Table of contents for 1810/1811 in Auto Express

IN our annual Christmas Special, where we look back on what the past 12 months have brought us car fans, I thought I’d reflect on the car maker that – in my view – has had the best year of the lot. It does seem to be the awards season, so I’ll don my tuxedo and announce my car brand of 2023 as… Kia. Whether it’s the affordable Picanto or the brand’s brilliant new range topper, the EV9 (described by John McIlroy on page 32 as ‘the best Kia ever’ – and he doesn’t give praise lightly!), Kia is making cars that tick the right boxes for a wide variety of car buyers. And it shows. Towards the end of November, Kia UK smashed through the 100,000-sales mark and surpassed…

McLAREN’s most comfort-orientated model has been refreshed for 2024, with its name changing from GT to GTS. Styling changes are limited to a new front bumper and trim, plus fresh wheel designs. But new colours and materials inside have been introduced. The two-seat, mid-engined layout remains, with a central carbon-fibre tub-style chassis and two aluminium subframes, one for the front suspension and the other the engine, transmission and rear suspension. McLaren has uprated the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 motor to produce an extra 15bhp (now 626bhp), with peak torque of 630Nm. The engine is linked to a seven-speed transmission that powers the rear wheels, while double-wishbone suspension is fitted as standard with McLaren’s Proactive Damper Control system. There’s a set of carbon-ceramic brakes and overall, the 1,520kg GTS is 15kg lighter…

ORDER books for the electric Renault Scenic E-Tech are now open, with prices from £40,995. This means the new car will undercut the Tesla Model Y, which is priced from a whisker below £45k. Every Scenic gets a single 217bhp electric motor and an 87kWh battery that gives an official range of up to 379 miles – roughly 40 miles further than any Model Y can cover on a charge. There are three trim levels for the Scenic – Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic – and all get 19-inch wheels, LED lights, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, and twin 12-inch screens, plus safety and assistance features such as a reversing camera and active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. For an extra £2,500, Esprit Alpine gives…

THE Minor Traveller was a natural fit in the Minor range; the van version had already been launched, and Morris already offered the bigger Oxford MO in load-lugging form. Inspired by the woodies that were so popular in the US at the time, the Traveller was the same as the saloon ahead of the B-pillar, but behind the doors was all-new bodywork, including an ash frame that gave the car its strength. Priced at £442 when it was introduced in autumn 1953, the Traveller proved to be another hit for Morris, which would offer the same car for the next 18 years, with relatively few changes. TERRY JOHNSON’S Minor Traveller is one of the last made, and while it’s not completely standard, that eye-popping blue paint is the original hue…

ACROSS the UK in the sixties, towns and villages were teeming with panda cars such as Mike Sharp’s, which was first registered to Devon & Cornwall Police in June 1968. He and his daughter Lynda bought the car 20 years ago, thinking that it just needed a bit of light work. But it had been badly bodged and needed a complete restoration; now the car is in better shape than when it rolled out of Morris’s Cowley factory. MIKE SAYS: “When we bought our Minor it wasn’t presented as a police car, but we knew that it started out as one, so we tracked down the uniforms, a two-way radio and the roof-mounted light box. “We also had it restored as a panda car and now it gets lots of…

“In many respects the Fiat 500 has transcended motoring to become a fashion accessory” 2023 was the year when pink took over the world, thanks to the incredible success of the Barbie movie. Warner Bros’ highest-grossing film ever struck a chord with billions of people as a joyous celebration of female empowerment. But in the motor industry, polarising pink is often treated with suspicion – with good reason. Here are eight cars that went pink with decidedly mixed results. Fiat 500 IMAGINE, for a moment, that ITV’s legendary game show Family Fortunes had asked 100 people to name a pink production car. It’s a fair bet the Fiat 500 would feature highly in the answers, given how fastidiously the Italian brand has launched a string of special editions and personalisation…

Price £185,000 Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 Transmission Eight-speed auto, RWD Power 671bhp Torque 800Nm 0-62mph 3.6 sec Top speed 202mph Fuel economy 12.2mpg CO2 emissions 276g/km Test weight 1,788kg IT’S impossible not to be inspired by the DB12. Parked up on a cold autumnal morning, in the aftermath of a night full of wind and swirling rain, the first Aston Martin under Lawrence Stroll’s stewardship is not only the most significant model in the company’s history post its near-suicidal IPO. It is also the first opportunity to show that one of Britain’s (if not the world’s), most iconic marques is back up and running, ready to prove doubters wrong, and build what it needs to establish itself as a significant player in the ultra-luxury car world. Styling – and the…

Price £232,820 Engine 5.2-litre V10 Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, 4WD Power 602bhp Torque 560Nm 0-62mph 3.4sec Top speed 162mph Fuel economy 16mpg CO2 emissions 337g/km Test weight 1,470kg IS it a supercar or an off-roader? A trinket for the ultimate collector, or a serious performance machine? How much persuasion did Lamborghini’s management require to sign it off? Actually, we know the answer to that last one, because this Huracán was the first car returning CEO Stephan Winkelmann gave the green light to when presented with a line-up of future Lamborghini models. The others? Well, that’s what PCOTY is for. And we discovered that there’s so much to enjoy about the Sterrato, from the way it makes you smile at the craziness of it all, to how it stops everyone in…

Porsche 911 Carrera T Price £105,700 Engine 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbo petrol Transmission Seven-speed manual, RWD Power 380bhp Torque 450Nm 0-62mph 4.5sec Top speed 181mph Fuel economy 24.7mpg CO2 emissions 234g/km Test weight 1,470kg IN any other year, Porsche’s 911 Carrera T would have had its elbows out and been pushing for the top spot, such is its ability to enthral and thrill like the very best 911s and sports cars always have. There are a number of reasons the Carrera T appeals, and much of this is down to its ‘less is more’ approach. Rather than having the kitchen sink thrown at it, the T follows a more basic recipe and is all the better for it. It pairs the Carrera’s 380bhp flat-six engine with the seven-speed manual gearbox that…

“The M2 was mighty; the car’s ability to change direction at speed and hang on through corners was exceptional” BMW M2 Coupé launch ISSUE 1,774 IT feels like it’s been significant year of transition for EVs, with gains in costs and range, albeit with a continued focus on SUVs. But while I still can, I nominate a good old-fashioned thrash in a six-cylinder sports car as my top moment of 2023. Truth be told, the first day on the launch of the BMW M2 in Arizona wasn’t stellar; we’d been forced to drive the (decidedly average) XM, and when the time did come to get behind the wheel of the baby coupé, I found the manual gearbox a little clunky. Would there be the faintest chance of snatching an auto…

Famous Ford badges set for reinvention on EVs FORD has shown it’s not scared of taking an iconic name like Mustang and putting it on to the back of an all-electric SUV. It’ll soon do the same with Puma and, while it’s not as much of a departure, Explorer too. The latter car is the result of a partnership between Ford and Volkswagen; VW can use commercial-vehicle platforms like the new Ranger’s, and Ford gains access to VW’s all-electric MEB platform – which underpins the Explorer EV. Since its unveiling back in March, however, production of the Explorer has run into a brick wall due to incoming UN regulations over battery safety. Customers can expect their new cars to reach them by summer 2024, by which time we hope to…

“The EX30 was launched with a range of powertrains” Volvo’s sub-£34k EX30 crossover breaks cover AUTO Express was first to break the news of a baby all-electric Volvo a few years ago – and we were also in the room this summer when the Swedish manufacturer’s boss Jim Rowan unveiled the car. Called EX30, the pint-sized crossover is smaller than pretty much all of the established rivals from premium brands, such as BMW’s iX1, Audi’s Q4 e-tron and even the Lexus UX300e. From the moment the covers were removed, the new Volvo looked like a classic ‘bridging vehicle’ between conventional hatchbacks and chunky SUVs – ideal, we reckoned, for the urban environment where it would probably spend most of its time. Based on a platform developed by Volvo’s owner, Chinese…

MINI takes limelight in Munich WHAT better way to start the month than with some shiny new metal, although this year’s Munich Motor Show seemed to focus on electric vehicles and future technology specifically. The fifth generation of the beloved MINI Cooper took centre stage, flaunting a smart new look that’s based on “charismatic simplicity”, according to the brand’s head of design. Meanwhile its fresh interior is centred around an ultra-slim 9.4-inch OLED screen that can be transformed by the different ‘MINI Experience Modes’ on offer. Like before, Britain’s bundle of joy will be available with either petrol or all-electric power – the latter set to offer up to 250 miles of range – but it will only be available as a three-door model. For those who need something a…

REGRET is a dangerous thing. Normally we’re pretty optimistic here, so while a car purchase can go awry, there’s always scope for the next one to be better. But everyone has a car that they’ve never quite managed to buy, an itch they haven’t scratched. In many cases, the price has since soared beyond reach, but that doesn’t mean they’re forgotten. These really are the cars we wish we’d bought. “Everyone has a car they’ve never quite managed to buy, but have never forgotten” Audi RS 4 B5 (1999-2001) MY addition to our remorseful list is Audi’s B5-generation RS 4 Avant. This high-performance estate wasn’t the first, most aggressive or most powerful in its lineage, but it might be the most interesting. These are almost non-existent in my native Australia,…

PAVEMENT parking in Scotland is now liable to net drivers a £100 fine, as new Transport Scotland Act rules come into force. The law sees pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs all designated as offences punishable by local councils, with the fine reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. Exemptions may be designated by local authorities; otherwise the rules apply everywhere in Scotland. According to the Scottish Government, the change to the rules will benefit pavement users pushing baby buggies, and those with mobility issues or visual impairments. It may also have an effect on car ownership in urban areas if drivers find their usual parking spots are no longer viable and are forced to give them up. That outcome has not been stated explicitly, but…

VOLKSWAGEN has given us our first official look at the forthcoming ID.2 SUV (right), which will be previewed by an upcoming concept car called the ID.2all SUV soon. Back in September, VW announced a supermini-sized concept EV, the ID.2all. As the name suggests, this ID.2all SUV will act as a higher-riding, crossover alternative to that car, arriving in 2026. The ID.2all SUV will be the third all-electric ID-badged SUV in the maker’s line-up, following the ID.4 and ID.5, which have been on sale for some time. As for this shadowy teaser picture of the ID.2 SUV, it shows the concept’s profile is closely aligned to the ID.2all supermini’s, with short overhangs and pronounced wheelarches for a squat stance. Although we can’t see from this angle, the thin LED headlights are…

TOYOTA has revealed its first-ever electrified Hilux, and has confirmed the truck will come to Europe in 2024. Power comes from a 48V mild-hybrid set-up, meaning the vehicle won’t drive on electric power alone. The existing pick-up’s 2.8-litre diesel engine is linked to a belt-driven motor generator, which charges a battery that is located under the rear seats. Toyota says the system will “enhance acceleration, power and efficiency”. The Japanese manufacturer claims this hybrid version improves on the normal Hilux in other ways too, with better braking performance and a smoother ride. The stop-start system allows the engine to remain off for longer periods when coasting, which reduces motor noise and can boost fuel economy by up to five per cent. There’s also a quicker throttle response from standstill, Toyota…

THE British motor industry had a huge year in 1948. It was 75 years ago that Land Rover was born, Jaguar launched its XK120, Colin Chapman (of Lotus fame) built his first car, and Morris introduced the Minor. Across the Channel, Citroen pulled the wraps off the 2CV, while Porsche launched its first model, the 356. All of those cars have endured, but for a certain band of enthusiasts it’s the Minor that’s king. The first British car to sell more than a million, the Minor is a classic, thanks largely to a thriving owners’ club and specialists, who can provide pretty much anything to keep a Moggy ticking over. In 1943 Alec Issigonis started producing drawings for an innovative post-war family car, but he didn’t get the brief to…

THE word ‘stalwart’ was made for Sandy Hamilton, who has a 15-strong addiction to Morris Minors. That’s not how many he has owned by the way – it’s how many he currently has, including many early examples. He’s a leading light of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club (mmoc.org.uk), and it all started in 1953 when Sandy’s father bought a new Minor saloon, which was kept until 1969. By then Sandy and his wife Rosie had bought their first Minor, but it was only in 1989 that they joined the MMOC, which had burst onto the scene 11 years earlier. SANDY COMMENTS: “In 1989 I had a stressful job and wanted something that offered me some escape. I found a 1953 Minor saloon, built just two days after my dad’s 1953…

“The chassis irons out imperfections in the road with real composure” WE’VE been huge fans of the Skoda Enyaq ever since it launched. We regard the Czech brand’s first bespoke electric car not only among the best in its class, but also as one of our favourite EVs full stop. Of course, competition is fierce, so to make sure the Enyaq stays in fighting shape against the likes of the Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y, Skoda has introduced some upgrades for 2024. Starting with a look inside the cabin, it’s clear that Skoda has listened to criticism because it has cleaned up the previously overloaded infotainment system. The climate control menu, for instance, has been redesigned and the ‘Smart Climate Mode – where functions such as ‘cool feet’ or…

Many of us used to receive model cars at Christmas as kids. We discover the big business of buying and selling these toys today THERE’S no time of the year that evokes memories quite like Christmas. Few of us will ever forget, for example, cherished presents from childhood. And if you’re anything like me, many of these will have been automotive-related. The gifting of diecast models and toy cars, in particular, sparked a passion for motoring that has endured for decades. The loft at my mum’s house contains multiple cases of model cars that, frankly, I can’t bear to get rid of. I’m sure some of you are familiar with that predicament. But maybe I should look more closely at what’s in those cases. Because business for used diecast models…

WE’RE told that the performance car’s reliance on the internal-combustion engine is on its final journey to extinction. Batteries provide unprecedented levels of performance; who needs petrol for thrills? Speeds that were unthinkable only a decade ago are now achievable in a crossover. Supercars can be out-dragged by a pick-up. Petrol is dead, watts are the future. Yet while YouTube gets revved up over an electric truck beating a Porsche 911 in a drag race, the rest of the industry still pushes itself to build the most advanced petrol performance machinery ever seen. A last hurrah, maybe – but we’re witnessing a period of unprecedented excellence when it comes to cars that excite and entertain. When we gathered together the contenders for our 2022 superstar sports car title this time…

THE Maserati hasn’t won. It’s admired, desirable and a fine GT car, but it lacks the dynamic and accelerative edge to fight for the ultimate honours here. Neither has the Lamborghini. It’s one of the most characterful cars we have driven this year, bursting with enthusiasm and one that makes you crack the broadest smile every time you see it and drive it. Sounds like a winning recipe, no? It does, but the Sterrato isn’t Lamborghini’s best Huracán. Splitting BMW’s M3 CS from Porsche’s 911 Carrera T is impossible. They might be two very different cars with very different remits, but their appeal is equal and picking between the two is a decision left to your individual hearts (or heads, for the sensible types among you). Aston Martin’s DB12 would…

91 ___________________________ 92 ___________________________ 93 ___________________________ 94 ___________________________ 95 ___________________________ 96 ___________________________ 97 ___________________________ 98 ___________________________ 99 ___________________________ 100 ___________________________ SPOT THE DETAIL 91. Skoda Karoq 92. Lotus Eletre 93. MG4 94. Hyundai Ioniq 6 95. Dacia Sandero 96. Ferrari Purosangue 97. Land Rover Defender 98. Fiat 600e 99. Vauxhall Astra 100. Peugeot 208…

We reveal electric-shock treatment for VW Golf WE kicked off 2023 with a huge scoop regarding one of the biggest names in the automotive world. Our Top Story in issue 1,762 confirmed that the Volkswagen Golf’s current eighth-generation model will be the last to use internal-combustion engines, with its replacement, due in 2026, set to ditch petrol and diesel for pure electric power. However, given that VW already has a fully electric Golf-sized car, the ID.3, we were keen to discover how the future of the brand’s range would look moving ahead. To find out, we chatted to the manufacturer’s CEO Thomas Schäfer, who confirmed that the brand would be ‘crazy’ to let a name as iconic as Golf die. At the same time, he said that the new ID…

MINI revealed in official spy shots WE were expecting a new MINI to be launched in 2023, having caught the retro-styled supermini being tested multiple times. But what we didn’t expect was the full reveal to happen in April. Thanks to some spy shots exploiting a lapse in security at a MINI Cooper shooting location in the US, we got a clear view of the new car five months ahead of its scheduled unveiling. The fourth-generation MINI hatch represents quite a leap from the previous model, not only in terms of technology, but also design. The latest MINI hatch will once again be available with petrol engines, however it was the EV we caught on display. While the design is instantly recognisable as a MINI, there are some big changes…

Kona keeps Hyundai flying high in New Car Awards THE most important date on the Auto Express calendar is undoubtedly our annual New Car Awards (NCAs). Each year we round up the very best models on sale, from superminis and sports cars, to EVs and SUVs. If you’re considering upgrading, or just want an accessible cross-section of what’s hot, the NCAs are not to be missed. Taking the overall win back in July was the brand-new Hyundai Kona. Following in the footsteps of its larger Ioniq 5 stablemate, which scooped the top honour in 2021, the Kona was best all-rounder we drove all year. To even be up for NCA consideration a car must be better than its rivals in nearly every respect. Whether that’s practicality or performance, refinement, running…

MG Cyberster kicks off bid to outpace Porsche Boxster MG is returning to the sports car scene in dramatic and rather eccentric fashion with the Cyberster: the world’s first purpose-built, pure-electric two-seater. Unveiled in the summer, the Cyberster isn’t due on sale in the UK until 2024 – when the brand will celebrate 100 years of building cars. But we impatient people at Auto Express needed to find out whether MG’s first roadster in more than a decade was worth the wait. So we bagged ourselves an exclusive first drive over in China, where early examples were already being delivered to customers, and – spoiler alert – the Cyberster did not disappoint. This is no Mazda MX-5 rival. In its most basic, single-motor form, the Cyberster produces 309bhp and can…

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A PETROL version of the new Jeep Avenger is finally available in the UK, priced from £27,600 – more than £8k cheaper than the electric version of the baby SUV. Just 500 examples of the petrol Avenger are heading to the UK this year, each featuring the 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine found in other Stellantis models such as the Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka. The motor produces 99bhp and 205Nm of torque, can return around 42mpg, and will be paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. This initial run of pure-petrol Avengers is only available in a special trim level called Altitude+, which is equipped with 18-inch wheels, heated seats, nav, an eight-speaker JBL stereo, wireless phone charging, a powered tailgate and blind-spot monitoring. That’s in addition to the twin…

WHEN the Minor was unveiled in October 1948, it was in saloon and convertible forms, in both cases with two doors only. As soon as the car was unveiled, the press and public went wild, all madly enthusiastic about this new wonder machine that made its competitors look dated. The adoption of independent front suspension produced a car that was comfortable yet handled well, helped by the use of 14-inch wheels when 17-inch rims were the norm. DESPITE SO many key cars being unveiled alongside it, the Minor was the star of the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show. Priced at £358, the Morris was £32 more expensive than the Ford Anglia with its pre-war styling, but a lot cheaper than anything Austin or the Rootes Group had to offer. The…

LIGHT Commercial Vehicles (or LCVs) accounted for about 326,000 of the Minors built, but hard lives, and a lack of interest in them until it was too late, mean there aren’t many left. Five years after the Minor saloon appeared, the 1/4-Ton Van arrived, along with a pick-up version. Based on the Series II Minor, these first commercials featured a split windscreen and an 803cc overhead-valve engine with the bodyshell sitting on a separate chassis. In October 1956 the Series III appeared with a 948cc A-series engine and a one-piece windscreen, but the most usable Minor LCV of all arrived in September 1962: the Series V (there was no Series IV), with a 48bhp 1,098cc A-series engine. In 1968 an Austin-badged Minor LCV entered showrooms to take over from the…

DIECAST models not your thing? There are plenty more automotive-themed toys and games to evoke memories of Christmases past. These are among the finest available – and some of them are now even worth a few bob! Scalextric £1,800 THE classic slot-car game is still a real draw for wannabe racers, young and old alike. Since its launch in 1957, it’s spawned an unbelievable number of cars and sets, from timeless Formula One and Le Mans machines to TV favourites. There’s real value in well preserved old sets, too; this 1967 James Bond kit featuring a special ‘007 Aston Martin GT’ (with an ejector seat, naturally) and Mercedes 190SL went up for auction at Bonhams in 2019 for £1,800. TopTrumps £2 IT wouldn’t be the festive season without a Boxing…

Price £96,990 Engine 1.8-litre turbo 4cyl Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, RWD Power 296bhp Torque 340Nm 0-62mph 3.9sec Top speed 177mph Fuel economy 34-35mpg CO2 emissions 154-156g/km Test weight 1,082kg ALPINE is well on its way to electrifying what seems like everything that comes within 100km of its Dieppe factory. But before the SUV, before the hot hatch, and before its next sports car, there’s the small matter of the four-cylinder, turbocharged A110 still demonstrating why light weight and compact dimensions are the perfect antidote to today’s bloated motoring world. With the A110 R, Alpine has, in a single stroke, made its already delectable and delightful sports car one of the most desirable models of the year. It takes the concept that has already earned the A110 a 2021 Coupé of…

Price £49,995 Engine 2.0-litre turbo 4cyl Transmission Six-speed manual, FWD Power 324bhp Torque 420Nm 0-62mph 5.4sec Top speed 171mph Fuel economy 34.4mpg CO2 emissions 186g/km Test weight 1,429kg “It can carry a family every day, before turning into a devastatingly rewarding track machine” OUR reigning Hot Hatch of the Year arrives at our superstar sports car test with its New Car Awards crown still shining brightly. But PCOTY is where Honda’s remarkable Civic Type R faces its toughest test, squaring up against every big hitter from every sector of the performance world. Honda and Japan’s iconic hot hatch has the war chest to jump straight into battle. The punchy performance from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, which manages to retain so much of its ancestor’s VTEC characteristics, sets the tone, firing…

Price £244,760 Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, petrol Transmission Seven-speed auto, RWD Power 740bhp Torque 800Nm 0-62mph 2.8sec Top speed 206mph Fuel economy 23.2mpg CO2 emissions 276g/km Test weight 1,389kg TECHNICALLY it’s the newest car in our test (which took place a week before the McLaren was launched to the press), but the 750S feels the most familiar. As it should do, being a thoroughly evolved (for McLaren) version of its 720S supercar. So while you might be squinting to see what makes it look different – front and rear bumpers, side sills, revisions to its headlights and some new aero parts evolved from the 765LT – inside and underneath, the 750S is a big jump up. No one ever stepped out after a drive in a 720S thinking its 4.0-litre…

Down 1 US-based Formula One team (4) 2 Car brand that was owned by British Aerospace between 1988 and 1994 (5) 3 Jogger and Sandero maker (5) 4 Motorsport discipline that made Colin McRae famous (5) 5 Nickname for the Italian motorcycle legend who won 15 world titles (3) 6 Second word in the official name of the F1 circuit that hosts the US Grand Prix (2) 7 Term used when a combustion-engined car blocks an EV charger (4) 8 Acronym for an engine that has no forced induction (1,1) 10 First name of the racing driver whose last win was the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (5) 13 Most cars have four of these (and sometimes a spare, too) (6) 15 The E in EV (8) 16 First word…

New Ineos Grenadier takes a tough stance THE Ineos Grenadier was launched with plenty of hype, marking the arrival of a 4x4 to fill the gap in the market left when the original Land Rover Defender was finally pulled from sale after decades of loyal service. When we eventually got behind the wheel of the Grenadier early this year, we found that in some ways the buzz was justified, but in others, unfortunately, the newcomer fell some way short of our expectations. What was clear from the off was that, as a go-anywhere off-roader, the Ineos more than fulfilled its brief. Here was a car that we felt was as capable as anything else in the rough stuff – and not only because of its sturdy ladder-frame chassis, plus front…

All-new BMW 5 Series is ready for electric era ONE of the most familiar badges in the business moved into a new era, with the reveal of the new eighth generation of the BMW 5 Series in issue 1,781. And the jump was a significant one, introducing a pure-electric version of the car for the first time, while dropping diesel engines from the UK line-up altogether – a switch that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Based on an evolved version of the outgoing car’s CLAR platform, the new model is nearly 10cm longer overall, with a wheelbase stretched by 20mm and perhaps the best version yet of BMW’s double-kidney grille. There’s a mix of curved surfacing and sharper angles along the flanks, but on the whole, the…

MG4 keeps ID.3 at bay in EV twin test ISSUE 1,794’s cover story was a big one for real-world electric cars. To some, this test might have looked like a David vs Goliath battle – Volkswagen’s billion-Euro EV programme up against British-branded Chinese upstart MG – but the reality couldn’t have been further from the truth. Previous to our test between the lightly refreshed ID.3 and the MG4, the latter had already gained critical acclaim for its impressive value as well as its entertaining drive and excellent comfort. The VW, on the other hand, had earned criticism for many of its attributes, from its unfinished dynamics and cheap trim, to its flawed digital interfaces. Would our twin test be retribution for VW, or did MG prove it was more than…

It’s all change for Dacia Duster ONE of Auto Express’s favourite real-world heroes was fully redesigned last month, with Dacia revealing its new third-generation Duster SUV. Appealing to a mantra of simple, easy and accessible motoring, the Duster has combined this with a rugged and dependable demeanour, and looks set to continue that with the Mk3. New to the model is the CMP architecture shared with Renault and Dacia models such as the Clio, Captur and Jogger. This means that for the first time the Duster will be fitted with different levels of electrification in both engine options that are to be available in the UK. First will be a 137bhp hybrid that pairs a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine with a small electric motor and 1.2kWh battery pack. Fitted exclusively with…

Product test team OUR test programme is back on track after a few disrupted years, with more than 650 products going through our hands. More than 500 were in 54 multitests, covering everything from tyres to electronic kit and car cleaning products. More than 100 were in 43 mini tests, pitting the latest products against the top performers. We also increased the number of first tests of the newest releases, with 16 being completed during 2023. Among the new products tested this year were ceramic washes, utility knives and pressure washer trigger guns. And from our tests, we’ve picked our top 20 product highlights here. They might not be winners, but they impressed by being innovative, doing a top job or simply still being in use long after the test…

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