Table of contents for 1621 in Auto Express

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn ● Taycan Cross Turismo spied winter testing ● More practical electric load-lugger due in 2021 THIS is our best look yet at Porsche’s second fully electric model, the Taycan Cross Turismo. Spied almost completely undisguised during the final stages of development testing, the Cross Turismo is due to be launched later this year, ahead of sales commencing at the beginning of 2021. The arrival of the Taycan Cross Turismo will create another niche in the new car market: the electric estate car. Performance estates have been around for decades, with regular fixtures including the Audi RS 6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63. But Porsche will be the first brand to enter the segment with a fully electric alternative. Dr Michael Steiner, Porsche’s executive board member for R&D, told Auto…

Contactless Tesla test drives may reach UK TESLA has begun contactless test drives in China, and the scheme is likely to head to the UK when Coronavirus lockdown measures begin to ease. Customers in China pre-book test drives online, and when they arrive at the showroom, staff unlock the car via the Tesla app, while a tutorial is available on the car’s large touchscreen. When the car is returned, the retailer can again use the Tesla app to lock the car. Purchases can be made online, and contactless deliveries are possible. Key workers a priority for BuyaCar operation ONLINE car retailer – and Auto Express sister brand – BuyaCar has said it will continue prioritising NHS staff and key workers, even if it’s selling cars at a loss. It announced…

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) Which?: 01992 878329 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: 01722 422422 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0330 159 0364 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…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs 201.8mpg (official) £53 fill-up Electric motor Battery size/range 14.4kWh/35 miles WE’VE already driven the new Ford Kuga (Issue 1,619), and been impressed by its handling, interior and strong kit list. The mild-hybrid diesel model did a lot well, but while that car is likely to be the top-seller, this plug-in hybrid will appeal to company car buyers looking to cut their tax bills. We’ll start by looking at the costs. There’s no ignoring the fact that low CO2 emissions result in affordable Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax. This Kuga is no exception, with its 10 per cent banding rising by just one percentage point each year for the next three years. By contrast, the 118bhp 1.5 EcoBlue diesel automatic emits 145g/km of CO2, so you’re looking…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths BUYING a new car won’t be a priority for many people at the moment, but then shopping for a replacement motor isn’t the sort of thing that should be rushed into. You first need to consider a number of different models, plus the available engines and trim levels, and investigate what finance deals are on offer. Another vital piece of research is to read what other people think of their cars. Online sites such as our sister title Carbuyer.co.uk provide an excellent resource for this, but Driver Power is the most comprehensive ownership survey available – and you have it all here at your fingertips. Driver Power is a big undertaking, with the thousands of readers who submit their responses generating hundreds of thousands of data points, which…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ THIS week marks the start of a new tax year, which is an important time if you’re a company car driver. It’s doubly important for the 2020/2021 tax year given that the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax regulations have had a massive shake-up. So we’re bringing you our best picks from five price brackets, plus the lowdown on how this year’s financial regulations for company cars massively benefit electric vehicles. BiK tax rates are still calculated from a car’s CO2 emissions, but for cars registered on or after 6 April 2020, they use figures from the more stringent WLTP testing regime, rather than the old NEDC system. The basic upshot of this is that for many pure petrol and diesel cars, official emissions are now higher, so business users will…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Running costs Official range/tax 258 miles/£325 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 656/1,453 litres THOSE with a keen eye will spot that the Auto Express Jaguar I-Pace has changed hands. Long-term custodian and editor-in-chief Steve Fowler reluctantly passed me the keys to see if the all-electric SUV would be as easy and satisfying to live with for me as it was for him. The thing is, unlike Steve, I live in London without access to off-street parking. That means I’ve no ability to charge overnight at home – something that has become second nature for Steve. Could I make it work? Well, there was only one way to find out. Not only would I be running the car to and from the airport or the office on a daily basis,…

New collection marks 50 years of Citroen GS CITROEN is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its GS this year, and the firm has followed the re-imagined model it revealed at Retromobile in January with a collection of accessories and apparel (above) inspired by the iconic car. Including T-shirts, a bath towel, men’s swimwear and a backpack, the GS50 collection uses the same colours and patterns as the show car. It’s been designed in collaboration with the high-end fashion house Boutique Les Bains. All five items are available to buy now from www.lifestyle.citroen.com. Cheaper servicing on offer to key workers KEY workers who need car maintenance during the COVID-19 pandemic can take advantage of discounts from Fixter, an online servicing platform. By using the code ‘KEEPUP’ at the checkout, key workers can…

ONE of the most versatile tools in your armoury is the cordless drill; as well as drilling, it can be as crew driver, wire brush and a buffer. The latest motors run off ever-more-efficient batteries to make them almost the equal of a mains drill and very useful where your garage has no 240V outlet. So which is the one to take the strain out of your jobs? We charged eight to find out. HiKOKI DV18DBFL2/JM 18V Brushless Combi Drill Kit Price: £154.80 Contact: 01908 660663 www.hikoki-powertools.co.uk Batteriess 2 × 3Ah BEST BUY THE competition is stacking up against our multiple winner; other drills offer more Amphours(Ah), higher speeds and better torque. But the HiKOKI still gives the best combination of all factors. It has plenty of power, although we’d…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy IF you’re a rally fan – in particular a British one – then the 1995 Network Q RAC Rally has to be cemented into your top motorsport moments. Colin McRae was a bit of a superstar long before he sprayed the champagne at Chester Racecourse that year – but that crisp November afternoon was the moment he became a legend. McRae was the son of five-times British Rally champ Jimmy. He’d come up through the sport at a prodigious rate, scoring back-to-back British titles in 1991 and 1992, and then claiming a win on the UK’s WRC round in 1994, the first Brit to do so in 18 years. For 1995, Colin had a full-time drive with Subaru, alongside Carlos Sainz. A double world champion already, the Spaniard…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths PETROL stations in rural areas across the UK are facing closure thanks to a combination of staff self-isolating due to coronavirus symptoms, and a dramatic fall in sales while the UK lockdown to slow the spread of the virus continues. The warning has come as the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) highlights the volume of unleaded sold by UK forecourts has fallen by 75 per cent, while the amount of diesel being bought has dropped by 71 per cent. This dramatic decline comes while UK citizens are barred from undertaking all but essential journeys, resulting in a huge drop in filling station sales. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “To help freight move and help key workers travel safely and independently through this period of crisis, petrol filling stations must…

FURTHER developments in the coronavirus crisis have seen F1 teams and car makers successfully produce much-needed medical ventilators for the stretched healthcare sector. The Ventilator ChallengeUK consortium, made up of firms including Ford, Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, has received an order of more than 10,000 ventilators from the Government. While the devices have yet to meet approval from regulators, they are based on existing designs and the consortium expects “a straightforward and very prompt regulatory sign off”. The drive for equipment has also seen Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (Mercedes-AMG HPP) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) reverse-engineer Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilators, which push air and oxygen into patients’ lungs at a continuous rate to keep airways open, and increase the amount of oxygen in patients’ lungs. Trials of…

tristan_shale-hester@dennis.co.uk @tristan_shale THE nuts and bolts of being a milkman haven’t changed dramatically in the last 100 years. The job still involves getting up at an unsocial hour, delivering bottles of milk to customers’ doorsteps, and bringing empties back. That’s not to say there haven’t been any changes, but some are less drastic than you might think. For example, even though there are an increasing number of women delivering milk, the overwhelming majority of people in this occupation are still male, hence the term ‘milkman’ remains largely accurate. But one area where changes have been notable is the mode of transport. In 1920, for example, the horse and cart was the favoured vehicle for the job, since early vans were noisy and expensive. Then, 1947 saw the advent of electric…

Running costs 22.6mpg (official) £81 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 2.7 seconds/205mph SOMETIMES tasks that appear easy require a lot of effort. When asked what had been at the top of the specification sheet for the development of the new Porsche 911 Turbo S, the man in charge of the project, Frank-Steffen Walliser, gives a simple answer: “The heart of every 911 Turbo is the engine.” The 3.8-litre flat six in the new 911 Turbo S is the same size as the outgoing model’s, but it’s all new. It’s based on the 3.0-litre unit used in the Carrera models, but Walliser vehemently rejects that it’s simply “bored out” for the Turbo. “We have invested a three-digit million sum,” Walliser adds. This was necessary in order to comply with emissions regulations, but…

OUR Driver Power survey takes every single aspect of a car into account in order to produce the final ranking, and quite rightly so. For many people, a car needs to be able to fulfill a wide array of criteria, allowing it to switch seamlessly between the school run, a motorway cruise and a blast down a B-road. In spite of this, we’re fully aware that some car buyers are after something more specific, and therefore want to make their purchase decision based on one particular factor. Maybe you’re after a car that can take a family of five, their various pieces of luggage and the dog 100 miles in reasonable comfort for a two-week summer holiday? Or perhaps you couldn’t care less about practicalities such as rear-seat legroom, boot…

AS part of the Government’s drive to reduce emissions from road transport, it’s especially keen to push business users into zero-emissions electric cars. As a result, if you run an EV for the 2020/2021 tax year, BiK will be charged at zero per cent. Free. Nothing. For 12 months. As we’ve said, this is an incentive that’s designed to get people driving EVs, because many motorists’ purchases or company car choices are driven by how this will impact them financially. It’s true that modern motorists are also more in tune with the environmental impact of their transport than ever, so turning to an electric car now, as these models become even more usable thanks to improved real-world ranges, will make sense for many people. Now really could be the best…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 313/1,052 litres Performance 0-62 mph/top speed 7.9 seconds/112mph “The feeling of getting EV benefits without all the charging is certainly a bonus” I WAS extremely lucky to get away for a holiday in Lagos, Portugal, before the current pandemic lockdown. A week of sun was a real treat and, it turns out, so was the boot in my Toyota Yaris hire car. In theory the Yaris is smaller than my Corolla, but it was far easier to pack with luggage for three. That kind of sums up the problem I have with the Corolla: there’s not quite enough space and practicality for a family of four. The problem is that ours is the 2.0-litre car, and while the hybrid system’s battery is located under the…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Classic problem for E10 fuel I READ your article on E10 fuel (Issue 1,617) with interest, because it will make the issue of ethanol damaging my classic car’s fuel system even worse. Is there an alternative to buying super unleaded?George Hampson, E-mail A ETHANOL in older cars has long been a problem, and there are now fuel additives which aim to prevent the corrosion it causes. American brand STA-BIL (sta-bil.co.uk) has a range of solutions for stored cars, plus those used regularly. It aims to remove water in the fuel, and protect all parts of the fuel system. Prices start at £5.99. Q Keeping showroom finish CAN you recommend a matt-finish dressing for the plastic arches on my new Mazda CX-30? It doesn’t need a colourant but just…

IF you don’t have a garage or car port, your car is under attack by the elements, and an outdoor cover makes a good buy. We pitted the new Halfords All Seasons cover against our last test runner-up, the Sealey SSCM, while using our current champ, the Halfords Car Cover, as a reference. First, we checked for breathability using a steam-filled box and a moisture trap. We also looked for leaks, and performed a drop test to rate the protection against an accidental bump. Extras such as tether straps, locks and window pockets gained more points, while prices were the best we could find online. The All Seasons upped the performance ante but costs more than 50 per cent more than the current champion, so it finishes second, with the…

EIGHT years after McRae’s title victory, I witnessed another remarkable conclusion to the event, as livewire Norwegian Petter Solberg (above) secured his world championship. He entered the RAC – or Rally GB as it was now known – one point behind Sebastien Loeb in the standings, and while the Frenchman did inch ahead briefly on the opening day, the combination of Solberg, the Impreza WRC and Pirelli rubber was too strong. The crowds were smaller than McRae’s Chester reception as Petter crossed the line. But nobody had told the winner, who exploded with excitement and proceeded to crowd surf with his adoring Norwegian fans.…

FORD FOCUS Price from: £20,690 STILL the most driver-centric family hatch, the Focus mixes a well-judged chassis with engines – particularly the 124bhp 1.0 EcoBoost – that are punchy and refined. Few rivals come close to its crisp steering and excellent body control. Interior quality is durable rather than luxurious, but there’s decent space for four adults and the boot is large and well shaped. It’s just a shame you have to avoid the cheapest editions to get half-decent infotainment. VAUXHALLASTRA Price from: £18,925 RECENTLY updated, the Astra could prove a key rival for the Leon if SEAT does try to pitch its car’s pricing to undercut the Golf’s. Vauxhall’s family hatch now has modern three-cylinder engines that suit its composed, refined ride and crisp dynamics. Its cabin isn’t the…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “The only emission is water vapour, and efforts are under way to develop hydrogen using green electricity and renewable sources” ● Latest fuel-cell tech revealed ● Hydrogen X5s due in 2022 BMW has reiterated its plan to introduce 12 all-electric cars by 2023, but behind the scenes, the firm’s engineers have introduced a plugless spin on the company’s zero-emissions future vision. Hydrogen fuel-cell technology – now often overlooked in the scramble to develop plug-in battery-powered electric cars – is still in vogue with many in BMW. The firm has been working on the tech with Toyota since 2013, and BMW has just revealed the latest development of this joint project: a new hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain that could be in mass production by the middle of this decade. The…

ELSEWHERE at BMW, the brand appears to be working on steering wheels that can change shape before your eyes. Patents filed by the firm show a wheel that can switch from a traditional circular shape to an oval using separate rim parts that can pivot in relation to each other. Online rumours suggest that this could be used to provide more space for the driver when a car is in autonomous mode, although Auto Express understands that added safety is the primary reason BMW is developing the technology. BMW has previous experience here; the iNEXT concept, which previews an electric iX5, features a squared-off wheel designed to allow drivers to easily switch between autonomous and active driving modes. And the production iNEXT’s steering wheel will be fitted with optical fibres to…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP HOT TOPIC New Audi A3 FROM: Andy Davis I AM by no means an Audi fan – I’ve always thought they’re just rebadged Volkswagens – but this actually looks quite smart. Compared with the unattractive new BMW 1 Series and so-so Mk8 VW Golf, this at least has some style. FROM: Bob I’M disappointed with the interior. Gone is the elegant simplicity of the previous-generation A3. Instead, we have multiple surfaces, layers and angles all over the place. It just looks as though it’s trying too hard, which isn’t really necessary. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “It looks as though the interior designers forgot about the air vents, so just stuck them on…

WE recognise that modern car buyers often shop across classes, so if you’re unsure of what type of model you want, it pays to know what the best of the best is. For this purpose, we’ve broken cars down into their respective classes and ranked them accordingly. There are city cars and superminis, which are perfect all-rounders as long as you don’t need lots of space for passengers and large items. Executive cars, meanwhile, are best for long-distance motorway cruising and more suitable if you often have people occupying the back seats. Then there are family cars, which used to just be made up of large hatchbacks, saloons and estates suitable for carrying children, pets and all the trappings that come with them. However, this part of the market has…

YOUR GREAT OFFER ■ FREE G3 Pro Multicleaner ■ All the latest news, road tests & reviews delivered to your door each week ■ FREE delivery of every issue ■ Save 50% on your subscription SAVE 50% ORDER ONLINE: dennismags.co.uk/autoexpress OR CALL NOW ON: 0330 333 9491 quoting offer code D1621 YOUR FREE GIFT G3 Pro Multicleaner is a truly versatile rigorous cleaning solution that is safe to use on all soft and hard surfaces, inside and outside your vehicle - from carpets and upholstery, through vinyl and paintwork to wheel arch liners and engine bays. It is a silicone-free product that will not discolour rubber, plastics, vinyl or fabric. For maximum performance, use neat, but it can be diluted with water for lighter contamination. ORDER ONLINE: DENNISMAGS.CO.UK/AUTOEXPRESS CALL NOW: 0330…

FIRST TEST RAC Come and Go i-Rotate i-Size chid seat Price: £299.99 Contact: 0808 164 9361, www.racshop.co.uk MADE by Cosatto, the Come and Go i-Rotate is the first seat to appear from the RAC brand. The i-size product is designed for newborns to children up to 105cm tall, enabled by gradually removing the substantial bolsters in the seat – a quick and easy process. Despite the reasonably bulky seat and base being combined into a single unit, installation is straightforward. The ISOFIX mounts are easy to pull out using a fabric tab, and retract by pressing a button on the base – although a button on each side would make it easier when mounted on the right-hand side of a car. The seat reclines through three positions and rotates, allowing…

Classic Engines, Modern Fuel Paul Ireland (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £15.99 THIS book is very interesting in its approach to the problem of fuelling older engines with modern petrol and diesel. By sharing detailed analysis, Ireland doesn’t just tell you how to fix the problem, he also explains why it needs a remedy in the first place. Buying and Maintaining a Modern Traditional Morgan David Wellings (Crowood Press, www.crowood.com) Price: £25 ANYONE wanting to buy a Morgan, even brand new from the factory, knows it’s not a straightforward procedure. This book contains an enormous amount of very useful information intended to keep buyers, and their cars, in as fine fettle as is possible. It’s brilliant for any prospective owners. Bad Piggies HD Available for: iOS, Android Price: £65 THIS spin-off…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@dennis.co.uk Q Can I do anything to fix my broken electric windows? THE electric windows on my car have stopped working – fortunately when they were up, rather than down. The car was booked in at my dealer, but the appointment has been postponed because they need to prioritise urgent jobs. Are there any fixes I could try?DT, E-mail A IT’S worth checking if a fuse has blown, because this would be a simple fix you could carry out yourself. Just make sure you replace the fuse with one of the same amperage. If this doesn’t cure things, it’s likely you’ll need professional help. A common culprit for faults like this is deterioration of the wiring in the join between the door and the car body. This,…

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: The combined economy figure in miles per gallon and its emissions in grams per kilometre of CO2. Figures are the best 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…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off “With respect, even those manufacturers who are already lending a helping hand need to raise their game” SINCE the early eighties I’ve penned thousands of opinion pieces for magazines, national and international newspapers, radio, TV and websites – you name it. I try to ensure each column avoids swear words – and thus far have been 99.9 per cent successful. Also, while I’ve asked for or demanded much, I’ve never begged for anything. Until now. So here goes. I’m f****** pleading with the motor industry to become more actively involved in the design, manufacture and delivery of life-saving medical kit, including ambulance-like vehicles. In another column on another day I’ll explain why volume car makers will soon have to rewrite their rulebooks…