Auto Express 1489

ANOTHER week, another new supermini – but as you can read in our first verdict on the latest generation of Volkswagen Polo overleaf, these are indeed great times if you’re in the market for something smaller than a Golf or an Astra. Senior reviewer Sam Naylor reckons the Mk6 Polo is arguably the most grown-up vehicle in the class – but it is amazing how mature many of its rivals have become in their latest incarnations, too. The Polo is the third big arrival in this category in the past six months and the others – our awardwinning SEAT Ibiza and the recently revamped Ford Fiesta – really deliver a ‘big car’ experience. We can’t wait to test all three in the UK. It’s easy to see why top superminis…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE THE new Volkswagen Polo arrives in a year saturated with brand new superminis; we’ve already been impressed by the Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta, SEAT Ibiza and Suzuki Swift in 2017. The VW Polo is one of the most recognisable names of the lot, and this latest Mk6 car brings more space, more kit and an updated design. It’s hardly a revolution, but the Polo has a sportier stance thanks to a lower roofline, plus bumpers and lights that emphasise the car’s width. It’s still one of the more restrained superminis, but that was always one of its strengths: it appeals to those not wishing to shout about their vehicle. Thanks to the MQB platform on which it’s based, the Polo is now lighter, longer and lower than the…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ THIS is the all-new, second-generation Nissan Leaf and it will “make drivers feel more confident, excited and connected”, according to the Japanese brand. It has a tough act to follow, because the Mk1 was the first mass-market EV, shifting more than 283,000 units in seven years. The latest all-electric family hatch has a wealth of advanced new tech, grouped under the banner of “Nissan Intelligent Mobility”. Auto Express went behind the scenes to find out more. “Nissan is planning to add multi-lane motorway autonomous capability to the new Leaf by next year” Three pillars underpin this, the first of which is called Intelligent Driving. By far the biggest advance for the Leaf comes in the form of Nissan’s e-Pedal. This switchable system increases the regenerative braking when you…

HIROKI ISOBE Chief vehicle engineer, Nissan Leaf WE sat down with the man behind Nissan’s secondgeneration Leaf to discuss the brand’s aims for the car. Q What does the new Leaf have to achieve for Nissan? A “This car has to move EVs from early adopters into the mainstream and we’re doing that by making this a more emotional, more enjoyable car to drive.” Q How do you inject emotion into a car where one of the biggest elements you have a connection with has been removed? A “We wanted to make the new Leaf more fun and the emotion comes from the one-pedal driving and the even quicker responses from the powertrain. I think this one-pedal operation is a kind of evolution – from manual to automatic to this.…

AUTO Express has already driven the new Leaf, and while our time behind the wheel was limited to a prototype at Nissan’s test facility in Tochigi, Japan, it gave us a good insight into how the car’s dynamics and powertrain have developed. The motor feels lively, with smooth acceleration and only a hint of whine. The extra pace is obvious, but more interesting is the evolution of how you drive the car thanks to the e-Pedal. While it takes some getting used to, once you judge the level of deceleration from the regenerative braking in this mode, it quickly becomes natural to roll to a stop on the flat or a gradient by modulating the accelerator. It’s nicer than using the brakes because the brake pedal feels soft and squidgy.…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy SEAT has released the first details and pictures of its hottest hatchback yet: the Leon Cupra R. But the model will be a limited edition and it’s still unclear how many will be offered in right-hand drive to British customers. Revealed by SEAT management in a Web conference on Monday, ahead of a public debut at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Leon Cupra R gets a retuned version of the regular Cupra’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with 306bhp. That’s enough to make it the most powerful production model in the Spanish manufacturer’s history. It will be front-wheel drive only, and use a six-speed manual gearbox. “R gets a retuned version of regular Cupra’s 2.0-litre turbo, with 306bhp, making it the most powerful production SEAT” SEAT has yet…