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Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • 16,026 recovered in 2019/20 • Rise faster than traffic levels THE number of vehicles recovered at the instruction of Highways England under ‘statutory removal’ powers has increased by a third over the last five years, with drivers paying £25m for recoveries, and road experts linking the rise of smart motorways to the year-on-year increases. Statutory removal sees car drivers charged £150 to £300 for recovery from motorways and A-roads. Drivers have paid £25,257,000 for the practice over five years. The 2008 Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations grant traffic officers the power to order the recovery of a vehicle if it is judged to “cause obstruction” or is “likely to cause a danger” to other road users. The precise circumstances under which such criteria are met vary,…

Legal AA: 0345 850 1130 (m) RAC: 0330 159 1446 (m) 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: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives Running costs 46.1mpg (official) £68 fill-up VOLKSWAGEN has made quite a splash with the Tiguan since the first-generation model arrived in 2007. Over the past decade it’s steadily increased sales, with nearly one million units produced last year. It’s now VW’s best-selling car around the world, and therefore one of the most popular new cars on sale today. Perhaps that’s why VW has pulled out all the stops for this facelifted second-generation model. It receives a significant redesign and plenty of new technology inside and under the skin. But while the engine line-up is familiar, two brand-new models are waiting in the wings for 2021: the new plug-in eHybrid (see p29) and a full-fat performance Tiguan R with 316bhp.…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.2 seconds/202mph THIS is the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. Among its sublime yet ridiculous stats, it takes the title of both the most powerful V8 production AMG – with a not insignificant 720bhp – and the most expensive Black Series model, at £335,000. And definitely the most orange. The AMG GT is the sixth Mercedes to receive the Black Series treatment. From the first SLK 55 Black Series to the present day, the formula is much the same: take a fire-breathing V8-powered muscle car and make it more powerful, more hardcore and more track-focused than before. The mad fins, wings and vents are all functional, designed to deliver the best possible compromise between huge downforce and low drag. The front splitter is one of two…

Volkswagen ID.3 CHARGING is a huge element of any EV’s practicality. All 1st Edition cars have 100kW DC rapid charging as standard, so the battery can be topped up from empty to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. This rises to 57 minutes if using a more widespread 50kW supply. However, 100kW charging points are becoming more common, with the Ionity network putting in plenty of these centres across the country. If you can find one, you can make use of the 1st Edition car’s 2,000kWh of free charging. Depending on the efficiency you achieve, this could be around 7,000 miles of free energy. The 1st Edition cars also accept 11 and 7.2kW AC charging, so think about what home wallbox you might install. With 11kW, the battery will…

Aston simulator puts you in driving seat ASTON Martin has revealed the AMRC01 racing simulator. Created with Curv racing simulators, the custom shell is a carbon-fibre monocoque with design details inspired by the brand’s own racers. The seating position is even modelled after that in the Aston Martin Valkyrie. It’s loaded with the latest Assetto Corsa software for its owner to enjoy eSports. With 150 examples available at a base price of £57,500 plus tax, it’s bound to be an exclusive creation. Visit www.curvrs.com for details. Design your dream Porsche with Techart PORSCHE’S online car configurator is one of the best in the business, but many owners choose customisation outside of the factory standards, and bespoke Porsche tuner Techart has launched its own configurator to allow customers to do just…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Freshened-up looks for Jag’s executive saloon line-up • Mild-hybrid tech boosts diesel’s performance and efficiency JAGUAR is poised to fight back against the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Volvo with significant revisions to its two core saloon models, the XE and XF, along with the XF Sportbrake estate. Under the skin, all of the models will get Jaguar Land Rover’s latest diesel powertrain, incorporating mild-hybrid technology and offering greater power with noticeably improved fuel efficiency. In the cabin, Jaguar’s ageing Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is being replaced across the model lines by the Pivi Pro set-up that made its global debut on the Land Rover Defender. The 5 Series-rivalling XF gets some subtle revisions to its exterior styling, with…

All-new Citroen C4 on sale, starting at £21k CITROEN’S third-generation C4 (above) is available to order in the UK now priced from £20,990. The line-up tops out with the pure-electric e-C4 at £29,180 (after the £3,000 plug-in vehicle grant). The all-new crossover’s line-up is separated into four trims. Standard equipment on every model includes LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, rear parking sensors and lane-keeping assist. Inside, buyers get a 10-inch infotainment system and dual-zone climate control. Next-gen JLR cars will use recycled plastics JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that the interiors of its next-generation models will be made using recycled wasteland and ocean plastics. Upcoming models will feature floor mats and interior trim made with Econyl – a patented yarn made from recycled industrial materials, fabric offcuts and dumped fishing…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • BMW’s Golf GTI rival revealed • 261bhp, front-wheel drive THIS is the new BMW 128ti. It’s the German brand’s latest offering in the highly competitive hot hatchback market and will go head to head with the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI and the recently revised Hyundai i30 N. It revives BMW’s famous ‘ti’ badge following a hiatus of more than 15 years. The 128ti is available to order from November, with prices expected to start from around £33,000. First deliveries are due at the beginning of 2021. Under the bonnet, it features the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that’s found in the MINI John Cooper Works – although power rises from 227bhp and 320Nm of torque in that car to 261bhp and 400Nm. BMW says the added…

Bright Mesh Edition joins BMW X2 range BMW has made an outlandish addition to its X2 line-up with this: the Mesh Edition (above). It’ll go on sale early next year sporting a range of cosmetic tweaks, such as bright orange decals, metallic-brown body cladding, unique alloy wheels and a new mesh grille. The makeover continues inside with brown leather and Alcantara upholstery, branded puddle lighting, aluminium dashboard trim, new tread plates and some fresh floor mats. Money-saving site for EV owners launched RIGHTCHARGE, the UK’s first website for comparing EV electricity tariffs, has been launched in the UK. The firm says its site can save electric-car drivers more than £230 per year in electricity costs, as well as around £100 on the price of installing a home charge point. EV-oriented…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths Tackling the motoring issues that matter IT’S hard not to detect a slight note of frustration in Matthew Avery’s voice as he talks us through some of the latest driver-assistance systems on the market – or, rather, some of the messaging that surrounds them. “Today’s technology is not self-driving, whatever manufacturers will tell you. It’s assisted.” Avery is on the board of Euro NCAP, and director of research at Thatcham Research. The two organisations have been at the forefront of car safety for decades and, as technology has increased in sophistication over the years, so too have Thatcham and NCAP evolved, judging how well the latest sensors and software perform, while also continuing to test traditional safety aspects such as crumple zones and whiplash protection. The event we’re…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods WHILE the Tiguan line-up has been given a significant overhaul, perhaps the biggest news is the addition of this Tiguan eHybrid, which introduces plug-in power to the compact SUV for the first time. The powertrain is the same one that we’ve seen in the Passat and Golf GTEs. It comprises a 1.4 TSI turbo petrol engine, a 13kWh battery pack and an electric motor, all connected to a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Its total output is 242bhp with 400Nm of torque, and VW tentatively claims that the Tiguan is capable of running on battery alone for 31 miles. VW hasn’t confirmed any fuel economy figures yet, but the official numbers should see CO2 emissions of around 40g/km, giving the eHybrid a Benefit-in-Kind rating of around 10 per cent.…

Dean_Gibson@dennis.co.uk @DeanGbsn IF you need any more evidence that SUVs are permeating every sector of the new car market, then just take a look at the Ford Tourneo Custom Active. Ford has taken its van-based, eight-seat MPV and added some off road-inspired design touches to the mix, in the same vein as Active variants of the Fiesta and Focus. As ever, the Tourneo Custom Active is based on Ford’s top-selling Transit Custom van, but it gets a car-like interior that’s fully carpeted and packed with handy features. The Active builds on this with a rugged new look. There’s grey body cladding outside, a new grille, extended running boards, roof rails, diamond-cut 17-inch alloys and Active branding. Step inside, and the seats are part-leather with Active branding, while the six rear…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen ID.3 1st Edition PRICE: £35,880 POWERTRAIN: 1 x electric motor, 201bhp Running costs 3.5 miles/kWh (on test) £8.91 charge/£0 or 0% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 385/1,267 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.3 seconds/99mph THE ID.3 is a massive car for Volkswagen, symbolising a new era for the brand with a fresh form of propulsion. The £35,880 (after the £3,000 UK Plug-in Car Grant) 1st Edition is our initial opportunity to try the car in the UK. Design & engineering IT’S no secret that VW has had some teething problems in getting the ID.3 to market, but given it’s such an important car for the manufacturer, signalling the start of a new era for Volkswagen, there is nowhere to hide with this, its first model in the ID…

Volkswagen ID.3 Discover Nav Pro Standard Key features: Twin screens, connectivity EVERYTHING in the iD.3 is touch-sensitive and, pretty much, controlled by the 10-inch touchscreen. there are positives and negatives to this; the panel is well positioned, the graphics are super-sharp and the set-up is very responsive, so even though there’s very little feedback, you don’t often you hit the wrong function. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as well as built-in nav – and it’s a good system. however, there’s no wireless charging, even as an option. The fascia looks clean and slick, but the button-free design also means adjusting the climate control or audio is a little more fiddly than it needs to be. Still, the technology is way more advanced than the Leaf’s, which feels last-generation…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 41.2mpg (on test) £55 fill-up £150 or 32% tax IT’S time to say goodbye to our MINI Clubman. The posh supermini-cumestate is something of an alternative option, but our extended test has proven that it’s not without talent. While MINI’s range of small hatchbacks and crossovers has traditionally been designed to excel in the city, many longer runs have proved the Clubman to be an accomplished companion for journeys out of town, too. After a recent track day at Silverstone, I discovered that the MINI was well up to the task of carrying me and my racing gear on the 170-mile trip – and not just in the obvious ways you might expect. The automatic gearbox is one of the best in the business; its smooth…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Pressure’s on to find a gauge I CHECK my car’s tyre pressures regularly, but my two gauges and my foot pump never give the same reading. Can you advise on a reasonably priced tyre gauge that is accurate? Derick Davis, E-mail A IT’S worth bearing in mind that pressure gauges always have a tolerance and this can be a couple of psi either way, but our tests indicate digital versions are generally the more accurate. Our tyre pressure gauge test winner is the Ring RTG4 (above); this was accurate to within 0.5psi across our tests, which spanned 20-30psi. Q Put a stop to caliper grime MY car has painted brake calipers, which look great, but they always seem to be dirty and are hard to…

IF you have a Qi fast-charge mobile phone, equipping your car with a mount to take advantage of the spec makes sense. New options are arriving all the time, so we put two fresh challengers up against the iOttie One Touch, which has won multiple tests in Auto Express. We looked at practicalities such as mounting positions, stability when on the move, plus ease of handset fitting and removal. We tried the units with a Samsung S10e smartphone, and logged the increase in charge over 30 minutes, at first with no load and then while using a sat-nav app on the move. Some chargers come with a fast charge USB car adaptor, but where one is not supplied, you’ll need to add around £15-£20 to the price. The Simplefast looked…

CO2/tax 141-144g/km £150-£165 Running costs 45-46mpg (2.0 TFSI) £57 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.9 seconds/155mph WHEN it comes to conservative designs, Audi is right at the top. Each time it introduces a new generation of an existing model its design is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but the company has moments when it isn’t completely risk-averse. When it unveiled its TT concept in 1995 it looked like nothing else, from Audi or any of its rivals. The company was inundated with requests for it to go into production and, when the TT arrived, it looked much the same as the concept car. When an allnew TT arrived in 2006 some bemoaned the styling updates, but the Mk2 was better in almost every way, while the Mk3 of 2014 built on the…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk • Test runs for Ferrari juniors • Nürburgring welcomes fans FERRARI has confirmed F1 free-practice outings for three of its Driver Academy rising stars at upcoming Grands Prix, with Mick Schumacher and Britain’s Callum Illot getting a run at this weekend’s German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, and Russian Robert Shwartzman appearing at the Abu Dhabi season finale in mid-December. Schumacher and Illot will drive for Ferrari engine customers Alfa Romeo and Haas respectively in one of the two Friday practice sessions at the Nürburgring. All three young drivers have already spent time behind the wheel of a 2018-spec Ferrari F1 car at the manufacturer’s Fiorano test track in Italy in order to prepare for the opportunity. Schumacher, whose father Michael took five of his seven titles in a…

THERE has long been, and always will be, a place for cold, virtual, atmosphere-free, car-related events that folk can remotely (and partially) see and hear – but not touch, smell or feel. Long may they continue. For certain people at certain times in their busy or locked-down lives, virtually ‘attending’ via a screen on a laptop or mobile phone makes sense. But don’t, whatever you do, accept the lazy lie that proper car shows attended by makers, dealers and the public are dead, buried and never coming back. Only last week in China, the world’s largest vehicle producing country by a long way, the Beijing Motor Show (see page 18) was alive and kicking with its own busy press, trade, auto-parts, and public days. But that’s just for starters. Closer…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Early drive of new hot hatch • Has Ford Fiesta ST in its sights FIRST DRIVE YOU used to be pretty spoilt for choice when it came to small hot hatchbacks, with cars such as the Ford Fiesta ST, Renault Clio R.S., Peugeot 208 GTi and SEAT Ibiza Cupra available, to name a few. Now only one of them remains on sale. As car makers look to slash costs and average fleet emissions, the business case for small, affordable performance cars is harder to justify. So how is Hyundai able to roll in with an all-new proposition, the i20 N? Unlike a lot of its competitors, Hyundai already has a fleet of electric vehicles on sale, and they go some way to offset the higher CO2 output…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram OFFICIAL AUDI has added a plug-in hybrid version of the latest A3 to its lineup. Badged 40 TFSI e, it’s on sale now, with prices starting from £33,060. The new PHEV shares its powertrain with the plug-in hybrid GTE version of the latest Golf from sister company Volkswagen; the 1.4-litre petrol engine works alongside an electric motor to produce a total output of 201bhp. The petrol and electric units produce maximum torque figures of 250Nm and 330Nm respectively. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Audi says the A3 40 TFSI e can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and cover up to 41 miles on electric power. Its CO2 emissions are rated at 31g/km, while it achieves 282.5mpg on the WLTP…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Based on Geely platform • Launch date and name not set VOLVO is pushing ahead with plans for a smaller SUV, potentially badged XC20 – and the company’s boss has confirmed that it will be one of the first cars based on the new pure-electric platform developed by the Swedish brand’s owner, Geely. The Chinese firm unveiled the EV-specific underpinnings – Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) – at the recent Beijing Auto Show. Speaking to Auto Express, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson admitted that his engineers are working on models based on SEA – and that the baby SUV, revealed in Issue 1,587 and previewed by our exclusive images (right), will be one of them. “We will also use SEA,” Samuelsson said. “We’ll use it for a smaller car,…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress FROM: Keith Hern I LOVE the futuristic exterior design. Hyundai makes fantastic cars now, so I hope this builds further on the progress the brand has made. If the pricing is right and it drives well – or at least as well as an SUV can – this will be a winner. FROM: Paul Yard JUST another boring SUV. I know car makers have to adapt to what buyers demand, but I really wish this trend would come to an end. SUVs don’t drive as well as hatchbacks, saloons or estates; if only people cared about that. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk “It looks like a Mercedes EQC. Not a bad thing,…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Electric motor Power/official range 408bhp/260 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.9 seconds/112mph VOLVO has stated that half of its sales volume will be fully electric by 2025. And yet only now are we trying the company’s first full EV: the catchily named XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8. Don’t think that this is really just the existing XC40 PHEV with bells on, because the car’s CMA platform has allowed the firm’s engineers to pack in punchy specs. The XC40 P8’s lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 78kWh (75kWh usable) and this fuels a pair of identical electric motors, one on each axle, producing a combined total of 402bhp and 660Nm. The electric XC40’s performance figures are startling; 0-62mph takes slightly less than five seconds. Mind you, this car weighs 2.2…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 188.3mpg (official) £42 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.5 seconds/105mph KIA’S push to electrify the Ceed family is gathering pace. Following the mild-hybrid, clutch-by-wire manual version we tried in Issue 1,642, the Korean brand is adding a brace of plug-in hybrid models to the line-up, too. The Ceed Sportswagon PHEV driven here joins a new XCeed PHEV crossover and the existing Niro in the line-up, giving Kia good coverage of the plug-in hybrid market. In the estate-bodied layout, Kia’s closest rival is the Renault Mégane Sports Tourer E-Tech, a car which is more powerful, but also £1,990 more expensive. Regardless of whether it drives the Niro, XCeed or Ceed Sportswagon, the plug-in powertrain remains the same. There’s a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine backed up by an electric…

MODEL TESTED: Nissan Leaf e+ Tekna PRICE: £36,395 POWERTRAIN: 1 x electric motor, 214bhp Running costs 3.7 miles/kWh (on test) £8.91 charge/£0 or 0% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 420/1,176 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/98mph NISSAN upgraded the Leaf to e+ specification last year with a bigger battery, which makes it a natural rival to the new Volkswagen. However, in top-spec Tekna trim, it costs £515 more than the ID.3. Design & engineering ALONG with the price disadvantage, the upgraded 62kWh battery in the Leaf e+, of which 56kWh is usable, only produces a claimed range of 239 miles, so the Nissan is a claimed 21 miles down on the VW. Where range is key, this could be an issue for some buyers. Like the VW, the Nissan locates…

LOOKS ANOTHER area where the Leaf is showing its age compared with the latest electric cars, like the VW, is its styling. The Volkswagen’s full width front LED marks it out as an ID car (although some models in VW’s conventional car range feature a similar treatment), while the Leaf is much more conventional in its appearance. It looks more like a normal car, but at least its charge point is illuminated. CONNECTORS WHILE both cars offer plenty of capability for overnight charging, if you’re out and about and want to rapid charge, the VW’s CCS connection has become the industry standard compared with the Nissan’s CHAdeMO port, which is a set-up mostly used by Japanese EVs. According to ZapMap, the growth in the UK’s charging infrastructure has seen demand…

The Fred Opert Story Peter R Hill (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £16.99 Rating: THIS compact but thorough biography tells the story of racing driver, car dealer and team owner Fred Opert. With a foreword by ex-F1 driver Nico Rosberg and interviews with many of Opert’s colleagues, it provides plenty of different perspectives on the man’s career, and features colour panels throughout that show photographs from Opert’s life. JUE 477 Martin Port (Porter Press, www.porterpress.co.uk) Price: £30 Rating: THIS beautifully produced restoration account tells the story of the history, discovery and rebirth of the first production Land Rover. Painstakingly refurbished, preserving as much of the original JUE 477 as possible, this unique task is well documented here with a wonderful set of images. Totally Reliable Delivery Company Available for: iOS, Android…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Premature wear and tear warrants further checks THE clutch on my van has gone after only 7,000 miles. My dealer wants me to pay £2,000 for the repair because it’s a wear and tear item and isn’t covered by the main warranty. Is there any way I can appeal this? RT, E-mail A CLUTCHES aren’t covered by warranties because, as you have discovered, they are classed as wear and tear items. You could try asking the manufacturer or dealer for a goodwill gesture, given the low mileage of your van, and if this fails you could consider lodging a written complaint. It might be worth getting the clutch inspected by an independent engineer for manufacturing defects, but this would have to be done at…

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 (0-100kph), in seconds. ECONOMY AND EMISSIONS: Combined WLTP economy figure in miles per gallon and emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. 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, 12 months’ road tax, number plates and first registration. EVs…

Evans in control as WRC heads to Italy WELSHMAN Elfyn Evans (above) heads into this weekend’s penultimate round of the 2020 World Rally Championship with an 18-point lead over his Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier in the driver’s championship standings. Evans won last time out at Rally Turkey – his second victory of the season after Rally Sweden in February – heading home Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Sebastien Loeb. Vernay signs up for electric touring cars TOP touring-car driver Jean-Karl Vernay has become the latest name to sign up for the new Pure ETCR electric touringcar series. The Frenchman will race for the Italian team Romeo Ferraris, which is running three Alfa Romeo Giulias. Vernay joins Cupra’s duo, Mattias Ekstrom and Jordi Gene, on the list of names for the new…