Table of contents for 1799 in Auto Express

HOW things have changed in the last 35 years. Back in 1988, I was just out of school and working for Eagle Star Insurance in London, dreaming about doing what I’m so lucky to be able to do today. Every Wednesday on my way home from work, I’d head to WH Smith at Cannon Street Station looking for my weekly car fix. Then one day, a bright, fresh newcomer turned up – Auto Express was born. I remember it well and loved it from day one. Over the past three and a half decades, the car world has changed immeasurably. Our brilliant cover stars show how far the cars themselves have come, while in that time car companies have been and gone. One brand that features on the cover, MG,…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk • Prime Minister announces rollback of 2030 deadline • Critics claim it’s a backwards step, given UK’s 2050 aim THE ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars has been pushed back from 2030 to 2035, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attempts to reset the UK’s approach to meeting its net-zero targets. All recent polls suggest delaying the ban will attract significant public support, including a YouGov poll last week, which showed 30 per cent strongly in favour, and 19 per cent strongly opposed. However the move has dismayed parts of the automotive industry, which has already been investing heavily to meet the 2030 target, although other industry voices have welcomed the delay. Environmental campaigners were up in arms following the announcement, and the Labour Party has…

DELAYS surrounding the provision of energy infrastructure were cited by the Prime Minister as big constraints to the UK’s Net Zero Strategy, and he also announced a major initiative that could have repercussions for the speed of new EV chargepoint roll-outs. “We’re investing billions in new energy projects, yet we don’t have the infrastructure to bring that power to households and businesses,” he said. “It can take 14 years to build new grid infrastructure, and there are enough projects waiting to be connected to generate half our future energy needs.” The PM revealed that comprehensive new reforms to energy infrastructure planning would be brought forward and set out “the UK’s first ever spatial plan for that infrastructure to give industry certainty and every community a say”. He also pledged to…

Prices for updated Q8 will run from £75k ALONGSIDE announcing updates to its Q4 e-tron (left), Audi has also confirmed prices and specs for its revised Q8 SUV. Prices start from £75,500 for the 282bhp 50 TDI S line, rising to £116,795 for the top-spec V8-engined SQ8 in Vorsprung trim. A 55 TFSI petrol V6 with 335bhp will also be available, along with a Black Edition and special Launch Edition trims. The new car (above) goes on sale from 10 October, with deliveries to follow later this year. EVs more affordable as pump prices rise DESPITE the government and private buyers apparently turning away from EVs (page 8) it seems as though their running costs – for public charging, at least – are once again more affordable than those of…

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) 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…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram PORSCHE’S 718 Cayman will soon be replaced by an EV sports car, but to inject a bit of interest into the petrol-powered version of its entry-level two-seater, the firm has released this Style Edition. It’s available with a bright colour palette in both fixed-roof Cayman form and as an open-top 718 Boxster, but it’s the coupé that we’re trying. The most obvious change for our test car comes with its Ruby Star Neo paint; a very clear nod to the Ruby Star finish famously worn by the 964-generation 911 Carrera RS. Whether you’re a fan of the colour or not, there can be no doubt that it will turn a lot of heads. On this car, the visuals are made even more vibrant by the contrasting white highlight…

“A LOT of people who are selling a car just want convenience and will take whatever price they can get from a buying site or trader. They don’t realise how easy it is to sell at an auction. You don’t need to wait in for people to come and kick the tyres and you won’t get scammed. Some cars are now going for hundreds or even thousands above the reserve. At the moment it is older, small automatics that are going crazy. I’ve no idea why! “My advice to sellers is to present a car well, get all the documents and spare keys in order and invest in a valet so it looks its best. If there are any faults, declare them. And set a realistic reserve price. “If you are…

DRIVING and rating the best new cars has always been at the core of Auto Express, and since 1994 we have handed out annual awards to the very finest models. Since our very first Car of the Year (the Vauxhall Omega), there have been a further 29 winners, culminating in the Hyundai Kona collecting the 2023 prize in July of this year. The most successful manufacturers have been Ford, Jaguar and Skoda, with four victories apiece – the Focus (1999 and 2005), Mondeo (2007) and Fiesta (2009); XK (2006), XF (2008), F-Pace (2016) and I-Pace (2018); and Fabia (2000), Yeti (2010), Citigo (2012) and Octavia (2020). As you would expect, the awards have also reflected the ever-changing nature of the industry, with four of the past five champions – the Tesla…

THE media world has developed dramatically over 35 years, and that has been reflected in the way that Auto Express operates. Firstly, how and where we work has changed massively. From modest beginnings, we grew to have a number of busy offices in central London, with cars coming in and out of the capital and being tested on a selection of test tracks in the south-east and beyond. Gradually, though, there has been more remote working, accelerated by the pandemic, and our office space has reduced – although we’re still managing to get out and about on a regular basis! What’s important on a car has evolved, too; as our Real-World Road Tests demonstrate, there is now more emphasis than ever on emissions, costs, finance deals, fuel economy, range and all…

WELCOME to the second instalment of our MG centenary special, looking at the past, present and future of one of Britain’s best-loved car brands. We bring you captivating insight into the firm’s Cyberster roadster, taking a ride on UK roads and gaining the views of MG fans on the exciting new flagship. Plus, we test the MG4 Extended Range, pitch old against new with some distant XPower relatives and unpick the latest MG EX4 rally concept.…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk “This car was originally purchased by Rowan Atkinson, but when the company went into administration MG took it back and I later purchased it”John Newey MG XPower SV-R owner A CRITICAL part of many mainstream brands’ presence in the UK market is an aspirational high-performance offering, so when MG announced it would be bringing back the XPower moniker with a hot version of its MG4, we thought we should bring the most iconic high-performance MG of its recent history together with XPower’s future. That car is the MG XPower SV-R, a once-in-a-generation sports car that attracted lots of attention at its genesis, only to be later confined to history by MG’s financial instability at the time. This hand-built sports car was a product of the brand’s ambition to rival…

Kerbweight: 2,069kg Noseweight: 90kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,500kg Max towing capacity (braked): 1,500kg Price (as tested): £46,050 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,500kg-1,700kg WHAT WE SAY ONE of the biggest deterrents for anyone buying an EV to tow is how driving range is affected by the extra frontage of a caravan. EVs don’t typically fall short when it comes to the power required to overcome additional aerodynamic drag, but it takes a lot of energy – which is where the 400-mile quoted range for this variant of the Polestar 2 hatch could make all the difference. Compared with many current SUVs, the Polestar seems a compromised choice in other ways, and when it comes to visibility, it’s true that the sleek five-door can’t match the views provided by high-riding rivals. But many…

Kerbweight: 2,283kg Noseweight: 225kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,941kg Max towing capacity (braked): 3,500kg Price (as tested): £53,460 CLASS Pick-ups WHAT WE SAY PICK-UP trucks have become increasingly popular for leisure use in recent years, as tax breaks for business users and increasingly lavish specs have made them an appealing dual-purpose option. Their size and weight make pick-ups ideal for towing, too, and the Ford Ranger is the vehicle that topped the category in this year’s towing tests. It looks the part in its striking yellow livery, and the chunky Ford delivers the goods, too, with its beefy V6 diesel engine and smooth-shifting 10-speed auto gearbox making light work of pulling a 1,700kg-plus caravan. It’s a genuine workhorse, after all, with a maximum towing limit of 3,500kg. This Towcar of…

Pete_Gibson@autovia.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 588/1,810 litres Running costs 46.1mpg (on test) £84 fill-up £180 or 35% tax MY job as senior staff photographer on Auto Express involves lots of traveling all over the country to various locations, and as a result the long-term car that I drive is usually the one on our fleet with the highest mileage. And so it has proved with my current Skoda Karoq. But piling on all those miles means regular attention is needed to keep the Karoq in perfect working order. Most recently, no sooner had I topped up the AdBlue tank than the car’s trip display alerted me that the first service was due. The panel flashes this information when you turn on the ignition, but handily it also warns what type…

ID.Buzz kitted out with Giti’s EV tyre FAR Eastern maker Giti Tire has secured its first European original equipment (OE) fitment, with the GitiSynergy H2 (above) specified for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric MPV. Giti will supply 235/60R18 for the front and 255/55R18 for the rear. Developed specifically for EVs, the H2 has a compound that’s designed to reduce rolling resistance without compromising wear or performance. Giti hopes the fitment will lead to other OE operations in future. For more information, visit giti-tire.eu. Fresh upgrade for EV charging app PARKOPEDIA has partnered with EV infrastructure firm GO TO-U in a bid to make EV charging a more seamless operation. Using data analytics and machine learning, Parkopedia will receive real-time data to help navigate to chargers, predict their availability and then pay,…

CAMDEN Town, London, summer 1988. WORLD famous for its lack of parking spaces and an abundance of yellow-peril traffic wardens (remember them?), this area was the unlikely venue for our mission to create an all-new motoring magazine with an alternative look, feel and attitude. Our ‘corporate home’ close to Mornington Crescent tube station comprised three crumbling buildings: a grotty pub (in the mistaken belief it might aid creativity), an even grottier traditional office (which we shared with the heavy-metal mag Kerrang!) and a cheap-as-chopsticks Chinese cafe (our unofficial staff canteen). Smoking was legally permissible in all three establishments and that hugely pleased the Kerrang! crowd. Myself and my fellow founding fathers had backgrounds in either newspapers or car magazines – or in my case, a bit of both, having served…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler • Fast flagship of small EV range could wear the vRS badge • Front-wheel-drive set-up of VW’s ID.2 would be carried over SKODA boss Klaus Zellmer has confirmed that hot vRS models are very much still on the agenda in the firm’s all-electric era, and that could mean a hot version of the brand’s upcoming baby EV. Auto Express caught up with Zellmer at the recent Munich Motor Show, which was used by Volkswagen to unveil its own vision of future hot hatchbacks, the ID. GTI Concept. Asked if he fancied a Skoda vRS version of what will become the ID.2 GTI, Zellmer told us, “Yes, of course we are contemplating doing that, actually in all our model lines. “If the technology is good enough to call it…

ED MILLIBAND Labour shadow environment secretary “IT was a bad day for our economy, our prosperity and for Britain and you saw that from the furious response from business. They were saying with one voice that more dither and delay will turn investment away from Britain, drive up bills and mean we lose good jobs. “We don’t set our policy by what Germany or the rest of Europe is doing, we set it by what is right for Britain. By having a 2030 phaseout for new petrol and diesel cars compared with 2035, we will save money for consumers, not cost them. By 2030, the up-front cost of an electric car will be less than for a petrol or diesel car and the lifetime cost is already less.” Lib Dems…

THE UK Government has confirmed it will introduce the so-called Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate for car makers next year, in spite of delaying the ban on petrol and diesel sales from 2030 to 2035. The ZEV mandate will set out minimum annual targets for sales of vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions, as a percentage of each manufacturer’s total sales volume. Failure to meet the targets, which are expected to become increasingly stringent with each passing year, will result in manufacturers facing significant fines. An imminent statement on the ZEV mandate was expected from Government as this issue of Auto Express closed for press, but business secretary Kemi Badenoch confirmed the ZEV mandate would remain. Chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, confirmed the ZEV…

CUSTOMERS for existing Ariya models – and Nissan’s Leaf EV – can claim up to 10,000 miles worth of free energy through a new deal that the Japanese brand has struck with energy provider EDF and chargepoint manufacturer Pod Point. Buyers need to purchase an electric Ariya, Leaf or Townstar van from a Nissan dealer, as well as a Pod Point Solo 3 wallbox. Sign up to an EDF energy tariff and enough credit to cover 10,000 miles (around a year’s motoring for many drivers) will be added to your account for free. Nissan says that the cost of the charger and installation can also be rolled into monthly finance payments on the vehicle, to improve affordability.…

LEXUS will reveal a new concept car on 28 October that will show the brand’s approach to EVs in the future. Thought to feature a solid-state battery (Lexus says its new batteries will provide up to 620 miles of range) and to fundamentally change the way the firm designs and builds its cars, the new concept has been teased in the image above. It shows a typical Lexus lighting signature, with this luxury model likely to feature optimised aerodynamics to boost range. The concept will directly preview a production model due in 2026.…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk • 20mph limit in built-up areas • Came into force 17 September A STORM of protest has erupted after the Welsh Labour government’s introduction of its new 20mph national speed limit for built-up areas. The new limit came into force on 17 September, via a law enacted despite consistent polling showing two thirds of Welsh people objected to lowering the 30mph national limit that applies elsewhere in the UK. The strength of feeling against the measures has been further highlighted by a petition on the Welsh Senedd (parliament) website calling for the government to “rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law”. The petition gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures within days, far outstripping responses to the previously most popular Senedd petition. The threshold used by the Petitions Committee to…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy FIAT is finally beginning to plug the obvious gaps in its line-up, now that the brand is able to properly tap into the shared resources of its parent firm Stellantis. We know there’s a new Panda on the way, but in the meantime, here’s Fiat’s take on a more style-focused offering in the small-SUV segment: the new 600e. It’s an indirect successor to the 500X, but the cars will be sold alongside each other for the time being – and it’s also meant to replace the 500L MPV. A wide brief, then. While the current all-electric 500 has its own underpinnings, Fiat has cleverly switched the 600e to take advantage of the economies of scale offered by Stellantis. So what we really have here is a close relation…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Electric motor Power/range 154bhp/250 miles “An indicated range of 248 miles with a full charge is a significant improvement over its predecessor” THE 2008 has become one of Peugeot’s greatest success stories of recent years. Since it was released in 2019, over 700,000 have been produced, and in 2021 it was the best-selling small SUV in Europe. Peugeot isn’t simply settling on a job well done, however, because four years into its life, the 2008 has received an update – and the most significant changes come to the all-electric E-2008 we’re driving here. The full line-up has been given a new look, with the biggest overhaul at the front. There’s a new grille design that gets vertical inserts, while extra trim on its outer edges increases the impression…

AUTO Express had a landmark year in 2002 with the launch of Driver Power, the car owner-satisfaction survey that has gone on to become the biggest and most influential in the UK. For more than 20 years we have quizzed drivers on what they love and hate about their vehicles, and what’s become abundantly clear over more than two decades is that the makers genuinely do scrutinise your opinions to refine and improve their cars. Hundreds of thousands of responses have been received since 2002, and from these we produce annual countdowns of the models and manufacturers you rate most highly. Incredibly, in that time only five different brands have been rated your number one: Lexus (on 13 occasions), Skoda (five), Porsche (three) and Tesla (once). The roll of honour…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram “The 200 was among the most popular family cars of its era, and the Kona fits that billing today” ‘SECRET ROVER’ read the headline splashed across the cover of the very first issue of Auto Express back in 1988. The car in question was the Rover 200, which went on to become one of the greatest success stories of the Longbridge marque. A lot has changed in the car industry over the last 35 years, not only in terms of design and technology, but also with the brands at the top of the sales charts. Administration for the MG Rover group in April 2005 marked the sad demise of the Rover marque, and since then, other brands have established themselves as significant players. Hyundai is one such winner.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk LEGACY is a funny thing. It can be a reassuring blanket of goodwill to fall back on or tap into when times are tough; equally, it can be a millstone around your neck as you push for a clean break to the future. So you can imagine how the people at MG feel about the forthcoming Cyberster roadster. Is it the successor to the classic MGB and MGF that some people want it to be? Could it be that and still act as a beacon for a brand whose incredibly successful rebirth has been born mostly out of electric vehicles? It’s almost time to find out, because the new sports car is here. And we’re standing right beside the MG, parked up in a restaurant car park in Warwickshire,…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk “The Cyberster was on the MG stand at Goodwood, which got a lot of attention, but once people were on that stand they turned 180 degrees and immediately ran after the EX4”DANIEL ROWBOTTOM BTCC racing driver IT’S no secret that MG is on a roll at the moment. The Chinese-owned British brand is enjoying record sales in the UK and across Europe thanks to an excellent line-up of family-friendly models, including the MG4, our Affordable Electric Car of the Year. Yet to really drum up some attention, MG decided to create a special one-off show car for this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Enter the EX4 Concept. To do this, MG took its all-electric MG4 and created a wild homage to one of the wackiest and most memorable rally…

Kerbweight: 2,297kg Noseweight: 75kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,500kg Max towing capacity (braked): 1,500kg Price (as tested): £61,540 CLASS Electric Vehicle WHAT WE SAY WHILE the caravan weight classes are judged objectively against a series of scores awarded in the full range of disciplines, the ‘best electric towcar’ category is one where the judging panel’s subjective experience is allowed a bit more free rein – and here the range-topping four-wheel-drive Nissan Ariya SUV clearly manages to win itself a lot of fans. That won’t come as a surprise to Auto Express readers familiar with our own review, which describes the Ariya as superbly capable, with a range of attributes that put the model head and shoulders above anything else in the Japanese brand’s line-up. That includes the more traditional X-Trail…

CARAVAN WEIGHT Over 1,700kg “The Cayenne provides exemplary ride and handling in all conditions, even with a large caravan” Kerbweight: 2,500kg Noseweight: 140kg Caravan weight (as tested): 2,125kg Max towing capacity (braked): 3,500kg Price (as tested): £78,710 WHAT WE SAY THE Porsche Cayenne has always been an impressive towcar, and it’s come very close to clinching the Club’s highly vaunted Towcar of The Year award in previous years. The newest plug-in E-Hybrid combines a petrol V6 with a battery and motor for 456bhp, giving drivers 0-62mph in five seconds, a 157mph top speed, plus the option of driving up to 22 miles in electric-only mode and ‘real world’ mpg in the mid-30s. That’s not quite diesel efficiency, but it’s cleaner for city driving, and if you’re liable for company car…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk READER Jamie Pickles E-mailed asking this question, adding it might be better if the test was published during the colder months. He has a point, because before the UK winter-tyre market started to grow at the end of the noughties, drivers didn’t change tyres for the season until temperatures dropped and there was snow and ice. Two severe winters in 2009 and 2010 with plenty of early snow saw motorists heading for tyre dealers that had precious little stock. Those levels improved slightly in subsequent years, but there is a limit to the number of tyres that can be made, and the production run is always based on sales forecasts for the upcoming winter. Orders need to be placed early in the year, with dealers wary…

OWNING a tyre inflator is the best way to ensure your tyres are always at the correct pressure. And a cordless inflator is often more convenient with no need for a cumbersome cable. The Clarke RI150LI has just been launched, so we put it up against the winner of our most recent test, the Ring RTC6000, and the even more compact Ring RTC4000. We used them to inflate a 15-inch tyre from 20-30psi and a space saver from 55-60psi. As well as speed, we measured noise levels, accuracy, instructions, ease of use and added points for extras, such as adaptors, lights and sockets. The RTC6000 remains the top pick, and while the Clarke would be handy in some situations, the RTC4000 performed better and was cheaper. Mini test NEW PRODUCT…

Years: 2015-2022 CO2: 78-82g/km Fuel economy: 78-83mpg (hybrid) Best options: Touch 2 infotainment, rear parking sensors (Active, Business Edition) USED PRICES: From £11,500 mail@autoexpress.co.uk FIVE top-10 category finishes, and everything else in the top half of the table ensure a very respectable ranking for Toyota’s Prius in the 2023 Driver Power New Car survey. Everything bar practicality, that is, because boot space falls foul of the aerodynamic rear hatch and nets 71st place. But the smooth, quiet powertrains rank seventh, while ride quality and road handling come in at eighth and seventh. The number of safety features score 13th spot, but a third for economy is offset by 49th for service costs. Reliability feels like a shoe-in at fourth, while good scores for the infotainment are let down by a…

FROM £16,000 2.0 D3 Momentum 2018, 90k miles THE XC40 doesn’t have the Evoque’s concept-car looks, but long waiting lists soon built up when it was launched. Sensibly priced when new, well equipped and stylish, the Volvo is also extremely safe and its high-quality interior is a wonderful place to spend time. But it can’t quite match the Range Rover in terms of ambience, and the infotainment isn’t quite as good, either. The steering is also a little numb in comparison with its rival’s, but the supple ride makes up for this, while all-round visibility is better. Where the Volvo really scores, though, is in terms of affordability. As little as £16,000 gets you into an XC40, although it will be a 2018 model with around 120,000 miles racked up.…

CIRCUIT de Catalunya plays host to the final round of the 2023 GT World Challenge Endurance series. The last endurance event took place at the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa, where the BMW M4 GT3 of Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann and Nick Yelloly took the lead by the 18th hour and never looked back, going on to secure the third win for Rowe Racing at Spa. In contrast to the race in Belgium, the Spanish event will be shorter, with drivers fighting for victory over the course of three hours. Since Spa, teams and drivers have been keeping themselves sharp in the Sprint events. The last meeting in Valencia brought wins for the Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3 in race one and Team WRT’s BMW in race two. The Spanish race…

NOBODY likes shifting goalposts, especially when you’ve spent millions of pounds pivoting your business strategy to hit a deadline. Like Margaret Thatcher (imagine how she’d feel about Rishi Sunak’s U-turn), the car business is not for turning. The 2030 deadline was misguided in the first place – a bit of political posturing. The same applies to Mr Sunak’s surprise move (many in his party didn’t know about it). But the car industry will not change its strategy as we head towards 2030 – which is probably a good thing, with a future Labour Government likely to overturn this latest policy shift. However, while the 2030 ban has been delayed, it’s confirmed that the Government’s long-awaited ZEV mandate (right) will go ahead, meaning car makers will still have to push EVs…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk • One-off from London studio • Inspired by Formula E racer THE Nissan Design Europe studio in west London turns 20 this year – and to celebrate, the Japanese brand has revealed this new showcase called Concept 20-23, potentially previewing an electric hot hatch. Typically focused on global and European market projects, NDE was responsible for the design of sales hits such as the Qashqai and Juke, forming a critical part of Nissan’s global design team. This Concept 20-23, however, is a moment of freedom for its designers, and combines the Japanese brand’s small-hatchback heritage with a vision of the ultimate urban car of the future. Although it’s a pure design concept for now, it’s obvious this celebratory one-off is inspired by Nissan’s forthcoming all-electric Micra, which will share…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk • Exclusive image uses patent drawings to show look of new car • Expected to feature petrol powertrains rather than being an EV MG is making lots of noise with its new-age electric cars and even a sporty open-top flagship in the shape of the Cyberster. But the reborn British brand isn’t losing sight of the value-driven models that have formed the bedrock of its recent comeback – which you can read about in more detail from page 51. Key to this will be a new supermini from the Chinese-owned British brand. And after seeing leaked patent drawings, we can give a preview of how this new MG3 might look with our exclusive image. Designed principally to be efficient and affordable, the new model’s look draws its inspiration directly…

PEUGEOT has confirmed pricing for its E-308, with the all-electric family hatchback on sale now, starting from £40,050. That secures the entry-level Allure model, which offers up to 257 miles of range from its 54kWh battery. All cars feature the same powertrain, with a 154bhp motor, although claimed range drops to 255 miles with GT trim (£42,250) and on the limited-run First Edition model (£42,080). Base-spec cars feature tinted rear windows, 18-inch wheels, heating for the seats and steering wheel, sat-nav and a rear camera as part of the 10-inch screen, plus adaptive cruise control. If you step up to GT spec, this adds matrix LED lights, a sportier look, front parking sensors and Alcantara trim inside, while First Edition models feature exclusive cloth and faux-leather upholstery. Deliveries begin soon, with…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC BMW Vision concept FROM: Jurgen Hinz DOES the designer at BMW have a five-year-old he lets do all the work? Every time a new BMW is presented, you think it couldn’t get any worse – until there is another new model. The brand used to make such beautiful cars. FROM: Karl Stein ’REDUCTION to the essentials’, BMW calls the “new” design language. That’s why the interior is more or less just made up of a display and an angular steering wheel. BMW wants to be a premium brand, by cutting down on essentials? Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “And we all thought Chris Bangle was the worst car designer ever, 20 years ago!”James Marshall ■ “Surprising that BMW also has an identity crisis, but tragic…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.4 seconds/199mph THE Ferrari Roma Spider is not a car that will help save the world. Nor is it one that many will ever see, let alone get to drive. But for the exceedingly fortunate few it is without doubt one of the sexiest and plain best open-top grand touring cars that (an awful lot of) money can buy right now. Based unashamedly on the Roma coupé, the Spider costs £210,313 and boasts the same 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox as its fixed-head sibling. It costs almost 30 grand more, however, because even in the rarefied world of Ferrari ownership, prices have gone up since the coupé was unveiled three years ago. Plus it has more than a few extra bits and bobs…

THE car world has changed hugely since 1988, but we’ve been there every step of the way to make sense of it all for you. Here we look back at some of the major events and stories of the past 35 years. 1988 – AUTO Express accelerated on to the news stands in September with a first issue that shook up the motoring-media landscape. Its mix of news, road tests, exclusive spy shots and consumer advice proved an immediate hit with readers, and successfully set the template for what was to come. 1989 – WE’VE been a major supporter of the UK car industry from the outset, so the sale of one of the country’s most high-profile manufacturers was big news. Ford’s purchase of Jaguar for $2.5billion promised a bright…

THE very first issue of Auto Express set the tone with some amazing spy shots of the Rover 200, and over the years we have delivered a long line of groundbreaking world-exclusive news stories, both in print and online. Among our standouts were the first ever pictures of the second-generation Ford Focus in 2004, taken completely undisguised at a customer clinic and revealed months before the car was due to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. To say Ford was shocked would be an understatement… That came seven years after we’d pulled off another amazing scoop, becoming the first outlet anywhere to publish undisguised pictures of a startling bug-eyed look for the Toyota Corolla, then the world’s top-selling car. There was astonishment at Bentley in 2002, when we got…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk “My first reaction was that Ferrari will be unhappy. But can I get out of it? Probably not”Roche Bentley Founder of MG Owners’ Club RELEASING beautifully shot, artfully composed images is the usual way to introduce a new flagship model to the public. But is there another way to tell the world just what your latest model can do, as well as cementing it in the minds of potential buyers? MG certainly thinks there is, and instead of taking the new Cyberster racing or using it to break some obscure world record, the company is sending its new two-seat electric sports car on an epic transcontinental expedition from London to Shanghai. With professional adventurers – and identical twins – Ross and Hugo Turner at the helm, the Cyberster will…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk “The route we’ve chosen includes all the important locations for MG, both now and in its past, which totals just over 300 miles” RANGE anxiety. It’s a real and understandable stress point with electric vehicles, and one that MG is hoping to help reduce for some of its EV customers with its new MG4 Extended Range model. Key changes for this new version include its larger-capacity battery and more powerful electric motor. The energy on board has now increased to 77kWh (74.4kWh usable), up from 58 or 44 in the existing MG4 models, with a slight increase in power and torque, to 242bhp and 258Nm respectively. But the key figure we’re interested in for this exercise is the WLTP-certified combined range, because we’re going to find out just how…

Kerbweight: 1,577kg Noseweight: 80kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,340kg Max towing capacity (braked): 1,600kg Price (as tested): £35,535 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,300kg-1,500kg WHAT WE SAY SKODA’S Octavia Estate regularly wins plaudits from our testers, who say it’s difficult to fault as an all-round, do-it-all family car. The latest Caravan and Motorhome Club tests prove, yet again, that towing is one of the Octavia’s strengths, too, especially in this punchy 2.0-litre turbodiesel form. Indeed, coupled with the VW Group’s now ubiquitous DSG automatic gearbox, this result reinforces the traditional appeal of the diesel-auto configuration beloved of caravanners for years, and the win should provide comfort to traditionalists not yet ready for a transition to EVs. The 148bhp Estate in SE L trim is relatively expensive for an Octavia, but it looks increasingly…

Kerbweight: 2,514kg Noseweight: 140kg Caravan weight (as tested): 2,137kg Max towing capacity (braked): 3,500kg Price (as tested): £220,120 CLASS Luxury WHAT WE SAY LOOK inside a typical caravan, and it will soon become clear that caravanners don’t like to rough it. Still, those pushing the boat out with the priciest vans need a towcar that’s above and beyond the norm – enter the Bentayga. The Extended Wheelbase version isn’t short on creature comforts, as you would expect, and the big Bentley SUV is also a fantastic vehicle to drive, whether hitched up or solo. One tester described the experience as ‘imperious’, and all enjoyed the heady mix of power and torque provided by the muscular V8 engine. Its 542bhp and 770Nm give you 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, or the grunt…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk I LIKE my Cupra Formentor long-termer, I really do. But after a few months I’ve found one really big issue that’s put it into the danger zone – for me, at least. Maybe it’s due to the hoops Euro NCAP makes manufacturers jump through to get the highest safety ratings, but the Formentor’s assistance systems always default to on once you restart the car. This means I have to do my best fighter-pilot impression and go through a number of pre-flight checks before I feel ready to take off in the Cupra. Firstly, I have to push the end of the indicator stalk to pull up the driver-assist menu. Then I have to deselect the lane assist, because on the country roads to my golf club (not very Top…

MB: Everything you want to know about the SL R230 Bernd S Koehling (amazon.co.uk) Price: £7.95 (eBook) Rating: CLEARLY written by an authority and packed with info. Now that Mercedes SLs are becoming more affordable, a good buyer’s guide is a worthy purchase. We would have liked a little more practical buying advice for those looking at the lower end of the market, but as an overview of the marque and vehicle, it’s excellent. Ford Mustang: The First Generation Clive Branson (amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: THERE have been more amazing books written about the first of the pony cars than we’d know what to do with, but at less than 100 pages, this one’s hardly in-depth. It’s better as a brief introduction, maybe for a younger enthusiast. It’s at least well produced…