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James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • OFFICIAL BMW is warming up for the reveal of the all-new M3 next year with the first performance variant of the latest 3 Series: the M340i xDrive, which has been unveiled ahead of its full debut at next week’s Los Angeles Motor Show. On sale in Europe next July, the M340i xDrive gets a retuned version of BMW’s 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine. Power increases by 47bhp compared with the previous-generation 340i, to 369bhp, while torque is up by 50Nm, to 500Nm. BMW says these gains have been achieved through a number of minor changes to the motor, such as redeveloped turbochargers and higher-pressure fuel injectors than before. The increased power and torque mean the M340i’s 0-62mph time drops to 4.4 seconds, while economy and CO2 emissions stand…

MG plugs in electric SUV at Chinese show ON the other side of the world, MG has launched its first electric SUV – the MG eZS – at the Guangzhou show in China. It has a single electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 148bhp and 350Nm – enough to take the crossover (above) from 0-31mph in 3.1 seconds. MG says the eZS can do 428km (266 miles) between charges, and will charge from zero to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. There’s no word on UK plans, but it’s likely to join the range in due course. Volkswagen and Ford eye further tie-ups VOLKSWAGEN could work with Ford on a number of projects, the German brand has admitted. The two firms are in talks about developing light commercial vehicles.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We check out the top five EVs on sale now ELECTRIC cars are all the rage right now, with more people than ever looking at making the jump into EV ownership. But which are the best models on sale? This week we count down the top five electric cars on the market, to help you choose the right model for your needs. Considering an EV? You mustn’t miss this. Behind the wheel of the all-new Audi A1 YOU’VE read the drive on Page 8, but now you can head online and watch the video. This week I’ve been to Ronda in Spain to drive the all-new Audi A1. It’s better than its predecessor in every way, but has the brand done enough to threaten the recently-refreshed MINI and…

HAND car washes can amount to “modern slavery in plain sight” and should be licensed, according to a Government Select Committee investigation. The Environmental Audit Committee’s probe into working practices at hand car washes (HCW) was told they play host to a “spectrum of exploitation”. Concerns include bosses not paying staff the minimum wage, workers at risk of trench foot and chemical burns, and untreated wash water having “toxic effects” on plant and animal life. The industry and various Government bodies launched a pilot Responsible Car Wash Scheme earlier this year, with washes urged to sign up to a set of standards and display a Reasonable Car Wash Operator logo at their sites. But the Environmental Audit Committee recommends a trial licensing scheme for HCWs to tackle the “widespread and flagrant…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Running costs 46.3mpg (official) £89 fill-up IF you’re in the market for a new SUV, no maker offers more choice than Mercedes. The German brand has an eight-strong SUV line-up and next year that will increase to nine. But the latest model to arrive on the scene is the all-new GLE. The firm’s BMW X5 rival, previously known as the ML, is one of Mercedes’ veteran SUVs. It’s been around since 1997; this latest fourth-generation model is the largest and most technologically advanced yet. It’s been redesigned inside and out and is now available with the option of seven seats, making it a stronger competitor to the likes of the Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7, as well as the X5. In the UK, there’s a choice of only…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Running costs 24mpg (est) £106 fill-up THE Audi R8 has always stood out from its peers because it’s so beautifully old-fashioned. While other cars are powered by efficient, downsized turbo engines, the R8 clings on to its wailing V10 – using big-chested cubic capacity for its arsenal. For the R8’s mid-life update, a touch more power has been squeezed out of the 5.2-litre engine, alongside a few engineering tweaks and a light visual makeover. Audi’s ‘Singleframe’ grille has been widened and lowered to make room for three slots that hark back to the Ur-quattro of the eighties. At the back you’ll notice a new full-width mesh cover, as well as a fresh design for the bumper, while the exhausts are inspired by the GT3 racer. Under the revamped…

MODEL TESTED: Mazda CX-3 1.8 SkyActiv-D Sport Nav+ PRICE: £22,895 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 113bhp UNLIKE Mazda’s petrol-engined range, which shuns turbo power, the CX-3 diesels are much more conventional. Here we’re trying the new 113bhp 1.8-litre turbodiesel, which costs from £22,895 in Sport Nav+ trim with a manual gearbox – the only spec and transmission available with this engine. Design & engineering YOU’LL be able to spot the updated 2018 CX-3 thanks to its new grille and LED foglamps, but the changes are subtle. Our Sport Nav+ model also features new 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and some extra chrome exterior trim. On the inside there’s now an electronic parking brake, some slight changes to the dashboard layout and more sound insulation to improve refinement. The interior is darker than its…

Mazda CX-3 MZD Connect Standard Key features: Sat-nav, rotary control MAZDA’S seven-inch touchscreen display is fitted as standard, and although the touch feature can be useful while the car is stationary, the availability of a rotary dial on the centre console means it’s much more user-friendly on the move than its rivals. So despite missing some features, it’s still a convincing system. The menus are much easier to access than in the 2008, with shortcut buttons on the centre console for the most-used sections of the system and a logical menu layout. However, smartphone connectivity is a £350 dealer-fit option, while the connectivity is standard on both of the CX-3’s rivals. The built-in sat-nav is clear and easy to use, although the Hyundai’s nav is slightly better overall. There’s an…

THE F-Pace range has undergone a revamp recently. Petrol buyers no longer have the option of a V6 motor, so until the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 SVR model arrives, this 30t version is the most powerful engine option and therefore a rival to the Alfa Romeo. It’s a 296bhp version of Jaguar’s 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium petrol unit, linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. The chassis layout is similar to the Alfa’s, too, with double-wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link set-up fitted at the rear. However, this is where the similarities between our test competitors end, because the two models perform and feel quite different on the road. The Jaguar tips the scales at 1,842kg, so despite its extra power but an identical…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 4.4 miles/kWh £140 or 13% tax Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.6 seconds/104mph THESE are exciting times if you’re considering switching to an electric car. Prices are falling as battery range continues to grow – and so does our fleet, because alongside the Nissan Leaf (Page 57) we’ve taken delivery of one of the best EVs around, the Hyundai Kona Electric. Our Affordable Electric Car of the Year, the Kona Electric comes in a couple of specs – but we’ve gone the same way as the vast majority of the early orders by opting for the more powerful, bigger-battery edition. It offers around 300 miles of real-world range and while the recent cut in the Plug-in Car Grant has taken the price to well over £30,000 instead of…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,534, 1,544, 1,550  Audi A6 Avant New arrival  Ford Fiesta ST New arrival  Hyundai Kona Electric New arrival  Kia Stinger Iss 1,533, 1,537, 1,546, 1,550  Mazda 6 Issue 1,549  Mercedes A-Class Issue 1,550  Mercedes X-Class Issue 1,547  Mini Cooper5-Door Issues 1,538, 1,546  Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Issue 1,545  Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533  Renault Koleos Issues 1,530, 1,542  Skoda Karoq Issues 1,536, 1545  Suzuki Swift Sport Issues 1,532, 1,541, 1,544  Vauxhall Grandland X Issues 1,536, 1,540, 1,548  Volkswagen Polo Issue 1,549  Volvo V60 New arrival…

The best part about being friends with (or related to) a car fan is that they are really easy to buy gifts for. And with Christmas just over a month away, there is plenty of time to order that something special for the petrolhead in your life. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, we have 20 top picks over the next three pages to suit all tastes and ages, and none of them will set you back more than £50. In fact, many of these ideas cost a lot less than that, so there’s no excuse for not indulging the car buff you love. £7.99 Russell Wallis art prints Contact: www.redbubble.com IF you’re after some artwork for your garage, den or even your living room, these brilliant prints by graphic…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Today’s domestic and international motor shows are as – if not more – relevant, important and alive as ever” WHETHER it’s the financial website of the year in London or the world’s leading auto industry magazine over in Detroit, the same question is being provocatively asked over and over: are motor shows dead? In a word, no. Like cars, and the growing volumes of people using them in all corners of the developed and developing world, auto exhibitions aren’t going away. You’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise. Billions of people use cars daily, either as drivers or passengers. Of those, close to 100 million (and rising) sign up for brand-new vehicles each year. These are the comparatively wealthy folk who want…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor • Five-door-only newcomer is lower, longer and wider than before • Three petrol engines at launch; hot S1 model expected to follow • FIRST DRIVE THE Audi A1 has always been one of the real stars of the ‘posh supermini’ breed, alongside the MINI and a step above the likes of the DS 3 and Ford’s Fiesta Vignale. Since 2011, in fact, the firm has shifted 800,000 examples of the car, introducing plenty of new customers to the brand; and now there’s an all-new version that aims to demolish its British rival once and for all. ‘All new’ only really means all new for Audi, of course. The old A1 used VW Polo oily bits and, sure enough, the second generation gets that car’s latest platform. Designers claim…

• SPIED THE new generation of Mazda 3 has been spied ahead of its debut at next week’s Los Angeles Motor Show. The prototype’s swirly disguise can’t cover up the fact that the new 3 sticks closely to the looks of the Kai concept that made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2017. This includes thick-looking C-pillars and slim tail-lights. The biggest benefit of adopting the Kai’s character is that the concept’s wheelbase is much longer than the current 3’s. This should mean useful improvements in legroom for rear-seat occupants. Mazda is tipped to be dropping diesel for this 3, relying instead on a new type of supercharged petrol engine dubbed SkyActiv-X. It uses technology that the firm calls Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SCCI) to give diesel-like levels…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram TOYOTA has revealed the Saloon version of its all-new Corolla family car. The four-door will join the hatch and Touring Sports estate models to form a three-strong line-up when UK sales begin early next year. The car will be the first C-segment Toyota saloon to be sold in the UK for 15 years, and the company says it’s positioned as a more prestigious alternative to the hatch and estate, reflected in its unique styling. It’ll sit below the forthcoming Camry and alongside the eco-focused Prius hybrid in the range. The front end is unique; the headlights are smaller, the grille is slimmer and wider, while the lower part gets horizontal slats. A long, straight character line along the flanks lends the traditional three-box proportions, while the back gets…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram • LEAKED CUPRA’S first true standalone model after splitting from SEAT will be a coupé-SUV, and this leaked image shows how the newcomer, which is expected to be called the Terramar, will look. In effect, the all-new Terramar is a coupé version of SEAT’s Ateca mid-size SUV, but taking styling cues from the newer Tarraco flagship. It’ll be seen first as a hot Cupra-badged model in 2020, while a more conventional SEAT offering of the car could follow within 18 months to two years. “Cupra Terramar looks set to be powered by the same 296bhp turbocharged engine fitted to the Cupra Ateca” Following SEAT’s rebranding of its sporty Cupra arm as a standalone brand, which was launched with the Cupra Ateca earlier this year, the Terramar will become…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • EXCLUSIVE MORE cars were stolen last year than at any point since 2011, with experts blaming falling police numbers and criminals circumventing vehicles’ security systems for the six-year high. Exclusive figures uncovered by Auto Express show 43,308 cars were reported stolen to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in 2017. That’s the highest number since 2011, and almost 9,000 more than in 2016. Previous research indicated rates of theft were on the rise, but relied on national crime surveys or comprised data that included all types of vehicle. Rising car crime has been linked to potential vulnerabilities in some security systems and falling police officer numbers, which are down by over 20,000 since 2010. RAC Insurance spokesman Simon Williams called our findings “a real cause for…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC McLaren Speedtail FROM: Charles Watkins I WAS hoping the Speedtail would be fitted with a V8 and the added oomph from the electric element will make this car a force to be reckoned with. That 0-186mph time of 12.8 seconds is completely unbelievable, though! FROM: David Khan WHILE I know the Speedtail is meant to hark back to the old McLaren F1, the design appears to be too stuck in the nineties. I also hope McLaren has included every parking assistance function available, because 5.2 metres is very long. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “It looks just like a Jaguar XJ220. Those front wheels could have been pulled straight off one.”Stuart…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram FORD’S resurrected Vignale brand has been around since 2015. It now spans almost the entire range, from the Fiesta supermini to the flagship Edge SUV. But until now, a chrome-covered Focus has been conspicuous by its absence; Ford buyers in search of a posh family car have been forced into the larger Mondeo or Kuga Vignale models. Keen to rectify this, the all-new Focus Vignale will appear in dealerships over the coming weeks. Designed to sit above the Titanium X in the Focus range, it offers buyers a bit more of everything. A bit more luxury and a bit more kit; inevitably for a bit more money, too. Prices start at £25,800 – or £2,670 more than the equivalent 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS in Titanium X guise. That price…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 22.9mpg (official) £100 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.4 seconds/211mph HOWEVER you look at it, 900Nm is a lot of torque. There are a number of reasons why driving an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera feels like an event, but it’s that shove that dominates the experience. The DBS sits above the DB11 V12 as the most extreme car to use Aston’s latest aluminium-bonded platform. But there are a range of tweaks designed to make the DBS faster, sharper and more exciting. From some angles, the DB11 can look a little contrived – its C-pillars appear a bit fussy, for example – but the DBS is prettier. Combined with the new full-width rear light bar and huge grille, it’s more aggressive and more handsome than its older relation.…

MODEL TESTED: Hyundai Kona 1.6 CRDi 115 Premium SE PRICE: £23,600 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp THE Hyundai’s 1.6-litre diesel engine matches the Mazda’s 113bhp output, despite its smaller capacity. In Premium SE trim as tested here, this car costs £23,600, which makes it the most expensive model of our trio in terms of list price. Design & engineering THE Kona’s bold styling, with its bright paint colour, bonnet scoop and heavy plastic cladding, means the car stands out from the crowd – but it’s conventional under the skin. It uses the same MacPherson-strut front and torsion-beam rear suspension set-up as its rivals here, and this version of the car is front-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is available on higher-spec petrol models, with multi-link rear suspension, but front-wheel-drive-only diesel Konas use this…

Citroen C3 Aircross BlueHDi 100 Flair PRICE: £20,420 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 100bhp CLOSELY related to the 2008, the C3 Aircross features the same turbodiesel engine. It’s significantly cheaper to buy if you go for Flair trim, though, and the Citroen is also the most comfortable car in its class and has lots of kit. SEAT Arona 1.6 TDI Xcellence PRICE: £23,205 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp THE SEAT Arona is another strong contender in the supermini-SUV sector and features a 113bhp 1.6-litre diesel, matching the CX-3 and Kona. It’s spacious inside, has a big boot and is good to drive, so it’s another strong choice in this crowded class.…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler IT’S amazing how car dealers can turn a minor problem into a major headache. I’m loving living with our Leaf, but the passenger window recently refused to go more than half way down. Not a huge problem, although I thought I’d get it fixed sooner rather than later. Ancaster Nissan in Slough said it would have to charge a £140 investigation fee – refundable if it was a warranty issue – and couldn’t see me for 10 days. Meanwhile, Nissan London West made no mention of any charge to look at the car and slotted me in within a couple of days. Any visit to a dealership is a bit of an inconvenience, but I thought I’d drop the Leaf off in the morning, use public transport to…

KEEPING a car’s glass clean helps you stay safe on the road. But, sometimes, glass cleaner isn’t enough for screen and windows. That’s where meguiar’s new glass Polishing Compound comes in. It’s designed to deep clean glass and smooth the surface so the firm’s new sealant can be applied. But what if the damage is visible? That’s what Quixx glass Scratch Remover aims to improve. We masked off sections of a screen with light and deep scratches from wipers, then used each product according to the instructions. Each was applied to different levels of scratch, with control sections to monitor progress. Both do what they claim. Quixx made progress on the scratches, but it was slow, and although meguiar’s left a smooth finish, heavy damage was beyond it. “We masked…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Restaurant flyer frustration WHENEVER I use car parks in my town centre, I often come back to find a leaflet for a nearby restaurant stuck to my windscreen. Is this legal, and can I stop it somehow? James Benson, E-mail A ANNOYING as it may be, there is no law against leaving a flyer on a car windscreen, as long as the vehicle is not damaged in the process. If it really bothers you, get in touch with the restaurant and ask it to stop. If that doesn’t work, you could request for the car park owner to contact the business on your behalf instead. Q Is it okay to overtake police? I WAS stuck behind a slow-moving police car and decided not to overtake, although…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • SPIED MINI will mark its 60th anniversary next year by launching the most radical model in its history: the MINI electric. It will be the brand’s first mass-produced EV following a trial of 600 MINI Es back in 2007, and will launch next summer ahead of customers taking delivery in early 2020. Crucially, it will also be one of the first premium, small EV hatchbacks on sale. It will sit above the likes of the Renault ZOE when it arrives, ahead of Volkswagen’s eagerly anticipated I.D. hatchback. Prototypes of the MINI electric have been undergoing development testing in the Austrian Alps, where engineers are busy fine-tuning the car’s mechanical set-up. Previous spy images show the electric MINI will be based on an entry-level three-door Hatch, and there…

• SPIED KIA will add to the line-up of new models at the LA show by revealing the second generation of its Soul crossover. The Korean brand confirmed the launch with a teaser image showing the Mk2 Soul will retain the current car’s distinctive vertical tailgate. That’s despite an expected switch of platform, from the elderly PB architecture to the GB components set that underpins the likes of the Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona (tested on Page 34). Expect a mix of three and four-cylinder petrol engines, and a new version of the Soul EV. Kia may choose to restrict it to a 39kWh battery in the UK, though, leaving the 64kWh e-Niro as its EV flagship here.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths CLEANING cars is big business, with the UK car wash industry worth an estimated £1billion a year. But big bucks can bring big problems. Up to 8,000 hand car washes engage in illegal activity, and the Environmental Audit Committee recently warned many amount to “modern slavery in plain sight” (see Page 21). Furthermore, cleaning agents can cause chemical burns to workers, while untreated wash water has “toxic effects” on animal and plant life. The industry recently announced a new code of practice in response to concerns such as these; car wash firms will soon be encouraged to sign up to a set of employee and chemical-handling standards, and motorists will be urged to look out for washes bearing a Responsible Car Wash Scheme logo. Some companies are ahead…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 497/1,638 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.2 seconds/112mph MOST of the world’s big car makers have made headline-grabbing statements by committing themselves to an electrified future – and Honda is no different. The firm reckons as many as two-thirds of its European sales could comprise electrified cars by 2025, with fully electric models a big part of that plan, too. But before we see the wraps come off Honda’s retro Urban EV supermini next year, this is the first step in the brand’s strategy: a hybrid version of the new, fifth-generation CR-V crossover. The new powertrain is already fitted to the Accord saloon in the US, but it makes its European debut in the CR-V. It’s called Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD), and the system…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 2008 1.5 BlueHDi GT Line 100 PRICE: £22,584 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 101bhp THIS 1.5-litre diesel 2008 is the cheapest car of the three here, at £22,584 in GT Line trim (although the car in our pictures is an Allure Premium). It also has the least power; there is a 118bhp version of this engine, but it’s auto only. Design & engineering THE Peugeot 2008 is closely related to other cars in this class such as the Citroen C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Crossland X, sharing parts with both of those models. With new emissions regulations coming into force, the diesel engines in the 2008 have been updated, and this is the first time we’ve tested this new 1.5-litre unit. Under the skin, the suspension is similar to both…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 57.7mpg (on test) £92 fill-up/£450 or 16% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 468/1,395 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.2 seconds/140mph IT’S time to say goodbye to our XC60 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. This is the first car I’ve run that you can plug into the wall, and it has left quite an impression; it’s one of the best vehicles I’ve ever taken custody of in all my years of service at Auto Express. The idea of plugging the car in at home and then driving to work and back without using a sip of fuel along the way seemed far-fetched before I got into the Volvo. But that’s exactly what I managed to do on several occasions while commuting from my Essex home into our central London…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Small car luggage options TO save on fuel, I’ve downsized my car. But I need extra luggage space for a Christmas break. I don’t have room to store a roof box. What can I do? Harrison Brown, E-mail A THERE is a variety of folding fabric roof boxes (above), although these aren’t usually as secure as conventional versions. Another option, which is also easier to use, is to fit a tow bar and use it to mount anything from a simple rack to a box or bag. Thule (www.thule.com) offers a range. Q Checking coolant is correct My daughter has just bought a 15-year-old car off a friend, with no handbook. I want to check the coolant for winter. how do I know if it’s the correct…

Triumph Cars: The Complete Story Graham Robson, Richard M Langsworth (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £40 THERE’S lots to like in this look back at the British brand’s history, with good images, clear and direct writing and enough detail. It’s also the ideal length to devote time to each Triumph without missing any out or getting boring. Ferrari Engine Enthusiasts’ Manual Francesco Reggiana with Keith Bluemel (Haynes Publishing, www.haynes.co.uk) Price: £35 HAYNES’ straightforward style lends itself well to this kind of engine manual. Each chapter covers a lot. This handsome book is also beautifully printed and photographed. It covers icons from the 250 V12 to the modern 4WD powertrain in the FF, and Ferrari fans will love it. Skiddy Car Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free SIMPLE but challenging gameplay with…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk FORMULA One’s 2018 season comes to a close in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with both titles already having been wrapped up. Lewis Hamilton’s chances of signing off the season with a victory could be affected by engine issues, however. His Mercedes power unit came close to failure last time out in Brazil, which means either taking a grid penalty for new engine components in Abu Dhabi or risking problems in the race. According to Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles, “the engine has sustained some level of damage, but we don’t yet understand what. It has to be inspected and understood before we can make any decision going forward to Abu Dhabi”. At Red Bull, meanwhile, all eyes are on Max Verstappen after his post-race incident with Force India’s Esteban…