 GT Sport e-Skyactiv X Auto PRICE: £31,105 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol, 183bhp THE Mazda 3 we have in these pictures is the GT Sport Tech equipped with a manual gearbox. In order to keep parity with the other two here, we’re testing it as priced with an automatic gearbox. Before options, that means it costs £31,105, while the Platinum Quartz metallic paint adds another £570. Design & engineering MAZDA has a history of going its own way when it comes to its engineering choices. While almost every other mainstream manufacturer has spent years developing downsized turbocharged petrol engines, the Japanese brand has stuck with larger-capacity non-turbo…

Ford Focus EcoBoost mHEV ST-Line auto PRICE: £30,450 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 153bhp OUR test cars aren’t the only modest hatches that over-deliver on fun. The Focus has always offered sharp dynamics, while the current model offers great value and is more spacious inside than the alternatives here. The cabin tech is slick, too. Vauxhall Astra 1.2 Turbo Ultimate PRICE: £32,840 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 129bhp THE latest Astra moved the game on a huge amount over its predecessor, with a smart, well built cabin, plenty of passenger space and lots of kit for the money. What matters in this company is that it’s fairly sharp to drive, too, even if it’s a touch down on power.…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Running costs 60.2mpg (on test) £64 fill-up, £290 road tax Practicality Cargo capacity/payload 0.65 cubic metres/425kg IT’S safe to say that unless you’re buying a high-end pick-up truck or a Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, you’re not in the market for a commercial vehicle for its looks. And yet, van makers insist on adding trinkets and baubles to their models in a bid to jazz them up. Our Toyota Corolla Commercial comes in one trim level, which is based on the entry-level Icon version of the Touring Sports estate. But instead of kitting it out with that car’s 16-inch alloys, the Commercial makes do with 15-inch steel wheels and silver plastic trims. I can’t say I’m a fan of wheel trims. Even when they’re designed by a manufacturer, they…

NEW PRODUCT Nextbase iQ smart dash cam Price: Under £500 Contact: nextbase.co.uk NEXTBASE has been teasing more details about its next generation of dash cam, which promises greater in-car security and driver assistance. We last covered the iQ a year ago (Issue 1,710), but its planned launch date and price have altered since then. The August 2022 delivery has moved to this spring and its £300 cost is now said to be “under £500”. Perhaps the delay is understandable because the iQ aims to deliver much more than just capturing your drive and the behaviour of other road users. A GPS-backed, three-cam IR system remains at the heart of the device, but delivering 4K front and 1440p rear and cabin views at all times. AI technology provides real-time monitoring of other…

McLaren and APL add colour options MCLAREN Automotive has furthered its collaboration with footwear brand APL to launch three new colourways for the APL McLaren HySpeed trainers. The Magenta/Pristine version “represents the dynamic performance and driving characteristics as an ode to APL and McLaren”, while the Pristine/Tan/Midnight option takes inspiration from McLaren interiors and the French Riviera. The Black/White colourway is an updated take of APL’s historic best seller. The trainers retail for £545 and can be bought at athleticpropulsionlabs.com. Goodyear shows off greener demo tyre GOODYEAR has unveiled a new demonstration tyre, which is approved for road use and is made from 90 per cent sustainable materials. Further to the brand’s demo in 2022, which used 70 per cent sustainable materials, the new tyre also had a lower rolling resistance…

A PRESSURE washer is the best car-washing accessory since the bucket. One can be found in every enthusiast’s shed or garage because it helps blast away dirt in a way that avoids paint damage. It can also apply a layer of cleansing foam to help keep your driveway looking clean too. There is a huge variety on the market, ranging from cleaners costing less than £50 to professional machines with prices in the thousands. For this test we concentrated on washers which would be on the shortlist of the average DIY car-cleaning enthusiast. While overall water-blasting ability is important for cutting through tough dirt, a concentrated jet from a powerful machine can easily damage bodywork and exterior components of a car. So while we expected a decent punch, a big…

THE people of the North East aren’t the only ones to be disgusted and dismayed by the death of the Britishvolt gigafactory (Page 13) and the thousands of much-needed jobs it promised – but failed – to deliver. There surely can’t be many people in Britain who didn’t want to see Blyth – once famous for mining – reinvent itself as home to the first of many clean, green, cutting-edge EV battery plants. Establishing such a facility 20-odd miles from the EV-making Nissan plant in Sunderland was a no-brainer. And the job creation was just for starters. The plan also demonstrated that Britain still has what it takes to be a major player on the world’s automotive stage. Given that we’ve long had plenty of huge car makers in Britain…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● New front-end styling will be backed up by more range for Corsa Electric; petrol power retained for Britain’s best-selling supermini BRITAIN’S best-selling supermini, the Vauxhall Corsa, will be updated this year with petrol power retained for the combustion-engined line-up, while the Corsa Electric EV will receive a bigger battery for extra range, and a more powerful motor. Both versions of the car will feature fairly significant styling revisions – previewed by our exclusive images – that bring the Corsa into line with the rest of Vauxhall’s range. The most significant design changes will come at the front, where the old car’s more traditional grille will be replaced by Vauxhall’s now trademark Vizor panel. This black section will be discreetly vented to aid cooling in petrol models, while the…

“A naturally aspirated V12 will be joined by an electric motor for even more performance” THE design of the Lamborghini Aventador’s successor has been revealed in a series of new patent drawings. The outlines show a car that draws heavily from the firm’s hybrid Sián FKP37 model when it comes to the design, featuring Y-shaped headlights and tail-lights, plus a huge rear diffuser and two prominent exhaust outlets. The Aventador’s replacement will also use hybrid tech, with the car being built around a naturally aspirated V12 engine offering “[more] power, more revs, more sound,” according to the firm’s chief technical officer, Rouven Mohr. This will be joined by an electric motor for more performance, making it the first series-production hybrid from Lamborghini. “It’s an extremely cool feature if you drive…

FOLLOWING its record sales in 2022, Bentley is looking to further bolster its performance with an updated version of the Continental GT – and our spy photographers have caught the new car undergoing testing. Ignore the big LED light bar at the front, but the Conti GT’s standard headlights will be tweaked. The camouflage hints at a new lighting signature that could more closely emulate the look of Bentley’s ultra-exclusive Batur. Expect similar changes at the rear, with subtle tweaks to the LED tail-lights. While the firm’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 will return, a plug-in hybrid system is also set to be offered. Given that the GT is based on the same platform as the Flying Spur, it could inherit that car’s system of a 2.9-litre petrol V6 combined with a 14.1kWh…

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…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram WE drove the new Audi Q8 e-tron late last year, and were won over by the renamed model’s bigger battery, longer range and improved kit count. Extensive changes once again made it competitive against an increasingly long list of rivals. But as before, the 50 e-tron and 55 e-tron will be joined by a range-topping S variant – now badged SQ8 e-tron. It’s not available to order just yet, but we’ve been given an early taste of the flagship Vorsprung model in sleek Sportback guise. The core ingredients are unchanged. It’s fitted with three electric motors that produce a combined 496bhp and 973Nm of torque, giving the SQ8 a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds, while top speed stays capped at 130mph. As with the standard e-tron, however, the…

Running costs 40.7mpg (on test) £68 fill-up/£155 or 32% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,200 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.7 seconds/133mph MODEL TESTED: Cupra Leon 1.5 eTSI V1 DSG PRICE: £32,985 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl turbo petrol, 148bhp THE arrival of the 1.5 TSI powertrain creates a new entry point to the Cupra Leon line-up. In V1 trim with a DSG gearbox it costs £32,985 before options, and the only extra for our test car is Graphene Grey paint (£870), which brings the total to £33,855. Design & engineering ORIGINALLY a sporty trim level for SEAT, Cupra was spun off into its own brand in 2018. While some models, like the Formentor, are unique to Cupra, cars such as the Leon take a sportier slant over the SEAT version. Sharper bumpers, new…

Cupra Leon Media System Plus with Nav Key features: Wireless Apple CarPlay WE’VE already mentioned the Cupra’s awkward sliding controls, but even though they’re not part of the infotainment set-up itself, they still harm its usability. That’s because their location, on a small shelf below the 12-inch screen, is exactly where you might steady your hand when using the touchscreen, so you have to hover your hand above it in order to not inadvertently change the audio volume or cabin temperature. The system itself has been steadily improved since its first release, and in many areas, it’s quite slick. The loading times are quick, the graphics are bright and colourful, and the shortcut logos make it easy to work your way around. However, the cabin climate functions are set within the…

Pete_Baiden@autovia.co.uk @PeteBaiden Running costs 84.4mpg (test) 8% company-car tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 361/1,271 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.6 seconds/139mph THE term ‘family hatchback’ applies to a lot of cars, with almost every manufacturer having a contender in this sector. There’s the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Kia Ceed, Honda Civic, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and many, many more. Included in that list is the Peugeot 308 that we’re currently running on the Auto Express fleet, and the more time I spend with it, the more I’m starting to realise that whoever coined this term probably doesn’t have a family. I have two children aged five and two, and it can be a real struggle to fit everybody inside, along with the sheer amount of kit that needs…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk HOW TO Decode tyre markings What do they mean? THE days of ringing round tyre depots looking for the best prices have long gone and most of us now do our searching online. But you need to know what you are looking for. Some online tyre retailers let you search using your car’s registration number. But it pays to check what tyres you have fitted, because they may have been changed, or the maker offered several size options. Knowing the correct specification you need may also increase the choice on offer to you, because the speed and load ratings on your tyres will be the minimum you can fit. Higher-spec tyres are also an option. The key figures are usually the biggest on the sidewall and follow…

EVEN experienced used car dealers can be caught out by fraudsters and traders who dabble in shady activities. This is why we always advise paying to investigate a car’s history. The best data checks include areas not covered by the industry-standard products, such as scanning salvage auction records for damaged cars that weren’t written off. Following criticism in our last data checks multitest, Caranalytics has revamped its pricing to include a discounted package of five checks. Our previous best buy, TotalCarCheck, has also upped its game, with new information now included in both the free and paid-for investigations. There’s no doubt the Caranalytics bulk-buy pricing is welcome, but it still works out more expensive than its TotalCarCheck rival, and isn’t as easy to understand, comprehensive or accurate. So our Best…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk IT’S impressive that one of the cheapest cars in our 2022 Driver Power survey managed to sneak into the top 15. Better still, the Kia Picanto saw an improvement of five positions in the chart compared with the previous year’s Driver Power results. Given the nature of a city car, it’s no surprise that the best scores awarded by the survey respondents were for the tiny running costs, with seventh place for the price of servicing and ninth for overall value. But there were some interesting high scores for the quality of the sat-nav and touchscreen, and an eighth for reliability. Predictably for such a small car, it is the interior space and acceleration that drag down the Picanto’s overall score. WE SAID “All of the key ingredients for a…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● Hottest M3 boasts 542bhp ● CS gets M xDrive 4WD set-up “The BMW M3 CS delivers a claimed 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed that is limited to 188mph” FOLLOWING in the wheeltracks of last year’s M4 CSL coupé, BMW has unveiled a more extreme version of its M3 saloon. Called the M3 CS, the new car boasts an uprated engine with more power compared with the regular M3 Competition on which it’s based, as well as alterations to the chassis and lightweight parts that, collectively, aim to improve handling. The M3 CS’s engine output highlights its positioning, with the 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six unit producing 542bhp (39bhp more than the M3 Competition and identical to the M4 CSL) and 650Nm of torque. Where the CS…

BRITISHVOLT – the UK start-up that promised to build a £3.8billion gigafactory in the north east of England – has entered administration. The majority of the company’s circa 300 staff are expected to be laid off. The news is a blow to the UK automotive industry, with Britishvolt seen as a landmark project to boost the country’s production of EV components. The project secured additional funding in November 2022, but the board has now decided that there’s no way to continue. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has previously emphasised that the UK needs several gigafactories to ensure the future success of its automotive industry as petrol and diesel are phased out. The factory, in Blyth, Northumberland, had been a key part of the Government’s ‘levelling-up’ policy commitments under…

New Kia app offers free charging for EVs KIA EV owners can earn credits for free car charging by spending with certain retailers as part of the ‘&Charge’ scheme. Drivers earn &Charge kilometres via an app (above), with each km equating to around 7p in Kia Charge credits. Retailers signed up include DIY stores, fashion outlets, online travel sites, attractions and days out, food retailers and delivery services; &Charge users can also earn credits for providing feedback on charging stations. Kia says the new scheme will help to reduce the cost of public charging and EV ownership. BYD signs up dealers for UK sales pitch CHINESE firm BYD has revealed it will partner with five major dealer groups for its UK sales network. This includes Pendragon, Arnold Clark, Lookers and…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale NEW proposals put forward by the Government could see a car’s first MoT take place after four years rather than three, it has been announced. The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation on how the MoT test should be updated for the future, with the main proposal being to push back the first test by 12 months. Official data suggests most new cars pass their first MoT test at three years, hence the DfT believes that the change won’t impact road safety. It would mirror regulations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, too. The consultation is also inviting views on the frequency of the MoT test – including conducting it every two years – and how it can better monitor vehicle emissions, such as…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.2 seconds/205mph YOU’D buy the £189,200 McLaren Artura for its steering alone. Never mind its punchy powertrain, a ride that’s beautifully refined for a supercar, or the arresting looks that signal a new (albeit only slightly evolved) era for the British firm’s identity; it’s the feedback relayed through the steering wheel that really makes this new machine what it is. The Artura’s gestation hasn’t been without some reliability and electronic issues, but we reported on these when we first drove the car abroad last year, so we won’t dwell on them any longer. Instead, let’s answer the big question: what’s it like to drive in the UK, apart from that sublime steering? The answer is really, very good. McLaren has dabbled with electrification before, via its…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Running costs 54.1mpg (official) £91 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.6 seconds/130mph IT’S no secret that the popularity of diesel has been dented in the UK – sales of cars that use the black pump dropped by 38.9 per cent in 2022. However, Peugeot still believes there’s enough demand to offer its latest 308 with a diesel option. The third-generation 308 symbolises Peugeot’s ‘Power of Choice’ stance, with a variety of powertrains, including two plug-in hybrids, a petrol and, soon, the all-electric e-308. This diesel is certainly not as modern as its siblings, in fact, it’s broadly the same BlueHDi unit found in the old car. With that in mind, the 308 diesel doesn’t offer any more power than its predecessor (or indeed the petrol model). The 1.5-litre, four-cylinder…

Honda HR-V 1.5 eHEV Elegance Monthly: £394 Deposit: £3,547 Term: 48 months Engine 1.5-litre 4cyl hybrid Seats Five Economy 52.3mpg Boot space 319 litres VERDICT HONDA replaced a rather dreary-looking model with something quite funky when it brought out the latest HR-V. It looks equally cool in the cabin, and it comes with a similar ‘Magic Seat’ rear bench to the Jazz we mentioned earlier (see page 42), delivering more interior flexibility. There’s plenty of space inside for passengers, but the boot capacity trails some of the Honda’s competitors. The 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain is the only engine available and it’s very economical, but can be quite noisy at full throttle thanks to the use of a CVT automatic gearbox. IN STOCK Mercedes A-Class A180 AMG Line Executive Auto Monthly: £387…

Running costs 37.5mpg (on test) £63 fill-up/£165 or 31% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,200 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.8 seconds/132mph MODEL TESTED: BMW 118i M Sport PRICE: £32,015 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 3cyl turbo petrol, 134bhp AT £32,015, the BMW 118i costs less than its Cupra Leon rival, but only if you’re careful with the options, because many of the extras fitted to this test car send the price skywards very quickly. Leather seats add £1,150, and metallic paint £595, a panoramic sunroof is £1,000, the Comfort Pack (a powered tailgate, electric front seats, keyless entry and a heated steering wheel) costs £1,500, and the Tech Pack (wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, assisted parking and on-board WiFi) another £1,500. You can pick and choose which of those add-ons you need, but…

BMW 1st A PREMIUM brand at a fairly mainstream price what’s not to like? The BMW 118i offers enough for the keen driver who doesn’t want to break the bank with high running costs, yet backs that up with great fit and finish, superb in-car tech and a spacious boot. Strong residuals and competitive monthly figures – as long as you go easy on the pricey options and packages available – make the 1 Series very hard to fault. MAZDA 2nd The Mazda 3 is often overlooked in the family car class, and this test proves that it deserves more success. It’s genuinely engaging to drive, the cabin is smart, and you get loads of equipment for your money. The non-turbocharged engine won’t suit everyone, nor will the lack of cabin space.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 42.7mpg (on test) £81 fill-up/£510 or 12% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 570/1,726 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.8 seconds/124mph IT’S always interesting to try a car late in its development, and then revisit it once it’s made it into showrooms. That was the case recently when Mazda organised a road trip to the Brussels Motor Show and suggested that we might like to take our CX-60. I purloined the keys from chief sub-editor Andy Pringle – and roped my family in for the trip, to see how the big plug-in hybrid would cope with a longer journey. There’s no denying that Mazda has got the cabin right. The company wants to rebrand its products as “crafted in Japan”, and while it pains me to praise any…

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Patina Volkswagens Mark Walker (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £30 Rating: THIS is a revised and lengthened version of a book we reviewed in 2019. The appetite for patinated or rat-look VWs hasn’t shrunk in that time, and this edition has more pictures and a section on a specialist builder and its creations. It’s still a good read, but the author doesn’t seem totally comfortable with how the ‘yoof’ speak about these interestingly aged cars. The MG T-Series John Nikas (Amberley, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: A DECENT romp through the history of the various MG T-Series models, arguably the brand’s most famous, long-lived and influential sporting cars. It covers the beginnings as the TA Midget right through to the fifties’ TF, plus the car’s post-war popularity in the USA, putting MG more firmly…

CO2 /tax 40-168g/km £155-£165 Running costs 35-39mpg (S60 T5) £90 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.5 seconds/145mph IN four years’ time Volvo will celebrate its centenary, but for much of its existence this Swedish brand (now owned by Chinese company Geely) had something of an identity crisis. Was it mainstream or was it premium? For a long time it wanted to be the latter, but stiff depreciation suggested that buyers saw things differently. But over the past decade or so, Volvo has enjoyed a resurgence that has been the envy of some rivals, and one that’s been well deserved. The improvements all round are typified by the S60, which despite being the firm’s smallest seller, still looks special, drives superbly, is comfortable and very well equipped. And just like all Volvos, it’s…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Two rounds in Saudi Arabia ● Andretti triumphs in first race THE early rounds of this year’s Formula E championship come fast, with the first five races – almost one third of the season – complete by the end of February. Rounds two and three come on 27 & 28 January at the Diriyah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia. The opening round in Mexico City has already thrown up a variety of stories that will develop throughout the season. The performance of Jake Dennis took the headlines, with the young British driver taking a comfortable win, overpowering series stalwart and polesitter Lucas di Grassi and then having the composure to deal with safety car periods that cancelled out the lead that he’d built repeatedly. The Andretti Autosport driver…