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● Advanced engineering meets luxury in third-generation GT saloon Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn BENTLEY claims to have developed the world’s ‘most advanced luxury Grand Touring saloon’ with the all-new Flying Spur. Launched, in part, to mark the British brand’s centenary, the Mk3 goes on sale this autumn. The Flying Spur has been designed and developed at Bentley’s base in Crewe. It has undergone a ground-up redesign over the outgoing car, switching to the MSB platform that also underpins the Porsche Panamera. While the latest model is only 5mm longer than the previous version, at 5,304mm, and remains the same height, at 1,488mm, the wheelbase has increased by 130mm, giving the third-generation car greater proportions without drastically altering its footprint. It rides on 21-inch alloys as standard, but buyers can spec larger 22-inch…

A 45 AMG to be most powerful hot hatch THE new Mercedes-AMG A 45 (above) will use a 415bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, Mercedes has said. That makes it the world’s most powerful hot hatch. Two versions of the car will be offered when it’s launched at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed: a standard model with 382bhp and range-topping S that has 415bhp. Both will be four-wheel drive. The engine is all-new and features forged aluminium pistons, a forged steel crankshaft, larger exhaust valves and a new twin-scroll turbocharger. New car sales down, but EVs show growth NEW-car registrations in the UK fell by 4.6 per cent last month compared with May 2018. A total of 183,724 models found homes, down from 192,649. The monthly figures from the Society of Motor…

FIAT Chrysler (FCA) has withdrawn its £33billion merger proposal with Renault only a week after the offer was tabled, the company has confirmed. The deal, if it had gone ahead, would have created the world’s third-largest single car company behind Toyota and the Volkswagen Group. However, talks between the two firms stalled after the French government – the largest stakeholder in Renault – requested a delay to proceedings. In a statement, Renault said it had been “unable to take a decision due to the request expressed by the representative of the French state to postpone the vote to a later council”. A revised deal tabled by FCA offered stronger job guarantees for Renault’s existing staff and a special dividend for Renault shareholders. It also secured a seat for the French…

MODEL TESTED: Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125 ST-Line X PRICE: £24,405 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 123bhp THE Ford Focus has been one of the most popular cars in Britain since it was launched in 1998, and with good reason. Here we’re testing the sporty-looking ST-Line X model with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost 125 petrol engine, which costs £24,405. Design & engineering THIS new Mk4 Focus hatch is based on Ford’s C2 platform, which uses MacPherson struts for the front suspension, while the back has a torsion beam. Some versions of the Focus get a more complex multi-link rear set-up, but this 1.0-litre model’s beam works well enough. Like both its rivals, the Ford has a six-speed manual gearbox, and although the 123bhp engine is the smallest here in terms of capacity, it’s…

NEW: Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L PRICE: £22,975 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp VALUE for money and practicality are key selling points in this class, and it doesn’t get much better than the Skoda Octavia. You can buy a more powerful 148bhp version of the Golf’s 1.5-litre engine for less money here, and the Czech car is much more spacious. USED: Mercedes A200 AMG Line PRICE: £25,450 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 161bhp IF you’re looking for a premium family hatch, consider a used model. We found a 1.3-litre petrol auto Mercedes A-Class for just over £25,000 – and with 3,808 miles on the clock, it’s almost new. The Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series models are in range as well.…

Lister film marks new run of Knobbly racers LISTER Motor Company has launched a short film to celebrate its continuation series of Knobbly racers. They were first built in 1958 and are still made using the original drawings and manufacturing jigs, but are now road-legal in the UK. The car in the film is the first of these models, purchased by Andrew Whittaker in 2011 before he went on to acquire the company in 2013. The full video clip can be viewed on the company’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/Listercars. Michelin and GM to develop airless tyres AN end to punctures is the aim of a new joint project unveiled by Michelin and car maker General Motors. They will develop the Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) concept first shown in 2017, which aims…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 12|06|2019 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive IN major cities across the world, the use of electric scooters has shifted out of the playground and onto the pavement. Advances in both battery technology and product engineering mean these quick and compact commuters are easy to store in the smallest of car boots. They can allow you to park more cheaply or even for free a fair distance away from your ultimate destination and then scoot the remaining way. In addition, electric scooters are perfect for getting around event campsites, race tracks and shows. We charged up six of the best on the market, and then put…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Sponsored by Q Taking EVs on the motorway WHEN I test drove a Nissan Leaf the other day, the salesman restricted me to 50mph roads. I know EVs are great around town, but do they run out of puff at motorway speeds? Graham Pierce, E-mail AALTHOUGH the instant torque of an electric car is most noticeable when accelerating from lowe Q Can I use old diesel safely? I HAVE a 20-litre jerry can full of diesel that I purchased about four years ago. Would it be okay for me to use this in my car now, or would it have deteriorated badly over time? Aidan Mooney, E-mail A THE best advice is to throw it away. As diesel gets older, it reacts with oxygen…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk THIS weekend sees the 87th running of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race at the Circuit de le Sarthe in north west France. A 60-strong grid of prototype and GT cars, spread across four classes, will take to the 8.5-mile circuit at 3pm local time Saturday, racing around the clock until 3pm Sunday. With the World Endurance Championship (WEC) having now switched to an autumn-to-summer calendar, 2019 marks the first time Le Mans will be the season finale. As always, there’s a very strong British presence up and down the field, with Mike Conway poised for a good result in the #7 works Toyota alongside his co-drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez. On paper, the #8 sister car of 2018 winners Fernando Alonso, Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastien…

● Petrol and diesel models offered as five or seven-seater ● Two-wheel and 4MATIC four-wheel drive versions in range John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is the all-new Mercedes GLB, a family SUV designed to slot into the German manufacturer’s line-up between the GLA crossover and the larger GLC. The GLB sits on the same MFA2 chassis architecture as the current A-Class, B-Class and CLA saloon, but the wheelbase is 10cm longer to give it extra practicality. The result is a car which, at 4.63 metres, is only 22mm shorter than a GLC. There are key differences from the more expensive model – not least air suspension and six-cylinder engines, neither of which are available on the GLB. That quest for practicality has delivered an unusually boxy profile. If anything, the GLB is…

VAUXHALL’S new Corsa-e electric supermini will cost from £26,490, which is inclusive of the Government’s plug-in car grant. On a 47-month PCP deal, buyers will pay £270 a month, with a deposit of just under £5,500. The first 500 people to place an order will get a free home charging kit when they take delivery in the middle of next year. As standard, the Corsa-e will come fitted with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 11kWh on-board charger, sat-nav, LED headlights, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and DAB radio. A 50kWh battery drives an electric motor on the front axle; Vauxhall claims 205 miles will be achievable on a full charge.…

● EV collaboration will initially result in new RAV4-sized SUV ● Platform will underpin a range of cars for both manufacturers Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn TOYOTA and Subaru will once again work together, this time to jointly develop a new, dedicated EV platform that will first underpin a RAV4-sized fully electric SUV for each manufacturer. Toyota’s focus for many years has been on democratising hybrid technology – the company has sold over 10 million such vehicles worldwide. However, the upcoming electric SUV will be making its way to the UK and Europe within the next four years. The C-segment SUV, which will be designed and built collaboratively by the two brands, will be the first vehicle to be developed on the new EV architecture. Technical details of the platform are scarce, but…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Join our tour of 400-car private collection NAME me a large car collection and I’d wager you’d choose the National or the British Motor Museum. They’re big, but some of the biggest are private. One perfect example is Rodger Dudding, who has over 400 cars. Join me as I meet the man and his ‘garage’. New 616bhp BMW M8 is fired up for action BMW’s 8 Series range has been crying out for an M-version and the firm has finally released one: the M8 Competition. This new range-topping grand tourer gets sportier styling inside and out, and uses a version of the M850i’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, developing 616bhp. See the car in action on our YouTube channel. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply…

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) Which?: 01992 878329 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: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510…

MODEL TESTED: VW Golf 1.5 TSI EVO 130 GT 5dr PRICE: £24,830 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 128bhp AS our current class champion, the Volkswagen Golf is the car to beat. In GT trim (our pictures show an R-Line), with the 1.5 TSI manual powertrain, it costs £24,830. It’s the most expensive model here, but it’s close; the VW is within £425 of its test rivals. Design & engineering THE Golf is based on the Volkswagen Group’s incredibly versatile MQB platform, which underpins many different cars including hatchbacks, SUVs and even coupés and roadsters in the form of the Audi TT. While the Golf features strut suspension at the front like its rivals here, it has a more sophisticated multi-link set-up at the rear in 1.5 TSI form. Dynamic Chassis Control is…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Considering a ceramic wax I KEEP seeing waxes with ‘ceramic’ in the name and claiming to have it in their formula. Are they superior to conventional paint treatments? Mark Yates, E-mail A THERE has been a flurry of these products, which are DIY versions of the professionally applied paint-protection systems often offered to new-car buyers by dealerships. We tried a couple in our annual test, but conventional solutions had the edge. However, the main claim of ceramic-based treatments is durability – counted in years rather than the two months or so of our test. Q Old-style plate for classic car I’VE got a late-seventies classic and would like to fit a white-on-black number plate but thought my car was built too recently to allow…

THE crack as a stone hits your screen means only one thing; chips on the menu. A small dink can soon spread, potentially causing an MoT failure and often resulting in an insurance claim to cover the repairs. DIY kits promise to fix these chips, and most cost less than the policy excess. They force a resin into the chip, which the sun’s UV rays then harden. Germany’s QUIXX is new to the sector, so we put it up against veteran Rain-X and a bargain eBay-sourced kit. We dropped a metal punch on to a screen to create three identical chips, and followed the kit makers’ instructions. None made the chips disappear, but all improved the looks and will hopefully prevent cracks. If you have only one chip, in an…

FIRST, the bad news. Based on a law introduced in 1835, it is illegal to ride an electric scooter on the public road, pavements or footpath. If you want to use one and stay on the right side of the law, you have to stick to private roads such as campsites, race paddocks or your country estate! However, there is some good news. Following pressure from the makers, and seeing the success of scooters in cities outside the UK, the Department for Transport has said that it’s looking at the law again and is considering bringing it more up to date. The other good news is that the police don’t seem to be too worried about chasing after scooter users, especially owners who are riding sensibly and not causing a…

● Ogier fumes at Hyundai tactics ● Neuville defends team actions Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk TENSIONS are running high between the rival World Rally Championship teams Citroen and Hyundai ahead of this weekend’s Rally Italy event in Sardinia. It comes after Citroen’s Sebastien Ogier accused the Hyundai team boss, Andrea Adamo, of using unsporting tactics to assist his lead driver, Thierry Neuville, last time out, on the stages of Rally Portugal. Adamo wouldn’t comment on Ogier’s charge that Hyundai’s Dani Sordo had been instructed to come to a stop during a stage in order to give Neuville, running behind him, a clearer run through with less dust. However, after Sordo and third driver Sebastien Loeb’s progress was delayed by fuel issues on the first day of Rally Portugal, Hyundai did have them change…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The archetypal saloon-type car – whether it’s a Mercedes S-Class, an Audi A6 or a humble Mondeo – is suffering an identity crisis” ARE brand-new, state-of-the-art saloon cars dead in the water? Don’t be daft. They’re very much alive – and will be for decades to come. Lately in Detroit, firms such as Ford and GM have hinted that it’s game over for the saloon (or sedan). But this is wishful thinking from a pair of US-based, increasingly insular companies. The reality is that they’re no longer as keen on such cars because they can’t design and build ’em as well as their rivals. German, British, Swedish, Japanese and, more recently, South Korean companies now wipe the floor with Ford and GM…

“RIP-off” motorway petrol prices will be subject to an “urgent” Government review, unless the forecourt operators agree to share their live pricing data for motorists to access. So says Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who has written to the UK’s motorway service station operators, urging them to make price information available via smartphone app, or through in-car infotainment screens. Grayling accused motorway petrol stations of “taking advantage of drivers”, and said pricing information would allow drivers to “refuel safely at the best possible price”. The minister also levelled similar accusations at motorway service areas in March last year, but operators hit back, saying that their forecourt prices reflected the complexities of trading on the motorway.…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths FORD has confirmed the closure of its engine-manufacturing facility in Bridgend, south Wales, with 1,700 jobs being lost as a result. The decision has been called a “crushing blow” by industry experts, and takes the tally of automotive job losses over the past year to almost 14,000, with the previous 12 months being branded the “worst we’ve seen in a decade”. A Ford spokesman said it could be assumed the plant would close, with all jobs gone, by 25 September 2020. Around 400 Bridgend staff had previously taken voluntary redundancy, and the plant’s closure will mark the end of its remaining 1,300 roles. Earlier in the year, the company confirmed that 550 white-collar staff would lose their jobs within the firm. Some of those roles were at Bridgend,…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Vauxhall Corsa FROM: Dan Maxwell LOOKS as though it takes styling cues from the new Peugeot 208 without being a direct copy, which is encouraging to see. I’d argue that modern Vauxhalls are severely underrated and hope this new Corsa is as good as it looks. FROM: Nicko612 PLEASANT enough, but confirms my view that Vauxhall doesn’t have anything to attract young drivers anymore. This new Corsa is clearly for an older audience, not the teenagers and 20-somethings who still drive the outgoing model. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “As with the new 208, the fact the Corsa is available as an EV will give it a big advantage.” Wayne…

MODEL TESTED: Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv-G M Hybrid GT Sport PRICE: £24,595 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 120bhp THERE are only two engines available in the Mazda 3 for now: a 114bhp diesel unit and this 120bhp petrol. In manual form and GT Sport trim as tested here, it costs from £24,595, placing it in between the Ford and the Volkswagen on price. Design & engineering THE new Mazda 3’s bold exterior design signals a complete overhaul for the Japanese family hatch in 2019, although the brand has focused on fixing niggles with the old model rather than going for a revolutionary change. That transformation could come in the form of the firm’s SkyActiv-X engines later on, but for now it has a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre petrol under the bonnet and a six-speed…

Mazda 3 Mazda Multimedia System Standard Key features: Sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB THE Mazda’s new 8.8-inch infotainment is a massive improvement over the previous model’s. The screen is sharp and the graphics are excellent – modern and classy-looking, yet intuitive and easy to use. That’s because the brand has opted for a rotary-dial control rather than a touchscreen, so it’s more natural to use while driving than either of the rival systems. It’s fitted with satellite navigation as standard, but you also have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if you would rather use your smartphone’s mapping. The system works well, and although it’s a bit more cumbersome than the touchscreen versions in its rivals, this is the easiest set-up to use on the move. There’s a digital dial display of sorts,…

WE’LL start with the elements that are new here. While the set-up has been softened, the Fastback’s bodyshell is around seven per cent stiffer, which makes the platform more rigid. This gives the suspension a better, less corrupted basis to work from, allowing Hyundai to reduce the size of the front anti-roll bar and soften the bushes to take the edge off the harsh ride. Make no mistake, this car hasn’t gone soft, and it’s still skewed towards the firm end of the scale, but it’s crucially a little more usable. While this setting still means the i30 N feels alert, in the Fastback the change is palpable; the car is now a little less edgy. However, it’s also nicer to drive quickly, because you don’t feel like you have…

BMW 3 Series Issue 1,576 Cupra Ateca Issues 1,564, 1,573 Dacia Duster Iss 1,561, 1,564, 1,572, 1,575 Honda CR-V Hybrid Issue 1,576 Hyundai Santa Fe Issue 1,575 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567, 1,577 Mazda MX-5 Issue 1,573 Mercedes G-Class Issues 1,565, 1,574 Mercedes X-Class Issues 1,547, 1,557, 1,563, 1,571, 1,578 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560, 1,568, 1,578 SEAT Tarraco Issue 1,574 Skoda Fabia Issue 1,572 Volkswagen California Issue 1,578 Volkswagen Touareg New arrival…

FIRST TEST Road Angel Pure smart motorway alerts Price: £250 plus subscription Contact: www.roadangelgroup.com OUR favourite safety camera locator has just got even better, with the addition of variable speed limits on the latest generation of ‘smart motorways’ to its live database. On a smart motorway, the speed limits can be adjusted to slow the traffic either as a result of delays ahead or to prevent jams building up in the first place. Overhead gantries indicate the speed limit, which can often drop as you progress. It’s also frequently backed up by speed cameras to ensure that motorists comply. Road Angel is the first aftermarket device to have access to these limits as they are applied. Its live database is updated every 60 seconds, and it will alert drivers if the…

Chasing Perfect Lionsgate (www.lionsgate.com) Price: From £2.99 (stream), £12 (DVD) Rating: IF you enjoyed our Frank Stephenson story on Page 20, you’ll love this slick documentary, which profiles the designer of everything from the BMW MINI to the McLaren P1. Frank’s ceaseless energy comes across in every frame, and listening to how his career unfolded is fascinating – although more talking heads would have added depth. The Jaguar Story Giles Chapman: (The History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £9.99 Rating: WE’RE big fans of author Chapman’s accessible yet informative writing style; casual enthusiasts won’t feel patronised, but die-hard Jaguar fans will still find plenty to like. However, condensing 70-plus years into 128 pages means a necessary lack of detail. Those hoping for a comprehensive history will feel short-changed, but it’s ideal for…

VOLKSWAGEN has set a new lap record for electric cars around the Nürburgring. The company’s ID. R prototype, with Le Mans winner Romain Dumas at the wheel, went around the track in six minutes and 5.336 seconds – 40 seconds faster than the previous record, which was set by Peter Dumbreck in the NIO EP9 in 2017. “It was a lot of fun,” Dumas commented afterwards. “I was really pushing, and I am very thankful that it worked out.” Dumas’ effort last week is the second-fastest timed lap of the Nordschleife of all time, eclipsed only by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo’s five minutes and 19 seconds. Both of those times are quicker than the long-standing-internal-combustion-engined record of six minutes and 11 seconds, set by Stefan Bellof in a Porsche…