Table of contents for 1849 in Auto Express

I SPENT a long time in a Renault Megane for a piece you can read next week, but amid everything else that was going on for that feature, I have a new favourite button! It’s been well documented that the latest driver-assistance systems aren’t always that user friendly, and in many cases can be very intrusive and even borderline dangerous. So despite the potential benefits, the first thing I do in a car is disengage the lane-keep assist. You must do this every time you get in, thanks to the quest for Euro NCAP crash-test stars. The systems only really have a benefit on dual carriageways and motorways, and are a hindrance on local roads, where they can’t seem to spot the parked car or cyclist they’re trying to steer…

Alastair.Crooks@autoexpress.co.uk IN Citroen’s long and illustrious history, there are a few notable times when the company dug into its reserves of Gallic flair to produce an icon. The Citroen SM from 1970 was one of those occasions, and now there’s a new homage to the original in the shape of the DS SM Tribute. Built to celebrate 10 years since DS branched off from Citroen to become its own marque, the SM Tribute was penned by the team at the DS Design Studio in Paris. It’s only a concept car, but the DS SM Tribute was created with a brief of reinterpreting the iconic SM for the 21st Century. There’s even a suggestion that the SM Tribute will influence the manufacturer’s future offerings, with Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles’ design director,…

NEW versions of the Skoda Fabia supermini, Kamiq small SUV and Scala hatchback are set to offer buyers much more standard kit, but without hefty price increases. The Czech brand claims the upgraded equipment on its new ‘Edition’ specifications – which will be available to order on 19 September – provide up to £1,900 of added value, yet prices have only risen by £150 when compared with each model’s current trim structure. Prices for the Skoda Fabia now start from £19,880, with buyers having a choice of four trim levels: SE Edition, Design Edition, SE L Edition and Monte Carlo Edition. In addition to the existing kit list, entry-level SE Edition cars will now have keyless start, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and electric rear windows as standard. Design Edition…

Chris.Rosamond@autoexpress.co.uk SALARY Sacrifice schemes are all the rage, and judging by the latest statistics from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), enthusiasm for this potentially tax-efficient method for employees to get behind the wheel of a new EV shows no sign of waning. The BVRLA’s latest report reveals that Salary Sacrifice take-up has increased by 63 per cent year-on-year, while Personal Contract Hire (PCH) numbers are down. Indeed, while all cars on Salary Sacrifice schemes are considered ‘fleet registrations’ in official industry figures – because they’re usually delivered through lease deals to companies – some think this is adding to the false impression that private buyers aren’t engaged with the transition to electric vehicles. Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus EVs, recently highlighted the possibility that many Salary Sacrifice…

Alastair.Crooks@autoexpress.co.uk DIESEL power has been falling out of fashion in the UK for a few years, with sales dropping by 13 per cent so far in 2024 compared with last year. But unlike the latest Santa Fe from sister firm Hyundai, the new Kia Sorento not only comes with petrol ‘self-charging’ hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, it’s also stuck with diesel for the newly facelifted model. Despite not having any form of electrification, the diesel Sorento is still more economical than the hybrid petrol version, with claimed average fuel efficiency of 42.8mpg for the mid-range 3 trim level (43.5mpg for the 2). The 3 HEV in comparison serves up 40.4mpg. Yet the diesel Sorento’s economy figure doesn’t look as favourable when the new 2.0-litre TDI Skoda Kodiaq will…

Steve.Walker@autoexpress.co.uk THE sun has set on our time with the Nissan Ariya. Two and a bit years ago we thought this electric family SUV was the pick of the new-car crop and named it our 2022 Car of the Year, but what do we think of it today after 5,000 miles of long-term testing? Let’s just say, it’s complicated. Inevitably, Nissan’s offering is no longer the cutting-edge proposition it once was. It’s still a fine family car, however, and even for something costing £40,000 in base form and £54,840 as tested in top-spec Evolve trim with e-4ORCE all-wheel drive and the larger 87kWh battery, the Ariya feels classy. What wow factor there is stems from the interior – the Ariya is not a car that turns heads, not in sober…

THERE are plenty of reasons why drivers might need to hire a car. It could be you’re travelling to the other end of the country and it’s quicker to fly, but you need transport at the other end. Or perhaps your usual vehicle is off the road. It might also make sense for you to rent something big for the odd trip rather than drive a large car all year. Hiring a conventionally engined motor for longer trips could also make sense for EV drivers who want to avoid pricey public charging and long waits. There are plenty of companies who will offer to rent you a vehicle, but which should you consider? We dug deep into some leading firms’ websites to see which offers the most choice at the…

Shane.wilkinson@autoexpress.co.uk THE best city cars have always offered value for money, manoeuvrability and low running costs, but now they also offer similar levels of tech and refinement to bigger and more expensive models. We’ve driven every city car on sale in the UK, and rounded up the best here. 1 Hyundai i10 Prices from £16,000 OUR two-time City Car of the Year is the perfect example of just how much this segment has evolved over the years. The Hyundai i10 is still a tiny vehicle that’s an absolute doddle to drive and park, but it’s filled with the sort of appealing qualities that you’d expect to find in a much bigger and pricier model. Standard kit includes alloy wheels, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air-conditioning and…

Rich.Ingram@autoexpress.co.uk CUPRA will aim higher than ever before as it tries to break into the US market with a plus-sized electric SUV that will also be sold in Europe, Auto Express can reveal. Speaking at the global premiere of the Terramar SUV (Issue 1,847), Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths told us the brand will need something completely new to launch its American assault towards the end of the decade. Yet economic pressures from within the Volkswagen Group would mean any such product would also need to find customers closer to home. While a large SUV may not have the mainstream appeal of compact EV crossovers, the margins are greater, signalling the potential for strong profits for the Spanish brand. “We would have to [sell it] in Europe, we can’t just sell…

Ellis_Hyde@autoexpress.co.uk LOTUS is set to reveal a pure-electric sports car next year, and has given us a sneak peek of what’s to come with the new Theory 1 concept. Incorporated into the razor-sharp design is an advanced aerodynamics package that takes inspiration from Lotus’s history in Formula One. The e-motor and battery assembly are used as a stressed member of the chassis, reducing weight and complexity, while the active rear wing has also been mounted directly to the motor and suspension assembly, apparently helping pin the car to the road. Inside, the Theory 1 features a central driving position and a passenger seat on either side, making it a three-seater in the vein of the legendary McLaren F1. Those seats have also been integrated into the structure of the car,…

PRICES for the new Ferrari 12Cilindri start from £336,500, or £366,500 if you want the convertible Spider version, which puts it in direct line with the new Aston Martin Vanquish. The Brit also features a V12 engine and will be priced from “around £333,000”, according to the firm. However, while the Aston uses a pair of turbochargers, and Lamborghini’s latest models have hybrid assistance, the 12Cilindri sticks with traditional natural aspiration. Its 6.5-litre V12 produces 818bhp and 678Nm of torque, and revs to an astonishing 9,500rpm. It even manages to meet Europe’s latest emissions standards. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Ferrari, 0-62mph takes 2.9 seconds, 0-124mph is covered in 7.9 seconds, and the top speed is more than 210mph.…

Thomas_Jervis@autovia.co.uk WATCHING the pole vault competition at the Olympics over the summer was a keen reminder of how the higher the bar you set, the more difficult it is to overcome. It appears, then, that Volkswagen Board Member, Kai Grünitz, may not have followed the Games as closely as we did, having recently set an incredibly high bar when he dubbed the new ID.3 GTX “the electric counterpart to our sporty compact car icon, the Golf GTI Clubsport”. Yet VW’s growing line-up of high-performance GTX EVs have thus far largely failed to whet the appetites and capture the hearts of enthusiasts. While the ID.7 GTX was originally teased using the bonkers 550bhp ID.X performance concept, with its racy styling and giant rear wing, the production version isn’t an out-and-out sports…

GENESIS GV60 I’M fortunate enough to be the keeper of the latest addition to the Auto Express fleet – a Genesis GV60 – and wasted no time in putting it to the test with a 150-mile round trip to my old home town of Eastbourne in Sussex. I went down to play in some exhibition Fives matches at my old school, and first impressions were great. It has lots of useful tech, an excellent Bang & Olufsen stereo and comfortable seats. ANDY PRINGLE Smart #1 I’VE been handed the keys to another fairly new member of the AE fleet, a Smart #1, and with no home charging option I’m reliant on public points. On a trip to Milford on Sea I was impressed with a choice of 50kW and 22kW…

Price: £10.68-£15.30 (per pair) Rating: Contact: wipers.simply-brands.com AUTOMOTIVE product brand Simply’s new range of wiper blades look good value for money, at prices which start from £10.68 for a pair. This is about half that of some rivals and even less compared with the cost of buying from a main dealer. The line-up consists of the more modern, flat ‘aero’ wipers and the older-style ‘bridged’ blades. Together these designs will cover most cars. We tried a multi-fit flat blade upgrade on a Fiat Panda, following the video guides which are accessible via a QR code printed on the box. The carton also contains eight adaptors that cover the 10 most popular wiper arm fixing types. Our Panda uses the most common hook adaptor, so the blades slid straight on and are…

CARS are complex machines, and there are plenty of components that will gladly wipe out a huge chunk out of your bank account should they go wrong. But while some jobs (especially EV repairs) require the wisdom of a professional mechanic, you’d be amazed at how many things you can fix yourself if you’re willing to learn the basics and get your hands dirty. If you’re shopping for a used car, it’s possible that a defect will quickly make itself known. Even if the car is immaculate with a full service history, some parts may simply be at the end of their working life. I experienced this particular joy a mere week after purchasing my own car, a 2015 Suzuki Swift Sport, even though it had undergone a thorough inspection…

OH dear. As Volkswagen Group’s former CEO Martin Winterkorn goes on trial for alleged Dieselgate-related “fraud”, those in the boardroom at Wolfsburg HQ are discussing the possible closure of some German factories for the first time ever. Yikes. Too many VW Group brands overlap and therefore directly and expensively fight each other in the showrooms. They desperately need clearer identities and price differentials to attract a wider clientele. To these eyes, SEAT has to be the bargain brand, offering low-spec, Dacia-bashing city cars, including reborn versions of the Marbella supermini and van. Think of SEAT as the entry point, whose cars have insurance ratings of 1-10. It matters not that they’ll be as basic (but safer than) an original Beetle. “TOO MANY VW GROUP BRANDS FIGHT EACH OTHER IN THE…

Chris.Rosamond@autoexpress.co.uk THE vast majority of secondary school pupils use their mobile phones while walking near school, and one in five say they have been hit or narrowly missed by vehicles when distracted by their screens. The alarming stats come from a survey of 2,000 children and their parents earlier this year, carried out for Churchill Motor Insurance. As well as the new survey data, the company commissioned behavioural scientists to film outside 10 schools across the UK, with footage revealing that on average 10 per cent of pupils have their eyes glued firmly to mobile phone screens when crossing the road outside the school gates. At one Edinburgh secondary school, 50 per cent of pupils were filmed staring at their phones while crossing the road on their way to school.…

Ellis.Hyde@autoexpress.co.uk THE new third-generation Audi Q3 has been spotted testing almost undisguised, allowing us to see that it has borrowed styling details from both the recently unveiled Q5 and all-electric Q6 e-tron. We expect the new Q3 to be unveiled in early 2025, ready for a showdown with upmarket family-car rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA and, our Small Premium SUV of the Year, the MINI Countryman. The images confirm that the new Q3 has a more aggressive look than the current model. At the front, there’s a wider, sleeker grille with a similar honeycomb pattern to the new Q5, and it’s flanked by a large set of air intakes. The LED headlights are slimmer on the new Q3 too, and we can also make…

THE Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster has been revealed as the most powerful production car ever with a manual gearbox. Just 12 of the 1,817bhp cars will be built, and each one has already been sold for $2.65million (£2.03m). Each example gets the standard Roadster’s open-cockpit design, but a 55-inch (1,400mm) dorsal fin that stretches from the roof-mounted air scoop right to the trailing edge of the rear deck has been added. John Hennessey, company founder and CEO said: “We always wanted to build a manual Venom F5. It’s old-school, it’s badass, and it offers ultimate driving engagement.”…

Alastair.Crooks@autoexpress.co.uk AUDI has given its RS e-tron GT a host of changes, with a new battery and electric motors, redesigned suspension and new trims. The e-tron GT’s sister model, the Porsche Taycan, was tweaked earlier this year, but where it has an option of 82kWh and 97kWh batteries, the Audi has only the larger unit, as well as generally more equipment as standard. In the top RS e-tron GT Performance Carbon Vorsprung trim level, the car costs £166,330, but the one we’re focusing on here is the mid-range, non-Performance RS e-tron GT, which is £126,330. The old car’s range wasn’t brilliant, but the new slightly larger battery allows the RS to cover 365 miles (up from 294 miles). And not only does the e-tron GT provide a longer range, it’s…

Thomas.Jervis@autoexpress.co.uk THE more you learn about the complexities of Lego’s new Technic McLaren P1 kit, the likelier it is that you’re weighing up how to afford the £390 asking price. But, given how well the Technic P1 recreates all of the real McLaren Ultimate Series car’s looks and mechanics, how much would you be prepared to shell out if Lego made a full-size version of this miniaturised model? Before you set in motion plans to start selling some organs, Lego’s so-called ‘Ultimate Challenge’ is not for sale, but it’s certainly spectacular – as we can confirm, having been invited to the Silverstone circuit for the launch of this full-size Technic McLaren P1 that actually functions as a moving, driveable car. The secret-until-now project was yet another collaboration between the boffins…

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IF you want to make cleaning your car easier, add a dash of snow foam to your washing routine. The blanket of detergent suds softens dirt and debris, so that more can be rinsed away by a pressure washer. This means you’ll rub the paint less, reducing the amount of work and the potential damage to the surface. In our big Product Awards tests this year, Halfords’ Advanced HP Snow Foam took our Best Buy prize, thanks to a combination of cleaning power and value. It was closely followed by Bilt-Hamber’s Touch-Less. A new contender has appeared from AVA, which is better known for its pressure washers. The Citrus Pre Wash can be used on its own or as part of a three-part routine with AVA’s shampoo and wax coating.…

OWNER VIEWS ON THE UK’S BEST CARS “The best thing about my 208 is the styling, which is striking. Peugeot did a fantastic job with it.” “The car looks great but the paint quality isn’t good enough. It’s too susceptible to chips and scratches.” “The acceleration is smooth and fast, even in Eco mode. Move into Sports and it’s very impressive indeed.” THE Peugeot 208 deserves its popularity, if the Driver Power responses are anything to go by, with the 10 per cent or so of e-208 owners giving the model a boost in the powertrain category; it bags second place for both acceleration and noise, and 15th for smoothness. The 208 also earns second place for its styling, along with 11th for the interior design, while 14th for the…