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John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy OFFICIAL SEAT is considering a new look for its Cupra performance arm – including the idea of a bespoke badge for the sub-brand – Auto Express can reveal. The Spanish manufacturer has been working on increasingly ambitious plans for Cupra ever since the arrival of current CEO Luca de Meo in autumn 2015. The firm’s head of R&D, Matthias Rabe, is also keen to make greater use of the SEAT Sport engineering team, which has recent experience in touring cars. At the moment, Cupra models are set apart from conventional SEATs by subtle branding featuring a chequered flag motif. But trademark applications made by SEAT at the end of May show a different approach, including a new logo sitting above the existing Cupra lettering. Perhaps more significantly, one…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods HONDA has revealed a fresh-faced Jazz ahead of its debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The supermini features an updated look inside and out, as well as a new petrol engine. A revised front grille is joined by a more aggressive-looking bumper, while the rear end has been redesigned, too. The colour palette has also been broadened with the addition of a new metallic blue finish. OFFICIAL “Inside, Dynamic cars get orange pinstripe detailing on the seats and contrasting orange stitching dotted around cabin” On top of this, the Jazz benefits from the addition of a 128bhp 1.5-litre fourcylinder petrol engine, which is offered exclusively on a new Dynamic model. Honda hasn’t revealed any performance figures yet, but the new motor will be linked to a six-speed…

HAS there ever been a topic that has sparked so much debate as Brexit? With the UK having voted to leave the European Union, industries have started to voice their concerns over the future, and the automotive sector is intent on having its say. The industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), vocally backed free access to the EU market, and pointed out that in the instance of a bad Brexit deal, vehicle prices could rise by up to £1,500 due to import and export tariffs. Now its research suggests that if the UK fell back on World Trade Organisation trading rules, parts imported would be taxed between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent, and servicing bills would go up by 10 per cent on average, adding…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE MAZDA launched the Cosmo Sport, its first rotaryengined car, in 1967, so the brand is celebrating the unique motor’s 50th birthday in 2017. While there are no cars in production today that use this power unit, it’s such an important part of the Japanese company’s identity – and motoring history – that we’ve joined the celebrations. Also known as the Wankel, after its inventor Felix Wankel, the rotary engine was first conceived by the German engineer in the twenties. It wasn’t until after the Second World War that the concept took off, though, when German vehicle manufacturer NSU began to collaborate with Wankel on his new type of powerplant in the fifties. Where a normal combustion engine has cylindrical pistons that move up and down, the Wankel engine…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn LOOK back 10 years, and the only place you’d find 400bhp was in exotic Italian sports cars and high-performance executive saloons. Today, that figure is delivered by the updated Audi RS3 – a family hatchback with space for five adults and their luggage. This may be the entry Audi RS model, but there’s nothing basic about its performance. The changes in this updated version revolve mostly around the engine; the 2.5-litre fivecylinder turbo motor remains, but with a range of tweaks to produce more power without any real cost in efficiency. The hand-built engine is 26kg lighter than that in the outgoing RS3, thanks to a lightweight alloy crankcase and hollowed crankshaft. Power and torque stand at 395bhp and 480Nm (increases of 33bhp and 15Nm) and are forced…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram WE’VE already heaped praise on the latest SEAT Ibiza, crowning it Best Supermini at this year’s Auto Express New Car Awards. Since then a new Ford Fiesta has arrived and beaten the Ibiza in a subsequent road test, but the SEAT still has lots to love. We rated its peppy turbo engine highly, while its grown-up cabin, smart styling and engaging handling were further plus points. It’s also loaded with tech, and offers plenty of space in the back for adults, making it feel more mature than many of its rivals. But although lots of buyers will favour the more powerful 1.0 TSI, the entry-level car uses a non-turbo 74bhp MPI unit. It offers younger drivers cheaper insurance, and while performance suffers somewhat, it’s the only version available…

AUDI RS5 COUPE score 4.1 MMI Navigation Plus Standard Key features: Digital dash, CarPlay, nav THE RS5 is Audi’s range-topper, so it gets plenty of hi-tech infotainment kit. The central 8.3-inch screen includes sat-nav, DAB, Bluetooth, Audi’s Smartphone Interface (which brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a three-year subscription to online connected services, which adds news and social media capability. The central MMI scroll wheel and touch-sensitive pad mean there are plenty of options to control the system, while the menu layouts are easy to navigate around. Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit is also standard and the widescreen dash display has plenty of capability. There’s an RS-specific mode with a central rev counter that focuses on performance; the unit also shows information such as cornering G-force when on track. However,…

IT’S funny how a few modifications to a car can give it a distinctly different identity. The Passat Alltrack is based on the regular Passat Estate, but benefits from chunky visual tweaks and an increase in ride height, plus the addition of four-wheel drive. It only rides 27.5mm higher than the regular VW, though, so with less suspension travel than the V90 Cross Country, it’s more susceptible to ridges in the surface. The car feels lumpier and less flowing than the Volvo on the same stretch of road; it’s not crashy or annoying, but can’t match its rival’s pillowy ride. On the flipside, the Passat is more direct to drive, with sharper steering and more grip. The Volvo has a decent level of grip, but it sits higher than the…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk @Steve_cars WE all like a car with a bit of power, whether it’s for safely overtaking dawdling farm machinery or just for those occasions when you can’t resist the sensation as your car surges at the horizon. The problem is that, as a general rule, more power will mean bigger fuel bills. Those tend to get harder to stomach when you realise that the extra grunt you’re paying for the pleasure of at the pumps is lying dormant most of the time. The 1.4 TSI ACT petrol engine in our Skoda Superb is one method of achieving the old performance-vs-economy balancing act that many modern cars try to walk, because the Skoda has some advanced equipment under the bonnet to boost power and efficiency. ACT stands for Active Cylinder…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q How can I cut through bolt? WHILE working on my car, I’ve stripped the thread on a bolt on the steering column. I need to remove the bolt in order to replace it, but I can’t get a saw into the space available. Any idea how I might solve this problem? Dave Nicholls, E-mail A A ROTARY tool may help. They come with small discs which can easily cut through bolts and are smaller than a conventional drill or angle grinder. Our current favourite is Sealey’s E5188 kit (above, £41.73, www.toolandfix.com); this includes a range of accessories for other jobs. Q All-season tyre dilemma HAVING read your tyre test, I have spent ages trying to find all-season rubber for my Audi S6 Avant. It…

FRENCH tyre giant Michelin has been expanding its accessories range, adding car care kit, a tyre pressure monitor and an inspection lamp, among other products. The car care kit had some success in our awards – Michelin’s Concentrated Screen Wash picked up a Commended gong, and now we’ve tried the work light. We put it up against our Issue 1,417 test Best Buy from Ring, checking the beam, looking for a wide, bright spread with no dark patches, plus mounting and charging options. We also timed how long the lights lasted at full beam and factored in cost using makers’ and online prices. It was close, but the Ring just remains our choice thanks to its mains and 12V charging options and keen price. It’s an impressive debut for Michelin,…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk A BATTLE between tarmac experts Sebastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) is expected as the World Rally Championship (WRC) heads to western Germany this weekend. The duo are tied on 160 points apiece at the top of the standings going into the event. Both have good form here; Ogier has won the last two runnings of the rally, when he drove for Volkswagen, while Neuville triumphed back in 2014. Rallye Deutschland is made from a trio of former national rallies rolled into one, so the three days have distinct identities. Day one runs on twisty vineyard roads, day two in the Baumholder military area (which is famous for its car-breaking kerb stones, known as ‘hinkelsteins’) and day three on some fast and sweeping road stages close to…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE Range Rover Evoque is a car that defined a generation of small SUVs and a key part of a golden era in the history of Land Rover. Now the British firm is gearing up to deliver the second generation of the car, due at the start of 2019. Engineers and designers are working on an evolution of a model that has sold well over 600,000 examples since its launch in 2011. They’re aiming to offer better connectivity and more scope for personalisation, along with greater efficiency and a bit more practicality. What they’re not going to do is radically alter the styling, which has kept the existing car looking fresh and appealing throughout its six years. However, as previewed in our exclusive images, the distinctive front-end design…

ENGLAND’S roadside litter hotspots have been revealed by Highways England, which claims littering motorists cost taxpayers on average £8million a year. The agency said it collects about 200,000 sacks of rubbish annually from the strategic road network, at a cost of £40 per sack. It pointed out that the cost of filling a pothole is also £40, and the money could be better spent if motorists stopped littering. The problem is so bad in some parts of the country that the agency has dubbed them ‘litter hotspots’, with over 7,000 bags of rubbish having been collected from these 25 individual sites since January, at an estimated cost of £280,000. These hotspots are often as small as a single slip road or junction on motorways such as the M1, M11 and…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Videowatch WE take the wheel of a sixties Range Rover Velar this week at youtube.com/Autoexpress, as our car tech series continues. We drive original Range Rover Velar AUTO Express has been first to bring you news about the stunning Range Rover Veler and first to get behind the wheel, but what's the story behind th name? I drive an original 1969 velar and discover how it all began for the legendary Range Rover luxury SUV. If you’re intrested in the gorgeous new Velar, this video makes essential viewing. Our A-Z of car tech continues with E OUR guide through the bewildering world of technology in the modern motor car continues with the letter E. In this episode we take a look at engines, electric cars and much more.…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan SSANGYONG’S bosses are honest about the current Rexton’s obvious advancing years. It’s large, priced like a hatchback and impressively rugged, but the back-to-basics 4x4 has only received the odd tweak since its launch way back in 2003. A glut of more modern SUVs has arrived since, serving to highlight its status as a motoring dinosaur. But the Korean car maker’s regeneration is in full swing, with new models showing SsangYong has what it takes to go toe to toe with brands in Europe. Now it’s the turn of the all-new Rexton, which we’re driving first in Korea, ahead of UK sales in October. The design has moved on for the new car, and while styling is subjective, to our eyes, it sports a cleaner and more upmarket look…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy FORD created Vignale to prevent buyers of its top-spec models jumping across to premium brands. The S-MAX and Mondeo Vignale have sold in modest numbers since launch, but now the firm is stretching the brand with its priciest Vignale yet: the Edge. It’s available in a couple of flavours, both featuring four-wheel drive. The cheaper car has a 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and a manual box; the range-topper we’re testing here gets a more potent 207bhp version of the same motor, plus a six-speed auto. Vignale trim brings exclusive paint finishes and different polished chrome wheels, making the Edge look even more American than it already is (it’s made in Canada, in fact). Inside, there’s quilted leather, plus embellishments on the facia to break up the swathes of…

Maximum Mini Jeroen Booij (Veloce, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £19.99 Rating: YOU might be familiar with some of the more popular Mini-based kit cars and limited-run models, but we bet a few of those covered in this book will still surprise you. It details 58 of the most interesting cars ever to call the baby Brit a donor. Fun cars, good pictures and concise writing mark it out, but we wonder if the fixed length of each section may have limited the author on some more innovative models. The Story of the Car Giles Chapman (Wren & Rook, hachettechildrens.co.uk) Price: £12.99 Rating: WE’RE big fans of author Chapman’s more accessible books, and this simply written, beautifully illustrated offering would make an ideal gift for a budding junior petrolhead. At less than 50…

Michael_Cox@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Why did I need a new DPF? THE diesel particulate filter (DPF) on my new Porsche Macan S Diesel had to be replaced after just 3,600 miles. I was told this happens if you’ve only done short journeys at low revs, which isn’t the case – so why did it happen? Harry Martindale, E-mail A A DPF CAN become blocked from driving only short journeys at low revs, but it can also be caused by using the wrong type of engine oil, a fuel system issue or a low additive level. If you suspect a fault, have the car inspected by a dealer or an accredited engineer. Q Can I dodge mileage fee? IN the first year of my PCP deal I have driven 15,000 miles, but…

Mike Rutherford With music, motors, movies and meals there’s no right or wrong, good or bad; it’s what floats your boat that matters COMING up with the 12 greatest driving tunes of all time is about as easy as deciding on your dozen favourite cars, films or dishes. It’s a near impossible task and a very personal one, too. With music, motors, movies and meals there’s no right or wrong, good or bad; it’s what floats your boat that matters. And the following 12 driving tunes float mine. They’re not necessarily what I’d listen to at home, but they have often accompanied me while I’ve driven to or through 68 countries since the early eighties when I switched from music journalism to motoring writing and broadcasting. Here goes: All or…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ASTON Martin has unveiled the latest in its line of Zagato specials, the Vanquish Zagato Speedster, and confirmed that the new model will form part of a family of limited-edition vehicles which will also include a radical Shooting Brake version. The Vanquish Zagato family started with the Coupé, which was unveiled at the Villa d’Este show in Italy last year, and this was followed up by the convertible Volante version of that car at Pebble Beach. Now the British luxury sports car brand and the Italian coachbuilder are using the American classic car event to reveal the Speedster – and to tease a fourth variant, the Shooting Brake, which is due on sale in 2018. The Speedster gets cues already seen on the Coupé and Volante, with a…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods BMW’s SUV sales have grown rapidly over the past decade and the firm hopes to build on that success when the fourth generation of the model that kick-started the premium SUV revolution, the X5, arrives late next year. It will feature a new look and be packed with the latest tech, while a new 600bhp X5 M will top the range. Auto Express understands the car will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show next September. EXCLUSIVE IMAGES “Sitting at the top end of the range will be a new X5 M. It will use the refreshed 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine from the next M5 ” Before that, BMW will launch the all-new X2, while a full-size Range Rover rival, called the X7, is also on the…

Mountune turns up heat on Focus RS FORD tuner Mountune has revealed a fresh upgrade package for the Focus RS (above). Called M400, it’s priced at £2,912, and boosts the 2.3-litre turbo to 395bhp and 560Nm of torque. Mountune doesn’t quote any updated performance figures, but it’s expected to dramatically improve on the standard car’s 4.7-second 0-62mph time, given the increases of 50bhp and 120Nm. However, unlike with other Mountune upgrades, fitting the M400 pack will invalidate the standard Ford warranty. Boffins test veg oil as diesel substitute VEGETABLE oil could be used to replace diesel fuel in the future as part of the bid to cut vehicle emissions. Highways England has revealed it is currently testing the benefits of using new ‘paraffinic fuels’ made from vegetable oil and woodchips…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn MAZDA will introduce petrol engines featuring compression ignition to its cars from 2019, with the firm promising the technology will bring diesel levels of fuel efficiency to petrol engines for the first time. The company claims that the next-generation engine, dubbed SKYACTIV-X, will have a notable power and efficiency boost over the brand’s current SKYACTIV-G petrol units, and could even equal or exceed conventional diesel motors in terms of fuel economy. Although the marque has confirmed that the technology will arrive in 2019, it has not said in which model the engine will first appear. The firm’s production lifecycles indicate that the Mazda 3 (right) is the next major product due for a revamp around the same time frame. The engine’s introduction will make the Japanese company the…

Contact Michael Cox mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC Range Rover Velar FROM: Peter Smith THE Velar looks great, and I’m sure it’s good to drive, but reliability is a concern for me when it comes to Jaguar Land Rover. With any luck the Velar will be free of early issues, which will be key to ensuring customers keep coming back to the brand. FROM: Med Aziz BY far the best-looking Range Rover, full stop. This is a car where the firm’s design language works best, with a nice balance of coloured panels and black trim finishes. I was never a big fan of the slopey front design and slim headlights, but here it works very well. Join the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods WHILE we’re still waiting to see if the rotary engine will reappear under the bonnet of a Mazda, the company is much more open about how its cars will look in the future. We were invited to Mazda’s European R&D centre in Frankfurt to learn about how the firm creates its cars, and ultimately pen our own. We had one day to understand the brand’s thinking and design a car chosen by you, our readers, in a poll on the autoexpress.co.uk website. You told us to come up with a low-slung, all-electric coupé. While our creation wouldn’t officially wear a Mazda badge, it would be designed using the company’s design philosophy, called Kodo. According to Kevin Rice, Mazda’s European design director, it’s a blueprint that’s becoming increasingly purer.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor YOU could say Mercedes-AMG peddles a nice line in performance cars. There’s definitely variety because, including AMG 43, 63 and 65 models, there are more than 30 AMGs in total, all fulfilling a different purpose. And somewhere between the A 45 hatchback and bonkers AMG GT R supercar are the S 63 and S 65 limos. They’ve always offered the same opulence as the standard, but rather ubiquitous, Mercedes S-Class models, but with the added firepower associated with AMG’s famous hand-built engines. The result is two cars that are fantastically idiosyncratic, especially in the days of downsized engines and environmental concerns. Just like the rest of the S-Class range, these models have now received a selection of styling tweaks, plus the S 63 boasts a new engine. The…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ THE Volkswagen up! is a winner, hence the trophy and the champagne in celebration. Our car reigned victorious when it faced the Renault Twingo GT and Smart ForTwo Brabus in a battle of turbocharged, sporty city cars (Issue 1,469) while the up! drove away with our Best City Car silverware in its surprisingly practical boot at the 2017 Auto Express New Car Awards. The more time I spend with this car, the more I’m impressed by its charms. For a three-door city car with a 1.0-litre engine to offer the breadth of ability the up! has is quite fantastic. That turbo does mean there’s a wider range of models on offer compared to its rivals – part of the reason the car won its award. And with a…

New drink digs into Harley bike heritage A NEW gin, The Archaeologist, has been launched, served in bottles (above) containing genuine vintage Harley Davidson bike engine parts. The items include 1939 Flathead camshafts, 1947 Knucklehead screwnuts and 1962 Panhead rocker arms. All parts have been cleaned and sealed to make the gin safe to drink. The initial run of bottles has sold out, but pre-orders are being taken for the next. You’ll need deep pockets, though, with prices starting from 900 Euros (£804). For details, visit www.the-archaeologist.com. Our top all-season tyre range expands GOODYEAR has added a further 14 sizes to our top-rated all-season tyre range, the Vector 4Seasons Gen-2. Along with a single size each for 15-inch and 19-inch rims, the bulk of the new range is for 17…