Table of contents for 1649 in Auto Express

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Fiesta rival boasts 201bhp • Prices set to start from £20k HYUNDAI’S N division has taken the wraps off its second performance model, the all-new i20 N. It’s designed to rival the Ford Fiesta ST, and Hyundai says this new small hot hatch is inspired by the firm’s WRC rally car, and will go on sale in the UK early next year. Development of the N variant of the latest i20 was conceived at the very beginning of the supermini’s design process, and there’s certainly no mistaking it from other versions of the hatchback. The i20 N has a wild bodykit with a deeper front bumper and enlarged air intakes, unique side skirts that wrap around into a reshaped rear bumper with a new diffuser, while a…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram • New city car SUV revealed • UK launch still to be considered DACIA is looking to shake up the electric car market with its first EV, the Spring. Orders open next March, when it’s set to become the cheapest new electric car available in Europe, but a right-hand-drive launch in the UK has yet to be confirmed. Dacia is exploring the possibility. The car’s styling is near-identical to the Spring Electric Concept first shown in March – a car closely related to the Indian-market Renault Kwid. That means the city car shape is bulked up with some SUV styling cues, such as chunky wheelarch cladding, roof rails and a raised ride height. The charge port is hidden behind a panel in the grille, which is flanked by…

Flagship Audi SUV now with plug-in drive AUDI has launched two plug-in hybrid versions of the Q8 SUV (above). The Q8 55 TFSI starts from £73,860 and uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor and 17.8kWh battery pack. Power stands at 376bhp, while it’s capable of 29 miles on battery power, emits 65g/km of CO2 and returns 100mpg. The 60 TFSI e is priced from £85,760 and features the same hybrid set-up, but with 456bhp for 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, as well as 28 miles of EV running, fuel economy of 97mpg and 66g/km of CO2. Drivers warned about seasonal deer hazard DRIVERS have been warned to stay alert for deer in areas where the animals are common. GEM Motoring Assist has reminded motorists that we’re now in rutting…

Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) 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: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

Tesla THE expansive and responsive touchscreens in the Model 3, S and X offer great resolution, which makes the display a one-stop shop for all of the car’s controls. There are lots of features – even arcade games! BMW LATEST OS 7.0 iDrive has an easy control wheel, great graphics and lots of tech, so it’s great to use. BMW was an early adopter of infotainment, and it has refined its offerings over the decades. Polestar Google Assistant IT’S not compatible with Apple CarPlay, but sat-nav, voice control and apps such as Spotify mean this is the future of infotainment for manufacturers that don’t want the expense of developing a system themselves. Lexus THE frustrating touchpad jumps from option to option, with seemingly a mind of its own, requiring more…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk ADDING plug-in hybrid drive to the Citroen C5 Aircross marks an important milestone for parent company PSA. It means that its four brands – Citroen, DS, Peugeot and Vauxhall – now offer a plug-in hybrid family SUV. They all use the same platform and powertrain: a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with a battery and electric motor. As such, it’s best to differentiate these models on the subtleties of their branding. In the case of the Citroen, that means striking looks, a comfortable driving experience and good value for money. If you get Citroen’s latest design language, the C5 Aircross will sell itself. As with the other PSA plug-ins, the Hybrid’s design tweaks are subtle, amounting to blue badges on the front wings and blue trim for the Airbumps. What…

Bentley Bentayga V8 BENTLEYS are still sporting, driver’s cars, and while the Bentayga is still fast, fun to drive and offers a surprising level of dynamic ability given the luxury and refinement on offer, it’s clearly not as engaging as the DBX. But what it loses in one area it gains in others, because despite our test car’s 22-inch wheels, the Bentayga’s ride is clearly more comfortable than the DBX’s, which bumps occupants around and causes more head movement on country roads. Refinement and quality define the Bentley. These are the car’s key characteristics, and they highlight the subtle differences in approach the brands have taken in designing and engineering their products. It means that buyers looking for a luxury British SUV have a choice to make: do you want…

Pete_Baiden@dennis.co.uk @PeteBaiden Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 551/1,248 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 12.0 seconds/117mph SPOT the difference! The SsangYong Korando you see before you looks just like the car that arrived on our fleet in April, but look closer and you’ll notice it’s not. It’s the same colour, the interior is identical and it’s also a top-spec Ultimate model. In fact it’s so similar that the only real giveaway is the registration plate. But why am I testing a different car? The first Korando got stuck at a SsangYong dealer during lockdown and the battery was flat when I went to pick it up. After that, it was besieged by battery gremlins, going flat within days of being recharged multiple times. It was returned to SsangYong and I was given the…

FIRST TEST CHRGET charging lead Price: £399 Rating: Contact: www.chrget.com MANY drivers cite a lack of chargers as a reason why they won’t switch to electric motoring. In theory there are millions of places to plug in all across Britain – all you need is a three-pin mains socket. In reality, it’s not that simple. Wiring might not be up to the job and there are different plugs for industrial buildings and outdoor areas, as well as in other countries. A new start-up company thinks it has the answer – the CHRGET. Its cable incorporates clever electronics that constantly monitor the available current from the power source, ensuring the supply is safe while also maximising recharging speed. This means you’ll get the fastest top-up possible even if you’re using an…

Land Rover: Gripping Photos of the 4x4 Pioneer Giles Chapman (The History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: THIS is definitely a Ronseal book – it’s simply a collection of photos and captions, with a brief introduction to a car that hardly needs one. There are fantastic shots here showing Land Rovers in various forms, right up to the present-day Defender. It’s nicely printed, although if anything we’d like it to be larger to turn it into a proper coffee-table glossy. Aston Martin: Made in Britain Ben Collins (Quercus, quercusbooks.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: EX-Stig Collins has told the story of an iconic British brand in plenty of detail, with his personal experience of driving Astons on road, track and film. It’s a great read, covering the marque chronologically, from its creator’s…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Is it too soon to have my car’s cambelt replaced? MY Vauxhall Astra 1.6 estate is approaching six years old. The independent garage I use has advised me to replace the cambelt, even though the car has done fewer than 25,000 miles. Is this really necessary? Tony Greenslade, E-mail A CAMBELT intervals vary depending on the model of car and what engine it has. Belts wear over time, as well as with use, and six years is within the scope of when a change can reasonably be required. It’s not a cheap job, but a wrecked engine – which is often the consequence if a cambelt snaps – is far more costly to fix. Double-check the change interval with Vauxhall, but it’s a good…

F1 grid preparing for Portimao debut FORMULA 1 takes another step into the unknown this weekend, as its heavily revised 2020 calendar takes it to the sweeping Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal. The venue was constructed in 2008 with F1 in mind, but plans for a race there never came to fruition until coronavirus forced an emphasis on European venues in order to ensure the 2020 season went ahead. WRC reveals 12-round calendar for 2021 CROATIA will host a round of the World Rally Championship for the first time next year. The series revealed its line-up for 2021 recently, featuring established stops in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Finland and the UK, plus returns to Japan and Kenya, which were part of the original 2020 calendar, as well as…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Land Rover claims 34-mile range from electric motor and battery • 10 per cent BiK tax rating is good news for company car drivers MILD-HYBRID versions of the Range Rover Evoque, arguably Land Rover’s most urban-focused model, have been available pretty much since the arrival of the second-generation car last year. But now, at last, there’s also a full-on plug-in hybrid version. And we’ve had our first chance to try it. Officially titled the Range Rover Evoque P300e, the new model introduces a petrol engine that we haven’t seen anywhere else before in a Jaguar Land Rover car. It’s a 1.5-litre three-cylinder Ingenium unit that produces 197bhp. All of that output goes to the front wheels, while at the rear axle there’s a 107bhp electric motor and…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Prices for range announced • 77kWh car manages 336 miles “There will be seven ID.3s in the line-up, and the trim levels mix a range of option packs” VOLKSWAGEN has introduced the full range for the all-electric ID.3 hatchback, including a version that will cost less than £30,000 after the Plug-in Car Grant is applied. There will be seven ID.3s in the line-up, and all but one will have a 201bhp rear-mounted electric motor and 58kWh battery, resulting in very similar performance and range, depending on the amount of kit fitted. The trim levels mix a range of option packs. Design includes LED matrix headlights, animated LED tail-lights, ambient cabin lighting and tinted rear windows. Design Plus, meanwhile, adds a panoramic sunroof. The Infotainment pack, included on…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Ford Puma ST FROM: Gary Stone I THINK this is a great offering. The Fiesta ST is a fantastic car and this has the same underpinnings. But it offers more practicality than a hot hatch while retaining similar performance. I can see this selling very well indeed. FROM: Justin Averill INTERESTING car. I think Ford should have given it at least 210bhp, though, to compensate for the extra weight. I also find Ford interiors – even those of ST models – aren’t that great compared with other brands. I’d want quality for £28,495. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “This could go down well with those who want a Range Rover Evoque but can’t afford one.”Andrew Agnew “More expensive than the better-looking and more competent Fiesta ST.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Running costs 36.2-36.7mpg (official) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/155mph THERE’S only one place to start with the new BMW 4 Series: that grille. A lot has been said about it since the car’s unveiling earlier in the year, but while opinions differ, one thing is certain: you can’t accuse the new coupé of being conservative. It’s up to you whether it looks any good or not, but BMW says the whole idea is to try and carve the 4 Series out as its own model, to give it its own identity. The new 4 Series moves to BMW’s latest set of chassis components – shared with the more sensible 3 Series saloon – which means the coupé…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.2 seconds/122mph THE Audi Q2 has received a nip and tuck for 2020. The brand’s answer to the BMW X2 and Mercedes GLA introduces improved tech, tweaked styling and what Audi hopes is a more tempting price tag alongside updated standard equipment. It might not sound radical, but Audi could argue it didn’t need to mess with a winning formula. Last year the Q2 was Audi’s most popular SUV in the UK, and its third-biggest seller overall – after the A1 and A3. The Q2’s styling is a major part of its appeal, and it’s still very distinctive in Audi’s line-up. The changes for 2020 are fairly subtle; the front gets more angular fake intakes, while the grille grows slightly wider and lower. Like other…

MODEL TESTED: Aston Martin DBX PRICE: £158,000 ENGINE: 4.0-litre V8, 542bhp Running costs 18.9mpg (on test) £98 fill-up/£475 or 37% tax Practicality Boot space 632 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/181mph THIS is Aston Martin’s first SUV, so it’s a big car for the firm. Built by hand in a new factory in Wales, the £158,000 DBX aims to take the high-end SUV market by storm, offering luxury and sporty driving dynamics. Does it succeed? Design & engineering THE DBX is bringing Aston into a fresh market segment, and the brand is using lots of new tech to do it. The car borrows heavily from the knowledge and know-how Aston has in building its sports cars, yet the aluminium underpinnings are bespoke to the DBX. While a kerbweight of 2,245kg…

Aston Martin DBX 10.25-inch display Standard Key features: Twin screens The DBX uses a 10.25-inch central screen with a rotary controller for its infotainment that’s very similar to a previous-generation Mercedes unit (Mercedes’ parent firm Daimler has a stake in Aston, hence the engine, too). It’s been re-skinned with Aston’s graphics, and even if the resolution could be a little sharper compared with the Bentley’s, the set-up works well enough. There are plenty of features, with sat-nav, a 14-speaker premium audio system, connected services, a 360-degree camera and Apple CarPlay – but this is the limit of the connectivity, because Android Auto doesn’t feature. At this price, that’s a real shame. The 12.3-inch digital dash again is a nice touch, but it’s also not as sharp to look at as…

Italian mask maker has you covered IT looks as though we’ll be wearing face coverings for a while – so why not buy a luxurious, automotive-themed mask? Italian company The Outlierman has introduced three new designs for nonmedical face coverings, handcrafted in 100 per cent Italian silk. The new ‘Posh’, ‘Type 75 Atlantic’ and ‘World Beater’ join the existing ‘Gentleman Driver’ and ‘Vintage Race’ designs. Those given to accessorising can also purchase matching pocket squares and ties. A set of three masks costs 89 euros (£80.67) and can be bought at www.theoutlierman.com. Autosocks get a grip on snow and ice A LIGHTWEIGHT and simple alternative to snow chains has now been approved for use in all EU countries where the traction aids are required in winter months. Autosocks fabric wheel…

CO2/tax 131-175g/km £150 Running costs 42-46mpg (2.0 TDI 150) £71 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.0 seconds/123mph A LONG time ago in the UK, Skoda’s products weren’t seen in the best light. But when the company was absorbed into the Volkswagen Group, it moved on to a completely different trajectory. Skoda had resources at its disposal that previously were just a pipe dream, and as a result its cars went from also-rans to desirable machines. The launch of the Kodiaq in 2017 was the ultimate expression of that move upmarket, because this was not only Skoda’s first SUV, but also its first seven-seater. With its smart, chiselled looks, impressive dynamics and tempting value, the Kodiaq summed up everything that Skoda has come to stand for. The Czech company’s transformation was now…

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100kph), in seconds. ECONOMY AND EMISSIONS: Combined WLTP economy figure in miles per gallon and emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency. INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers. WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork. EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover. LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and first registration. EVs…

NEVER mind the big debate about what’s best: comparatively cheap internal combustionengined cars, or relatively expensive 100 per centelectric vehicles. Or, between the two, hybrids that – for me, for now – remain the preferred compromise. The next, even bigger, more complex, emotive, life-changing discussion will ramp it up several notches. At its core? Supposedly ‘safe and clever’ autonomous tech driving, instead of us continuing to drive our allegedly ‘dangerous and stupid’ selves. Hmmm! Official warning from yours truly: this will probably be the car-related debate of the century. It’s not a case of if we get driverless cars; it’s a case of when, how much they’ll cost, who will be the brave pioneers to first use them, and which companies will be braver still by insuring them. Legislation will…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods • Pure-electric SUV concept • Previews all-new Mégane “The headlight signature is a nod to the fact that the eVision will join Renault’s range as soon as 2021” RENAULT has revealed that the future of the Mégane is all-electric and in a new compact SUV bodystyle with this: the Mégane eVision. The concept car previews a production model due in 2021. The Mégane has been the star of the French brand’s family car range for 25 years, but the hatch’s reign has been questioned recently, with small SUVs becoming the breadwinners for brands like Renault. Earlier in 2020, Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker told Auto Express that the future of the Mégane as we know it was in doubt, and that development costs could be redistributed…

Volkswagen names its price for fresh Tiguan THE updated Volkswagen Tiguan (above), the firm’s biggest-selling model globally, will start from £24,915 in the UK. Four trim levels and six engines are available from launch, and all versions feature alloy wheels, LED headlights and autonomous emergency braking as standard. Topping the new range is the sporty R-Line model, which benefits from a unique bodykit and larger 20-inch alloy wheels, and costs £32,730. BMW drivers set for Android Auto boost THREE quarters of a million BMW drivers are set to benefit from Android Auto smartphone connectivity for the very first time, the firm has announced. It comes as part of an update for the manufacturer’s latest OS 7 infotainment software, which is being rolled out free of charge to existing owners. BMW…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths IN July this year, the Department for Transport opened a call for evidence into roads policing (Issue 1,636). Nestling in this official announcement was a consideration of whether “advances in car infotainment systems” were linked to a “plateauing” of road death and injury statistics, which have not fallen significantly since 2010. Similarly, Auto Express frequently receives letters and E-mails such as the one opposite from readers voicing concerns that infotainment touchscreens have either become too complicated, replace too many buttons, are positioned badly, or are awkward to operate. To help shed some light on the issue and find out what mistakes have been made in the past, what makes a good system, and what the future may hold, we spoke to three experts in the field of in-car…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 26.2mpg (official) £78 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.8 seconds/155mph THE BMW 5 Series has been nipped and tucked for 2020, with a new look and updated powertrains to rival the Audi A6 and recently facelifted Mercedes E-Class. Looks are very subjective, but if you’ve just turned over the page from the new 4 Series – and that nose – you might be pleasantly surprised to see that the 5 Series avoids similar controversy. We can’t argue with the result; this new model’s subtly wider, lower kidney grilles and slimmer headlights give it a sleeker presence. It’s also hard to fault the cabin, where the main update is a refreshed infotainment system. The 12.3-inch touchscreen (up from the previous 10.25-inch unit) is lifted from the X5 SUV…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson Running costs 41.5mpg (official) £57 fill-up IT’S been a busy 2020 for SEAT, and this is another newcomer from the brand: the revised Ateca SUV. It gets updated styling and new tech that combine to serve an important purpose. The Ateca is one of SEAT’s best-selling cars, but now there’s a wealth of newer competitors, and an all-new Nissan Qashqai is just around the corner. Every Ateca is now fitted with LED headlamps and fog-lamps, while the firm’s ever-popular SE Technology trim level is upgraded with a wireless charging pad and a new 9.2-inch infotainment system. Plus, at the same time, three of the Ateca’s seven trim levels are now cheaper to buy, with the best-selling SE Technology model shedding £415 from its basic price. This drop is…

MODELTESTED: Bentley Bentayga V8 PRICE: £146,700 ENGINE: 4.0-litre V8, 542bhp SOME styling tweaks and new tech mark out this updated Bentayga’s improvements. At £146,700, it might be cheaper than the DBX, but is it better value? Running costs 20.2mpg (on test) £98 fill-up/£475 or 37% tax Practicality Boot space 484 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.5 seconds/180mph Design & engineering THIS facelifted Bentayga is a refinement of what came before it, not least in terms of design. It’s fair to say the original was a divisive-looking car, but this revamp has softened the styling, with cues from the firm’s Continental GT, including tweaks to the headlights, front bumper, grille and tail-lamps. As with the Aston, we’ll leave it up to you to decide on the looks. More importantly, Bentley has dropped…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Will leaky exhaust fail MoT? THE MoT on my daughter’s car is coming up soon and there is a slight leak somewhere on the exhaust. It’s not bad or particularly loud, so will it need replacing before the MoT? Nick Penfold, E-mail A YOUR exhaust will only cause a failure if there’s a major leak or the emissions are unsafe. Parts missing from the catalytic converter or the diesel particulate filter can also cause a failure; a minor leak like this will probably be noted as an advisory. Regardless of whether the exhaust is repaired or replaced before the MoT, it’ll need attention soon. Q Where to buy winter tyres? I WANT a set of winter tyres, but none of my local garages could supply…

PARTIES and family gatherings are currently restricted, but research shows that more of us are enjoying a drink at home. The message is clear: if you drink, don’t drive. But the best way to ensure you’re fit for the road the morning after is with a home breathalyser, and test winner AlcoSense has just added a new device to its line-up, the Elite 3. We tested the unit with the help of the AlcoSense lab via video link, and put it up against two similarly specified and priced devices bought via Amazon. Our test was a repeat of our 2016 evaluation, with multiple readings at the two UK limits. The sensitivity of each device was also checked as well as its ability to cope with high then low levels. Instructions…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk BMW tops IGTC points table Grid of 56 GT3 cars lines up “BMW leads the IGTC standings after victory last time out at the Indianapolis 8 Hours” BMW leads the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) manufacturer standings ahead of this weekend’s Spa 24 Hours in Belgium. The blueriband international GT3 endurance race was postponed from its traditional late-July slot due to coronavirus, and has to take place behind closed doors. BMW leads Mercedes 43 to 42 in the points table, and is relying on Indianapolis 8 Hours winners Augusto Farfus and Nick Catsburg, along with DTM ace Philipp Eng, to lead its Spa 24 effort in the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport entry. Former DTM driver Martyn Tomczyk, along with Brits David Pittard and Nick Yelloly, are crewing the sister #35 M6…