Table of contents for 1560 in Auto Express

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Engine and tech revisions expected ● Styling similar to current car THE city car market will undergo a dramatic shake-up in the next few years as brands look to increase the number of electric cars in their ranges and boost profits. It means the humble city car, the most affordable way into new model ownership, is under threat because of their relatively small profit margins and volumes they sell. But Hyundai is forging ahead with development of an all-new, third generation of the i10. And by the time it arrives in dealers next year, it will be the most hi-tech and advanced car in a market many rivals are looking to pull out of (see panel, opposite). Despite the extensive disguise worn by prototypes spotted testing, we’re…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk HYUNDAI’S bid to infiltrate the world of high-performance models is under way and new in the product plan from the Korean firm will be a hot Tucson N SUV, Auto Express can confirm. Set to arrive within the next two years, towards the end of the current model’s lifecycle, and previewed in our exclusive image, it will rival the Cupra Ateca, Audi SQ5 and the forthcoming Volkswagen T-Roc R. Insiders are remaining tight-lipped on final specs, but expect at least 340bhp from the Tucson N and a 0-62mph time below six seconds in order to be competitive against its rivals. Insiders told us that the firm is “not interested in making also-ran cars with N badges on them in whatever class they compete”. The Tucson will head Hyundai’s N…

DYSON has appointed former Infiniti and BMW executive Roland Krueger to oversee its new electric car project. Krueger will be based in Singapore, where construction and development of the firm’s manufacturing base for its yet-to-be-named EV is ongoing. Dyson CEO Jim Rowan told Auto Express that Krueger (right) would be an “excellent fit” for the British brand, which expects to start testing prototypes of its pure-electric car in 2020 and start selling it in 2021. Dyson now has 450 people working on its EV project, mainly at its technical base in Hullavington, Wiltshire, where a test facility is being constructed. Rowan said the firm was still “on track” to deliver the project on time, and confirmed it will invest a billion dollars (£775million) in it during 2019 alone. But he…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “The new car is, in effect, the production version of the Vision X concept” THIS is our first proper look at Skoda’s new small SUV, which will be called Kamiq when it makes its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The new car is, in effect, the production version of the Vision X concept that Skoda revealed at the Swiss event last year. It’s designed to take on the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur, but Skoda has based the Kamiq on a larger version of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform than the SEAT Arona and is hoping to trump rivals on interior space and practicality. The images released by the Czech brand show that the Kamiq will stick pretty close to the…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor First drive report on all-new Porsche 911 A NEW Porsche 911 doesn’t come along very often, but the eighth-generation model is an almost completely new car. The aluminium-intensive body is all new, as is the eight-speed PDK auto box, while the twin-turbo flat-six motor has been overhauled. Sean Carson gives his behind-the-wheel verdict. Behind the scenes at the Dakar rally THE Dakar rally is one of motorsport’s true endurance events, because drivers and teams face very tough challenges to complete the event. Only brands with total faith in their products take part – and this year we joined MINI with its Countryman-based cars. Hugo Griffiths reports. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply scan this QR code.…

LOCAL councils across the UK are considering charging employees up to £1,000 a year to park at work, thanks to the introduction of the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). Nottingham City Council is the only local authority to introduce a WPL so far, charging employers with more than 10 staff £402 per parking space. Employers, including schools, are allowed to pass all or some of the costs of the WPL on to staff, with an estimated four out of 10 affected Nottingham employers doing so. At least 10 other councils are considering WPLs. A consultation document by Hounslow council in West London predicts a WPL would generate up to £3.8million a year, with employers charged between £500 and £1,000 per space. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Reading, Oxford and Cambridge, as well as the…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor “Skoda is doing things differently, offering vehicles adapted to the needs of each emergency service” THINK of a manufacturer whose cars look good in a ‘Battenberg’ paint livery and decked out in retina-searing flashing lights, and Ford, Vauxhall, Land Rover, Volvo or BMW probably spring to mind. Whether it’s an Astra on the beat, an X5 on covert duties, a paramedic’s Focus Estate on a life-saving run or a Range Rover heading up a royal convoy, blue-light cars are a major part of our nation’s roads. One car brand that is becoming the darling of the emergency services across the country, however, is not one of the traditional players: it’s Skoda. The Czech company has been slowly but surely building an enviable reputation in the blue-light trade in…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 40.4mpg (official) £64 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.5 seconds/117mph CITROEN has traded on a reputation for comfort and refinement for decades. Rather than targeting a compromised sporty dynamic, the French firm’s slack suspension and plush seats offer something different in a market blinded by driver engagement. But for many new car buyers, the way a large family SUV handles on a race track is about as relevant as cabin and boot space in a two-door sports car. Citroen’s latest crossover, the new C5 Aircross, aims to capitalise on this quandary. We’ve tried a couple of versions already. While our early Chinese-spec car (Issue 1,519) raised a few quality concerns, a much longer drive in a European model late last year (Issue 1,550) showed great improvements with…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 44.0mpg (on test) £66 fill-up/£140 or 29% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 529/1,441 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 9.6 seconds/127mph I RECKON about 80 per cent of the time I spend behind the wheel, I’m alone. In fact, my wife is so prone to sleeping while on the move that even when she’s with me, I might as well be driving solo. Anna is an exceptionally quiet passenger. Whether it’s because she can’t stand my driving or sees it as an easy way to avoid my meaningless drivel, she’s almost always asleep within 15 minutes of us setting off. This became particularly apparent a couple of years ago, when we drove to the south coast in the Caterham Seven 310S we had on the fleet. It was…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,534, 1,544, 1,550 Audi A6 Avant Issues 1,555, 1,558 Dacia Duster Newarrival Ford Fiesta ST Issues 1,552, 1,557 Hyundai Kona Electric Issues 1,551, 1,556 Mazda 6 Issues 1,549, 1,555 MercedesA-Class Issues 1,550, 1,559 MercedesX-Class Issues 1,547, 1,557 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Issues 1,545, 1,553, 1,559 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551, 1,555 Skoda Karoq Issues 1,536, 1545, 1,552 Suzuki Swift Sport Iss 1,532, 1,541, 1,544, 1,559 Vauxhall Grandland X Iss 1,536, 1,540, 1,548, 1,556 Volkswagen Polo Issues 1,549, 1,558 VolvoV60 Issue 1,553…

FIRST TEST Dakar 18 Price: From £29.99 On sale: Now Available for: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC Rating: Contact: www.dakarthegame.com AS we saw in our Issue 1,559 feature, the Dakar Rally is one of the most challenging motorsport events in the world – and the official game does a great job of recreating that complexity in your living room. It’s one of the most unusual driving games we’ve played, with tracks replaced by the “rally-raid” method; you follow distance and compass headings to reach checkpoints. While this is daunting at first, the reward of getting it right is greater than completing lap after lap around a circuit. To mark the running of the 2019 Dakar race this month, the game, which was first released in September, has been updated with new…

The Sat Nav Diaries Adrian Sturrock (Self-published, www.adriansturrock.com) Price: £8.99 Rating: A FUNNY and at times touching account of an epic European trip in a Mazda MX-5. Set against the backdrop of very real events happening at home, this is a bit of escapism. The author has a real knack for observation, people-watching and rumination. It’s bound to make you want to head off on your own grand tour. Essential Buyer’s Guide: TVR S-Series Richard Kitchen (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £12.99 Rating: THIS is as well produced as every title in the series, and advice is gratefully received for buys as potentially disastrous as old British sports cars, especially TVRs. The author knows all the pitfalls common to these cars. As useful as ever, and a first port of call if…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How long should clutch last? MY car’s clutch failed after 40,000 miles and the garage tells me I needed a replacement. This feels like a short lifespan for a clutch; how long should they reasonably last for? Christine A, E-mail A CLUTCH lifespan is a grey area, with some driving styles being harder on them than others, and some cars (like high-performance models) requiring new clutches fairly regularly. You could consider paying to have your clutch inspected for signs of mechanical defect, but this may not be economically viable. Q Getting rid of an eyesore car A NEIGHBOUR’S car has been rotting on his drive since he moved out two years ago. It’s untaxed, has no MoT and is an eyesore. Is there…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk “Local legends Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes will be ones to watch” OVER 120 drivers from 22 countries representing 13 different car brands will take to the spectacular Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia, this weekend for its annual 12-hour endurance race. The event is part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), which has attracted works teams from the likes of Porsche, BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Nissan to enter. Audi’s effort will be led by factory drivers Christopher Mies, Christopher Haase and Markus Winkelhock, entered in the #2 Team Valvoline car. British Touring Car stars Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden are also behind the wheel of an R8, meanwhile, sharing the #3 Team MPC car with Pete Storey. Nissan is represented by the Hong Kong-based KCMG…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “At the rear, the Mk4 Clio’s prominent shoulders are more neatly integrated” ● Digital instruments, large touchscreen steal limelight inside ● Engine range majors on petrol, with hybrid tech THIS is the all-new Renault Clio, revealed in official images ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The fifth generation of the supermini is 100 per cent new and every body panel is different. But the model’s exterior design is clearly an evolution of what’s gone before, because many Mk4 Clio buyers cited the car’s design as a primary reason for purchase. The Clio is, in fact, Europe’s best-selling supermini – and the fourth generation of the French model actually increased its sales every year since its launch in 2012, with 450,000 units shifted…

WE shouldn’t be too surprised that manufacturers are taking differing approaches to their city cars, because these vehicles have always danced along the fringes of profitability. Even the mighty VW Group has struggled to make the idea work, for while we’re big fans of the VW up!, SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo, privately some of the senior management will admit that the project is not considered a roaring success. In the short-to-medium term it looks likely that city cars will split in two directions. Some will go pure-electric, helping brands as they strive to reach CO2 emissions targets and carrying a premium that means they don’t do any real damage to the bottom line. The other trend could be for city car ownership to be usurped by the sort of shared-ownership…

OUR spies have given us our first glimpse of the all-new Peugeot 2008 ahead of an anticipated reveal at Frankfurt in September. It’ll be a revolutionary model compared with the outgoing crossover, using a brand new platform called CMP. The architecture will be shared with the next 208 supermini, and the CMP platform will allow plug-in hybrid and pure-electric variants of both cars to be offered for the first time. Peugeot has tried to nurture consistency and sophistication in its designs, so we expect the 2008 will have lots in common with the new 208, while the latest spy shots hint at how it will evolve the 3008’s looks, borrowing its “three-bar” tail-light design. Big changes are predicted in the cabin, with a hike in material quality and a totally-redesigned…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE number of vehicles stolen in the UK has increased by almost 50 per cent over the past five years, with experts blaming falling police numbers and vulnerabilities in keyless entry systems for the crimewave. Home Office statistics show 75,308 vehicles were reported stolen to police in the 2013/14 financial year (FY), a figure that increased to 111,999 in 2017/18 – a jump of 48.7 per cent. The sharpest rise came over the last two years for which full figures are available, with rates rocketing by 36.7 per cent between FY 2015/16 and 2017/18. The Home Office’s figures don’t specify how the vehicles were stolen, but the rising crimewave correlates with the advent of keyless entry and go systems, and police officer numbers falling by 21,958 since 2006…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Byton M-Byte interior FROM: Simon J THE infotainment screen in the Byton is certainly very impressive to behold. But it looks so large that I can’t help thinking it would be distracting for the driver, causing them to take their eyes off the road and risk having an accident. FROM: Caddy IT is worth bearing in mind that this is a only a concept for the time being. By the time the M-Byte arrives in production form, self-driving systems may be so advanced the need to see out of the front of a car will be greatly reduced. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I prefer old-school cars with no distractions. Just…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Practicality Boot(seats up/down) 500/1,500 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.7 seconds/139mph THERE’S little avoiding the fact that the Porsche Macan SUV has become a common sight on UK roads. Globally, almost 100,000 models found homes in 2017. That year, one in four new Porsches had a Macan badge, in fact – four times as many cars as the maker sold with the 911 nameplate. To keep that momentum going, the Macan has just been given a facelift. As ever, some subtle design changes separate old from new; there’s now a full-width LED tail-light bar, new headlamps and slightly different air vents. Inside you’ll find a new 11-inch touchscreen display. However, the big news with this latest Macan is the removal of the huge-selling V6 diesel engine. It follows the…

Nissan Qashqai NissanConnect Evo Standard Key features: Nav, connectivity THE NissanConnect Evo seven-inch touchscreen system is standard on N-Connecta Qashqais, and brings some useful tech, including built-in sat-nav. There’s also decent smartphone connectivity, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Given that the graphics are grainy and the native system can be rather frustrating to use, plugging in your smartphone might be a better idea. The Qashqai facelift pushed this system towards a more app-based set-up, which was an improvement, but compared with rivals, the operation and menu layout are still clunky and the screen resolution is poor. At least you get a three-year subscription to online services. It’s an improvement over its predecessor, no doubt, but as we said when the Qashqai was facelifted, it feels like a wasted opportunity.…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ONE of the downsides of EV ownership is that the range is supposed to drop in cold weather. Batteries are not as effective when the temperature goes down, while we tend to make more use of the heater and things like seat warmers, all of which drain the battery. I’ve not really noticed much of a change in my Nissan Leaf’s behaviour, although the car hasn’t had to deal with truly arctic temperatures so far. With a full charge, the display normally shows an achievable 150 to 160 miles of range. That went down to 130 one cold morning, but I probably could have eked out closer to 150 miles if I’d run the battery down, which you should try to avoid. The Leaf is impressing in other…

McLaren Senna gets the LEGO treatment IF ever there were a car that suited a blocky LEGO makeover, it’s the striking McLaren Senna – and it’s got just that with its debut in the Danish company’s Speed Champions Series. The 219-piece kit (above) creates a Senna in Victory Grey with classic orange highlights; it even features a figure clad in a McLaren race suit. The real car’s huge front splitter, roof snorkel, rear wing and even door panels are as faithfully recreated as the medium allows. It’s available in toy shops now for a recommended price of £12.99. Latest Robutt offers rub, sweat and years FORD revealed the innovative way it tests car seats last year with the ‘Robutt’, a robotic bottom that simulates years of wear and tear in…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 30|1|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 THERE’S not much beyond the scope of a rotary multitool, which can get into places beyond the reach of cordless drills. These products are incredibly versatile: they can grind, clean, sand, polish, sharpen and even repair damaged hand tools with ease. We looked at eight corded models in this test; clearly they don’t have the convenience of cordless versions, but they offer more power without the possibility of flattening a battery. All came in useful, protective cases and included a number of attachments and accessories, which varied considerably. But which provides the best balance of kit for the money?…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Are you torn between a pure-petrol or pure-electric car? For the next year or two, go petrol-electric. And get a van!” “WHAT’S the best car ever?” is a question I’m often asked, but don’t have an answer for – because such a vehicle doesn’t exist. After four decades driving thousands of motors, however, I’ve concluded THE best for today’s buyers is one that serves up the best of two worlds; offers a bit of both; is two (or more) cars in one. You might think you need an urban car to commute in the week, then a separate off-roader for Saturday or Sunday fun in the country or at the beach. You don’t. What you need is a 3.5 metre-long Suzuki Jimny…

Renault Twingo VERDICT: AXED THE French firm has just revealed an updated version of the Twingo, but Renault UK has announced that the new model will not be sold over here. In fact, once the current stock has been shifted, the Twingo will be axed from UK showrooms due to poor sales. The model was built in conjunction with the Smart ForFour to minimise development costs and boost profits. But even that, it seems, wasn’t enough to save the Twingo. Vauxhall Adam VERDICT: AXED THE Vauxhall Adam is another city car casualty after the British firm announced the model would be pulled from sale at the end of this year. The brand is focusing on more profitable vehicles, such as SUVs, and electrifying its range, as well as switching away…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson HONDA’S all-new electric supermini edges ever closer to production, and this prototype design sketch gives us our best idea yet of how the new car will look before its Geneva Motor Show debut in March. The head-on image confirms the prototype draws clear inspiration from the Urban EV concept, which wowed crowds at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, albeit with a rounder, cuter face and more conventional proportions. The original concept measured less than four metres long, slightly shorter than the Honda Jazz, and our earlier sightings of a disguised prototype suggest the production version will occupy a similar footprint. They also show the concept’s sharp lines, narrow pillars and huge wheels will be toned down in favour of a more conventional design, and the three-door body will…

Disgraced Ghosn steps down as Renault boss CARLOS Ghosn (above) has officially stepped down from his position as chief executive and chairman of Renault. The disgraced former car boss is still in jail in Japan following revelations of financial misconduct. A Renault board meeting had been arranged to discuss Ghosn’s future, but he resigned on the eve of the discussions. Nissan had already dismissed him as its chairman. Thierry Bolloré has been announced as Renault’s new chief executive and will oversee its operational activities. Gatwick trials hi-tech valet parking robots LONDON’S Gatwick Airport is trialling a fleet of autonomous robots to take over valet parking duties. The three-month trial will begin in August in one of Gatwick’s long-stay car parks, covering 270 spaces. The robots – developed by French firm…

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

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 44.1mpg (official) £77 fill-up Practicality Boot(seats up/down) 230/1,950 litres THE Skoda Kodiaq is one of our top large SUVs, offering bags of space, lots of practical touches and a decent blend of performance and running costs for the money. But what if the Czech brand decided to ramp up the performance and tone down the value? This is the result: the Kodiaq vRS. And now we’ve driven it in the UK. We first tried the hot SUV in Europe last year (Issue 1,555). To recap, the rapid seven-seater gets a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that produces 237bhp and a hefty 500Nm of torque. This is transferred to the road through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (no manual is offered) and four-wheel drive, with the 0-62mph dash…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Running costs 38.9mpg (on test) £75 fill-up/£140 or 31% tax Practicality Boot 480 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/138mph SO far, we’ve done 6,304 miles in the Mazda 6, and I’ve been hugely surprised by it – for all sorts of reasons. Its ability to put miles quietly and calmly beneath its big 19-inch wheels while keeping me chilled and in air-conditioned comfort didn’t come as that much of shock, though. If it couldn’t do this, then the 6 would not be fulfilling its core brief, and few Mazdas are ever that far wide of the mark. Yet its supreme long-distance refinement has genuinely taken me by surprise. Truth is, I expected the 6 to be a good motorway cruiser, but not this good. Not this relaxing, this comfortable,…

Mercedes X-Class OUR Mercedes X-Class has continued to rack up the miles, but products editor Kim Adams has encountered some minor hitches recently. The main one has been an intermittent fault with the driver’s window. Usually it behaves as it should, but every now and then it refuses to shut, getting a few inches up before disappearing back into the door. Not ideal during the winter months. We’ve tried several solutions, including grabbing the glass as it rises and helping it past the point where it wants to drop again. Kim has also had some success in shutting the window in small increments, but neither works first time every time. Thankfully they do seem to succeed in the end and we’ve not had to leave the window open. We’ve also…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Dash cam and nav in one I’VE been looking to buy a dash cam, but I don’t want to add something else to the windscreen because I already use a sat-nav. Is there a device that combines the two? Mark Hardman, E-mail A YOU could consider buying the Garmin DriveAssist 51 LMT-D (above). This is a five-inch sat-nav with European maps that includes a dash cam. The camera is also used for driver safety alerts, plus there’s hands-free calling. It’s not a cheap option, at around £240, but will keep screen clutter to a minimum. Q Medical to drive at 70? THIS year I’m going to be 70. Although I know my licence will have to be renewed, do I need to have a…

CAR care specialist Angelwax has been building its valeting accessories range, and new to the line-up is a drying cloth. As with just about every rival, DRY-RIDE is made from microfibre, this time using a thin diamond-weave design which means it isn’t a monster with a huge thirst that soon becomes too heavy and unwieldy to handle. So does it work? The benchmark has been Kent’s no-frills Extra Large drying towel, so we compared them, rating the water each retained after being soaked and drained for 15 seconds. They were tried side by side on a soaked bonnet, then worked over larger areas to assess usability. Price was the final factor. Kent retains its crown; few rivals can match its ease of use and price. But the DRY-RIDE is a…

Dear James, I have £1,000 to spend on a first car for my 19-year-old. What can I buy that’s cheap, safe and larger than a city car? Simon Abbott, E-mail Contact: James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk • THE PROVEN CHOICE Renault Clio Mk3 FOR: Small-car safety pioneer, decent to drive AGAINST: Patchy build quality and reliability RENAULT spent much of the early 2000s focusing on the safety of its cars and, as a result, the Mk3 Clio arrived in 2005 as one of the first superminis to achieve a full five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP. Times change, but for £1,000 you’ll struggle to find a supermini with better crash protection. The Mk3 was also European Car of the Year in 2006. An 06-plate Extreme model is yours for £1,000, with 72,000 miles…