Table of contents for 1455 in Auto Express

OFFICIAL KIA has unveiled its fastest and most expensive production car to date. The Stinger GT has been conceived as a fourdoor grand tourer, and is tasked with changing global perception of Kia and helping the Korean company to become an aspirational car brand. Revealed at this week’s Detroit Motor Show, the 365bhp newcomer takes its inspiration from the Kia GT Concept that was first seen at Frankfurt six years ago. It will arrive in the UK in September, with an anticipated list price of £43,000. Ahead of the official reveal in Detroit, Kia invited Auto Express to its research and development centre in Korea as part of a select press group to discuss the Stinger GT with its designers and engineers – as well as to drive an early…

OFFICIAL BENTLEY is gearing up to launch an allnew version of its Continental GT later this year – but in the meantime, the existing model is bowing out with a bang. And the Continental Supersports is the most powerful production Bentley ever made. The Crewe manufacturer claims the new model is the world’s fastest four-seater. It will be available in hard-top and convertible layouts, and the Supersports benefits from further revisions to Bentley’s W12 petrol engine. The 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit now produces 700bhp and 1,017Nm of torque – enough to take the 2.3-tonne twodoor from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds. That makes it the fastest accelerating Bentley ever, and it also has a top speed of 209mph. Even the extra 150kg of the convertible doesn’t slow the Supersports by much; it’s…

@LobAllan OFFICIAL ANOTHER of the headline acts at this week’s Detroit Motor Show is the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz. The second member of VW’s electric I.D. family features a retro design and is understood to be the figurehead of VW’s Uber-rivalling MOIA ride-sharing brand, which is set to launch in 2020. Described as a vehicle that “transfers a Microbus feeling into the future”, the I.D. Buzz clearly harks back to the old Type 2 Microbus, first launched in 1950. Retro design cues include two-tone bodywork, a bluff front end and large badge, but big 22-inch wheels and a wraparound LED light strip modernise the design. It sits on an extended version of the MEB modular electric platform, with a 3.3m wheelbase, short overhangs and boxy shape designed to maximise space. That…

AN autonomous BMW 530e prototype was on show at CES last week, and Auto Express got behind the wheel of the most advanced 5 Series yet in Las Vegas to test out its autonomous capabilities and the next-generation connected tech on board. Unlike many self-driving car tests, we were actually allowed in the driver’s seat – rather than having to sit on the passenger side with an engineer in control. BMW’s focus for the test, though, wasn’t just on the car’s self-driving capabilities. Instead, it was asking: “What can we offer drivers when they’re not driving?” BMW’s answer is its Open Mobility Cloud, which acts as a personal journey planner. We used the system to place an Amazon order, and asked the car to book a table at a…

What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London WIT 4JD HOT TOPIC New Vauxhall Insignia FROM: HTG HOW can you offer a ‘premium’ product at a ‘mainstream’ price? While I wish Vauxhall all the best against the Germans, the reality is that the Insignia will still battle it out against the Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6 and VW Passat. Daily rentals and fleet leases will see to that. FROM: CarlosCP IT’S really interesting that Vauxhall is reactivating the old grille style with the big V around the logo, just without the lower half of the V. But now we have four different styles in the range. There has to be a change to make the line-up more coherent and…

@rsp_ingram IF you want a fast, comfortable and luxurious all-weather performance car, then Audi’s S-badged models have long been among the top choices, thanks to their standard-fit quattro four-wheel drive. But in recent years BMW and Mercedes have been playing catch up with their respective xDrive and 4MATIC models. They can now match Audi’s tried-and-tested quattro system for grip, so are the brand’s glory days over? We tried the new Audi S4 Avant on wintry UK roads to find out. We first drove the S4 last summer (Issue 1,426), but on dry European roads it was difficult to fully appreciate the newcomer’s talents. However, here in the UK, it’s easier to see why Audi only offers its most powerful models with four-wheel drive. On tight and greasy British B-roads, the…

MODEL TESTED: Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2 TSI 90 PRICE: £15,830 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 89bhp WITH a commendation at our annual New Car awards last year, the Skoda Fabia is a tough competitor in the supermini class. The new Clio has to beat the best to take victory here, and it’ll be a tough job against this Skoda. In high-spec Monte Carlo trim, this 1.2 TSI 90 model costs £15,830, making it the most affordable choice out of our test trio. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 3.8 FOR the third-generation Fabia, Skoda injected some much-needed style to build on the previous version’s impressive practicality. It’s based on the same chassis as the Polo, which means it also uses parts of the VW Group’s cuttingedge MQB architecture to improve safety. It’s this…

UNDERNEATH the GLC Coupé’s roofline it’s familiar Mercedes fare, with much of the car’s make-up borrowed from elsewhere in the brand’s range. That means beneath the bonnet of our £42,540 GLC 220 d 4MATIC Coupé in AMG Line trim is a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel linked to a nine-speed auto sending power to all four wheels. However, the GLC Coupé is all about style, and while it’s less practical than its full-on SUV stablemate, the GLC, Mercedes’ high-riding four-door hatch delivers a different image. FOR & AGAINST + FOR: Individual looks, plenty of safety tech available, easy to drive - AGAINST: Price premium over regular GLC, cramped in the rear, lumpy ride FIGURES Mercedes GLC 220 d AMG Line Coupé Price: £42,540 Engine: 2.1-litre 4cyl turbodiesel Power/torque: 168bhp/400Nm Transmission: Nine-speed automatic,…

Mercedes legend is a stamp champion STAMP collectors and Mercedes fans rejoice – one of the brand’s most iconic models, the W113 SL Pagoda, has been immortalised by the German postal service. The 70 cent stamp (above) shows a red Pagoda 280 SL, and to pay homage to the car’s 1963 initial production date, only 1,963 collectors cards (each containing two stamps) will be released. Each card sells for 10 Euros and is exclusively available from www.69pitstop.com. Plug-in tuning for pick-up engines IF you feel your diesel pick-up is lacking a bit of punch, Truckman may have the solution. It’s now stocking the Steinbauer Performance Power Enhancement, which upgrades 4x4 pick-ups via existing electrics. Unlike many plug-ins, the kit doesn’t increase fuel pressure, which can potentially damage the engine. Instead,…

Lola T70 John Starkey (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £35 Rating: ★★★ AN extensive look at the beautiful and highly successful Lola T70 sports car. Author Starkey is a T70 owner himself, and has compiled a comprehensive record of every single example. This book – now in its fourth edition and back after an absence of several years – covers all versions, including closed and open designs, and will appeal to collectors and admirers of the classic racers. Ferrari 70 Years Dennis Adler (Motorbooks, www.quartoknows.co.uk) Price: £24.99 Rating: ★★★★ CELEBRATING seven decades of one of the world’s most iconic car brands, this book is packed with gorgeous photos of some spectacular machines. Yet it’s equally good to read, and is sure to become a hit among tifosi as it covers Ferrari…

Got any car queries? Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer  Q Hands-free mobile query I HAVE a mobile phone with a headset, and put the phone on the passenger seat beside me. Before setting off, I dial and talk while driving. I keep both hands on the wheel and don’t touch the phone. Is this legal? Robert Marx, E-mail A THE law isn’t specific, but we’d always advise you to have your phone in a secure place where it can’t be a distraction. If it were to slide off the seat, it could distract you – which could be a legal issue. There are plenty of in-car holders available to keep your mobile secure. Q Dacia denies steering issue MY Dacia Duster bounces uncontrollably on occasion when turning left or right. The dealer has…

Mike Rutherford Buyers in Europe and beyond have demanded more, not fewer, cars wearing ‘made in Britain’ labels IF the official figures are to be believed, UK-based motorists played a blinder in 2016 by buying so many new cars that registrations for the year nudged 2.7 million – a record high. Corresponding numbers for factory-fresh vans and trucks were up, too. The same goes for used sales. All this, don’t forget, in one of the most tumultuous 12-month periods in British history. This truly unprecedented demand for brand new, pre-registered and second-hand vehicles meant traditional dealerships (plus increasingly important non-traditional retail outlets) attracted more paying customers than ever in 2016. In turn, HM Treasury enjoyed easy profits – via sales and other vehicle-related taxes – like never before. More than…

@johnmcilroy A Avarvarii EXCLUSIVE IMAGES “New model should rediscover the handling ability that made Mk2 so popular” ELECTRIC Latest Focus is expected to be available with both a hybrid and a pure-EV powertrain, as part of Ford’s electric push FORD is gearing up to resharpen its Focus when the new version of the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astrarivalling family car hits showrooms in 2018. The current third generation of the Focus has faced ever-tougher competition during its lifetime – not just from the likes of its age-old rival, the Astra, which has shed weight to rediscover a handling sweetness it has lacked for years, but also from the boom of ‘lifestyle’ vehicles, like baby SUVs and larger crossovers. The Mk3 Focus moved away from the ultra-crisp handling of its predecessors…

@johnmcilroy OFFICIAL BARELY a week after it teased the design with a sketch, Kia has given us the first official look at its next-generation Picanto city car – which will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and go on sale before the summer. The new model features the latest interpretation of Kia’s ‘tiger nose’ front grille – and, in the case of the GT-Line seen in the first pictures, an aggressively sporty front bumper and LED lighting tech. Lesser specs are likely to have a simpler and slightly softer approach on the front-end styling. At 3,595mm, the new Picanto is precisely the same length as the outgoing model, but it features shorter front and rear overhangs that allow a slightly longer wheelbase (up by 15mm, to…

VW goes supersize on Tiguan Allspace JOINING the I.D. Buzz on Volkswagen’s Detroit show stand this week is the new Tiguan Allspace (above). It’s 220mm longer than a regular Tiguan and available with a third row of seats. That means the seven-seater will be a rival for Nissan’s X-Trail when the Allspace goes on sale in the middle of the year. The wheelbase has been stretched by 110mm over the standard Tiguan, meaning there’s 60mm more legroom in the back. Boot capacity has also increased by 115 litres to 730 litres. Good drivers save more on fuel costs POOR driving habits such as braking or accelerating aggressively will cost motorists an extra £562 a year in added fuel bills, new research has revealed. Analysis of 319,000 journeys by 2,000 drivers,…

Electric Eli city car makes show debut START-UP electric car maker Eli revealed its new ZERO EV (above) at CES. Described as the “new A to B” city transport solution, it’s a rival to Renault’s Twizy but features conventional doors. It weighs 350kg and is 2.25 metres long, with two seats and a 160-litre boot. The ZERO’s 4kW electric motor maxes out at 25mph, and promises a range of 40-75 miles. It’ll be priced from around $10,000 (£8,100) and goes on sale in the US and Europe in late 2017. Leaf smartens up with autonomous AI NISSAN CEO Carlos Ghosn has confirmed the next-generation Leaf will feature ‘Propilot’ technology, allowing autonomous driving on single-lane roads. Speaking at CES, Ghosn also revealed a step forward in the driverless tech, with NASA-developed…

FIRST RIDE “The Ioniq cruised comfortably, braking and accelerating sensibly and turning left at red lights according to US law” HYUNDAI’S Ioniq is already the first car in the world to use hybrid, plug-in and full EV powertrain options. But now the Korean company has endowed it with autonomous capabilities as the selfdriving revolution gathers steam. Auto Express had an opportunity to sample the driverless tech on the Ioniq – and where better to do it than one of the world’s most famous roads, the Las Vegas strip? Externally, the autonomous model looks like any other Ioniq – save for the ‘AU’ letters on the number plate, which signify a licensed autonomous car in Nevada. There are 10 sensors carefully hidden in the bodywork, with four cameras mounted at the…

LAST June’s decision by 52 per cent of the UK to leave the EU has created a whole range of debates, on topics from trade to healthcare and from immigration to manufacturing. Brexit has thrown a whole new angle on plenty of ongoing legal battles, too. One of those surrounds motor insurance, and a case that’s been bubbling under since 2014. We’ve reported extensively in the past on the Vnuk case, in which a Slovenian man was hurt after falling from a ladder that was hit by a reversing tractor. Insurers refused to pay up as it happened on private land, but the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that compulsory vehicle insurance should have covered the accident, and legally all vehicles – not only on the road –…

@rsp_ingram “Crumbling buildings and potholed streets are out of a movie, while classic ‘Yank Tanks’ are everywhere you turn” MORE than 50 years ago, the US signed a commercial embargo blocking the sale of all American-made goods to Cuba. First enforced in 1958 and later extended in 1960 by President John F Kennedy, the three-stage “el bloqueo” prevented all exports aside from food and medical supplies. The embargo was imposed as an attempt to end Cuba’s oppressive communist rule and discourage US citizens from making the short 90-mile trip from the south of Florida as tourists. It also meant all American-built cars, bikes and trucks were never sent to the country. As a result, the northern Caribbean island is something of a time warp. The crumbling buildings, potholed streets and…

@LobAllan MOST mainstream manufacturers offer some sort of turbocharged engine in their mainstream models nowadays – yet many budget city cars still abstain from the march of forced induction. Even new products such as the Ford Ka+, facelifted Hyundai i10 and Vauxhall Viva offer only naturally aspirated petrol engines. The excellent trio of VW Group city cars has been in the same boat for years, but now Volkswagen has finally ‘upped’ its game with this, the new up! TSI. This isn’t a production version of the turbo-boosted up! GTI prototype we drove in Issue 1,452. It uses the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit as that car, but power is pegged at 89bhp rather than 114bhp. This means a sprightly but not fast 0-62mph sprint of 9.9 seconds; while it doesn’t sound…

MODEL TESTED: Renault Clio Dynamique S Nav 0.9 TCe 90 PRICE: £16,265 ENGINE: 898cc 3cyl, 89bhp THE engine range in the Clio is split 50:50, with a choice of three diesel and three petrol units. Of the latter, we’d avoid the less efficient entry-level 1.2 naturally aspirated petrol, while the higher-powered TCe 120 turbo is expensive. So it’s the turbocharged TCe 90 petrol we focus on here; in Dynamique S Nav trim it comes in at £16,265. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 3.6 THIS facelifted Clio is still based on the same B Platform as the original fourth-generation model. Developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the mechanicals also underpin cars such as the Renault Captur, while an evolution of the chassis – now called the V Platform – forms the basis of…

RENAULT CLIO score 3.6 R-Link £600 Key features: Live services, reversing cam RENAULT’S seven-inch touchscreen MediaNav system is standard on Dynamique and Dynamique S Nav models, although this top-spec trim level also gets the option of the firm’s R-Link unit for £600 as part of the Techno Pack. This system was fitted to our test car, adding TomTom Live services with a 12-month subscription, an Eco Driving Menu that gives tips on how to maximise your car’s efficiency, and Renault’s App Store where you can download a range of services. It’s not just an upgraded navigation system, however. The Techno Pack also brings front parking sensors to go with the rears, as well as a reversing camera and Renault’s more powerful Bass Reflex stereo. As part of the Clio’s facelift,…

THE BMW X4 uses proven components from the X3 off-roader and 3 Series saloon – just as the GLC Coupé takes parts from its Mercedes stablemates – and combines them in a niche bodystyle. Nonetheless, scaling down the X6’s successful formula opens up this coupé-SUV to a new group of buyers looking for a premium image for less money. Again, as with the GLC Coupé, there’s a range of four and sixcylinder diesel and petrol engines available, but it’s the £43,275 X4 xDrive20d we test here in high-spec M Sport trim. FOR & AGAINST + FOR: Good to drive, high-quality materials throughout, decent equipment spec - AGAINST: Not as sleek as GLC Coupé, compromised ride, lack of practicality FIGURES BMW X4 xDrive20d M Sport Price: £43,275 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel…

ELECTRIC cars might be the flavour of the month, but until charging stations are fast enough – and plentiful enough – there will always be motorists who lack the confidence to take the plunge. While EVs are generally recognised as ‘the future’, it’s not hard to understand the appeal of hybrids such as the Kia Niro that’s just joined our fleet, with its low tailpipe emissions and impressive on-paper fuel economy. Blending hybrid technology with a crossover body could well be enough to give the Toyota Prius (the world’s biggest-selling hybrid) a bit of a scare. Kia isn’t messing about with its first-ever dedicated hybrid. The Niro promises much: up to 74.3mpg and a low 88g/km CO2 output all wrapped up in a practical bodyshell that slots neatly between the…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer  Q Car dryers worth the cash? I’VE seen portable air blowers in use at shows designed to dry cars after they’ve been washed and rinsed. Are they worth the investment? Billy Godwin, E-mail A CAR dryers are more costly than a cloth or leather – they start at around £100 – but they’re more thorough. In his guide to getting the ultimate finish (Issue 1,414), top detailer Richard Tipper told us they’re worth the money as they remove all moisture even from hard-to-reach areas like wheels and brakes. They also mean you needn’t deal with drips when applying a wax or sealant. Q Best ski-carrying solution IN the spring I’m set to go on a skiing trip in Europe, and for the first time I…

NEW PRODUCT AutoMate Acid Free Wheel Cleaner Price: £6 Size: 500ml Contact: 01527 911322, www.liquidleather.com Rating: ★★★★ ACID-free formula means this cleaner can be used on all wheel types and finishes. This is pretty much essential for a modern product in the face of the growing competition from the ‘purple’ universal cleaners. The gel-like AutoMate goes on in a narrow stream, which isn’t ideal as it takes time to cover the rim. It clings well but no dwell time is required and the results were limited with a low-pressure spray. Leaving it longer and agitating gently with the brush saw better progress on the rim. On the long-neglected trim it needed the brush to get close to the auto-wheel; using only the spray, it barely made any difference. Not a…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 11 | 1 | 2017 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive. AS USB has become the standard charging plug for many electronic devices, it’s no surprise to see manufacturers designing special adaptors so they can be used in a car’s 12V socket. Even if your vehicle has a USB socket, an adaptor can provide more outlets so that more than one device can be charged at a time – vital when everything from smartphones and tablets to hands-free kits and sat-navs use them. So which is the one to keep your kit charged on the move? We plugged in eight to find out. How we tested…

@johnmcilroy OFFICIAL A HYBRID version of the iconic Mustang will lead a major push from Ford into electrified vehicles, bringing 13 new models to market by the year 2020. The American giant has confirmed an investment of $4.5billion (£3.7bn) into electrified vehicles – enough to deliver not only the first version of its sports car with electric power assistance, but also a plug-in hybrid edition of the Transit Custom. In addition, an all-new, fully electric SUV will be made in the United States and also sold in Europe and Asia. Ford sources have already stressed that the Mustang will use electrification for performance instead of pure efficiency. A statement from the company said that the car “will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque”. It’s likely to mix an…

@Jonathan_burn OFFICIAL AUDI pulled in the crowds at this week’s Detroit Motor Show with its latest Q8 concept – a thinly veiled glimpse at a new flagship SUV that will join the range in 2018. When it arrives, the Q8 will rival the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupé, as well as the Range Rover. The concept shares a similar footprint to the current Audi Q7 – it’s over five metres long and has a wheelbase of three metres – but is 40mm lower than the Q7. A sloping roofline and tapered rear end mean the concept is a four-seater, although the production version is expected to be available with five seats. The Q8 concept has a 630-litre boot. Showcased as a plug-in hybrid e-tron model, the…

All-new A1 getting in shape for 2018 AUDI is also preparing to give the A1 hatch a thorough refresh, with the all-new second-generation model due in showrooms next year. Our spy shot (above) shows the larger grille and sportier-looking headlights, as well as big alloy wheels and sharperlooking tail-lamps. A new platform brings fresh engines: the A1 range is likely to kick off with a version of the current 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo. Minimum lessons quota for L-drivers? LEARNER drivers could be required to sit a minimum number of lessons before taking their test in the future. The Department for Transport is looking at a range of new measures to improve road safety. These include introducing a target number of hours for learners, plus allowing them on motorways. Research found some…

@AE_Consumer OFFICIAL “FF91 will be full of tech, with 3D lidar, 10 HD cameras, 13 radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors” H 1 FARADAY Future finally unveiled its first production model at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and the US start-up claims it’s the fastest accelerating electric car ever. The Faraday Future FF91 covers 0-60mph in 2.39 seconds – beating the Tesla Model S P100D, thanks to its 130kWh battery that produces 1,050bhp and 1,800Nm of torque. It also claims a range of more than 378 miles, with wireless charging promised soon. Styling cues are taken from the latest SUVs; the car has a sleek, rounded nose and a distinctive latticework pattern, plus LED light bars front and rear. It sits on 22-inch wheels, while the rear…

OFFICIAL MAINSTREAM manufacturers such as Toyota were also out in force at CES, with the Japanese brand showcasing its Concept-i. Its futuristic design is claimed to put the driver’s needs ahead of technology. The Concept-i is Toyota’s vision for 2030 driving, where the car will be a home on wheels – although much of the tech showcased is expected to be introduced on Toyota models before then. The heart of the Concept-i is the in-car artificial intelligence, dubbed Yui. This virtual companion uses sophisticated biometrics to learn your personality traits, and it becomes smarter the more you drive. It’s represented throughout the concept as a ball of light, with the idea that it can move around the car to where it’s needed. That means information can be displayed “wherever, whenever”…

WE drive Lexus’s all-new LC at youtube.com/Autoexpress this week, and also hit the track in a Lamborghini Huracán race car. @JRRBatchelor First drive verdict on new Lexus LC LEXUS is having another crack at the performance market. While the LFA supercar was certainly amazing, the new LC isn’t quite in the same territory – think more GT – but its styling will definitely take your breath away. The newcomer is offered in two flavours: a 5.0-litre V8 petrol LC 500 and a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid LC 500h. Can it beat the Mercedes SL? Editorin-chief Steve Fowler takes a look. Race-spec Lambo Huracán blasts off WHEN Auto Express gets a chance to drive a race car, we never say no. And we kick off 2017 aboard the incredible new Lamborghini Huracán…

@Sean_Carson_ JUST as it applied its know-how to the Fiesta ST and Focus ST to great effect – extracting a few more horsepower for not a lot more cash – now tuning firm Mountune has turned its attention to the most hardcore fast Ford on sale, the Focus RS. Not that the standard car necessarily needed more power, but the addition of a high-flow induction kit, updated recirculation valve and bespoke ECU remap has liberated another 25bhp. That takes the 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo’s output to 370bhp. The Ford Performance by Mountune FPM375 kit costs £899 including VAT, and should take around one and a half hours to fit. It doesn’t affect the standard Focus warranty, and the upgrade can be made retrospectively to existing cars. In addition to the extra…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Polo beats 1.2 TSI 90 5dr PRICE: £15,990 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 89bhp THE Volkswagen Polo is the yardstick when it comes to small hatchbacks, and here we test the five-door Polo beats, added to the range in 2016 to match the Clio. Fitted with the brand’s 1.2 TSI 90 petrol engine hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox, the car costs £15,990. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 3.9 NEW trim levels added to the Polo line-up, such as the R-Line and this beats edition, have given Volkswagen supermini buyers a little bit more choice. The extra variety has maintained the Polo’s popularity, as VW shifted more than 50,000 examples in the UK last year, making it the third most popular supermini on sale in 2016. This is despite…

GLIPTONE is well known for its leather treatment products, and now it has extended its expertise to car care with the launch of the AutoMate range. The line-up includes shampoo, spray wax, interior cleaner, tyre shine and a rain-repellent glass cleaner. But we’re concentrating on its Acid Free Wheel Cleaner, putting it up against multiple test winner Bilt Hamber auto-wheel. Our test focused on the effectiveness of each cleaner without the complication of using a brush or pressure washer. We applied each product to a dirty rim and wheel trim. Using first a lowpressure spray then a weighted brush to shift grime, we assessed progress. The makers’ prices were also factored in. While the new AutoMate cleaner does a workmanlike job, our favourite product remains auto-wheel. TEST WINNER Bilt…

THE immediate future of the Manor Formula One team and the longterm future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone were both in doubt as Auto Express closed for press last week. Administrators FRP Advisory have been appointed to the company that runs the Manor race team, after takeover talks with American investor Tavo Hellmund stalled. Manor has been backed for the past two years by the British energy entrepreneur Stephen Fitzpatrick, but talks with Hellmund (the man behind the US Grand Prix circuit in Austin) and at least two other parties have been held in the hopes of selling the team. As of last week, no redundancies had been made among the squad’s 212 staff, but Manor faces a race against time to find a new investor if it…