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Unrivalled coverage from the Geneva show THE Geneva Motor Show opened its doors this week, and as ever the Auto Express team was on the ground rounding up all the news from the show floor. It was a show packed with new metal; global debuts from Porsche, Audi and Toyota pulled in the crowds. From superminis to supercars, this year�s Geneva show had it all. Head online to our site at www.autoexpress.co.uk to see exclusive pictures, scoops and opinion from our team. For more visit autoexpress.co.uk…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THIS is Land Rover’s answer to everything from the Porsche Macan to the BMW X6: the Range Rover Velar, which made its public debut at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, and is due in dealers in early summer. The fourth model in the manufacturer’s luxury line-up is designed to sit between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. It’s 4,803mm long – or just five centimetres shorter than the Sport. But at its tallest point, the Velar is only 5mm taller than an Evoque and it is more rakish than either the Sport or the full-fat Range Rover. The rest of the exterior look is an evolution of both Evoque cues and elements from the larger Range Rovers. The profile is made cleaner by recessed door handles –…

steve_fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler McLAREN is still such a new company that this is the first time it has ever replaced one if its cars. So out go the 650S and its associated variants, and in comes the new 720S. It’s a car that vehicle line director of the Super Series, Haydn Baker, says has “the widest breadth of road and track capability of any McLaren so far”. At the heart of the new car is a 711bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a whopping 770Nm of torque. Performance-wise, it outpunches Ferrari’s 488 with a 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds (0.1 seconds ahead of the Ferrari) and a top speed of 212mph (up 7mph on its rival). Not that it really matters to supercar buyers, but with average claimed fuel consumption of…

RENAULT has a history of using its motorsport department to create crazy concept cars, such as the mad Espace F1 and Twizy F1 of previous years, and at this year’s Geneva Motor Show it has revealed a new ZOE concept that uses technology already seen in the firm’s Formula E race cars. Called the ZOE e-sport, it’s a radical two-seat interpretation of Renault’s all-electric city car. It features a wide, aggressive and angular bodykit, a colour scheme in homage to the Renault e.dams Formula E team, and a Formula E-derived four-wheel-drive powertrain. Two electric motors deliver 456bhp – almost 200bhp more than the governed 270bhp limit of a Formula E single-seater. There’s also up to 640Nm of torque available, and power is supplied by a 40kWh battery pack. Renault claims…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE AUDI’S new A5 range now has its finishing touch, because the flagship RS 5 Coupé has finally been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Audi says the new car combines extra power with better efficiency over the outgoing model. The RS 5’s restrained look features Audi’s honeycomb grille, large air vents on the front bumper and wider wheelarches, plus 19-inch alloy wheels as standard; 20-inch wheels are an option. At the back are Audi’s signature oval tailpipes, plus a boot spoiler and a rear diffuser. A lightweight carbon-fibre roof will also be available as an optional extra. Under the bonnet sits a new 444bhp 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine developing 600Nm of torque; that’s the same power output as the previous car’s V8 engine, but with a 170Nm torque…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods PORSCHE has pulled the wraps off the Panamera Sport Turismo at the Geneva Motor Show, five years after it first flirted with the idea of a Panamera estate. The practical new Porsche is based on the second-generation Panamera, and will arrive in dealerships in October. At 5,049mm long, it’s the same length as a standard model, despite the estate-style body and additional passenger space. There are 520 litres of boot space in the Sport Turismo, 25 litres more than the standard Panamera. What’s more, the restyled roofline means wider door openings for the rear-seat passengers, and greater headroom. However, one of the biggest changes is that the Sport Turismo offers room for a third rear-seat passenger, whereas the standard Panamera has room for only two. The seats can…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) Which?: 01992 878329 Citizens Advice Consumer helpline: 03454 040506 Local Trading Standards Local Citizens Advice Bureau Used car inspections AA: 0800 056 8040 RAC: 0330 159 0720 Technical advice AA: 0370 142 0002 (m) Driving licences DVLA: 0300 790 6801 Car registration/history HPI: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 Traffic information AA: 0906 888 4322 RAC: 09003 444999 (p) Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: www.consumerombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Association: 0131 331 5510…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE Range Rover is one of the world’s most recognisable luxury cars, offering a winning blend of refinement, performance, quality and class. And now a newly updated model for 2017 has further added to its appeal. The main change for the range is the introduction of an ultra-luxurious new SVAutobiography Dynamic model (issue 1,458), but this ‘lesser’ Autobiography version has also been updated with the new 10-inch touchscreen InControl Touch Pro infotainment system and a few other changes to the equipment list. The infotainment system is definitely an upgrade over the previous one, but the graphics are still neither as sharp nor as modern-looking as the system in the Mercedes S-Class. What’s more, while the chunky buttons still cater for glove-wearing occupants, the features you use via the…

MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Astra 1.0i Turbo SRi Nav PRICE: £20,375 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 104bhp THE Astra is our reigning compact family hatch champion. Vauxhall reinvented the car for this seventh generation, and it edged ahead of its rivals in the process. It’s beaten the best in popular diesel form, as well as in 1.0-litre turbo guise (Issue 1,445), so can it keep its hold over the class here, or will the Hyundai show it a clean pair of heels? We test the Astra 1.0i Turbo in £20,375 SRi Nav trim to find out. DESIGN & ENGINEERING VAUXHALL made a big deal of its latest Astra’s Watts-link rear suspension design, with the packaging helping space in the rear and the set-up also delivering a refined ride and plenty of stability. However,…

steve_fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler THERE’S a lot to get your head around when you’re a Tesla owner – not least the groundbreaking technology on offer. But if, like me, you take delivery of a Certified Pre-Owned Tesla, there’s something else that’s a bit unusual: my Model S is better today than when it drove out of the showroom nearly two years ago. When the first owners took delivery, their rear-wheel-drive 85kWh car was at the cutting edge of tech, with features such as traffic-aware cruise control, forward collision warning, auto highbeam and a smart reversing camera. “That intoxicating instant hit of torque makes it such fun to drive and overtake in” However, six months later, an overthe- air software update added Tesla’s now-famous Autopilot system, which will not only stay a measured…

FIRST TEST Plusus Life2Go Car Charger and Powerbank Price: £24.99 Contact: www.mobilefun.co.uk Rating: WE’VE tested both powerbanks and in-car 12V socket chargers in recent months, but this product combines the two. The Plusus Life2Go is a singleport 12V USB socket, with a 2.1 Amp output to ensure a decent rate of charge. But it also includes a 1,000mAh powerbank, allowing you to continue topping up your device even when the ignition is off. As gadget chargers go, 1,000mAh is quite a small capacity. Many modern smartphone batteries give more than 3,000mAh, so the Life2Go won’t provide a full charge, but could still be the boost you need. We can see it coming in handy for certain devices which you’d like to use for a couple of hours with the ignition…

The BMW Century: The Ultimate Performance Machines Tony Lewin (Motorbooks, www.quartoknows.com) Price: £35 Rating: THIS book details just about every important BMW of the last 100 years – whether it’s cars, motorcycles or even aircraft engines. It’s packed with pictures, and has been written with a love for the brand. It can be a bit short on detail, but makes a good read for fans of BMW. Volkswagen Type 3 Simon Glen (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £40 Rating: IT doesn’t get the same beloved following as the Beetle, but the Volkswagen Type 3 was an interesting series of cars in its own right. It was produced over 20 years and included saloons, notchbacks and coupés, with all covered in detail in this book. Seasoned VW fans will be happy with…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Can I reject faulty Toyota? I BOUGHT a used Toyota from my dealer 10 days ago, and found six faults with it. The dealer has offered to repair them, but it will take weeks. I’m not sure I can wait so long without a car. What are my options? Sandeep Bhanwar, E-mail A IF you cannot wait until the car is repaired, you are entitled to reject it under the Consumer Rights Act. Buyers have 30 days to hand back the car if it is not as described, fit for purpose or is of unsatisfactory quality. Six faults sounds worrying, so it may be wise to hand it back. Q Query on spare wheel A MY Nissan Qashqai doesn’t come with a fullsized…

Join the debate now... www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion IT’S official. You, dear private motorist, have been warned by Transport Minister Chris Grayling to think “long and hard” about the type of car you opt for. Yet again it is relatively clean, green, low-mileage, state-of-the-art cars – plus their drivers – that are in the firing line. Knackered dirty diesel buses, coaches, taxis, trains, lorries and agricultural vehicles are barely acknowledged as the gross polluters they are. Nobody’s denying there are issues with emissions from some diesel cars, but too many politicians and others conveniently forget other heavy-duty diesel vehicles (plus boats, ships, planes etc) cause far greater pollution nightmares. Grayling infers his Government will help kill off diesel personal mobility machines. Yet there’s absolutely no instruction you should stop driving the one you’ve…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE all-new, second-generation Volvo XC60 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show – and Auto Express has already been given a special preview of the Audi Q5 rival by senior vicepresident of design Thomas Ingenlath. At Volvo headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, Ingenlath told us that the new SUV isn’t just a scaled-down version of the flagship XC90, although both cars share Volvo’s SPA large vehicle platform. “I am relaxed coming out with the XC60, because it isn’t such a revolution [as the XC90 was],” he said. “But it is a big step and improvement with the new platform. I’m tempted to ask: ‘What could go wrong?’” The driver sits lower in the XC60 than its larger brother, and the muscular-looking door creases, extended ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights and new…

Singapore’s new EV hypercar uncovered VANDA Electrics, a Singapore-based EV brand, has revealed its all-electric hypercar concept, the Dendrobium – so called because of a resemblance to the flower of the same name with the rear-hinged doors and roof open. Williams Advanced Engineering, a branch of the British F1 team, is working to make it drive as well as it looks (above). Although not confirmed for production, it should get a sevenfigure price tag if given the green light. Injury payout plan to be reconsidered THE Government will reconsider its plans to change personal injury payouts, which would add up to £1,000 to some insurance premiums. The Ministry of Justice had proposed altering the discount rate that applies when taking a lump sum payout for personal injuries, meaning drivers would…

ames_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods VOLKSWAGEN has pulled the covers off its new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé rival, called the Arteon, at the Geneva Motor Show. It features rakish five-door fastback styling, the latest VW infotainment systems and technology, and a powertrain line-up that’s headlined by a turbocharged 276bhp 2.0-litre engine and all-wheel-drive system. The 4,862mm-long Arteon sits on the VW Group’s MQB platform, but stands out from the rest of the range through a new design language that’s heavily influenced by the Sport Coupé Concept Volkswagen revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. The large bonnet caps the whole front end of the car, dipping into the wheelarches and meeting the new LED headlights. The lights themselves blend into the wide, horizontal grille – a design trait VW says will…

www.thedrivingdoctor.org @drpaulripley WITH over 40 years experience’ in the driver training industry, I remain amazed that training for experienced drivers is nearly all skill based. You’ll get a predrive briefing, outlining the day’s aims and objectives, and the instructor will sit alongside the driver to assess their skill and ability. This is where it goes wrong. For an experienced driver, safety is not a skill set but a mindset. Safety comes from our attitude and behaviour, the way we think, feel and act behind the wheel. The mind is the boss on decision making and can control how we act, react and respond to outside problems on the road while our emotions run riot. Skill has nothing to do with these essential elements, yet the ‘human factors’ are never taught…

A sleepy town near the Arctic Circle plays host to the world’s car manufacturers each winter. We find out why they flock there Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “MORE gas, more gas – it’s virtually impossible to spin!” are the confident instructions from our co-driver as we career sideways in a Ford Focus RS, worryingly close to the thick snow banks around us. And while our gut reaction is to slam on the brakes and panic, we keep the faith with our experienced engineer in the passenger seat, kicking the throttle and tweaking the wheel. The hot hatch bites and stabilises, while the impressive slide continues in a cloud of pure white snow that covers our rear window. It’s a remarkable and addictive feeling made possible by hours of research, testing and tuning…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan THIS new Cabriolet joins the coupé and Sportback as the final instalment of the Audi S5 range, and is designed to take on the Mercedes-AMG C43 Cabriolet and BMW 440i Convertible. Like the A5 Cabriolet we drove last week (Issue 1,462), the S5 sits on Audi’s newest MLB Evo platform, with larger exterior dimensions but a reduction in weight over its predecessor. The S5 is 40kg lighter – although it’s still a substantial 225kg more than the coupé, due to the added strengthening required by the removal of the roof. Audi claims it’s 40 per cent stiffer than before, too. The extra weight over the coupé means performance suffers, though. Despite the 349bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged V6’s best efforts, 0-62mph takes 5.1 seconds, which is four-tenths slower than the…

MODEL TESTED: Hyundai i30 1.0 T-GDi SE Nav PRICE: £19,645 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 118bhp DESPITE the rise in popularity of the crossover, the five-door hatchback is still a staple of the UK best-seller list. Hyundai is hoping that its new i30 can rise to the top of the class. Here we test the SE Nav model with the 1.0 T-GDi 120 engine to see if it can knock the Astra off its perch. DESIGN & ENGINEERING THE family hatchback sector is as competitive as it’s ever been, and having firmly established itself as a mainstream brand, Hyundai has taken a big step by designing, developing, testing and now manufacturing its new i30 in Europe for European buyers. There’s a new chassis underneath to help with the brand’s quest to compete,…

HYUNDAI i30 Touchscreen sat-nav 8” Standard Key features: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto GO for SE Nav trim and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, giving a good level of smartphone connectivity. Sat-nav is also included as part of the upgraded eight-inch touchscreen system, although lesser models get a smaller 5.0-inch unit with no nav and less comprehensive smartphone integration.. The touchscreen system is clear and quick to respond, despite dated-looking graphics, while the live services, such as traffic, weather and speed camera alerts, make life on the road easier. A seven-year free subscription to Hyundai’s Live Services comes as standard, while wireless phone charging is also included on SE Nav. We found it easy to pair our phone and use the connectivity apps available, while the decent screen also…

Otis Clay Otis_Clay@dennis.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 343/1,558 litres Running costs 56.5mpg (on test) £52 fill-up THE rise of ride hailing app Uber has also seen more and more Toyota Prius land in the UK. Auto Express went behind the scenes to see exactly what it takes to be an Uber driver recently (Issue 1,460), but one thing is for sure: you need a Prius. I mean that in a positive way, because our long-term Toyota has proven a brilliant companion recently, and I’ve experienced exactly what it’s like to drive a Prius around London over the last few weeks. First of all, it took me a while to work out why people were waving their iPhones at me whenever I was waiting at a major junction or a set…

Hard-wired dash cams for VW vans VOLKSWAGEN has partnered with Kenwood to offer drivers of its Crafter, Transporter and Caddy vans the option of a high-end dash cam fitted permanently in the vehicle. The Kenwood DRV-410 offers full HD video recording plus audible warnings against lane departure and potential rear-end collisions if you close in on the vehicle in front too fast. The dash cam is priced from £210 fitted and can be ordered from VW Commercial Vehicle centres. More models from top manual maker HAYNES has added four new models to its comprehensive range of repair manuals. Owners of the Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Zafira B, or previous-generation Volkswagen Passat and Touran models, can now get their hands on one of Haynes’ comprehensive manuals to help with simple maintenance…

LAST month marked the 10th anniversary of the original Nissan Qashqai going on sale in the UK. The original model was a bold move on Nissan’s part, as not only was it the first-ever crossover, there were plenty of people who wondered if replacing a conventional family car with an SUV was a wise idea. But it proved to be the right move at the right time, with the Qashqai Mk1 capturing buyers’ imaginations; almost 100,000 were sold across Europe in the first year, and the car notched up one award after another. We’ve given its successor our fair share of gongs, including Best Crossover in 2014, then again in 2015. But as one of the UK’s most popular cars, is the Qashqai Mk2 all it’s cracked up to be…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn HONDA has taken the wraps off its all-new 316bhp Civic Type R at this week’s Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the new 10th-generation hatchback, and will be built exclusively at the company’s facility in Swindon and exported to markets worldwide including Japan and the USA. Prices will start from round £32,000 when it arrives in UK showrooms in July. This Civic is the 10th model from the Japanese manufacturer to wear the famous Type R badge since 1992, and Honda has targeted an improvement in overall dynamic performance, high-speed stability and on-track ability for this car. Based on the new architecture that underpins the regular Civic hatchback, the Type R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC engine, giving 316bhp and 400Nm of torque –…

Aston hypercar to be badged Valkyrie ASTON MARTIN has confirmed that its hypercar, co-developed with Red Bull, will be called the Valkyrie. The name is taken from Norse mythology, and continues Aston’s tradition of ‘V’ cars. Deliveries of the Valkyrie will begin in 2019, and all 150 roadgoing models have already been sold at an estimated £2million each. It will be powered by a Cosworth-developed 6.5-litre V12 engine that develops around 900bhp. Three-star crash tests for Ka+, 500 THE Ford Ka+ and facelifted Fiat 500 both failed to impress in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results; they each scored just three stars due to a shortage of standard safety tech. More impressive were the five-star performances from the Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery and Toyota C-HR. The Discovery did…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan NISSAN has rolled out an updated version of the Qashqai, Europe’s most popular crossover, at the Geneva Motor Show. It goes on sale in July, with deliveries starting in the second half of the year. More than 230,000 examples of the Qashqai were sold in Europe last year, but that hasn’t stopped Nissan from giving the crossover a thorough overhaul. The headline change is the addition of autonomous driving tech called ProPILOT; by the end of the year, the Qashqai will have the ability to steer, accelerate and brake itself in a single lane on motorways. Nissan can’t yet say whether or not this will be standard on top trims. Further tech enhancements will include an upgraded emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition, and rear cross-traffic alert. Nissan…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods MERCEDES has finally revealed its new E-Class Cabriolet at this week’s Geneva Motor Show. The soft-top lines up alongside the saloon, estate, coupé and the rugged All-Terrain, and for the first time is available with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Sharing the saloon’s Mercedes MRA platform, the new convertible is larger than the outgoing model, measuring 4,826mm long, 1,860mm wide and 1,428mm tall. The track is wider, up by 67mm at the front and 68mm at the rear. The ride height is 15mm lower than on the saloon. The construction is a mixture of steel and aluminium, while Mercedes says the floor and structures at the front end have been stiffened to counter the loss of a fixed roof. In terms of design, there are few surprises; the E-Class Cabriolet…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy VOLKSWAGEN is gearing up to launch a range of pure-electric cars in 2020 – and we’ve had a short spin in the I.D., a concept that previews the new line-up. The show car is said to be about 80 per cent of the production model; it’s a fivedoor hatchback that’s only a little bit longer than a Polo. But the wheelbase is within a couple of centimetres of a Passat’s – clever packaging made possible, VW says, by its bespoke electric platform, called MEB. “The look is clean and sophisticated, but the complex rear doors will probably be toned down for production” The car’s overall look is clean and sophisticated – but elements such as the complex rear doors will probably be toned down for production. The one-off…

TECHNOLOGY continues to take over cars, with reversing cameras, lane assist systems and emergency braking even available on cheaper cars. It means drivers are being asked to trust their motors more than ever and hand over control to “the machines”. If you believe the Hollywood movies (“The Matrix”, “Terminator” and “I, Robot” to name just a few), we’re pretty much on the way to global Armageddon, it seems. But fear not, because in reality, it’s likely to be much less dramatic. It does raise the question, though, of how much motorists really trust car makers, and who do they put their faith in the most when it comes to future tech? A recent survey conducted by car tracking company Satrak shows more than half of people wouldn’t feel comfortable or…

Inbox What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD FROM: Stuart C THE revised diesel will give the F-Pace the extra performance and torque a 1.7-tonne SUV needs, but combine it with reasonable fuel economy. This sounds much better than the £10,000 extra currently needed for the powerful 3.0-litre V6 option. FROM: Guest SOUNDS like a good engine selection to add to the Jaguar line-up, as they all seem to have good performance and economy. Only downside is they come after the VED rates have changed, meaning we’ll pay more in tax and can’t enjoy the savings from lower CO2 rates. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “I hope this isn’t a precursor to Jaguar dropping…

SPEND a day at the Colmis Proving Ground, and you’re exposed to the very latest prototypes, many covered in camouflage as they head for the Geneva Motor Show and beyond. On our first day, we spotted disguised Ferraris, Fords, Alfa Romeos, Audis and Land Rovers. In short, nearly every car and component manufacturer is here with the latest models under development – and nobody bats an eyelid. However, this makes it an ideal hunting ground for spy photographers to snap next-generation cars. And you don’t need to sneak into the proving ground to take pictures, either. If you can brave the cold, sitting outside the entrance will provide plenty of shots. Or, if you’re feeling lazy, waiting in the sleepy town centre of Arjeplog will reveal the automotive industry’s secrets…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/130mph THE Range Rover Sport has been given a fresh round of updates for 2017, including a new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine we test here for the first time. With 335bhp and 450Nm of torque, the V6 feels as powerful as you might expect; the Range Rover Sport weighs over 2.1 tonnes, but 0-62mph takes only seven seconds and it’ll hit a top speed of 130mph. It feels pretty brisk on the road, and higher up in the rev range it really takes off. However, the V6 isn’t the best-sounding performance engine around, and it just doesn’t feel like the right engine for this car. The alternative turbocharged diesel V6 and V8 units in the Sport feel much more relaxed, with loads of low-down…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan FOUR-wheel-drive estates are 10 a penny these days, but there was a time when only a handful of manufacturers offered them. Subaru was one, and has had plenty of success globally as a result – and is still doing so, with 965,000 allwheel- drive cars shifted last year. The latest in the line is the Levorg, which appeared in 2015 and has just been revised. Sales of the model have been modest in Britain, but Subaru obviously thinks it nailed the recipe first time around, because the 2017 model year updates are minor. The powertrain, suspension and chassis are unchanged, while the exterior and cabin are largely the same. However, some work has gone into improving refinement, with tweaks to the door-seal material, and additional engine insulation. Subaru…

MODEL TESTED: Renault Mégane TCe 130 GT Line Nav PRICE: £20,250 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 128bhp ON the face of things, the Renault Mégane offers slick design and lots of tech, while the 1.2 TCe turbo petrol serves up the strongest figures on paper. In £20,250 GT Line Nav trim it comes with some sportier styling cues, but this doesn’t change the way the car drives, so the basic recipe is the same as the i30. Is it a better family hatch, though? DESIGN & ENGINEERING THE biggest change for the fourth-generation Renault Mégane was the design, and the styling highlights the car’s modern underpinnings. It’s based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-CD scalable platform architecture, which forms the basis for crossovers like the French firm’s Kadjar, as well as its Scenic…

Results 1st VAUXHALL THANKS to its blend of affordability, low running costs and the best balance of comfort and dynamic ability, the Astra takes victory again. It’s not as practical as the Mégane, but it offers enough usability 99 per cent of the time. Quality is good, too, while the Vauxhall will hold on to more of its value, making it the cheapest to buy and run for cash and finance buyers, as well as company car drivers. 2nd RENAULT SPACE is the Mégane’s big plus point, but downsized petrols are all about cost, and compared with the Astra, it’ll be pricier to run. The infotainment system is the most upmarket, but the Renault lacks the Vauxhall’s ride and handling finesse. GT Line wouldn’t be our choice, either. Save some…

NEW PRODUCT Navdy Price: £599 Contact: www.navdy.com A NEW aftermarket head-up display system has been launched in the UK after success in the US. Navdy is an augmented reality screen that sits on your dashboard to display directions, text messages and phone calls without your eyes ever having to leave the road. The system is controlled by gestures and swipes. It’s designed to work in most cars via the OBD port, and uses Google Maps and offline maps for navigation, so you don’t need a constant working signal in more remote locations. The augmented reality system syncs with your car, monitoring typical dashboard functions such as petrol usage and directing you to filling stations as required – or rerouting you if you get a message to say the location of…

Mini test NEW PRODUCT CödeClean Luxury Clay Mitt Price: £30 Rating: Contact: 0800 048 8863, www.codeclean.co.uk THERE’S no doubt this new mitt is very effective. It matched the cleaning power of our test winner, but covers much more area on each sweep, so the time needed to tackle a car is greatly reduced. Soapy water can be used as a lube, but we opted for the £6.95 CödeClean Clay Mitt Lubricant (500ml). The mitt needs to be rinsed and a second cloth is required to dry the panel. The mitt didn’t slip and it worked quickly, while it comes in a resealable plastic bag for storage. The mitt is effective, but is expensive compared to its rivals here – although it can be washed and reused even when dropped, unlike…

Dear Lawrence, I’m bored of economy cars and want to get myself a comfortable, prestige V8 coupé before I retire. What are my options for £25,000? Eddie Forsyth, Wiltshire Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk THE STYLISH CHOICE Jaguar XK FOR: Great looks, classy image, lovely drive AGAINST: Cramped cabin, mixed reliability THE XK Mk2 was the first car of Jaguar’s modern design revolution. With stunning looks, a slick cabin and hi-tech lightweight aluminium chassis, it brought the British brand into the 21st century. There’s not a lot of space inside and quality is mixed, but the ride and handling are superb. The 5.0-litre V8 engine of cars from 2009 is smooth and fast, and it sounds great. In the classifieds we found an XK with 50,000 miles on the clock for £23,995. THE…

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Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk McLAREN has suffered a torrid start to its 2017 Formula One campaign, with the Honda-engined MCL32 being hit by a series of reliability issues during the first of two four-day tests in Spain last week. Problems began on the first morning when Fernando Alonso was kept in the pits after an installation lap following a fault with the car’s oil tank. Some running was completed after an engine change, but a subsequent failure on the second day required another power unit swap. McLaren ended the week having clocked up the second-fewest laps of any team: 208 versus Mercedes’ 558 and Ferrari’s 468. Alonso’s team-mate, Stoffel Vandoorne, said: “Of course, it’s not the best situation. Everyone hoped we would have been able to do more laps, but it is what…