Table of contents for 1775 in Auto Express

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler IT’S rare that Genesis builds a concept car without there being some sign of production intent, and that’s certainly the case with the GV80 Coupé Concept. It was one of the undoubted stars of last week’s New York Auto Show and Auto Express got a tour of the latest Genesis model with design boss SangYup Lee. “This is a concept, but it’s more of a production teaser,” Lee told us. “We don’t do concept cars for showbusiness, we do concept cars for more serious reasons. It’s teasing what is coming in the line-up.” The new model is based on the GV80 SUV, but with plenty of design touches to differentiate it from its more sensible sibling and give the coupé a sportier look and feel. “Genesis design relies…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Firm’s biggest SUV revised ● More tech and luxury inside MERCEDES has been refreshing its entire SUV line-up, and now it’s time for the range-topper, the GLS, to get a string of mid-life upgrades. The German brand is making a fresh push with even more premium models, so its largest SUV is more important than ever, as it fights for sales with the BMW X7, Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover. The external updates are relatively subtle, with a new grille and surround, a revised front bumper, new alloy wheels and tweaked tail-lights. The car has 30mm more ground clearance than before and redesigned underbody protection. The cabin brings the GLS up to speed with the S-Class limo, as well as Mercedes’ range of EQ electric vehicles. There’s…

We want to hear your views. Send your questions or opinions to the E-mail address below Contact Tristan Shale-Hester mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Renault Espace FROM: Barry Nicholson WHAT a shame it’s not coming to the UK. We could really do with another electric SUV… or not! The real shame is that the tradition of groundbreaking ideas from the original Espace has been lost. There’s no originality here. FROM: PM THIS would only be any good if all the back seats could be removed like the Espace from the eighties. That car was ahead of its time. Unfortunately, it just has the standard folding fixed seating – no swivel chairs or anything like that. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “A real Espace would be a tank with more room…

UNLIKE a lot of the cars featured in our Icons series so far, you definitely won’t have a problem finding a Mk1 Qashqai in the classifieds. Being a reasonably recent and wildly popular car, there are hundreds to choose from. Prices start from less than £2,000, but for that sum, you’ll likely have to settle for a high-mileage car in base-spec Visia trim with the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol engine. Spend around £3,000-4,000, and you’ll be able to get a 2.0-litre example (or the more economical diesel of the same capacity) with fewer miles on the clock and either the mid-spec Acenta grade or the top-of-the-range Tekna trim. All-wheel-drive models are rare, but in any case, front-wheel drive makes more sense for most buyers. Also scarce is the stretched Qashqai +2…

Electric motor Power/range 215bhp/252 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 6.9 seconds/99mph WHAT’S in a brand name? In the case of Aiways, it’s fairly simple: ‘ài’ means love in Chinese, while ‘ways’ comes from the English for paths. When they’re combined, you end up with the monicker of this modestly sized Chinese start-up, which was founded in 2017. Aiways has had at least one false start in Europe already – although Covid-19 didn’t help its cause – but now it’s trying again with the U5 and this model, the U6. While the U5 is a conventionally shaped SUV, the U6 is a bit more rakish, with a sharp front end, a flat windscreen and a sloping rear. The whole thing is garnished with all kinds of aero elements, which gives it some…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk @jordankatsianis WE’VE already had the pleasure of driving the new Huracán Tecnica in continental Europe, but any supercar’s litmus test is always the challenging and often broken roads of the UK. Before we get to its behaviour on tarmac, let’s have a quick refresh of the Tecnica’s technical updates. There’s a reshaped front bumper and bonnet, which channel the aggressive look found on Lamborghini’s new Revuelto. The rear-quarter panels and rear deck are totally fresh, the latter having a flat surface and a window to show off the V10 engine. Mechanically, the Tecnica is something of a ‘greatest hits’ of the Huracán’s previous generations. While there are no new-age hybrid powertrain elements (ones that will inevitably find their way into its eventual replacement), the chassis features cutting-edge hardware that’s…

181 bhp Powertrain 2.0 litre 4cyl 40 litres Fuel tank £59 fill up 7.9 secs Performance 111mph 415 litres Seats up/down 1,220 litres MODEL TESTED: Honda Civic e:HEV Sport  PRICE: £31,795 POWERTRAIN: 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol hybrid, 181bhp IN entry-level Sport trim, the new Civic is priced from a competitive £31,795. However, at the time of going to press, Honda informed us that “due to customer demand beyond expectation and ongoing supply chain disruption, Honda is temporarily closing order books for the Civic”. Tech highlights FOR the 11th-generation Civic, Honda has produced a more polished, grown-up product – and that goes further than just the understated exterior design. The body is more structurally rigid than the previous car’s, while the suspension components – similar in design to the previous Civic’s –…

Toyota Corolla FAMILIARITY has taken the edge off the Corolla’s design. It’s neatly proportioned and handsome in an understated way. The facelift has brought the most subtle of design tweaks, which include revised headlight graphics, refreshed wheel designs and new colours. VS Honda Civic COMPARED with its predecessor, the Civic is much more toned down and subtle. The mix of the longest body and lowest roof here gives it a very sleek appearance in profile, as do a fairly low bonnet and a shoulder line along the clean flanks. VS Kia Ceed WHILE the Ceed’s overall shape is conventional, Kia’s designers have graced the five-door hatch with some intricate details. This is clearest on the tail-lights; each unit is made from 48 honeycomb-shaped LED elements, which sit behind smoked glass.…

SAVE 43% ON THE SHOP PRICE After your initial 6 issue trial, your subscription will continue at £28.99 every 13 issues representing a saving of 43% on the shop price. FREE DELIVERY Never miss an issue with every copy delivered straight to your doorstep. FULLY FLEXIBLE You are able to cancel at any time using a dedicated customer portal or by getting in touch. YOUR FREE GIFT Money is tight, make your screenwash go further with a free gift of CarPlan Demon Shot Screenwash Booster. Demon Shot is a new, innovative screenwash booster from CarPlan. Demon Shot can either be diluted with water or used neat to boost your existing screenwash temperature, meaning it is ideal for emergency or routine top ups. One bottle of Demon Shot makes up to…

The Automotive Alchemist Andy Saunders (Dalton Watson Fine Books, daltonwatson.com) Price: £100.05 Rating: A HUGELY interesting look at the author’s life in cars, from learning basic skills to creating bespoke pieces of automotive art. You’ll likely recognise more than a few of the vehicles, from the mad Picasso Citroen 2CV to Flat Out, the lowest car in the world. It’s beautifully produced, and written in an engaging style. Vauxhall Cars (1945 to 1995) Trevor Alder (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £19.99 Rating: HALF a century is a lot for one book to cover, but this goes more in depth than others in the series, with period photographs as well as those taken at car shows. It covers base models plus derivatives, limited editions and commercial variants. It’s very informative, if not that…

CO2 /tax 108-111g/km £180 Running costs 48-52mpg (30 TFSI) £66 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.5 seconds/126mph WHEN a car maker tries to move upmarket, the effects can be disastrous, but when a premium brand offers smaller cars for those who are less well heeled, it’s rarely a bad decision. Audi, BMW and Mercedes have taken this approach by introducing small hatchbacks, each of which has allowed the marque to expand its customer base. Audi was the first, with its original A3 of 1996, and of the three premium German brands it’s also Audi that offers the smallest hatchback of all (Smart and MINI sub-brands aside). Despite the A1 being the smallest and cheapest car in Audi’s line-up, it theoretically offers the same build quality and tech as its bigger and more…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Third WRC event in Croatia ● All stages on asphalt roads “Eight-time champion Ogier is semi-retired, but he and Toyota have added Croatia to his schedule” THE 2023 World Rally Championship is moving to Croatia for round four of the season. The event’s 20 stages take place on asphalt roads – often broken and worn – heading first to the countryside south west of the capital Zagreb on day one. The Stojdraga-Gornja Vas route, known as “the stage of a thousand bends”, provides a twisting, technical challenge for the drivers. Day two sees the event wind down towards the beautiful Adriatic coast, before the event’s fastest and most open stages taking place back towards Zagreb on the final leg. The country staged its first WRC event in…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Audi will not abandon small cars, as arch-rival Mercedes plans to ● New EV platform will underpin entry-level car due around 2026 AUDI will shun current premium-brand trends by remaining committed to more compact models like the A3, the firm’s boss has confirmed – and that is likely to lead to a showstopping baby EV due around 2026. The German brand is axing its smallest models, with no successors expected for the current A1 supermini and Q2 crossover. But while Audi’s rival Mercedes is widely expected to drop the Golf-sized A-Class and B-Class from its line-up by the middle of the decade, Audi is pushing ahead with plans to introduce precisely that size of vehicle on its forthcoming all-electric platform. At the Audi annual media conference last…

Car registration/history HPI: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with dealers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Consumer Ombudsman: consumer-ombudsman.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 check-mot.service.gov.uk…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks “On the road, the Alltrack provides a comfortable ride, thanks to its extra suspension travel” IF there’s a brand that’s really latched onto the SUV boom, it’s Volkswagen. With the T-Cross, Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan and Touareg, its SUV range is extensive, but VW still thinks there’s also room for a jacked-up estate, in the shape of the Golf Alltrack. We’re very familiar with the Mk8 Golf, but this Alltrack version of the estate is a unique offering within its range. It’s powered by the same 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine found in the GTD diesel hot hatch. With that car now only available as a hatchback, no other Golf pairs an estate body with this powertrain. On paper the Alltrack looks impressive. Although it has a bigger, heavier…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn THE pick-up truck market will probably be the last new-vehicle sector to go fully electric, but the Maxus T90 EV is already here to move the class in that direction. While other classes have embraced the EV switch with dedicated electric-car platforms, Maxus has gone down the route of installing its running gear in the chassis of an existing combustion-engined model. In this instance, that’s the Chinese-market T90 pick-up. That means you’re getting a traditional looking pick-up – even the Ford F-150 Lightning looks more futuristic – with a large, imposing grille up front and a traditional three-box, five-seat double-cab configuration. The engine bay features electrical systems in place of a diesel engine, but the only place where the T90 EV’s 88.6kWh battery can fit is beneath the…

158bhp Powertrain 1.5 litre 4cyl 50 litres Fuel tank £73 fill up 8.6 secs Performance 130mph 395 litres Seats up/down 1,291 litres MODEL TESTED: Ceed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line S PRICE: £31,170 POWERTRAIN: 1.5-litre 4cyl petrol mild-hybrid, 158bhp THE Ceed you see in these pictures is the GT-Line model, which is priced from £25,610. If you want an automatic, however, you need to go for the top-spec GT-Line S; you get a very comprehensive kit list, while the price climbs to £31,170, which still undercuts the Civic. Tech highlights A MIDLIFE facelift was introduced to the Ceed range a little over 12 months ago, and along with a new nose and some funky LED tail-lights, it also introduced improved in-car technology and subtle interior trim changes to the Korean model. Mechanically,…

AS we mentioned in the Civic’s introduction, Honda has temporarily suspended sales while it catches up with demand. As a result, we’ve based the Civic’s PCP figures on the most recent prices available to us, so these numbers could change once orders resume. Using this data, we’re not surprised that Honda is struggling to get enough cars for buyers. On a 36-month deal with a £3,000 deposit and 10,000-mile annual limit, the Honda costs £433 per month. The Ceed is next (£467 per month) then the Toyota (£491pm). Over three years, that means the Honda will cost £2,088 less than the Corolla in finance payments alone. The Corolla’s fuel efficiency helps it recoup roughly £8 per month to the Honda, but the Civic’s service plan (£599 for five years’ maintenance)…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn Running costs 35.4mpg (on test) £130 fill-up Practicality Cargo space/payload 5.8 cubic metres/1,165kg Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.9 seconds/126mph “With 201bhp on tap, the Sportline is a pretty sprightly performer when it’s unladen” IT’S all well and good for a hot hatchback to deliver a thrilling drive, but for me, it’s got to look the part as well. It’s something that I’ve felt has been lacking from Volkswagen’s most recent hot Golfs, and the arrival of a VW Transporter Sportline on our fleet has done nothing to help alter this point of view. Here’s a van that, to my eyes, looks sportier than a hot hatch. We recently had a Golf R 20 Years in to pitch against the latest Honda Civic Type R (Issue 1,770), so I saw…

‘Most realistic’ cockpit unveiled PLAYSEAT has announced its latest racing cockpit. The Trophy-Logitech G Edition has been designed for Logitech G wheels and pedals, and Playseat calls the platform “the most realistic racing experience”. The frame is made of lightweight carbon steel, with a powder-coated finish and anodised aluminium parts, while the seat uses Playseat’s Actifit material and PU leather for comfort and support. The open-cockpit design is fully adjustable, while at just 17kg, it can easily be moved for storage. The Trophy-Logitech G Edition is available from Amazon for £529. Skoda helps avoid a hole lot of trouble SKODA’S latest research has revealed that 27 per cent of UK car owners have experienced damage to their vehicles caused by potholes, with the average cost of repairs exceeding £200. The…

MORE drivers than ever are realising the advantages of having a dash cam. Besides giving unarguable proof in the event of an accident and helping to avoid insurance wrangles, the footage can be used to dispute motoring fines, and make claims for pothole damage. It has even been used to help solve serious crime. The growing popularity of the technology also means that the cameras are getting cheaper while the quality of the footage is getting better. If you’re new to dash cams or even upgrading, the features and jargon can be confusing, with devices that cost less than £50 seeming to do a similar job to those at £500. Do you need 4K? What’s the point of WiFi? Is a polarising filter vital? To help you see clearly, we…

Team Dynamics forced to end BTCC campaign THE Team Dynamics British Touring Car Championship squad will step back from the series due to difficulty in securing “the commercial partnerships required”. Owner Matt Neal said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make as a business.” The squad, which has won a total of seven BTCC teams’ titles plus a further two in the independents’ class, will continue to support the ONE Motorsport outfit, which also runs Honda Civics.…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk @jordankatsianis ● Electric MINI sits on new platform developed with Great Wall ● EV will be made in China, but UK-built petrol versions continue MINI is preparing to launch its all-new, all-electric MINI Cooper – but the company has been caught out during a filming session in the United States, allowing the world an early look at the model in full-production trim. The completely undisguised vehicle shows how the popular hatchback will get a striking new look for its next generation, codenamed F66. This new model will represent a big step forward from the existing MINI Hatchback, sitting on a new and bespoke EV platform developed in conjunction with BMW’s Chinese partner Great Wall, and featuring an equally fresh design that channels its iconic design cues into a new…

A MORE rugged version of the Subaru Crosstrek SUV – known as the XV in the UK – was unveiled in New York. The Crosstrek Wilderness (below) follows Outback and Forester versions with the same name, and gets Subaru’s symmetrical four-wheel drive, 236mm of ground clearance, a dual-function X-mode off-road setting with hill-descent control, and a beefed-up bodykit, which includes reinforced roof rails so you can fit a roof tent. There’s no word on whether UK XVs will get a similar treatment.…

Volvo’s electric-SUV duo go the distance REVISED range figures for the new rear-wheel-drive Volvo C40 and XC40 EVs have been revealed. The Swedish brand says the entry-level XC40 Recharge single-motor can manage 290 miles – up 26 miles on the old model’s figure. Power also increases, from 228bhp to 235bhp. The C40 Recharge (above) also gets a boost in range, from 272 to 292 miles, while dual-motor editions now offer 334 miles (XC40) and 342 miles (C40). T-Roc marks the end of ICE Volkswagens THE last new combustion-engined model from Volkswagen will be the next-generation T-Roc, which lands in 2025, the firm’s boss has revealed. Thomas Schäfer told German media that the small SUV will be the brand’s last ICE launch – a move that makes it unlikely that the…

Matt_Robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 AUTO Express’ first drive of the Mk1 Nissan Qashqai back in January 2007 was – on the whole – very positive. The car was said to have achieved its aim of slotting between the hatchback and SUV classes, while offering “the best of both worlds”. But in hindsight, its arrival seems to lack fanfare. The Qashqai wasn’t even the main cover car that week, and it was a similar story in other publications at the time. Of course, we didn’t know then how big a success the Qashqai might be, or the influence it’d have on the car industry. And neither did Nissan. Replacing the Almera hatchback with something very different was deemed a gamble, especially with the firm’s 1999 near-bankruptcy fresh in the mind amidst the Qashqai’s…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk Running costs 19.6mpg (official) £132 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.6 seconds/99mph YOU might think that the modern car market is overloaded with identikit SUVs, but there’s nothing quite like the Ineos Grenadier. Whether you’ll see that as a positive or a negative rather depends on what you want your SUV to do. The way it looks and the intense ‘off-road utility vehicle’ focus make it pretty clear where the Grenadier is being targeted. Yes, we’re going to mention the D word early on. When Land Rover replaced its original Defender with the highly impressive but far plusher and pricier new Defender, Ineos identified a vacancy for something basic, tough and uncompromising – like the original, but with a splash of the newcomer’s extra refinement. That is the Grenadier. The…

Dean_Gibson@autovia.co.uk @DeanGbsn IF you’re in need of a multi-seat MPV but want it to be electric, then the new Maxus Mifa 9 could be the answer. Electric MPVs are a relatively rare breed, but this new entry to the market is, in many ways, reminiscent of Japanese luxury MPVs such as the Nissan Elgrand and Toyota Alphard, which you sometimes see in the UK as grey imports. It measures a limo-esque 5.3 metres long and is two metres wide, but the boxy shape makes for a vast seven-seat interior. There are plenty of solid-feeling plastics, and the top-spec Premium model we’re testing here features plush leather seats. Virtually everything is electrically operated, including the sliding doors and tailgate. Up front, there’s a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, which is used for all…

138 bhp Powertrain 1.8 litre 4cyl 43 litres Fuel tank £63 fill up 9.2 secs Performance 111mph 361 litres Seats up/down 1,354 litres MODEL TESTED: Corolla 1.8 Hybrid GR Sport  PRICE: £33,005 POWERTRAIN: 1.8-litre 4cyl hybrid petrol, 138bhp WE don’t get the fire-breathing GR Corolla in the UK, but for most buyers the GR Sport trim tested here will make more sense as an everyday drive. It features a sporty bodykit, but is otherwise mechanically identical to the rest of the range. With a 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain, it’s priced at £33,005. Tech highlights WHILE there’s not much new to see from the outside, Toyota has made some fairly significant technical changes under the skin of the Corolla. The Japanese brand has always been at the forefront of hybrid technology, and…

WINNER Honda Civic 1st THE Honda Civic fends off two of its toughest family-car rivals, once again showing its class across the board. In terms of its powertrain and chassis, it’s the most sophisticated car here, while passenger and boot space are both above average for the segment. Throw in a decent infotainment system, impressive economy and strong value, and it’s a very tough car to fault. Once sales recommence, this is where our money would go. ● Smooth hybrid system ● Great chassis ● Firm low-speed ride ● Rear headroom could be better RUNNER-UP Toyota Corolla 2nd UPDATES to the Corolla have turned an already-strong all-rounder into one that’s even closer to toppling the best. An improved hybrid system makes the drive even more relaxing, while injecting an extra dose of…

Steve_Walker@autovia.co.uk WE’RE loving living with the Megane E-Tech, but our time with the car has underlined where electric car uptake in the UK is being held back You gain a lot with an electric car, including occasional downtime while it charges. During those quiet moments of contemplation in pub car parks and service station forecourts, your thoughts naturally turn to life’s bigger questions – like how much your EV is costing you to run. So much about running an electric car is great, but our first 1,000 miles in the Megane E-Tech have made us wonder how much better things could be if the big issues of cost and charging were better addressed by those who run the country. In 2022, 16.6 per cent of new cars registered in the…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk FAQ What’s the best way to wash a car? WASHING your car is the starting point for getting rid of the winter grime that has built up over the past few months of driving on filthy, sodden roads. I can already hear the derisory cries of ‘How hard can it be?’, and the reality is that it’s not that difficult. But get it wrong and you can cause yourself a lot of problems down the line. Apart from making sure that the Fairy Liquid stays in the kitchen (it’s designed for plates, not for paint), the biggest pitfall to avoid is marring the clearcoat by leaving barely visible scratches and swirls that will dull the shine. The damage is caused by dragging grit and hard particles…

IT’S a good idea to have a torch ready to go in the glovebox or garage and rechargeable ones are the best option. As well as offering the convenience of being able to charge in-car, rechargeable batteries are much greener than standard alkaline versions. The massive Defender Lumos XL and the pocket-sized Nightsearcher Explorer Twister are newcomers to the sector and we put them against our previous test winner from Coast to see how the pair match up. We used each torch outside and indoors, as well as logging features such as weight, length, zoom, light options and accessories. The Coast remains the top dog, with good performance and huge reserves of power. The Explorer is a neat little pocket torch and its twisting head is really handy for night-time…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk BMW’S big seller is generally liked by owners, with no lowly rankings or big issues flagged in last year’s Driver Power new-car survey. Its worst ratings are 50th for braking responsiveness and 65th for servicing costs, a typical BMW bugbear. On the positive side, the 3 Series ranks 11th overall for fuel economy, and above average for the smoothness of the gearbox, visibility and the interior storage spaces. A 20th place for the infotainment suggests that BMW’s iDrive system is admired by drivers, who praise the user-friendliness of the controls, connectivity and built-in nav. However, a comparatively high 23.4 per cent of owners tell us they’ve had a problem with their 3 Series. WE SAID “The latest model retains its driver appeal, punchy performance and impressive frugality, but has added…

IF, a decade ago, those ‘in the know’ were asked to predict which country and company would clean up on the international awards front in the early 2020s, I suspect the experts would have opted for a German firm – Audi, perhaps? Or an up-and-coming US one such as Tesla? Another safe bet – maybe a less exciting, but more dependable Japanese brand? Back then, nobody in their right mind would have gone for an Asian country whose land area, population and access to natural resources were – and still are – smaller and lower than the UK’s. Even less likely was that an unglamorous, non-premium firm from that tiny Asian peninsula would headline on the global awards stage and in other international arenas. But that’s exactly what Hyundai, its…