Table of contents for 1571 in Auto Express

Bentley hints at next Flying Spur limousine BENTLEY has teased the forthcoming Flying Spur in a new picture (above). The limousine is expected to make its debut by the end of the year, with familiar yet updated looks and fresh tech. It’s based on a similar platform to the new Continental GT, which supports 48V electrification, allowing for active anti-roll bars and Bentley’s Dynamic Ride suspension system. Power will come from a choice of 542bhp twin-turbo V8 and 626bhp 6.0-litre W12 engines. New battery promises 600-mile range in EVs NEW battery tech under development could see electric cars cover more than 600 miles on a single charge. German firm Innolith AG says that, within five years, its 1,000 watt-hour per kilogram rechargeable battery – a world first – could be…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Seven-seat ID. Roomzz due in 2021 ● Features Level 4 autonomous tech VOLKSWAGEN has revealed the new ID. Roomzz concept, the sixth – and so far biggest – vehicle to join the brand’s all-electric ID. family. It hints at a production version of a zero-emission seven-seat SUV that’s due to go on sale in China in 2021, and it previews the firm’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology. As with earlier ID. concepts, the Roomzz features a clean, non-aggressive look. It does away with any sort of front grille, and LED lighting elements run the full width of the car at the front and rear. At 4,915mm, it’s 114mm longer than the current Touareg, with a wheelbase 72mm greater, but it’s both slightly narrower and lower than VW’s…

FORD has taken the wraps off the Fiesta ST Performance Edition. Only 600 will be built, and the limited edition will be priced at £25,500 when sales begin in June. The Performance Edition rides on a set of lightweight 18-inch wheels, whose flow-formed aluminium build trims 7kg of unsprung mass from the ST’s standard rims. Adjustable coilovers drop the ride height by 15mm at the front and 10mm at the rear, and offer 12 settings for bump stiffness and 16 for rebound. Cosmetic tweaks are limited to the lairy Deep Orange paint, while standard kit mirrors the ST-3’s: LED lights, Recaro seats and a Bang & Olufsen sound system are all standard. Ford’s ‘Performance Pack’ is also included; this adds a Quaife LSD, launch control and a shift light indicator.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor WE drive Lamborghini’s new SUV, the Urus, and take a look at the new Renault Clio. See both at youtube.com/Autoexpress. We put Lambo SUV through its paces UNTIL very recently, the Lamborghini Urus was the fastest SUV in the world. But while the new Bentley Bentayga Speed has grabbed the title by being 1mph faster, the Urus is still mightily quick. And has the maker managed to instil some of its famous lunacy into an SUV? Steve Sutcliffe reports. Your in-depth guide to new Renault Clio LAST week we drove a prototype Renault Clio and discovered it’s well on track to catch up with its newer, more polished supermini rivals. But that drive was of a camouflaged car, so head to our YouTube channel to see the Clio undisguised,…

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 Kuga FROM: buzben IT’S growing on me, because it looks similar to a Porsche Macan from the side. I just hope the prices are realistic. It would be a bad move for Ford to follow other car makers in raising the price by £4,000 compared with the last model. FROM: Jim Nastiks FIVE years ago, this would have been a groundbreaking piece of design, but today it’s very run-of-the-mill. While it looks decent and should sell reasonably well, I expected to see something a bit different – not just a puffed-up hatch. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I’d buy a Focus. What does this do that normal hatchbacks can’t?…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram AUDI has a knack for marketing. Whether it’s motorsport links to an iconic rally car, or leaving the glorious V10 howl of an Audi R8 to speak for itself, it knows how to make people want its cars. However, the company is going to have to change its tune over the coming years as it gears up to deliver a range of pure-electric options. The e-tron is the first car in the marque’s electric offensive, but rather than Audi ‘going electric’, the firm proudly claims that ‘electric has gone Audi’. In Issue 1,570 it beat Tesla’s Model X on foreign soil; now we’re driving it in the UK. The e-tron is built on a modified version of the MLB platform found under a range of other Audi SUVs,…

“Cataclean has long been the go-to fuel and exhaust system cleaner in my workshop – it really works!”– Daniel Rowbottom BTCC driver/Auto technician Air quality is big news, but last year’s changes to the annual MoT brought it into sharper focus. They introduced a much stricter emissions test, and countless vehicles have fallen foul since. Between May and November 2018, a staggering 238,871 diesels failed the emissions part of the MoT test – up from 58,004 in the same period in 2017. Similarly, nearly twice as many petrol cars failed, up from 292,468 to 505,721. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, with the average car on Britain’s roads now around seven years old. Over time, problems are stored up in the engine and catalytic converter, increasing harmful emissions, and affecting…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths WELCOME to Driver Power 2019 and, first of all, thank you. Seemingly every business and service asks for feedback these days, so we’ve been truly overwhelmed by the thousands of you who took the time to complete this year’s new car ownership survey. Driver Power is the UK’s largest, most comprehensive car satisfaction poll, asking myriad questions on life with the models you’ve bought over the past 24 months. We get down to minute detail like infotainment screen sensitivity and levels of legroom. As well as compiling quantitative scores for those areas and 29 others, we add your subjective comments on life with your cars. The big question will be which model is this year’s Driver Power winner; can Peugeot’s 3008 retain its 2018 crown? Beyond that, we…

KEITH Smith, a semi-retired health and safety officer from Staffordshire, spreads his life between his main home near Burton-on-Trent and his lodge in North Wales. Driving between these properties every week means Keith needs a car that can return top-notch fuel economy, and he reckons the Toyota Prius Excel he bought in September 2018 has been a wise choice. “Instead of spending £100 a month on fuel, it’s less than £50,” Keith told us, comparing the economy of his old SUV with that of his Prius. One might assume this switch came at the cost of some interior space, but Keith assured us this isn’t the case, and highlighted this as one of the reasons he loves his latest car. “There’s so much room in the Prius without putting down…

Range Rover Evoque Touch Pro Duo £400 option  Key features: Sat-nav, smartphone link THE Range Rover comes with sat-nav as standard in R-Dynamic S trim, using a 10-inch touchscreen display on the dash. It also features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay at no extra cost, unlike in its rival, plus a WiFi hotspot and a connected app service. Our car was fitted with the £400 optional Touch Pro Duo system, too; this adds another screen on the centre console, which is useful for managing different functions at the same time – for example, sat-nav and media. The addition of an Interactive Driver Display (instead of analogue instruments) for a further £500 brings even more tech to the package. While the system is not perfect – the menu isn’t anywhere near…

Kim_Adams@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Performance 0-60mph/top speed 7.5 secs (on test)/127mph Practicality Payload capacity 1,067kg Running costs 23.4mpg (on test) £96 fill-up/£250 tax NOT once did I feel that the 187bhp Mercedes X 250 d pick-up I ran for four months was underpowered. But I have to confess that I’m loving its more powerful bigger brother, and that’s mainly down to the truck’s turbocharged V6 engine. A vehicle’s life with me consists of days without moving interspersed with long trips, often with one of my track cars on a trailer behind and a pick-up bed full with wheels, tyres and tools. The X 350 d’s time since January has been no different, with trips to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and 450 miles over a weekend taking in a sprint and a hillclimb among…

Audi A6 Avant Issues 1,555, 1,558, 1,566 Cupra Ateca Issue 1,564 Dacia Duster Issues 1,561, 1,564 Hyundai Kona Electric Iss 1,551, 1,556, 1,561, 1,566 Kia e-Niro Issue 1,569 Kia Ceed Issue 1,567 Mazda 6 Issues 1,549, 1,555, 1,560 Mercedes A-Class Issues 1,550, 1,559, 1,568 Mercedes G-Class Issue 1,565 Mercedes X-Class Issues 1,547, 1,557, 1,563 Nissan Leaf Issues 1,533, 1,551, 1,555, 1,560, 1,568 SEAT Tarraco New arrival Volkswagen Polo Iss 1,549, 1,558, 1,562, 1,570 Volvo V60 Issues 1,553, 1,560, 1,567…

IF your wheels are in good condition and cleaned frequently, a soapy mitt is all it takes to keep them sparkling. Allow baked-on brake disc dust to build up or chip the lacquer, however, and you’ll need something stronger – and that’s where wheel cleaners come in. The powerful acids and alkalis of the past are now largely gone, due to safety concerns and the fact they can damage wheels. Those that remain are less aggressive, and they’re up against colour-changing cleaners which focus on freeing the iron particles embedded in the lacquer, turning purple as they work. Unlike their predecessors, most can be used on all surfaces, including chrome and unpainted areas. Even better, many claim that they don’t need to be agitated with a brush to help shift…

ANY car spring clean has to start with ridding the bodywork of the winter grime that builds up after even the shortest journey on a wet road. Unless you have professional kit, you’ll have to touch the car at some point to remove the final layer of dirt, but you can make life easier for yourself and the car’s paintwork by using a pre-wash. These are usually snow foams that go on via a pressure washer, ideally through a lance designed to create a thick white coating. Our current test winner is a Bilt-Hamber’s Surfex HD degreaser. Other top performers are Ultimate Finish Ultimate Snow Foam, Angelwax FastFoam and Auto Curators Essential Soak. Using a pre-wash and pressure washer or hose allows the bulk of the grit stuck to the…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Buying back a written-off car Q MY insurer wrote off my car after a recent accident, even though the damage was purely cosmetic. Can I ask to buy it back? Darren Murphy, E-mail A IF it’s written off and you’re offered a payout, you should have the option of giving up part of that sum to get the unrepaired car back. This may be worthwhile if the vehicle has sentimental value, although you should be aware that many buyers are put off by written-off vehicles. You should also have any repairs inspected by an independent engineer. Keeping Italian plates on Fiat Q I’M tempted to import a classic Fiat 500 from Italy, but would like to keep it on its original Italian number plates.…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ● Concept revealed in Shanghai; production car on sale next year, from £30,000 ● Shares chassis technology and engines with GLA, and provides seven seats WITH a third of all Mercedes’ current sales SUVs – a total of 820,000 in 2018 – it’s difficult to resist the temptation to add another. So enter the GLB, which will make it eight SUVs in the brand’s line-up and sit, unsurprisingly, between the GLA and GLC. The seven-seat Concept GLB, revealed at this week’s Shanghai Motor Show, is a thinly disguised version of the production car that will go on sale early in 2020, with prices starting from around £30,000. It shares its chassis tech, engines and many interior parts with other models from Mercedes’ A and B-Class ranges, but in…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson ● Rapide E revealed in Shanghai ● 200-mile range being targeted THIS is the Aston Martin Rapide E, the first all-electric car from the British luxury marque and one of the stars of this week’s Shanghai Motor Show. As the name suggests, it’s a version of the firm’s existing petrol-powered saloon, fitted with a new battery-electric powertrain. The car is on sale now, although production is being limited to just 155 units. In place of the conventional Rapide’s 6.0-litre V12 drivetrain is a 65kWh battery pack, powering a pair of rear-mounted electric motors. These develop 602bhp and 950Nm of torque, producing a sub-four-second 0-62mph time, 50-70mph in just 1.5 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The 800V architecture allows the Rapide E’s battery to be recharged at…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● ‘Type 130’ hypercar could have up to 1,000bhp ● Due to be unveiled in London in second half of 2019 LOTUS will launch an all-electric hypercar later this year, signalling a rebirth for the famous British brand under its new owner, Chinese firm Geely. Codenamed Type 130, the car will be revealed at an event in London in the second half of 2019, but Lotus used this week’s Shanghai Motor Show to confirm the project’s existence and issue a teaser of the flagship model’s side profile. Our exclusive image previews how this could translate into production form. Few other details have been released about the car, but Lotus CEO Phil Popham said: “Type 130 will be the most dynamically accomplished Lotus in our history. It marks a…

THIS is the Karma GT Pininfarina, a luxury GT that could make production next year. The Italian design house was asked by the California manufacturer to collaborate on a project based on the Revero range-extender – Karma’s current car, which can be traced back to the Fisker Karma of 2012. Pininfarina used a Revero donor vehicle, but transformed the saloon into an elegant two-door GT, with flush door handles, ultra-slim headlights and what the designers call a “sucked-in waistline”. The cabin gets a mix of white and off-white leathers, nubuck hide and satin aluminium trim. There’s no word yet on production plans, but Karma could use the GT Pininfarina to expand its line-up and take it further away from the company’s Fisker origins.…

CHIEF executive officer, Jim Hackett, has admitted that Ford “overestimated the arrival of autonomous vehicles”, and cast doubts over how advanced the firm’s first driverless cars will be. Hackett told the Detroit Economic Club that the initial applications of autonomous cars “will be narrow, because the problem is so complex”, according to reports from Bloomberg. Ford previously said it intended to launch self-driving cars by 2021, with the vehicles offering ride-hailing services to customers. Hackett remained optimistic, though, that once Ford’s self-driving cars come to market they will be “really powerful”.…

Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale A SERIES of traffic-improvement programmes that cost the taxpayer £317million made traffic worse overall, with many of the schemes assessed leading to an increase in road traffic accidents, a new report has revealed. Highways England’s Pinch Point Programme diverted hundreds of millions of pounds of public money into 119 individual schemes designed to improve traffic flow, increase road safety and boost local economies. Almost half (54) of these schemes were assessed by Highways England a year after they opened, and the resulting report found the projects brought advantages worth £5.1m thanks to improvements in morning and evening rush-hour traffic, but cost the national economy £5.6m as a result of longer off-peak journey times. In addition to costing the taxpayer more money, 20 of the schemes assessed by the…

THE UK has the safest roads of any EU country, according to the European Commission’s latest road safety report. There were 28 road traffic fatalities in the UK for every million inhabitants last year, a lower rate than in every other EU state. Denmark and Ireland had the next-lowest proportion of fatalities, the report revealed, while the most dangerous roads were in Romania, Bulgaria and Latvia. The EU as a whole saw a one per cent decrease in road deaths last year, with Slovenia, Lithuania and Bulgaria seeing drops of 13 per cent, 11 per cent and nine per cent respectively. Between 2010 and 2018, Greece saw the biggest drop in road traffic fatalities, at 45 per cent, while the figure for the EU as a whole was 21 per cent.…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.0 seconds/131mph Running costs 38.7mpg (official) £67 fill-up SEAT posted record sales again in 2018, and one third of all cars sold by the Spanish manufacturer are SUVs. That’s not a surprising statistic in the current automotive climate, but it does give you an idea of how well the brand’s Ateca and Arona models are doing, and why it has now launched this, the even bigger Tarraco. This model is the largest in the brand’s line-up, serving as its flagship. It’s also an option for families who don’t want an MPV – the Alhambra remains available for those who do – but still need seven seats. As the sales figures prove, it’s clearly a dilemma that more buyers than ever are facing. Practicality is very…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Running costs 42.2mpg (official) £60 fill-up BUY a new Dacia Sandero before the end of the year and you’re likely to have a long, hard think about picking up this one. That’s because this new range-topping Techroad trim level – available on the new Duster, and Stepway versions of the Logan estate and Sandero supermini – is only around until the end of 2019. The new Techroad cars attempt to inject a bit of extra style, kit and desirability into Dacia’s refreshingly humble offerings. In the case of the Sandero Stepway Techroad, it’s the most expensive version of Britain’s cheapest car. Sounds fun, right? For £11,660, it’s essentially all-inclusive, except for some extra paint choices, European mapping and a spare wheel. What you do get is air-con, rear…

MUCH of the Driver Power limelight goes to our overall winner, and rightly so. But our survey takes in a not-inconsiderable 100 cars, all of which would have been individually developed and tested before making their way into the showroom. It’s only then, once a car is thrown into the rigours of day-to-day life, that the real test of its mettle begins. How practical is it? How easy is its infotainment system to operate? How good is it to drive? How much does it cost to run, and how dependable is it in everyday use? The nine individual aspects (comprising a total of 31 area scores) we ask you about generate huge amounts of data, and deserve more attention than can be given in our main rundown. That’s why, over…

MODEL TESTED: Range Rover Evoque D180 R-Dynamic S PRICE: £40,515 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 178bhp THE new Evoque has a big name to live up to, but it will also need to beat the impressive XC40 to take victory here. This model is the D180 diesel in R-Dynamic S trim, which costs £40,515 (although our pictures show an R-Dynamic SE). Design & engineering ON the outside, the all-new Evoque looks like a clear evolutionary step on (it’s not a big styling departure), but underneath there’s a brand new platform called Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA). This set-up has been designed to accommodate electrification, including plug-in hybrid powertrains in the future. For now, though, there’s a range of petrol and diesel engines to pick from, and it’s the 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel we’re testing…

TECHNOLOGY IN-CAR tech is a strong point for the new Evoque, especially in models – such as our test car – that are fitted with the brand’s Touch Pro Duo system and video main mirror. The screens aren’t just for show, either, because they add useful functionality to these upmarket SUVs. The XC40’s nine-inch touchscreen is superb as well, thanks to its responsive nature and intuitive interface. It comes with a digital dashboard fitted as standard, too. BOOT SPACE GIVEN its focus on style and design, the Evoque’s large 472-litre boot is impressive. A powered tailgate is available on both models as well. It’s £415 as a standalone option on the Range Rover, but to get it on the Volvo you’ll have to buy the Convenience pack, which costs £650.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 47.3mpg (on test) £66 fill-up/£140 or 28% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 529/1,441 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/127mph AS our time with the Volvo V60 draws to a close, we’re left looking back at the past six months with fond memories. It’s been an exceptionally simple car to live with thanks to its blend of space, low running costs and easy-to-use tech. As we touched upon in a previous report (Issue 1,560), our affordable, well-equipped model makes a great motorway cruiser. The quiet diesel offers strong refinement, while the small wheels and high-sidewall tyres give a plush ride. Factor in the amazingly comfortable seats, and it’s an effortless car in which to drive long distances. Fuel economy is rather good, too. No matter how hard…

Pete_Gibson@dennis.co.uk IF you haven’t suffered a stone chip yet then it’s only a matter of time, because they’re virtually unavoidable unless you keep your car tucked up in a garage well away from any public roads. It happened to my A6 Avant on the M25 motorway on the way back from a hard day’s work photographing cars. As I was overtaking a lorry in lane one, a large stone flicked up and took a chunk out of my windscreen. Luckily, it wasn’t enough to create a crack straight away, so there was time to look into a repair. Audi took the Avant back to investigate and found that it was too deep to be fixed, so the screen needed to be replaced. It didn’t take too long and I was…

products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer WE haven’t had the harshest of winters this year, but that’s no excuse to skimp on giving your car a thorough spring clean as the weather improves. Even after the mild conditions we’ve had, your pride and joy will need cleaning, restoring and protecting. This gives you a chance to check paint and trim for any damage that may have occurred during the colder months of the year. Over the next eight pages, we reveal the best car waxes and sealants for protecting paint, as well as the top cleaner to rid rims of disc dust. In addition, car cleaning enthusiasts will be pleased to know that we’ve broken new ground by revealing the best polish, perfect for detailers who want to go the extra mile to get…

BEFORE the detailing revolution, some car care producers used to treat wax and polish as the same thing. That has largely died out as more consumers realised that polishes are designed to improve the finish, while waxes are there to seal in that shine and protect it. Our most recent tests have focused on waxes and sealants (see Page 96), as well as paint restorers and scratch removers. As a result, we haven’t conducted a polish test since the days when they doubled as a protective solution. We’ve put that right here, because there are a number of products at the less aggressive end of the paint-improvement spectrum designed to lift light marks and restore the shine of a clear coat. For heavier marks and severely deteriorated paint, more abrasive…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk ● Triple champ closes career ● Plans more one-off drives DOUBLE World Rallycross and 2003 World Rally champion Petter Solberg has announced he is stepping down from full-time motorsport competition. The Norwegian, 44, says he will still enter selected events on a one-off basis, but will no longer embark on season-long championship campaigns. In 2019, he plans to make a series of appearances as part of a ‘farewell tour’ for his fans. In a post on his official Facebook page, Solberg revealed: “I feel very proud and honoured to have had such a career in motorsport, but now there will be no more world championships for me. “It’s time for a change in life… It’s incredible to think of all the achievements we have had across different motorsports, and…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods ● AI:ME is third ‘vision’ concept ● Luxurious on-demand city car AUDI is using this week’s Shanghai Motor Show to showcase its vision of future urban transport, revealing a new compact city car concept called the AI:ME. The brand has not outlined what platform the AI:ME is based on, but the wheelbase is 2,770mm long – the same as the recently revealed Q4 e-tron, which is destined for showrooms in 2020. It all but confirms that the AI:ME is another car on the Volkswagen Group’s all-electric MEB platform, as does the drivetrain; it’s powered by an electric motor on the rear axle developing 168bhp. Squint a bit and it looks a little like the Volkswagen ID. or SEAT el-Born, but this concept car doesn’t directly preview an upcoming…

HYUNDAI’S luxury brand has revealed a new electric car at the New York Motor Show. The Genesis Mint is a “luxury car for the city”, designed as a collaboration between the firm’s European, US and Korean studios. It’s claimed that the car is “manoeuvrable and exhilarating to drive”, although it’s just a concept for now. There’s no word on power, but Genesis says it will travel 200 miles on a charge and support 350kW fast charging. With its low, squat stance, long wheelbase and wide track, the Mint looks quite unlike anything in the company’s current product range. There is no front grille, and the headlights mimic the winged Genesis badge. Along the lower edges are plenty of intricate details, while at the rear there is a pronounced deck and…

MINI’S Shanghai show debut is this facelifted version of the MINI Clubman. The new model gets a new front grille and revised headlights with LED modules for low and high beam, and a single-piece surround. Similar ‘Union Flag’ tail-lights to the regular MINI hatchback also feature. It’s under the skin where the biggest change comes: optional stiffer sports suspension lowers the ride height by 10mm. The engine line-up comprises three unchanged units: a three-cylinder petrol with 134bhp, a 189bhp four-cylinder petrol in the Cooper S, and a 148bhp four-cylinder diesel in the Cooper D. The new Clubman goes on sale this month, but the current base model (the One) is being dropped, so the range starts with the Cooper, at £21,200.…

Jeep shows off wild Moab Safari concepts JEEP has marked the 2019 Moab Easter Safari with six new concepts. Among them is the Gravity (above), one of five cars based on the new Gladiator pick-up. The Gravity features a bright orange paintjob, and revised intake and exhaust systems to increase its power output. Others add accessories like twin fuel tanks and 40-inch off-road tyres. Many parts are from official supplier Mopar’s catalogue, but others tease prototype pieces Jeep fans may be able to buy. Next Corsa set to be lighter and quicker VAUXHALL has revealed that the next Corsa supermini will be significantly lighter than the model it replaces. This will then lead to improvements in economy and performance. The lightest Corsa will weigh 980kg, with some models shedding as…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Trademark application shows small two-door coupé ● Aerodynamic styling suggests it’s an EV, rather than having a combustion engine AN all-electric successor to the Toyota MR2 could be on the way, based on a fresh design trademark submitted recently by the Japanese manufacturer. The supporting documents for the application, made on 8 April, show a small two-door coupé with an unusual profile. The car has a short bonnet – too short to accommodate a combustion engine – and while the overall profile could be that of a mid-engined vehicle, there are no tell-tale air intakes ahead of the rear wheels. There does appear to be a conventional grille at the bottom of the front bumper, but it’s small enough for it to be used for battery system…

Consumer editor HIGHWAYS England’s Pinch Point report is deeply concerning. We’ll leave aside the £317m of public money spent on the schemes, many of which made traffic worse. And we’ll gloss over the absurdity of planners only considering traffic impacts at rush hour, rather than during “all 168 hours of the week”. No, the most worrying aspect is that 20 of the 54 schemes assessed produced “safety dis-benefits”, as the report puts it. A phrase such as this speaks of potentially life-changing accidents. The UK’s roads are not a research laboratory for engineers to tinker with, and experimenting with them without a proper understanding of the consequences is unacceptable. “The UK’s roads are not a research laboratory for engineers to tinker with”…

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…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 52mpg (est) £56 fill-up THE Mercedes CLA first arrived in 2013, immediately cementing its place as the A-Class’s cooler cousin. But the original wasn’t without its flaws – so instead of producing another rebodied hatch, the German firm has made some bigger changes to the CLA this time around. As well as designing a sleeker, more stylish shell, Mercedes has widened the CLA’s track front and rear in an effort to boost engagement. It should also help engineer some clean air between the car you see here and the forthcoming A-Class Saloon. While you may not think that widening the track by 63mm at the front and 55mm at the rear would make much difference, the new CLA feels tangibly sharper on the road. It responds…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THIS is BMW’s flagship for those who want more. More luxury, more space and more tech. As the name suggests, the X7 is an SUV from the same mould as the firm’s range-topping 7 Series saloon. We’re testing it in most popular xDrive30d M Sport guise. At £74,695, it’s not cheap, so can it back that up with ability? Well, the cabin feels of a quality that fits the price, plus there’s plenty of space. After all, this is the biggest BMW ever. In fact, in the third row it feels as if there’s at least as much legroom as in one of the X7’s closest rivals, the Land Rover Discovery. As in the Disco, all the seats slide and fold electrically, so there’s no lumbering of levers…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THERE’S a brand new Volkswagen Golf just around the corner, and with it comes an evolutionary design that will introduce mild-hybrid technology across the range. But before that model is revealed towards the end of the year, the marketing guys at VW have been looking at ways to breathe new life into what is now ostensibly a seven-year-old car. Enter this: the Golf GTI TCR. Inspired by the race version with the same name, the GTI TCR matches the limited-run GTI Clubsport S for power – boasting a total of 286bhp with 380Nm of torque. It helps realign the GTI range, which has comprised just a single model since the entry-level car was ditched last year. The TCR therefore sits above the 242bhp GTI Performance, which adds a…

PAUL Ryan previously owned three Lexuses before switching to an Audi, but now he’s gone back to the Japanese brand by purchasing an RX 450h, complete with the Premium Pack. Paul, from Epsom, Surrey, was impressed with his RX before he’d taken delivery. He said: “What I like about Lexus is you get all the stuff you normally have to pay extra for as standard. You know what you’re getting for the price.” The company’s renowned retail network also stood out. “I bought it from Lexus Twickenham, and it’s a first-class dealership,” he told us. Paul hasn’t owned his new RX for very long and commutes to work during the week by train, so he mainly uses it for pottering about at weekends. Nevertheless, he’s already been struck by just…

CAR classes used to be simple – did you want a hatchback, coupé, saloon, cabriolet or estate? Not any more. Today’s new-car market is packed with SUVs of all shapes and sizes, which compete with MPVs and more established classes. In addition, we now have a growing variety of derivatives to choose from, such as coupé-SUVs and estate-like shooting brake models, to name just two. Despite this abundance of choice, though, many buyers know that they want a mid-size premium SUV, or have an itch that only a roadster can scratch. Our rundown of the 16 Driver Power class winners should be a helpful guide for those who are firmly decided on what type of car they’re after, but it could also provide further inspiration if you haven’t set your…

MODEL TESTED: Volvo XC40 D4 R-Design Pro PRICE: £38,235 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE Volvo XC40 is one of the best cars in its class, and is a key model for the Evoque to beat if it wants to reach the summit of this sector. In top-spec D4 R-Design Pro trim, it costs £38,235 – quite a bit less than the Evoque, despite being closely matched on kit. However, check out our PCP finance deals (how most people buy in this sector), because this significantly levels the playing field. Design & engineering LOTS of Volvo’s current larger cars, such as the XC60 and V90, are based on the Scaleable Product Architecture (SPA), but the XC40 uses a smaller Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform. This is a scalable chassis (the other…

Audi Q3 40 TDI S line PRICE: £36,870 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp NEW Audi Q3 beat the XC40 when we tested them together (Issue 1,556). A 40 TDI model will soon be available; this will match the Volvo’s power output and beat the Evoque’s, although in mid-spec S line trim it will be cheaper than both. It could be a strong contender. BMW X1 xDrive20d M Sport PRICE: £36,975 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THE BMW X1 offers a great balance of ride and handling, and its 187bhp engine is smoother than both the motors in our test cars. It’s not quite as practical, however, which limits its appeal – although like the Audi Q3, it’s cheaper (even in top-spec M Sport specification).…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WE’RE lucky to run long-term test vehicles at Auto Express, and we do our best to replicate an ownership experience – but the process still isn’t quite the same as speccing, ordering and paying for your own car. So as our time with the Hyundai Kona Electric draws to a close, we’ve pulled together a bunch of owners to see if their experience of our Affordable EV of the Year matches ours. This lunchtime gathering in Oxfordshire showcases how diverse electric car buyers now are. About half of our Kona crew are first-time EV customers; some of the others are on their third or fourth zero-emissions vehicle. Plenty of our attendees use their Konas as daily drives, because it’s the only car in their family. But at least…

THE days of waxes being just that and coming in a tin are long gone, with today’s market offering all manner of hybrid products combining traditional ingredients with the latest polymer and ceramic tech. Trying to separate them into groups is a complex task, so we tested 24 products of all types. Our only proviso was that they could be applied by a DIY enthusiast without extensive professional preparation of the paintwork. This means we have everything from traditional hard waxes to hybrid pastes, plus sealants using the latest technology. To make the most of them the car will have to be cleaned first – see Page 103 for our top washes – plus the paintwork needs to be in good condition. If the shine has faded thanks to swirls…

WITH the exterior washed, revived and protected, it’s time to give the cabin a spring clean. Winter is tough on trim, seats and carpets because they often get wet, there’s more mud and grit tracked inside, plus there’s the risk of damp from condensation. The first job is to remove loose grit and other small debris with a vacuum. Our pick of the mains-powered vacs is the Nilfisk Buddy II T, which can also help dry cleaned seats with its wet mode. Can’t get mains power to your car? Our cordless choice is the Vax Blade 2. With the dust shifted, it’s time to tackle the hard trim with our interior cleaner Best Buy, Dodo Juice Total Wipe. If you are fortunate enough to have leather upholstery in your car…

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR CARS 2019 Results Superb Factfile Years: 2015 to present CO2: 110g/km Fuel economy: 44.8-51.4mpg (1.6 TDI) Best options: Adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, leather trim Used prices: From £7,990 OVERALL SCORE 91.71% Bars show where model finished out of 100 vehicles in our 2019 new car survey. The longer the bar the better GOOD “MY 2.0-litre petrol Superb is very quick in Sport mode. It surprises my passengers!” “The DSG transmission moves effortlessly through the gears, even under hard acceleration.” “The paintwork is excellent. There are no obvious flaws and it resists road grime well.” “Seats are supportive and set quite high. This gives a commanding view.” “Has a smooth ride that soaks up all the bumps in the road.” “Rear legroom is so generous.…

McLAREN has unveiled the car Fernando Alonso will drive next month for his second attempt at winning the Indianapolis 500, the biggest prize in US single-seater racing. Having won the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Spaniard is poised to claim the vaunted ‘Triple Crown’ of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500 if he triumphs at the ‘Brickyard’ in May. The only other driver to complete the set is Briton Graham Hill. Alonso also recently tested a Dakar Rally-winning Toyota Hilux as he explores further career avenues, and drove for McLaren in the post-Bahrain GP test. His Indianapolis 500 preparations also included a test at Texas Motor Speedway, after which he said: “I guess it’s going to be challenging, especially this year I am not with Andretti…

DOUBLE Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen will be back behind the wheel of a racing McLaren later on this year. The Finn, who recently took delivery of a McLaren Senna road car, has signed up to compete in the Suzuka 10 Hours endurance race, driving a McLaren 720S GT3 (below) with Hiroaki Ishiura and Katsuaki Kubota. Hakkinen’s last competitive outing was also in a GT3 car; he drove a Mercedes SLS AMG at the 2011 International Le Mans Cup (ILMC) race in Zuhai, China.…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “The ULEZ racket could rake in billions. And what happens today in London often repeats itself tomorrow in other parts of the UK” I KNOW a cynical, money-grabbing scam when I see one. And that’s exactly what millions of car drivers have been subjected to since 8 April, the day the 24/7 ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) charge-cum-tax was dumped on us from above. For now, the £12.50-a-day rip-off fee only operates in central London and applies to pre-2015 diesels and pre-2006 petrol cars. But my fear is that the capital is merely serving as a test bed before modified versions of the scheme are rolled out across other towns and cities. After all, what happens in London today often repeats itself…