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THE dawn of a new year is traditionally a time to look forward, and that’s what we’re doing this week as we preview some of the most exciting new cars coming in the next 12 months. Another vintage year is in store, and it’s especially encouraging to see British companies at the forefront of innovation; the new plug-in Range Rover, Aston’s Vantage and Jaguar’s I-Pace (above) are guaranteed to be among 2018’s highlights. Of course, a new year is also a time for reinvention, and I’m pleased tell you we’ve introduced some improvements as we continue to innovate based on what you tell us. Firstly, we’re following the trend set by the car industry by downsizing slightly; we’re moving to a more compact A4 size that our research tells us…

• OFFICIAL “X7 will be offered as a sister vehicle to the 7 Series in the upper echelons of the BMW line-up THE forthcoming BMW X7 could yet be offered with a four-cylinder engine, alongside straight-six and V8 petrol and diesel editions, Auto Express has learned. It will go on sale in the first half of 2019, giving BMW a rival for the Range Rover and a new flagship SUV in key regions like the US, Russia and China. The German brand recently issued the first official pictures (right) of the showroom model, taken on the production line for the car in the States. The seven-seater – which is said to have looks toned down from those of the controversial Concept X7 – will feature BMW’s latest generation of sixcylinder…

AS cars become increasingly sophisticated, there’s more need than ever for decent instruction manuals to help operate them. Peter Allen from Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, took delivery of his new BMW 5 Series and was surprised it was delivered without a paper copy of the infotainment system handbook – only a digital version held in his 530d’s iDrive. Peter was happy to consult this occasionally, but wanted a paper handbook so he could fully get to grips with his car’s systems. He contacted his local dealer to ask if it could supply one, only to be told he’d have to pay £24 for it. Unwilling to pay for something he felt should be included as standard, Peter turned to BMW’s head office, which could only provide a PDF copy. Frustrated, Peter…

Running costs 31.4mpg (official) £77 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.6 seconds/180mph Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE fact every Porsche Cayman now comes with a four-cylinder engine is no longer particularly newsworthy. While enthusiasts may mourn the demise of the brand’s naturally aspirated flat six, the downsized turbos are here to stay. That’s even true of the current 718 Cayman GTS flagship, which joins the range in 2018 with an uprated version of the standard car’s boosted flat four. It gets an extra 15bhp over the Cayman S, and commands a premium of just over £8,000. For that, you get Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package, adaptive dampers (PASM) and a limited-slip differential. To see whether the GTS is still the Cayman of choice, we tried out an early left-hand-drive test car on UK roads.…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 308 GTi 1.6 THP 270 by Peugeot Sport PRICE: £28,590 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 268bhp Running costs 34.6mpg (on test) £63 fill-up/£140 or 26% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 470/1,309 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.0 seconds/155mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 45.2/31.7/9.7m SOME subtle revisions to Peugeot’s most focused family hatchback have seen it come back with the potential to beat Volkswagen’s updated Golf GTI and the Skoda Octavia vRS in their most aggressive specifications. So has Peugeot improved what it needed to with this £28,590 308 GTi? Design & engineering THE 308 was one of the first Peugeots to use the brand’s EMP2 scalable platform, but for this GTi hot hatch version the set-up has been tweaked by Peugeot Sport to deliver sharper, more focused handling and, importantly, inject a…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk IT’S taken nearly a year, but the recent cold snap and some time in the countryside have shown me exactly how much grit and grip our four-wheel-drive Suzuki Ignis SZ-5 AllGRIP has. I spent a few days away from my home in the capital working at the office of our sister title evo in rural Bedfordshire. It made a nice change to throw the car around some slippery country lanes at pace rather than sit in endless traffic. The Ignis is bags of fun to drive; not especially refined or smooth, but certainly entertaining. The squat stance has to help, but the winter’s first big freeze proved the car’s ability to climb a frosty slope to the hilltop crescent where I live, then manoeuvre its way down using the…

“Upgrade to pricier device and you get a greater 140-degree field of vision” NEW PRODUCT Philips GoSure ADR 620 and ADR 820 dash cams Prices: From £79.99 Contact: Currys PC World(0344 561 0000, www.currys.co.uk) TEST-winning headlamp bulb pioneer Philips has bolstered its range of dash cams with two new products: the GoSure ADR620 and GoSure ADR820. The ADR620 starts at £79.99, while the ADR820 costs from £119.99. The cheaper device records in 1080p full-HD resolution with a 120-degree lens and comes with a two-inch LCD screen to allow you to easily review footage. Upgrade to the pricier ADR820 and you get an increased field of vision (140degrees), plus the camera comes with awider-aperture lens (f/1.8 compared with the ADR620’s f/2.0), giving it better nightvision. The ADR820 also features WiFi, soowners…

• Could arrive in early 2020s • V6 hybrid Vantage possible • EXCLUSIVE IMAGES John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ANDY PALMER Aston Martin CEO “We won’t offer plug-in hybrids. I’d rather spend my engineering dollar on the final goal: pure-electric vehicles” ASTON Martin could launch a lightweight, pure-electric sports car to rival Tesla’s forthcoming next-generation Roadster as part of a wider push towards electrification, Auto Express has learned. The British brand announced recently that it will sell 155 examples of the RapidE pure-electric car next year. And it has committed to having at least a mild-hybrid version of all its models by 2025. The company’s CEO Andy Palmer has now suggested to Auto Express that a revitalised Aston brand could consider taking on Elon Musk’s Tesla operation, which recently previewed a new Roadster…

TREAT them right and brakes should last 50,000 miles before needing any possible replacement. But that wasn’t the case for Ian Chettleburgh, who got in touch with Auto Express after having his discs and pads replaced twice in a little over 5,000 miles since purchasing a new Toyota Yaris Hybrid in October last year. Ian, from Chigwell, Essex, told us: “After about 3,000 miles, I noticed that the driver’s side back brake disc was badly scored.” Ian took the Yaris to his dealer, Hills of Woodford Toyota, in east London, for an inspection. Technicians there initially said the discs could just have surface rust, but Ian then pointed out the deep grooves. Hills then forwarded the case to Toyota Customer Services. Staff there said the grooves came from the way…

Tackling the motoring issues that matter “Every single major automotive manufacturer is either looking at or working on hydrogen cars” JON HUNT Head of commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Toyota Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk IT’S the most abundant element on earth. It was powering engines in 1807, and, with the right extraction methods it’s as clean as fuels come. Yet hydrogen still hasn’t taken off in the automotive sector. Most manufacturers are experimenting with the technology and some have started producing small numbers of vehicles, but we’re still years from a mass roll-out. The sceptics say it will never happen. One reason for the lack of hydrogen cars on our streets is the growing uptake of electric vehicles as the green alternative – with sales of pure EVs rising by 37 per…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives “Karoq looks like a shrunken Kodiaq, and in profile it’s strikingly similar to a SEAT Ateca” Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.7 seconds/117mph Running costs 61.4mpg (official) £62 fill-up Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan THE family SUV market is more crowded than ever, and few makers are prepared to take big risks in such an important, and growing, sector. According to Skoda, the unique looks of its old Yeti divided opinion, which ultimately harmed sales. As such, the Czech brand has taken a more pragmatic approach with the new Karoq. Skoda doesn’t want you to think of the Karoq as a direct replacement for the Yeti, mainly because the new car is a full 16cm longer. It’s now positioned as a fully fledged rival to the…

Running costs 50.4mpg (official) £101 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.9 seconds/155mph John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE goal for the fourth-generation A8 is fundamentally the same as that of its three predecessors: to beat the Mercedes S-Class. To this end, Audi hasn’t cut many corners on its latest model. The A8’s all-new structure uses even more aluminium than before – although the engineers have then packed in so much other new kit and technology that, somehow, the car ends up being almost 100kg heavier than the old one. Even so, the two 3.0-litre engines available at launch have more than enough grunt to get things moving. The 50 TDI diesel has 282bhp and 600Nm of torque, while the 55 TFSI petrol boasts 335bhp and 500Nm. A V8 and W12 will follow. The units…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance 2.0 TSI DSG 5dr PRICE: £31,505 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 242bhp Running costs 33.7mpg (on test) £59 fill-up/£140 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 380/1,270 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.1 seconds/154mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 44.4/37.7/8.9m THE Golf GTI is an iconic hot hatchback, and after more than 40 years it’s returning here in Mk7.5 form to take on the updated Peugeot 308 GTi. This DSG-equipped five-door Performance model costs from £31,505 (or £30,335 with a manual gearbox, to match the 308), so while it’s more expensive than the Peugeot by quite some margin, is it worth it? Design & engineering THIS latest Golf GTI inherits its predecessor’s MQB platform, which features MacPherson strut suspension at the front and, in this sporty model, a multi-link axle…

Results 1st PEUGEOT BY the narrowest of margins the 308 GTi pips the Golf due to its superior performance, greater grip and agility, and bigger boot. The facelift is minor and the infotainment improvements don’t address the system’s main flaw. But it’s still the most involving car here, with the highest performance limits that don’t impact its usability, which counts most in a hot hatch. 2nd VOLKSWAGEN THE quality of the finish means the Golf GTI will be a lovely hot hatch to live with. Yet even as a manual, it’s costlier to buy outright and on PCP, and doesn’t immerse you in the driving experience like the 308, while the VW lacks the Peugeot’s practicality even if its infotainment setup is much better. Running costs take more of a back seat…

NEED TO KNOW Clutch judder on manual models suggests the flywheel is falling a part. This can happen after cars have clocked up just 40,000 miles CO2/tax 143g/km £150 Running costs 52.3mpg (2.0 TDI 140) £67 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.5 seconds/129mph Cooling RADIATORS can be fragile, with leaks possible after just 18 months. Check for signs of coolant at the radiator base. Locking OWNERS can get locked out of their cars if the door sensor microswitch fails with the keys left inside the car. Rack failure STEERING racks are prone to failure on early cars; repairs cost £900-plus. Later racks tend to be more durable. Interior SUPERB ergonomics, high quality materials and a clear design make the A3’s cabin impressively plush. The seats offer plenty of adjustment and support,…

• EXCLUSIVE IMAGES Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “Renault’s designers will also take the opportunity to give the Clio supermini a new lease of life” How Symbioz provides clues to Renault’s future designs A PROTOTYPE version of the Renault Symbioz concept from last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (above) has demonstrated the Level 4 autonomous functionality Renault predicts it will have on the road by 2023. The car’s design will also influence the look of future Renaults; the first evidence will be on the Clio when it’s revealed towards the end of the year. RENAULT is aiming to have one of the most advanced and efficient superminis on sale when it launches the fifth-generation Clio at the end of the year. An electrified powertrain and basic autonomous driving functions will be introduced on the…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk “Mount Fuji is accessible by one road, the Fujisan Skyline: eight miles of velvetsmooth, snaking tarmac” “In its R+ setting the Civic comes alive with instant throttle response and crisp steering” THERE’S a typhoon in Japan and we’re in the middle of it, or at least that’s what we’ve been told. Persistent rain, unrelenting winds and chaos on the streets of Tokyo are what the news is reporting, but peering over the steering wheel of our Honda NSX and beyond the obnoxious wing of the Civic Type R in front, all I can see are blue skies and traffic – lots of traffic. We’ve rolled out of Honda’s global HQ and straight into a gridlocked Tokyo. Even in a city as vibrant and hectic as this, the sight of…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.8 seconds/109mph Running costs 35.8mpg (official) £90 fill-up Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk @Steve_cars MERCEDES has just plugged a rare gap in its sprawling product portfolio – by entering the one-tonne pick-up market with the X-Class. The newcomer joins the brand’s commercial vehicle range in the UK, where the favourable tax classification for double-cab trucks should see it strike a particularly resonant chord with small business owners and company car drivers. Mercedes has the expertise to make a good fist of a pick-up offering a versatile blend of qualities, but our first drive of the X-Class (Issue 1,497) did throw up a few questions. Now we’ve tried the truck in the UK to find out how it compares with established rivals such as the Nissan Navara and VW Amarok. The first…

Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives AS hot hatchbacks have become ever more powerful, offering as much oomph as some out-and-out sports cars, prices have risen inevitably, too. There are a handful of these models that have resolutely remained affordable, though, while also advancing performance, comfort, practicality and efficiency. So they deliver exactly what a hot hatchback should. The facelifted 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport is one example, featuring some styling tweaks and an updated infotainment system like the regular model to make it more usable, without affecting the engaging chassis and performance that made its predecessor a hit. If you’ve got around £30,000 burning a hole in your pocket, or alternatively a £3,000 deposit and the monthly budget to afford one of these cars, the trio…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Octavia vRS 245 DSG Hatch 2.0 TSI PRICE: £28,985 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 242bhp Running costs 33.5mpg (on test) £59 fill-up/£140 or 28% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 590/1,580 litres Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.4 seconds/155mph Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 48.7/35.2/9.7m SKODA’S Octavia vRS 245 offers performance to match its rivals here with the promise of even more practicality. At £28,985 in DSG hatchback form (or £27,595 with a manual box) it’s also keenly priced, so can its combination of attributes lead it to victory? Design & engineering DESPITE having a 54mm longer wheelbase than the Golf, the Octavia shares the same MQB chassis as its VW Group cousin, highlighting the platform’s flexibility. Many other components are also carried across to the Skoda, including the 242bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the seven-speed…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/134mph Practicality Boot 130 litres Running costs 41.8mpg (on test) £54 fill-up/£140 or 31% tax Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE Verdict THE MX-5 RF has truly impressed us over the past 12 months. Now, after my tutoring – something we would recommend to any keen driver – we have come to appreciate its talents even more. It’s great-value fun. Second opinion “The MX-5 RF costs £1,800 more than an equivalent soft-top model. Both are great to drive, so if you’re not concerned about the extra refinement the roof adds, go for the cheaper roadster instead.” SADLY, the winter marks the end of our time with the Mazda MX-5 RF. Its engaging handling has been a constant source of fun, no matter where I was going, but that got me…

SEAT Ateca Ateca 1.0 TSI SE Years: 2016 to date Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp Ins group: 9 Official econ/CO2: 54.3mpg/121g/km Why? Economical, practical and cheap to run, the Ateca is currently the yardstick in this sector. Prices from: £17,995 WITH the Ateca, SEAT has hit the ground running in the crossover sector. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo is the smallest of the three engines on test, but has the same 113bhp as those of its Japanese rivals, plus higher torque. Also, the SEAT is the most economical contender and cheapest to insure, although SE models lack sat-nav and a reversing camera. The Ateca didn’t feature in Driver Power 2017, but cars using the same VW Group MQB platform fared well; Skoda’s Superb topped our new car satisfaction table. Nissan Qashqai Qashqai…