Table of contents for 1566 in Auto Express

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods IF Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) stole this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Fiat was the main reason, revealing a 120th-anniversary concept with more than just a nod towards one of its most iconic models. The Centoventi concept (its name means 120 in Italian) was kept secret from the press until the eve of the show – an increasingly rare feat these days. However, the car’s form – a futuristic, electric Panda – was only evident once the sheets came off. How seriously should we take it? Quite, if the soundbites from Fiat bosses and the concept’s project name – CC4, meaning ‘City Car 4th Generation’ – are anything to go by. But the Centoventi story may be more complicated than just being the next Panda. Measuring 3,680mm long, 1,527mm…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn GENEVA is always one of the most exciting and varied motor shows on the calendar, and this year’s event didn’t disappoint when it came to getting a glimpse of what you can expect in showrooms in the coming years. The show is often dominated by the big, high-end brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, and while that remained true to an extent, there was a refreshing amount of real-world, affordable metal on display. The Honda, Renault and Peugeot stands were among the most popular at the event, with small, exciting superminis making their debuts and attracting more cameras and admiring glances than some of Geneva’s more exotic exhibits. One motor show theme that won’t be disappearing any time soon is electrification. It seemed there wasn’t a manufacturer in…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Ford Focus ST FROM: PGR THE Focus ST’s strength has always been that it’s a tidy, entertaining package, sold at a cost below many rivals. It won’t be as fast as the Civic Type R or as premium as the Golf GTI – leave that to the RS – but it’ll be a lot of car for the money. FROM: Ed Hamer I’M not 100 per cent certain about the Focus ST yet; the power output is a bit of a letdown considering the size of the engine. I like the rear end, but am not sold on the front. I would have to see the car in person to fully…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “The goal for the engineers was to make a car that feels more grownup than before” Performance 0-60mph/top speed 7.2 seconds/140mph Running costs 45.6mpg (official WLTP) £84 fill-up IT must be a nightmare replacing a car like the original Range Rover Evoque. But that’s what Land Rover needs to do, because, while the existing car has carried on increasing its sales year on year, it has done so with an ever-worsening need for fresh tech and electrification – just what the company hopes to deliver in this Mk2. To recap, the new Evoque sits on a very heavily modified version of the old car’s D8 platform – different enough, it seems, to earn a new name: Premium Transverse Architecture. It has pretty much the same footprint as the…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk JEEP says the new Wrangler can “go anywhere” and “do anything”. If the latter half of this mantra sounds like hyperbole – and let’s be honest, it is – then the former claim is a bit more credible. The Wrangler’s off-road ability has always been impressive and it is more capable than ever in this instance. In fact, the entire vehicle is a better, more desirable and more complete 4x4 as a result. Not only has the Wrangler’s styling had a sympathetic redesign all round, but there are also two new engines. The first is a 2.0 petrol with 268bhp and 400Nm, the other a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 197bhp/450Nm. The interior has been comprehensively reworked to make it more appealing to a broader audience as well, says Jeep. As…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI 130 DSG GT 5dr PRICE: £25,740 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 128bhp THE Volkswagen Golf is our favourite family hatch and therefore the model to beat here. The 128bhp 1.5-litre petrol TSI version in GT trim is the highest spec available with this comparable engine to the Toyota for power, although it’s not a hybrid. Design & engineering THIS Golf uses petrol power alone. The 1.5-litre TSI turbo delivers 128bhp and 200Nm of torque to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch auto box. Some GT models also have lowered suspension over the standard car, but our 128bhp version features the normal set-up. It sits on the MQB platform, which underpins many different VW Group models, so there’s strut suspension at the front, and while some…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk IF you’re into your cycling as much as me, is there any type of car that works better than the good old-fashioned estate? My Audi A6 Avant has been brilliant in its time on our fleet for various reasons, but for me the huge 1,680-litre boot (with the seats folded down) is one of the model’s best features. There’s enough room inside for me to stow my bicycle without having to take off one of the wheels. That means there’s no messing about with getting it to fit in the car when I want to pop out to find some great roads to cycle on, or when I’m tired afterwards and just want to get into the warmth of my A6’s heated front seats. Of course, estate cars aren’t…

Heads up from F1 star DC with latest tyres COOPER Tire Europe unveiled three products at last week’s Geneva Motor Show, including a special edition inspired by brand ambassador David Coulthard. Developed in partnership with the ex-F1 driver, the Cooper Zeon CS Sport David Coulthard Edition (above) features the Scot’s helmet design on the sidewall. The flagship design has the top A tyre label rating for wet grip, and aims to offer enthusiasts good performance and value. For several years Coulthard has given advice to the development team and represented Cooper at events. Visit www.coopertire.co.uk for more details. Supercar shades get dose of McLaren style McLAREN has teamed up with eyewear manufacturer L’Amy for a new McLaren Vision collection of glasses and sunnies. Teams from McLaren’s Automotive and Racing divisions helped design…

WORK on cars for any length of time and your tool collection will grow. That means selecting the right spanner or screwdriver at the bottom of a tool box becomes increasingly difficult. The answer is a tool chest, with drawers and compartments to help separate spanners from sockets. It can also be used to keep small items like tape, punches and blades together. And, as your kit grows, the chest can be combined with a roller cabinet and mid box to provide extra storage. So which is the best one for you? We packed eight to find out. How we tested them THERE’S a common design for most tool chests, but it’s the small details that separate the best from the merely good. We wanted a range of drawer sizes,…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram • Italian brand takes aim at Audi with striking new SUV concept • Based on Jeep Renegade platform; on sale by end of next year IT was less than a year ago that Alfa Romeo promised it would introduce a new compact SUV, and at this year’s Geneva Motor Show we got our first look at the Italian firm’s Audi Q3 rival. Called Tonale (pronounced ‘To-na-le’), the SUV is only a concept for now, but bosses have confirmed that a production version of the show car will slot into the company’s range below the Stelvio and be in dealerships by the end of next year. The Tonale concept looks very much like a shrunken Stelvio, and its features include a distinctive nose with an extended front overhang, the traditional…

News editor, Auto Express FIAT, apparently, is the forgotten brand in the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) empire, despite its name implying it is the backbone of the car giant. Its sales are propped up entirely by the 500 city car and Panda, both of which are looking rather outdated. So what better way to inject some excitement into the brand than parade a dinky, retro concept car? Honda did exactly the same thing to maximum effect at Geneva last year with the Urban EV. The Centoventi’s relative simplicity harks back to Fiats of old, so here’s hoping bosses see sense and put it into production.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy SKODA is lining up its Scala family hatchback as the next model to get the vRS treatment, according to a senior official – and requirements on CO2 emissions could mean that it becomes the first hybrid performance vehicle from the company. The Czech brand recently launched the Kodiaq vRS, its second hot model after the Octavia vRS. But the Scala – a conventional rival for the Ford Focus and VW Golf – would in theory be a more natural base for a ‘traditional’ hot hatch than the larger Octavia. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Skoda’s board member with responsibility for sales and marketing, Alain Favey, admitted that such a vehicle is now being discussed. “Officially we have not decided anything,” Favey said, “but yes, we are considering…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Does new Toyota Corolla match Golf? THE Corolla name is back in the UK, and it seems as if Toyota finally has a credible rival to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. With its selection of hybrid powertrains, it might even be better than them in some areas. For our first impressions, watch deputy editor John McIlroy’s video. Catch up on all the action from Geneva IF our team’s highlights from the Geneva show (left) have whet your appetite, head to the Auto Express YouTube channel for a video round-up. The 2019 event was one of the best in recent years, and our video includes the stars you can’t miss – everything from an electric Fiat to a V8 Ferrari. You can watch any of our videos on…

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…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk “It doesn’t roll as much as you’d think for a car so tall, and again its chassis has a grown-up refinement that belies its underpinnings” Running costs 57.6mpg (official) £48 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/120mph THE Volkswagen Polo-based T-Cross is the brand’s third new SUV in the past two years, and completes a family line-up of no less than five models in total. VW, you might rightly conclude, is fully committed to the SUV, then – both now and in the future. As such, it’ll offer the T-Cross with a variety of drivetrains that will include a full EV model within the next 18 months. Now, though, the T-Cross comes to the UK with just two different engine options. Both use the group’s familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 308 PureTech EAT8 GT Line PRICE: £25,070 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 129bhp THE Peugeot 308’s sharp styling means it competes with the Corolla for the attention of buyers. This 1.2-litre petrol auto in GT Line trim costs £25,070, so it’s the cheapest car here, but you’ll need to add optional extras to match the Toyota’s kit list. Design & engineering PEUGEOT’S 308 is based on the versatile EMP2 platform, which also underpins the 3008 and 5008 SUVs, and even the larger 508 saloon. At the front it uses pseudo-MacPherson struts, while at the back there’s a de-formable crossmember (torsion beam). It’s a less sophisticated set-up than in either rival here, because they have multi-link set-ups. The 308 also features a three-cylinder engine, but don’t think that having one…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 42.8mpg (on test) £44 fill-up/£140 or 26% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 265/947 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/130mph MY time with the Suzuki Swift Sport is finally coming to an end, and after eight enjoyable months behind the wheel, I’ve started to see plenty of similarities between it and another Japanese icon. That’s because, to me at least, this sporty yellow hatchback is quite a lot like Sushi. First, there’s its size. At 3,890mm long and 1,735mm wide, it’s smaller than the typical supermini – if not quite compact enough to fit on one of those tiny sushi conveyor belts. As a result, it’s a doddle to drive around town, nipping through gaps that many other cars can’t, and squeezing into very small parking spaces.…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Warm engine to check oil? I’VE always checked my engine oil level before I start the car. A friend has told me I should warm it for five to 10 minutes beforehand. Is he right? Logan White, E-mail A CHECK what the maker specifies in the handbook. Some prefer the engine to be warm. Whatever is required, the oil needs to drain after warming so that it’s all back in the sump. When refilling, the distance between marks on the dipstick (above) is often a litre, so you can judge what you need. Q Help me find tyre review WHILE looking to buy tyres online, I found a listing for the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 which said it had been voted the number one…

SAT-nav specialist Mio is the latest tech company to launch a new dash cam in a bid to lure drivers away from specialist brands like Nextbase and Thinkware. The Mio J60 is affordable and has WiFi, allowing motorists to access the camera with their smartphone. To see how good the new Mio is, we pitted it against our current Best Buy, the Nextbase 612GW. Our test prioritised clarity of footage and ease of use, plus we looked for clear recordings in all conditions. Extras, such as parking modes, were taken into account, while price was the final factor. The Mio wasn’t as intuitive as the 612GW, and its footage wasn’t as clear. We found the driver assistance features annoying, too; while some drivers may appreciate the extra safety factor, the…

Dear Luke, I have £10,000 to spend and want a modern classic – ideally one that will be fuss-free or easy to fix. What could I buy? David Corbett, E-mail Contact: Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk • THE RALLY-BRED CHOICE Impreza Turbo FOR: Charismatic flat-four turbo engine, rally pedigree AGAINST: Many unloved or thrashed examples for sale SUBARU’S Impreza is famed for winning World Rally Championships at the hands of Colin McRae and Richard Burns, and changed the brand’s reputation overnight. With its turbocharged 2.0-litre flat-four engine, this remains a seriously quick car even by today’s standards. Sadly, tidy, low-mileage, affordable examples are getting more difficult to find. If you shop around, though, you can still track down a bargain; we spotted a well-kept 1998 model with 43,000 miles on the clock for £8,995.…

NO major surprises are expected when Formula 1 returns to action this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. With a comprehensive rules rethink on the way for the 2021 season, teams are playing it safe, refining their existing designs and not embarking on radical rethinks that could be made irrelevant in less than two years’ time. So the signs are looking very good for Lewis Hamilton, who sets off in pursuit of a sixth world title this season. There is reason to believe he could come under more pressure from Ferrari than in previous years, however. The Italian squad fired its polarising team principal Maurizio Arrivabene in January, promoting former technical director Mattia Binotto to replace him. It also has a very fast new driver in the form…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● New Royal Docks track planned ● Season-six finale in July 2020 FORMULA E is coming back to London. Following races at Battersea Park in 2015 and 2016, the electric single-seater series will return to the capital in 2020, on a new circuit layout at the Royal Docks in East London. The event will take place on 25-26 July 2020, forming a double-header finale for Formula E’s sixth season, and the second using its latest, second-generation cars. The 2.4-kilometre clockwise circuit will incorporate both indoor and outdoor segments, with the cars passing through a section of the ExCeL exhibition centre. A total of 23 corners are included in the layout, which also sees the cars racing along the waterfront of the Royal Docks. Alejandro Agag, the founder and CEO of…

ELSEWHERE at Alfa, the firm will replace its ageing MiTo supermini with a new, larger vehicle, bosses have revealed. The MiTo (above) hasn’t proven as popular or as profitable as the Italian brand expected, so a total rethink of the entry-level model is under way. “I think we need an entry-level car. This is something we are working on,” Alfa’s European boss Roberta Zerbi told Auto Express. “I’m not sure it is going to be a MiTo, but it will be an entry-level car; a five-door is more appropriate.” A more practical model could help Alfa realise its ambition of selling 400,000 vehicles per year. However, Zerbi would not be drawn on whether the new model would be a crossover.…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods A NEW Fiat 500 will be presented at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, with a very clear buyer in mind: luxury consumers. Fiat is plotting a bold reinvention of the car, with no internal combustion engines. The new range – previewed in our exclusive images – will be entirely electric, and redesigned to appeal to the current 500’s increasingly upmarket customer base. “Premium is the way we will go with the EV 500,” explained the head of Fiat and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ chief marketing officer, Olivier Francois. “A new 500, totally renewed. A new object. Totally electric. It’s kind of an urban Tesla, with beautiful style.” The Fiat boss confirmed that the next 500 will use a brand new platform designed for electrification. “It makes the car radically…

McLaren Senna GTR wings in with 814bhp McLAREN has released its limited-edition Senna GTR. Only 75 examples of the £1.1million track-only hypercar (above) will be built, each promising to be a faster, more focused version of the roadgoing Senna. Power is from an 814bhp version of McLaren’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which develops 800Nm of torque. First deliveries are due in September. Peugeot boss: Self-driving tech too pricey FITTING Level 4 or 5 autonomous technology would add 15,000 Euros (roughly £13,000) to the price of a car. The claim was made to Auto Express by Peugeot CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato who confirmed that, for this reason, Peugeot and the PSA Group will not sell anything beyond Level 3 to private buyers. “There is a point where the value of it is not…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths EXCLUSIVE POLICE and councils are tracking motorists using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras that, last year alone, carried out 10.1 billion number plate scans across the length and breadth of the country, generating 203 million ‘hits’ on vehicles of interest in the process. While the police use ANPR cameras to track and trace criminals, local councils in England, Scotland and Wales are adopting the technology for traffic and parking infractions, issuing 6.96 million penalty tickets over the past five years, generating fines equivalent to around £472million. Privacy campaigners are concerned that the widespread use of ANPR technology amounts to the mass surveillance of innocent citizens. Silkie Carlo, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said our figures, uncovered following freedom of information requests, “reveal the astonishing…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods £40,000 is a not insignificant amount of money. And, if you’re lucky enough to have that much to spend, SUVs such as the BMW X3, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC are all within reach. As is the new Volvo V60 Cross Country. Cars like this have had it difficult in recent times with the ever-increasing importance and popularity of premium SUVs. However, Cross Country Volvos have always been the best of the breed, and this new version of the V60 comes with one immediate and obvious advantage: the fundamental quality and ability of the car on which it’s based. While the new V60 is a total revolution over the previous-generation estate, the Cross Country only builds on that. This new model gets a different bodykit…

MODEL TESTED: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Petrol Hybrid Automatic Excel PRICE: £27,345 ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4cyl petrol/electric motor, 120bhp TOYOTA’S dedication to hybrid power continues with its newest model, the Corolla. We’re testing the £27,345 1.8-litre hybrid version in Excel trim, but is it a match for conventional rivals? Design & engineering THE new Corolla’s striking design might remind you of the C-HR or even the latest Prius. All of these models sit on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which is designed to integrate electrification at its core. This set-up also has a focus on body rigidity and lightness. It uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle, so the suspension is more sophisticated than the 308’s, and matches the Volkswagen’s. The powertrain is another point of…

Toyota Corolla Toyota Touch 2 with Go Standard Key features: Sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB THE Corolla’s infotainment system is called Toyota Touch 2 with Go, and has an eight-inch screen that matches the VW Golf’s unit for size. It features sat-nav, DAB, Bluetooth and voice activation, but misses out on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. That’s why we’d recommend a trim level with built-in navigation. It’s the weakest system of the three. The graphics look old-fashioned and it misses out on functionality present in its rivals’ set-ups. Similarly, the digital dash is less configurable than the Golf’s optional Active Info Display, and doesn’t look as modern, either. The screen and interface are as responsive to the touch as the Peugeot’s set-up, which is to say a little behind the Volkswagen’s, while…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 4.0 miles/kWh (on test) £140 or 13% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 332/1,114 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.6 seconds/104mph WE’VE had our Hyundai Kona Electric for about six months now, and I reckon the question that I’ve been asked about it most frequently is this: “Don’t you worry about range or the lack of a petrol engine?” The answer, I am happy to report, is no – I’m quite happy to say goodbye to conventional fuel. I simply tell the enquirer that thanks to my Chargemaster home wallbox, I start every day with, in effect, a full tank of petrol – around 270 miles of range, in the Kona’s case. When they hear life with an EV described in those terms, people usually get the point.…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Iss 1,534, 1,544, 1,550, 1,565 Audi A6 Avant Issues 1,555, 1,558 Cupra Ateca Issue 1,564 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564 Ford Fiesta ST Issues 1,552, 1,557, 1,561 Hyundai Kona Electric Issues 1,551, 1,556, 1,561 Mazda 6 Issues 1,549, 1,555, 1,560 Mercedes A-Class Issues 1,550, 1,559 Mercedes G-Class Issue 1,565 Mercedes X-Class Issues 1,547, 1,557, 1,563 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Iss 1,545, 1,553, 1,559, 1,562 Nissan Leaf Iss 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560 Suzuki Swift Sport Iss 1,532, 1,541, 1,544, 1,559 Volkswagen Polo Issues 1,549, 1,558, 1,562 VolvoV60 Issues 1,553, 1,560…

NEW PRODUCT The Treatment car care range Prices: From £5.46 Contact: www.shipshapenorfolk.co.uk THE company that took victory in our 2008 wax test with US favourite Collinite 476S is now exclusively importing another car care brand from the States: The Treatment. There are currently 41 products in the range, starting with a vinyl, leather, plastic and rubber protectant, at £5.46. Highlights include the Color Treatment, which claims to be the only colour wax in the world to use carnauba wax with PTFE resins. It aims to add a deep shine to the surface while delivering a hard, durable protective shield. Color Treatment also claims to fill in minor chips, fine scratches and swirl marks. A 12oz bottle costs £9.82 (all prices include delivery), and buyers have a choice of six colours. Also…

Vauxhall: Britain’s Oldest Car Maker Ian Coomber (Fonthill Media, www.fonthill.media) Price: £35 FOUNDED in 1903, Vauxhall has plenty of history, and it’s hard to cover it all in one book. This one focuses on the personalities and politics behind the brand, written by an ex-employee of almost 40 years. An interesting read, if less of a definitive reference book than some we’ve seen. Porsche 356: The Essential Buyer’s Guide Brett Johnson (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £13.99 LATEST buyer’s guide focuses on the original Porsche, along with its A, B, C, Speedster, Roadster, Convertible and Carrera sister cars. So the author spends a lot of time explaining the differences – confusingly at times. Still, it’s a rare resource on these beauties. SUP Multiplayer Racing Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free ANOTHER…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Filler flap security worries I RECENTLY looked at a new Ford Fiesta, and out of curiosity pulled on the fuel filler flap. Despite the car being locked, this opened, exposing the filler neck. Is this secure? Will Hilton, E-mail A THE Fiesta has Ford’s capless ‘Easy-Fuel’ system, which removes the need for you to unscrew a cap once you open the flap. Security is provided by a shutter in the filler neck, which stops siphoning and only opens when a fuel pump is inserted. There should be an emergency filler nozzle in the boot, in case you need to fill up from a can. Q Challenging speeding letter THE police sent me a letter saying a local volunteer caught me doing 36mph in…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk THE 2018 season was supposed to be a fresh start for McLaren, with the Woking team having switched to Renault engines instead of the Hondas that had proven so troublesome since that partnership began in 2015. A promising start in Australia saw Fernando Alonso finish fifth, but it became clear the new engine was not a ‘silver bullet’ fix, and a management restructure was announced. Out went racing director Eric Boullier and several other senior figures. In came former IndyCar driver Gil de Ferran as sporting director to work alongside CEO Zak Brown. And towards the end of 2018, two other big-name signings were made: ex-Porsche Le Mans boss Andreas Seidl and highly rated former Toro Rosso technical director James Key. It’s all change in the cockpit for 2019,…

ALL change, please. When the new Formula 1 season gets under way in Melbourne this weekend, the grid will look very different to the one that closed out 2018 in Abu Dhabi. An influx of new drivers and (sort of) new teams gives us lots to get excited about, and new regulations mean the cars have evolved over the winter. The front wings are wider and simpler, the barge boards have been trimmed down and the rear wings sit higher than before, in theory making the cars easier to follow and easier to overtake. Whether or not the changes work remains to be seen. Pre-season testing is a notoriously unreliable guide to form, but the consensus is that Ferrari looks strongest right now. The Maranello outfit’s package seemed a cut…

CITROEN is unlikely to stay in the World Rally Championship beyond 2020 unless some form of electrification is introduced into the sport, the company boss has warned. Speaking to Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, Citroen boss Linda Jackson said the company would have to reconsider its participation in the sport if the current rules – based on 1.6-litre turbo cars – don’t evolve to include at least hybrid power. She told us: “I don’t see how as a manufacturer I can continue to support something that is without any reflection of what’s going on in society. I know there are discussions on what the WRC could become – hybrid, electric or a mix – and for me that’s very important.” Current discussions on including hybrid power aren’t likely…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Consumers robbed of a JLR stand at the Geneva show headed instead to the Jeep display. You’ve got to be in it to win it” A GROWING army of dissident manufacturers continues to blank car exhibitions. And if this commercially suicidal trend continues, prepare for some – maybe most – of these crucial events to vanish. The buying public will have fewer motor shows to attend. Makers will lose priceless opportunities to build relationships with customers. An industry which already builds too many cars for too few buyers will shoot itself in both feet. How clever is that? Having attended more than 30 Geneva shows, believe me when I say the Swiss one is the best, most user-friendly car exhibition on the…