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THERE are many things the British car industry does that are the envy of the rest of the world and much copied. We do luxury better than anyone else. We combine that luxury with performance better than anyone else. And we sell cars better than anyone else. Among the many incredible automotive innovations we’ve seen over the years, the humble PCP deal ranks alongside them in my view. That might seem like a strange thing to say, but for the industry it’s kept sales going when they might otherwise stagnate, guaranteeing customers have to go back to the showroom at the end of the term, even if it’s just to hand the car back. For buyers, it’s made owning a new car more affordable than ever. Yes, it’s not only…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk BMW bosses have exclusively revealed to Auto Express that an entry-level, electric hatchback based on the 1 Series is in the product plan. And it could be here as early as 2021. The German firm has outlined an electrification strategy under which 12 fully electric cars and 13 plug-in hybrids will arrive in showrooms in the next four years. BMW is targeting the more premium and more profitable segments initially; the first to arrive will be the iX3 SUV, followed by the i4 saloon and then BMW’s technological flagship, the iNEXT SUV. However, the head of BMW’s i Division, Robert Irlinger, has now suggested that BMW’s flexible vehicle architectures will allow the firm to explore the option to develop more affordable and smaller electric vehicles. “Even in the front-drive…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk • 395bhp for performance SUV • 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds “The 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo develops 395bhp – a significant hike over the outgoing model” AUDI Sport has launched a new version of its baby performance crossover, the RS Q3. And since the German brand has added a more rakish Sportback body to the Q3 line-up, this will get an RS variant, too. Audi Sport took the standard Q3 as a base, and the visual upgrades it applied are arguably at their most arresting at the front; a reshaped, aggressive bumper houses enlarged air vents either side of a new grille that’s not only more inset, but also features a gloss black finish and a honeycomb design. Also new is a bonnet vent that sits above the grille, in a…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler ● SPECIALREPORT ● Hard to get emissions lower ● EV power may be a lifeline POPULAR small, affordable city cars such as the Peugeot 108 and SEAT Mii could disappear from showrooms in coming years, according to many of the bosses of Europe’s biggest car makers. Speaking to Auto Express at last month’s Frankfurt motor show, bosses explained how CO2 regulations will mean a whole generation of popular small cars could die – pushing the entry price of a new car up in the process and making it more difficult for many new drivers to get a foothold into car ownership. With the EU demanding that every car maker hits a target of 95g/km of CO2 as an average for all the cars it sells from 2020, or…

THIS is the new Toyota Corolla TREK – an off-road-inspired estate that will compete with the Ford Focus Active. The car has come about through Toyota’s relationship with TREK bicycles, and revisions over the standard Corolla Touring Sports include a unique set of 17-inch alloy wheels, rugged black plastic exterior cladding, a honeycomb radiator grille, rear privacy glass, new front foglamps and LED headlights. The suspension has also been raised by 20mm, while protective skid plates are fitted front and rear. Despite the go-anywhere looks, all models are frontwheel drive; no 4x4 version will be offered. Inside, the Corolla TREK has two-tone cloth upholstery, a dashboard with wooden inlays and TREK badges for its doorsteps and bootlid. Buyers also get a seven-inch digital instrument binnacle, an eight-inch infotainment system, adaptive…

WHILE rival car makers were warning that cheap cars were on the way out (left), low-price pioneer Dacia has confirmed that its affordable cars are here to stay. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Philippe Buros, Senior Vice-President, Europe Region Chairman, Groupe Renault, said, “Dacia’s spirit is to offer simple, reliable and affordable vehicles. We intend to maintain this competitive advantage with vehicles that will always remain the best value on the market.” A new Sandero, which is currently the UK’s cheapest new car at just £6,995, is expected to make its debut at the Paris motor show next year and will update the safety, quality and technology in the car, but with no major price increase. However, Groupe Renault’s CEO Thierry Bolloré may well be ready to surprise a few…