Auto Express 1647

WITH more and more people shopping online for cars, you might question the wisdom of spending £14.5million on a new dealership. But that’s exactly what PSA has done with its new ‘super-site’ in West London selling Citroen, Peugeot and DS models. The site in Chiswick gets plenty of passers-by; it’s where London’s North and South Circular Roads meet and the A4 passes by overhead. No wonder Audi, Kia, Mercedes and VW have their own super-sites nearby. But this dealership is much more than a marketing exercise; it has to work for a living and is tasked with selling more than 11,000 cars every year. So how do bricks and mortar sit in our new digital world? I went along to take a look shortly after the site opened and, even…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Visit autoexpress.co.uk for your daily news updates • Freshened-up looks for Jag’s executive saloon line-up • Mild-hybrid tech boosts diesel’s performance and efficiency JAGUAR is poised to fight back against the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Volvo with significant revisions to its two core saloon models, the XE and XF, along with the XF Sportbrake estate. Under the skin, all of the models will get Jaguar Land Rover’s latest diesel powertrain, incorporating mild-hybrid technology and offering greater power with noticeably improved fuel efficiency. In the cabin, Jaguar’s ageing Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is being replaced across the model lines by the Pivi Pro set-up that made its global debut on the Land Rover Defender. The 5 Series-rivalling XF gets some subtle revisions to its exterior styling, with…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn • Early drive of new hot hatch • Has Ford Fiesta ST in its sights FIRST DRIVE YOU used to be pretty spoilt for choice when it came to small hot hatchbacks, with cars such as the Ford Fiesta ST, Renault Clio R.S., Peugeot 208 GTi and SEAT Ibiza Cupra available, to name a few. Now only one of them remains on sale. As car makers look to slash costs and average fleet emissions, the business case for small, affordable performance cars is harder to justify. So how is Hyundai able to roll in with an all-new proposition, the i20 N? Unlike a lot of its competitors, Hyundai already has a fleet of electric vehicles on sale, and they go some way to offset the higher CO2 output…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths • 16,026 recovered in 2019/20 • Rise faster than traffic levels THE number of vehicles recovered at the instruction of Highways England under ‘statutory removal’ powers has increased by a third over the last five years, with drivers paying £25m for recoveries, and road experts linking the rise of smart motorways to the year-on-year increases. Statutory removal sees car drivers charged £150 to £300 for recovery from motorways and A-roads. Drivers have paid £25,257,000 for the practice over five years. The 2008 Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations grant traffic officers the power to order the recovery of a vehicle if it is judged to “cause obstruction” or is “likely to cause a danger” to other road users. The precise circumstances under which such criteria are met vary,…

All-new Citroen C4 on sale, starting at £21k CITROEN’S third-generation C4 (above) is available to order in the UK now priced from £20,990. The line-up tops out with the pure-electric e-C4 at £29,180 (after the £3,000 plug-in vehicle grant). The all-new crossover’s line-up is separated into four trims. Standard equipment on every model includes LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, rear parking sensors and lane-keeping assist. Inside, buyers get a 10-inch infotainment system and dual-zone climate control. Next-gen JLR cars will use recycled plastics JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that the interiors of its next-generation models will be made using recycled wasteland and ocean plastics. Upcoming models will feature floor mats and interior trim made with Econyl – a patented yarn made from recycled industrial materials, fabric offcuts and dumped fishing…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram OFFICIAL AUDI has added a plug-in hybrid version of the latest A3 to its lineup. Badged 40 TFSI e, it’s on sale now, with prices starting from £33,060. The new PHEV shares its powertrain with the plug-in hybrid GTE version of the latest Golf from sister company Volkswagen; the 1.4-litre petrol engine works alongside an electric motor to produce a total output of 201bhp. The petrol and electric units produce maximum torque figures of 250Nm and 330Nm respectively. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Audi says the A3 40 TFSI e can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and cover up to 41 miles on electric power. Its CO2 emissions are rated at 31g/km, while it achieves 282.5mpg on the WLTP…