Table of contents for 1801 in Auto Express

WHETHER it’s inappropriate 20mph speed limits, bus lanes, or cuts to road-repair budgets, it’s all happened on the Tory watch. Yet now, after 13 years of government characterised by the creeping implementation of anti-car measures across the UK, the party says it’s the new driver’s champion. Seriously? Perhaps they take us for mugs, or perhaps Rishi Sunak really is a new broom, but you’ll forgive our scepticism over politicians’ glib promises. Still, the Plan for Drivers does put the spotlight on Sunak’s rivals in the Labour party, and how it may respond to this naked bid for votes. The pressure’s also on the Tories to prove they mean business before the next election. Fifty million UK drivers will be watching. “The pressure’s on the Tories to prove they mean business…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk @JordanKatsianis ● Macan will be all electric ● Base and Turbo at launch PORSCHE has made the audacious decision to replace its popular Macan SUV with an electric-only model – and we are among the first outside the company to try it, a few months ahead of its official reveal. Some technical details first. The Macan is the brand’s first car on a new architecture, which has been co-developed with Audi. Called PPE, this platform will also feature under the new Q6 e-tron – yet Porsche is adamant it had the freedom to tailor virtually every element to its own needs and requirements, splitting from Audi early on in the development process. The platform supports single and dual-motor powertrains, but Porsche will offer the latter only, with a 100kWh…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Valkyrie will compete in 2025 Hypercar Class ● Full WEC and IMSA seasons on cards, too AFTER a few years of uncertainty, Aston Martin has announced that plans for the Valkyrie to go racing are back on. Specifically, at Le Mans 2025. Boss Lawrence Stroll said of the decision to renew the programme: “Performance is the lifeblood of everything that we do at Aston Martin, and motorsport is the ultimate expression of this pursuit of excellence.” The marque certainly has plenty of history at Le Mans, taking outright victory in 1959 and a further 19 class wins – coming first in the LMGTE Pro class as recently as 2020. The Valkyrie, however, will be on the top step of endurance racing in the Hypercar Class. The race…

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Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Electric motor Power/range 156bhp/255 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.8 seconds/106mph THIS is the new Peugeot E-308, the all-electric version of the brand’s stylish family hatchback. It’s the French maker’s answer to the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech, but it also has to stand its ground against the bargain MG4. It has a competitor much closer to home, too; the Vauxhall Astra Electric has recently joined the growing range of EV hatches, but under the skin the pair are closely related. Both use the Stellantis eVMP architecture – a structure adapted from the existing 308 platform to accommodate full battery-powered vehicles – and both share motor and battery configurations. That means the E-308 has a 54kWh battery that Peugeot claims is good for a range of up to…

SAME CLASS BMW i4 WHEN an electric car has been adapted from an existing internal combustion-engined platform, it’s not uncommon to find some compromises. But in the case of the BMW i4, it’s difficult to find many downsides at all. Here is an EV that can cover up to 365 miles on a charge, yet feels no less sharp to drive than a standard petrol-powered 4 Series Gran Coupé. The i4 rides better than any of its rivals, but while its straight-line performance isn’t quite on a par with the Model 3’s, a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds still has the measure of the Polestar 2. Interior design, quality and tech are all class-leading, too. ● Ride and handling ● Great range ● Interior design and quality ● Pricier than…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram SOME manufacturers like to celebrate their heritage, while others turn their backs on the past, burying previous models without a trace. Ostensibly, MG is a century-old brand with an illustrious history of making good-value sports cars – but if you look at its current range, the connections aren’t all that clear. Or are they? Wanting to delve a little deeper, I took a trip to visit the MG100 centenary celebrations at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire to compare our MG4 with models dating back to the 1920s. The event, organised by the MG Owners’ Club, saw 434 cars congregate outside the museum for fans of the brand to gawp at all afternoon. From the moment I pulled in, I felt like a sore thumb. Expecting a…

Get comfortable with latest massage seats VOLKSWAGEN’S latest-generation seats step things up with massage functions that can now activate muscle groups in the spine and pelvic area. The ergoActive premium seats will be available on the new all-electric ID.7. Ensuring good support and alignment, they were developed with the German Campaign for Healthier Backs. In addition to the 10-cushion massage programme, there’s also automatic air-conditioning to help keep the driver fresh and alert. The new seats will be optional when the ID.7 launches towards the end of 2023. Ask your dealer for info. Parts programme boosts eBay service EBAY’S new Assured Fit programme ensures customers buy the right parts for their car. Motorists using the MyGarage function now have a free and easy returns procedure, and a 30-day money-back guarantee…

IF you’ve bought an electric car and are charging it at home, switching your energy tariff could save you hundreds of pounds every year. Suppliers will be keen to have you as a customer – especially since you’re likely to do most of your charging overnight, when the demand on the grid is lowest and the wholesale price of power is cheap. That means most of the major suppliers offer a special EV tariff featuring an off-peak price per unit of electricity, which will be a fraction of the cost at busy times. Since the previous Auto Express tariff test back in 2021 there has been turmoil in the energy market and prices for power have risen steeply, but this means the off-peak savings now available are even more dramatic.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Second-generation SUV reveals new tech and engine line-up ● Petrol, diesel and plug-in powertrains, five and seven-seat options THE Skoda Kodiaq is such a well established model that it’s easy to forget it was only launched in 2016. Since then, the big SUV has bagged over 40 international awards and racked up more than 840,000 sales. Now Skoda hopes to give the Kodiaq fresh impetus and attract new customers with a second-generation model, due in UK dealers in mid-2024. It’s clear from the first glimpse at the Kodiaq that Skoda has taken an evolutionary approach to the design – as is often the case with the Czech brand’s best-known models. At 4,758mm long, the new car is stretched slightly (61mm) compared with the outgoing Kodiaq, but the…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives ● Smallest coupé-SUV shares X1’s running gear, including EV set-up ● Up to 279 miles of range for iX2, while M35i offers 296bhp THE original BMW X2 was launched in 2018 as a sportier, sharper-looking counterpart to the contemporary X1 SUV. However, the new second-generation X2 has received the full coupé-SUV treatment, with a sloping roofline and aggressive looks that pull it closer in concept to the brand’s larger X4 and X6 models. At 4,554mm long, the latest X2 is 194mm longer than its predecessor, while its wheelbase has been stretched to 2,692mm – up 22mm on before. It’s now a bigger car all round, with its overall width increasing to 1,845mm (up 21mm), and standing 1,590mm tall (a rise of 64mm). Based on the current X1, which…

Qashqai tops charts for 73-plate change SEPTEMBER was another strong month for new-car registrations. The Nissan Qashqai (above) pipped the Ford Puma to first place, with overall figures up 20 per cent year-on-year – according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Electric vehicle (EV) sales accounted for 16.6 per cent of the market, driven by strong fleet sales. Petrol remains the most popular fuel type, however, accounting for 38.7 per cent of all regs. Brit-born boss takes the reins at Rolls ROLLS-ROYCE is to have a British boss again, after the luxury maker confirmed Chris Brownridge is to move from his role as CEO of BMW UK to replace retiring Torsten Muller-Otvos. Brownridge will start on 1 December, saying he was “honoured and humbled” by…

Smoother journeys THE Government says drivers are “justifiably irritated” by traffic not flowing as smoothly as it ought to, and that many issues could be solved relatively quickly. Its measures on bus lanes include guidance to make sure they help rather than hinder traffic congestion, smarter road closures with more ‘lane rental schemes’ that incentivise faster road repairs, improved traffic lights and management systems to help traffic flow and balance congestion in city centres. Stopping unfair enforcement HERE the Government says it will produce guidance to help prevent the imposition of blanket 20mph speed limits by councils. It will also act to prevent councils introducing so-called ‘15-minute cities’, which it says are an attempt to “police peoples’ lives”. There’ll also be new guidance issued on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods focusing on…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC High cost of first cars FROM: Jon Edwards How many first cars cost £6.6k? You would be absolutely nuts to pay that much (as it’s an average, it means way higher-priced cars as well) for something that is highly likely to get bumped and kerbed. FROM: Steve Hudson My eldest daughter’s first car in 2017 cost me £600; now that same model is north of £1,200. Currently trying to source a car for my youngest daughter, I reckon I’ll end up at around £2,500-3,500 for a reasonable 10-14-year-old vehicle. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ◼ “And the waiting list for a driving test is far too long, meaning more lessons required and more expense.” Martin Hedley ◼ “My first car was £600, and it was great.…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.1 seconds/87mph Running costs 282.5mpg (official) £77 fill-up CO2/tax 21g/km £170 or 8% MAZDA has produced nearly two million rotary engines since the Cosmo coupé from 1967, and the tech is a huge part of the Japanese brand’s identity. Yet a decade has passed since the last rotary Mazda was made, with the RX-8 bowing out in 2012. The new MX-30 R-EV marks a return of the iconic powertrain, but is this latest arrival cause for celebration among fans of the Wankel engine? The short answer is, no. If you’re looking for a car that screams to the redline and gulps down fuel like the old RX-8 did, the MX-30 R-EV is not for you. In fact, it’s the very antithesis of this. But choosing…

WITH an updated Model 3 arriving soon, Tesla is keen to offload existing stock, and a zero per cent finance rate means it’s cheaper than ever. Place a £5,000 deposit on a three-year PCP finance deal with a 10,000-mile annual limit, and you’ll be paying from £626 a month. The Polestar 2 costs from £781 on matching terms. The Polestar regains some ground when it comes to insurance – the Model 3’s representative quote was more than double that of the 2 – but the more efficient Tesla costs £791 per 10,000 miles to recharge at a unit cost of 34p per kilowatt hour, which is £153 less than its rival. Neither car is subject to VED bills, while the Polestar gets three years’ servicing included. Given that Tesla recommends…

“THIS is an exciting time for Polestar, with the revised 2 just the tip of the iceberg in the Swedish brand’s line-up explosion. Next up will be the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron-rivalling Polestar 3 SUV, with the smaller 4 SUV and dramatic 5 four-door coupé, coming after.” “THERE’S another car to watch in this flourishing segment, and it comes from Chinese newcomer BYD. The Atto 3 and Dolphin have already impressed us hugely, but the Seal is its most grown-up offering yet. It looks sharp, drives well and feels like a premium product inside.” “BOTH Polestar and Tesla offer even quicker models in the range. The Model 3 Performance has a 0-62mph time of 3.1 seconds, while the Polestar 2 Performance Pack adds some very trick Ohlins adjustable…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk THIS is one of the most common questions we receive because the wide range of options and the steady stream of new products hitting the market make the choice tricky for drivers wanting the protection of a dash cam. The one you pick will depend largely on what you want to keep tabs on and your budget. They might be called dash cams, but that’s not where they are fitted – in fact they are designed to go close to or behind the rear-view mirror. So your first step should be to check your car’s mirror and see where there’s any shading on the screen, because this may affect your choice, particularly if you don’t like screen clutter. You should also consider hardwiring the cam to…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk TOP-10 scores for value, reliability and the exterior of the Mazda CX-5 reflect the esteem in which owners hold their cars. They especially love its styling and high-quality feel, which are ranked 11th and fourth respectively. Interior quality is 12th, with front-seat comfort eighth, while owners rate their cars as the 13th most pleasurable to drive. Overall quality ranks in 10th place, and reliability fifth, but there are lower scores of 55th and 48th for the CX-5’s acceleration and engine sound. Economy is a decent 20th, but servicing costs languish in 42nd place. The infotainment rankings are all in the top third of the survey, apart from a 43rd place that suggests the controls could be more user-friendly. WE SAID “With punchy and efficient engines, plus an upmarket interior…

Find out how much your car is worth right now or check the price of a car you’re looking to buy The new Auto Express free car valuation tool will give you an accurate price based on the latest UK car market data, fast. WHY VALUE YOUR CAR WITH AUTO EXPRESS? EASY, FAST & FREE Input a car registration number, add a few other details, then click through to your valuation. FOR BUYERS & SELLERS Get relevant part exchange, private sale or dealer forecourt prices, depending on your buying or selling status. A PRICE YOU CAN TRUST Prices are updated live from the latest UK car market data for a true guide to any car’s value right now. ENTER YOUR REGISTRATION NOW! Scan with your smartphone to receive an instant…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “Many car makers and franchised dealers are, not before time, being forced to admit that their list prices are too high” WE’RE only a couple of weeks into the final quarter of 2023, but it’s a case of so far, so good. True, at the minute there’s more talk than action from our ruling politicians and leading vehicle manufacturers. But maybe, just maybe, the tide is turning and Britain’s 50 million car drivers and passengers are finally to receive the recognition and long-overdue fairer deal they richly deserve. Despite motoring being massively more popular than public transport or cycling, words such as ‘cars’, ‘roads’ and ‘motorists’ have long been almost absent from the vocabularies of countless UK Transport Secretaries who’ve instead been…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk A RAFT of new Government measures have been announced that Transport secretary Mark Harper says will support drivers’ freedom to use their cars and clamp down on over-zealous enforcement measures by local authorities. Harper says the ‘30-point plan’ will see drivers benefit from smoother journeys, by fixing many issues they commonly face. After 13 years in power, the Government says it wants to “back people who use cars in their daily lives”, and the measures come hot on the heels of Rishi Sunak’s recent decision to postpone the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales to 2035. According to the Department for Transport, the new strategy includes measures that could help councils increase spending on road repairs and potholes by £100million-plus over 10 years. The government will also…

Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau 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 makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

CITROEN has announced You!, Plus and Max trims across its car portfolio. The simplified specs feature on almost every model, and should reduce delivery times. The firm’s website has also been tweaked to be easier to use. The C3 supermini keeps its low start price of £13,995 in You! form. The C3 Aircross (from £17,470), C4 (£19,495), C4 X and C5 X (£28,195) also now come with the choice of trims, although the e-C4 and e-C4 X mix things up with You!, Max and flagship e-Series. Even base cars get Advanced Comfort Suspension and a 10-inch screen. Finally, the C5 Aircross (£23,170) comes in Plus, Max and e-Series trim levels; You! isn’t an option on the big SUV. All models are on sale now.…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy “For something this tall and heavy, the Porsche Cayenne has a surprising amount of agility” WE’RE used to cars getting facelifts – a nip and a tuck, the latest headlights, reprofiled bumpers, a couple of different colours and some new interior trim, perhaps. But that’s not quite the case with the Porsche Cayenne, which has recently been overhauled in a bid to extend its life through to the end of this decade – by which point it will be sold alongside a pure-electric version. Here, then, is the updated version – and in its most affordable form. This is the model whose mark-up and options list has underpinned much of Porsche’s astonishing financial results over the past 20 years. A car simply called the Cayenne (no ‘S’ or…

WINNER 1st Tesla Model 3 EVEN with a looming replacement, the outgoing Model 3 remains one of the outstanding options in this segment. A superb mix of performance and efficiency is one of its stand-out qualities, while the convenience of the Supercharger network remains an irresistible draw. The in-car tech takes some getting used to, but it looks great and is clever, and the rest of the cabin is is impressively spacious. Impending updates have the potential to make the Model 3 almost untouchable in this class. INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information ● Rapid acceleration ● Excellent efficiency ● Supercharger network ● Spacious cabin ● Artificial steering feel ● Patchy build quality ● Tiny boot opening ● Too few physical switches RUNNER-UP 2nd Polestar 2 THE changes to…

SAME MONEY Mercedes EQE IF long-distance cruising is a priority, then the Mercedes EQE needs to be near the top of any shopping list. A 96kWh battery and a slippery body combine for a 376-mile range in the EQE 300 AMG Line Premium, an example of which we found with fewer than 10,000 miles on the clock for just over £50,000. It’s quiet and comfortable, too. On the downside, the cabin doesn’t feel as special as we’d expect from a Mercedes. ● Interior space ● Mix of performance and range ● Patchy build quality ● Numb handling SAME MONEY Tesla Model S WHILE a glut of long-range EVs has popped up over the last couple of years, the Model S has been providing long-distance electric driving for more than a…

“You would have to be driving like a fool to cause an accident” IT’S safety first, second and third with Lexus. After three months behind the wheel of our all-electric RZ long-termer, I still can’t answer the £74,000 question: should I switch the tech on or off? To be clear, the RZ is probably the safest car I’ve ever driven. It has so many clever features and alerts, you would have to be driving like a fool to cause an accident (or perhaps have switched it all off). There is such an abundance of icons that they don’t even fit on one screen of the 14-inch infotainment system. The RZ has all the usual bells and whistles you might expect on a premium SUV: blind-spot monitor, lane-departure alerts, a pre-collision…

Alfa Romeo Tonale Issue 1,796 Audi TT Issue 1,797 BMW iX New arrival BMW X1 Iss 1,772, 1,781, 1,789, 1,795 BYD Atto 3 Issues 1,789, 1,798 Citroen C4 X New arrival Cupra Formentor Issues 1,792, 1,799 Dacia Duster Issues 1,794, 1,800 Lexus RZ Issues 1,791, 1,795 Mazda CX-60 Iss 1,758, 1,764, 1,779, 1,792 MG4 Issues 1,788, 1,793 Peugeot 408 Issue 1,796 Range Rover Iss 1,774, 1,782, 1,791, 1,800 Skoda Karoq Issues 1,781, 1,790, 1,799 Toyota Corolla Issues 1,788, 1,797 VW ID.3 New arrival…

Goldie John Mayhead (National Motor Museum Publishing, nationalmotormuseum.org.uk) Price: £20 Rating: THE first book from the National Motor Museum’s new publishing house, Goldie is the tale of sportsman and army captain-turned-speed-record-setter, Alfred Goldie Gardner. It’s a compelling read, presented more like a novel than a history book. Interspersed with period imagery, engagingly written and bound to resonate with any fan of such sporting endeavours. Royal and Ceremonial Land Rovers James Taylor (Amberley Publishing, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: COUNTLESS vehicles and a royal warrant cement our first family’s love for Land Rovers. This little book details their history, from George VI’s Series 1s right up to today’s Range Rovers. It doesn’t have the very latest models, but there are some interesting tidbits in here for fans of JLR, the royal family,…

CO2/tax 125-151g/km £170-£180 Running costs 40-51mpg (B 200 auto) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.2 seconds/139mph IT’S a fact of life that there will always be cars that are perfectly good at what they do – perhaps even impressive in some ways – yet they still fly below the radar for most consumers. Take the Mercedes B-Class as an example. The first edition arrived back in 2005, and by the time its successor went on sale seven years later, the B-Class was still a car that many buyers knew nothing about. Five years since the Mk3 was unveiled, it’s fair to say that even now, in a bewilderingly wide model line-up, it still isn’t uppermost in people’s minds. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on your used-buy shortlist, because…

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