Table of contents for 1550 in Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “This first prototype is being subjected to a tough test regime on the roads and tracks of Wales” ASTON Martin has begun real-world testing of one of the most important cars in its 105-year history – its first SUV. The company has now given us our first proper look at its upcoming performance off-roader, which is due to be launched next year as one of the keystones of the company’s second Century Plan. It has confirmed a name, too; the car will be called DBX when it goes on sale in 2020. The SUV was previewed by the DBX Concept at the Geneva Motor show in 2015, but these images of a development mule DBX confirm that the final model will be very different in appearance from the…

Citroen C5 Aircross priced from £23k THE Citroen C5 Aircross will cost from £23,225 when it appears next month. The Skoda Kodiaq rival (above) is offered in three trim levels – Feel, Flair and Flair Plus – all of which come as standard with an eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A reversing camera, alloys and 12.3-inch digital dials are also included. Four engines are available, two petrol and two diesel, while prices rise to £32,725 for top-spec models. Page 24: Citroen C5 Aircross driven New car sales down as diesels plummet NEW car sales were down 2.9 per cent last month compared with October 2017, with 153,599 vehicles finding homes. The figures, from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, show hybrid sales were up 30.7…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First drive report on 296bhp Cupra Ateca THIS is the Cupra Ateca – Cupra, not SEAT. It’s not a hot SEAT Ateca because Cupra is now a sub-brand and this is its first car. Under the skin is a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, a seven-speed DSG box and four-wheel drive. Is it any good? Steve Sutcliffe finds out. We go behind the scenes at JLR Classic WE’VE spoken about Jaguar Land Rover Classic many times in print and in our videos, but what actually goes on in this vast building near Coventry? Well, it’s a huge operation restoring and rebuilding some of the firm’s most famous cars. Join me for an exclusive walkaround at this very special place. You can watch any of our videos on your phone…

Consumer editor, Auto Express THE DfT’s figures raise many questions. Why, for example, do nearly a third of buses break 30mph limits when their size and weight makes any collision with a pedestrian or cyclist a near-certain fatality? And, given such poor compliance on motorways, isn’t it time for an official review of 70mph limits? But the most worrying figures relate to the widespread speeding in 20mph zones. Lower speeds save lives – that can’t be denied. But if the purpose of a 20mph limit is to have cars drive at 26mph (the average flow rate), road bosses need to be honest about this. At present, drivers seem to interpret 20mph limits as optional, believing there are no consequences to breaking them. That undermines the idea of speed limits and,…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.3 seconds/127mph Running costs 44.8mpg (official) £58 fill-up AS with its bigger brother, the entry-level 1.5-litre Mazda MX-5 has been tweaked, but only with some extremely modest power improvements. Overall output climbs just 1bhp to 130bhp, and there’s an additional 2Nm of torque, too, taking that figure up to 152Nm at 4,500rpm. Sport Nav+ cars such as the one we drove get a whole heap of new driver assistance and safety features as standard, including emergency braking support, lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition and a driver attention warning set-up. Elsewhere, a welcome addition across the line-up is a new steering column with reach adjustment. While it would be easy to gloss over the hardly changed 1.5-litre car in favour of what is a much more compelling…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Performance 0-60mph/top speed 5.8 seconds/149mph Running costs 29.0mpg (on test) £79 fill-up/£140 or 37% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 406/1,114 litres “We’ve averaged 31mpg, but in town we’ve also recorded single-digit figures” IT’S time to bid farewell to the Kia Stinger after six months of running the Korean firm’s first genuine challenger to Audi and BMW. And as I hand back the keys it’s a departure from the Auto Express fleet that has me a bit torn – over the 5,070 miles we’ve covered behind the wheel of the Stinger, it’s a car that has impressed, puzzled and frustrated in equal measure. But first and foremost it’s a car that I’m glad exists, because the Stinger has transformed the way people look at Kia as a brand, and…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor PAVAROTTI could hold a decent tune and so too can Andrea Bocelli, when he puts his mind to it. The Italians, as we all know, can make the dullest things sound, look and feel exciting. The same can be said for my Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. No, it can’t bellow out Madame Butterfly, of course, but its 2.0-litre four-cylinder is one of the nicest-sounding engines of its type. I won’t bore you with that now, though; what I want to discuss are the other noises the Alfa makes – and they’re more Don Corleone on a bad day than Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. I’ve already moaned about the bleeping bleep the Giulia makes, but it’s worth another mention. When you lock and unlock the car it emits a loud,…

Newey memoir is RAC’s best book THE autobiography of famed Formula One designer Adrian Newey (above) has been named the Motoring Book of the Year by the Royal Automobile Club. A panel of judges, including Auto Express’s Tom Wiltshire, awarded How to Build a Car the overall under £75 title for its engaging, interesting and insightful look at an aspect of F1 many never see. Reid Railton: Man of Speed by Karl Ludvigsen was named Specialist Book of the Year for books priced over £75. Bulb maker looks back for the future HISTORY turns full circle for bulb producer GE, as it reverts to its original Tungsram name. The Hungarian maker, which won our 2017 H4 headlamp bulb test, started life in 1896 as Tungsram, but was bought by US…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 14|11|2018 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 KEEPING your battery-powered devices juiced up on the move has become an important part of modern life. In the car, you could trail wires from your cigar lighter socket, or you can buy a portable power bank to plug into. Choose a capacity for your needs. A Samsung S8 smartphone, for example, has a 3Ah battery, but an ipad Air 4’s is 11.5Ah, so tablets and games players need more than a phone, although occasional top-ups for any type of device don’t require much power. Of course, more capacity equals more weight. So which is the power bank to…

THE new Aston Martin manufacturing site based on the Ministry of Defence installation in St Athan, south Wales, will be the brand’s ‘home of electrification’ and eventually the build site of three Aston Martin models. The upcoming Rapide E will be the first car to be completed at the facility, then the DBX SUV will be built from later next year, followed by the first of two, ultra-luxurious, all-electric Lagonda models from 2021. Aston Martin’s Andy haslam told Auto express that the Rapide E is a “great learning project for St Athan”. A total of 155 electric Rapides will be built, with most of the manufacturing taking place at Aston’s Gaydon plant in Warks. St Athan will be responsible for final assembly. Haslam said Aston Martin is trying to inject…

Vice-president of product strategy We speak to Mitsubishi’s product chief to find out what lies beyond the L200 pick-up for the brand. Q When will we see the first PHEV pick-up from Mitsubishi? A “In 2023 – I’m pragmatic. Euro7 will make diesel expensive, so we need the right recipe at the right cost point. The window when things will happen is from 2023 to 2025.” Q Is Mitsubishi under pressure to deliver a fully electric model? A “No. But you certainly can’t pass the 2025 CAFE regulations without it. We have to launch one by 2021.” Q What’s your take on the UK withdrawing PHEV subsidies? A “We need to make a counter offer, and to prove our case to keep subsidies. I suspect the thinking of the British…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THIS is our first official look at the next Range Rover Evoque. The British brand is gearing up for the launch of its second-generation compact SUV by creating a fleet of scale wire sculptures that have been dotted around the capital. The covers will officially come off the new Evoque on 22 November and Land Rover will begin taking orders on the same day. Prices are expected to start from around £32,000. Eight years on from the launch of the original Evoque, Land Rover is claiming the new model will set new standards “of design, capability and sustainability”. Over 750,000 examples of the current model have been sold around the world so far. The sculpture indicates the new Evoque won’t undergo a dramatic redesign, sticking closely to the…

THE vast majority of people are unable to recognise different types of pedestrian crossing, according to new research. Some 79 per cent of drivers and pedestrians are unable to identify a pelican crossing, while 92 per cent can’t identify a toucan crossing, and 85 per cent are unable to tell the difference between a toucan and a puffin crossing. Even the telltale stripes of a zebra crossing left more than a quarter of respondents stumped. The data, from insurance company Admiral, found a third of pedestrians reporting a near miss when using a crossing, with 40 per cent blaming the driver of a vehicle, rather than themselves. Conversely, some 50 per cent of drivers responding to the survey laid the blame for near misses at the feet of pedestrians. Regardless…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler “With this engine, things are seriously serene in town and when motorway cruising” COULD Citroen be about to pull off a lucrative double act? Its C3 Aircross is our current pick of small SUVs, so can its long-awaited big brother, the C5 Aircross, achieve the same against the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Renault Kadjar, SEAT Ateca and Skoda Karoq? It’s a tough task, but as is the way with the revitalised and refocused Citroen these days, the C5 Aircross does things a bit differently. The new car’s looks follow a similar theme to that of the C3 Aircross, with slim LED daytime running lights that run into the familiar Citroen grille, with its oversized double chevrons. The headlamps sit below, while the chunky apron beneath gets white, red…

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Smartphone link Standard Key features: Smartphone connectivity THERE’s no sat-nav available with the Mitsubishi shogun sport, so the only way to get mapping is to use the built-in Android Auto or Apple CarPlay functionality. Luckily the smartphone integration works well. For some people, the lack of sat-nav will be a pain because they prefer not to use data on their phone or don’t like their mobile’s mapping app, but for others it won’t be a problem at all. Yet when you consider that both rivals have the option of using either built-in nav or a smartphone app, the shogun sport falls behind. The screen itself is below average; it’s not as easy to use as the system in the Hyundai nor as modern-looking as the skoda’s. It’s…

HYUNDAI’S compact Kona SUV was designed with an all-electric variant in mind, so buyers don’t have to make too many compromises with the packaging when compared with a petrol or diesel model. The electric motor is mounted up front in place of a conventional engine and gearbox, and drives the front wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission. This means there are no gears; you simply select ‘d’ and drive, which makes it a smooth experience, just like in the Leaf. It’s a fairly standard set-up for an EV. The 134bhp motor is down on power next to the Nissan, while the 39kWh battery that supplies it with energy is also slightly smaller, but EV performance is as much about torque, so with 395nm on tap it’s more than quick enough…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Running costs 33.7mpg (on test) £56 fill-up/£140 or 25% tax Performance 0-60mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/143mph IN well over 20 years at Auto Express, I’ve driven plenty of Mercedes test models, but I’ve never run one as my family car. And since taking delivery of our new A-Class, the first thing I’ve noticed is how excited everyone else is about it. Friends and extended family often ask: “What are you driving at the moment?” And I’m now aware that this brand pricks up people’s ears like no other. Our A-Class sits at the lower end of the Mercedes glamour scale, because it’s a really smart, but relatively conservative-looking compact family car. Try telling that to my wife and kids, though. After a few oohs and ahhs as ‘our new Merc’…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Tyres to blame for thirst Fuel consumption on my car has increased over the past few months. I’ve checked the obvious things such as the ignition, plugs and filters, but nothing seems amiss. Any ideas?Josh Michaels, E-mail A ASSUMING you haven’t changed where you drive your car or what you carry, we’d check the wheels. Running underinflated tyres will increase the force and fuel required to turn the wheel. We’d get the suspension alignment checked as well; if the wheels are not pointing straight ahead, more power will be needed for a given speed. Q How much wax to apply In preparation for winter, I’m planning to wax my car. It is the first time I’ve invested in a paste wax and I’m unsure…

Dear Alex, I’m after a plug-in hybrid SUV – but I don’t have the budget for a premium model. What options are out there for £28,000? Tom Paterson, E-mail Contact: James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk • THE BUDGET CHOICE Kia Niro FOR: Low running costs, brilliant Driver Power score AGAINST: Firm ride, leisurely performance ECONOMY of 217.3mpg will grab the attention of any hybrid fan and, if you make the most of the Niro PHEV’s electric power, that’s what you could be getting. The powertrain capable of that figure is a 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor paired with a dual-clutch auto box. The Niro PHEV hasn’t been on sale for very long, but a nearly new 67-plate example with around 12,000 miles on the clock could be yours for just over £21,000 –…

M-SPORT Ford driver Sebastien Ogier takes a slim three-point lead at the top of the table to the World Rally Championship season finale in Australia this weekend. The Frenchman has amassed 204 points so far this season, with his closest rival, Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, on 201. Lead Toyota driver Ott Tanak still has a mathematical chance of taking the title, but with 181 points, the Estonian would realistically need to win with both Ogier and Neuville retiring in order to triumph. Elsewhere, it has been confirmed that the WRC season launch event for 2019 will once again take place at the Autosport International show at Birmingham’s NEC. All of the new season’s confirmed cars and drivers will be present at the event for the unveiling on Saturday 12 January, the…

• OFFICIAL James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods MITSUBISHI has revealed an updated L200 pick-up, just three years into the lifespan of the current model. Sold in more than 150 countries, the L200 is the second most popular Mitsubishi globally. Over 167,000 found homes last year, placing it second only to the Outlander. Revealed in Bangkok, where the L200 is built and badged triton for the Asian market, it’ll go on sale first in Thailand then is scheduled to arrive in British Mitsubishi dealerships early next year. The latest model marks 40 years of the L200, and the updates applied to this revised version of the pick-up are pretty extensive. A new design using Mitsubishi’s ‘Dynamic shield’ styling language has been introduced, with the more angular front bumper and slimmer headlights bringing the look…

MERCEDES’ range expansion continues apace with the new CLA Shooting Brake, these latest spy shots have confirmed. It’s the second generation of the brand’s compact premium estate, which is due to arrive in showrooms next autumn. These images of a disguised prototype suggest the company will continue to prioritise sporty looks over outright practicality for the Shooting Brake. Despite the camouflage, the sleek profile is clear to see; the roofline tapers towards the back to give that coupé-like silhouette. Details such as the headlamps are mostly hidden, but we expect the front end to be similar to that of the A-Class hatch, while the flat shape of the tail-lights bears a resemblance to the larger CLS. Under the skin, the CLA Shooting Brake will be mechanically similar to the A-Class;…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC BMW X7 revealed FROM: Dr T IT’S fair to say the X7 is no looker. But, in fairness, what full-size SUV is? Packaging seven seats, a large boot and a complex four-wheel-drive system, not to mention leaving space for a big engine, will always result in some styling compromises. FROM: Robert S BMW is a business and has to build the cars people are looking to buy. I get that. But I still find it sad that a company which once designed cars as subtle as the E28 5 Series is now making such a large and ostentatious vehicle. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “For some reason I quite like the…

Electric motor Power/official range 644bhp/222 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.4 seconds/125mph YOU’VE probably never heard of Nio. The Tesla competitor is one of a raft of Chinese start-ups, and while most have no history of producing cars, Nio’s involvement in Formula E puts it well ahead of the pack. The company made an impact last year with its EP9 hypercar, which set a new production car lap record at Germany’s Nürburgring race track. But now the firm is concentrating on real-world models such as its new ES8, a seven-seat SUV. Currently only available in China, the ES8 is an imposing all-electric car. It has been designed in Germany, and looks suitably futuristic in its proportions. Nio has yet to announce any firm plans for European expansion, but given the multinational…

Peugeot 5008 2.0 BlueHDi 180 EAT8 GT PRICE: £37,900 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp THE Peugeot 5008 is a match for the Kodiaq when it comes to practicality, ride comfort and value for money. It also has one of the best interiors in its class and features plenty of standard equipment. The rearmost seats are a little cramped, though. SsangYong Rexton 2.2 auto 7 seat Ultimate PRICE: £38,495 ENGINE: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 179bhp AS with the Shogun Sport, the Rexton has a rugged feel and is capable off road, but it’s also more refined and easier to drive than the Mitsubishi. It has a huge list of standard kit as well, and the interior is very spacious. Its jittery ride is disappointing, though.…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,534, 1,544 Audi A6 Avant New arrival Ford Fiesta ST New arrival Hyundai Kona Electric New arrival Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537, 1,546 Mazda 6 Issue 1,549 Mercedes A-Class New arrival Mercedes X-Class Issue 1,547 MINI Cooper 5-door Issue 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…

NEW PRODUCTS Angelwax car care Price: From £12.95 Contact: angelwax.co.uk SCOTTISH car care specialist Angelwax has been hard at work developing an eclectic collection of additions to its line-up. Topping the price list is the Enigma AIO polishing compound, which joins Angelwax’s ceramic-infused range. This already includes a wash, detailing spray and wax. Angelwax says that AIO (All in one) is its most technically advanced product ever, with the intensive polish designed to correct medium to heavy scratches and up to 2500-grade sanding marks. Once the abrasives have done their work and broken down, the nano ceramic coating provides a protective finish that is claimed to last up to three months. The ceramic also delivers a higher initial cut to help speed up the process. A 500ml bottle costs £35, while…

MGB: The Illustrated History Jonathan Wood & Lionel Burrell (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £35 A CUT above many similar books, thanks to engaging content and great pictures. ‘Illustrated’ is a stretch – there are a few pages of drawings at the back – but a hefty photo library offsets this. It’s also more in-depth than expected and decent value, too. Land Rover: The Story Of The Car That Conquered The World Ben Fogle (William Collins, www.harpercollins.co.uk) Price: £20 A LOVE note from TV presenter Fogle – a man who clearly writes from the heart. Unfortunately, it’s riddled with typos, which you may be able to overlook. It’s a decent potted history, but tends to repeat itself. Worth a punt for owners, who’ll understand the emotion behind it. NASCAR Heat Mobile…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Sponsored by Q No seatbelts on classic car THE 1961 Jaguar E-Type I’m thinking of buying has no seatbelts. The dealer assures me that it doesn’t legally need them, because the car was built without belts. Is this true?A Saunders, E-mail A THE dealer is correct. Cars built before 1966 and not originally fitted with seatbelts are not legally required to have them now, although the law requires children under the age of three to be strapped in, and older children to wear a seatbelt when sitting in the front. You can have belts retrofitted, and Quickfit (quickfitsbs.com) is a favourite of our sister title, Octane. Q Grace period on MoT? I COULD only book a service two days after my car’s MoT expires.…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “This race forms part of the long-term strategy to broaden the appeal of F1 and reach new fans” VIETNAM capital Hanoi will play host to a Formula One street race from 2020, it was announced last week. The new event will be the first addition to the calendar since Liberty media took over running the sport from Bernie Ecclestone. Liberty’s chairman and chief executive, Chase Carey, said: “the Vietnamese Grand Prix represents F1’s firm commitment to the Asia region, where races are already well established in Singapore, China and Japan. “It also forms part of Formula One’s long-term strategy to broaden the appeal of the sport and to reach new audiences. “Since we became involved in this sport in 2017, we have talked about developing new destination cities to…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Who’d build HS2 for £403m per mile when a 24/7 road for driveable and driverless cars costs nearer £10m per mile to construct?” NORMALLY I’m not the sort who kicks someone or something when he/it is down. But with HS2 – the proposed alternative to normal trains, cars, buses, coaches and planes – normality goes out the window. The crackpot project has barely begun, yet we’re already seeing financial anomalies, lack of logic and annihilation of the homes/communities/countryside in its path. High Speed 2 is a railway that’s reportedly costing £403million per mile in scorched earth demolition, compensation, building and rebuilding costs. This puts it on course to become the most insanely expensive stretch of train track on the planet. And due…