Table of contents for 1844 in Auto Express

YOU’LL see from our scoop Top Story that the next-generation Peugeot 208 could be set for a radically redesigned interior when it arrives a couple of years from now. Our image, created using inside information from Peugeot, depicts the radical direction the brand is heading with the 208’s cabin – and the firm is unlikely to be alone in having a bit of a rethink about how it delivers the increasingly advanced set of controls and technology necessary in modern cars. We’ll see if the Peugeot concept proves to be a better way of doing things, but at the moment the industry is heading unsuccessfully down a path of fitting modern cars with increasing amounts of tech and safety systems that need to be operable on the move – while…

Tom_Jervis@autovia.co.uk @thomaswjervis Cheaper to buy EVs than ICE ’Bargain’ prices three years on NOW could be the best time so far to go electric, because used EVs are currently cheaper than petrol and diesel cars. Data from Cap HPI shows that heavy depreciation means buying a used electric vehicle is now often cheaper at the point of sale than the equivalent internal-combustion model. Cap HPI says that, after three years, the average EV is around 8.5 per cent cheaper than its petrol or diesel counterpart, rising to 14 per cent when it’s four years old. With EV technology developing at an accelerated pace, and consumer confidence in older models on the weaker side, the values of most cars typically halve over only two years, meaning there are plenty of bargains…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Lancia’s nostalgic nod to Stratos FROM: Dave Long IS it just me, or is Lancia attempting to tug on people’s heartstrings with the rear lights on the new Lancia Ypsilon petrol mild-hybrid (Issue 1,842)? I think these look almost identical to the rounded tail-lights on the legendary Lancia Stratos sports/rally car! JLR – are top execs losing their minds? FROM: Clyde Brown AS someone who has owned five new cars from JLR since 2006, I’m really concerned as to the direction it is taking in super-luxury cars and pure-EV Jaguars. I’m not sure who is in charge of market strategy at JLR, but I think he/she needs to be shown the front door. Fearing for the full-EV future of VW FROM: Philip Mason VOLKSWAGEN going all-electric with no…

USABLE, high-mileage 172s cost from £2,500, while condition and miles affect value more than whether you’re after a pre- or post-facelift 172 or 182. Desirable Cups command a slight premium, and the ultra-rare Trophy is £10,000-plus. If the cambelt and dephaser pulley have been replaced on schedule and the car serviced regularly, the engine is strong. Rust is less of an issue than on BMWs, Mercedes and Fords of the era, but look inside the fuel-filler door for early rot. The 172 seen here belongs to our chief reviewer Alex Ingram. A big hot-hatch fan, he’s owned a 205 GTi among others, but he reckons this might be the best car yet. “The Peugeot offered a bit more drama and sweaty-palmed excitement,” admits Alex, “but the 172 runs it very…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 64.3mpg (official) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.5 seconds/126mph THE Volkswagen Golf has always had a slight whiff of premium to go along with its mainstream appeal. But what happens when you twist the dial fully in the direction of practicality and value? You end up with the Golf Estate TDI – no hybrid boost or electrified tech, just long-distance diesel economy and a whopping boot. And that’s what we’re trying here: the Golf Estate in base Life trim, complete with the most modest of the diesel options in the recently updated Mk8.5 line-up. The engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, producing 114bhp (115PS) and 300Nm, and it’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox; the more powerful diesel, with 148bhp, gets the VW Group’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic…

MODEL TESTED: Plus Four 2.0 Manual PRICE: £74,406 POWERTRAIN: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 255bhp 255bhp Powertrain 2.0 litre 4cyl 46 litres Fuel tank £67 fill up 5.2 secs Performance 149mph NA Seats up/down NA THE Plus Four starts from £74,406, but it’s possible to install a load of extras to tailor your bespoke car just so. With the various add-ons fitted to this test car, its price rises to £93,220. Tech highlights FROM the outside, the Plus Four’s overall look has changed little since the fifties original, from which it can trace its DNA. Some parts, such as the rear arches, are hand-shaped around the original wood buck used to create Morgans more than 70 years ago. Aluminium is used for the chassis, over which a wooden frame is attached. This forms…

SPORTS CARS Our test duo offers very different takes on the roadster formula, but what do our experts think? John McIlroy Editor-at-large “FEW cars can elicit as much cheer as the Morgan. Whether it’s for the lucky driver or the many passers by who descend on the roadster whenever you come to rest, the Plus Four never fails to raise a smile. It’s the sort of car that people will gladly let out of junctions.” Rich Ingram Deputy editor “THERE’S something so addictive about a car with a minimal weight and loads of torque. The Z4 just about delivers, due to its abundant shove, but the Plus Four feels so light and brawny that it’s like a mini-muscle car. The Plus Six is more bonkers still, with the Z4’s engine…

Women Talking About Cars Victoria Coren Mitchell & guests (BBC Audio, bbc.co.uk) Price: £12.99 Rating: PRESENTED as a compendium of Coren Mitchell’s Radio 4 chat show, with guests such as Dawn French, Jo Brand and Claudia Winkleman. It’s not so much a show about the cars themselves, but a look at the part cars have played in these well known women’s lives over the years. It’s lighthearted and funny. The Formula Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg (Monoray, octopusbooks.co.uk) Price: £22 Rating: THIS book tells the story of how modern Formula One has become a catwalk of superstars and a dominant commercial empire. It’s a fascinating retrospective into the processes that have made F1 what it is today. The book is very engaging, well written and easy to read in a…

CO2/tax 139-153g/km £190-£255 Running costs 36-53mpg (BlueHDi 150) £100 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.3 seconds/114mph MPVS have long struggled with their image, because they’re often seen as little more than vans with windows. While that’s essentially what the Citroen SpaceTourer is, when you have a load of people to transport and you need space for their luggage too, what’s so terrible about having the most space-efficient shape possible? When the SpaceTourer burst onto the scene eight years ago, it offered a relatively stylish way of carrying up to nine people, complete with their luggage – something no regular MPV could do. Still on sale all these years later, in some ways the Citroen is as compelling as ever, but if you’re tempted to buy one of these XXL people carriers,…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram Set to arrive in 2026 with exciting new design and latest tech EV and petrol power planned, plus cutting-edge cabin restyle “We expect the new 208 to take design inspiration from the latest 3008 and 5008” THE all-new Peugeot 208, due in 2026, is set to differentiate itself from many of its Stellantis small-car siblings with a radical new look and a move to the company’s new STLA Small platform, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. The supermini’s premium underpinnings will create clean air between it and cars such as the latest Citroen C3 and forthcoming Fiat Panda, both of which sit on the more cost-focused Smart Car architecture. The 208 will be one of only a handful of models built on STLA Small, possibly including the next-generation DS…

October unveiling for electric Skoda Elroq THE all-new electric Skoda Elroq will be unveiled in October, the Czech brand’s CEO Klaus Zellmer has confirmed. We already know plenty about the new EV, including information on battery and motor sizes. But this is the first time Zellmer has given an accurate timeframe for when the car will appear. The Elroq is the one of six Skoda EVs due over the next few years, including a bold seven-seat flagship and an affordable entry-level electric car. Insurance price drop is not equal for all CAR-INSURANCE prices came down in the second quarter of 2024, for the first time in two years – but ethnic minorities and those with high levels of debt are still being forced to pay more for premiums. The average…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m) Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 54.8mpg (official) £98 fill-up Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 645/1,795 litres IT’S certainly a bold move when a car manufacturer names its vehicle after a positive attribute, because it opens itself up to plenty of ridicule if the car isn’t up to scratch. The Mitsubishi Carisma and Triumph Acclaim spring to mind. One of the few that has lived up to the lofty billing of its name is the Skoda Superb. Previous generations have been genuinely as good as the badge would have you believe – big, comfy family cars delivering huge interior space, getting on with their job flawlessly and without any fuss. Now there’s a fourth-generation model, and Skoda reckons it’s bigger, cleverer and better than ever before. Fundamentally, the latest Superb runs on the…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.5 seconds/127mph LUXURY cars come in many different shapes these days, but you still can’t beat a traditional four-door limousine for a sense of occasion. One of our favourites is the BMW 7 Series – it’s a two-time Best Luxury Car winner at our New Car Awards – and the electric i7 adds another dimension to the car’s plush driving experience. The latest addition to the line-up is the eDrive50 powertrain. Given BMW’s naming strategy, the ‘e’ prefix means that the eDrive50 is rear-wheel drive rather than four. To achieve this, the i7 loses the front-mounted motor, and with it comes a modest reduction in weight (down by 120kg when compared with the xDrive60), plus a decent £14,000 saving on the price. The eDrive50 can’t…

MODEL TESTED: Z4 M40i with Handschalter Package PRICE: £63,230 POWERTRAIN: 3.0-litre 6cyl, 335bhp 335bhp Powertrain 3.0 litre 6cyl 52 litres Fuel tank £76 fill up 4.6 secs Performance 155mph 281 litres Seats up/down NA litres AT £63,230, the Z4 M40i Handschalter costs more than £10,000 less than the Morgan, and that’s even before options. Of course, the BMW doesn’t have the unique handbuilt nature of the Plus Four, but there’s still lots to help it stand out. Tech highlights BMW has been able to justify building a sports car thanks to the economies of scale that come with its CLAR architecture, which underpins a huge spread of its saloon car, SUV and full-EV range. However, that means that the Z4’s scuttle level is somewhat dictated by that platform, which makes…

SAME CLASS BMW Z1 IT’S all very well deciding between the classic Morgan and the modern Z4, but the Z1 lets you have your cake and eat it. The six-cylinder engine sounds great, but the stunning body, with doors that retract into the sills, grabs the attention. While it isn’t the sharpest or fastest BMW, the manufacturer has rarely made anything before or since with so much character. That’s reflected in the Z1’s prices; the one UK example we found for sale had a £60,000 price tag. ● Design● Sense of occasion ● Modest performance● Left-hand drive only SAME MONEY Mazda MX-5 YOU don’t need to spend more than £60,000 to get a great sports car. The Mazda MX-5 has been around for years, and each generation has offered thrills…

Paul.Barker@carwow.co.uk @paulbarkerauto Running costs Official range/tax 257 miles/£0 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 1,121/2,205 litres A COUPLE of family summer road trips have really shone a light on the Buzz’s capabilities, and in particular the ridiculous amount of stowage space in the cabin. Each of the four doors has a huge bin and a decent-sized shelf above it, there’s a central box with three sections – a big sliding drawer for the rear passengers, a long but shallow space on top and a pop-out section at the front – plus a pair of large pull-out cup-holders at the base of the dash. That’s without getting to a usefully sized glovebox, another shelf above that, and a little coin holder. There’s also a wireless charging slot and four USB-C charging points dotted…

Hankook tyres fit bill for Merc-AMG MERCEDES-AMG is fitting its new GT Coupé with Hankook’s Ventus S1 evo Z UUHP (Ultra Ultra High Performance) tyre. It’s the first such partnership between the two companies. The new tyre features a bespoke sports pattern, extra-wide tread and reinforced ply that’s designed to deliver increased stability, reduce expansion of the tyre at high speeds and reinforce the all-wheel-drive supercar’s handling characteristics. Hankook’s tyre carries the MO1 label, reserved for Mercedes-AMG original equipment. More details can be found at hankooktire.com. Seven-year cover for Andersen’s chargers ANDERSEN EV has introduced a new seven-year warranty for its home charge points. The guarantee is the longest in the market and is standard with the brand’s award-winning A3 and A2 chargers, which both feature a hidden cable and…

THE most deliciously unpredictable business of the last half century? That’ll be the global automotive industry, which has altered beyond all recognition since 1974. In those 50 years, the former No.1 car-producing nation that is – or was – the USA has proved that it ain’t what it used to be, while Australia inexplicably expunged itself as a car-building country. Never mind – the likes of China (from nowhere to No.1) plus tiny South Korea (the new No.5) have quietly stepped in to replace them. And then some. On the face of it, troubled manufacturers such as Rover and Daewoo died a natural death. Or were they cruelly murdered by a combination of bankers, clueless politicians, aggressive unions and – in Rover’s case – dodgy directors? We also lost icons…

Ellis_Hyde@autovia.co.uk @EllisDrives First look at MG4’s SUV sister car All-electric compact model will be based on award-winning hatch “MG UK’s product boss told us he’s hoping to give the new compact electric SUV a price of less than £30,000” AUTO Express has already confirmed that the new MG ZS will be revealed by the end of August (Issue 1,843), and there will not be an electric version. However, a successor to the ZS EV is on its way – an all-new, all-electric compact SUV based on the award-winning MG4 hatchback. And this is our first look at that very car. It’s not due to be unveiled in full until early next year – some five or six months after the new ZS – but the EV is clearly going through…

TIME has been called on Peugeot’s 508 Fastback and SW, which are both to be pulled from the UK market by the end of this year. Peugeot UK said: “We’ve chosen to focus even further on our electric models in the UK, with the ZEV mandate giving us a clear direction to do this.” This follows the demise of the mid-size family-saloon class, with rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Renault Laguna having been killed off due to their shrinking customer base. The move will also see the end of the PSE performance sub-brand, which was limited to only the 508 model.…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Potent dual-motor newcomer in action on track: we ride along Chassis tweaks and boosted power set to transform dynamics VOLKSWAGEN’S ID.7 GTX is almost ready to be put under the scrutiny of the media and customers. But before we drive it ourselves, Auto Express has had an exclusive invite to join some of the team behind its development, to give us the rundown on why they think it’s destined to be a watershed moment for the brand. We’ve already praised the standard ID.7 for its impressive efficiency, practicality and comfort – things the GTX will build on, thanks to a potent dual-motor set-up with 335bhp and a range of specialised chassis tweaks. These upgrades are intended to make the ID.7 more engaging and also more dynamic to drive, which…

THE Volvo EX30 is now available to order in an entry-level Core spec, bringing the baby electric SUV’s starting price to £32,850. That’s over £2,000 lower than for the next cheapest model, and it undercuts the latest Kia EV3, too. The EX30 Core is available with two powertrains. The standard Single Motor offers 209 miles of range from a 51kWh battery or, for an extra £4,200, the aptly named Single Motor Extended Range cars can go 295 miles between charges, thanks to a larger, 69kWh power pack. Both versions use a 268bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels. Standard kit includes automatic LED lights with active high beam, 18-inch alloys, a reversing camera and a soundbar that stretches across the dashboard. There’s also a 12.3-inch touchscreen that handles infotainment and key…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram THERE are two things that the French unquestionably do better than anyone else: desserts and hot hatchbacks. But while we’d quite happily spend our working hours thoroughly road testing various mille-feuille and tarte tatin, this isn’t quite the forum to do so. Instead, we’ll focus on the Gallic knack for ballistic small cars. Fast Fords and Type R Hondas of the past and present have had many moments of magic, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI is an icon of the breed. But none of those brands has so consistently competed with the way that Citroen, Peugeot and Renault mixed a magic formula of simplicity, low weight and big power to treat performance-car buyers to so many thrills over the past four decades. Of those three names, we’d argue…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 29.4mpg (official) £72 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.2 seconds/143mph C02/tax 215g/km £600 THE market for hot hatchbacks has been declining in general in recent years, and the number of supermini-sized offerings has arguably led the fall. Toyota doesn’t seem to have received the memo, though, because three years after stunning driving enthusiasts with the turbocharged, four-wheel-drive GR Yaris, the Japanese brand is back with an improved version. From the outside you’ll be hard pressed to tell any difference; there’s a tougher mesh grille to help protect the radiator, for example, but that’s about it. But inside, the modifications are more significant, and designed to correct the gripes of existing owners. You sit lower than before by a couple of centimetres, and this required tweaks to the…

SAME MONEY Mercedes CLE Cabriolet TWO-seat sports cars are hard to find in the new market, but the Mercedes CLE Cabriolet fills a void for those after more usability. Its practicality is helped by it using much from the C-Class and E-Class saloons, although that means it also has touchscreen-heavy interfaces. A sleek cabriolet body still offers seating for four people, even if the back seats will be a bit of a squeeze for taller adults. Boot space varies depending on whether the roof is up or down, ranging from a roomy 385 litres with it raised to 295 litres with it folded. To experience the CLE Cabriolet at its best, you’ll want a model with the six-cylinder engine. ● Smooth six-cylinder petrol● Refinement● Quite roomy for four people ●…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk I’m struggling to get a driving test. Could an app help me? IT will come as a surprise to many people just how difficult it is to book a driving test, especially in certain parts of the country. According to the latest official figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the waiting time in the South East of England is around 21 weeks. Scotland has the shortest waiting times, but learners will still have to wait 9.9 weeks on average to get an appointment. This can mean that there are no tests initially shown as available at all when you try to book. The good news is that there are some ways of securing an appointment, but they will involve a little strategic planning.…

IF the thought of navigating through an app or a sat-nav stuck to the windscreen or dash leaves you cold, you’ll be pleased to know that you can still opt for the simple reliability of a paper map. Unless you need a specific region, a Britain/UK road atlas is the best bet and we rate the A3 size as preferable overall, particularly if it’s spiral bound and can be laid flat. Unlike app and sat-nav mapping, atlases get an annual update and we’re checking the latest offerings from A-Z, Collins and the AA here. For our test, we looked for six proposed roads, four very small hamlets, plus clearly marked London congestion and ultra-low emission zones. We wanted to see clear motorway junctions, town centre plus air and sea port…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk IF you want a mix of excellent practicality and good driving manners, Jaguar’s F-Pace delivers. A second spot in the practicality category comes courtesy of third places in the seating and interior storage sub-categories, plus fifth and eighth positions for child-friendly features and boot space. The Jag’s dynamic credentials are reflected in third place for handling, plus fifth for acceleration, driving pleasure and ride smoothness. Owners also appreciate how easy it is to turn the safety systems on and off, and praise the F-Pace’s infotainment and cabin switchgear. Exterior quality ranks 41st, though, while satisfaction with both the servicing and insurance costs is near the foot of the table. WE SAID “Jaguar hits the bullseye with its first SUV. The F-Pace has good looks, a classy interior, and proves…