Table of contents for 1780 in Auto Express

PRICE: From £35,000 (est) ON SALE: Autumn THE Honda CR-V has a sizeable, loyal following in the UK – and the Japanese brand is hoping to build on that with arguably one of the biggest steps in the model’s history. The all-new sixth-generation CR-V will arrive later this year, offering more cabin and boot space than ever before, and a pair of electrified powertrains – including Honda’s first plug-in hybrid in the UK. There’s a radical technical rethink under the skin, but the CR-V’s design is clearly an evolution of what’s gone before. There’s a more complex honeycomb grille, but the side profile is typical CR-V, with the notable kick in the lower window line around the C-pillars, and the usual high-mounted tail-lights. It’s larger than the outgoing model, and…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Hyundai gives supermini improved tech for mid-life facelift ● UK engine line-up and prices to be revealed later this year “Hyundai has given the i20 plenty of exterior tweaks to sharpen its looks” THE supermini segment is shrinking, with the imminent demise of the Ford Fiesta, and Volkswagen’s Polo facing an uncertain future. But Hyundai is persevering in what is still one of the most popular sectors of the car market and has released a new version of its i20 five-door hatchback. The third-generation i20 arrived in 2020, so this year’s update is right on schedule. Hyundai has given the i20 plenty of exterior tweaks to sharpen its looks. At the front there’s a new radiator grille and the Hyundai ‘H’ badge has been relocated above the…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● First all-electric Lamborghini due to be unveiled in 2028 ● Shares its Porsche-developed platform with future Taycan “The car will take 1,000 per cent the design DNA of Lamborghini. My nickname for it is a spaceship GT”MITJA BORKERT Head of Design LAMBORGHINI is synonymous with internal-combustion engines – and some great ones at that – but even the Sant’Agata company has plans for EVs. The firm promises we’ll see its first all-electric car – a sleek two-door 2+2 grand tourer – in 2028. Alongside it will be the successor to the Urus, a fully electric SUV. It’s fair to say that Lamborghini has been hesitant about going electric, which is no surprise given that so much of the firm’s success has come from V10 and V12 units.…

AVERAGE car insurance premiums were a whopping 16 per cent higher in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period a year ago, with insurers blaming the rising costs of repairs and materials. According to the Association of British Insurers, the increases are down to the high cost of energy that garages are forced to pay, as well as a 16 per cent increase in the average cost of paint and materials. Meanwhile, the cost of courtesy cars to insurers has risen by 30 per cent – in part because component shortages mean long delays for repairs when a customer’s own car is off the road.…

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

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk THE Cayenne is the car that paved the way for Porsche as we know it today – not to mention the model that paid for it, too, with the German firm having sold 1.25 million examples over the past 20 years. It has a bright future, too, because the car is set to go all electric for its next iteration, expected in 2026. While ICE cars might be on death row, the wait will still be relatively significant for models such as the Cayenne, so Porsche has overhauled the Mk3 version of its big SUV to keep it fresh until the funeral bell finally tolls for petrol power. And there’s lots that is fresh, despite the new Cayenne’s silhouette looking familiar. The devil is in the detail, with the…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn THERE’S no arguing with the Ford Ranger’s success. It’s consistently been Europe’s best-selling pick-up truck in recent years, so the arrival of an all-new model is an important moment for the firm. We’ve already tried the all-new Ranger in high-performance Raptor guise, but now we’ve sampled what’s likely to be one of the most popular versions, the Wildtrak. The new Ranger is longer and wider than its predecessor, while its new bodywork gives it a boxier look than before to emulate models in Ford’s US pick-up truck line-up. While the Ranger is the biggest passenger-carrying model the company sells in the UK, it’s actually the small pick-up in the States, sitting between the Maverick and F-150. C-shaped daytime running lights are the Ranger’s new signature to its bluff…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @Matt_201 “There’s a huge amount of affection for the brand, because everybody knows somebody that had one”Guy Pigounakis MG commercial director MG is on the rise. As you’ll soon read in this special with our Cyberster deep dive (page 40), there are exciting plans for the future, while the MGB in that same feature demonstrates the great history the brand has to leverage. But what about the here and now? What does MG mean to UK buyers currently in the market, and how well does the current range cater for consumers’ needs? To find out, we went to Paul Rigby MG in Redditch, Worcs – part of MG’s growing dealer network – to meet up with perhaps the person best qualified to take us through what’s going on at…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk HOW how do you reimagine the classic British sports car for the electrified age? That’s the question that Carl Gotham and his team at MG’s advanced design studio had to answer. To quantify how the new Cyberster fits into MG’s varied heritage, we’ve brought along perhaps the single model most synonymous with the brand: the MGB Roadster. Why? To see how the two models relate to one another, and discover which elements define, not just MGs, but the ‘great British sports car’. “This gave the MGB and its contemporaries their typical long bonnet, with a compact two or two-plus-two cockpit located behind, closer to the rear axle” The first and perhaps most fundamental visual reference are the proportions. The MGB was defined, like many sports cars of the era,…

71.4kWh Battery/range 252 miles 308bhp Powertrain 2x e-motors 5.3 secs Performance 99mph 522 litres Seats up/down 1,451litres MODEL TESTED: RZ 450e Premium Plus Pack PRICE: £68,500 POWERTRAIN: 2x e-motors, 71.4kWh battery, 308bhp PRICES for the new Lexus RZ start from £64,500 and climb to £74,000, depending on trim. We’re testing the Premium Plus pack, which sits roughly in the middle, at £68,500. Tech highlights WHILE this is Lexus’s all-new EV, it’s not completely unique. That’s because underneath the striking bodywork, the RZ shares plenty with the Toyota bZ4X. Indeed, the pair have the same platform – right down to an identical 2,850mm wheelbase – and use a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery. But while the Toyota uses a single motor with a maximum of 215bhp, the Lexus combines a 201bhp front motor…

CAR manufacturers may be focused on LEDs and adaptive lighting systems, but there’s still plenty of development activity surrounding halogen bulbs and the drive to increase their output and safety. Makers can now boast of double the output required by the ECE R112 standard somewhere in the beam, while still complying with restrictions on glare and build tolerances. Our test focused on the latest single-filament H7 and 200 per cent brighter bulbs, but we also included 150 per cent, regular and ‘blue’ bulbs to see how far the tech has come. Our revised tests measure the brightest spot, the area at more than 30 lux, and beam length over three lux in a light tunnel. Light is measured at 75 metres and in two spots at 50 metres to form…

YOU don’t tackle much when working on a car before you’ll need a spanner and, while your home DIY kit may feature screwdrivers and pliers, you will need to invest in a set of spanners if you plan on much more than topping up levels. Thanks to Draper and its quality control department, we were able to return to testing hand tools. We used Draper’s specialist tools to check the 10, 13 and 17mm spanners for size. Using DIN899 as a guide, we applied the specified torque requirement plus 20 per cent to represent misuse to the last two sizes. Size was checked again after the test, plus we looked for any distortion on the spanners. Comfort and length were evaluated, while we looked for clear markings on each tool…

AFTER a winter when much of the country saw snowfall and, in many places, the white stuff stayed around for several days, many drivers have been looking for the safest way to cope. The ultimate solution is swapping tyres for the seasons, fitting the UK’s usual tyres in the summer and a winter design in the cold months, with a design focused on low-temperature performance. In our test of winter tyres this year, there were a few familiar faces when we returned to the big-selling 205/55R16 size. Reigning champion Bridgestone was present and joined by new tyres from Pirelli and Hankook. Continental had its TS 870 and Michelin was back with the Alpin 6, while Vredestein also took part. On top of our usual aquaplaning plus wet and dry handling…

EVEN the most reluctant of car cleaners will require screen wash. Throughout the year, and particularly in the winter, it is a key part of ensuring you have adequate visibility, so it pays to ensure there’s something that works in your washer bottle. Ready-mixed screen washes are convenient, but like all-season tyres, they are a compromise. To ensure the wash flows in winter and cleans in the summer, and to be certain you’re not wasting money, you need to change the concentration to suit the season. To find the one you should use, we baked reptile food bugs on to the screen with a spritz of oil in two places – one under the sweep of one wiper and another under both. We then used the washer bottle filled with…

RARELY have we been impressed with wash products that claim to add protection as they clean. But there is a new version around using the latest must-have ingredient: ceramics. We’ve been delighted by the durability of ceramic coatings, and our favourites can be found opposite. But will these washes impress too? For the first time, we set out to see if the claims were true, with a test split into three main parts. The first section was to see how well each washed. It’s hard to differentiate cleaning power, but some need far less effort than others. The second part was on a test bonnet, where we applied each solution and monitored water beading over five weeks. The final section was cost and that needed a calculator, thanks to the…

WHEELS can make or break a car’s looks, but all that agonising over the options list when ordering, or searching the internet for the right set, is wasted if they are caked in brake dust and wrapped in grimy-grey tyres. We deal with treatments for your tyres on page 91, but here we focus on getting the all-important rim sparkling. New or frequently cleaned rims will need little more than a blast from a pressure washer and a wipe with a wash mitt, but neglected wheels need further action. To find the product that gets rims really shining, we grabbed a pile of filthy wheel trims from a scrapyard and tried each cleaner according to the maker’s instructions, then assessed progress after gentle rinsing. We took the best and repeated…

IT’S easy to think that as leather trim filters further down the model range, there’s little call for an upholstery cleaner. That view ignores the many cars that have fabric trim and, whatever material covers the seats, the carpets and footwells will still need cleaning. All-purpose cleaners (APCs) can often remove light marks, but for tougher stains and the kind of grime that builds up over time, you need a specialist solution. And adding one to your valeting arsenal won’t break the bank, because most will cost you a fair bit less than a tenner. To find the best, we took a tired floor mat and added ballpoint-pen ink, ground-in chocolate and butter, then upped the difficulty with felt tip and make-up. We made two attempts and assessed progress on…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Hybrid tech for new ZR-V ● CR-V is Honda’s first PHEV HONDA has been electrifying its range in a typically conservative fashion, but now the Japanese brand is really pushing ahead with the process. And that will extend to three models being launched this year, starting with the all-new ZR-V. It’ll be joined by a more practical CR-V, while the electric e:Ny1 means the Honda e supermini will no longer be the brand’s only EV sold in the UK. We’ve got the low down on all three. “Honda has pushed hard to make the ZR-V not look too much like a jacked-up Civic, and it’s succeeded” Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates…

HONDA has now switched all of its mainstream models to electrified powertrains, and is pushing ahead with further EV launches. We asked the firm’s executive vice president for clarification on the e:Ny1 – in particular, its name… Q Have you actually put e:Ny1 through any customer clinics? It’s a hard name to type, hard to search for on the Internet and pretty hard to actually say. A “Well, the fact is that you’re talking about it! Obviously, e:Ny1 is the start of a new era for Honda; we’ve made commitments that we’ll be zero emissions on all of our products. A lot of the industry are changing their names as they go through something similar, and you’ll see an e-colon across our range.” Q Yes, but what does it actually…

NO sooner has Volkswagen revealed its all-new ID.7 electric saloon than our spy photographers have captured a sleek estate version of the newcomer undergoing testing and development. This more practical model should be powered by the same choice of battery and motor options, with a 77kWh and 82kWh battery available. In the ID.7 saloon the larger pack is enough for a 435-mile range, but expect a little less from the estate, whose drag coefficient will no doubt be slightly worse than the saloon’s 0.23Cd figure. It’s likely that the ID.7 estate will launch in single-motor form, offering 282bhp from its rear-mounted drive unit. However, as per VW’s intentions outlined below, expect a hotter ID.7 estate GTX to join at a later date. The new model’s styling apes its saloon sibling’s,…

ASTON Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll has announced that the British brand will launch eight new sports cars in the next two years. The first is likely to arrive this summer in the form of a replacement for the ageing DB11, potentially called DB12 and set to make its debut on 24 May. Shown here testing at the Nürburgring, it will be joined by a convertible Volante model in time, while replacements for the Vantage and DBS are set to join the line-up by 2026. However, this leaves space for another two models, which could be closed and open-top versions of a mid-engined car. The brand has already shown its Valhalla supercar, which is powered by a 937bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG. Talking at the…

Hometown homage for Cupra Raval EV CUPRA’S UrbanRebel compact EV will be called the Raval (above) when it goes into production in 2025. It’s named after an area of Barcelona, reinforcing Cupra’s Spanish connections. Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths highlighted this. “The Raval is one of the most surprising parts of Barcelona,” he said. “We are proud that the brand’s future urban electric car will have its name and represent its spirit.” The Raval will be built at Cupra’s Martorell factory, just outside of the city. Long lorries approved for UK road network NEW laws will allow longer lorries on UK roads from 31 May, raising maximum vehicle lengths for articulated trucks by 2.05m to 18.55m, or 61ft. There’s no increase in maximum weight, but the Department for Transport estimates the…

FORD is pushing on with its journey towards full electrification and has revealed its next step with this all-new E-Tourneo Courier model. The five-seat ‘multi-activity vehicle’ features ‘SUV-inspired looks’, is powered by a 134bhp electric motor, and accepts 100kW rapid charging for a 10-80 per cent top-up in less than 35 minutes. However, Ford hasn’t revealed the new car’s battery size or range. It has confirmed the E-Tourneo Courier’s carrying capacity though, with 570 litres of load space (or 1,188 litres to the roof) with all five seats in place; that’s 175 and 480 litres more than the previous-generation Tourneo Courier respectively. The new car can carry an extra 100kg of payload, too. The new E-Tourneo Courier will go on sale in spring 2024, but a 123bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol version…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks LAMBORGHINI certainly knows how to throw a party. This year marks the company’s 60th anniversary and it’s no surprise the Italian brand has cooked up something special to celebrate the landmark. For the firm’s 25th anniversary in 1989 it launched a new Countach, and to mark its 50th, 350 Lamborghinis travelled in convoy from Milan to the Sant’ Agata factory. This year it’s a bit of both. We’ve already seen a spectacular new Lamborghini – the long-awaited, much-discussed Revuelto – but now it’s time for pageantry. The record for the number of Lamborghinis in a single parade was set in Japan earlier this year, with 251 cars taking to the Suzuka circuit. But as part of the latest birthday celebrations, the plan is to break this record. The…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy BMW is loading up its range with pure-electric variants of many models, but the brand still relies on plug-in hybrid tech for a few of its key vehicles. That’s the case with the 3 Series, because while you can, of course, pick the all-electric i4 hatchback, you’ll need to stick with the 330e PHEV if you want a saloon or Touring estate. It’s the saloon version of the car that we’re testing here – and on UK roads, after the facelifted 3 Series impressed us on the continent. The recipe looks a solid enough one on paper; the 330e (in this case, a four-wheel-drive xDrive edition) mixes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 288bhp and 420Nm. Those are decent…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk “We wanted something that was going to stand out. Something that wasn’t too meek or demure” MG’s return to the UK consciousness since China’s SAIC Motors took ownership has been nothing short of astonishing. This erstwhile British brand has grown from an under-utilised asset of the Rover Group to a global standard in affordable electric passenger vehicles in just a few short years. But if there’s one statement of intent about how seriously we should take MG, it’s got to be its most ambitious venture yet: the Cyberster Roadster – a reimagining of the British roadster for the electric age. Created in London by SAIC’s advanced design studio, the project was prompted by MG’s burgeoning success in the UK and abroad, but also as a celebration of the brand’s…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @Matt_201 “We get involved very early in feeding back, well before product actually comes on stream”David Allison MG Motor UK’s head of product and planning systems THE MG that exists today is not quite the same thing as the company that Cecil Kimber founded in the twenties. Following the demise of its final incarnation as MG Rover in 2005, the marque in effect started afresh when the Nanjing Automobile Group – which later merged with the massive SAIC Motor (then called the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) – bought the manufacturer in 2006. Although some limited final assembly of MG Motor products took place at Longbridge in the West Midlands for a time, the cars are now exclusively made in China and largely engineered there, too. But what sets MG…

MODEL TESTED: Model Y Performance PRICE: £59,990 POWERTRAIN: 2x e-motors, 82kWh battery, 527bhp 82kWh Battery/range 319 miles 527bhp Powertrain 2x e-motors 3.5 secs Performance 155mph 854 litres Seats up/down 2,041 litres AT £59,990, the Model Y Performance undercuts even the entry-level RZ by more than £4,000. That difference is also roughly the value of the options applied to our test car; as you see it here, this Performance costs £64,490. Tech highlights TESLA has been building premium EVs for longer than any other manufacturer, and that becomes abundantly clear in some areas. Its skateboard chassis houses an 82kWh battery with a motor driving each axle, and in Performance trim, that results in a hefty 523bhp. For this top-spec model, Tesla also applies some mechanical tweaks, including 21-inch wheels, a lower…

AMONG all of its assorted strengths, we’d argue that the Model Y’s biggest plus point right now is value for money. Following an £8,000 price cut for the Performance model earlier in the year, PCP costs are very tempting; place a £5,000 deposit and you’ll be paying £932 a month over the course of three years. On matching terms, the RZ comes to £1,172 per month – £8,630 more over three years. Further savings are gained by the Tesla when you need to recharge. The significant disparity in efficiency between the two means that, for every 10,000 miles covered, the Model Y will save you £385 at a unit cost of 34p per kilowatt hour. There is one area where it swings back in the RZ’s favour, though: insurance. For…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 452/1,328 litres Running costs Official range/tax 262 miles/2% BiK THE keys for our Sage Green XC40 Recharge landed on my desk at around the same time Volvo first revealed its forthcoming flagship: the £100k EX90 SUV. While I wasn’t able to attend the original European unveil event late last year, I’ve been champing at the bit to have a good prod and poke around it ever since. So when Volvo invited us to drive the updated C40 and XC40 (Issue 1,779) near the company’s Gothenburg base in Sweden last month, I couldn’t help but ask if they might have a sole EX90 lingering in a studio somewhere for a quick walkaround – to see how it compared with my own car. As luck would…

NEVER has making sure your money is spent wisely been so vital, as we all face significant jumps in the cost of not just motoring, but everyday living too. Last year we saw prices begin to rise in the motoring sector, and now these are set against major increases in energy and food costs at rates we’ve not seen for many years. But cars still need fixing, maintaining and cleaning, and Auto Express has always been at the forefront of making sure you don’t buy a duff product through our team’s extensive programme of product testing, which is unmatched by any other UK motoring magazine. We examined more than 500 products over the past 12 months, more than 400 of them in group tests, and in excess of 170 in…

WHETHER you are buying your first dash cam or upgrading to a more sophisticated unit with the latest technology, there is a bewildering choice. Besides the myriad features and options, the established names are constantly being challenged by cheaper entrants that appear to offer better value for money. And crucially, you won’t know if your camera is any good until you’ve fitted it in your car and downloaded the footage. In our dash cam tests, we measure the performance of a variety of cameras in differing road and weather conditions, to see how they cope with changing light and vibrations. We see how easy it is to save and download footage, before checking whether details such as registration numbers are visible. This will be vital if you need to use…

AFTER the bucket and sponge, a pressure washer will usually be top of the shopping list for anyone who likes to take care of their car. As well as helping to blast away dirt, a good machine will also apply snow foam and detergent. This will make your weekly wash less of a grind and minimise the tiny scratches caused by dirt being dragged across paintwork by a mitt or sponge. In our tests, we ignore the professional machines that have more power than is necessary or desirable for cleaning a car. Instead we concentrate on affordable washers with plenty of labour-saving features, which will make a real difference to your regular car-cleaning routine. We looked for high-quality fittings which rotate to prevent kinks, accurate jet-blast fans and extras such…

WHILE winter tyres may be the ultimate solution for coping with weather extremes, there’s no doubt that all-season alternatives are the most convenient. Just fit and forget, with no need to buy an extra set, store it or pay to have the tyres swapped in spring and autumn. All-season tyres can provide up to around three times the amount of grip on snow compared with a conventional – or what most of Europe calls a summer – tyre, which many will go for even if dry performance is compromised. And the option is increasingly popular as drivers turn to SUVs where pin-sharp handling is not the main priority. This makes all-season tyres a key part of our annual test programme and this year we returned to the big-selling 225/45R17 size…

YOU don’t have to wait for a hosepipe ban to put one of these time-savers in your garage. Need to clean the car, but it’s raining? Leave it under cover and use a waterless wash. Want to spruce up your car, but don’t have time to get out the pressure washer, hose, bucket etc? Reach for a waterless wash. It can also add a water-repelling finish, so the clean look stays for longer. To find the best, we assessed how well each cleaned our car, then tested the durability of that protective coating. We used each on two grimy sections, but the results were hard to split, which placed the focus on the water-repellent finish. Each product was applied according to the maker’s instructions on our carefully cleaned test bonnet,…

ONCE the preserve of professionals with the skill and kit to correctly apply them, ceramic coatings have filtered down to DIY users. The range is wide, with some makers creating only marginally dumbed-down coatings that still require time and effort to apply, and others selling little more than spray-and-buff products. Our previous test, with some exceptions, found that the more time you spend preparing the surface, the longer the protection would last. To find out if that is still the case, we put together one of our longest tests so far by monitoring how our 23 samples fared over six months. Each was applied according to the maker’s instructions to a bonnet, which had all previous waxes and coating stripped off. Beading was regularly monitored and we also considered ease…

THE days of clay bars only being part of the professional detailer’s dark art are long gone, because DIY valeters now appreciate the benefit of using bars when it comes to preparing their paintwork for a protective wax or coating. While it is impossible to see the contaminants still embedded in the paint after the most thorough of pre-washes, power-washer rinses and cleaning with a shampoo and mitt, you will see and feel the results of your efforts. As you pass the clay over the lubricated panel, you will feel the drag gradually reducing until it moves freely. Look at the clay and you will see the removed particles. To find our pick of the clay bars, we sectioned off a neglected roof and made two limited pass attempts, assessing…

AVA Car Care Bucket Price: £34.90 Contact: avastore.co.uk THE top honour in our Product of the Year Awards faces stiff competition, so it has to be an innovation that we think genuinely moves the game on by making life better and easier for motorists. In all honesty, we couldn’t have predicted that the prize would have gone to something as humble as a bucket. But the AVA Car Care Bucket is a masterpiece of functional design, which means it can do far more than merely hold soapy water. The bucket can also be a step, a seat and a bottle holder. Even its shape has been engineered to ensure your car’s paintwork stays scratch-free. Looking at it from above, the bucket looks like a rectangle with two opposite corners rounded…

CO2/tax 141-149g/km £180 Running costs 42-45mpg (TCe 130) £73 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.1 seconds/118mph WHEN Romanian state-owned brand Dacia arrived in the UK in the early eighties, it hoped to sell 10,000 cars per year. But instead the marque retreated soon after, with few of its Denem saloons and estates finding buyers. The firm also imported the no-frills Duster off-roader, which again sold in tiny numbers before Dacia disappeared from these shores, seemingly forever. By 1999, Dacia had become a subsidiary of Renault, but it wouldn’t be until 2013 that the Romanian brand returned to the UK with an all-new Duster. Since then Dacia has gone from strength to strength here, largely because its cars are so much cheaper to buy than virtually all its rivals. History THE Duster…

Nürburgring is ready for 24 hours of action THE Nürburgring 24 Hours is a race like no other. It gets under way on 20 May on the Nordschleife (above) and connecting grand prix circuit, so there’s enough room for more than 200 cars to compete – although in 2022 ‘only’ 136 cars entered the race. Last year’s winning team, Audi Sport Team Phoenix, used an R8 LMS Evo II, and six such cars line up this year. Fighting for the top spot will be the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo and 2022’s runner up, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. However, there’s a new competitor this year in the shape of the Ferrari 296 GT3, which replaces the 488 GT3 Evo. It remains to be seen if a Ferrari can take victory at…

PRICE: From £31,000 (est) ON SALE: Autumn THE ZR-V is designed to slot between the compact HR-V and larger CR-V in Honda’s line-up, although it’s closer in size to the second of those two vehicles. The company says that the car will have “the same DNA as the Civic e:HEV”, so it’s fair to say that the ZR-V is, in effect, a crossover version of the popular family hatchback. That should make it a serious rival for the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan, albeit with a more swoopy roofline. Honda has pushed hard to make the ZR-V not look too much like a jacked-up Civic, and on first inspection, it’s succeeded. The front has a relatively small grille and slim headlights, while the flanks have much less…

THE ID.7 estate is not the only new model set to join the ID.7 line-up, because Volkswagen has teased a new GTX performance version of its all-electric saloon. The ID.7 GTX will make its debut at the Munich Motor Show in September, and VW has confirmed that it will use a similar dual-motor set-up to its hottest ID.4 and ID.5 siblings, but expect more than those cars’ 295bhp and 460Nm. The ID.7 GTX will feature gloss-black styling elements, plus VW’s vehicle dynamics manager that controls the powertrain, braking, steering and chassis.…

TOGETHER with its engine supplier Ricardo, McLaren has confirmed it will launch a new hybrid V8 engine that will power the next generation of the British firm’s supercars. McLaren CEO Michael Leiters said: “Our new high-performance, hybrid V8 powertrain will form an integral part of McLaren’s next-generation product line-up, delivering best-in-class performance and thrilling driver engagement.” Ricardo has a long-standing relationship with McLaren and builds the hybrid powertrain in the Artura. That car uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, so scaled up to a V8, it’s likely that the new unit could displace 4.0 litres – the same as the ICE-only unit in the brand’s new 750S model.…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk USED-car sales grew by just over four per cent in the first three months of 2023, following three consecutive quarters of falling figures. However, there’s little sign of high prices easing as more cars change hands. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a total of 1,847,149 used cars were sold in the first quarter of this year, compared with 1,774,351 in the same period in 2022. The SMMT says that growth in the new-car market as post-pandemic production delays unwind has in turn improved the availability of second-hand stock. However, the number of used-car transactions is still almost nine per cent below the levels recorded before the pandemic. Used EV sales over the quarter have increased slightly to 1.4 per cent…

AS well as a new SUV (left), Renault boss Luca de Meo has also confirmed the firm is working on a small EV that could cost less than £20,000. It will be designed to compete with the forthcoming compact electric model from Skoda. Speaking at the Financial Times’ 2023 Future of the Car summit, he said that the new model has the ability to “enable democratisation of EVs that will potentially boost volume”. Such a model is likely to be based on Renault’s CMF-B EV platform and would sit beneath the reimagined R5. However, as with the firm’s petrol-powered CMF-B platform, there could be high and low-spec versions of the set-up available, with the latter being used for the new model to help cut costs.…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Chris Rosamond mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC New MINI Cooper FROM: Paul Carpenter PEOPLE always complain about the MINI getting bigger, but if the sales figures show it’s what customers want, why not? I enjoy classic Minis for what they are, but look forward to the new versions coming out, too. FROM: Anthony Polson EVERY new version of the MINI looks less and less like the Issigonis original. The first BMW MINI, most of whose development was done by Rover, looked great. Each successive version since then has looked worse. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I don’t like the console design and next to nothing in front of you other than a steering…

WITH a full six decades of history to celebrate, Lamborghini’s Polo Storico classic division laid on a treat, with a line-up of ground-breaking models from the firm’s back catalogue for us to drool over. COUNTACH ARGUABLY the most well known Lamborghini of them all is the Countach – the poster car for many children (and probably adults) for two decades. Its long lifespan meant that it spawned plenty of variations to keep it fresh against anything Ferrari and other rivals could throw at it. Power from its V12 engine ranged from 375bhp in the early cars to as much as 449bhp in the final versions. 400 GT MANY think Lamborghini is perhaps the most dramatic car company of all time, but its first offering, the 350 GT, was more of…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram PUBLIC perception is an interesting thing. Here in Europe, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is viewed as something of an also-ran. It’s priced on par with premium rivals such as the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, yet rarely considered in the same sentence. But in the States, the big Jeep outsells its German competitors several times over. It’s an important global car for the brand – just one that has never won favour over here. In a bid to rectify that, Jeep has raised its game. As well as featuring a more luxurious interior and more tech, the new model keeps the old car’s prodigious off-road ability, and adds a hybrid option. This will be the only powertrain available in the UK – complying with Jeep’s push for low-emission…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @Matt_201 MG is one of the most-loved British car brands, enjoying legions of fans the world over, thanks to a rich history stretching back to the 1920s. With MG celebrating its centenary this year, we’re looking at the marque’s past, its present in producing great-value EVs such as the MG4, and the future, which promises pure electric thrills via the striking Cyberster. Our first instalment of a two-part special (keep your eyes peeled for the second part in September) features a deep dive into the MG Cyberster’s design, including a comparison with the iconic MGB, one of the most famous models from the company’s 100-year history. We’ll also be exploring where MG is right now with its commercial director, and visiting two UK-based facilities that play a crucial role…

WINNER Tesla Model Y THE Model Y Performance is an example of Tesla at its very best. We almost take class-leading speed and efficiency for granted from the brand now, but this range-topping SUV offers a level of chassis sophistication that we rarely see – especially in lower-spec Model Ys. It’s still far from perfect – build quality and ergonomic issues remain, and the steering is devoid of feedback – but it’s an impressive package. Throw in the relative value for money, and it’s an incredibly hard car to pass over. 1st INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information RUNNER UP Lexus RZ FOR Lexus owners looking to make the switch to electric motoring, the RZ…

DS 4 PHEV NOW our DS 4 PHEV is spending more time on the South Coast, picture editor Dawn Grant has found accessing suitable chargers a lot harder than in London. She doesn’t have a home charger in the capital, but knows where the local fast chargers are from her time with the Lexus UX300e that she ran just over a year ago. Some new chargers have been installed at a car park close to her home, but they are useless for the DS 4 because the cables don’t fit. Dawn had some luck over the bank holiday weekend, though. After only adding 12 miles in nearly two hours on the Saturday, she discovered some new 22kW Mer chargers had been fitted at Hengistbury Head, a favourite walking spot. Returning…

Whether you’re off on holiday, carrying kayaks or taking a tatty table to the tip, the sky’s the limit on your car’s carrying capacity with roof bars. A good pair will let you attach almost anything safely and securely. Some will use mountings that affix to existing rails, as often found on estates and SUVs. Other cars will have clamps that fix around the door openings to create a stable footing. In our latest test we tried the rail-less fixings on a 2017 Nissan Qashqai, checking how easily the bars could be fitted and removed. We also assessed the security and other features, and awarded extra marks for lightweight construction. Once on the move, we expected wind whistle to be kept to a minimum at motorway speeds. The amount you…

SAVING the environment while saving cash is a great combination, and it’s easy with a 12V tyre inflator. Instead of going to a forecourt, you can check and top up your pressures when you want. And with tyres at the maker’s settings, your car will brake and corner as it should, while the tyres will wear evenly and won’t need replacing prematurely. We focused on 12V inflators, which are a little more bulky than their cordless counterparts, but won’t run out of volts at a critical time and are usually easier on the wallet. We timed how long each unit took to inflate a 15-inch tyre from 20-30psi, plus adding 5psi to a space-saver tyre to take it up to 60psi. We logged the noise levels, gauge accuracy, hose and…

AS sales of SUVs continue to grow, there’s no doubting the importance of tyres for these heavyweights, but producers have yet to make up their minds about just what they need. Some tyre makers have produced bespoke designs aimed at SUVs, while other companies have delivered revised variations of their current range with suitable weight ratings. We wanted to find out which had the best approach for dealing with these high-riding heavyweights and their increased load transfer when braking and cornering. So we headed to Bridgestone’s Aprilia proving ground in Italy to test seven brands in the popular 235/55R18 size. The tests were the same as usual, covering braking in the wet and dry, plus how each dealt with deep water in a straight line and cornering. We also took…

LAST Step Protection, Last Stage Product and various permutations on that theme can all be found online, but what we are talking about here is an LSP and picking the right one for you is one of the more difficult car care choices to make. Whatever you use, there’s a good chance it will be the most expensive car-care product you buy and often the most time-consuming to apply. It is also there to preserve all the work you have already done to clean and prepare the paint, so you need it to work. But which is the one for you? We focus here on non-ceramic options – turn to page 89 if you’re after ceramics – and applied each to the maker’s requirements on a prepared bonnet, which was…

WITH your rims gleaming after attention from a top wheel cleaner (opposite), you need to focus on the tyres. A thorough clean with a mitt and shampoo should remove the grime, and a brush can help if there are still stubborn marks, but to restore that new-tyre look, you need a specialist coating. There are several types on the market, from those that need little more than spraying on, to others that need to be put on with an applicator. But whatever your preference, you want something to preserve that as-new look for as long as possible. This year, we revised our test and split the assessments between two tyres: one on a pick-up that covered several hundred miles during the (longer than usual) 12-week test and the other on…

IT is sometimes hard to know what producers mean by a colour restorer. For some it’s a polish, while for others it’s a more aggressive compound that’s designed to tackle deeper damage. It is perhaps helpful to think of them as a shine restorer. It’s a mix that removes the swirls and light marks caused by pro car washes where speed is the key, or those owners whose grime removal is not quite as careful as it might be. So these are swirl removers, which are a step up from a polish but not as abrasive as a scratch remover. To find our favourite, we revised our test to focus on what they are designed to do: improve the finish and shine. We sectioned off a scrapyard bonnet that had…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk OWNERS really like the styling and quality of the C-HR, judging by the response to our 2022 survey, where it finishes in a creditable eighth place. They think it’s great to drive, too, with third place for the steering responsiveness, and the ride ending up in second. The Toyota’s hybrid powertrain is also praised for both its performance and frugality. There are a few aspects of C-HR ownership that drag the scores down enough to keep it out of the top five, however. The car’s unusual styling is liked by owners, but seems to restrict visibility, because this is ranked 45th overall. The luggage capacity, shortage of interior storage spaces and built-in sat nav system also came in for a degree of criticism. WE SAID “While the looks are…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Formula One heads to Imola ● Verstappen favourite for victory REIGNING Formula One champion Max Verstappen silenced his critics last time out at the Miami Grand Prix by slicing through the field to pick up his third grand prix win of the season. It helped extend his lead over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by 14 points, despite the Mexican starting on pole and with Verstappen ninth on the grid. F1 now heads to northern Italy for 63 laps of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which is held at the famous Imola circuit. However, even the most hopeful Ferrari fan won’t be expecting a home win, but in qualifying so far the cars have looked quick at least. Since Imola returned to the calendar in 2020, Lewis…

STILL agonising over whether your next car should be new or used, bought or leased, petrol, diesel, LPG, hybrid, electric or hydrogen powered? Then good on you. Like never before, research all the standing and running charges, tax, insurance, depreciation and other often forgotten costs. Don’t apologise for delaying. Instead, congratulate yourself for exercising extreme caution in this uncertain period. Genuinely, it’s an era when cars, motoring, the price of driving, and the future and liberty of drivers and their passengers have more question marks over them than at any time in living memory. Yet some motorists still choose vehicles that are wrong for their financial health; wrong for the roads and conditions they experience daily; wrong in the eyes of money-grabbing politicians keen to financially shaft them for alleged…