Table of contents for 1732 in Auto Express

BENTLEY has added an ‘S’ specification to its Continental GT and GTC ranges, with several sportier styling touches inside and out, plus some chassis and drivetrain enhancements. Prices have not been revealed, but both models use the Continental’s turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, with 542bhp. Bentley’s Dynamic Ride active anti-roll system is fitted as standard, as is a new sports exhaust. New alloy wheel designs have also been introduced alongside black chrome detailing and dark tinting for the cars’ headlights and taillights. A large, gloss-black grille has also been fitted.…

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 Scenic FROM: Michael Palmer THE most interesting aspect of this concept is the hydrogen-electric range-extender powertrain. If packaged correctly and combined with appropriate infrastructure, it could be a really revolutionary solution. FROM: Joseph Lynn ANOTHER copy-and-paste SUV. What is the point? Renault already offers more than enough of these. The Scenic was something different when it was an MPV; it would be a more suitable addition to the range if it still was. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Looks okay until you have a closer peek at those wheels – they’re disgusting!” David Ball ■ “Not very imaginative design. Looks more like a Volkswagen Tiguan…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 232mpg (official) £66 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.7 seconds/145mph “Sticking with its maker’s focus on comfort, the DS 4’s ride is impressively smooth” IT’S fair to say that since spreading its wings as a standalone brand after the carve-out from Stellantis sibling Citroen, DS hasn’t set the world alight. But the DS 4 is set to change that completely. This new compact crossover is a key model in DS’s target to double its market share in 2022, something it’s already on track to achieve given its order bank; this is where the push comes to challenge premium rivals such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes. So, is it marketing spiel or does the DS 4 genuinely have what it takes? There is some of the former here, but…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 29.5mpg (official) £136 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.9 seconds/115mph WITH pick-ups like the Mitsubishi L200 disappearing from the British market, SsangYong is hoping that it can cash in with the revised Musso. Indeed, SsangYong UK says that demand for the Korean truck is currently outstripping supply. The most obvious change comes at the front, where there is a larger, bolder grille. More subtle exterior graphics are also present, while the cabin remains largely similar to before – and that’s no bad thing. It shares its dashboard design with the Musso’s SUV cousin, the Rexton, and by pick-up standards it feels almost plush. The design is functional, while the tidy rows of switchgear all feel nicely damped when you press them. The 9.2-inch infotainment system – which…

Running costs 44.8mpg (WLTP) £90 fill-up/£165 or 33% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 514/1,632 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.4 seconds/122mph MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Grandland 1.2 Turbo Ultimate PRICE: £32,480 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 128bhp THE Vauxhall formerly known as the Grandland X is now simply the Grandland. It’s easy to tell apart from the previous version because of its new front end. The model we’re testing here is the 1.2-litre petrol in top-spec Ultimate trim, which costs £32,480. Design & engineering AT first glance, the Vauxhall Grandland looks totally different from the previous Grandland X, because it now comes with the smooth, black Vizor grille design found on other models such as the Mokka and latest Astra. It helps the new model to stand out where the previous version looked rather…

Vauxhall Grandland Pureconnect Key features: DAB radio THE Vauxhall comes with a 10-inch touchscreen display and 12-inch digital instrument cluster. There are plenty of features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB ports. Wireless charging is included on this top-spec Ultimate model, too. The screen looks good, and the digital dials have loads of available information that’s easy to access. The on-screen menus aren’t the easiest to navigate, so we found that using one of the smartphone connections was easier. The screen itself isn’t as responsive as the Skoda’s, but it’s better than the Nissan’s in that respect. The Grandland has a reversing camera as standard, plus this version comes with a 360-degree camera as well. We found that the cameras are rather low-resolution, though, and…

SAVE 43% ON THE SHOP PRICE After your initial 6 issue trial, your subscription will continue at £26.99 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. There are more options than ever to subscribe to Auto Express with both print and digital versions available, or perhaps you’d like a combination of both, the choice is yours OK I’M IN! HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE? 1 ORDER ONLINE AT autoexpress.co.uk/subscribe (or call 0330 333 9491 if you prefer the human touch). 2 ENTER THE OFFER CODE DJUN22 and select the offer you’d like to take.…

NEW PRODUCT Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Price: £108.96 (225/40R18) Contact: goodyear.eu GOODYEAR has revealed more details about its new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 as it extends the line-up with 21-inch options. The company has been adding sizes to the new range since the beginning of the year, and has just hit its initial 28-option target. The roll-out continues throughout the year and by 2023 the line-up will be available in 65 sizes covering 17-22-inch rims. The new tyre is an ultra high performance (UHP) model that builds on the Asymmetric 5. It boasts improved dry performance with an adaptive contact patch, which grows during extreme manoeuvres to give extra grip. Wet-weather grip has also been improved thanks to a new resin system in the cap compound to increase micro-contact with…

The MG T-Series John Nikas (Amberley Publishing, amberley-books.com) Price: £15.99 Rating: THERE’S no mistaking the upright grille and flowing wings of an MG T-Series, and they’re briefly covered in this small book. Don’t expect vast detail, but as with most titles from this publisher, it’s a good starting point for further research or perfect for younger readers building a motoring library – nicely printed and filled with good pictures. The Morgan 3 Wheeler Peter Dron (Veloce Publishing, veloce.co.uk) Price: £27.50 Rating: THIS 2015 book is updated for 2022 with details of the new Super 3 – although it feels a bit premature, and we’d rather know more once the author’s driven one. Still, if you’re interested in earlier 3 Wheelers, this is detailed, accurate and written in a personable tone that’ll…

Got any car queries? Tristan_Shale-Hester@autovia.co.uk Q Is free gearbox offer fair on a car just out of warranty? MY car is just out of warranty and its automatic gearbox failed. As a ‘goodwill gesture’, the dealer agreed to provide a new one, but I have to pay £1,300 for installation. Does this arrangement seem fair to you? Jake Holmes, E-mail A ALTHOUGH the bill you’ve been left with is still a fairly hefty one, it’s nowhere near as bad as it could have been. The dealer was not obliged to pay anything on a car that is out of warranty, so you’re lucky that a free replacement gearbox was offered. If you can afford the £1,300 installation cost, it would be advisable to pay this and take the free transmission.…

IN many ways, the Corolla Touring Sports is more of what we’ve come to expect from Toyota. Its design is a bit more eye-catching than its rival’s, it has a hybrid powertrain, and build quality is superb. Add this to its modern TNGA platform and generous equipment, and the pricier Golf has a fight on its hands to compete. On the road, the Corolla feels sorted in a way that the Golf can’t quite match. The Toyota is more fun to drive, yet it also smothers bumps more convincingly. Its powertrain is fairly relaxing too, and although the electrified 1.8-litre petrol engine lacks the Golf’s punch, it is smooth and torquey. Plus the CVT gearbox is smoother than the VW’s DSG in town. The Corolla’s interior is more intuitive, too.…

Hungary beckons for WTCR title contenders THE third round of the WTCR World Touring Car Cup takes place at the Hungaroring, just outside of Budapest. In effect, this will be round two of the season, following the cancellation of the German rounds. A series of tyre failures during practice and qualifying at the Nürburgring saw organisers and stewards conclude that the “safety of the tyres cannot be guaranteed”. Honda’s Nestor Girolami leads the standings after taking pole and race one victory at the first round in Pau (right), plus seventh in race two.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk ● First taste of supercharged V6-powered mid-engined sports car ● Marks a step up in quality and performance from British firm THERE’S a lot riding on the Lotus Emira. For starters, it’s the first all-new Lotus in more than a decade. Second, it represents the beginning of a brand-new era for the company, one that features more investment where it counts, which should (if everything goes according to plan) see the return of Lotus to the world’s sports car stage. And its ambition is to come back as a serious player, not just an intriguing but ultimately quaint alternative to the mainstream. Fortunately, the Emira looks well and truly up to the job. In V6 First Edition guise, the Emira costs £75,995 and boasts 400bhp and 420Nm from a…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● Revised small EV concept ● Production car due in 2025PT AFTER revealing its wild UrbanRebel city car concept at last year’s Munich Motor Show, Cupra has refined the recipe further to provide us with a closer glimpse of what the compact all-electric model will look like when it goes into production in 2025. This second UrbanRebel concept looks much more refined and production-relevant as a result, without losing its sporty intent. The car’s surfacing is still extreme, with two distinct bonnet creases and more sharp lines in profile that give the UrbanRebel a heavily raked, athletic look. At the rear, there’s a smooth-surfaced design, a full-width light bar and large ‘Cupra’ lettering. Cupra sources tell us the UrbanRebel concept’s new look is around 95 per cent representative of…

Peugeot has all-new 408 in the pipeline PEUGEOT has teased an all-new model, which will take on the 408 badge. The brand says the new car “combines characteristic codes of SUVs with a dynamic Fastback silhouette”, but given that it uses an ‘08’ rather than an ‘008’-style name, it’s more likely to take the form of a lifted sports saloon, designed to sit between the 308 and the 508. It’s almost certain to use the Stellantis group’s EMP2 platform, and plug-in hybrid power will feature alongside combustion engines. It will be revealed in late June. Learners pay price for ‘grey market’ tests LEARNER drivers are paying hundreds of pounds for ‘grey market’ driving test slots that should cost £62. There’s a six-month wait for tests in cities such as London,…

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 Car registration/history HPI: 0113 222 2010 AA: 0800 316 3564 DVLA: 0300 790 6802 RAC: 0808 164 1923 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 Problems with makers The Motor Ombudsman: 0345 241 3008 Financial problems Financial Ombudsman: 0800 023 4567 Safety concerns/recalls www.check-mot.service.gov.uk…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE Genesis portfolio is expanding rapidly and the Korean luxury firm now has more models on sale than some well established car makers. We were impressed with its early efforts, despite the fact that up until the launch of the electric GV60 (Issue 1,728) you could only buy a Genesis with either a petrol or a diesel engine. Its cars’ premium features and excellent refinement made for a new brand that was impossible to dismiss. But the product onslaught keeps coming, because Genesis is looking to beat its German rivals at their own game with the launch of this: the Electrified G80. The name is a little odd, but the company hopes it will help differentiate its bespoke, new-from-the-ground-up EVs from models offered with conventional powertrains. Unlike the…

Running costs 42.8mpg (WLTP) £85 fill-up/£165 or 35% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 588/1,810 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.8 seconds/131mph MODEL TESTED: Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 SE L PRICE: £29,445 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE update to the Skoda Karoq is a more subtle evolution than the Grandland’s, but there are still a handful of changes. We’re testing the SE L model with the 1.5 TSI petrol engine. It’s cheaper than its rivals at £29,445, but you’ll need to add some options to get the same level of kit as the others here, which cancels out some of its price advantage. Design & engineering JUST as the Grandland is based on the widely-used EMP2 platform from owner Stellantis, the Karoq sits on the Volkswagen Group’s commonly used MQB architecture.…

SKODA 1st THE Skoda Karoq hasn’t changed much with this update, but then it didn’t really need to. It’s one of the most spacious and practical cars in the class, plus it’s decent to drive and comfortable. This 1.5-litre petrol model is one of the best versions in the range; it’s quiet, punchy and efficient. The Karoq offers everything you need in a family car and, even though some extras add to the price, it remains great value for money. VAUXHALL 2nd THE Grandland takes second place here because it can’t quite match the Skoda for practicality, efficiency and – most of all – comfort. A roomy interior and loads of standard kit mean it grabs second place ahead of the Qashqai, though. The engine is punchy, and even the…

Chris_Rosamond@autovia.co.uk Running costs 58.4mpg (on test) £68 fill-up/£155 or 29% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 320/1,274 litres Performance 0-61mph/top speed 10.7 seconds/106mph PEARLESCENT paintwork isn’t something I’d expect to consider when choosing a car spec, but the funky white finish on our new Honda HR-V hybrid shows off this practical and sporty SUV’s lines to great effect. Flip-flopping between a pleasingly blingy sparkle in the sunshine to cool grey-ish tones in the shade, the paint job helps give it a premium look, I feel. The HR-V is already styled to project a strong sense of dynamism, via crisply cut lines that feature a full-length shoulder crease from nose to tail-lights, as well as a rakish ‘coupé’ rear profile. It’s especially dramatic in our top-spec Advance Style trim, with its contrasting…

NEW PRODUCT Techron e-scooters Price: from £349 Contact: techtron.co THE future of e-scooters in the UK may still be uncertain, but that hasn’t stopped another range joining the growing market. Electric transport specialist Techtron has brought three models to the UK. The line-up kicks off with the £349 Pro 3500, which has a 350W front-wheel motor, a maximum speed of 15.5mph and a range of 15.5 miles from its 37V 7.5Ah battery. Charge time is five to six hours and it can cope with riders of up to 120kg. There are two speeds and cruise control, which can be set via a smartphone app, plus front and rear brakes, with anti-lock on the former. Next up is the £399 Elite 3500, with handlebar braking, rear suspension and 10-inch tyres rather than…

Highline model kit marks Scania’s 50th IF your model car collection is feeling a bit empty, maybe it’s time to expand into trucks with Italeri’s latest 1:24 kit. The Scania S730 Highline 4x2 is presented with brand-new moulds, metal photo-etched chrome parts and decals. The model has an opening radiator grille and doors as well as a tilting cab for greater authenticity. It comes in a pack to mark Scania’s 50th anniversary and is available from jadlamracingmodels.com for £69.99, with paints and glue sold separately. Try Caddy California before you buy one VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles is so confident that customers will love its latest small camper van, the Caddy California, that it’s offering the chance to try one out for seven days. For £499, customers can enjoy a week in the Caddy…

CO2 /tax 154g/km £165 Running costs 35mpg (1.5 manual) £68 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 13 seconds (est)/90mph SUZUKI is probably best known for the Swift, Vitara and numerous motorcycles, but one model that has gained a cult following is the Jimny 4x4. It first arrived in 1970, but the third-generation model of 1998 really put the name on the map. Incredibly, that car was in production for 20 years, and when its successor was revealed in 2018, it got buyers excited with its rugged styling and much-needed improvements in every department. However, just 2,321 passenger-carrying Jimny Mk3s were sold before the model was axed in the UK because of CO2 emissions regulations. Now they’re highly sought after and have proved to be a canny investment for those who bought early. History…

WITH the Mk8 Golf, Volkswagen sought to refine its hatchback rather than reinvent it, and the Estate is the most practical version. With a sizeable 611-litre boot (which increases to 1,642 litres with the rear seats down) it’s roomier than the Toyota, yet the Golf falls slightly short in a few key areas. For starters, it’s not quite as good to drive as its Japanese rival. The Golf feels more remote than the Corolla, and isn’t as settled over bumpy roads, even if it is a comfortable car on the whole. The Golf’s diesel engine is the more potent powerplant, however, with 360Nm of torque. It’s just a shame that the DSG gearbox can feel laggy and jerky around town. The Golf Estate’s cabin is also a mixed bag. The…

BRITAIN’S motor industry establishment can be forgiven for feeling a bit down in the dumps lately. Between 2019 and 2021, UK car production plummeted by a painful 34 per cent. And over the same tumultuous two-year period, sales at UK showrooms slumped by almost as much. Now the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is making a lot of noise about what it considers to be another downer – Britain’s “first consecutive annual decrease in car ownership” since the First World War. All this sounds bad, but how bad, exactly? Er, not bad at all, I’d argue. Here’s why: In 2019, a tad over 35 million cars were owned by individuals, companies and other organisations in the UK. And by 2021 the number remained at, er, 35m-plus. So what’s…

James_Brodie@autovia.co.uk @jimmybrods ● Mild-hybrid and plug-in tech paired with petrol and diesel engines ● Big-selling SUV’s cabin gets a hi-tech C-Class-inspired makeover MERCEDES remains focused on making the most of electrically assisted combustion power for its second-generation GLC. The model has been the company’s best-selling car globally for the past two years, and the fresh line-up comprises mild-hybrids and three plug-in hybrids. Every version of the new SUV has a nine-speed automatic transmission linked to a 4MATIC four-wheel-drive system, and all use turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The 48-volt petrol line-up starts with the GLC 200 4MATIC, developing 201bhp and 320Nm of torque. The GLC 300 4MATIC is a more potent option, with 254bhp and 400Nm. Both have claimed CO2 emissions from 167g/km and fuel economy of 32.2mpg. The diesel line-up…

Alastair_crooks@autovia.co.uk ● Improved performance for Toyota’s family hatchback ● New infotainment and revised looks also part of upgrade “Despite an increase in performance, CO2 emissions remain unchanged for both powertrains” IN 2018 Toyota launched the 12th-generation Corolla, which returned the famous nameplate to the UK, replacing the Auris. It arrived with an all-hybrid line-up, and now Toyota has tweaked the range further to offer more power. The full-hybrid powertrain is available in either 1.8 or 2.0-litre guise. The former now produces 138bhp, while the latter has been tuned to deliver 193bhp, up from 120bhp and 181bhp respectively. Both still use a CVT automatic gearbox and drive the front wheels. The 1.8-litre model’s 0-62mph time now stands at 9.2 seconds, while the 2.0-litre version completes the sprint in 7.5 seconds. Despite the…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE time it takes to charge an electric car – and indeed, how far you can travel on a top-up – has been steadily improving over the past decade. Rewind to 2011 and a 30-minute ‘rapid’ charge in a Mk1 Nissan Leaf gave you, on paper, nearly 90 miles of range. In reality, the distance it could cover was a whole lot less. Nowadays, the latest EVs can replenish their cells to 80 per cent (circa 240 miles) in just 18 minutes. But what if that’s just not quick enough? What if you want to recharge your vehicle’s battery in the same time it takes to fill a car with petrol or diesel? Chinese brand NIO reckons it might have the answer: battery swapping. It isn’t actually a…

Matt_robinson@autovia.co.uk @matt_201 Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.6 seconds/155mph AS soon as Toyota announced its intention to give the GR Supra a manual gearbox, most car fans probably thought they knew the recipe. The Supra’s BMW-sourced 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine has been hooked up to a manual option in lots of cars before, including the previous-generation BMW M240i and 340i. So, surely a manual Supra involves taking the gearbox used in those cars and dropping it in? Not quite, it turns out. Toyota has partly developed a new gearbox, believing it to be the best way to get the right shift quality. The development team “went shopping” at German transmission specialist ZF, building a gearbox related to BMW’s, but with many bespoke components. The work didn’t stop there. To make space for the…

Running costs 44.1mpg (WLTP) £94 fill-up/£155 or 34% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 475/1,422 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/122mph MODEL TESTED: Nissan Qashqai DiG-T 140 Tekna PRICE: £32,815 ENGINE: 1.3-litre 4cyl, 138bhp THE Nissan Qashqai in these pictures is a mild-hybrid model, but we’re testing a 1.3-litre petrol manual version, because it’s closer to the spec of the other two cars here. In popular and high-spec Tekna trim it costs £32,815. Design & engineering ALTHOUGH the Qashqai is the oldest car here in terms of release date, it’s fundamentally newer than the other two cars. That’s because this third-generation model isn’t just a facelift – it’s an all-new design that replaced the previous version. The new Qashqai uses an updated version of Nissan’s CMF platform, and it’s lighter and…

Ford Kuga 1.5 150 Titanium Edition PRICE: £30,655 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Kuga is a compelling rival for this trio. On paper, it has the same power as the Skoda, it’s better to drive than any of these rivals, yet it’s also comfy, practical and well equipped. It’s not quite as roomy as the Skoda, but it’s a great alternative choice. Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi N Line PRICE: £31,540 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 148bhp THE Tucson is our favourite in this segment with good reason. There’s a feeling of refinement that gives the impression of a premium SUV, while higher trim levels are packed with tech. It’s spacious, and there’s a plug-in hybrid version available, too.…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk OUR Citroen e-Berlingo has really come up trumps in recent weeks. The all-electric people carrier has found its niche, excelling as a frugal, silent family transporter around South London. My eldest son George recently moved into a new flat with his own young family. The Citroen EV was the perfect vehicle to help move all his stuff. Well, it is a van! With the seats folded flat, the e-Berlingo provides a mammoth 2,107 litres of boot space. To visualise this, I’m talking about two three-door chests of drawers face to face, with a 50-inch TV (wrapped in a duvet) between them. Then a dismantled baby cot tucked in across the front through the sliding side-opening doors. There was still plenty of room for more bits and bobs, but with…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Best bike for commuting? THE cost of my daily commute has gone up substantially thanks to the recent fuel price rises. It’s too long to ride all the way, but I’m thinking of using a bike for part of the route. Can you recommend one that would suit? Paul Michaels, E-mail A A FOLDING bike is best for parking and riding, and our 2021 test winner was the Bickerton Argent 1909 Country (above). At around £700, it may be some time before you recoup the initial outlay, but you can always factor in the benefits of the extra exercise you’ll get. Our pick of the electric folders is the MiRiDER ONE, which may make a longer ride, and greater savings, possible. Q All-season tyres for…

If you are serious about your car cleaning or need to tackle tough dirt on a truck, trailer or driveway, then you’ll need to invest in a pressure washer that’s a little beefier than the average. A more powerful machine will give you the ability to blast away muck, but you’ll also need control, or you risk stripping decals, trim or even paint from your car. Nilfisk has launched a new flagship washer that packs a real punch, thanks to a 2,900W motor, which is twice as powerful as some entry-level washers. We’re testing it against Karcher’s K5, our favourite premium pressure washer in our last multi-test. The K5 makes do with 2,100W, but fights back with clever control functions – and a far lower price. The K5 has tech…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram ● Bumper 62-car grid lines up for endurance classic ● Big-name drivers appear throughout the field FOLLOWING on from the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, this weekend plays host to the third event in motorsport’s Triple Crown, when the World Endurance Championship heads to France for the Le Mans 24 Hours. This year marks the 90th running of the event, considered to be the pinnacle of endurance racing, and it will see 62 cars and 186 drivers across four classes compete for a place in history. While the odds in recent years have been heavily in favour of the manufacturer prototypes from Toyota, this year’s Hypercar rules have levelled the playing field, giving an opportunity for many other teams to take the fight to the mighty…