TH E C R NEWS WEEKLY OL X 90 V S DI S O ERY 2 y2 2 15 o.1, £2 0 BRIT IN’S GGEST-SEL ING EEKLYC R M G H ottest -ev er Go lf Super-stylish Su pe rb estate PLUS The ul ti mate guide to summer car fe stivals Thestunning conc ept that proves Wcandosexy ew R400 rewrites hot hatch histor y First look at Skoda’s classy new wagon PLUS N W L O O I G G R & T T R www.autoexpress.co.uk 3 39 9 5 5 MW SL HOMMAGE Super Swede eetsb illia t ritinSUVshoot-out X LUSIV FIRS T T S T BHP TH E C R NEWS WEEKLY 27 May-2 June 2015 No. 1,372 | £2. 90 BRI T IN ’ S B GGE S T - SEL INGWEE KLYC RM G GGER&ETT
Modelshown is Renault Clio DynamiqueS NavTCe 90 available from £169 per month
3.9% APRrepresentative
From £149 per monthClio Dynamique representative example
Renault
CLIORestart your heart
The ocial fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Renault Clio Dynamique S Nav TCe 90 are: Urban 50.4 (5.6); Extra Urban 72.4(3.9); Combined 62.7 (4.5). The ocial CO2 emissions are 105g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuelconsumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.
Finance provided by RCI Financial Services Limited, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. Subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. You must be at least 18 and a UK resident(excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands). Terms and conditions apply. Visit renault.co.uk for full details. Oers cannot be used with other schemes or finance oers and are available onfeatured new vehicle when ordered between 1 May2015 and30 June 2015 andregistered between 1 May2015 and 30 September2015.Oer based on 6,000 miles perannumexcessmileage of
8p per mile inc VAT. Participating dealers only. CLIO DYNAMIQUE S SHOWN – MONTHLY PAYMENT BASED ON £4,071 TOTAL DEPOSIT FOLLOWED BY 36 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF £169 ANDOFP OF £6,430.£500 deposit contribution EXCLUDESEXPRESSION. Clio shown has optional FlameRed Renault i.d.metallic paint,available at an additional £595.Excludes Expression models.
Tell us about your carDriver Power is the UK’sbiggestmotoring satisfactionsurvey.Everyyearwe needyou totellusaboutyourcar. Good orbad,your feedbackhelpsus tellEVERY motor manufacturer whatYOU want... and believe us,they’re listening!
I’VEbeen looking forward todriving thenew VolvoXC90 in theUKsincelastsummer,when
itwas first revealedat a hugeevent inSweden. Iloved itwhenI drove itonthe launchin Spain,and youcannowreadhowit faresoverhereonPage42.
It’san important car for Volvo – the first of anewbreedunderChinese ownership. ButI’vewrittenenough about that caron this pageover the pastyear. This time, I’mgoingtoconcentrate onthe car ithas tobeatin itsfirstUKtest: theLand RoverDiscovery.
The currentDisco, like theXC90’spredecessor,hasbeen arounda while.In Discovery3 formwefirst saw itin 2005. It’sbeentweakedand
Just like theDefender, theDiscoverywasbrilliantlyconceived. It fits itsbriefasa family-friendly, upmarket, stylish, all-terrain vehicleperfectly. Infact when it comes to ferryingmyownfamily around, I can’t thinkofmany better.
I’ve oftenreferredto itas the bestcar inthe realworld, telling many peopleto buyone, buton theproviso that itmightgowrong– continualpoorshowings forreliabilityin ourDriver Powersatisfaction surveyillustratethis perfectly. Butthey’resogood, I’vealwaysthought itworthtakingthe chanceandhopingyouget a goodone!
TheDiscoveryisnowon its farewell tour– thesmaller DiscoverySport gives a bigcluetowhatanall-new full-sizeDiscovery will look likewhen weeventually seeitnext year.
Until thenthe current Discocarries on.And whattougheradversary forthenew XC90to takeon? If it canbeat theDiscovery,the new Volvo isa veryspecial car indeed.
s its legendary 3.0 CSLhat hints at hotter M4 Coupé
pedigree.BMWisn’tgivingmuch away about
heHommage’s performance, butdidconfirm
t’spowered by a six-cylinder in-lineengine
which also features eBoosttechnology.
While thebrand isstaying tight lipped
asto whateBoost is, it’s no secretBMW
hasbeenexperimentingwithperformance
upgrades, asseenwith thewater injection
systemon theM4 GTSCoupé, which will be
used asa safety car in top-lineMotoGPbike
racing. Audi showcased electric turbosin the
ecent TTClubsportTurboConcept, soBMW’s
ystem could revolve around thesame idea.
While theHommage vehiclesBMWhas
roduced for theConcorsod’Eleganzaover
he years don’t normally makeproduction,
he company said: “OurHommage cars
otonlydemonstratehow proudwe are of
ur heritage, butalsohow important the
astcan be indetermining thefuture.”
Thiscouldpoint towards there-emergence
f theCSLnamein BMW’scurrent product
ange. It could firstfinditsway on toa more
ocusedM4Coupéin the near future. Stripped-out interior has lots of carbon fibre, with lightweight bucket seats and minimalist dash. Wood insert references 3.0 CS
BMW 328 HOMMAGEDesigned to mark the 75th anniversary ofthe lightweight 328 sports car in 2011, thi
was made from carbon fibre coupled with
a stripped-out, but leather-lined cabin.
BMW M1 HOMMAGE This reimagining of the iconic supercar sparked rumours of a new M1 when it
was revealed in 2008. However, designcues can be seen in the current i8.
Elemental tech chief Begley (left) talks our man Burn through Rp1’s lightweight design
set to save diesel
Back to Black for Porsche specialsPORSCHEhaslaunched newBlack Editionsof its911 andBoxster. As thnamesuggests, bothgetpureblack paintwork,a black interior andblack
detailinginside andout. Thereare al20-inch alloysandextra standard kit
BlackEdition range starts at £75,074while theBoxsterkicks offat £46,16
Nissan goes for goon GT-R’s birthdayNISSANis celebrating45 yearsof theGT-R with a newgoldeditionof itssupercar-slayingcoupé.
Thebadge debuted on theSkylinesaloon in 1970, andthe newmodelisetapartby a Champagne Gold painand20-inchforged aluminiumwhee A plaque marks theanniversary andthebuildnumber of thecar,too.
Theboldspecialwill bebuilt inextremelylimitednumbers,andjust five exampleswillbe coming to theUK, each priced at£79,780.
F-Type lines up tosupport record bid JAGUAR hasunveiled theofficial ‘RapResponse’ support car for thissumm
BloodhoundSSC landspeed record bTheone-off F-TypeR AWD(below) gea special unionjacklivery,blueandorange paintand tangerinewheels.
Prior tohelping Bloodhound in itsattempt to hit1,000mph, theunique
thebodypanelsare made from carbonfibre,with a glass fibrebody optional.
Followingfinaltweaksforproductionmodels, theRp1 shouldweighlessthan 600kg– around 300kg lighter
than a LotusElise. Itbeginsto generatedownforce at60mph,while200kg of downforceis generated at 100mph.
Powering thecar isa Ford-sourced2.0-litreEcoBoostenginewith 280bhpand
440Nmof torque– enoughfor 0-62mph
in3.1seconds. Buyers will also be offered
a smaller1.0-litreEcoBoost, developing between160bhpand180bhp.Bothwillbe linked toa six-speedsequentialbox operatedviasteeringwheel paddles.
Productionwill startin October
andprices areyet tobeconfirmed,but technical director JohnBegley toldusit will costbetween a £37,200Eliseanda £110,000BACMono.Given theextensive use of carbon fibre, expecta
crossover called theKwid.It’s theproductionversion ofa radical two-doorSUVconceptfirstrevealedat last year’s Auto Expo inDelhi,India.
TheKwid takes styling cues from the latestTwingo, albeitin a tall, slim,more value-focused
package. It getsthe aggressiveRenaultfamilyface,curvysidepanelsand a neat rear end, butthere’snorearwiperandthe door locksareexposed, givingawayits back-to-basicsphilosophy. It alsohasaraised rideheight and rugged wheelarch inserts.
Unfortunately, it’sdestined for emerging marketsonly,andwill initiallybe sold in India,priced fromjustthree Lakhs (around£3,000) later thisyear.
Thereareno plansto bring it toEurope, butDaciahaspreviouslyhinted it’splanning a £5,000city car to situnder theSandero, andthiscouldfit thebill.
ENDANGEREDFrom big seller inthe eighties, FordSierra (above) isa rare sight, with fewer than 4,000left, and only one Hummer H1(below) is now licensed in Britain
LEGENDARY Figures show just five examples of Citroen’s stunningDS Pallas are now left in the UK
e
e
t
rMe analysed the
s, and also ound
ing broughtbac
Daimler XJ6 in
ad been restored
e Bristol 404 was
en are now around.
ing directoro
is losing part o
y o what ma es
sting. There’s
ut classic cars.”
Chunky Kwid bo
dash layout fro
CLEANING UPLatest A3 featuresa 1.6 diesel andemits 89g/km CO2
Ultra-efficient Audi A3 promises 83mpg AUDIhas introduceda new fuel-sippingUltra version of itsA3. It’s themostefficientmodelin
TDI diesel, andachieves these figures thankstolowered suspension, low-rolling-resistance tyres
and longergearing from itssix-speedmanualbox. Plus, the lowemissions will tempt compa
car buyers, astheymeana Benefit inKindratiofjust16 per cent.TheA3Ultra ispricedfrom£20,865, andis available toordernow asasaloon (right)or five-doorSportback.
TheEvora 400(below) develops400bhpand 410Nmof torquefromit3.5-litresupercharged V6. It comes wa limited-slip diff,air-con and sat-nav
Options include a sixspeed autombox(£2,000), an Alcantara and leath
y
p
SEAT hasrevealed its future in-car connectivityand infotainment tech, fittedto a LeonX-Perience. Createdthrough
a collaborationwithelectronicsgiantSamsung,the systemwillappearfirstonthenew Ibiza this summervia a special trimevel called ‘Connect’ that comeswith a free
The techallows you tosetup a profileon themobile app, with personal settingsactivating automatically, such as engineprofile,cabin temperature,window heightor the song youwanton fromyour musiclibrary.
Youcan connectyourphoneto thecar using MirrorLink, whilegesturecontrolets youset a specific movementon the
touchscreen to a task. Forexample,swiping an‘L’ can beset tosend someone a textto
say you’relate,and show them your location.
DEVELOPMENT on the fastest ever
VW Golf is officiallyunderway,
after our spies caught the 395bhpGolf R400 testing forthe first time.
First unveiled as a concept at last year’s
BeijingMotor Show, the R400will become
themostpowerful hothatch on themarket,
having beenapproved for production byVW
development bossDr Heinz-JakobNeusser.
It’sset to feature a heavily revised version
of the2.0-litre four-cylinder turboused in the
standard Golf R, andcould arrive nextyear.
Although there islittle to markthe R400
prototypeout from the R, lookcloselyat
our spyshots andyou’llnotice beefier
brakeshidingbehind largeralloy wheels.
A wider fronttrack and fixed rear spoiler
arealsoclues that there’ssomeserious
power beneath the bonnet.If the production model is to follow where
the concept left off, VW willextracta further
100bhp fromthe2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo.
The power hike islikely to come from a new
set of pistons, a larger intercoolerand a new
exhaust, with 395bhp and450Nm of torque
theexpectedresult. Four-wheeldrive and
thesix-speed DSG gearbox will remain from
This is thecurrent hothatch leaguetable,basedon
power – andthe Golf R400 will leave them all trailing
CUSTOMISEInfotainment
set-up lets youtailor cabintemperature,engine profileand window height via app.Plug in phone,and settingsare appliedautomatically,as SEAT’s Victor Banos (left)showed us
Vauxhall in U-turnon hot Adam nameIN a surprise U-turn, Vauxhallhas ditched t GrandSlam name for its 148bhp hot Adam citycar (above), and revealed it will simplybe calledthe Adam S.
The changewill take effectimmediately, andanycars
already deliveredwill require no changes as theyalready wear ‘S’ badges. A Vauxhall spokesmanclaimed the moveisaimed at “makingit clearer for customers”, asthe UK isthe onlyplace where the GrandSlam name was used.
Brits back tiereddrink-drive limits
HALF of UK adultsbacktiereddrinkdrive limits,with more stringentmeasures imposed on youngandnovicedrivers, according to a study
Germany,Spain, Italy and Hollanallimpose lower restrictions for those who’ve just passedtheir test
andsome sort oftieredsystem isinplace onroadsin a thirdof theworld
Insurer DirectLine, whichcarriedout the survey,found just14 per cent of respondentsagreedwith
thecurrent drink-drive laws in theUK, and 36 per centsupport a zerotolerancepolicy– as operated intheCzechRepublic andSlovakia.
support a zero-toleranceapproachto drink-driving, or lower limitsfor lessexperienceddrivers, showsa commitmentfrom theyounger generation for tighter restrictions.”
18 27May2015
Special Defender’s up for cup
Top cops call for drink-drive limitto be cut across whole of the UK
■ Police Federation wants Scotland’s 50mg alcohol per 100ml of blood limit adopted across the count
LAND Roverhas created a one-off Defender in partnershipwith theRugbyWorldCup.Developedby JLR’sSpecialVehicle
Operations (SVO) division, the110StationWagonwill carry theWebbEllistrophy on a 9,000-mile, 100-daytour around theUK aheadof thetournament,whichkicks offon 18September.ThespecialDefender, which wasfloated
down the RiverThamesinsidea giantrugbyball forits grandunveiling, has been kittedoutwitha toughenedglass trophycabinettoprotect thecup. Other additionsincludea raisedair intake, analuminiumsump
SECRET Design chief Callum (far right) led asmall team working on
new GT insecret site atFord’s HQ
“We mixed young designers with more experienced ones
– we wanted the youngsters’ fresh ideas, but needed theexperienced guys to get the car done in 14 months”
AS Fordreadies its newGT, archrivalChevrolethaspulled thewrapsoffa lighter, fasterandmore economical newCamaro. While thebrandhasofficiallypulledoutof theUK market, iconic
cars such as theCamaroand Corvettearestillavailableto Britishbuyers in left-handdrive.
Thenewmodelmakesextensiveuse of aluminium,whichhelps shave90kg offitspredecessor’s kerbweight. It’salso57mmshorter and20mm narrower, plus newenginesincludea 275bhp2.0-litre four-cylinder–
enoughto take theCamarofrom0-62mph in under sixseconds.
An all-new 335bhp3.6-litre V6 hasalsobeen introduced,while theCamaroSS gets the
full-fat 455bhp6.2-litreV8. Allengines can behad witheither asix-speedmanualtransmission(withRevMatchtech)or eight-
Finance packages and higsales targets for new carsare causing industry harm
■ CASE STUDY Used C4 Grand Picasso fails after 1,500 miles – and it transpires it was a rental car
Secret history of usedapproved Citroen MPV
“Allowing dealers to sell
worn out ex-rental cars
makes the approved
scheme redundant”
BUYING a car second-hand always
carriesa degree of risk, but oneway
o reduce concerns isto go througha
manufacturer’sapproved used scheme.
Theseschemesoffer piece ofmind and
car-maker backing for second-handbuyers,
but James Allan, fromWistow, Leics, found
t wasn’t quite thatsimple. Afterjusta
month ofownership, hisCitroen C4
Grand Picasso wasback in thegarage.
Jamesboughtthe 2014model from
Bristol Street Motors, Leics, with 17,500
mileson the clock. But only 1,500miles
ater, theMPVneeded to be recovered.
Theclutch hadstartedshudderingand
was accompanied by a badsmell. James
said: “Thedealershipdiagnoseda burnt
out clutch and said itwas so bad it could
onlybe driver error. They wanted to
charge £1,800 to repair my nearly new car.”
Jameswasn’t happyas he’d covered
so few miles in the shorttimehe’d owned
the car.Headded: “To wear out a clutch
so comprehensively would have taken a
veryconcertedeffort on ourpart.”
WhenJames checked theV5C document,
he found theCitroenhadpreviouslybeen
run byAvisas a rentalcar– a factJameshad
notbeentold. He said: “Allowing dealersto
sell potentially worn outex-rental cars and
BAD START
James was irate
after his used
approved MPV
suffered burnt
out clutch after
only 1,500 miles
THE number of nearly new
cars on sale hasalmostdoublein thepastsix months, apparentlyconfirminghow makers and dealeare pre-registeringin larger numb
There’s beenplenty of speculati
about thispracticefor a while now,
but this is thefirstevidence thatall isnotas itseems.Withnewcarregistrations risingmonthaftermonth, it seemsobviouspre-registeringhas beenprevalen
Theamountof sub-one-year-oldsold in theUK duringMarch 201591per cent higherthanin October2014. It’s true,the numbers of thistype of sale traditionally spike in th
Demandfor this type of carisfalling,too, thanks to attractive
new car finance packages. Second-handdealers are strugglingto shifstockof late-plate vehicles.If salesor more accuratelypre-registrationcontinueto rise,what willhappen
andwhatshould bedone?If manufacturers insiston
setting highsales targets,dealerswillcontinueto pre-register.It’sgreat for industry and factoriestobe churningout carafter car,
butwe’ll endup in a situationwhere theUK becomes a carpark of unsoldmodels.The simpleanswer is to reduce sales targets.
Forcarbuyers,though,it’s nota
bad. Withso manypre-registered
on themarket,you’ll beable toscogreatdeal on a barelyused,nearlynmodel.That is,of course, if youcanresistthetemptationof a zeroper cfinanceofferfor that shiny, newca
Traffic information AA: 09003 401100 (p)RAC: 09003 444999 (p)
Problems with dealersMotor Codes:0800 692 0825RMIF : 0845 839 9205 (m)Scottish Motor Trade
Association: 0131 331 5510
Problems with makersMotorCodes: 0800 6920825
Financial problems
Financial Ombudsman:0800 023 4567
Safety concerns/recalls
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA):
0117 954 3300
UsefulContacts
Contact Lawrence Allan
[email protected] @AutoExpressWrite to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publis30 Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JD
Teen road death raterevealed in new data
HOT TOPIC DIY car maintenance
■ Shock figures confirm teen accidents are still disproportionate
DIY DEBAReaders are
divided on th
merits of doin
simple car
maintenance
Audi should look atSkoda for styling tips
Why waiting for a facelift is a good idea
FROM: N Bennett I’VE always changedhalogen lightbulbs myself, for the simple
reason that the glass mustn’t be touched
by hand. With bulbs requiring convoluted
hand positioning to avoidcontamination,
I can’t imagine mechanics wanting
to or caring much in some cases.
FROM: Aidrian Walsh I BELIEVE ifyouaren’table do simplethings such as
changing your own essentials or topping
up thefluid levels, then youdeserve to
becharged upto £70 for someone else
to do it.It amazesme how manydrivers
have trouble with the simplest tasks.
FROM: Paul Baimbridge TheVW Group
should take the designer responsible for
Audi and introduce them to whoever
created the newSkoda Superb – a
car with flair and style.It’stimefor a
real designshake-up at Audi, ratherthan
simplyadding minor details to itscars.
FROM: Bobby Parker WHY would anyone
buy the first evolution of a new car when
mid-life refreshesalways seem to bring
about improvements suchas engine
tweaksand betterinteriors? Whybe
the guineapig? It seems common-sense
to meto waitfor a refreshed model.
FROM: Michael Westrup YOUstate that
the newJaguar XE (Issue1,368)emits99g/km of CO2 on the 163bhpmodel,
which will “please the taxman”. Surely
it’s the opposite.The taxman would
be pleased by higheremissions,so he
cangrab more revenue!As cars become
cleaner,he needsallthe moneyhe can get.
FROM: Jack Taylor YOUR articleaboutthe
self-drivingAudi A7 on the autobahn(Issue1,369)laid bare the issues we wi
havehere inthe UK. Mymain concern is
lane discipline. Addingan extra lane
would cost huge amounts,but be ignore
by80 per centof drivers, justlike they
do to the current emptylane onthe left.
Cleaner cars don’timpress the tax man
UK drivers not ready for self-driving cars
■ “Manufacturers should
be forced to make basic
safety essentials, such
as swapping lightbulbs,
easy to perform.”Nicko
■ “We need rules on
making these things ea
without the need to visi
a bank manager first.”
Land Rover are thebes
■ “Itnever ceases to
amaze me how complex
cars arenow. Common-
sense should dictate that
it shouldbe simple.” les
MORE than four teenage
passengers a weekwere killed
or seriouslyinjured in 2013 in
cars drivenby 17 to 19-year olds.
Recent figures show thattwo-
thirds of teenage passengers
killed or seriously injured were
also in cars drivenby under 25s.
Previous research found
teenage drivers make up only
1.5 percent of full licence holders,
but are involved in12 per cent
of allaccidents where someone
s killed or seriouslyhurt.
The RAC Foundation, whichreleased the statistics following our
nvestigation into whether 16-year-
olds should be allowed to drive
(Issue 1,368), said whilefigures
were dropping, it wasn’t because
young drivers were being safer.
Theroad safetycharitysaid
the cost of learningto drive and
owninga car meantthe numberof
teenage licence holders was falling,
resulting in less accidentrisk.
Professor Stephen Glaister,
director of the RACFoundation,
said: “The casualty figures don’t
cast blamefor accidents, but given
the disproportionate number of
youngdrivers involved in accidents,the conclusion must be that many
teenagersare being killedby the
nexperienceof their friends.
“Itis a great disappointment
that successive governments
have failedto tackle an issue
that is causing so much pain.”
New figures highlight concern
over teen fatalities in cars
INSURANCE
INSIDER Graeme TrudgillExecutive Director at BritishInsurance Brokers’ Association
( www.biba.org.uk )
DOyouknow if you’recovered for driving other cars (DOC)? If not, you’renotalone. Theextension isn’t standardunder allpolicies, butwhen it applies,
it allowsthe policyholder todrivecars thataren’townedor hiredby them, providing, of course, they
have permissiontousethe vehicle.It usually providesonlythird-party
insurance, so addingyourselfas a nameddriver togetaccidentaldamage, fire andtheftcovermightbewise. It’s not anexact science, though, asAdrian Flux –willoffer comprehensiveDOCcover.Reading yourinsurance certificatemay
notprovide enoughinformation,either,sohere’sa quickchecklist to askyour insurer beforeyou take to theroad:
■ Am I oldenough?The extensionnormallydoesn’tapplyto under 25s
andsometimesnotto under 30s, either.
■Does coverextend toEurope or just UK?
■ Isit emergencycoveronly, or can I useitfor sharing the driving ona long trip?
■Willit bevalid ifdriving a small van?■Does it apply only to thepolicyholder,
or to nameddrivers, too?
■ Ismy jobacceptable?Themost important thing to remember
is,don’tmake anyassumptionsabout yourcover– check before youdrive.
Insidestory Tackl ing the motoring issues that matter
Make some dates in your diary as we round up the top car shows
and events for petrolheads this summer, in the UK and in Europe
AS the temperatures rise, thoughts turnto holidaysand family daysout.
Andwhatbetter wayto enjoythe summer sunshine and thegreat outdoors
than with thesights, soundsand smellsof a gloriousBritishmotoringevent?Motor showshave changed dramaticallyover theyears. They’re no longer
stuffyaffairs held in gianthallswithstaticdisplays;they’venowbecome all-
encompassing, family-friendlycelebrationsof carsoldandnew,withplenty of
otherattractions, including liveentertainment, competitionsand more.We’ve
rounded upthebestthat summer 2015has tooffer in the UKand furtherafield.
BIGSUMMEROFMOTORING
CarFest (North and South)Where:Oulton Park,Cheshire;Laverstoke ParkFarm,HampshireWhen: 31 July-2August (North); 28-30August (South)Entry: From£60 Contact: carfest.org
THEbrainchild of radiopresenter andFerrari enthusiastChrisEvans,CarFestisa funfamily festival underpinnedby a love of cars–with a quarter ofproceedsgoing toChildren InNeed. It’s nowin itsfourth year andsplitintoevents in thenorthandsouthof England,with thethree-daycampingfestivalsbestdescribed asGlastonbury withcars.The livemusic line-up includesTheBoomtownRats, Texas, Paloma Faithand WillYoung, while
there’s plentyof organic festival food andanair displayto enjoy.Oh,and therearecars, too, with awide rangeofproduction andracingmodels taking to thetrack, includinghistoric F1 racers, hotrods,rally cars, Japaneseretro andsupercars, andeventwo generations
IT’S oneof England’soldest hill climbs– having been usedsince1910– andalthoughit started asa competitiveevent,the Kop Hill Climb
has becomea fun-packed familyday outwithhundredsof historicandexotic cars andbikestakingparteach year,surroundedbyexhibitionsandentertainment.Side events include a
SoapboxChallenge, a rafflefor a Porsche 911 rideupthehill,a terrifyingwall of death ride anda funfair for thekids. It’s allfor charityandrunbyvolunteers.
...Andwhat about abroad?FANCY taking advantageof a cheapflight or aneasy ChannelTunnel ride andheadingtoEurope? Here arethreeof theContinent’s topmotoringevents...
LeMans 24 HoursWhere:Circuit de laSarthe, FranceWhen: 13-14June Entry: From €75Contact: 24h-lemans.com
Berkshire Motor ShowWhere: ProspectPark,Reading,BerksWhen:5 July Entry: From£2 (charitydonation)Contact: berkshiremotorshow.co.uk
DunsfoldWings &WheelsWhere:DunsfoldPark,Guildford,SurreyWhen: 29-30August Entry: From £22Contact: wingsandwheels.net
GoodwoodRevivalWhere:Goodwood,WestSussex When: 11-13September Entry: From £50 Contact: goodwood.com
RAISINGmoney for theChildLung Foundation,theBerkshireMotorShow isa relaxed familydayout,with thelikes of circus entertainers,chainsaw carversanda funfair toenjoy.
THEhigh-octaneWings &Wheels event takesover DunsfoldPark for theAugustBankHolidayweekend,andpromisespulsating air andmotordisplays.Thehugepark isused to full effect, includinga Red
Arrows show, classiccarandsupercar areas, a stunt show,a retailvillageandall kindsofactivities for the kids– from a fairground toaviationandracesimulators,plusbouncycastles.
from thepast. As ever,hundreds of seminalvintage road andtrack carswill race around the
Goodwood circuit,whilethis year’smaineventwill bea tribute to legendaryracer andengineerBruceMcLarenandwill include a paradeof more than20carspertinentto hiscareer. A highlightwill be theLavant Cuprace,
which is exclusivelyfordrum-braked Ferraristhis time around,with hundredsof millionsofpoundsworthof cars taking part. Under-13sget into theRevival show for free.
Belgian GPWhere: Spa-Francorchamps,Stavelot, BelgiumWhen: 21-23August Entry: From €135 Contact: formula1.com
“Tightly contoured interior feels less claustrophobic due to better rearwardvisibility, but the hard and flat-bottomed seats are just as uncomfortable”
FOR £51,500 you can havean Alfa
Romeo 4Cwitha fixed roof, and now a
further £8,000 gets youa 4C Spiderwith
a roll-up fabrictop that stows in theboot.
Both havemini-supercarproportions
and styling to makeyou goweakat the
knees,but whysuch a significantprice
hike? Aside from the extraequipment
and wind-in-your-hair thrills, AlfaRomeo
claims to haverectified the coupé’sjitteryroad mannerswith the 4CSpider.But
does it justify the extra cash?
On paper at least, Alfa appears to
haveaddressedthe somewhat erratic
character of the coupé. Tinkering with
the4C’s chassis should have helped
tame itswayward nature, while at the
same time making it a more rewarding
driver’s car.What hasn’tchangedis the
mid-engined layout, carbon monocoque
chassisand unassisted steering.That
combinationproved to be a handful
n the coupé,especially with theraw
237bhp 1.75-litre turbonestlinga matter
of inchesbehind the driver’s head.
Bar the odd fraction, the Spideris asmpressivelyquick as the coupé: clocking
0-62mph in 4.5seconds and160mphflat-
out. Alfa hasalso presentedthe choice of
threeexhaustsystems – standard (loud),
race (very loud) and, at extra cost, an
Akrapovicsystem, which canbe switched
between the two volume settings.
By removingthe roofand redistributing
equipment, there’s been a marginal shift in
weight distribution (40:60frontand rear
versus 35:65 forthe coupé).There have also
been detailchanges to thesuspension and
steering, withnoticeably positive results –
it’s less of a battlehustlingthe Spiderdown
a winding backroad thanit isin the coupé.
Thesteeringis still quite heavy – muchheavier thanthatof a Lotus Elise – but it’s
farmore consistent anddoesn’t kick back
or move aroundwith the same severity.You
geta more detailed picture of what the front
wheels aredoing, giving youconfidence to
press on where youwouldhave backed off
inthe 4C. Opt for a set-up which ismore
comfort-orientated, withsmaller wheels
andsoftersuspension, andthe changes to
the steering areamplified, adding a degree
of suppleness andflow to the process.
The engine, however, remainsuntamed.
It’s plagued byold-fashioned turbo lag, a
throttle which ishard to modulate, plus a
booming yet characterless exhaustnote.On
fasterruns, the laggy response andover-zestymid-range make it difficult to find a
consistent rhythm. Where a Porsche Boxster
GTSwould flatter you, this car falters.
Specificto theSpider isa bespokeengine
cover, sporting a brace of rear buttressesFIRSTDRIVE Can strikingdrop-topmakeu
a 4C withouta roof; it’s Alfa’sattemptat addressing someof
the criticismlevelled at theunruly
coupé. Changes to the steering and
suspension mean it flows along the
road better than before, butpush
a little harder, andproblemswith
the laggy power delivery,reluctant
gearbox and boomingexhaust
noteremain. It makes the Porsche
Boxsterand eventhe Lotus Elise
look refined bycomparison. It’s
lucky theSpider is so drop-dead
gorgeous,because the drive still
doesn’tliveup tothe looks.
★★★ .autoex ress.co.uk
Essentials
C Spider
ROOF In keeping with the 4C’s
stripped-back, lightweight philosophy,
the Spider’s fabric roof is removed
manually. It’s not as fiddly as you
might expect, though, plus it
stows away neatly in the boot
HANDLING With 234bhp at its
disposal and only around a tonne topropel along, the Spider’s performance
is lively and the driving experience
visceral. But the car can be tricky to
handle when pushed to the limit
Alfa Romeo4CSpiderPrice: £59,500
Engine: 1.75-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 234bhp
Transmission: Six-speed auto,rear-wheel drive
0-62mph: 4.5secondsTopspeed: 160mph
Economy: 40.9mpg
CO2: 161g/km
ON SALE Now
Performance0-62mph/top speed
4.5 seconds/160mph
Running costs40.9mpg (official)
£47 fill-up
NEED TO
KNOW There are rumours
of a faster 4C
Stradale, but it’s
hard to see more
power being
welcome and
weight being cut
appointment of coupé?
anda pair ofnewheadlamps, which replace
theopinion-dividing, bug-eyed lightsfrom
the coupé – but you can specifythose if
youwant to.The cabin is tight,but access
ismuch easierwith the roof off. Climb
inside, and the tightly contoured interior
feels less claustrophobicdueto better
rearwardvisibility,but thehard andflat-
bottomedseatsare justas uncomfortable.
One notable addition is the fabricroof.Unclipping andrefitting the7kgtop is
a fumble-free, two-minute, one-person
exercise, andpossiblymore impressive for
thesnug refinement it provideswhen in
place. When neatlystowed in theboot, hair-
ruffling iskept to a minimum, thanksto
a spoiler lip fittedacrossthe headerrail
deflectingairupwards, awayfromoccupants.
Alfa has addeda greater senseofmaturity
inside, kitting theSpider outwith a new
Alpineheadunit andhi-fi system, plusher
floor mats, parking sensors andcruise
control as standard.There’s alsoair-con
anda leather-trimmeddash,butit’s not
enoughto distract youfrom thestill unruly
character of this feisty Italian sportscar.
7/18/2019 Auto Express - May 27, 2015 UK
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Verdict
Coming soon
VolkswagenCaddyFIRSTDRIVE
Van-basedMPV is a practical, spacious choice
TESLA MODELATE 2015With its distinctive f
doors, seven-seat l
300-mile plus range
strong performance
Model X EV is sure shake up the SUV c
SUPERMINIS
Fiat 500 2016Ford Ka mid 2015Ford Fiesta 2017Honda Jazz summer R enau lt Twin goGT l at e2015RenaultZOEupdate late2015Renault 5 late 2015SEAT Ibiza 2016SmartForTwoBrabus mid2016Suzuki Swift 2017Vauxhall Viva summer
FAMILYCARS
A lfa R omeoGiul ia l at e2015AlfaRomeoGiuliaEstate late2015AudiA3three-cylinder late2015Audi A4 late 2015BMW3SeriesPlug-in mid2016
BMW i5 2016Honda FCEV mid 2015Infiniti Q30 late 2015K ia O pti ma faceli ft l at e2015 JaguarXE Sportbrake 2016MG5 2020MINI Clubman mid 2015MINI Coun tryman early 2016Nissan Leaf mid 2016Porsche Panamera 2016PorschePanameraestate 2016Re nault Mégane mid 2 016SkodaSuperbEstate September Subaru Levorg late 2015Tesla Model III 2016Toyota Prius late 2015Toyota Mirai late 2015Vauxhall Astra late 2015VW Beetle Dune late 2015VW Golf Alltrack summer VW Golf CC 2015V W Pa ssat A ll track su mmer VW Passat GTE June
SPORTSCARSAlfa 4C Stradale late 2 015Alfa 6C 2016Aston Martin DB9 late 2 016AstonMartinV8Vantage early2016Audi A5 spring 2016Audi A9 2018Audi R4 2016Audi R8 autumnAudi TT Sportback 2016Audi TT Spor t Quattro 2016BMW M1 2016BMW M2 late 2015Caterham sp or ts car 2016Ferrari 488 GTB mid 2015Ford GT 2016Ford Focus RS 2016Honda Ci vi cTy peR l at e2015Honda CR-Z 2017Honda NSX late 2015Infiniti Q60 2016 JaguarXE SVR early2016Kia GT4 Stinger 2016LamborghiniAsterionLP910-4 2017
Lexus GS F late 2015Lexus RC late 2015Lexus LF-LC 2016Lotus Evora 400 summer Maserati Alfieri 2016MaseratiGranTurismo late2017McLaren 570S late 2015Mercedes-AMGCLA45SB mid2015MercedesC450AMGSport 2016MG TF replacement 2020NissanPulsarNismo late2015Peugeot 308 R late 2015PorscheBoxsterSpyder late2015PorscheCaymanGT4 mid2015Pors che911GT 3RS mid2015Porsche911facelift late2015Porsche 961 2017Porsche Pajun 2018Renault Alpine 2016Toyota FT-1 (Supra) 2016
VW Scirocco GTS 20
SUVs
Alfa Romeo SUV early 20Aston Martin DBX 20Audi Q1 20Audi Q5 20Audi Q6 20Audi Q7 summAudi Q8 20Audi RS Q1 late 20Bentley Bentayga 20BMW1SeriesSportCross 2BMW X2 20BMW X3 20BMW X7 20Citroen Grand Cactus 20Dacia Duster facelift 20Ford Edge summ
Honda HR-V summInfiniti QX30 mid 20 Jaguar F-Pace 20Lamborghini Urus 20Land Rover D efender 20Lexus RX late 20Maserati Levante 20Mazda CX-3 summMercedesAMGGTfour-door 20MercedesGLCCoupé early20Mercedes GLC mid 20MercedesGLECoupé mid20Mercedes GLE mid 20Mercedes GLS mid 20MG GS 20Peugeot Quartz 20PorscheCayenneCoupé 2Pors cheMa ca n Tu rboS 2Porsche Macan GTS 20Porsche Panamera 20Qoros 2 SUV 20Qoros 3City SUV 20Renault Kwid 20Renault Kadjar Aug
Renaultseven-seatSUV 2Rolls-Royce SUV late 2SEAT SUV 20Skoda Yeti+2 20Suzuki iM-4 20Tesla Model X late 20Toyota C-HR 20Volkswagen Taigun 20Volkswagen Tiguan 20Volkswagen T-ROC 20Volvo XC40 20Volvo XC60 20
PEOPLEMOVERS
BMW2SeriesGranTourer JF ordC-MA Xfa celi ft su mmFordGrandC-MAXfacelift summFord S-MAX summMercedes R-Class 20VW Touran NovemVW Transpor te r late 2
CABRIOLETSAudi R8 Spyder 20AlfaRomeo4CSpider mid20F iat 124S pi der su mmer20 Jaguar F-TypeSVR late20 JaguarXE Convertible 20LamborghiniHuracánSpyder late20Mazda MX-5 summMercedesC-ClassCabriolet late20MercedesS-ClassCabriolet late20MINI Convertible 20RangeRoverEvoqueCabriolet 20Rolls-Royce Dawn 20VWBeetleDunecabriolet late20
LUXURYCARS
BMW 7Series late 20Cadillac ELR late 20Infiniti Q80 20 JaguarXF late20MercedesS-ClassPullman 20R oll s-RoycePhan tom 2VW Phaeton late 20Volvo S90 20
IF youwant plentyof space coupled
with child-friendly versatility and don’t
reallycare what theneighbours think,the
Volkswagen CaddyLife could be the car
foryou. It’s compact – it has a footprint
similar to a Golf Estate– yetthere’s a serious
amount of space andthe option of seven
seats on the long-wheelbase Maximodels.
The interior is robustly built,but designed
with adaptable seating and no less than 17
storage compartments. And there’s plenty
of tech, too,includingCity EmergencyBraking,Adaptive Cruise Control and a 360-degree
parking aid. Hard plastics on the dash
anddoor inserts betrayits commercial
vehicle origins, butthere’s a toughnessand
solidity that family buyers willappreciate.
The bigdraw, however, is thespace
nside. The standard CaddyLife has room
forfive adults, andloadsof headroom for
all of them. A third row, making thevehicle
a seven-seater, is an optionon the Caddy
Maxi Life versions that increasethe
wheelbaseby 470mm for a bigger boot.
In general,it rides comfortably butthings
can getunsettled over largerbumps and the
vehicle’s height makes itself felt through
corners and sharp changes of direction.
A range of Euro 6-compliant 2.0-litre TDIdiesels is offered with power outputs of
wheelarches andrakedwindscreenpillarsprovidea sleekand aerodynamiclook,but the19-inchalloywheelsandsilverroofrailson ourtestcarmeantstillhasmore than ahint of ruggedSUV. At therear, theXC90is lessstriking,but the
brand’s designershavestill usedthelightclusterstogood effect. Thetail-lamps runfromthe topof thebootrightdownto thebumper, andwithVolvo’s traditional kinkhalfwaydown, theXC90sinstantlyrecognisablein thedark.There’s also
a smallboot lipspoileranda fewcreasesin thetailgate.Combinethatwith thecar’sdual exhausts,andit makesfor aminimalist andcrisprearend. That theme is repeatedinside, withexpensive-
hasdeclutteredthedashboardandremovedmost of thebuttons.Instead,the entertainmentandclimatesystems arecontrolledby a central touchscreen,flankedby twomainair ventsandsomelovelychromedetailing.Alongwiththe RangeRover-
ike digital dials, it’s thehighlightof thecabin. Allof themainon-boardfunctionsarecontrolled
bythisnine-inchtablet-styleset-up, including thesat-nav,DABradio, climatecontrol andBluetooth.Ourtest carwasalsofittedwith the£575WinterPack,featuringheatedseats, a £700360-degreecamera
up.Thiscanmakethings abitnoisy, althoughit’smuchquieter andmorerefined ata cruise,with theeight-speedautomatic gearboxshuffling ratiosnicely.Despite its relativepowerdeficit to theDiscovery,
lackof powerdoesn’t hurt it toomuchgoingthroughthegears, its 130Nm torque disadvantage shows.Notasmuchas youmight think,though,as it took 12.9
seconds toaccelerate from50-70mphin eighth,
whichwasn’t farawayfromtheDiscovery’s time. The rideisfirmerthan theLandRover’s,but
notas stiff assportierrivals like Porsche’sfive-seat-only Cayenne.The XC90ridesbetteron smoothersurfaces,yet alsodealswithscarredroadswell.
As a result, it strikes aneatbalancebetweencomfort andagility,with greatbody control andaroundededgeto thesuspension’s damping.Itmeans youcanpush thecarandusethenicelyweighted,quicksteeringto guide itdownevennarrowcountry
laneswhilestill retainingthe composedride.
Ownership4.2/5 TRADITIONALLY, Volvohas beenknown for itsdependability.However,it slippedsixplaces to17th
inourDriver Power2015satisfactionsurvey, andwasonly the20thmostreliablebrandoutof 32.Onlythefirstfew customerswillhavereceivedtheir XC90s bynow, so reliability reports arescarce,andalthough theVolvois packedfullof new
tech,we’re confident it shouldprovereliable.EuroNCAPhasn’tcrashtestedthenewSUVyet,but
andhigher list price,theVolvo looks like a bitof abargainat£45,750.Plus, it hasmarginally strongerresidualvalues of54.8percent,so itwill lose£1,148less than theDiscoveryover threeyearsfromnew. That smallerenginemightnotbeblisteringly
quick,but it ishighlyefficient.This2.1-tonne SUV emits just 149g/kmof CO2, whichmeansa BenefitinKind rateof 27percentand lowrunningcostsforhigher-rate businessusersat £4,919per year. Wealsorecordedrespectable fueleconomyon
test of33.0mpg,whichis good fora carof this size,
even if it fallsshortof theofficial49.6mpgfigure.
Volvo XC
Testers’ notes“All-new XC90 is a big deal for Volvo, as itrepresents the template for future models.The latest chassis is based on what the brand
calls its ‘Scalable Product Architecture’. Putsimply, this new platform can be resized todesign other cars using the same underpinnings.Other Volvos down the line will use the latestDrive-E family of engines, too. There’ll bepetrol and diesel models, as well as hybrids.”
Old and newWITH the new XC90,Volvo has perfectlycaptured the mix ofold-school luxurywith new tech. It still
feels fresh inside,with cool metal andsoft leather, while thehuge touchscreen iseasy to use. Rotaryengine stop/startcontroller is apremium touch
Testers’ notes“XC90’s real-world efficiency also meansmore practicality. Continent-crossingcruisers need a big range, and even thoughthe Volvo’s fuel tank is 10 litres smaller thanthe Land Rover’s, it will go 26 miles further.
Dean Gibson Dep. roadtest editoDeInterior spaceCABIN feels upmarket, while boot spaceexpands to 1,951 litres. Seatbelts hark
have a lowerresolution– it takes longerto respondtoyour inputsthanthe Volvo’s tabletaswell,butthefamiliarityof thesystemmeansit’s easy touse.Leather trimcomesasstandard,andadds an
to choose between thetwotransmissions. Wherethe LandRover losesout is in thewayit
drives. The softchassisset-up onourair-suspensionmodelmakes for incrediblelong-distancecomfort,buttheDisco’sweightandheightmeanthebodyrollsheavilyin corners,evenatmoderatespeeds.It’s
notas car-like todriveas themoreagile XC90,and
there’s notasmuchgrip tocall on,either.Thesteering isslower, too, soyouhaveto work the
wheela lotmoreif you’regoingdowna twistyroad.However,thisis good forstability onthemotorwayandperformance off-road,where thiscarexcels. TheDiscoveryreallydoesfeel likeit canclimb any
mountainandfordanystream–withair-suspension
toincrease therideheight andavoidobstacles,as
well asa 700mmwadingdepth,it probablycan. TheLandRover faroutshinestheVolvoaway fromthetarmac,but tomost buyersthiswon’tmatter aslargeSUVslikethesewillspendmostof their timeontheroad. That’snot tosay thecar isn’t impressive
overall.Bear inmind theassessmenthas changeda lotsincethen, butsafety kithasbeenupgradedtoincludemore airbags,aswell asESP, blindspotwarningandreverse traffic alert. So althoughtheDiscoverycan’tmatchthe Volvo’s long list of
hi-techfeatures,it should bereassuring.
Running costs 3.0/5DEPRECIATIONis onaparwiththeVolvo,butourexperts predict theDiscoverywill stilllosea large
appearcompetitive, at£699for fiveyears’ servicing. At thetimeof goingto press, Volvohadn’t yet
releasedservicingprices for thenewXC90.
Testers’ notes“It’s been over 10 years since the square-setDiscovery’s launch, and you still have to marvelat how well this car combines luxury andmud-plugging performance. The only thingthat lets the Land Rover down is its poorfuel economy. The next generation ofmore efficient SUVs is leaving it behind,but we’re sure Land Rover has somethingspecial lined up for the next model.”
InsideWHILE interior ismore functional,finish is still great;load bay expandsto 2,558 litreswith all rear seatsfolded; off-roaddisplay tracksprogress over
different terrain
On the roadAIR-suspension means Discovery is a comfortablecruiser, but there’s no disguising its height and weight
in corners, where body roll is a real issue. It simplydoesn’t feel as car-like to drive as the new XC90
Off-road abilityNOT only can the Discovery
tow bigger loads thanks toits 3,500kg limit, it’s also themore capable choice for buyerswanting a premium seven-seatewith go-anywhere versatility. Ithas three computer-controlledlocking differentials and off-rotyres. Unlike the Land Rover, thVolvo doesn’t come with anyspecial off-road programmes.
Digital revolutionXC90’S digital dials are similarto those on the Range Rover anRange Rover Sport, while itsiPad-style interface is one of thbest around. The Disco is showinits age by comparison, but we’rsure the new model – due nextyear – will get lots of gadgets tbring its tech tally up to scratc
ComfortROOM in the back row of bothcars is good, and six-footers wbe comfortable on short journeyXC90’s seats are more forgivinand the mechanism is more usefriendly; the middle row slides
and folds in one smooth motionmeaning access is a lot easier.
CO2/tax213g/km
£290 or 37%
PracticalityBoot (7/5/2 seats)
172/1,260/2,558 litres
Performance0-60/30-70mph
8.4/8.3 seconds
Braking70-0/60-0/30-0mph50.6/38.1/9.2m
Running costs27.1mpg (on test)
£99 fill-up
Testers’ notes“Storage inside the Discovery is impressive.The interior might focus on functionalitycompared to the stylish XC90, but withfeatures such as a twin glovebox and bigdoor bins, you won’t be short of space.”
IF you want a seven-seat SUV, your options are fairly limited.However, you could go for theMercedes GL 350. The V6diesel model is much fasterthan the XC90, yet not asfrugal. It’s much pricier
than these cars, too.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDiPremium SEAuPRICE: £36,705 ENGINE: 2.2-litre4cyl, 194bhp
AT the other end of the scale is the Hyundai Santa Fe.The seven-seater’s cabin is a little cramped, but it hasfour-wheel drive and an autobox. Premium SE modelsare well equipped, yetthe Santa Fe isn’t as
upmarket as the XC90.
RIVALSOther options inthis category...
discountsFacts, figures and advicepowered by carbuyer.co.u
nside.Kiamightnot have focused toomuchonchangingthe exteriordesign, as thebasic look worked andthefamily resemblancewasalreadypresent, butthe interiorhas come informoreattention– therearenowsome smarter trimdetails
thenewVengadoesn’tgeta downsized,high-efficiencyturbochargedengine – instead, itusesa relativelyconventional1.4-litrefour-cylinderpetrol unit thatdelivers89bhp.
Unfortunately, comparedto someof themore
modern, smallerturbounits on themarket today,
t feelsflat andlifeless, asour test figuresshow. TheVengaacceleratedfrom0-60mphin11.7seconds,andcompletedthesprintfrom30-70mphthroughthegears in11.9 seconds.The otherbigdownsideis theengine’spoorefficiency, whichwe’ll cometo later.
The raised rideheight overcarslike theFordFiestaorVolkswagenPolomeansthat theKia does lose outwhen itcomesto handling,butwhat itlacksin funtmakesupforwith a composedride.Longer-travel suspensionmeans there’sa
noticeable amountof body roll if you’rea littletooenergeticwith your cornerentryspeed, andthesquidgy steeringdoesn’t givemuchfeedback – buttheVengais more aboutrelaxedcruising inurbanareasthanblastingdowna country road.Heretmakesmore sense,witha soft chassisset-upthat
animpressive48.5metres, plus it came toahaltthreemetressooner from60mph.This solidbrakefeelmeans theVengais reassuring ontheroad.
Ownership 3.9/5COMPAREDto itsrivals here,thenewcarshouldalsobemore reassuring torun, asKia finishedourDriverPower2015 satisfactionsurveyin19thposition. This isn’tthe bestperformance,butits reliabilityscoreswerethehighest of thethreemakershere.
The brand’s dealer network faredmuchbetter,however,comingin 10thplacein ourlastsurvey. We’venotheardof anymajor problemswiththe Venga,butit onlyjustmadeour Driver Powertop200 best cars tolivewith – ownersranked it197th.
EuroNCAPcrashtestedthepreviousVengain 2010,andalthough itperformedwell, scoring a full five-starrating, theassessmenthas changedsincethen.Still,we’dexpect thenewcarto fare aswellnow,withsixairbagsandESPas standard.There’s a hill startassistfunction, too, andthe carwillflashthehazard
majordrawback: poor efficiency. Youhaveto revtheenginehardto getthecarup tospeed,whichmeantweonly recorded38.1mpg ontest.Asa result, you’llspend£127 extraon fuel over 12,000miles than intheFordand£348morethan inthefrugalNissan.
Inisolationthis isn’t toobad,but evenwithstop/start,the higher130g/kmCO2 outputmeans£110road tax and a 21percentBenefitin Kindrate. The latterputsthe Kia’s companycarcostsup byanother£94overtheNote’syearly running costs.
It’s notalldoomandgloom,though,as the Venga’sservicingcosts aremuchcheaperthanitsrivals’:Kia’s Care-3 three-yearservicingplancosts£339.Plus, a seven-year/100,000-milewarrantyis standard.Thiscombinationwillbea bigattractionto thosewhodon’ttraveltoo far
andare looking tokeepmaintenancecostslow.
Kia Venga
Testers’ notes“The 1.4-litre petrol is theentry-level engine in theVenga range. There’s also a 123bhp1.6-litre unitavailable if you don’t fancya diesel. However, the
114bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel is punchier anddoeshelp improve theKia’s in-gear performance. Eventhe lower-powered1.4 dieselproduces 220Nmof torque, sowith morepulling powerthan thethree-cylinderB-MAX, andofficial figures of62.8mpg and119g/km, it’s a big improvement.”
James Disdale Roadtest editorJa
EfficiencyKIA’S Intelligent Stopand Go (stop/start)aids efficiency, butemissions are stillworse than rivals’;five-speed manual is
DesignVENGA benefits from a new front end with Kia’s trademark ‘tiger nose’grille. There are new alloys across the range, too. Raised ride heightmeans the handling isn’t as entertaining as the other cars’ in thistest, although that does translate into a more composed ride
Testers’ notes“To match the Note’s level of tech, you’ll havto upgrade to a Venga ‘3’, which is £15,190and is only available with the 1.6 petrol. Stillyou would get sat-nav, a reversing camera,part-leather seats and climate control.”
Dean Gibson Deputy roadtest edDeLoad bayWITH the seats up, Kia’s 440-litre boot is largeston test, and it’s still generous once they’re down,
with 1,253 litres. Armrest in rear is a nice touch
Practicality 4.2/5ITgetsbrighter fortheKiawhenit comestopracticality:in its regularfive-seat configuration,the440-litreboot is thebiggesthere,helpedbythrear seat benchwhichcanslideback andforward
upto 130mm, givinga good amountof rear legro Withthebackseatsdown,luggagecapacity ris
to1,253litres,whichisn’tas bigas intheB-MAXoNote, butstillplenty. It’smore impressivethat thloadbay is so spaciousinfive-seat configuration.
There’salso a falseboot floorfor secure storage
andinsidethere areplenty of largecompartmentdottedaround thehighseatingposition.Thismeanexcellent viewof theroad,too,whilethere’s ahandyarmrestfor extracomforton longjourney
Styling 4.0/5COMPAREDto thesoftly styledKia,theB-MAX’sstyling –what Ford calls ‘KineticDesign’– ismuchmoreaggressive andsporty.Youcansee theFiestaroots intheshape, andthere’sa similar juttinggrilleandnarrowheadlightsat thefront.
ButfromtheA-pillarbackwards,the roofline isdifferent, with a loftier shapegivingmoreroomnside.Despiteits slabbiersides,a fewdefinedcreases down theflanks breakup theB-MAX’sbodyworkand runnicely into thetail-lights,witha
heavily styled tailgate.Unfortunately, thechunky-
ookingrear bumpermeans there’sa highloadinglip. The realstylingsecretbecomesapparentwhen
youopenthedoors, however.The reardoorsaren’thinged, butslidealong therunnersabovetherearwheelarchesinstead.Open allthedoorsupand it
fullyrevealsthe Ford’sinterior, as theB-pillarsareactuallybuilt intothedoorsthemselves.Like thechassis,muchof thedashis borrowed
from theFiesta,so thelayoutwill befamiliartomostFordsuperminiowners.Therearepositivesand
negativesto this,as it feelssporty anddriver-focused,whilethe drivingpositionis perfect.However,thenfotainment system’sbuttonsareangledawayfromthedriver andpassenger, so it canbehard tofindtheswitchyouwant ata glance. Plus,the smallscreen isburieddeepinto thedashtop,whichmeans itcanbe
difficult toseesmall detailson theoptionalsat-nav. Thankfully, thecontrols for theventilationsystemareeasier touse,with bigger, simpler buttons andsturdyrotarywheels to adjust the temperatureandfanspeed locatedin frontof thegearlever.Although
ourpicturesshowa top-specB-MAXTitaniumX, theZetectrimiscloseron equipmentto theupdatedKia.However,it’sstill£2,200 pricier andtheonlyreal advantageis aDABradio andkeylessstart. There’s a £300optionalCity Pack,which includes
parkingsensors,whileyou canspecify sat-nav(this
comesasstandardontheNote) for£400.Metallicpaintcostsjust£5more than fortheKia, butwiththe£175heated seat optionon ourtestmodel, thistookthe pricedifference toa sizeable£3,570.
Ownership 3.6/5FORD’S performance inourDriver Power2015surveywasmixed.The branddidn’timproveonits25th positionlast year andcame24th(outof 32)forreliability.However, theB-MAXfinishedhigher than
theKia,as itwasvotedthe128thbest car tolivewith. Wehaven’t heardof anyissueswith Ford’s three-
have totravel farto getit fixed,with781UK dealers.Despite thelackof a conventional B-pillar, the
B-MAXis just assafe asanyother car, andtheEuroNCAP crashtest results back this up– itwasawardeda full five-starrating. Buyerscanalso further improvetheirmodel’ssafetycredentials byspecifyingFord’s
ActiveCityStop autonomousbraking for£200.
Running costs 3.7/5 YOUdon’thave toworkthe B-MAX’scleverengineashardtoextract theperformancethanksto that
torque, butit stillisn’tas efficientasFordwouldhave youthink.Wemanaged41.3mpgontest,comparedto anofficial claimof 57.7mpg.However,thisis where thecar’srunningcost
advantagestops.It’smoreexpensiveto buy, soeven
with loweremissionsof114g/kmanda 17percentBenefitin Kind rate,the B-MAXis stillcostly forfleetusers– lower-rate earnerswill pay£545peryear.Plus,Ford’s three-yearservicingpackage is
SportyFIESTA-based B-MAX looks sportier than Kia andNissan, with a heavily styled rear. B-pillars are builtinto doors, giving easier access. Powerful enginemeans Ford is most rewarding car to drive in class
Testers’ notes“In the Ford, you can fold the frontpassengeseat completely flat, so with the rear seatsdown there’s space for loads up to 2.3 metrelong and a fully flat load floor. This partlymakes up for the B-MAX’s small load bay.”
Dean Gibson Deputy roadtest edDeSat-navIF you opt for the sat-nav, it’s a £400 extra,and the small, built-in screen is set back,
making it difficult to see clearly all the time
Practicality 3.9/5 THOSEdoors givethe B-MAXa bigadvantagewhitcomesto practicality.WithnoB-pillarin thewameans standard family tasks – likestrappingyouchildreninto therear– aremucheasier.Thereare
day-to-dayuse.However,familyweekendsawaymightstretch it.The B-MAX’sstorageis better,wicup-holders andluggagenets– includingeitherside of therearseatsand inthefrontfootwells.
Testers’ notes“The doors are clever, but watch what theymean for visibility – with no B-pillar, the frontand rear doors are chunkier, which hurts the viewover your shoulder, slightly impacting safety.”
However,in this year’sDriver Powersurveyitfinishedwaydownthe order in28th outof 32, whileits dealers didn’tperformmuchbetter, coming25thin ourmostrecent survey. TheNotewas votedthe 143rdbestcar to live
with,whichis nothingtowritehomeabout,either.Justlike theB-MAX,you geta three-year/60,000-milewarranty, butunlike theFordthere’s three years’ roadsideassistancethrownin, too.
Whenit comes to safety,the Noteis themostcomprehensivelyequippedof thethree,withblind
spotand lanedeparturewarning,movingobjectdetection,ESPand sixairbags. Thishelpedthecar toearn a full five-starEuroNCAP rating.
Running costs 4.5/5 THENoteloses a greaterportionof itsvalueoverthreeyears fromnewthanits rivals,with predictedresidualsof just over40per cent.However,as it’scheaper than theB-MAX tobuy, this translates intoless depreciation– thecarwill shed £9,165,whereas
CO2 emissionsof 109g/kmarethe lowesthere,andas a resulttheNoteslips into road taxbandB,costing£20peryear.They’re alsogoodnews for
company cartax;a 16per cent Benefitin Kind ratingmeansbusinessuserswill pay£490over12 months,making this thecheapest company car of thethree.
Forthefirst threeyearsof ownership, routinemaintenanceon theNissan addsupto £567– that’sonlya smallamountmore than the
Ford,but ahefty£228abovetheKia’scosts.
Testers’ notes“A real-world focus means none of our test carsoffers any meaningful personalisation optionswhich youcanchooseon some regular superminis.
But if customisation is your thing, the Note is themost versatile. There are plenty of vibrant coloursto choosefromto suitthe hatchback bodystyle, butyou can also spec different finishes for the mirrorcaps, door handles, grille and wheels – plus someinterior trim – to add more visual impact.”
InteriorQUALITY of cabincan’t competewith rivals here,but practicalityis good, with twinglovebox and up to1,495 litres in boot;insert aroundheating control
looks cheap
HandlingWELL weighted steering and strongbody control mean Note is good to drive,
although it doesn’t feel as refined onthe move as the Venga or B-MAX
VersatilityALL three of our test cars
feature variable height floors,concealed compartments andsliding rear benches, so it has tbe a special feature to crown onof these cars the most versatileEven though the Note and Vengare roomier inside, the B-MAXhas a couple more strings to itsbow in the shape of those slidindoors and the folding front sea
Ease of accessACCESS to the B-MAX’s rear iseasy with those sliding doorsand no central pillar. The Kiaalso lets you jump in with zerofuss due to its high-up seatingposition. The Note isn’t as simp– you have to lower yourself intthe deeper seats. Despite morelegroom, you feel hemmed in.
TechnologyCHEAP doesn’t always meancheerful – on the Kia and Ford,equipment is sparse. Even in asmall car, the Note’s reversingcamera and other gadgets arewelcome. Sat-nav and a big
touchscreen infotainment unitcould be a deal-maker for some
CO2/tax109g/km
£20 or 16%
PracticalityBoot (seats up/down)
411/1,495 litres
Performance0-60/30-70mph
12.1/12.5 seconds
Braking70-0/60-0/30-0mph50.0/36.7/9.2m
Running costs48.3mpg (on test)
£47 fill-up
Testers’ notes“Nissan’s ‘Safety Shield’ tech redefinedstandards in the supermini class. This n-tecmodel gets it as standard, but if you wantthe around-view camera monitor, you’ll havto pay £1,105 extra for the Tekna model.”
thingsevenclearer:it’smy favouritecareverto featureontheAutoExpressfleet. Infact,t’soneof the bestcars I’ve everdrivenin
myentirecareerasamotoringjournalist.
Onereason is that itfitsmy lifestyleperfectly. Living anddrivingin LondoncanbepriceywiththeCongestionCharge, butthei3RangeExtendermodelis exemptfrom
the£11.50daily fee.Plus,my parkingspaceathomehasaccessto a socketfor charging,sothecarhasbeenultra-cheap torun.Youdon’tbuythis BMWtosavecash, though;instead,t’smore like theAppleiPhoneof thecarworld– there arealternatives, butnothing
butits appealis probablya lotbroaderthanyou think.For starters,there’splentyof spaceinside, andyougeta flatloadbaywhenthe back seatsare folded.Our carhad a range ofoptions tomake
ifeeasier, includingtheProfessionalsat-nav
withreal-timetrafficalerts anda chargepointfinder. I didn’tevenhavetoprogramtmyself, asour car camewithBMW’sConciergeservice.Simplypressa button tocontacta callcentre,and a representative
FINALREPORT
Love affair is over as ourman bia fond farewell toelectricpione
“BMW i3 is one ofthe best cars I’veever driven in myentire career as amotoring journalist”
INTERIOR
Load bay is totally
flat when you fold
the rear seats, while
screen on top of
luxury dash boasts
ConnectedDrive,
which allows you to
stay in touch with
the outside world
willadd yourdestinationremotely. I evencalled tofindout thefootball scores! Theseextras arepricey,but theonlyone
I’ddo without is the£780sunroof,as itdoesn’t brightenupthecabinmuch.DuringmytimewiththeBMW,Imanaged145mpg,whichiswayofftheclaimed471mpg,butit’sbeensoenjoyableto runthatI can’tcomplain.I also forgive thei3 fordevelopinga fault
wherebythecardisplayeda sinisterwarning
BMW i3
message,althoughit wastougher toexcusethepoorservice I received fromSpireBMW ofHighgate,northLondon,duringtherepair.
However,itmadeamendson a secondvisit.Plus,I’m nottheonlypersonwho’s
attachedtothecar. Even thoughlessthan1,000havebeensold intheUK, I’vehadcontactwithmore i3owners than foranyothercarI’vehadduringmy13 yearsatAuto
Express.Needless tosay, it’ll besorelymissed.
Second opinion“If I have a criticism of the i3, it’s thatit doesn’t handle with the poise andprecision you’d expect of a BMW.With its tall body, narrow stance andskinny tyres, it feels more at homecruising than attacking back roads.”
We’ve told you about our carsNow tell us about yours www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower
Fleetwatch
Our fleet
INDEX
FordMondeoIT’S been a busy few weeks in the Auto Express car park, as wewelcome not one, but two new cars to the fleet. The first is thisRuby Red Ford Mondeo Titanium, complete with the frugal-but-fast178bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine and six-speed manual gearbox.
Our car is loaded with kit, including 17-inch alloys, DAB radio, sportsseats and auto lights, as well as a glorious eight-inch sat-nav, dual-zoneclimate control and Ford’s excellent Quickclear heated windscreen.
On top of that, our hatch also comes with over £7,000 worth of options– taking its total price to £31,590. Can the panoramic roof, leather seatsrear view camera and LED lights transform this into a 3 Series beater?
First impressions are good. Fuel economy is averaging a respectable43mpg and the huge boot has swallowed everything we’ve thrownat it. We’re looking forward to piling on the miles and puttingthe plush newcomer through its paces over the coming months.
SEAT LeonX-PerienceTHE jacked-up SEAT Leon X-Perience – basedon the standard Leon ST Estate – has alsojoined our fleet. It adds 15mm extra groundclearance and four-wheel drive to the practicalbody, but it hadn’t even had time to warm upbefore deputy news editor Richard Ingramtook it away on a 500-mile round trip to Devon.
With all the added versatility, Rich thoughtit was only appropriate to give the X-Perience
a proper countryside induction. But instead oftaking it green laning or hiking on Dartmoor,our man used the Leon to collect three newchickens from a small farm outside Exeter.
The hens were calm thanks to the cushionedride and raised suspension. They were justhappy to get out, sure, and that had somethingto do with swapping a cramped pet carrier forour new SEAT. With its first test comfortablypassed, we’re sure the Leon will go on to be abig hit with its huge 1,470-litre boot, frugal 2.0TDI engine and standard four-wheel drive.
SortingbirddroppingdamageMYcar was leftunder a tree for a coupleof
weeksand it gotcoveredin bird droppings.
I’ve managed to removethem all, butthe
paintworklooks damaged. What canI do?
GailHillier, E-mail
BIRD droppingsneed to be removed assoon as possible.Autoglym’sBirdDroppingWipes(bes price£5.49, www.autoglym.com)should get theworstof themuck off. A colourrestorer
could removeevidence of droppingdamage.Meguiar’sUltimate Compound (£10.99,www.meguiars.com) is our test favourite.
Sat-nav forhousenamesI USEmy sat-nav to getaround everywhere,
butit comes unstuck when I have to navigate
toa house name, asopposedto a number.
Is there a unit thatrecognises names?
JohnWilson,E-mail
UNFORTUNATELY,none of thesystems– apporhardware– in ourmost recentgrouptest were capable of findinghouse names.We
hope it’sa feature more manufacturers will add in the future, though. Fornow, check your routebefore setting off – GoogleMaps is ourbest-ratedrouteplanner.
Hard-wearingmatsneededTHEoriginal mats in my 2009FordFiesta have
worn through. I’m keepingthemin mycar to
protect the footwell,but they lookunsightly.
Canyou recommenda hard-wearing set?
FreddieParker, E-mail
RING’SDuraShield 3000universalmats wonourIssue1,330test. They’re made of thick
rubberso should last foryears. Cutthemto shapealong the channel guidesand they‘ll makefor a snug fitin yourFiesta. Visit www.ringautomotive.co.uk for info.Thebest
IN-car tech firm Pure hasteamedupwith Volkswagen tobring outadigital radioadaptor exclusively
forvehicles from theVW Group.Much like thePure Highway
300Di, winnerof previousAutoExpress DABadaptor tests,theDigital Drive (above) isa smallcontrol box that sits on a vehicle’sdashboard.Station information is
shown onthe display ofthe box.It’savailable through VW, Audi,
FINNISH tyre firmNokian claimstohave gainedapproval forthe first
ever double‘A’-ratedwinter tyre.TheTwinTracSUV tyreis said to
score topmarks inbothwet grip andfuel efficiencytests, earning thetop‘A’ rankin European label ratings. A 265/50R19 tyrewasused,
butmore sizesareexpected to beavailable forcars such as thePorscheCayenneand BMWX5.We’ll have full details about theTwinTrac nearer itsautumnlaunch.
Monster truck funon the south coast
THE second Bournemouth
WheelsFestival rolls into actionthisweekend (29-31May). Amongthehighlightswill
bea monster truck arena on thebeach,with carcrushing events
aswell aspower demos.Passenger rideswill beavailable,too.There will also be stalls selling
auto accessories and live musicbetween Bournemouth’stwo piers.
Formore information, logon to
www.bournemouthwheels.co.uk .
EVER since thePS4and XboxOneconsoles launchedat
the end of2013, gamershavebeencryingout for a topracinggame. Fewtitles have managed to fitthe bill,butProject CARScouldbe the firstmulti-platformhit.With scoresof realistic, exciting and fully licensed
cars onoffer,ProjectCARSis a racingtitle thatwillpleaseeven themost experienced of driving simulationfans.
An immersive careermodefollows the genericformula with players starting with littleand working their wayto thetop. Where Project CARSdiffers
when itgets toohard, like some rival racingsimulators.Thiscustomisationmakesit themostuser-friendly
racinggamewe’ve playedon next-gen consoles.Beginners or racinggame veteranswill enjoy itsaccessibility,withhundredsof othersettingsavailableto tweak to suit, too.
Onscreen, thecars look stunning and themix of real-world and fictionalrace tracksis a healthy balance that keeps thegame fresh.Gameplay is excellentand addictive – wecouldn’t stop going backto tryto win moreraces.There’sno doubt
this is thebestmulti-platform racinggame of recentyears, andwecan’t wait formore contentandcars tobe releasedwhenit isupdated.
withthisgreat backpack fromtoolspecialist Draper. It’sideal formealswith children, as it includesmugs rather thanplasticglasses,but there’saninsulated bottleholder tokeep the wine
BIGfamilies or bigeaters will lovethis coolbag fromNext,whichhasawhopping28-litrecapacity. There’snobottlestore, butthemain section cantake severalbigdrinks containers
andstillhaveplenty of room for food
RECOMMENDED IFyouprefer goblets
tomugs,thenoptfor this Next backpack.Like ourDraper winner, it includesa largerugwithwaterproofbacking, plusthecutleryandcrockeryessentials, such asa wood choppingboard. It also features
RECOMMENDED IF chilleddrinks aremore importantto youthana rug, thenthisGreenfield backpackhamperis theonefor you, with itstwin,foil-lined,insulated holders. Ifyoudo want a rug,
to carryoneas a £14.99 extra,whilea tablecloth is included.There’sa qualityfeel to this set, whichis clearly thebestfor twopeople only. A four-personversionis£42.99andwellworthconsidering.
PICNIC SETSWhich of eight ticks all the boxes for open-air dining?
PRODUCTGROUPTEST 27 |5 |2015Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kitfromt yres to trim cleaners.Logon to www.autoexpress.co.uk to lookthrough our huge online test archive.
THERE’S lotsto like about thisSummerhouse
backpack. It’swell made, plus it includes ourdining
essentialsand an easy-clean cheese board.There’s
also an insulated bottle holderandwaterproof rug.
storage itself is largerthan most, yetit’s noticeably
heaviest seton testeven when unloaded,andit’s h
to justify the higherprice.Rating:★★★
IT’Spartytime with thismonster hamper from
Mountain Warehouse.The tophousesthe usual
crockery, cutleryandcondiments, plus a chopping
board that’sbigger than normal. Underneath,there
massesof room yetno wayof keeping items separa
while it’snot the easiestto carry,especially when
full. Currently reduced from £59.99 to £29.99.Rating:★★★
IFyou want to spend yourcashon food and drink
rather than a picnicset,then this cut-priceAmazon
backpackmaybe exactlywhatyou’reafter.Cutlery
crockeryare thesameas in othersetshere, but you
need to add your own sharp knife,cutting board an
rug. The rear coolbag sectioneasilytook our test
bottles, yet the meshside pockets aretight forwine
Rating:★★★
ANOTHER fromthe bargain basement, but unlike th
Trespass, this is just for two. ThisArgosset also lac
a sharpknife,yetdoes have a plasticchopping boar
It’s light and seems to have lesspadding than mos
we could feel sharp edges when carrying it.It doest
ALL RAV4s need some maintenance every12 months o10,000 miles,with services generally alternating betweminor andmajor. However, there’s also a major+checkevery four, sixor eight years dependingon spec. A minservice is peggedby Toyota at £149, a major at £239 a
a major+ at£299; dealers can charge lessif they want t As all RAV4engines are chain-driven, there are notimingbeltsto replace. However, thebrake fluid shouldbe renewed every other year at £39, while theair-conshouldbe cleaned each year for£15; a full refresh of thesystem every twoyears is recommended,at £60.
Fresh coolant is required every 10 years, at £80.
YOU can pickup an earlyRAV4 for lessthan £5,000 if yobuyprivately; this will be an entry-level XT3or a petrol
example.Few of thesecars have done more than 100,00miles– most have covered less than 70,000, asthe RAVis popular with private buyers rather thanfleets.
For£8,000 youcan secure a 50,000-mile20082.0 VVT-i or a 70,000-mile 2007 2.2D-4D, bothin XT-R trim.£10,000 budgetbrings a 35,000-mile20092.2 D-4D XT
into reach. Around onein three RAV4sis an auto; theodonecrops up at under£6,000, butmostare £7,000-plu
THEREhave been four Mk3 recalls, the firstin February2010. Cars from February 2009 to January 2010 couldsuffer from thethrottle pedal notreturning to idle; therwere no crashes,though.Some pre-August 2010 RAV4s
had a faultyrear suspension arm; Toyota recalled themSeptember 2012.A windowswitch short circuit inSeptember 2006-December 2008 carsled to an Octobe2012 recall. The most recentaction came in April 2014;someRAV4smade up to November2008 hadfaultyairbag
InteriorTHERE’S plentyof room for four
(five if kids are in theback), and
thefrontseats aresupportive with
plenty of adjustment. The steering
adjusts forreach and rake, too, and
the rear seats foldflatto createan
even load bay. Boot space is good
at586 litreswiththe seats up, or
1,469 litres when they’re folded.
GasketsHEADgasketscan
failonthediesel
engine,socheckfor
misfiringalongwith
signsofawhite
emulsionon the
undersideofthe
oil-fillercap.
EngineOILconsumption
canbeveryhigh
beforeToyotawillsaythatthere’safault
withanengine–
asmuchasone
litreevery1,000
milesis acceptable.
HeadlightsALOTofowners
aren’timpressed
withthestandard-
fitheadlights– which
iswhymanyhave
switchedto Osram
NightBreakerbulbs,
asthesearebrighter.
SteeringCLONKING fromthe
steeringsuggestsa
worn intermediate
shaft. However,
itcould also be
aslightlyloose
wheelnut,so
trythese first.
ContactsOfficial
www.toyota.co.uk
Forums
http://RAV4world.com
www.RAV4driversclub.com
www.toyotadriversclub.com
FOR a car that debuted nearly a decadeago, a 130thplacingin this year’s Driver
Power survey shouldn’tbe a surprise.Build quality andreliabilityare theundoubted highlights (48th and 59threspectively), but 162nd for running costs,129th forride quality and136thfor handling are disappointing.
SIMONHarrington from Welshpool,Powys,ownsa 2010 RAV4 D-4D. Hesays:“I boughtthe car new, andplan
tokeep itfor a while yet.After 70,000milesit’s always been completelyreliable, carrying the family and towing a smallcaravan. It’s roomy, wellequipped and comfortable, which
Photos by John Colley.Thanks to AndrewMackayfor the loan oftheRAV4in ourpictures.Own a usedcarin greatcondition andwant it featuredin an Auto Express buyer’sguide?Get in [email protected].
Drivers back F1 revamp plans■ Return of refuelling, improved tyres and better engine noise proposed by Strategy Group ■ Button, Ricciardo and other drivers in favo
Green looking fosecond Audi wBRITON JamieGreen(right) is looking toscore anotherwinfor AudiastheDTMGerman touringcar championship hits
theLausitzring track thisweekend.
The 32-year-oldclaimedhis firstvictory forthemarque at the season
opener in Hockenheim,butsitsjointsecond in thestandingsafter finishinoutside thepoints in thesecond race
BritsGary Paffett andPauldiRestawill also be inactionfor Mercedes’
DTM teamsat theweekend.
THEofficialtestday fornextmonth’s Le
Mans 24Hourstakesplace thisSunday. All 56 carsenteredfor theendurance
classicwillbe present, includingthefullfactory line-upsfrom Audi,Porsche,ToyotaandNissan in thetop LMP1 class.
Teams on thereservelist forthe race
will also runat thetestday,alongwitha pair ofGinetta-Nissan LMP3 cars. Althoughthese areusuallyseenin the
European LeMansSeriesandnoteligibletorace in the24 Hours itself, members
of theNissandriving squadwhohaven’tracedatLeMansbeforewill use themtocompletetheir mandatory‘rookie laps’.
to themoney-makingprowess of Japan,Korea, ChinaandIndia.
Mostof thefirmswhoenjoy profitsof billionsofdollars annuallynowhail fromthis region.Subaru boastedaprofitfigureof $2bnlast year.Comparing like with like,TATA’sprofit was$2.7bn, andKiawasjustahead of the Indianfirmon$2.8bn.
But Toyota takes thebiscuit (orshouldthatbethe ricecracker?)withanannualfigureof$19.1bn,making it theworld’smost profitablecarcompanybya longway.
InNorth America, Ford ($3.2bn)andGeneralMotors ($3.9bn)must bewonderingwhere itallwentwrong.Betweenthem, these two areonlymakingabout asmuchas littleol’ Hyundai ofKorea
thesedays.Who’dhave ever thought it?Over inEurope,Renault ($2.5bn) seemsinsurprisinglygoodnick
given thepolitical andother woesofFrance. And theBMW ($7.7bn)andMercedes($9.2bn) empirescan’t complain.
Inone sense, neither canthe VolkswagenGroup($14.4bn),whichis the mostprofitablemotor manufacturer inEuropeandsecondglobally. But thebean counters inWolfsburgmustbemiffed, becausealthoughthe VWGroup israkinginmorethanToyota inannualgross revenue($268bnvs. $252bn), itsprofitsareconsiderablylower. Andanotherthing thatirksthemeninsuits at theGroup is that
and Toyota– plustheunlikelyduo thatgobythe nameofDaihatsuandScion. VWGroupmighthave the moreglamorous,desirableandwidermodel range.But Toyotahasclearly put one overitsGermanrivalwhen it comestoearninga shilling.
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