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Driving standards are getting worse – so who’s to blame?

I’VE driven a fair few hundred miles over the past week and one thing has struck me: the standard of driving on UK roads these days is shocking

My biggest bugbear – after many hours spent on the motorway – is the Middle Lane Owners’ Club, who seem to be out in force these days, especially at weekends.

The Highway Code appears to be forgotten by most people once they’ve passed their test, but it’s crucial reading for all drivers And if they were to re-read the Highway Code, they’d see that Rule 264 states: “If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so ” That doesn’t mean sit in lanes two, three or four just in case you have to overtake something else

I took to Twitter to see what other people thought and yes, it’s middle-lane hoggers, drivers who fail to indicate and tailgaters who seem to annoy us most

In addition, I decided to run a quick poll to find out whether people think that the standard of driving is getting better or worse As expected, 84 4 per cent of those who answered said that in the past few years it’s deteriorated. No surprise and, for the record, I agree.

So who’s to blame? I asked on Twitter whether people thought their driving had got better or worse over the past few years Nearly 80 per cent said their driving had actually got better or stayed the same

That begs the question: if it’s not me and it’s not you whose driving has got worse, whose is it?

What’s clear is we all need to take more responsibility for our driving That means making sure we know the rules of the road and, if necessary, brushing up on skills that will let us enjoy our time behind the wheel more, and keep us safe I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have had plenty of driver training – but that doesn’t mean I can’t still do better

We never stop learning in life, and that should include our driving, too

STEVE FOWLER Editor-in-chief

steve fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler

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YousufAshraf

Yousuf

Ashraf@autoviacouk @ashrafoncars

VAUXHALL has gone through a sober patch of late After an era of fierce VXR models, the company has had a dry spell short of genuinely exciting driver’s cars, but the arrival of the Astra GSe could change that It’s pitched as a more powerful, electrified version of the Mk8 Astra, and provides a first taste as to the future of fast Vauxhalls.

In the coming years, the GSe badge will be attached to numerous performance flagships that will offer more pace and tauter dynamics with either hybrid or fully electric power. The Astra GSe, plus the Sports Tourer estate and Grandland GSe crossover (Page 9), gets the treatment as it takes on the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Peugeot’s 308 Hybrid 225.

On first acquaintance, the Astra GSe dilutes the racy VXR design formula almost to the point of anonymity, but this is indicative of Vauxhall’s new approach to performance The plug-in hatch is designed for a broader audience than previous hot offerings, and as such, receives only minor tweaks to the front bumper and a set of 18inch alloys inspired by the retro Manta GSe ElectroMOD concept car Still, the square stance and tightly folded bodywork provide strong road presence for a family hatch.

Vauxhall has cherry picked the Astra GSe’s powertrain from elsewhere within parent company Stellantis, rather than using a unique engine as it has with VXRs previously This is another sign of the GSe’s calmer character, although the plug-in hybrid set-up – which combines a 1 6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor – still serves up a respectable 222bhp and 360Nm of torque

Up to 40 miles of pure electric running is possible thanks to a 12 4kWh battery, which drops the GSe into the eight-per-cent

Essentials

VauxhallAstraGSe

Price: £40,550

Engine: 1 6-litre four-cylinder

petrol + e-motor

Power/torque: 222bhp/360Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

0-60mph: 7.5 seconds

Top speed: 146mph

EV range: 40 miles

Economy: 256 8mpg

CO2: 25g/km

ON SALE NOW

SCREENS

Two flushfitting 12-inch displays are fitted as part of Vauxhall’s Pure Panel Pro infotainment

Benefit-in-Kind tax bracket for fleet users. It achieves 256.8mpg on the WLTP testing cycle, but don’t expect to reach this figure unless you do shorter trips with a full battery, which takes less than two hours to top up using the optional 7.4kW onboard charger.

For what they provide in extra grunt and efficiency, the battery and electric motor add weight, and to contain that mass, the GSe sits 10mm lower than standard, with 11 per cent stiffer springs and bespoke dampers The latter feature extra internal valves to provide a better blend of comfort and precision, according to Vauxhall.

The changes aren’t transformative from behind the wheel, but the GSe is tangibly more alert and crisper in its responses

On the whole, it follows the standard car’s neat, approachable character, feeling easy to place and fluid along smooth roads

Over undulating tarmac, the hybrid hatch feels less ponderous than regular models, because the new dampers reign in that hefty kerbweight, but broken roads and surface imperfections do patter through the structure. It’s a refined, mild-mannered machine on the move, but when you dial up Sport mode and begin to work the chassis, the GSe begins to unravel as a hot hatch

There’s no doubt this latest Astra is certainly brisk in a straight line – the claimed 0-62mph time of 7 5 seconds feels well within reach – but the engine seems strained in its delivery when stretched to the red line, and the soft brake pedal

FIRSTDRIVE

● Flagship Astra combines turbo petrol engine with electric power ● GSe promises more pace and tauter dynamics than standard car

ENGINE GSe’s powertrain combines a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 222bhp and 360Nm of torque

TECH Infotainment is handled by a crisp 12 0-inch touchscreen that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it is occasionally laggy in operation

“The square stance and tightly folded bodywork provide strong road presence for a family hatch”

N Astra GSe turns up heat

doesn’t feel reassuring under foot. Push through a corner and the car begins to squirm around on its eco-focused Michelin Primacy 4 tyres, the front bleeding away from your intended line as you feed in the power Patience, rather than commitment, is needed to get the best from the GSe, because it feels laboured at a faster pace on a back road

Given their efficiency-biased compound, the Primacy tyres struggle to bite into the tarmac and transmit useful feedback to your hands, and they cause the Astra’s otherwise-accurate steering to feel indistinct when approaching the limit.

The transmission isn’t adept at fast driving, either; gearchanges are mostly seamless under normal conditions, but

the set-up is prone to upshifting early and dulling the power out of tight bends

It’s clear that, at least for now, the GSe sub-brand isn’t gunning for absolute driver focus, and the Astra feels far more in its comfort zone when you dial things back. The engine is much happier operating in the mid-range, relying on the hit of electric torque to carry the car at decent pace, and

the chassis is more at ease on flowing A-roads and motorways.

There’s an impressive array of standard technology included Vauxhall’s dual-screen infotainment set-up takes centre stage on the dash, with the flagship model receiving a pair of flush-fitting 12-inch displays as part of the brand’s Pure Panel Pro system

The resolution is crisp and the interface is relatively intuitive, despite the occasional laggy response, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted IntelliLux Pixel Matrix headlights, a 360-degree parking camera and an extended suite of driverassistance systems also feature A slightly reprofiled steering wheel and grippier Alcantara seats hint at the GSe’s

extra focus, but even so, the ambience is very similar to lesser Astras’ There are smatterings of artificial carbon-fibre trim and gloss-black surfaces, with sturdy overall build quality While the 352-litre boot is significantly bigger than a Golf GTE’s, a Ford Focus offers more room in the back Tall adults may find their knees brushing against the front seats in the Astra

The GSe’s appeal very much depends on your priorities in a plug-in hybrid hatch It doesn’t deliver as an outright performance car, but at £40,550, it costs just £150 more than the 178bhp Ultimate variant. With the extra grunt, generous kit list and that eightper-cent BiK tax rate, the GSe begins to make more sense as a company car

Verdict

THE Astra GSe may hark back to the manufacturer’s GSi models in name, but it doesn’t signify Vauxhall’s performance-car renaissance It’s usefully quicker than regular hybrid and ICE versions of the Astra, but the GSe’s restrained character and lack of engagement is somewhat at odds with the sporty new badge Its easy-going nature, generous kit list and attractive BiK tax rates will appeal to companycar users, but the GSe still leaves room for an Astra with a bit more bite

INTERIOR

A reprofiled steering wheel and Alcantara seats add a sporty touch. Boot capacity is 352 litres

“It’s clear that, at least for now, the GSe subbrand isn’t gunning for absolute driver focus”

“Patience, rather than commitment, is needed to get the best from the GSe, because it feels laboured at a faster pace on a back road”

DRIVEN Flagship Grandland GSe

● Sporty SUV is hottest Vauxhall

● 4WD GSe produces 296bhp

YousufAshraf

Yousuf Ashraf@autoviacouk @ashrafoncars

THE most powerful Vauxhall on sale today is a hybrid-powered SUV with more torque than a Porsche 911 Carrera

The Vauxhall Grandland isn’t the obvious choice for a performance flagship, but with 296bhp and four-wheel drive, the GSe has the raw power to justify that title

Vauxhall’s new GSe – or Grand Sport

Electric – models recall cars such as the Manta GSi coupé and Carlton GSi sports saloon, but the Grandland GSe takes on a very different form to these traditional offerings in both layout and conception

The 296bhp plug-in hybrid GSe features a series of styling and chassis upgrades similar to the Astra, while the £43,700 GSe is the most generously kitted-out Grandland Its cabin feels pretty robust, but some of the plastic trim doesn’t feel especially premium

Practicality

Rear headroom is good, but kneeroom might be tight for long-legged passengers

Packaging the GSe’s battery and rear motor means boot capacity is 390 litres, down from 514 litres in ICE models.

But other Grandlands can’t hope to match the GSe’s straight-line pace Sport mode draws the most power from the petrol engine and twin e-motor set-up, resulting in a genuinely rapid turn of speed for an SUV.

Yet the nature of this delivery doesn’t encourage you to tap into it very often The eight-speed gearbox shuffles between ratios clumsily, although the considerable pureelectric power covers for the transmission’s delayed reactions Nor does the engine sound particularly pleasant, despite the level of performance being strong.

Ultimately, the Grandland’s tall body and 1,867kg kerbweight dilute any sense of agility on winding roads, and the mass must be managed with slower inputs to keep the GSe within its limits The car generates decent grip once the weight has settled, but you get little sense of the load through the steering wheel. The handling is a little flat.

For most buyers this won’t matter, however, and the Grandland counters with the appeal of four-wheel-drive traction

Switch to the Hybrid drive mode and the GSe still covers ground swiftly, but it builds a much better case for itself The coarse engine note settles into the background, the transmission operates more smoothly and the broad spread of electric torque allows you to build speed

The lack of steering communication isn’t a hindrance at lower speed, but the stiffer chassis is occasionally caught out by rough tarmac, feeling brittle and fidgeting Still, the extra control is appreciable over bigger bumps at speed and reduces the distant, floaty feel that plagues some SUVs.

FIRSTDRIVE

BATTERY

GSe’s 14 2kWh battery means 40 miles of pure-electric driving, placing it in the eightper-cent BiK tax band

Essentials

VauxhallGrandlandGSe

Price: £43,700

Engine: 1 6-litre four-cylinder petrol + 2x e-motors

Power/torque: 295bhp/520Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 6 1 seconds

Top speed: 146mph

Economy/CO2: 235 4mpg/27g/km

EV range: 40 miles

TECH Grandland GSe’s infotainment isn’t quite as advanced as new Astra’s, but you get plenty of kit, including wireless charging

Verdict

VAUXHALL’S performance flagship makes more sense as a tax-busting fast SUV rather than a truly sporting one. The Grandland GSe could surprise many hot hatches on the right road, but despite the reworked dynamics, it can’t shake its flat-footed feel on more challenging tarmac. It’s not the most practical offering, either, but the comprehensive kit, plug-in powertrain and straight-line pace could sway company car buyers

“Sport mode draws the most power from the petrol engine and twin e-motor set-up”

PICK-UP

Activesphere’s

Q&A

AUDI is gearing up for what could be the most significant period of launches in its history, with more than 20 new models set to arrive over the next three years. A wave of cutting-edge EVs will revamp its range, and to tease one of these models, the firm has unveiled the Activesphere concept

It’s the last of Audi’s ‘sphere’ concepts

including the Grandsphere luxury saloon, Skysphere roadster and Urbansphere electric MPV – and the Activesphere is a rugged, highriding coupé-SUV. It could go on sale in 2027.

The brand is plotting a rival to the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes G-Class within the next few years, and according to Audi’s Head of Design Marc Lichte, this could take the form of the Activesphere

“We have a history of rallying success in the eighties and nineties, we have the Quattro brand, we have to make a rugged SUV. I can tell you that this car will not look like a copy of the Defender or the G-Class,” he told us

Visually, the Activesphere’s slender fourdoor bodyshell, rakish roof and teardropshaped rear is certainly a contrast to those rival models The flowing bodywork is a hint of what’s to come from the firm, with clean surfacing and muscular haunches forming the basis of its design.

In its default state, the 4 98 metre-long concept sits low to the ground, with allterrain tyres and blocky plastic body protection hinting at its off-road intentions. However, at the touch of a button, the Activesphere’s air suspension can raise by 80mm to tackle off-road driving To fend off knocks and scratches, extra body cladding emerges from the bumpers and sills while the car is being raised, although these motorised elements are unlikely to reach production. However, the Activesphere’s micro-LED lighting, which offers two daytime running light signatures and a dynamic starlike effect, could make it to showrooms

The Activesphere’s party trick is a deployable pick-up-style rear deck, which again uses motorised bodywork To carry large items, the rear window pops out and over the car’s roof, and a hidden tailgate drops down to reveal a large, flat load

● Latest concept previews rugged electric 4x4

● Augmented reality glasses replace cabin controls

space A glass bulkhead rises behind the rear seats to separate passengers from the cargo, and for further carrying capacity a roof rack can be extended

Audi’s forthcoming PPE electric car platform is the basis for the Activesphere, hinting at its production potential. With an electric motor on each axle, the combined output is 436bhp and 720Nm of torque, and there’s a 0-62mph time of 4 9 seconds

The bespoke EV platform has an 800-volt electrical system and rapid-charging capability of up to 270kW, while Audi claims the car’s 100kWh battery provides more than 373 miles of range Replenishing the cells from five to 80 per cent takes less than 25 minutes, while a 10-minute top-up can extend the range by more than 186 miles

The battery is integrated into the base of the PPE platform, which enables a flat floor and a more open cabin layout Still, most of the Activesphere’s interior – with its cocooned seating and glass frontal area

is unlikely to be carried forward to the eventual production version

Nevertheless, the Activesphere does hint at a potential path for future generations of Audi’s in-car technology. It’s free of physical displays and switchgear inside, and relies on mixed-reality glasses to access vehicle functions instead By using external cameras, the glasses can display a ‘pass-through’ feed to allow the wearer to view the outside world, and this is augmented by virtual controls appearing as holograms around the cabin. The user can operate these by physically interacting with the projections that appear through the glasses, whether this be a floating climate control dial or a large 3D navigation map.

According to Audi’s designers, the benefits of this system over physical screens and controls lie in separating incar technology from the vehicle itself. For instance, today’s models have permanently integrated displays that lose touch with contemporary tech over time, but to entirely revamp the Activesphere’s interior, buyers can simply purchase a new headset

Automotive mixed-reality hasn’t reached consumers yet, but Audi hopes that the headsets will become a mainstay for drivers – especially once level four autonomous driving becomes commonplace To that end, the Activesphere’s steering wheel retracts into the dashboard for when such automated driving systems are activated

FOCUSED

Digital glasses

(below) can transmit images from exterior cameras in real time, while cabin controls appear in lenses to leave dashboard free from clutter

Head of Design, Audi MARC LICHTE

Q WOULD a production version of the Activesphere have the same sleek bodystyle as the concept?

A THE question is, would you start with a progressive car like this in a segment where we have never been? There are only two premium rugged SUV contenders: the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes G-Class Will we enter the market with something different? A final decision hasn’t been made, but we will see

Q WHAT’S the idea behind the Activesphere’s extensive use of glass panelling inside?

A I WANTED you to feel like you’re connected with the environment without being physically outside Imagine you’re driving through the mountains and you can see the environment through the doors, the single-frame grille and the glasshouse I wanted to create the impression that there is no car around you, like you’re surfing through landscapes

Q WILL Audi’s combustion-engined cars have similar design themes to electric concepts like the Activesphere?

A TO create ideas like this with an ICE car is difficult. You have a combustion engine, [and] you don’t have a flat floor It’s a lot easier to apply elements from cars like the Activesphere to EV platforms There is more freedom

Q HOW will Audi’s design language evolve?

A

IT’S very visible with the Activesphere, we are focused on reduction and sculpture The designs will be even more sexy. If we look at our competitors, they do crazy things, because they want their EVs to really stand out Our approach is very simple We will use this platform to come up with the most attractive, most beautiful Audis ever The designs will be very simple, very reduced, and the Activesphere is a concrete teaser for our future EV design

“At the touch of a button, the air suspension can be raised by 80mm to tackle off-road driving”

YousufAshraf Yousuf Ashraf@autoviacouk @ashrafoncars

rear glass lifts to reveal open load bed

Volvo chases MINI buyers

● Two or four-wheel drive

● 250-mile battery range

FOLLOWING the launch of its EX90 flagship, Volvo will extend its range downwards with the launch of a new, more affordable electric SUV. It’s likely to be called EX30 and the early signs are that Volvo plans to give the new arrival the same chunky profile as its larger stablemates

Volvo teased the small model when it announced the EX90 back in November. A shadowy image revealed that the car will feature a similar rear-end treatment to the larger SUV, as well as the XC40 That means a sharply angled hatchback and the brand’s signature tail-light motif Our exclusive image shows this on a downsized version of Volvo’s typical SUV profile

Recent spy shots from China would appear to confirm these details, along with a typically bluff front end that will incorporate some of the styling evolution introduced on the EX90. Expect the new arrival to measure around 4 25 metres in length, giving Volvo a rival to everything from the latest Hyundai Kona to forthcoming larger electric MINI models.

We’ve already seen much of the EX30’s technical make-up, thanks to the reborn Smart brand Its first model, the #1, uses the same underpinnings, a modular allelectric platform from parent firm Geely called Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) As a result, expect the EX30 to be offered as either a 268bhp model with single rear-mounted motor, or as a fourwheel-drive car with around 420bhp

The Smart’s 68kWh battery would be enough for the EX30’s city-focused buyers

and should mean a range of around 250 miles. It will also offer 150kW charging, allowing a 10-to-80 per cent refill in less than half an hour

Volvo is likely to use more sustainable materials inside and could use Google’s Android Automotive infotainment system. This will be displayed on a large ‘floating’ tablet in the centre of the fascia

Expect to see the EX30 later this year

Alpina reveals 625bhp B5 models

ICONIC BMW tuner Alpina has revealed its most powerful model ever, the 625bhp B5 GT Alpina is owned by BMW, and while the saloon version of the B5 rivals BMW’s own M5, there’s no M5 Touring estate, so the B5 GT wagon delivers something BMW does not

Powered by a 4 4-litre twin-turbo V8, the B5 GT will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds in saloon form, while the estate takes 3 6 seconds The additional performance is thanks to an optimised air intake, reworked exhaust, software changes and altered turbo boost pressure.

Production will be limited to just 250 units globally, and while UK pricing hasn’t been revealed, the B5 GT costs 145,500 Euros (£127,660) as a saloon, or 148,500 Euros (£130,290) as a Touring.

STYLING

B5 GT features Alpina’s trademark radial-spoke wheels, blue detailing and optional decals

Dacia offers free hot-water bottles

DACIA is showing its opposition to companies offering subscriptions for car features such as heated seats by offering free hot-water bottles to customers on February 1 and 2.

UK brand director Luke Broad said:

“Asking someone to pay extra to activate factory-fitted equipment isn’t Dacia. Whether consumers view heated seats as essential or not, our commitment to value and a fuss-free ownership experi means that we will only ever ask them to push a button to enjoy them.”

John McIlroy

John McIlroy@autoviacouk @johnmcilroy

“The EX30 should offer a range of around 250 miles, as well as 150kW charging”

with electric EX30 news inbrief

EXCLUSIVE IMAGE

Strong demand set to keep used prices high

BMW files

USED car prices aren’t likely to fall to pre-Covid levels this year, experts have suggested, because new-car availability remains hampered by supply-chain issues. Prices of second-hand motors fell by six per cent between March and November 2022, according to AA Cars, but long lead times and the cost-of-living crisis are driving customers who would typically buy new to the used market.

Mark Oakley, director of AA Cars, told Auto Express: “This relatively stable demand, coupled with weaker supply, means drivers should not expect to see prices fall back to their pre-pandemic levels in 2023.”

Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association, echoed this: “NFDA predicts that used car values may soften a little, but we’re not expecting a slump in 2023 while supply constraints are still prevalent, particularly for popular cars up to three years old.”

Neil Williamson, CEO of Jardine Motors Group, predicted “around a one to two per cent reduction in the value of each car per month”. Meanwhile Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the easing of supply-chain issues would free up the usedcar market, but that demand will remain strong.

patent for ‘active’ grille

JUST when you thought the grilles on BMW models couldn’t get any bigger, the German brand has filed a patent for a new one-piece front fascia that incorporates the headlights into a seamless panel that could replace the conventional grille as we know it, as previewed by our exclusive image (right)

Documents filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation reveal that the new panel could incorporate the vehicle’s headlights (parts of the panel will be able to switch from transparent to opaque,thanks to new light conductive tech), as well as a possible interpretation of the brand’s kidney grille, plus sensors needed for driver-assistance systems

The filing also suggests that the new panel could be heated to avoid icing over of the display in colder conditions.

EXCLUSIVE IMAGE

Renault Espace name rebooted for SUV

RENAULT has confirmed that it will bring back the Espace nameplate as a five and seven-seat SUV for the sixth generation of the model, which will be revealed in full this spring. The French brand confirmed it will be based on the CMFC/D platform, so expect similar styling and powertrains (including hybrid but not full-electric options) to the smaller Austral family SUV The brand’s Googlepowered infotainment will feature, too

UK car manufacturing plummets in 2022

CAR manufacturing in the UK continued to struggle in 2022, with figures still showing a 40 5 per cent decline compared with pre-Covid levels. A total of 775,014 units were made in the UK in 2022, down 9.8 per cent from 2021.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) blamed supplychain issues and political instability. Nissan was the largest car maker in the UK with 238,329 units, just ahead of Jaguar Land Rover with 202,788 units

Bentley launches pair of Bathurst editions

BENTLEY has revealed two unique versions of its Continental GT S as a belated homage to its win in the iconic Bathurst 12 Hours sportscar race. The project was led by Bentley’s Mulliner division and Bentley Sydney One version is painted in Apple Green, inspired by the livery of the race car, while the other is finished in Silver Tempest with black chrome Bentley says each buyer also gets a ‘commemorative framed artefact’ and a 1:18-scale model of the GT3 racer.

Chunky styling is distinctly Volvo Electrics are shared with reborn Smart

New-car supply issues are keeping used values elevated

One-piece grille could house headlights and may be heated to avoid icing over

Past inspires new Porsche vision

● Concept based on 718 Cayman

● Inspired by Porsche’s first car

SeanCarson

TO mark the 75th anniversary of the first car to wear the Porsche badge and the birth of the sports car brand, the German firm has designed this Vision 357 concept, a reimagining of the original 356 No 1 for the modern era

It’s based on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, and Porsche’s Vice President Style Michael Mauer said: “We created a very special birthday present in the form of the Porsche Vision 357, one which uses the 356 as a basis to underscore our design DNA ”

He added that “the concept car is an attempt to combine the past, present and future”, with the Vision 357’s cab-rearward stance a key element of the look

The passenger compartment is narrow, accentuating the Vision 357’s muscular rear haunches, the nose is long and low, and the roofline plunges at the rear to a vertical grille Combined with a windscreen that wraps around the A-pillars, it evokes the look of the 356 with a modern twist

The front wheelarches feature 911 GT3 RSstyle cutaways at the rear, while the side sills are made from natural fibre-reinforced plastic The tailpipe trim is titanium with a blue finish, while the inside is ceramic

Auto Express asked Mauer if any of the concept’s details or design ethos previewed future Porsche production models and he told us: “We are given the freedom to think how we would like to develop our design language, and when we work on something like this, there are design elements that might make it into the future

“On this car,” he said, “I’d like to refer to the headlamps and the tail-lamps, where

OFFICIAL

we’re throwing one possible vision of how we could further develop the light signature. We always would like to integrate elements and are hoping that with new technologies we could do something like this ”

The Vision 357’s ring-shaped headlights ape the 356’s, but are concealed within the bodywork for an even smoother look, just as with the concept’s tail-lights

While the Vision 357 uses the screaming 493bhp 4 0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine fed by air ducts in the concept’s rear windows, as per the GT4 RS, Mauer said that the 357 doesn’t drive: “It is just a model You have to push it!”

The concept has no interior and is an exterior design study only, but the German brand has previously made limited-run versions of some of its concepts, including a 77-strong production run of its modern GT2 RS-based 935 lookalike

However, Mauer says that the Vision 357 will not be built: “Will you ever see this car on the road? You should polish the crystal ball to see if you can see anything Whenever we do a concept, it always has a pretty realistic base and they’re not just for the sake of doing something It would be possible, but this is really born as a birthday present I’d love to have this car, but so far, it’s a no ”

First look at new all-electric Jaguar expected this year

JAGUAR will give an early preview of its new, all-electric future later this year, the firm’s acting CEO has revealed, although new cars won’t reach showrooms for at least two years.

Adrian Mardell said: “Our intention to pivot Jaguar to a full EV brand remains in place. We already have advanced models which are being tested in several markets and we will finalise the model line-up over

the next three to six months. We’ll begin to share that information, perhaps with a sneak preview, later this year You will see a first Jaguar product in 2025 and then further products after that.”

The company is bringing forward the first glimpse of its new model from the originally planned date of 2024, and says technical partnerships are key to the project.

while lights are enclosed within the bodywork

PREVIEW

We’ll see a first glimpse of Jaguar’s new line-up this year, and sales are expected to start in 2025

STYLING

Despite mid-engined base of 718 Cayman, Vision 357 has a distinctly cab-rearward stance, in a nod to 356 No 1

ELEGANT Narrow cabin shows off rear haunches,

“With a windscreen that wraps around the pillars, It evokes the look of the 356 with a modern twist”

sean carson@autoviacouk

Motorway pollution pilot runs for two years without results

● Frustration at 60mph scheme

● Campaigners call for removal

Tristan Shale-Hester tristan shale-hester@autoviacouk @tristan shale

A PILOT scheme where motorway speed limits are reduced to 60mph in an effort to tackle pollution should end, campaigners have said, unless evidence can be produced that it’s making a positive difference.

Stretches of the M1, M4, M5, M6 and M602 are currently subject to the reduced limit as part of a trial by National Highways to study the effect of 60mph speed limits on nitrogen dioxide emissions The scheme was supposed to last between 12-15 months, but has now gone on for more than two years. National Highways hasn’t published any evidence of its effectiveness, either

Furthermore, according to a report by The Daily Telegraph, National Highways’ data modelling doesn’t take into account particulate matter pollution from braking, while zero-emissions electric vehicles are also subject to the lower limits National Highways has previously justified the latter point by claiming it would be dangerous to have different limits for different vehicles, even though HGVs, for example, are limited to a motorway maximum of 56mph.

The 60mph limits have reportedly irritated motorists who had already spent years driving at restricted speeds due to smart motorway upgrade works. Former roads minister Sir John Hayes told the Telegraph: “Air pollution is a concern, but the relationship between speed or traffic and pollution is complex

When you have congestion, emissions grow

“It’s hard to legitimise the argument that the difference between 60mph and 70mph is significant in terms of emissions, but I’d be happy to look at the facts They’ve got to either come up with that or concede the scheme was not designed for its purpose ”

Campaigners from motoring groups including the AA, Safe Speed and the

Alliance of British Drivers echoed these concerns, suggesting the 60mph limit needn’t be in place 24/7 and that it could be causing nothing but frustration for drivers Iain Stewart, chair of the Transport Select Committee, has also promised to query the issue with National Highways.

A spokesman for National Highways told the Telegraph: “As part of this process, we are taking a series of actions, such as lowering speed limits on some roads.

“Robust findings informed our decision and these 60mph limits will remain in place until the air quality has met legal limits and will continue when the measure is removed.

“Given the complexity and amount of data needed, this requires appropriate time to complete all the stages of the analysis process. National Highways is looking to produce initial reports on the performance of the real-world 60mph speed limits in spring 2023 ”

Lower limits were on trial to help reduce pollution, but no findings have been published in two years

Peugeot to extend range with two brand-new electric SUVs

AS part of an electrification push it calls ‘E-Lion’, Peugeot says that two all-new SUVs will join its range from the second half of this year. The e-3008 will be followed by the e-5008, with both cars based on parent firm Stellantis’s upcoming STLA Medium platform. Peugeot says the e-3008 will offer up to 434 miles of range.

Before then we’ll see full-electric versions of the 308 and 308 SW, as well as an e-408 EV model. As part of Peugeot’s E-Lion roadmap, every

Fresh looks and better tech for Velar

THE all-new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport may have stolen the limelight recently, but Land Rover has now updated its Velar SUV.

The changes include subtle tweaks to the car’s styling that ape the reductive design theme from its bigger brothers. The P400e plug-in hybrid also gets a new 19.2kWh battery, improving electric-

only range by 21 per cent, to 40 miles, while the latest 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment features too.

Petrol and diesel four and six-cylinder models are available, with prices starting from £54,045 for the D200 S model Buyers can pick from Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography trims.

PAGE 26: Verdict on new Range Rover Sport P510e

model in the firm’s range will be offered with an electrified powertrain this year, while every Peugeot will be available as a full EV by 2025.

The E-Lion announcement was accompanied by an image of seven bespoke EVs to tease a new series of production cars, which will launch from the middle of the decade. These include all-new electric 308 and 508 models, along with what could be a road-going version of the brand’s Inception saloon concept.

“The 60mph limit needn’t be in place 24/7, and it could be causing nothing but frustration for drivers”

We want to hear your views Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below

Contact Tristan Shale-Hester

HOT TOPIC Changes to MoT test

FROM: Andrew Verrechia ALL cars should have an MoT every year, even if they’re brand new What if a car does 50,000 miles in its first year? That’s a lot of potential wear and tear If the car is built well, nothing major should be wrong, so there’s nothing to fear

OUR spy photographers have caught Volkswagen’s updated ID.3 electric hatch undergoing final testing before the revised model is revealed later this year While the model’s design won’t be all that different, expect big changes to the on-board tech – specifically the current infotainment system that has been plagued with issues since launch

The current car’s 10-inch touchscreen will be replaced by a 12-inch unit from the ID 4, which features a new control system VW claims that this newer infotainment tech is easier to use. Expect a new head-up display too, while

SUBTLE

Exterior updates are minimal, but expect a full revamp of ID 3’s interior tech

FORD’S upcoming family crossover has been spotted testing ahead of a likely reveal in March. This all-new model is based on the same Volkswagen MEB platform as the ID 3 (above), following a deal between the two brands

These shots hint at the car’s styling, with a deep, wide grille obvious under the camouflage, flanked by high, wideset headlight units that could be linked by an LED strip. Other photos show a rear spoiler, while the look will feature bold surfaces and a chunky stance

Ford has previously outlined that the new car will offer a range of up to 311

Useful Contacts

the centre console will also be restyled and feature two cup-holders.

VW says the new ID.3 is “equipped with the latest software generation, which improves system performance and is able to receive over-the-air updates”. It’s not clear if the new car will offer improved range and performance figures, although the revised exterior design should boost efficiency.

Tweaks to the styling include an updated bumper with air intakes positioned at the sides Expect subtly different headlights compared with the model in our pictures, too.

Updates are on the way for VW ID.3 EV – inside and out Ford’s electric crossover spied

■ “The interval between tests should be based on mileage Distance is more important than time ”

Kevin Tait

FROM: Dan Litt A LOT of new cars clock up tens of thousands of miles over three or four years That’ll mean a new set of tyres is required at the very least Any MoT tester will tell you that many drivers can’t be trusted to do this of their own volition

Department for Transport’s latest consultation asks if new cars should have their first MoT test after four years rather than the current three

miles, while the MEB underpinnings will allow for rear and four-wheeldrive versions to be offered

A more driver-focused ST model could also feature in time.

■ “Changing the annual interval for MoTs would make it easier for dodgy traders to clock cars ”

Paul Cliffe

Hats off to DVLA for quick licence return

FROM: Leon Malins SOME readers have complained of DVLA backlogs (Issue 1,758, 1,762), but that’s not my experience I applied for a new licence and it arrived only five days (including a weekend) after I sent off my old one I’m grateful to the DVLA for a first-class service

■ “If MoT tests were less frequent, garages would just up the price when they did come round ”

MSJ

Where do drivers’ rights fit into this?

FROM: Keith Goodman I WENT on a speed-awareness course where the instructor said accidents involving pedestrians were greatly reduced in 20mph zones. I replied that they would be reduced even further if the limit was 10mph or no cars were allowed at all What about the rights of the driver?

Nav screens need a change of direction Driven round bend by lack of diversions

FROM: Derek Cranage WHY is it that nearly all sat-navs consist of a landscape screen showing the car driving upwards? It’s more important to show what’s ahead than what’s off to the sides Portrait-style screens, like you find on a smartphone, should be the norm for all manufacturers

FROM: James T ROAD closures are nothing new, but recently I’ve encountered a couple where no diversion has been in place This is a nightmare if you aren’t familiar with the area and the sat-nav can’t find another route I ended up driving through a closure as I had no other choice

icondrives

NEW SERIES The greatest cars we’ve tested – revisited

Volvo240

Think of Volvo and you’ll picture this estate car

square opening and a flat tailgate And if that’s not enough space, there’s an underfloor storage area, too – how forward thinking

IN 2022, Volvo’s top three best-selling cars were all SUVs Combined, the XC40, XC60 and XC90 made up more than half a million of the 615,121 cars the Swedish firm shifted globally Volvo is first and foremost an SUV brand these days. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because the high-riders it makes are all very good.

However, at the mere mention of Volvo, we bet many of you won’t be picturing an SUV in your head No, we reckon there’s a good chance it’ll be a boxy estate, and quite probably the 240 you see splashed over these pages. It’s such a simple design, and yet one that is instantly recognisable The 240 is an iconic symbol of Volvo’s pragmatism, a car whose very proportions show that practicality is the number one concern here. With, of course, a big emphasis on safety

Over time, though, things have changed As the automotive landscape has moved on from this angular beast, the 240 has become cool, in a sort of effortless way It certainly looks great at our shoot location, but as happy as I’d be staring at the boxy estate for a little longer, closer examination is needed

This one belongs to Volvo UK’s heritage fleet. As a 1989 F-reg model, it was built some 15 years into the 200 Series’ life, and yet the Swede was still able to soldier on longer still and well into the nineties, with Volvo finally ending production nearly two decades after it had started, with close to three million examples produced It wasn’t the freshest thing when it was launched in 1974, either, borrowing much from the earlier 140 and 146 models and mixing in influence from the 1972 Volvo Experimental Safety Car concept

Two facelifts kept the 200 on terms with its contemporaries, however, and the car we have here certainly hides its age well at first glance. We decide to start not by getting in the driver’s seat, but by checking out the boot, of course It doesn’t disappoint Even with the removable liner – which covers the back and sides of the load bay, as well as the floor – sapping a bit of room, it’s cavernous back there, with a near-enough

Moving to the cabin, there’s a wide, flat driver’s seat that one slides onto rather than into The driving position is lofty, too The switchgear is mostly of the chunky variety, with an abundance of big rocker switches. We’re particularly fond of the simple heater controls. There are a couple of exceptions to the sturdiness – the spindly indicator and wiper stalks, which feel almost worryingly delicate Best be gentle

Being nearly 35 years old, the interior isn’t exactly a tech-fest, but it ticks all the major boxes. There are electric windows all round, electric mirrors, a manual sunroof, and even heated leather seats Twisting the key in the ignition barrel awakes a 2 3-litre ‘B23’ version of Volvo’s legendary Redblock four-cylinder engine, causing the car to momentarily rock from side to side Taking a peek under the bonnet, I can see just how

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson@autoviacouk @matt 201

Details

Redblockengine produces 133bhp; transmissions include fourand five-speed manuals and three and four-speed automatics; manual sunroofis part ofthe GLTspec; square-shaped boot offers plentyofroom

Iconic

Volvo’s 200 Series came in coupé and saloon bodystyles as well as the estate.It was available with four-cylinder(240) orsix-cylinder(260) engines

iEssentials

Volvo240

Production dates: 1974-1993

Price then: From £13,395

Price now: From £4,000

Engine: 2 3-litre 4cyl petrol

Power: 133bhp

Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

0-62mph: 11 0 seconds

Top speed: 106mph

icondrives

NEW SERIES The greatest cars we’ve tested – revisited

comically lost that unit looks in the massive engine bay, with an abundance of space to the sides and the front of the block

The aggressively ticking seatbelt warning, with its accompanying flashing light, also makes itself known, giving a reminder of Volvo’s commitment to safety According to a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA not long after the car’s discontinuation, the 240 had the lowest death rate of any car in the country

When tested by America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1982, a 244 was deemed the safest car it had ever assessed The Volvo was starting to slip back in the nineties, however, and it’s probably not the sort of thing you’d want to experience an accident in today, of course

After obeying the message and belting up, we depart and soon find a decent amount of performance on offer. Being a later version of the GLT spec, there’s 133bhp being sent to the rear wheels, making for more than acceptable

expect, considering it’s basically a giant box on wheels The ride is reasonably comfortable, with the suspension doing a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps. Particularly broken-up surfaces cause the car to buck around and shimmy a little, but for such an old vehicle, the 240 does itself proud That said, there’s a lot of play in both the seatback and the seat base, which hampers comfort a touch while negotiating dodgier bits of tarmac, with the whole chair jostling around

Interested in buying one?

WHILE 200 Series Volvos are often described as ‘tanks’ and they might be more robust than some rivals, no old car is indestructible. Thoroughly check any prospect for rust, paying particular attention to the sills and structural areas at the front of the car, such as the crossmember and suspension strut towers.

The company’s Redblock engines are renowned for being tough, as evidenced by tuners extracting enormous power outputs from them. This reputation can lead to some units being a little neglected, though, so look out for evidence of servicing. If looked after, the engines are capable of very high mileages. Also check gearboxes for oil leaks.

if not particularly brisk

progress There’s a gruff note to the eight-valve four-cylinder engine as each of the manual gearbox’s five ratios is engaged with a long but reasonably accurate throw, although once we’re up to cruising speed, it sounds refined enough.

The car as a whole is reasonably hushed at speed, and certainly quieter than you might

When going round corners, it appears to take the 240 a moment or two to react to your inputs The steering is slow but doesn’t have any play in it, at least, and – as should come as no surprise at all – there is a reasonable degree of body roll in tighter bends Braking is often an aspect that dates a car the most, but the brakes are perfectly adequate here and don’t lead to any buttock-clenching moments. Meanwhile, the naturally aspirated Redblock doesn’t have a high enough output to trouble the rear wheels in dry conditions, and when thrown into a corner a little too quickly, the 240 tends to understeer first.

But it’s tidy enough, considering this old bus isn’t really supposed to be a performance car It’s all about utility, leaving you wondering about all the things you can haul in it.

It’s pleasing to see that nearly three decades on from the discontinuation of the

The days of picking up a tatty 240 for peanuts are sadly long gone. You’ll need to pay upwards of about £4,000, and expect to be mostly looking at later cars.

And don’t bank on finding a 260 –they were discontinued much earlier than the 240 following the arrival of the 760, so the youngest examples will be 40 years old.

“The car is certainly quieter than you might expect, considering it’s basically a giant box on wheels”

Blownaway

We’re big fans of theVolvo’s foursimple sliders to control heating andventilation

200 Series, that estate cars still matter for Volvo There are two crackers in the current line-up in the form of the V60 and V90 (four if you count the jacked-up Cross Country versions of each), and tellingly, when it recently simplified its range, Volvo chose to keep the former on sale but drop the S60 saloon

They’re great cars, but a very different proposition to their predecessors such as the 240, with a much greater focus on styling Dependable, endearing workhorses they are not, so in years to come, we’re not sure people will look upon those wagons with quite the same degree of love that’s poured upon the 200 Series.

Design

Boxyshape means the 240 maximises boot space and ensures the Volvo estate is ideal for owners who need a large load-lugging capability

v 1974

Arrival: Volvo 200 Series launches with four-cylinder 240 and six-cylinder 260 versions, succeeding the 140 and 164 respectively The range covers coupé, saloon and estate bodystyles.

v 1981

Refresh: First facelift arrives, with a new front-end treatment that features square headlamps to replace the original circular lights.A new 155bhp 240 Turbo model is added.

v 1983

Farewell: Production of the 260 ends as its 760 replacement arrives

v 1985

Victory: Gianfranco Brancatelli wins the European Touring Car Championship in a 240T

v 1986

Revamp: Second facelift gives the 240 a new grille design, a reworked bonnet and a more curved bootlid. Global sales break the two-million mark this year

v 1994

Endofanera: Production of the 240 ends with more than 2.8 million 200-series models being manufactured.

Porsche 911 Dakar

Performance

0-62mph/top speed 3 4 seconds/149mph

FIRSTDRIVE Beefed-up sports car is surprisingly capable away from the road

THE 911 Dakar is a Marmite kind of car It has no rear seats, it rides 50mm higher than normal and looks a bit gangly in the metal. It weighs a bit more than it probably should, because it’s been beefed up to deal with the sort of terrain it may never encounter And at £173,000, it’s heinously expensive, even for a Porsche. And yet there’s something about it that just works somehow, and that appeals to your innermost child, perhaps because it seems more light-hearted than your average Porsche 911. Although it’s a seriously capable car beneath its Tonka Toy exterior, it looks endearingly chirpy for a model that costs as much as a semi-detached house It looks like it should be a right laugh to drive, and as we discovered in the Sahara recently, that very much turns out to be true How so? Because once you strip away its Action Man suit, the Dakar is actually a 911

GTS beneath the skin, which means it is still a very fast and very capable car indeed It’s powered by a 473bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine that can fire it from 0-62mph in a claimed 3 4 seconds

Its eight-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK gearbox is exactly the same transmission as the one you get in a 911 GTS, as are its brakes, its four-wheel steering system and its differentials, because inevitably the 911 Dakar is four-wheel drive.

You see, Porsche is no stranger to offroad versions of its iconic 911, with the firm previously modifying its bread-and-butter sports car for off-road competition. That’s where this car gets its name, because some of its ancestors competed in the famous Paris-Dakar rally raid

The 911 Dakar you see here is wearing a special heritage livery. This particular white, black and blue colour scheme is inspired by the modified 911 S the factory entered in the 1971 running of the 3,000-mile-plus East African Safari Rally. The complete wrap

Essentials

Price: £173,000

Engine: 3 0-litre flat-six turbo petrol

Power/torque: 473bhp/570Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive

0-62mph: 3 4 seconds

Top speed: 149mph

Economy: 26.9mpg CO2: 239g/km

ON SALE Sold out

will set you back 4,165 Euros (UK pricing hasn’t been revealed yet)

Despite the stickers and graphics, it still shares a lot with the GTS Where it differs is in its suspension, tyres, ride height and certain bits of bodywork, much of which has been re-engineered to withstand the onslaught of rough off-road terrain So the Dakar’s springs are longer and softer, its dampers tougher, the tyres are specially developed all-terrain semi-knobblies by Pirelli, and the sills are made of metal to make them more thumpable

The entire underside has been beefed up, with protective panels fitted front to back to stop rocks from entering its gizzards. Plus you can raise the ride height by a further 30mm electronically if serious ground clearance is needed The extra ride height is available at up to 105mph, giving you some insight into exactly how Porsche feels this car might be driven by its owners

There are two new drive modes for the Porsche Active Suspension Management

Steve Sutcliffe mail@autoexpresscouk

ANGE ROVER SPORT ew P510e plug-in ybrid Sport is hard to find fault with

New hybrid

e d

INTERIOR

Cabin is familiar, with trademark central rev counter putting the focus on performance Dash and overall layout is similar to other 911s; Dakar is only offered with a PDK transmission

STYLING

Black body cladding and ‘Dakar’ badging set new car apart from regular road-going 911s, as well as raised ride height Car can be specified with various ‘heritage’ liveries, too

because it seems more light-hearted than your average 911”

system, labelled Rallye and Offroad Engage the first and everything from the throttle to the diffs to the traction control goes into maximum attack; engage the latter and the responses become softer, gentler, calmer –to provide maximum cross-country ability but at a much smoother pace

And it works We drove the Dakar for two days across some seriously wild terrain in the Sahara Desert, and not once did it get stuck Porsche claims the Dakar can go pretty much anywhere that a Cayenne can, only a lot faster while providing a lot more fun for whoever is behind the wheel The manufacturer isn’t fibbing

In Rallye mode the Dakar is an absolute scream to go dune driving in, feeling quite a lot like a full-blown rally car if you give it some beans – not least in part thanks to the rear bias it dials into the all-wheel drive system In Offroad mode this sports car will climb across obstacles, go places and do things that even a Range Rover Sport driver might not fancy much It really is unbelievably capable off road

Which makes it even more amazing to discover that, back on normal roads, it feels and drives much like a regular 911 A pretty fast 911 at that, even if the knobbly tyres are a bit noisier than you’d expect and the suspension fractionally less precise, which

is to be expected. The point is, it drives better than it has any right to back on regular tarmac, considering how potent it is on the rough stuff As a combination, this gives the Dakar a range of appeal that is unique as far as we’re aware.

But what about the downsides? Well, there’s the lack of rear seats, so practicality is a little limited by conventional 911 standards. The fuel tank is also on the small side, at 67 litres, so range could be a factor

The Dakar’s bucket seats are excellent when you’re going for it but uncomfortable when you’re not, and the cabin feels a bit predictable from behind the wheel, merely because the instruments and dash are much like every other 911’s With a facelift of the regular car on the way, though, it’s likely this will be addressed soon

And although it’s crazily expensive at £173,000 before options, you can’t buy one now, because all 2,500 examples are sold out, meaning its already-rich owners will likely get richer still in the long run, should they come to shift them on

But purely as a car to drive and to appreciate, the Dakar is sensational In many ways it’s one of the most intriguing 911s there has ever been, which isn’t bad when they’ve been churning them out now for 60 years and counting.

HANDLING Off road in Rallye mode, it’s impossible not to enjoy the 911 Dakar’s personality. It’s surprisingly good on the road, too, with only a few compromises, given the significant modifications

“In Rallye mode the Dakar is an absolute scream to go dune driving in, feeling quite a lot like a full-blown rally car if you give it some beans”

KITTED OUT

Cabin features a roll cage to improve bodyshell rigidity and bucket seats that fix you in place for the extreme terrain the car can negotiate. However, they’re not that comfortable

Verdict

EXPENSIVE but already sold out, not very comfortable and thoroughly impractical it might well be, but in the right circumstances the 911 Dakar is fantastic, even if it is ultimately just a toy for the mega-rich It gives the road-going 911 a dimension to its personality that we’ve not yet experienced, with genuinely surprising off-road ability that puts fun at the core of the driving experience; finding the location to experience this might be the issue for some owners. However, if we could afford one (and get hold of one), we’d do so in a heartbeat

“In Offroad mode this sports car will climb across obstacles, go places and do things that even a Range Rover Sport driver might not fancy much”

ELECTRIFICATION and luxury are happy bedfellows. The lack of noise an EV often exhibits means that refinement is generally superb – especially when it’s in a large, premium SUV such as the latest Range Rover Sport. And while there won’t be a full EV available in this all-new model’s line-up until some point next year, from launch the Sport is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, providing the incredible level of quality that you expect from anything wearing a Range Rover badge

It’s some powertrain too Land Rover says that, with a 38.2kWh battery, the Sport can cover up to 69 miles when propelled solely by its 141bhp electric motor In EV mode, performance is adequate, despite the hefty 2,810kg kerbweight, and given that this is one of few PHEVs to offer rapid charging, an 80 per cent top-up takes less than an hour Budget for a full refill to take around five hours using a home wallbox.

Working in conjunction with the battery and electric motor, there’s also a 3 0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, which is good for a total combined output of 503bhp and 700Nm of torque. As you’d expect, given the Sport’s weight, performance is dulled slightly, with the car taking 5 2 seconds to reach 62mph However, the more important facet of the petrol-electric

NEED TO KNOW

set-up is that it delivers its propulsion so smoothly and in such a refined way that our passengers often struggled to tell which power source was being used Even when you work the petrol engine hard, its musical hum is nicely hushed

The eight-speed automatic gearbox is equally refined, shuffling ratios with so little interruption to the drive that progress is superbly relaxing It’s helped by good calibration of the various systems, with the result that the switch from petrol to electric, or drive from the combination of both power sources, is something that happens pretty much without the driver having any

knowledge of it, save for the digital rev counter needle zipping round the clock

The ride is great too. Of course, in a car weighing more than 2 8 tonnes, big potholes do fire the optional £500 23-inch wheels on our test car into their housings. And while the suspension does a great job of absorbing a lot of this energy, some of it is transferred through to the body, jolting it just slightly

These incidents are isolated, however, and mostly, the Sport rides serenely, even over UK roads and on those big wheels In fact, the ride is so compliant and refined that it feels a cut above the

STYLING Lines follow principles used on full-fat Range Rover It’s a clean look, with solid surfacing and features such as flush-fit glass and retractable door handles

“The ride is so refined that it feels a cut above the previous-generation Range Rover’s”

SeanCarson sean carson@autoviacouk

last Range Rover in its responses to lumps and bumps On the motorway, it’s superbly comfortable and deathly quiet – the wind around its big door mirrors is one of the most audible noises – while the way the chassis floats over undulating surfaces, combined with the sumptuous seats that boast an excellent massage function in our test car, means comfort is the name of the game.

Yet, true to the Sport tag, the new car has lost none of its dynamism The steering has a great weight and there’s plenty of grip

Body roll is well controlled by an active 48-volt system that works on the chassis to keep the Range Rover as flat and as level through corners as possible

Everything you touch and control inside is a match for the technical underpinnings, too Apart from the nasty plastic speaker pods on the front door tops, the interior is trimmed in soft leather and – on our First Edition car at least – features some lovely trim inlays and textures that really carve the Sport out as a luxury product

The infotainment is significant step on compared with Land Rover’s last-generation

systems, too. The new Pivi Pro features a 13 1-inch touchscreen that boasts wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability (as well as a wireless charging) if you’d prefer to use your phone, but the native system is fairly slick and quick to respond

There’s also the usual amount of off-road features you’d expect from any Land Rover But given that the new Sport is now an SUV of significant size, one of the most useful is a widget in the system that tells you the car’s dimensions – which comes in very handy if you’re in a multi-storey car park with low ceilings, or when navigating a width restriction, for example

Other thoughtful touches include myriad storage compartments. And because many Range Rover Sports are likely to be used as family machines, this is very important

A hidden compartment below the sliding centre cup-holder tray gives plenty of space for trinkets, in addition to the lidded cubby behind You’ll never want for space

That’s true in the rear seats too, because legroom is excellent Headroom is great too, and the expansive panoramic roof on our

NEED TO KNOW

EV mode can be selected by the push of a button; Hybrid is default setting, battery can be charged on the move in Save mode

car didn’t eat into space too much. Finally, the 647-litre boot is sufficiently spacious, as well, while the powered tailgate function is a neat convenience feature

It’s bettered by the rear-wheel steering system, though, which means that this large SUV is able to turn into something as agile as a supermini around town and in tight spaces It makes the Range Rover Sport superbly easy to manoeuvre and park,

as well as being a big contributing factor to its low-speed agility.

However, this all comes at a price:

£112,040 for this P510e First Edition, or £108,600 in otherwise top Autobiography trim. That’s a significant outlay, but with CO2 emissions of just 19g/km meaning an eightper cent company car tax rating, it could be a more affordable way for a business user to run what is a supremely capable car.

“Inside, lovely trim inlays and textures really carve the Range Rover Sport out as a luxury product”

INTERIOR Materials are sumptuous and build feels mostly good. Driving position is commanding, but Range Rover Sport is still suitably agile for a big SUV

Verdict

THE new Range Rover Sport is hard to fault in P510e plug-in hybrid guise. It’s superbly refined, comfortable, good to drive and comes loaded with tech. In fact, the only issue might be the more affordable P440e model, which offers the same electric range and only a little less power for a major £9,330 saving, spec for spec, in Autobiography trim. Otherwise, this is one of the most luxurious and accomplished SUVs on the market

TECHNOLOGY Infotainment system is advanced and has lots of features, including readouts for off-road use. Land Rover’s Terrain Response tech means the Sport will cope well off the beaten track

COMFORT Big, soft leather seats are superbly supportive; our car featured massage functionality too Combined with the excellent ride quality and impressive refinement, the Sport is a great luxury SUV

“This large SUV can turn into something as agile as a supermini in tight spaces”

Alpine A110 R

Essentials

AlpineA110 R

Price: £89,990

Engine: 1 8-litre 4cyl petrol turbo

Power/torque: 296bhp/340Nm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive

0-62mph: 3 9 seconds

Top speed: 177mph

Economy: 41 5mpg CO2: 153g/km

ONSALE Now

DASHBOARD Cabin is more focused on the driving experience than ever, with atmosphere ramped-up thanks to carbon-fibre trim. It’s still pared-back and compact inside, but Alpine feels every inch the proper sports car

FIRSTDRIVE Alpine A110 R is superb on track. On the road? Not so sure

ALPINE is on a roll right now Its global sales are up by more than a third yearon-year and its reputation as a manufacturer of serious and fun-to-drive sports cars is growing rapidly where it matters

There’s also a convincing range of EV sports cars in the pipeline that will rival the company’s main competition from Lotus, Porsche and others

But for the time being, the A110 is still very much Alpine’s stock-in-trade car, while the A110 R here is its new superstar

It’s not cheap, at just a tenner short of £90k Nor does it have any more power than a regular A110 S; its 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo engine produces the same 296bhp and 340Nm as the S and GT cars

Instead, Alpine has gone down the ‘clubsport’ route to give the A110 R its extra focus and performance. As such, its kerbweight has been reduced by 34kg, while its aerodynamics and mechanical grip have been improved by adding wings and aggressive Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

The interior has also been pared right back, making the A110 R look – and feel –quite a lot like a competition car inside Carbon fibre appears throughout, including on a pair of fixed-back bucket seats, both of which have six-point Sabelt harnesses

Perhaps the biggest difference compared with the ‘normal’ A110, however, is the chassis set-up, and that’s where Alpine has taken a gamble The regular A110 is no track monster, but is instead a lovely road car, with suspension and steering that are as soothing as they are sharp

The R has much stiffer suspension and far less roll, so it has a lot more grip and is several seconds a lap quicker around any circuit Hence the reason it also features a new onboard data-logging system; the whole shebang is very much aimed at the well heeled track day enthusiast.

On a track, there’s no doubting the R’s extra pace and precision It feels much sharper than the regular versions and has much better roll control at the rear Its steering is beefier in weight and more

NEED TO KNOW

More aggressive aerodynamics and new wheels wrapped in sticky tyres mark out the A110 R

urgent in its response, and turn-in is far crisper There’s also much more stability and power under braking.

What’s more, the new bucket seats and six-point harnesses clamp you in position much better behind the R’s suede-rimmed wheel. This alone gives the R a considerably more focused feel on a track In the regular versions you need to cling on to the steering wheel for support

Rear visibility has taken a hit because the rear screen has been swapped for a lightweight carbon panel (even the rearview mirror has been ditched) Bottom line; the R now feels like a proper track weapon,

whereas the less expensive versions are road cars first and foremost that just so happen to be fun on a track. The R is the exact opposite; it’s a track car that is, in Alpine’s own words, “usable” on the road

In the event, however, it actually works pretty well on the road, and is arguably better than a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 because it still retains a decent degree of compliance to its suspension

Ultimately, however, we’ll reserve judgement on the car’s road behaviour because most of the roads we drove on at the launch in Spain were far better surfaced than those back here in the UK. We’ve a suspicion the more aggressive suspension settings might blunt the R’s appeal as a road car in the UK The poor rear visibility is also an issue. And if that’s the case, the A110’s USP will have shifted – to a place that makes it a faster, far more capable track car but not necessarily a better one overall Once we’ve driven it in the UK, we’ll see. But until then the jury’s out.

TECH New data-logging system highlights A110 R’s position as a trackfocused model, along with excellent bucket seats and racing harnesses that fix you in place through fast corners

Verdict

IT’S expensive, yes, and the ride is no longer as soothing as the original A110’s, but the A110 R is so much sharper to drive that it just about gets away with its relative lack of civility It’s a proper track weapon, yet on the road it’s still just about comfortable enough to be usable. We hope that’s the case when we drive it here in the UK

“On track, there’s no doubting the extra pace and precision. It’s much sharper than the regularversions”

Steve Sutcliffe mail@autoexpresscouk

A110 R has been designed as a track day special,

and that is where it excels It

demands compromises on the road, though

NEWCARS DS3

Essentials

DS 3 PureTech 130Auto Performance Line+

Price: £30,500

Engine: 1 2-litre 3cyl turbo petrol

Power/torque: 128bhp/230Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 9 2 seconds

Top speed: 124mph

Economy: 46 3mpg

CO2: 137g/km

ONSALE Now

STYLING DS cars focus on design, with the DS 3 featuring a diamond pattern throughout the interior However, centre console-mounted switches aren’t the best ergonomic solution

EQUIPMENT Entry-level Performance

Line is the spec to choose, with a large 10 3inch touchscreen, smartphone connectivity, alloy wheels and Alcantara trim. It offers the best value for money in the range

INTERIOR

Cabin is compact but trimmed nicely Space in the rear is poor, however

INFOTAINMENT System isn’t the most responsive, but there are enough standard features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which users might prefer to use over the built-in navigation

SMALL crossovers are still all the rage, and in some cases car makers have ditched entire product plans to focus on these SUVs; a raised ride height seems like a gateway to profit-making potential

And while DS’s efforts in this area haven’t set the world alight, its updated DS 3 offers a unique take on the compact-SUV formula We drove the pure-electric DS 3 E-Tense recently (Issue 1,763), which at £40k as tested was expensive, but this lower-spec petrol car should prove to be more affordable

DS still thinks – at least for the time being – that the two PureTech petrol engines will account for the lion’s share of DS 3 sales The cheapest PureTech 100 comes with a manual gearbox but is only available in most basic Performance Line guise It’s the more powerful auto-equipped version we’re focusing on here

This turbocharged PureTech 130 is an engine we’re very familiar with. It features in a range of cars, from the Peugeot 308 to the Citroen C5 X and everything in between In a compact car such as the DS 3 it strikes a good balance between performance and efficiency, feeling punchy enough most of the time, without the higher running costs of a more powerful motor

Despite it offering no electrification or mild-hybrid assistance, the petrol DS 3

generally feels very similar to the E-Tense to drive It feels relatively light, with soft, compliant suspension and reasonable refinement It isn’t the most engaging small SUV, however. The Ford Puma sets the benchmark in this class, but even the Peugeot 2008, with which the DS shares its basic platform, feels sharper to drive

Of course, the biggest difference between the E-Tense and this PureTech variant is the powertrain The 128bhp three-cylinder turbo unit revs cleanly, and emits a surprisingly sporty sound even at idle, but it can’t match the electric car’s smooth, quiet road manners – and it’s not helped by the dim-witted eight-speed automatic gearbox. The transmission is fine at town speeds, but its slow reactions are

more frustrating the faster you go, and the more you ask of the car

But even with a relatively small 44-litre fuel tank, the petrol car almost doubles the EV’s official range. And this in spite of the fact that DS claims the PureTech 130 will return 46 3mpg and emit 137g/km of CO2 – figures that are far from classleading and not particularly appealing to those looking to run a small SUV such as this as a company car A Nissan Juke –with a newer hybrid powertrain – can officially manage more than 55mpg, with lower emissions to go with it

Elsewhere, this petrol model benefits from many of the same updates as the E-Tense, including the subtly tweaked front end, redesigned rear and refreshed cabin Every car gets digital instruments and a 10 3-inch touchscreen display, although you’ll need to upgrade from Performance Line to Performance Line+ to get the upgraded Iris infotainment system, including 3D navigation and voice recognition. You can always use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead, regardless of which trim you choose

We’d go for one of these more affordable specs; the high-end Rivoli

NEED TO KNOW

DS will become an electric-only brand from 2024, with no new petrol models due after this date

“The three-cylinder turbo unit revs cleanly, and emits a surprisingly sporty sound”

Richard Ingram Richard Ingram@autoviacouk @rsp ingram

PT 130

FIRSTDRIVE Premium small SUV has been updated We try it with more affordable petrol power

and Opera cars make the DS 3 difficult to recommend – even when chosen with the more affordable petrol engine when compared with the electric E-Tense versions Performance Line, in addition to the technology listed above, adds alloy wheels, Alcantara interior trim and keyless start, while the Performance Line+ (an extra £2,000) features larger 18-inch wheels, the upgraded media set-up and keyless entry Rivoli swaps our car’s black trim for chrome, while also ditching the Alcantara in favour of Basalt Black leather. Opera boasts everything from heated, massaging front seats, wireless phone charging and a head-up display, to a reversing camera and DS’s Advanced Safety Pack. They’re worthwhile extras, but difficult to justify on a car such as this Pleasingly, fit and finish doesn’t suffer significantly in lower-spec models The Alcantara trim on the dash feels nice but has the potential to also be hard-wearing, while the standard seats and leatherwrapped steering wheel are upmarket enough to make top-end trims feel pricey.

Verdict

DESPITE the new car market’s push towards EVs, our preferred DS 3 still comes with a petrol engine It represents far greater value for money, and the punchy and relatively refined PureTech 130 continues to offer a unique take on the small SUV formula A Ford Puma is better to drive, and the Peugeot 2008 is more practical, but the DS 3 isn’t without charms of its own. Just make sure to avoid the expensive range-topping versions

“The DS 3 feels relatively light, with soft, compliant suspension and reasonable refinement”

INSIDESTORY Exoticpolicecars

Honda NSX Japan

PARTIALLYdeveloped byFormula One legend AyrtonSenna, the originalNSXwasa masterpiece, with aV6VTECengine, timelessPininfarina design and a cockpitinspired bya fighter jet The police officersofTochigi prefecture musthave feltlike they’d won the lotterywhen theywere given an NSXin the earlyninetiesto dealwith speeders. Imagine being pulled over byone ofthese;you could have dined outon thattale for the restofyour life.

WORLD POLICE CARS

BAC Mono Isle of Man

HOME of the famousTT races, the Isle of Man has a road networkwhere, in places, there are no upper speed limits, so itfeltlike a naturalfitwhen the local constabulary added the BACMono to its fleet in 2017.The 305bhp single-seater weighs just 580kg and is capable of 0-60mph in 2 7 seconds, and 170mph At about £130,000, the Mono may not have been cheap, but it was the perfect choice for keeping up with those speed freaks who got a little too exuberant while exploiting the derestricted roads

Lykan HyperSport Abu Dhabi

THEUAEisarguablythecapitalofconspicuousconsumption, so while Dubai wasassembling itsown exotica (right), itwas unrealistic to expect its neighbour to do nothing.That might explain the arrivalofthe Lykan HyperSporton the Abu Dhabi fleet in 2015 The HyperSport is built by Lebanese firm W Motors and its figures give you an idea of what it’s about: the3.7-litretwin-turboflat-sixengineproduces750bhpfor 0-62mphin2 8seconds,andthetopspeedis242mph Its trump card, though, is its rarity – the Abu Dhabi police’s HyperSport was one of only seven made

A FLASHING blue lightinyour rear-view mirror isa veryarresting sight– butyou mightbe even more shocked ifone ofthe 10 cop carshere were chasingyou down the motorway.They’re a world awayfrom the humble hatches and staid saloonsnormallychosen byBritish forces. Yes, these are some ofthe coolestcarsever to have been assigned to law enforcement Forgetthe traditional reputation ofthe boysin blue being lumbered with unexciting PCplodders. From wildlyexpensive exotica to sultrysupercarsand design classics, there’sno limit, itseems, to whatcan successfullybe transformed into avehicle that, quite literally, fitsthe bill

In fact, it’salmostenough to make usconsider a career change.Who wouldn’thave loved to getbehind the wheelofanyofthese aspartoftheir job?

We look at some of the most exotic models ever to be pressed into service by police forces around the globe

These cars are a world away from the humble hatches and staid saloo normally chosen by British forces

Graham Hope

Dodge Charger USA

AScountless Hollywood movies have demonstrated over the years, American police can be quite fearsome So it’s no surprise that there’s a version of one of the country’s most celebrated muscle cars specifically for UScops The Dodge Charger pursuit car is available with a 300bhp 3 6-litreV6, but forces that really want to keep up with criminals will opt for the 370bhp 5 7-litreV8 version, which sprints from 0-60mph in less than sixseconds Intimidating!

Exoticpolicecars INSIDESTORY

Bugatti Veyron Dubai

DUBAI’Spolice fleet has been the stuff of legend for years, with the likesofa Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari FFand even an Aston Martin One-77 at officers’ disposal. But the force tookone-upmanship to a new level in 2017 when it added a BugattiVeyron Capable of 253mph, it was sure to outpace anyone foolish enough to try speeding in the Emirate But its day-to-day role was actually more mundane, with coppers using it to engage tourists and the general public An expensive way to marketyourself for sure, but ifyou have the money, why not?

Porsche 911 Targa Netherlands

IN the early sixties, with accidents on the rise due to the lack of a speed limit on motorways, the Dutch authorities were looking for a suitable pursuit car to curb the carnage.The criteria were simple: the car had to be fast, handle well, be reliable and, uniquely, have an open top that would allow officers to stand up and direct traffic With impeccable taste, they opted for the Porsche 356 and in 1967, added the 911Targa The relationship between the Rijkspolitie and Porsche endured until 1996, by which time more than 500 of the company’s cars had seen service with the force

Subaru Impreza England

THE nineties Impreza will forever be remembered for its exploits in the World Rally Championship, and the WRX STi road cars it spawned. Amazingly, Humberside Police adopted the Impreza – complete with gold wheels – on to its fleet and the turbocharged 4WDSubaru proved a highly effective pursuit car Its performance was predictably muscular, with 0-60mph in five seconds and a 160mph top speed, while the car’s suspension was even modified to allow speed bumps to be negotiated at 70mph

Alpine A310 V6 France

YES, we know there are already police versions of the current Alpine A110 sports car. But for sheer wedgy loveliness, what can beat this blue beauty?The A310 had been introduced backin 1971, but in 1976 it was given a fresh lease of life with a restyle and the addition of a 148bhpV6 engine, in a bid to make the French coupé a serious rival for the all-conquering Porsche 911 It impressed the Gendarmerie sufficiently for the force to add the car to its fleet in 1981, and it provided sterling service for a further nine years.

BMW i8 Czech Republic

PRIDE comes before a fall, as the Czech force learned after it tookdelivery of a BMW i8 in May 2017 The 357bhp plug-in hybrid charger is capable of 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, and the six-month trial – courtesy of a loan from BMW itself –was announced with great fanfare But within weeks the test was over, after one of the police drivers crashed the i8, causing significant damage.The trial was aborted, and a sheepish BMW had to confirm that costs for the necessary repairs would be covered by an insurer and not borne by taxpayers

Lamborghini Huracán Italy

SOMETIMESthere really is a valid reason for a police force to run a supercar, other than positive PR.Step forward the Huracán, which is doing plenty of good workin the hands of the ItalianState Police Last December, the force revealed how the Lambo had been used for a remarkable mission to transport two kidneys from the town ofStradale to desperate patients in Rome and Modena The kidneys, in case you’re wondering, were stored in a specially modified refrigerated ‘frunk’ With a 602bhp 5 2-litreV10 and 190mph top speed, the Huracán was the perfect car for the job.

ROADTESTS

SALES of fully electric cars continued to grow in 2022, and for the first time ever in the UK, EV registrations overtook those of diesels, with a 14 per cent market share comfortably beating the 10 6 per cent taken by diesel-powered models That trend is only set to continue in 2023, when new brands from China will make their way to UK shores for the first time.

However, one of the latest arrivals in the allelectric sector comes with a familiar name from Japan The Subaru Solterra is the company’s first venture into the world of full EVs, but it’s not entirely its own work In fact, a big part of it is Toyota’s; badges aside, the Solterra is virtually identical to the bZ4X, although the brands did work together on the car’s development.

But if Subaru is to continue to function in the future, it needs to offer the sort of rugged, dependable cars that its buyers are so loyal towards – even if that means they come without a combustion engine.

To see how the Solterra fares, we’ve put it up against one of the most competitive family EVs on the market The Skoda Enyaq iV has many of the qualities that the Subaru needs to emulate if it wants to succeed And as we’ll discover, there are a couple of weaknesses that the newcomer can exploit, too But does the Solterra have what it takes to grab an overall win? If it does, it’ll rank right among the class leaders

Testers’ notes

“This isn’t the first time that Subaru and Toyota have joined forces to share technology. Most notable are the firm’s recent sports cars, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86/GR86, although the former has much more influence in those two, which are built at a Subaru factory in Japan.”

Sean Carson

sociate editor Associ t

Dawn of a

Subaru Solterra

Dual MotorTouring

Price: £52,995

Powertrain: 2x e-motors, 75kWh, 215bhp

0-62mph: 6 9 seconds

Test efficiency: 2 5 miles/kWh

Charge speed: 150kW (10-80% in 32 mins)

Skoda Enyaq 80 Sportline

Price: £46,320

Powertrain: 1x e-motor, 82kWh, 201bhp

0-62mph: 8.5 seconds

Test efficiency: 3 0 miles/kWh

Charge speed: 135kW (0-80% in 29 mins)

Pictures: Pete Gibson

MODELTESTED: Subaru Solterra Dual MotorTouring

PRICE: £52,995 POWERTRAIN: 2x e-motors, 75kWh battery, 215bhp

FOR its first attempt at a pure EV, Subaru has kept things simple, with two trim levels and a handful of exterior colours being the full extent of the customisation on offer In top-spec Touring trim, it costs £52,995, with metallic paint a £550 extra

Design & engineering

score 4.1

DEVELOPING an EV from scratch is difficult, but with Subaru already enjoying a technical partnership with Toyota, it made sense for the company to fall back on the vast resources of one of the world’s largest car manufacturers to get a head-start in the sector

The Solterra’s bZ4X-derived origins work well for Subaru’s philosophy, too; given its tradition for four-wheel-drive family cars (the brand celebrated the 50th anniversary of its AWD tech last year), the fact that its e-TNGA platform features a two-motor set-up

one on each axle – means Subaru’s four-wheel-drive ethos is preserved Indeed, the firm helped to develop specific off-road settings; the X-Mode system controls the motors and brakes to deliver optimum traction on difficult terrain However, the Solterra’s rather ordinary ground clearance means that this isn’t a car that will venture far off the beaten track

The motors themselves produce an equal output at each end for a combined total of 215bhp and 337Nm of torque The level of brake regeneration can be adjusted via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, and a stronger setting – close to one-pedal driving, but it won’t bring the car to a complete stop – is accessed via a button on the dashboard

The dashboard is dominated by a huge central touchscreen and a button-laden steering wheel, and the centre console is very high, so the cabin doesn’t feel as airy or spacious as the Skoda’s However, the sturdy plastics and use of fabric materials over the dashboard help to deliver a premium feel, although with both of these cars costing more than £50,000, it’s something we’d expect at this level

Driving

score 4.2

WHILE a two-tonne-plus EV that’s designed primarily to be a practical family SUV isn’t the sort of car to be bought for the way it goes around corners, the Solterra still deserves praise for its performance

There’s a great middle ground achieved between capable handling and a settled ride; neither quality feels compromised to achieve the other

Body roll is kept to a minimum in corners, the Solterra turns in keenly and the electric power steering is light enough to be easy to use around town, but weighted convincingly enough to give the driver an impression of feedback through the front tyres The body stays composed over bumps and does a solid job of isolating shocks from passengers, both in terms of noise and vibration Road noise, often conspicuous in EVs because there’s no combustion engine to drown it out, is also impressively isolated, so overall the Solterra is a great motorway cruiser

Power delivery is smooth, and the Solterra feels every bit as fast as its 0-62mph time of 6 9 seconds suggests Even ignoring the bare statistics, the Subaru’s right pedal feels responsive on the road Slowing down is just as impressive, because the

Detail

Top-spec

Touring gets 20-inch wheels; charge flap position overlaps the wheelarch trims and looks untidy

Subaru Solterra

Joint venture with Toyota fast-tracked Japanese firm’s entry into the EV market, but it still feels like a Subaru

Subaru’s brake feel is reassuring, and the transition between deceleration via the regeneration of the electric motor and mechanical braking by discs and pads is almost imperceptible Those paddles behind on the steering wheel are really useful for adjusting the regeneration in small increments – when you want to make minor changes when coasting down different gradients, for example

Practicality

score 4.2

HOP into the back of the Solterra, and the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s loads of kneeroom The Skoda is already pretty generous in this area, but the Subaru is slightly better still The seat backs also recline, which might come in handy because headroom is a little tighter than in its rival What can’t be helped is the high floor, which forces your thighs off the squab, so taller occupants will lack leg support At least passengers can keep their devices charged up with a pair of USB-C sockets

At 441 litres, the boot isn’t particularly big for a car of this type There aren’t many features, and those that are present aren’t that well thought out Take the folding bag hooks; they’re positioned on the trim surrounding the boot opening so close to the door that you’ll struggle to hang any decent-sized bag of shopping on them Both the Solterra and the Enyaq have 60:40 split/folding rear seats

There are large storage shelves further forward in the Solterra’s cabin, and we quite like the smartphone storage point that’s hidden by a translucent cover

Ownership

score 4.5

SUBARU has relatively small sales figures in the UK when compared with Skoda, but it is rightly proud of the brand loyalty of its buyers And when you see that its dealers ranked fourth overall in our latest Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, it’s easy to see why those owners tend to stick around In contrast, Skoda’s dealer network was much less popular with its drivers, propping up the standings in 16th out of 16

Running costs

score 4.1

WE drove this pair of EVs in cold, wintry conditions, and the Solterra seems to be more adversely affected by the chilly climate than the Enyaq It achieved a disappointing figure of 2 5 miles per kWh compared with 3 0mi/kWh for the Skoda At that rate, you’d be spending £424 more for each 20,000 miles you travel in the Subaru

That’s assuming you ’ re paying roughly 32p per kWh, though If you frequently charge on the faster but more expensive public charging network, that gap will widen further

Testers’ notes

“Placing the dials above the wheel doesn’t work for everyone I’m on the short side, and in my preferred driving position, the wheel blocks half the screen.”

Alex Ingram Chief reviewer

Practicality

Rear-seat passengers have space to stretch out, but they’ll need to, because headroom is a little more limited Solterra’s 441-litre boot is a decent size, but smaller than the Enyaq’s

Interior Quality can’t be faulted, but some of the Solterra’s cabin ergonomics could be improved

Layout of the button-laden centre console brings key functions quickly within reach

Digital driver’s display shows lots of info, but doesn’t show a battery percentage level

Harman Kardon sound system is standard on top-spec Touring, and it sounds great

ROADTESTS

THROUGHTHE RANGE

Which trim level might suit you?

THE Solterra is available in a choice of two trim levels called Limited and Touring Both are very generously equipped, with the Limited featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a powered tailgate, an electric driver’s seat, a 12 3-inch infotainment set-up with navigation and 360-degree parking cameras. It’s also loaded with safety tech, with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert all standard.

While the Touring adds luxuries such as 20-inch wheels, a Harman Kardon audio system, faux-leather seats and a panoramic roof, only the inclusion of wireless smartphone charging can be considered a genuinely useful add-on.

Place an £11,000 deposit on a fouryear PCP deal with a 10,000-mile annual limit, and the Limited costs £578 per month, while the Touring is £629 a month. Those prices are significantly higher than they are for the Enyaq iV.

Our choice: Limited

Bag hooks are so close to the boot opening that it’s hard to hang anything off them

ROADTESTS SubaruSolterravsSkodaEnyaqiV

MODELTESTED: Skoda Enyaq iV 80 SportLine Plus

PRICE: £46,320 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 82kWh battery, 201bhp

SKODA has consistently delivered the goods in the combustion-powered family car segment with the likes of the Fabia, Octavia and Superb, so can it carry that form into EVs? The Enyaq iV we have here is in a high-spec 80 SportLine Plus trim, which slightly undercuts the Subaru at £46,320 However, with optional extras including the Velvet Red paint (£1,045), Comfort Seat Package Plus (electrically adjustable and massaging front seats – £930) and Drive Sport Package Plus (adaptive dampers – £620) among others, the total of the car in these pictures runs the Subaru very close at £52,645

Design & engineering

score 4.0

THE Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform has underpinned a wide variety of models in a short space of time The Enyaq iV is Skoda’s first offering with the tech, and it’s available as a standard SUV or a coupé-SUV, while the choice is further expanded by a variety of motor and battery combinations At the entry point to the range there’s a 178bhp model with a 62kWh battery, while cars with the 82kWh battery come with 201bhp, 261bhp or, in the vRS flagship, 295bhp

Before options, it’s the middle of those three versions that is closest to the Solterra, but our car ’ s extras mean it’s the 201bhp car that is a similar price While the more powerful Enyaqs are four-wheel drive like the Subaru, this version has a single motor set-up that drives the rear wheels It’s slightly down on power and torque to the tune of 14bhp and 27Nm, and at 2,111kg, it’s also 71kg heavier

That’s partly down to its larger battery; the 82kWh lithium-ion unit has 77kWh of usable storage, and that’s enough for a WLTP-tested range of 332 miles; comfortably ahead of the 257 miles that Subaru claims the Solterra is capable of

We’ve criticised some MEB cars for feeling a little cheap inside, but the Skoda goes some way to bucking that trend The feeling of the door handles, dash top and steering wheel all seem just about right for a car of this type, although there are a few ergonomic issues – the touch-sensitive sliding volume control among them – that knock the shine off an otherwise decent cabin

The driving position is high, giving a great view of the road, and the seat and steering wheel have a wide range of adjustment, so it’s easy to get comfortable All-round visibility is better than in the Subaru, which has large blind spots around the C-pillars

Driving

score 4.0

FROM behind the wheel of the Skoda, it’s possible to detect just a little less sophistication in its suspension set-up Its overall ride is softer than the Subaru’s, and when combined with good highspeed stability, that means it’s comfortable over long distances However, around town and on uneven country roads it feels slightly less well resolved, and the chassis transmits more fidget into the cabin

It’s competent through the corners, but not as engaging as the Solterra Grip is strong, the chassis is stable, and for the most part it can hide its significant kerbweight well Light steering is combined with a tight turning circle, so the Skoda

Detail

SportLine Plus trim gets vRS-inspired design details, like the boot spoiler and 21-inch alloy wheels

Performance

Comfort is the Enyaq’s forte, but the powertrain feels a little lethargic beside the Subaru’s

Skoda Enyaq iV

Electric SUV feels upmarket while maintaining firm’s philosophy of offering everyday usability

is very easy to drive in the type of urban areas where an EV makes perfect sense

Find a little more space, and the Enyaq delivers decent – if not rapid – performance The 0-62mph dash takes 8 5 seconds – not a bad figure in isolation, but it’s 1 6 seconds behind the Subaru’s The Skoda never really feels rapid because the throttle is soft, even in the most dynamic driving modes The same goes for the brakes, which are a little mushy when compared with the Subaru’s

Practicality

score 4.6

THERE are loads of smart touches to discover all the way through the Enyaq’s cabin Take the front seat backs, which have two pockets: one traditional ‘ map ’ pocket and a second, smaller one that’s perfect for a smartphone Back-seat passengers also get folding tray tables, while those fitting a child seat will find it nice and easy, thanks to the chunky, plastic surrounds that house the Isofix points

Up front, the huge central cubby has two removable bins that allow you to divide up the space as you wish, and the smartphone shelf is sloped forwards, so your device stays in place when you ’ re on the move The one downside is the small glovebox, which is compromised by the location of the fuses behind However, the Subaru doesn’t have a glovebox at all

Move to the boot, and the Enyaq’s 585-litre volume is a huge 143 litres clear of the Solterra’s An under-floor storage space has room for charging cables, plus smaller items in a series of additional compact cubbies

Ownership

score 4.1

BOTH the Skoda and Subaru were awarded a five-star rating when they were tested by Euro NCAP in 2021 and 2022 respectively The Enyaq’s stand-out figure was a 94 per cent score in the Adult Occupant Protection category, while the Subaru’s Safety Assist tech was praised with a 91 per cent score

Both cars come with seven airbags as standard, although the Enyaq is available with another two side bags for the rear seats We think it’s a little mean of Skoda to bundle fundamental safety tech into a rather expensive option pack, though

Running costs

THERE are two key areas where the Skoda resoundingly beats the Subaru in its running costs: efficiency and the cost of finance repayments

score 4.6

Elsewhere, it’s very close Both make fantastic company car choices due to their low Benefit-inKind bandings A high-income earner would face deductions of just £391 per year by running the Enyaq, or £424 a year in the Solterra

Testers’ notes

“A divider in the front cup-holder can be moved into different slots, which means you can hold your drink in place, regardless of how big it is.”

hief reviewer Alex Chief

lex Ingram

Practicality

Huge 585-litre boot makes the Enyaq very practical, and a £45 double-sided boot floor has a hard-wearing rubber side that’s easy to clean Rear-seat space is great, too

Interior Cabin looks understated and feels solid enough

Driving position has plenty of adjustment

Stubby drive mode selector creates space for large storage bins on centre console

Skoda’s large touchscreen sits proud on top of dashboard and is straightforward to use

Under-floor bin is big enough for charging cable – there’s no storage under the bonnet

ROADTESTS

THROUGHTHE RANGE

Which trim level might suit you?

THE single-motor Enyaq 80 is available as either a standard model or in SportLine Plus trim, as tested here.

The entry-level car is available with a choice of what Skoda calls Design Selections Loft trim is standard, with Lounge, Suite and Eco Suite adding between £1,200 and £1,650 to the retail price. These models bring kit such as part or full-leather upholstery, while the Eco model’s hide is tanned with sustainable olive tree-leaf dye. Elsewhere, the 80 gets 19-inch wheels, chrome roof rails and chrome window trim. With an £11,000 deposit (as on the Subaru), and the 80 Loft is £409 a month.

That’s the one we’d go for, because it undercuts the SportLine Plus at £518 per month, although this is still less than the Subaru by some margin. Extra kit here includes 21-inch alloys, a threespoke leather steering wheel, matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof and sports seats up front.

Our choice: 80 Loft

Bag hooks in the boot are among the many well designed touches in the Enyaq’s cabin

MODEL: Mach-E RWD SR

PRICE: £50,830

POWER: 75kWh batt /265bhp

IF driving enjoyment is your thing, then the Mustang Mach-E is well worth a look

From the base 75kWh model to the 480bhp GT, every variant is entertaining to drive The steering is sharp, the chassis adjustable, and it really doesn’t feel hefty in the way you’d expect a 4 7-metre-long electric SUV might

A 0-62mph time of 69 seconds is identical to the Subaru’s, while the throttle response feels sharp in any driving mode That’s all the more impressive when, at £50,930, the Ford undercuts the Solterra on price Standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, LED lights, a 360-degree parking camera, wireless smartphone charging and a huge 15 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system

Any downsides? Well, the flipside of the sharp handling is a ride that might be a little too firm for some, especially those sat in the back It’s not as spacious as its key rivals (although similar to the Subaru) and its maximum charging speed of 115kW lags behind the competition That last point is even more costly when, at 273 miles, the Mustang’s official WLTP range is also towards the bottom of the pile

Handling

Ford is great to drive and fairly quick, but its practicality and charging speeds can’t match the class best

Ford Mustang Rivals: Four alternative electric

Nissan Ariya Design

MODEL: Ariya 87kWh Advance

PRICE: £51,895

POWER: 87kWh batt /239bhp

THE Nissan Ariya was our Car of the Year in 2022, and to our eyes it’s the all-electric family SUVto beat Strong first impressions are made by the cabin, whose minimalist yet functional design and fabulous fit and finish lift it comfortably beyond any of the five alternatives across these pages The infotainment is a huge step forward over Nissans of old, and there’s loads of space, too, with similar knee and headroom to the Enyaq in the back, although the Nissan’s boot is a little smaller than the Skoda’s

On the road, the Ariya strikes a similarly strong ride and handling compromise to the Solterra It’s a touch firmer than the Subaru, but is more compliant than the Ford and certainly the Tesla Its 130kW charging speeds are similar to the Skoda’s, while the 80kWh battery offers a WLTP-rated range of 322 miles With 239bhp from the single motor, performance is strong – and there’s a more potent twin-motor option, too Refinement is even better, with a quiet cabin and near-silent motor making for a great all-round family car.

Fantastic cabin layout combines with space, neat driving dynamics and refinement for a great all-rounder

MODEL: Ioniq 5 Ultimate 2WD

PRICE: £49,595

POWER: 77kWh batt./225bhp

THE EV sector moves at a rapid pace, and Hyundai is fully aware that it can’t rest on its laurels – some of which we awarded it when the Ioniq 5 was our Car of the Year in 2021 To that end, the Korean brand has treated the Ioniq 5 to subtle upgrades for 2023, with minor suspension tweaks and optional rear-view cameras in place of side mirrors But the reasons why we rate the Ioniq 5 so highly remain The boxy shape results in a roomy cabin – legroom is vast, and headroom is great too - even beside the mechanically similar Kia EV6

On the road, the Ioniq is the softest car in its class. We don’t mind that –with driving dynamics not the highest of priorities for a near two-tonne crossover, it seems like the right approach to have. Two battery sizes and three power outputs are available, and the sweet spot is the 77kWh/225bhp model that’s capable of 295 miles between charges

And charging is where the Ioniq 5 really excels A maximum rate of 220kW means that if you can find a charger that can keep up, it’s possible to charge from 10-80 per cent in less than 20 minutes

Hyundai Ioniq 5 family SUVs

Tesla Model Y

MODEL: Model Y Long Range

PRICE: £52,990

POWER: 75kWh batt./384bhp

FOR some buyers, the Model Y remains a no-brainer – and recent price cuts have made it even more affordable. Despite an influx of rivals, Tesla still leads the way in key areas Efficiency is a huge strong point, and the Model Y Long Range covers 331 miles between charges That’s as good as the Skoda, yet the Model Y can sprint from 0-62mph in 4 8 seconds

Perhaps the biggest selling point is Tesla’s Supercharger network At a time when so many other charge providers insist on awkward apps and unreliable stations, with the Model Y you can just turn up, plug in and then drive off when you’re done; the cost is debited from your bank account monthly

The huge infotainment screen does away with traditional dials, so it won’t be for everyone But the car’s software can plot a route via Superchargers and tell you how long you need to plug in for to complete your journey, which is clever

In other areas, the Tesla lags behind its rivals here It’s quick, but the chassis lacks sophistication; body control is below par, the steering feels artificial and the ride is far too firm for a family SUV.

Comfort

Soft Ioniq 5 isn’t the most fun to drive, but rapid charging speeds and concept-car looks help it to stand out from the crowd

Efficiency

No other rival can match the Model Y for performance, efficiency and Tesla’s charging network, but the ride and handling could be better

With their combination of size and space, these electric SUVs set the template for zero-emissions family motoring

Infotainment

Which multimedia system is best for music, sat-nav & connectivity?

Subaru Infotainment

Key features: Subaru Care phone app

THE Solterra is certainly packed with tech From the seven-inch digital dials to the digital rear-view mirror, there’s no shortage of displays to look at The central 12 3-inch screen is a definite highlight It has clearly thought-out menus, it responds quickly to touches and loads routes quickly The climate controls are part touch/part physical, and they’re reasonably easy to get along with, certainly better than the Skoda’s set-up

All versions of the Solterra come with wireless Apple CarPlay However, only the top-spec Touring version gets wireless charging, while Android Auto needs a cable regardless of trim

Subaru Solterra Skoda Enyaq iV

Subaru’s Care App allows owners to control a variety of car functions from their smartphone These include the ability to remotely pre-heat the car before a journey, set charging schedules, check the car is locked and view driving-analytics data

Quick loading times, logical menus, neat graphics

No wireless Android Auto, some EVspecific settings are hard to find

score 4.2 score 4.1

Display Both screens are bright and clear, with neat layouts. However, some useful EV features, such as battery percentage, are lacking A software update will address this

Skoda Connect

Key features: Wireless phone mirroring

AS with the Subaru, the Skoda’s cockpit features an enormous touchscreen The high resolution and clear graphics allow for a sensible layout; the home page is split into four tiles of varying sizes, allowing the map to remain open while keeping entertainment settings and shortcuts to the driving and smartphone menus present at the same time The lower edge of the display houses more involved shortcuts to the main menu

Unlike in other MEB cars, there are on-screen temperature controls instead of sliding controls below They’re a better solution, and don’t intrude on the information on the rest of the screen Loading times are on a par with the Subaru’s, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be connected wirelessly

The small digital driver’s display doesn’t offer the level of customisation you get in other rivals, but the basic information is presented clearly

FOR AND AGAINST FOR AND AGAINST

Colourful display, menus are mostly well thought out

Screen isn’t as responsive as Subaru’s, irritating touch-sensitive volume control

Screen Mapping is clear and doesn’t confuse with unnecessary info Driving assists can be accessed on separate page, although the scattered functions aren’t very intuitive

Figures

On the road price/total as tested

Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) Depreciation

Annual tax liability std/higher rate

Annual elec cost (12k/20k miles)

Insurance group/quote/road tax cost

Servicing costs

Length/wheelbase

Height/width

Powertrain

Peak power

Peak torque Transmission

Battery capacity/usable

Boot capacity (seats up/down)

Kerbweight/towing capacity

Turning circle

Basic warranty (miles)/recovery

Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos

NCAP: Adult/child/ped /assist/stars

0-62mph/top speed

AE economy (miles/kWh)/range

Claimed range (WLTP)

Charging capability

Charging time

CO2/tax bracket

Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera

Auto/lane keep/blind spot/AEB

Climate control/cruise control

Leather/heated seats

Metallic paint/LED lights

Keyless go/powered tailgate

Sat-nav/digital dashboard

DAB radio/connected apps

Wireless charge/CarPlay/Android Auto

SubaruSolterravsSkodaEnyaqiV ROADTESTS

Skoda Enyaq iV 80 SportLine

£46,320/£52,646

£26,852/58%

£19,468

£195/£391

£1,272/£2,120

33/£892/£0

£288 (2 years)

4,653/2,767mm

1,605/1,879mm

1x electric motor/ lithium-ion battery

201bhp

310Nm

Single-speed/rwd

82/77kWh

585/1,710 litres

2,111/1,200kg

10 2 metres

3yrs (60k)/3yrs

20th/16th

91/89/71/82/5 (’21)

8 5 secs/99mph

3.0/231 miles

332 miles

7 2/135kW

13hr/29 min^

0g/km/2%

Seven/three/f&r/yes

Yes/yes/yes/yes

Yes/yes

Part/yes

£660/yes

Yes/£565*

Yes/yes

Yes/yes

Yes/wireless/cable

DESPITE the wide difference in groups our representative quotes show little difference between these two

DIMENSIONS

IT’S shorter and lower than the Subaru but the Skoda is more spacious inside DRIVER POWER SKODA’S dealers werent loved by owners, and the cars only did slightly betterthe brand finished 20th out of the 29 surveyed PAINT BLUE is the no-cost option in the Skodas palette; three more add £660, while our car’s Velvet Red comes to £1,045

aru Solterra al Motor ring

,995/£53,545

£30,552/57 7%

£22,443

£212/£424

£1,526/£2,544

47/£912/£0

N/A

4,690/2,850mm

1,650/1,860mm

2x electric motors/ lithium-ion battery

215bhp

337Nm

Single-speed/4WD

75/71.4kWh

441 litres/N/A

2,040/750kg

11 2 metres

3yrs (60k)/3yrs

N/A/4th

88/87/79/91/5 (’22)

6 9 secs/100mph

2.5/179 miles

257 miles

7 2/150kW

12hr 45 min/32 min^^

0g/km/2%

Seven/two/f&r/360

Yes/yes/yes/yes

Yes/adaptive

Faux/yes

£550/yes

Yes/yes

Yes/yes

Yes/yes

Yes/wireless/wireless

Headto head

TOWING

SKODA is rated to haul 450kg more than the Subaru and an electrica ly retractable towbar is available for £815

WARRANTY

BOTH cars come with a fairly typical three-year warranty but three years of breakdown cover is above the industry standard

CAMERAS

THE 360-degree camera system is standard on the Solterra It really helps when in tight spots

CHARGING

RAPID charging is an excellent tool to have on the occasions where you need to cover longer journeys, and in this area there’s not much to separate these two.

The Subaru holds a small advantage for peak charging speed; it can accept a maximum of 150kW compared with 135kW for the Skoda But in reality, both charge to 80 per cent capacity in around half an hour. Plug into a 7 2kW source – the kind of wallbox you can have installed at home – and both cars can be fully charged in around 13 hours The Skoda’s six-metre Type 2 cable is useful, because it means you don’t need to worry about how closely you park next to a socket

SKODA

THIS SportLine model isn’t our pick of the Enyaq range, but it still has enough to overcome the Subaru in this contest It’s comfortable and spacious, and while it’s not as fun to drive as its rival, it’s more efficient It’s also much cheaper on finance – a gap which will only widen further if you go for one of our preferred trim levels a little lower down the pecking order

soon

Is it worth waiting for this model?

SUBARU

1st 2nd Results

SECOND place comes here by only a whisker, because the Solterra still has appeal It shows the Skoda up in terms of performance, driving dynamics and in-car tech, but it isn’t as practical, it’s less efficient in the real world, and it’s pricier on a finance deal Still, if you’re the type who holds on to their car for a long time – as many Subaru owners do – then it’s still worth considering

CupraTavascan

DUE:2024 Price:£52,000(est)

Power: 77kWh batt./295bhp

THE striking Tavascan concept pictured here is set to become production reality in 2024 As with the Enyaq, it uses the VW Group’s MEB platform, but expect sharper handling and circa-300bhp.

While some EVs capitalise on the lack of a combustion engine to give extra storage under the bonnet, that isn’t the case in these two. That means that the charge cable either rolls around in the boot, or is stored under the floor – not ideal if you have a full boot.

AEB = Autonomous Emergency Braking *Part of pack ^0-80% ^^10-80% In red = equipment fitted to our test car Insurance quotes from AA (Tel 0800 107 0680 or theAAcom) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points Residual values provided by CDLVIP Data

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Ford Focus Active Estate

FINALREPORT

There’s much more to Ford’s wagon than the SUV-style additions

Practicality

WE’VE come to the end of our time with the Ford Focus Active Estate and I guess it makes sense to address the big questions

first Would I recommend the Ford Focus? Yes, probably above any other family hatch on sale at the moment, depending on the buyer’s requirements Would I recommend the Active model and the estate bodystyle?

That’s a little more complicated

You can see where Ford is coming from with Active If family car buyers have told car makers anything in the past decade, it’s that they want SUVs, and Ford’s Active badge –which has also appeared on the Fiesta supermini and the Tourneo Connect vanbased MPV – is an attempt to spread some SUV flavour to the wider Blue Oval range

For some context, Active trim accounted for around 15 per cent of sales across the Ford model lines where it was offered in 2022 If you still doubt the importance of proper SUVs to the modern mainstream car manufacturer, however, while more than 16,000 Ford Focus models were sold in the same year, customers bought 26,000 Ford Kugas and 35,000 Ford Pumas, both outselling the Fiesta, on 25,000 The days of

superminis and family hatches dominating the sales charts are well and truly over

For £1,100 more than a base Titanium model, the Active adds an extra 30mm of ride height, plastic cladding around the car ’ s lower extremities, additional driving modes for slippery surfaces and a ‘low range ’ setting on the Powershift automatic gearbox, if one is fitted It’s not a bad haul for the cash, but there is the suspicion that if you want to drive off road or on rough tracks even semi-regularly, you’d just get a proper SUV that would at least lift its expensive bits a little further out of harm’s way

So, having spent six months with the car, I’m imagining the hypothetical ideal Ford Focus Active Estate owner as someone who might have a few particularly nasty speed bumps or potholes around their way, likes the car ’ s slightly raised, cladded looks and doesn’t want an SUV As the sales mix indicates, it’s not going to be a lot of people, but I’m confident they’ll be very happy with their purchases, primarily because at its heart, the Focus is a really good car

The main advantage the Focus has over pretty much any SUV at the price point is

that it’s lovely to drive The steering weight and response are just right for a car of this type, there’s an abundance of grip at the front wheels and good balance through corners

The Active’s raised suspension produces a slightly softer ride at the expense of some extra body lean when cornering, although some people may even prefer that compromise In any case, the Focus is still much more enjoyable to thread down a twisty road than an equivalent SUV

It’s true that ride and handling balance aren’t top priorities for many family-car buyers, but don’t underestimate the value of a model that feels right on the road It inspires confidence, making you more connected to what’s going on, and everyday driving becomes less of a chore as a result

The estate bodystyle costs £1,160 more than the Focus hatchback and if you value extra space in the rear, it seems a sensible option The big, uniformly shaped load

0-62mph/top speed

8 6 seconds/128mph

space has a few little tricks up its sleeve, too You can remove the roller-blind parcel shelf and store it under the main boot floor When that underfloor space is empty, it serves as a waterproof storage area, with the lid becoming a dividing wall that clips into place to separate your muddy boots in the front part of the boot from the stuff you’d rather not get grubby at the back It’s not a bad device when you ’ re loading the boot with supermarket shopping bags, either, because it provides a bit of support to stop them spilling their contents all over the load bay on the way home

With only 16 per cent of overall Focus sales being estates, buyers obviously aren’t taking the plunge in huge numbers, but I’d certainly see the longer bodystyle as a better investment than Active trim for most people It even looks better to my eyes

The difference between how I felt about the interior for the first time and how I feel

“The Active badge is an attempt to spread some SUV flavour to the wider Ford range”

There

Essentials

Ford Focus Estate

1.0 EcoBoost 155 MHEVauto ActiveVignale

On fleet since: August 2022

Price new: £31,500

Engine: 1 0-litre 3cyl turbo petrol, 153bhp

CO2/tax: 127g/km/£165

Options: Premium paint (£575), Blind Spot Information (£400), Head-up display (£400), Dynamic matrix LED lights (£950), Driver Assist Pack (£525), Parking Pack (£500), Family Pack (£400)

Insurance*: Group: 18 Quote: £578

Mileage/mpg: 4,963/38 3mpg

Any problems? None

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points

Practicality

passengers in the rear seats

WE LIKE There’s a good range of storage options, so you’re not left wondering where to put stuff. The central cubby, with its charging mat, is perfect for stowing phones, wallets and keys

about it now speaks volumes about the variation between showroom wow-factor and real user-friendly design in a car The Focus, with its slightly dated cabin, gives some ground to rivals on the former, but it’s right up at the top of the class for the latter – the stuff that really matters

There are plenty of hard plastics where rivals go soft-touch, the long gearshift design is somewhat old-school and the large infotainment screen looks like a bit of an afterthought jutting from the fascia But then, that screen is your window to the

very user-friendly SYNC 4 infotainment, with its intuitive menus and seamless smartphone integration No important controls are buried in those menus, either, with volume and climate functions always accessible with a single touch

Storage is well thought-out, with a wide charging mat that’s big enough for larger smartphone models, some neat adjustable cup-holders in the centre console that will fit any cup I’ve encountered, and a deep storage bin between the comfortable front seats Rear legroom is excellent Adults can

Steve thinks

cabin is user-friendly, but slightly dated

easily sit behind tall drivers or front-seat passengers who are looking to leave extra space for items such as bags in the footwell So in the final reckoning, I have to say that I’ve got a serious soft spot for the Ford Focus It’s in a class that’s slipped some way behind the current zeitgeist of automotive fashion, but it’s been an enjoyable and practical car to run I’d opt for the estate in a heartbeat, and the 1 0-litre EcoBoost engine, but possibly not the Active trim If you want an SUV, go ahead, but there’s no real need to dress your Focus up as one

WE DON’T Touchscreen looks like an aftermarket add-on to refresh the dated cabin However, the system works a treat, with a crisp display and reliable phone pairing

Verdict

LIVING with the Focus wagon has made us remember just how darned useful estate cars can be. Indeed, we’d say this bodystyle really has merit if you’re after more practicality than a regular family hatchback

NOT so long ago, the Audi was pressed into service for a particularly important job

It was the car that whisked me and my then-fiancée from our home in Buckinghamshire to our wedding venue in Northumberland And once we’d celebrated on the day with friends and family, the SQ5’ chrome-trimmed nose was once again pointed north, for a tour around Scotland to give us time to decompress after our big day

It was a total of 10 days away, but my other half, Sophie, still took two suitcases and two squashy bags; her wedding dress wasn’t even in our car in case I accidentally caught a peek before the big day

Admittedly, I took my golf clubs to try and play a few courses while we were in Scotland, so with my luggage as well – including a big suitbag–theSQ5wasloadedtothegunwales

While the Sportback bodystyle might not be the most practical, offering 500 litres of boot space (50 litres down on the regular Q5), it still coped admirably, swallowing all of our gear, with only my clubs and one or two small bags on the rear seats

With a tank full of fuel, the grunty diesel engine’s decent efficiency gave a range of more than 600 miles between fills, which was a big plus point on our 1,600-mile trip

The strong torque meant the Audi coped easily on the motorway as we battled traffic, while the car was reassuring in the wild weather in Northumberland and Scotland

The SQ5 was comfortable and refined at cruising speeds, too However, over some

Journey Top end of Scotland is a long way from Milton Keynes (below), but Audi was perfect for trip and scenery was wonderful

Audi SQ5 Sportback

SECOND REPORT SUV provides transport for wedding and honeymoon

of the single-track roads in the Highlands (including the famous Applecross pass), and tracking across the Cairngorms, the SQ5’s fidgety ride reared its head once again It was slightly better with more weight in the car, but even in Comfort mode, potholes and sharp ridges still upset the car ’ s equilibrium

Beyond this, though, it’s hard to fault the Audi Although we didn’t use it on the big day, opting for Soph’s dad’s original Citroen DS instead, it piled on the miles with relative ease Our tour involved a lot of driving and therefore plenty of time behind the wheel, so the standard-fit massage seats were a real highlight for me (Wave programme, intensity level three is my go-to setting) So was the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system It’s part of the £1,395 Comfort & Sound pack and meant we were kept entertained with tunes on the move

While the update to the Q5 a few years ago didn’t massively overhaul the cabin, a week in the Audi really made me appreciate the things the car ’ s interior does very well

First, a moment of praise for the Virtual Cockpit, please Audi was the first premium brand to offer a digital dash, and nearly a decade on, it’s still the best execution of this tech, in my opinion I rely on it heavily, and

it works so intuitively that when I’m in a rival car, I notice the difference right away

I also love the quality of materials and the solid build The plastics are soft, the leather is waxy, and everything you touch regularly is finished nicely and works with a reassuringly positive feel Potholes that highlight the car ’ s bouncy ride don’t pinpoint any trim rattles

We watched the rolling greens and browns of the Cairngorms turn to steeper valleys and then wonderfully picturesque sea-scapes as we made our way over to Skye, before heading back onto the mainland and north via the Applecross pass to the precipitous valleys and sharp-edged Munro as we moved on towards Loch Torridon

Given that it was a celebration, we stayed in a few nice hotels over our trip I am far

from a badge snob (I’m as happy driving a Ford Fiesta as I am a Ferrari and believe that all cars and brands have their place), but turning up to these establishments in an Audi – and an S model at that – you notice the way the car parks (or valet bays) are dominated by similar premium machinery However, staying at this kind of place did throw up an issue – and it’s one that I’ve reported on before The collection of inevitably German machinery at each stop was generally finished in black, dark grey or silver The SQ5’s Distinct Green metallic hue bucks that trend and continues to divide opinion And I really like the fact that it does

My cousin and her husband said over Christmas how cool they think it looks, but my dad dislikes it, for example No matter what the reaction, people tend to have an opinion, which for me is better than apathy

My opinion on the Audi has changed a little too – for the better Maybe it’s because I’ve now got an emotional connection to the car, given its role surrounding our wedding, maybe because it’s genuinely good at a great many things Either way, I like it even more than I did when it first arrived – and it delivered when we needed it to, with genuine class If only it rode a little better

All-round ability

Despite sleek coupé-SUV roof, SQ5 Sportback’s 500-litre boot accommodated everything Sean and Sophie needed for their tour around Scotland

“Spending a week in the car made me appreciate the things the Audi’s interior does really well”

SeanCarson sean carson@autoviacouk

SQ5’s

Essentials

Audi SQ5 Sportback

On fleet since: October 2022

Price new: £63,370

Engine: 3 0-litre V6 turbodiesel, 336bhp

CO2/tax: 214g/km/£1,420

Options: Distinct Green metallic paint (£645), matrix LED headlights (£1,050), Comfort and Sound pack (£1,395), Park Assist Plus (£300), Storage pack (£225)

Insurance*: Group: 45 Quote: £1,376

10,021/39

Fleetwatch

Fettled

OurA110 felt like a brandnew car again after its annual service

Alpine A110

CARS always feel sweeter somehow following a service, thinks special contributor Steve Sutcliffe, but he’s never sure if this is just a trick of the mind. Either way, the A110 felt tauter and just more like a brand-new car again when it returned from its 12-month/12,000 mile “B” service

WE LIKE Along with full keyless entry, powered tailgate was a real help loading and unloading all of the couple’s kit at their various stops during their week away

This supposedly involves no more than an oil and filter change, plus a full examination and spanner check on anything that’s deemed loose, above and beneath the skin. Yet on its return our A110’s ride seemed sharper, its cabin felt – and sounded – brand new once again; even the switchgear seemed snappier to the touch somehow.

The cost was £469, the service took two hours plus a half-hour road test, and Steve reckoned it was worth every penny, given how much tidier the car felt afterwards And there he was, beginning to wonder if the build quality was where it should be for a £60,000 sports car that’s been designed, and priced, to rival a Porsche Cayman.

How wrong he was, and how gutted he will surely be when the person from Alpine comes to collect ‘his’ A110 GT in a month’s time

Scratched Low wall has left its mark

WE LIKE Massage seats kept Sean and Sophie’s backs relaxed on tour up to the Cairngorms, around the Highlands and over to Skye, before returning home

Volvo XC40 Recharge

REGULAR readers may recall Carbuyer and DrivingElectric editor Richard Ingram bemoaning the lack of front-facing cameras on his Volvo XC40 Recharge Plus when he introduced the car in his first report (Issue 1,763)

WE DON’T Although SQ5 is fine on the motorway, on patchier roads the sports suspension feels firm, even with the car’s adaptive dampers set in Comfort mode

Verdict

AFTER a 1,600-mile week with the SQ5, I really came to appreciate the Audi’s qualities It’s a mile muncher, practical and packed with tech. The ride is still an issue, but many of the features really helped It’s this allround ability that makes the SQ5

Well, in a perhaps predictable turn of fate, his worst fears came true when negotiating a particularly tight petrol station forecourt recently. Rich was convinced he’d missed a knee-high wall, only to be greeted by a scraping sound as the front bumper brushed the brickwork.

The result is a nasty scuff on the bodywork, but on first inspection it looks as if the damage has only removed the top layer of paint, rather than leaving any lasting damage to the trim. Rich is hoping it’s an easy fix and will be booking the car into a bodyshop very soon.

Your ultimate guide to buying and owning an electric car

1,750

KiaNiroHybrid Issues 1,752, 1,762

LandRoverDefender Issues 1,735, 1,747

LexusNX

Issues 1,746, 1,758

MazdaCX-60

Issues 1,758, 1,764

Peugeot308

Issues 1,755, 1,764

RenaultMeganeE-Tech

New arrival

ToyotaCorolla

Issues 1,753, 1,764

VauxhallAstra

Issue 1,763

VWTransporter

New arrival

VolvoXC40Recharge

Issue 1,763

PRODUCTS

Red hot New Daytona

24 Triple Pack includes three Ferraris that took podium places at 1967 race

SCALEXTRIC SLOTS IN NEWLINE-UPOFRACERS

NEW PRODUCT Scalextric cars 2023

Prices: from £49 99

Contact: ukscalextric com

IF you’re a fan of six-wheeled cars, then the 2023 line-up from Scalextric has two new racers to tempt you

Alongside the Tyrrell P34 F1 car, there is Thunderbirds’ Lady Penelope FAB1 pink Rolls-Royce – not the first car some would chose as a racer, but sure to appeal to fans of a certain age

For those who would rather race screen legends, there’s also James Bond’s Wet Nellie Lotus Esprit submarine, Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 and Ford Mustang convertible.

If you prefer to race road cars, there is a classic Series 1 Land Rover, a Gulfedition McLaren 720S and a Michelinliveried VW Splittie panel van.

Traditionalists are catered for with racers including the 2022 F1 McLaren MCL36 and Williams FW44, alongside Colin McRae’s title-winning Subaru

Scalextric also offers some new triple packs. The Jim Clark collection features his Lotus 49, 25 and Cortina, while Ferrari lovers can enjoy the Daytona 24 collection with the three cars that filled the podium in 1967.

The 1:32 models are available for pre-order and many are compatible with Scalextric’s digital, ARC and Spark Plug systems.

THISWEEK’S HOTKIT

Do I need protection?

IT’S hard to think of a car that would not benefit from some form of paint protection Properly applied to a prepared surface, it will maintain the shine for longer, protect from contaminants and slow the build-up of grime, because water will run off, rather than dry on, the body It will also minimise the long-term deterioration of the paint. It’s natural to think older paint without a lacquer coat needs more protection, but new cars can benefit too, and some sort of sealant or ceramic finish is often offered and applied by the dealer

What are my options?

WE’LL cover surface preparation another time, but the paint needs to be clean, dry and free from scratches and swirls There are crossover products like polishes that improve the shine while adding protection, but our tests have shown these rarely excel at either job There are three main types of protection: wax, which usually has natural ingredients; sealant, which is mostly made up of synthetic elements; and hybrid, which combines the two. Waxes are usually cheaper to buy and easier to apply and, as a rule of thumb, have a warm look Sealants are often more costly, need more care to apply and generally have a crisper, colder look However, our tests have shown that they last longer.

How long will they last?

Eclectic

This year’s new models include everything from a sixwheeled Tyrrell F1 car to a Sublime Green Dodge Charger, a Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Lady Penelope’s Rolls-Royce

MANY factors are involved, including the preparation, how panels are washed and how the car is used. Generally, organic coatings break down more easily On a panel prepared and regularly washed, traditional waxes and hybrids still repel water after two months or so In our test of ceramic coatings, focusing on DIY products rather than those used by professional detailers, the best were still beading and shifting water after six months Pro-applied products require care, certain conditions and sometimes specialist equipment, but often claim years of protection.

What should I look out for?

AMONG the conventional waxes, including those with synthetic ingredients, the go-to is Bilt-Hamber’s Double Speed-Wax. It’s under £20 and comes with a microfibre cloth and applicator Sonax Profiline Ceramic Coating Evo (£94 95) is our ceramic pick, and if you want something that is quick but still protects, Sonax Xtreme Spray+Seal (£16.95) is sprayed on after washing, rinsed, then dried.

“LadyPenelope’s FAB1issureto appealtofans ofacertainage”

KITTED OUT

Truckman and ARB have a range of accessories designed for the Mk8 Ford Ranger pick-up truck

Pick up accessories to tailor new Ranger to your needs

NEWPRODUCT Truckman and ARB Ford Ranger accessories

Price: Various

Contact: truckmancouk

DELIVERIES of the latest Mk8 Ford Ranger are just around the corner, and there’s a full range of accessories ready to fit from specialist Truckman and parent firm ARB.

Top of the list for many buyers is a hard-top ARB offers its premium Ascent version, which has been designed to fit all Mk8 double-cab models, including the popular Raptor and Wildtrak. Aimed at both commercial and leisure users, the hard-top is priced from £3,360 and includes standard features such as integrated central locking, an LED interior light and electric window release ARB also stocks Australia’s Old Man 4x4 suspension kits, which enhance handling, ride and off-road capability

Truckman has its own hardtop selection for the Mk8, which includes the luxury Grand with pop-out windows (£2,386 82)

NEWPRODUCT Rowe lubricant

Price: TBC Contact: rowe-oilcom

GERMAN oil producer Rowe is bringing its sustainably made lubricant range to the UK. New firm Deutchesol, headed by former British Touring Saloon Car champ Rob Gravett, will distribute the line-up, which covers automotive (including motorsport), motorcycle, commercial and marine.

Rowe’s plant in Worms, Germany, creates much of its own electricity through a 4,000m2 photovoltaic system and transfers the energy produced by manufacturing to heat the factory and offices.

deals& events

and GLS with sliding glass (£2,569.96). Both have central locking and upmarket interiors High-roof commercial designs are also due for launch early in 2023 Tonneau covers start at £1,329.64 and there is a choice of drawer systems for tools and kit, costing from £1,505 52

Line-up

Many products in the car range have been developed through Rowe’s involvement in motorsport

New C-8 hydrofoil is powered by Polestar

POLESTAR has teamed up with fellow Swedish brand Candela to fit the Polestar 2’s 69kWh battery pack and DC charging technology to Candela’s C-8 electric hydrofoil boat.

With a range of up to 57 nautical miles on a charge and a cruising speed of 22 knots, the hydrofoil helps by lifting the hull above the water to reduce energy consumption by up to 80 per cent. The C-8 Powered by Polestar starts at 330,000 Euros (approximately £288,664) and can be ordered from candela.com.

Website out to ease EV holiday concerns

HOLIDAYING in an EV can be frustrating, but the new SleeperCharger website aims to alleviate that.

The site lists 60,000 hotels in the UK and Europe that have a guaranteed charger within 250 metres, claiming that while traditional booking sites may offer something similar, too often the chargers are broken or inaccessible.

The site has partnered with Expedia to offer a selection of hotels. You can check out the options or book your own at sleepercharger.com.

Alfa anniversaries marked by events

THE Museo Alfa Romeo in Arese, Italy, has announced a series of Backstage conferences to celebrate the brand’s various anniversaries in 2023.

Starting with the 8C Competizione’s 20th anniversary and moving through the Alfa 33’s 40th and the Giulia Sprint GT in November, the conferences explore the collection that’s preserved in the museum’s ‘basement’ archive.

The events are free of charge for all visitors to the museum, or can be viewed online For more information and the complete calendar, visit museoalfaromeo.com.

“Ascent is designed to fit all Mk8 double-cab models, including the popular Raptor and Wildtrak”

Minitest

NEWCOMER

Laser 8424 23-pi

23-piece

Portable Power

Tool Bit Set

Price: £19.05 Rating:

Contact: 01926 815000, lasertools co u

THE Laser set comes in a neat folding plastic storage case, which opens out for access There is no colour coding, but all the bits are marked with a type symbol and size – very good as long as you always place them back correctly

The number of bits is the fewest here, at 22, and 16 of these are conventional 25mm versions. There are four 50mm and two 100mm power bits suitable for a quick chuck All six were PH2 Philips, and while we’d have preferred to have more choice, there is an adaptor supplied that has a quick-chuck end, rather than a magnetic one This is a great idea that suited all the bits

Laser targets Kamasa and Sealey with bit set

Dave Pollard

A BIT set is an economical way to have a wide range of screwdrivers at your fingertips, and if they can also be used in a cordless ’driver or drill, that’s even better

Bits for power tools usually use a quick chuck, where a mechanism locks them in place, making it safer and easier to fit They can also be used as a conventional hex-shank bit and are always longer than the 25mm hand-tool versions, ranging in our test from 65-100mm for improved access to fasteners.

New to the market is the Laser 8424, which we pitted against sets from Sealey and Kamasa to find our pick of the power tool bit sets.

We liked the Laser’s natty case and quick-chuck adaptor, but more choice of specific bits for it would be better. If you’re heavily into power tool driver usage, then the Sealey collection would cover most bases for sizes and types, but despite its price, the Kamasa has the greatest balance of bit size, type, case and accessories

books, games & apps

The Legend of American Motors

Marc Cranswick (Veloce Publishing, velocecouk)

Price: £60 Rating:

THIS book gives a detailed history of the AMC firm from its , with contemporary s and ads a highlight n values don’t feel ugh for the price, he pictures are small ot pretty enough to ee-table tome

Formula One: The Rivals

Tony Dodgins (Motorbooks, quartoknows.co.uk)

Price: £35 Rating:

OURPICK

Kamasa 71-piece

Colour Coded Bit Set

Price: £27 17 Rating:

Contact: 01926 815000, kamasa co uk

WE like the strong, hinged box which holds an impressive 69 bits It also has a magnetic quick-chuck adaptor, which is definitely needed because 60 of the bits are 25mm Also included is a hex-to-square adaptor, while colour coding makes selection easy. The nine 65mm quick-chuck bits covered Philips, Pozi and Torx, with no slotted or hex options

POWERFOCUS

Sealey

Premier 32-piece

FORMULA One racing has spawned some bitter and exciting rivalries over this years and they’re the focus of this book. Whichever era of F1 you grew up with, there’ll be something you remember here, and this makes for a hugely interesting read.

Renegade Racing

Available for: iOS, Android

Price: Free Rating:

THIS game offers good side-scrolling racing action, with cute, chunky graphics and a concept that’s not new but is still fun: perform stunts to boost your turbo, win the race The menu system is a little simplistic and it’s easy to win, though, while your opponents aren’t the brightest bulbs. Progress also stalls fairly rapidly unless you opt in to watching even more adverts

though,

Impact

Grade Power Tool Bit Set

Price: £16.66 Rating:

Contact: 01926 815000, kamasa co uk

THIS 32-bit set is totally geared towards power tools, with its range of quick-chuck bits They are all a useful 75mm long with no adaptor needed and come in a plastic block. We like the available types and sizes; almost half were Philips/Pozi, 17 Torx/hex and only four slotted Colour coding would have been good.

Appoftheweek

Paybyphone

Available for: iOS, Android

Price: Free Rating:

DESPITE updates for permit parking and auto-pay, this app is still awkward to use, because it’s rather clunky It works, but signing in can be a pain if not done regularly Some may find the tiny fonts and colour scheme hard to read, too.

“A bit set is an economical way to have a wide range of screwdrivers”

though; the ’s not offee-table

HAND CLEANERS ters

PRODUCTGROUPTEST 1|2|2023

Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners Log on to wwwautoe to look through in

Rozalex Zalpon Zorange

BEST BUY CHAMPION since our test in 2017, Rozalex’s brilliant Zalpon Zorange is a hand cleaner worth keeping in your garage, workshop, garden and even round the house Its pumice abrasive deals really well with ground-in dirt, while the formula is tough on grease without leaving hands feeling dry It also smells excellent, with a fresh orange scent We’re not huge fans of this flip-top squeeze bottle, but our preferred four-litre pump is even better value at £24.99.

THERE’S no doubt that workin cars is a messy job, with oil, greas

applications require something rather more heavy-duty.

These eight products promise to get h ughest grease and grime off All have tough formulas as well rasives, but which is the best?

Howwetestedthem

ub the toughest dirt out of ut isn’t so aggressive that we feel rubbed raw at the end of it

but the formula is the most We want a soap that cleans doesn’t leave them feeling d Plus we want a natural abra

Finally, we look at value, with the pack size not always the deciding factor. Even a massive tub can work out as terrible value if you need to use lots of product each time.

tu Orange 20

RECOMMENDED THIS runs our test winner very close. Like the Rozalex (left), Status’s Orange 20 smells good and cleans very well, with a tough formula and gritty pumice abrasive It’s also similarly good value, with the big three-litre tub providing plenty of cleaning performance. To nitpick, the runny formula can be a little messy, and we found we needed slightly more of this than we did the Zorange to get an effective clean, which offsets the difference in price.

alKleen

nge

MMENDED

AM’S cleaner is available in larger sizes than this 500ml squeeze bottle, but you’re out of luck if you’d like a pump dispenser QualKleen’s formula works effectively on grime of all kinds, but it’s not as pleasant to use as our top two products. It smells a bit chemically, it’s runny and it didn’t leave our hands feeling as moisturised as we would have liked. It’s well priced, though, especially as you move up to larger sizes.

THIS is lovely to use, with a fresh orange scent and a soft cornmeal abrasive. Swarfega might be the go-to name for workshop hand cleaners, but we found the Orange formula was just not powerful enough for the tougher grime The cornmeal wasn’t sufficiently aggressive to shift dirt from the crevices of our skin, and we found we needed to scrub a lot to clean the fireplace ash, which had worked its way in The pump dispenser is convenient, though, and the cleaner is available in larger sizes.

Elbow Grease Hand Cleaner

Price: £1 99 Size: 500ml

Rating:

Contact: elbowgreasecleans com

THIS performed similarly to Swarfega in that it’s pleasant but not particula effective on very tough jobs. The lem scent isn’t as pleasing as Swarfega’s it’s not offensive The biggest proble the gentle abrasive, which didn’t hav grit to get deep down into the crease our hands. It is, however, extremely value – and we’ve seen it available a bargain stores for as little as £1 a po

Halls Beeline Handklenz

Price: £5 89 Size: 300ml

Rating:

Contact: decoratingsundries co uk

RIGHT away, this cleaner didn’t make the best first impression. To be blunt, it stinks of petrol – and that’s not an ideal start when we’re supposed to be removing that kind of whiff It’s also a thick paste that needs to be scooped out with the hands

a messy process. Credit where it’s due, it worked quite well on our test stains, unpleasantness of actually using eighs its effectiveness

Tough Mucker Gritted Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner

Price: £9 99 Size: 500ml

Rating:

Contact: tough-muckercom

DISAPPOINTING, given the high price This cleaner smells generically soapy, which isn’t unpleasant, and it got the visible dirt off our hands okay, but it needed a good few pumps to do so from the awkward, small dispenser Afterwards, our hands felt simultaneously dry and greasy. Indeed, it was so nasty that we had to wash our hands immediately with a different cleaner to get rid of the sensation

OrangeGoopWaterless Hand Cleaner

Price: £6 94 Size: 450ml

Rating:

Contact: amazon co uk

NOT a good performance from this cleaner

First off, the waterless claim is misleading at best – you still need to rinse the cleaner and the dirt off your hands once you’ve scrubbed them You’ll also need quite a bit of scrubbing. The pumice abrasive is rather sparsely distributed and the product has a rather unpleasant smell. Our dispenser also sprung a big leak in transit, although that could have been due to the postage

S yet another win for Rozalex. Its mpetitors are closing in, but the firm’s lpon Zorange formula cleans the best, mells great, and is cracking value in a riety of different sizes and dispensers. It’s run very close in this contest by atus Car Care’s Orange 20, though, d this takes second place There’s a gger gap to our third-placed product hile Witham QualKleen performed ay, it’s a step behind our top two.

1 Rozalex Zalpon Zorange

2. Status Car Care Orange 20

3. Witham QualKleen

BUYINGCARS

New and used buying advice from our team of experts

YOULIKE

“Looks smart, modern and sightly different from the others in the car park, with a more aggressive stance.”

“Comfortable ride over poorly surfaced roads without upsetting the balance and handling ”

“The Ateca is great value next to other SUVs ”

UK’s biggest satisfaction survey

10thPOSITION

SEATAtecaMk1

Years: 2016 to present CO2: 142g/km

“Good-size boot with underfloor space for storing emergency spare.”

Fuel economy: 44 8mpg (1 5 TSI) Best options: SE trim for dual-zone climate, cruise and parking sensors USED PRICES: from £9,000

RICES:

YOUDON’TLIKE

“The controls on the steering wheel are too easy to catch by mistake. I would like that to be improved.”

“All three rear seats should fold down individually for better flexibility. There’s no power point in the boot.”

“Some of the materials on the doors could be better; they feel a bit sharp ”

“Good, comfort with he which is

supportive and comfortable front seats heating for cold days, a great feature.”

“It’s accur to steer; w has good and weigh

accurate wheel feel weight.”

“The assistance get in the way of I don’t always feel with them switched

systems can driving, and el in control hed on ”

“The interior and some

rior is boring e finishes poor.”

Chris Rosamond Chris Rosamond@autoviacouk

IN 2022 the Ateca retained its excellent place in the top 10 of our Driver Power survey from 2021, with value being cited as a major reason for purchase by owners As you’d hope from such a strong performer, there are few aspects of owning the SEAT SUV which really seem to disappoint, although there are some surprising contrasts

For example, the steering responsiveness takes second place overall and roadholding is sixth But average engine performance and poor ride quality are a relative letdown, say owners, giving the SEAT a low 47th place for driving pleasure Although luggage space is rated as above average, drivers would also like more flexibility in the seating.

WE SAID “The Ateca has been a hit for SEAT, and it’s easy to see why When it arrived in 2016, it won Best Crossover in our New Car Awards, and this former class winner makes a cracking used buy.”

HAVEYOUR SAY

www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power

OVERALL SCORE

90.68%

INTERIOR Owners rate the Ateca highly for almost every aspect of its cabin They like its design and say it’s roomy and comfy, while also giving strong scores for the infotainment

Bars show where model finished out of 75 vehicles in our 2022 new-car survey The longer the bar the better

Richard Dredge

IT’S almost 70 years since the first purpose-built MPV was launched, and its compact dimensions and clever design made the 1955 Fiat 600 Multipla a groundbreaking vehicle

It took nearly three decades before the MPV went mainstream with the arrival of the Renault Espace and Dodge Caravan/ Plymouth Voyager Developed as standalone models, they focused on practicality with a decent driving experience. But for those after the ultimate in carrying ability, it was the van-based MPVs that followed later that would appeal the most

This was typified by the Peugeot Expert of 1995, which was replaced by a new model in 2006 A decade later came Peugeot’s best large van-based MPV yet: the Traveller

History

THE Mk3 Peugeot Expert arrived in autumn 2016 and, as with its predecessor, the new model was offered in passenger-carrying form. Previously sold as the Expert Tepee, the new MPV was badged the Traveller and only came with diesel power

Starting the range were the BlueHDi 95 and the Multijet 115, with a Ford-sourced 1 6-litre engine; these were replaced by a 1 5 BlueHDi 120 in summer 2018 Above these were the BlueHDi 150 and the BlueHDi 180, with a PSA-built 2.0-litre unit; a 2.0 BlueHDi 120 joined the range in spring 2019

By summer 2018, Business and Business VIP trims had been added to the previous Active and Allure editions. In October 2020 the electric e-Traveller appeared and this was the sole model offered from January 2022, when the diesel engines were axed

BUYER’SGUIDE:Peug

NEED TO KNOW...

Electric The e-Traveller has a 50kWh battery pack, a 134bhp motor and 148 miles of range. A 0-80 per cent recharge at 100kWh takes 30 minutes

Seats Allure trim has three rows of seats, with room for eight people, but Active only has two rows and seating for five A third row was a £1,080 option

Gearbox The BlueHDi 95 has a jerky six-speed automated manual, the 2.0 BlueHDi 120 and 180 an eight-speed auto The others have a six-speed manual

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

11 0 seconds/106mph

Running costs

51-53mpg

NEEDTOKNOW

THE Traveller originally came in a choice of three lengths: Compact, Standard and Long When the e-Traveller took over in January 2022, only the Standard and Long options were offered.

eotTraveller

with the BlueHDi 95 and 115 engines can tow up to 1,800kg; the BlueHDi 180 can pull 2,000kg, while the BlueHDi 150 is rated at 2,300kg

Towing

wwwautoexpress co uk/driver-power

YOURVIEW

THE Traveller is far too rare to have appeared in any of our Driver Power new or used-car surveys; the same goes for its Vauxhall, Citroen and Toyota equivalents. But Peugeot came fourth out of 29 in our 2022 Brands poll. It’s not long ago that the firm struggled, but high scores in our surveys show that in recent years Peugeot has made big strides with its reliability, powertrains, dynamics, design, running costs and quality.

CASESTUDY

MARK Eckersley, from Ely, Cambs, owns a 2018 Traveller BlueHDi 150. He told us: “I bought it pre-Covid. It’s been reliable, although it’s had to go in for a few recalls to be sorted, but the payback is a great family transporter that’s perfect for regular weekends away and days out The running costs are low, it’s very comfy and surprisingly fun to drive, plus the high kit levels mean it was excellent value.”

Expert’s verdict

LARGE families aren’t spoiled for choice when it comes to transport, but those with eight members are especially hard done by. That’s an obvious niche for the Traveller, but more often than not, these sorts of vehicles are bought by hoteliers or the like, who need to carry passengers in numbers and buy cornflakes and loo rolls in bulk at the wholesalers Other users include minicab firms, of course, but at least when necessity beckons, the Traveller provides much more than space, being comfortable and pleasant to drive, too

Reliability

WITH so many recalls under the Traveller’s belt, buyers might be worried, but its commercial-van relations have amassed millions of miles without undue issues

PRACTICALITY

FROM£24,000 Peugeot’seight-seatermight bejusttheticketifyou’reafteraspaciousMPV

Sliding side doors make access easy to the spacious passenger area, while the second and third-row seats slide to allow for extra legroom or luggage space when needed

EQUIPMENT Standard kit levels vary according to trim, with Allure Travellers coming with 17-inch alloy wheels (above), while the entry-level Active makes do with steel rims

Travellers fitted

“More often than not these sorts of vehicles are bought by hoteliers or the like”

ChrisRosamond Contributingeditor

NFOTAINMENT Seven-inch touchscreen is easy to use. Early models had Mirror Link smartphone connectivity, but newer ones have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Howmuch?

BY the time you’ve taken into account the various vehicle lengths, trim levels and engines, you can’t afford to be too picky, because you might struggle to find the right one.

We found fewer than 100 for sale with a diesel engine, and just nine e-Travellers The latter were priced from £36,490 for a 21-plate Active Standard with 5,000 miles on the clock, going up to £40,995 for a 21-plate Allure Long that had covered 2,300 miles

Diesel-engined examples start at £24,000 for an early 40,000-mile Active, and rise to £48,000 for a 19-plate BlueHDi 180 long-wheelbase Allure with 10,000 miles on the clock Allure trim accounts for most of the Travellers available, and we found just one Business VIP for sale, a 15,000-mile 19-plate example on sale for £36,995

Runningcosts

Interior

THE Traveller’s van roots are given away by the lofty driving position, dashboard design and roomy cabin, and while the materials used are fine, they’re nothing special.

What is special, however, is the passenger space the Peugeot MPV offers; there’s masses of it for eight people, and sliding seats for rows two and three boost versatility. No car-sized MPV can touch the Traveller for carrying capacity. Even the Compact edition can stow 2,800 litres (3,600 to the roof), whereas the Long can house 3,700 litres, or 4,900 to the roof with the seats folded.

THE e-Traveller’s first service is due at 12 months or 8,000 miles, then every two years or 16,000 miles The first two check-ups are pegged at £70 and £209, then alternate between £70 and £229 from year three

Most Travellers with a BlueHDi engine need to be serviced every year or 12,500 miles There are three levels of maintenance that run in sequence: Interim (£199), Main (£249) and Major (£369) The diesels have a cambelt and this needs to be replaced every 10 years or 100,000 miles, at £569 for genuine parts or £499 using approved pattern items.

All Travellers have a factorybacked two-year unlimitedmileage warranty, plus a thirdyear dealer warranty with a 60,000-mile limit The e-Traveller’s battery has eight years or 100,000 miles’ cover

STYLING There is no disguising the Traveller’s commercial-vehicle roots, but that is the price you pay for practicality

Which one?

ANYTHING with a 1 6-litre engine is going to feel underpowered by the time it’s loaded up, so we’d focus on a BlueHDi 150 or 180 (the former will be suitable for most uses), unless an e-Traveller suits your needs better

The entry-level Active trim comes with steel wheels, rear parking sensors, dualzone climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and DAB radio, automatic headlights and wipers, plus a full-size spare wheel

Allure models have 17-inch alloys, powered sliding doors, privacy glass, a head-up display, upgraded hi-fi and satnav, xenon headlights, a panoramic glass roof, leather trim, keyless go, electrically adjustable and heated front seats with massage function, plus park assist.

The current Business and Business VIP versions more or less mirror the Active and Allure trims, but with minor spec differences that allowed slightly lower prices when new

Alternatives

THE Traveller is also available as the Citroen SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro Life and Toyota Proace Verso. They’re mechanically identical,

Partwatch

so the only reasons to opt for one are availability and spec differences But they’re all even rarer, while used values are similar.

The Hyundai i800 is a cheaper option that’s seriously practical, but it’s long in the tooth and lacks versatility The Ford Galaxy, Volkswagen Sharan and SEAT Alhambra are more car-like and plentiful, but aren’t as roomy and offer no more than seven seats

If your budget is flexible, the Mercedes V-Class and VW Caravelle are impressive but costly, especially the Mercedes The Ford Transit Tourneo Custom is also worth a closer look, because it’s more plentiful and the prices span a much wider range.

Verdict

FOR many years, MPVs were derided as little more than ‘vans with windows’ However, if you consider that space is the ultimate luxury, then few vehicles are more luxurious than the Peugeot Traveller

The top-spec Allure edition (which is by far the most common) is genuinely plush,

Recalls

THE Traveller has been recalled a worrying 35 times so far, including several batches of campaigns launched on the same day No fewer than eight actions were issued on 22 February 2017 and six on 27 March 2020 The most recent campaign was launched in May 2022

Some recalls involved very small numbers, but the biggest affected almost 23,000 vehicles Some of the problems that had to be fixed involved faulty gearboxes, suspension retaining bolts, steering racks and seatbelts Other glitches centred on the engine’s cooling system, catalytic converters, fuel pipes and brake hoses

Problematic seat headrests, loose wheel-retaining bolts, chafing wiring looms and overheating starter motors were other potential issues, along with faulty brake calipers, poor electrical earths and airbags going off for no apparent reason

and bursting at the seams with equipment

But if you’re looking for family transport that puts an emphasis on usability above all else, just bear in mind that the Traveller is unusual and came in an array of permutations and combinations

Buying the right edition is key, and that actually might be easier than it sounds.

Websites

Official peugeotco.uk Forums

peugeotforums com/forums

peugeottravellerwordpress.com tinyurlcom/yckvwk5h

Prices for a 2018 Traveller BlueHDi 180 Dealer figures supplied by charterspeugeotcom Independent prices from eurocarpartscom *Price from carwingmirrors.co.uk

EQUIPMENT Leather-trimmed steering wheel houses controls for operating elements of the infotainment system

Vauxhall Corsa-e Elite Nav 7.4kW

Years: 2020 to date

Powertrain: Single electric motor, 134bhp

Transmission: Single-speed auto/fwd

Kerbweight: 1,530kg

0-62mph: 8 1 seconds Top speed: 93mph

Boot capacity (seats up/down): 267/1,076 litres

Insurance group: 25 Official range: 209 miles

BEGINNING The Mk6 was the first Corsa to be offered with electric power, which it shares with other Stellantis models

Littlewonders

Electric superminis from Renault and Vauxhall offer great-value zero-emissions motoring

SWITCHING to electric was a pipedream for an exclusive few not that long ago, yet today the classifieds are packed with second-hand examples of battery-powered superminis that make ‘doing your bit for the environment’ a cost-effective option for almost anyone.

If you’ve been pondering whether the time is right to make the switch, then our comparison of two of the most popular all-electric small cars on the used market will be timely.

We first tested the Renault Zoe and Vauxhall Corsa-e head to head when the latter was the new kid on the block in 2020, while the Zoe had already been twice around it While

essentially a 2012 model year design –albeit with running gear and trim upgrades – the Zoe still clinched an impressive win over the Corsa-e, which is a close relation of the Peugeot e-208 launched in 2019. Back then, the Zoe won comprehensively thanks to better ride, perceived build quality and more efficient packaging. But how do these rivals stack up now as used buys?

Renault Zoe R135 ZE 50 i GT Line Rapid Charge

Years: 2013 to date

Powertrain: Single electric motor, 133bhp

Transmission: Single-speed auto/fwd

Kerbweight: 1,502kg

0-62mph: 9 5 seconds

Top speed: 87mph

Boot capacity (seats up/down): 338/1,225 litres

Insurance group: 22 Official range: 238 miles

EVOLVED While the Zoe’s overall shape has remained unchanged, bigger batteries have helped it remain competitive

A bespoke chassis helps French EV to deliver a practicality advantage RenaultZoe

FROM £16,990

More space for people and luggage, compliant ride, longer range AGAINST Boring styling gives the Zoe less kerbside appeal, charging speed is limited

THE fact that Renault created a bespoke platform for its electric supermini immediately stands it in good stead against the competition. Why? Because sandwiching the batteries under the floor means you don’t lose valuable boot space that’s already at a premium in a car of this size The Zoe’s 338/ 1,225-litre (seats up/down) boot compares very favourably with the Vauxhall’s 267/1,076 litres

Passenger space inside is better, too, and while the Zoe’s higher seating position gives it a slightly top-heavy feel, that’s hardly a trade-off in a market dominated by high-riding SUVs With a slightly softer ride than the Corsa, which is also pleasing on the UK’s dreadful roads, it’s unlikely anyone will want to drive the Zoe out of its comfort zone anyway.

While the styling of the Zoe doesn’t look as up to date as its rival’s, it does score a win on fit and finish inside the cabin, thanks to some fairly cheap-feeling plastics inside the Corsa-e. Range for the Zoe is better too, at 238 miles compared with the Corsa’s 209 miles If you can charge at home, the Zoe’s slower charging rate is of marginal significance

Verdict

THE Zoe isn’t just a great EV; it’s first and foremost a great supermini, thanks to its excellent packaging, a premium cabin and an enjoyable driving experience.

USED DEAL RENAULT ZOE

100kW Iconic R135 Rapid Charge, 2021, 4,153 miles

PRICE: £19,735

KEENER pricing for the Zoe reflects the model’s age You can pay around £17,000 for a 2020 car with 40-50k on the odometer. Older examples are available, and start at around £6,500 for a 2013 model buyacar co uk/renault/zoe

Cabin is surprisingly upmarket, and later Zoes benefit from the same switchgear as the newer Clio hatchback

2020 (70 reg) GT Line, 43k miles

FOR Corsa’s style is a bit more exciting, it’s quicker, charging is faster AGAINST

Not as practical, ride not as compliant as the Zoe’s, cheaper feel inside

FROM £16,599

2020 (20 reg), SE Nav, 49k miles

Fast charging can’t make up for electric Corsa’s smaller cabin

IT was a shock to some when Vauxhall was sold to its current French owner, but the benefits have been obvious in terms of improved product offerings, and the Corsa-e (and its ICE-powered siblings) is no exception The Corsa shares its platform with the Peugeot 208, which could be a blessing or a curse, because many consider the Peugeot to be even more of a looker – but that’s another story

Next to the Zoe, the Corsa-e has the edge for style, but it can’t match the Renault for quality There are various hard and cheap plastic finishes that speak to the ubiquity of a cabin, which also had to be costeffective further down the Corsa model range The Zoe’s interior feels classier and more modern as a result

While the Renault beats the Corsa for battery range, it’s not as quick off the mark, and the Vauxhall’s lower seating position will feel more familiar to supermini buyers It’s pretty refined on the road, but its firmer suspension can feel a bit crashy, especially in town, and the ride and handling feel slightly less sophisticated Prices for this duo are as closely matched now as they were new

Verdict

nd VauxhallCorsa-e

THE Corsa-e runs the Zoe close in every department The relatively cramped boot is our biggest bugbear, but the Corsa doesn’t feel as special inside, either.

The quality of the plastics on offer is disappointing for a pricey electric supermini, but there’s plenty of tech

USED DEAL VAUXHALL CORSA-E

100kW Elite Nav, 2020, 12,886 miles

PRICE £19,500

THE Corsa-e is plentiful on the used market, and we found 2020 cars with fewer than 50k miles from £17,599. £1,000 more should get you behind the wheel of a Corsa-e with less than 20k on the clock buyacar co uk/vauxhall/corsa/corsa-eelectric-hatchback

NEWCARPRICES

Visit carbuyer.co.uk for all the latest data plus indepth car reviews and videos

HOW OUR GUIDE WORKS

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100km/h), in seconds

ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles per gallon, emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2 and maximum claimed range for EVs Figures are achieved in the latest WLTP tests, but will vary according to equipment and are unlikely to be representative of everyday efficiency

INSURANCE: Group rating as quoted by the Association of British Insurers

WARRANTY: Next to each manufacturer’s name is the basic warranty period in months and miles for the mechanicals, corrosion and paintwork EVs and hybrids will have dedicated battery cover

LIST PRICE: This is the on-the-road figure and includes VAT, delivery to dealer, the first 12 months’ of emissions-based road tax, number plates and first registration

WILL IT FIT? Is your garage big enough? Our measurements show the length and width of each model, but remember estate and performance variants may be bigger

DRIVER POWER POSITION: Auto Express’s survey canvasses results from tens of thousands of motorists Models are rated by drivers, then ranked against others on sale in the UK The lower the number, the higher the score a model achieved

ROAD TAX: When a car is first registered, its first year’s road tax is included in the price This is emissions-based, and adds anything from zero on electric cars to £2,365 for vehicles emitting over 255g/km of CO2 After 12 months, it s the owner s responsibility to tax their vehicle, and the rate depends on the fuel used:

VEHICLES BELOW £40,000

Electric vehicle: £0

Alternative fuel: £155

Petrol/diesel: £165

Alternative fue s include hybrids, plug-in hybr ds b -ethano and LPG fuels

VEHICLES OVER £40,000

Electric vehicle: £0

Alternative fuel: £510

Petrol/diesel: £520

After five years, vehicles costing more than £40 000 revert to the ower rates

Pick-up trucks: The models listed here pay a flat rate of road tax at £295 per year

EURO NCAP RATING: At the start of each model is its Euro NCAP crash test safety rating (if available) The maximum score is five stars, although the test has been made tougher over the years, so ratings aren’t comparable between vehicles

TheUK’sNo.1car ownershipsurvey

Tell Driver Power what you think of your car ownership experience and help 1,000s of others make the best choices.

This is your opportunity to tell car makers, dealers, insurers, breakdown firms and buyers what life is really like on the road. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete, and is certain to help shape the future of the car industry. By taking part you’ll also be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher.

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SPORT

All the action from the world of motorsport

GT teams chase Bathurst glory

● BMW M4s face Audi, Mercedes

● Home talent takes on big stars

THE world’s finest endurance racers

head to Australia this week to compete at the gruelling Bathurst 12 Hours

Drivers have to face a fearsome climb up the side of the Mount Panorama circuit, which has walls, quick crests, tight hairpins and occasionally stray kangaroos, before blasting flat out down the 1 2-mile Conrod Straight towards the end of the lap

The list of accolades among the 84 drivers from 15 different countries includes a combined 13 previous Bathurst 12-Hours wins, eight Nürburgring 24-Hours victories, six Spa 24-Hours triumphs, and nine Grand Prix motorcycle world championships. That final stat comes from Valentino Rossi

The MotoGP legend will make his debut on the Mountain with the WRT squad, which for 2023 has switched allegiances from Audi R8s to the new BMW M4 GT3 He’ll team up with drivers Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus Jr in a line-up that shows BMW is serious about taking the win.

If they want to stand any chance of success, they’re likely to have to negotiate the course around 291 times: that’s the number of laps completed by last year’s winners: Luca Stolz, Jules Gounon, Kenny Habul and Martin Konrad

The quartet took victory for the SunEnergy 1 Racing team, and were driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3; they headed a Mercedes clean sweep of the podium SunEnergy 1 will be back this year with

NASCAR gets under way on LA oval

Habul, Gounon and Stolz, and will be campaigning one of no fewer than nine Mercedes GT3s in the event.

Bathurst also gives an opportunity for the best of the local motorsport talent to go toe-to-toe with endurance stars from the rest of the world. Indeed, 2022 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen won the 12 Hour race in 2016 with McLaren, and will be looking to go better than the consecutive third-place finishes he achieved in 2020 and 2022 As in those two years, the Kiwi will once again drive for Mercedes, while the race will also feature entries from Audi, KTM, Lamborghini and Porsche.

Race fans in the UK can watch the entire race live via SRO’s GT WORLD YouTube Channel The race starts at 6:45pm, UK time on Saturday, 3 February.

Bravi new world for Alfa Romeo

F1

ALFA Romeo F1 Team has announced that Alessandro Alunni Bravi will become its new Team Representative. Bravi will run the squad’s trackside operations on race weekends, much in the same way as a conventional team principal might.

NASCAR kicks off with a huge event at the LA Coliseum. Joey Logano (above) is looking to repeat last year’s win

THE Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum kicks off the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series in Los Angeles this weekend

The Los Angeles Coliseum is turned into a quarter-mile oval track so tight that cars can reach only around 75mph on the short

straights, and close to 60,000 fans are set to witness the 150-lap contest.

The layout is sure to generate a chaotic spectacle, in scenes which 2022 champion Joey Logano will look to avoid if he’s to get the defence of his championship off to a

solid start. That’s something he managed to do last year in LA, with the Team Penske Ford driver overcoming Kyle Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after the pair had a race-long squabble at the front of the pack.

He will work with Alfa’s new CEO, Andreas Seidl, who moved from his previous position as McLaren team principal over the winter Seidl is expected to run the squad when it becomes the fully fledged Audi team from 2026.

“Drivers have to face the fearsome Mount Panorama, which has walls, crests, hairpins and occasionally stray kangaroos”

Alex Ingram Alex Ingram@autoviacouk @AxleIngram

BMW is fielding former MotoGP star Valentino Rossi in an M4 GT3

WE face at least three wallet-busting, libertytaking, potentially life-changing headaches during the ‘Tumultuous Twenties’ we ’ re currently living through. At one end of the scale are painful, above-inflation price hikes, then at the other, it’s our politicians still insisting that new petrol and diesel cars will be banned 83 months from now

And squeezed between those two major difficulties is Labour’s most powerful local politician, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and his almost single-handed mission to make 29 August 2023 famous for all the wrong reasons This is the date when he and a minority of others want the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to spread, swarming and spewing from London to several disinterested neighbouring counties

I make no apologies for returning to this subject, because it represents the worst, greediest, most questionable ruse I’ve ever seen a politician put their name to. We’re talking about a £12.50 per day fee for a motorist driving to, for example, Chessington World of Adventures in the Surrey countryside. Same goes for those heading to Kent’s Biggin Hill Airport, which looks, feels, sounds, smells and might as well be a million miles away from the big city that is London

Regular visitors who drive (often because there’s no public transport) to Midnight Mass in village churches and other sleepy rural or semi-rural settings soon to be sucked into the bloated ULEZ area will also be forced to pay up – possibly twice (once before midnight and again after)

Even more worrying, many hospitals and health-related premises will be swamped by the daily cost of ULEZ Full-time NHS employees who work shifts and have little choice but to commute by car could be around £3,000 a year worse off.

Some local councils are threatening to collectively fight Khan and Transport for London (TfL) in the courts – especially now that there are allegations that the preceding consultation was so damn iffy The UK Government has possible powers to put a stop to Khan’s antics. But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has so far issued only an informal warning. Khan insists he needs to charge £12 50 a day because he’d prefer us to travel on his TfL buses and trains. Conflict of interest? I think so. Also, I’m quite prepared to believe that his office wants and needs £12 50 daily from as many ‘mugged motorists’ as possible

But if Sadiq Khan truly believes that car exhaust emissions shoulder so much blame for poor air quality, why doesn’t he just use a prohibition order? Because he can’t resist the £12 50 per driver per day, which means millions for his TfL offices? Only asking

If you ’ re thinking that this is merely a London problem, you’d be wrong If ULEZ is allowed to spread to the leafy counties that circle the capital, then cities in the north, east or west are likely to pull the same stunt For those who can afford an additional £3,000 a year on their annual motoring bill, fine But I can’t And that’s why I, my wallet and my cars and van won’t be going near my home town from 29 August. The new, fleeced, displaced and angry motorist underclass is here and growing rapidly I should know – I’m part of it

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Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off

Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion is the worst, greediest, most questionable ruse I’ve ever seen a politician put their name to