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John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy • Elise, Evora, Exige to be axed • New car due on sale in 2022 LOTUS bosses have promised that the company intends to “stay true” to its enthusiast base and existing price positioning – after the British firm announced that it is axing production of its three current sports cars, the Elise, Exige and Evora, ahead of introducing an all-new model in 2022. The new car, which is codenamed Type 131 and previewed by our exclusive image, is likely to feature V6 hybrid power and will be pitched above the current positioning of the Evora. That could give it a starting price of around £85,000 – almost double the figure of the outgoing Elise. But speaking to Auto Express, Uday Senapati, Lotus’s Executive Director of Corporate Strategy…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • Big update for electric exec • New three-motor powertrain TESLA has given the now nine-year-old Model S its most significant update yet. It’s a wide-ranging facelift, with a new exterior look, a huge interior overhaul and the addition of a new range-topping variant with more than 1,000bhp. As part of the update, Tesla has trimmed the Model S line-up to three models. Things kick off with the Long Range variant, priced from £83,980 and with a claimed range of 412 miles. Above that, there’s the new Plaid model, which has a starting price of £110,980 and a maximum range of 390 miles. Then there’s the flagship Plaid+ model. It costs £130,980, but it has a maximum claimed range of 520 miles. The revised Model S Long Range…

MAZDA has launched an updated version of its CX-5 SUV (above), with a new engine and improved infotainment added to the line-up. The new motor is a 2.5-litre version of Mazda’s Skyactiv-G petrol engine. The unit produces 191bhp and 258Nm of torque, which gives the crossover a 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 121mph. The powertrain is only available on the range-topping GT Sport model, so prices start from £36,860. Elsewhere, the 181bhp 2.2-litre model is now available with front- or four-wheel drive for the first time. However, prices are yet to be confirmed. Every version of the CX-5 also now benefits from an improved 10.25-inch infotainment system, which replaces the outgoing eight-inch unit. Mazda says the system is both faster to use and features improved…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale URBAN transport tends to be firmly rooted to the tarmac, but a new project supported by both the UK Government and Hyundai could be a major step towards the advent of airborne taxis and delivery drones. While some way off marking the introduction of flying cars, British firm Urban Air Port’s Air-One scheme in Coventry will be the world’s first fully operational hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, possibly taking pressure off crowded urban routes without adding pollution. Urban Air Port won the Government’s Future Flight Challenge, and a £1.2million grant from the £125million Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. This is expected to be matched by up to £175million from private industry. Urban Air Port has already been chosen as a ‘priority infrastructure partner’ by Hyundai’s…

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) 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.consumer-ombudsman.org RMIF: 0845 305 4230 Scottish Motor Trade Assoc. 0131 331 5510 Problems with…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy WE’VE already been mightily impressed by Porsche’s first pure-electric car, the Taycan, in its higher-end, four-wheel-drive forms. But now the model is available as a rear-wheel-drive variant, with a far more appealing price tag that means this car starts at roughly the same point as Porsche’s more conventional super-saloon, the Panamera. UK customers actually bought more Taycans than any other Porsche in 2020, with the exception of the Macan SUV. So a further broadening of the range is significant for the brand, especially because the new price tag, starting at £70,000, pitches this model neatly just under Tesla’s Model S, and right in the mix of I-Paces that Jaguar currently offers. The base Taycan has a single electric motor producing 322bhp, but the system can ‘overboost’ to deliver…

Nissan Leaf Mk1 THE original Leaf made EV motoring accessible to many, so there are lots on the used market, with prices starting from less than £4,500. This will be for an early 24kWh model, and while its range is likely to have dropped to below 100 miles, the car has proved reliable. Go for a facelifted 30kWh model if your budget allows. Renault Zoe Mk1 THE current Zoe’s brilliance is down to this car. It offers attractive looks and smooth driving in a compact package, so therefore ticks lots of boxes that you want from a small, affordable electric car. The updated ZE 40 model added a 41kWh battery for a real-world range of around 190 miles. This is our pick. Volkswagen e-Golf THE ID.3 in our top 10…

Essentials Audi RS 4 Avant On fleet since: April 2020 Price new: £64,625 Engine: 2.9-litre V6 turbo, 444bhp CO2/tax: 220g/km/£475 Options: Metallic paint (£675), 20-inch wheels (£2,375), RS Sports Exhaust (£1,250), RS Sports Suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (£2,000), panoramic roof (£1,600), Bang & Olufsen sound system (£850), carbon inlays (£995), side assist and pre-sense rear (£260), black styling pack (£770) Insurance*: Group: 50 Quote: £1,161 Mileage/mpg: 4,457/23.6mpg Any problems? None so far *Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points. mail@autoexpress.co.uk IT’S a curious thing, progress. Often you need to make mistakes along the way to end up in a better place, and the Audi RS 4 is a perfect example of this. Back when it was first launched in 1999,…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Can I keep my classic plates? I’VE been told the rules have changed on which cars can use the old silver-on-black plates. I have them on my 1975 MGB and really like the period look. Will I have to change them? Paul Heggarty, E-mail A THE new ruling came into force last month, and only affects vehicles built after January 1 1980, so your MG is fine. The change follows the tax exemption, introduced in 2015, for cars over 40 years old, and allows them to use black and silver plates if registered as historic. The old limit was for cars registered before January 1 1973. Q Keeping up appearances IN your ceramic coatings test (Issue 1,660) you say “leave for 20 mins or so…

Mini test OUR PICK DDPAI Mola N3 Dash Cam Price: £49.99 (plus SD card) Resolution: 1600P Rating: Contact: www.amazon.co.uk IT might not be quite as compact as the Pioneer, but the Mola is still small. The slim mount means it might be more discreet that the others once installed. The price is tiny, too, and it’s amazing value for a camera with 1600P resolution, even if an SD card costs extra. It’s pretty easy to set up and has a smartphone app and WiFi connection, too. The footage is decent enough, but it does suffer from blur on rougher roads. The app isn’t the easiest to use and suffers from some poor translations, and you’ll want to quickly turn off the voice welcome. Its message of “Hello Ding Ding Pai” is…

In association with Search more than 60,000 cars with competitive finance. Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee EXECUTIVE cars were once a default choice for those after something a little more premium and aspirational than a family hatch. Yet while SUVs have usurped that crown in recent years, executive cars still offer a great deal: with a low centre of gravity, they tend to handle better than their 4x4 rivals, while also typically using less fuel on a like-for-like basis. And while style is subjective, many consider they look cooler than an SUV. If you want to stand out from the crowd (and don’t mind a car that’s a little less practical than an SUV), picking one of the three cars here could be just the ticket.…

Formula E firms up 2021 calendar AN updated calendar for the 2021 Formula E season – the series’ first as an FIA world championship – has been issued. Following the opening doubleheader in Saudi Arabia, rounds will now be held in Rome, Italy, and Valencia, Spain, in April, followed by visits to Monaco and Morocco (above) in May and a rescheduled double-header in Santiago, Chile, in June. The planned Paris ePrix has been scrapped for 2021. Red Bull set to build new hydrogen racer RED Bull Advanced Technologies and French constructor Oreca have agreed a partnership to build chassis for the new hydrogen-fuelled Le Mans class planned for 2024, having won a tender from organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. While the intention is for individual brands and teams to…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Newcomer aimed at wooing crossover, hatch and MPV buyers • Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions expected to arrive before EV “The Mondeo was one of the cars that helped transform Ford into the commercial success that it is today” FORD is plotting a radical overhaul of the Mondeo that will see the long-standing model morph from a traditional hatch into a more-contemporary crossover designed to appeal to a broader range of customers. Early prototypes of the newcomer have been spotted undergoing development testing in the US for the first time, ahead of an anticipated launch in 2022. The Mondeo – originally unveiled back in 1992 – was one of the cars that helped transform Ford into the commercial success that…

THE new all-electric Renault 5 could cost from under £20,000 when it goes on sale in a couple of years, Auto Express can reveal. The new retro-styled model features classic Renault 5 styling cues, brought bang up-to-date with an all-electric powertrain. Yet new boss Luca De Meo, who joined the French company in 2020, has no plans to sell it as a premium model like the MINI Electric or Honda e. Speaking to Auto Express about the positioning of the new Renault 5, De Meo told us, “The mission of the project is to democratise electric technology, and you do that when you are able to do a competitive EV in the range of 20,000 to 30,000 Euros – making money, obviously. “It has to be a car that is…

REMEMBER the Subaru XV? Well there’s a new version (above), updated with a subtly revised look and chassis tweaks to keep it fresh. Design changes are relatively minor, stretching to a redesigned front bumper, new grille and tweaked foglamp bezels. New 18-inch alloy wheels appear and a choice of two new paint finishes are added to the XV’s palette: Plasma Yellow and Horizon Blue. Updates under the skin extend to retuned springs and dampers, as well as new driving modes featuring specific settings for snow, dirt, gravel and mud. There’s also a new 180-degree front sensor fitted as standard, which constantly checks the crossover’s nose and blind spots for obstacles. The range now starts from £31,665, since the entry-level 1.6-litre engine has been axed.…

THE Fiat 500 family has been given a nip-tuck for 2021, with design changes and new technology arriving across the range. In the case of the 500 hatchback, it’s the second facelift for the model during its 14-year lifespan. There is a new trim structure across all models, with Pop, Connect and range-topping Sport trim on offer. The 500 hatch is now available in luxurious Dolcevita specification, while the 500X and 500L can now be had with an off-road-influenced Cross trim, with tougher-looking exterior styling. The sole engine for the 500 remains the 69bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol unit, while the 500X SUV is available with a 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or a 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit with 148bhp and an automatic gearbox. The 500L can only be had with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Tackling the motoring issues that matter ON 11 March this year it will be the 10th anniversary of one of the worst disasters that Japan has ever endured. Earthquakes are common in the region, but the tremor in 2011, 43 miles off the North East Coast of Honshu island, was the largest the country had experienced since records began. The earthquake measured nine on the Richter Scale and immediately caused damage to properties in the region, but the worst was yet to come. The violent shift in the ocean floor at the quake’s epicentre triggered a tsunami which, upon striking the coastline, caused unimaginable destruction. Compounding the disaster was the damage to three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The initial emergency shutdown procedures jumped into…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods VAUXHALL is pressing ahead in 2021 with a range of bold-looking new cars. And this facelifted Crossland (the old ‘X’ suffix has been dropped) is the first vehicle to arrive on UK roads sporting the brand’s new ‘Vauxhall shield’ face, which will also be seen on the forthcoming Mokka. It’s an extensive facelift, and there’s no confusing old and new. The front grille makes way for the flush new ‘visor’, and all the cooling is now dealt with by a larger, more rugged-looking stack of air intakes lower down on the new-look front bumper. The changes at the back are more reserved. Despite this new SRi Nav model’s red accents in the cabin and the stripy seats, the Crossland’s interior is largely as it was before. That means…

FIRST TEST Vodafone Curve Price: £20 plus £2-3 monthly subscription Rating: Contact: www.vodafone.com MOST of us have experienced the panic of losing our keys. While they’re usually under a sofa cushion, it’s also possible they might have been left in the office, shut in the boot of your partner’s car, or even stolen. Technology can come to the rescue. Vodafone’s new keyfob-sized Curve pinpoints its location using mobile phone data networks. It costs £20, but you’ll need to subscribe with a monthly fee to activate the SIM. Sign up for a year and it’s £3 a month, or £2 if you commit to 24 months. The Curve sends GPS location data to an app on your phone, and you can remotely pick the settings that give the best balance of accuracy…

JCB Scrapbook Martin Port (Porter Press, www.porterpress.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating: THERE’S a child in all of us that just loves a big yellow digger, and they don’t come more iconic than JCB. This book shows off the company’s long history, and is a great read for younger enthusiasts who want to challenge themselves. It’s also packed with period photos throughout to make it a really good visual story. Austerity Motoring 1939-1950 Andrew Lane (Shire Library, www.bloomsbury.com) Price: £6.99 Rating: A NEAT little book detailing motoring through WWII and beyond. It’s not particularly in-depth, but its 30-odd pages cover a fair amount of what it was like to drive during the war, the peacetime austerity years that followed, plus the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show and eventual resurgence of the British…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Why can’t we swap batteries instead of charging EVs? CHARGING times are a huge deterrent to many prospective EV owners. Why hasn’t anyone come up with battery-replacement stations where EV batteries can be swapped over in a matter of seconds? It’d save so much time. Donald Tillotson, E-mail A THIS idea has been discussed and tested, but it’s generally considered too problematic. EV batteries are very heavy and bulky, so would require significant machinery and storage at swap stations. Swapping batteries would also need car makers to agree on standardised battery packs and connectors. Given how securely batteries are fitted to cars, and how charging times are getting shorter, swapping packs won’t be much quicker than recharging. Q Why is the quote to repair…

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…

Q How hard was it to axe the existing models, when they’re still selling and Elise in particular is such an iconic badge? A “Any company who has an iconic product like Elise has always struggled to axe those models. And when they have axed them, they’ve often been pushed into bringing them back. What not to do is often the most difficult decision you can make strategically. But we need to transform ourselves as a company, and we can’t do that while hanging on to everything that we’ve got.” Q The new electric sports car platform is key to your plans. How much have you drawn on assets from your owner Geely for that architecture? A “We have to be careful and go with what is suitable. I would…

THE UK’s cheapest new car, the Dacia Sandero, has just got more affordable because the supermini can be bought on a PCP deal for £99 per month. Dacia confirmed that the Sandero will retain 53 per cent of its value after three years and 30,000 miles, so if buyers put down a £1,011 deposit and sign up to a 49-month deal, the monthly cost comes to £99. That price is for the £7,995 Access SCe 65 model. As standard it comes with electric front windows, a cradle to hold a smartphone and an adjustable steering wheel. The three-cylinder SCe engine develops 65bhp and has official fuel consumption of 53mpg.…

Luke_Wilkinson@dennis.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson • 1st Edition starts at £37,800 • Full range due later this year THE Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV is on sale in the UK now, ready to compete with the Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y. It’s only available in lofty 1st Edition spec for the time being, so prices start from £37,800 when you include the Government’s £3,000 Plug-in Car Grant. A full line-up with cheaper variants will be introduced later in 2021. Standard equipment on the ID.4 1st Edition includes 20-inch alloy wheels and a choice of four premium metallic paints, LED headlights, rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. The cabin also gets a heated steering wheel and a pair of heated front seats trimmed in ArtVelours microfleece upholstery, plus…

Birthday treats at the double for Jeep’s 80th JEEP has launched special-edition Renegade and Wrangler (above) models to mark its 80th anniversary. The SUVs feature commemorative 80th Anniversary badging and unique 18-inch alloys. Jeep has also added Granite Crystal detailing to their grilles, while leather seats with 80th Anniversary logos are fitted. Prices will be confirmed when both cars go on sale in the spring. Manufacturing counts the cost of Covid crisis THE number of cars made in the UK dropped by 29.3 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 920,928 cars were built in the UK last year, the lowest number since 1984, and the first time fewer than a million cars have been built here since 2009. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@authoexpress.co.uk @AuthoExpress FROM: Steve Ware THIS design looks both retro and futuristic; hopefully the production car ends up looking like this. Hyundai already presents a fantastic alternative to major European brands; it would be great if this sub-brand manages the same. FROM: Barry Large I DON’T like this trend of manufacturers creating sub-brands left, right and centre; I’m worried less about style and more about substance. How much will this SUV cost? What will its range be? Is it practical? Not fussed on the badge. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “I’m not overly keen on the design: it looks like it’s been done with a ruler and a set square.”…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Visit autoexpress.co.uk for the latest new cars and drives JAGUAR’S first foray into the SUV segment, the F-Pace, is one of its greatest sales success stories. It’s a feat that’s made all the more impressive when you consider that it’s had to compete against a broader and stronger group of rivals than any other model in the firm’s line-up. Cars such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC all have their own strengths, so the F-Pace has to stay fresh if it’s to carry on fighting with the class-leaders. To that end, Jaguar has treated its SUV to a fairly extensive mid-life makeover. However, it’s not an update that’s immediately obvious from the outside. At first glance, the F-Pace looks remarkably similar to…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn WE had to be patient for the return of the Toyota Supra. The idea for the reborn sports car was first teased in 2014 with the FT-1 concept, but it was five years before the production version arrived. Happily, it was well worth the wait. When it comes to updates, Toyota hasn’t been in any particular rush to introduce them. But what we have here is the GR Supra 2.0 Pro, a new entry-level version with a smaller engine, less power and less weight, but crucially also a lower price tag. It’s been on sale in Japan for over a year and arrived in Europe last summer, but only now has it landed in the UK. Toyota GB hopes it will help reignite Supra sales, too – only…

SAVE 47% Subscribers can enjoy their favourite magazine at almost half shop price. You’ll pay just £24.99 every three months, saving a massive 47%. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY We offer every subscriber a free welcome gift when they come on board. This month get an STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner, worth £14.99. DELIVERED FREE Every issue is delivered to your door, free of charge. It’ll arrive in paper packaging, too, making it easier than ever to recycle. YOUR FREE GIFT Subscribe to Auto Express today and get a free STP ® Complete Fuel System Cleaner worth £14.99. STP ® Complete Fuel System Cleaner-Petrol is designed to clean and protect the entire fuel system for restored performance. With just one bottle, STP® Complete Fuel System Cleaner-Petrol will help remove deposits from…

NEW PRODUCT Bridgestone Potenza Sport Prices: TBC Contact: www.bridgestone.eu IT may have been a long time coming, but Bridgestone has finally taken the wraps off its new flagship tyre – the Potenza Sport. It succeeds the ageing S001 and was developed using Bridgestone’s current practice of consulting drivers to set design targets – with 3,800 taking part. Specially developed versions of the tyre have already earned original-equipment listings with Lamborghini, Maserati and BMW. Bridgestone claims best-in-class dry performance backed by top wet grip. In independent tests conducted by TUV SUD against rivals from Continental, Michelin, Goodyear and Pirelli, it delivered the best performance in dry braking, as well as wet cornering and handling. The range also has the top EU label A rating for wet grip. This result is thanks to 3D…

New BMW EV opens up to iPhone users BMW’s new all-electric SUV, the iX (above), launches later this year, and will be offered with the brand’s ‘Digital Key Plus’ – a way for iPhone users to lock and unlock their vehicles without the need for any sort of key, or even having to take out their phone. Using Ultra-Wideband technology in the phone’s U1 chip, the car can be unlocked and started as if the driver were using a radar key – but without the susceptibility to relay attacks. BMW says it’s been working closely with the Car Connectivity Consortium to establish this as a global security standard going forward. Motoring publisher chalks up 15 years PORTER Press, a publisher with many Auto Express five-star book reviews, has celebrated its…

In association with Search more than 60,000 cars with competitive finance Order online, delivered to your door, 14 day money-back guarantee Richard Dredge THERE’S a reason why the Volvo estate has become such an icon: decades ago, while its rivals were focusing exclusively on saloons, this Swedish car maker was making far more practical family models. It started with the Duett back in 1953 and continued with the Amazon, but it’s the boxy 240/260 and 740/760 estates with which Volvo cemented its reputation as the maker of such cars. The firm always prioritised safety and practicality over stylish design, which was great for those who valued function over form, but with rivals offering a more complete package, a fresh approach was required. That’s exactly what we got with the V90…

• Champ to drive for JBXE team • New adviser role at Williams Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk JENSON Button is joining fellow Formula One world champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in setting up his own team for the new Extreme E electric off-road series. Unlike the two Mercedes men, however, Button will be in the driving seat for his squad, called JBXE, alongside a yet-to-beconfirmed female driver. The 2009 world champion already has some off-road racing experience, having contested the famous Baja 1000 event in Mexico in 2019. Speaking about the team launch, Button said: “I caught the off-road bug a few years back, and around the same time I first heard about the plans for Extreme E, which I’ve followed with great interest. What Alejandro Agag and the team have managed…

THAT’S it, end of Round 1; electric vehicles have just been through their first full, proper, revolutionary decade on sale to a still-cautious public. The positives from 2010-2020? State-of-the-art EV tech, advances and surprises have been phenomenal; many pure-electric cars became more fun to drive than their combustion-engined counterparts; the EV-inspired reduction in air and noise pollution helped the planet and its peoples, particularly those in urban areas. Negatives? Too many retail prices for pure-electrics remain prohibitively high; claimed mileage/range figures published by over-optimistic manufacturers are a disappointment; and we must concede that the UK’s flawed charging infrastructure must be scaring off some potential EV buyers. Another colossal issue for a motor industry that’s still new to this EV lark is finding the correct balance; the sweet spot that encompasses…