Table of contents for 1748 in Auto Express

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy SMART and Brabus have enjoyed a relationship for two decades now, on everything from the baby ForTwo to the Roadster. So it was inevitable that the German ‘luxury performance’ brand would breathe over the new #1 SUV. Sure enough, a #1 Brabus will be available at the same time as the rest of the main range – from early spring 2023, in the UK’s case. There are plenty of visual cues from the outside that this is a ‘special’ #1; there’s a different design of 19-inch alloy wheels, bespoke paint colour combinations, red highlights on the exterior trim and a longer spoiler that extends beyond the end of the roofline. Inside, you get posher grained plastics and materials, plus Brabus logos on the headrests and in the infotainment…

CATERHAM is looking to the past for inspiration with its two newest variants. The Super Seven 600 and Super Seven 2000 hark back to the early ‘Super’ models of the seventies. The pair are more visually restrained than Caterham’s most hardcore models, with classic-looking clamshell wings, 14-inch wheels and a leather-trimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel. The Super Seven 600 is powered by an 84bhp 660cc three-cylinder turbo engine from Suzuki, and despite a relative lack of power, the car’s low kerbweight means a 0-60mph time of 6.9 seconds is possible. The Seven 200 uses a 180bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine sourced from Ford for a 0-60mph time of 4.8 seconds. Both cars are on sale now, priced from £29,990 and £39,990 respectively. They can also be supplied in kit form.…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk MERCEDES-AMG is employing Formula One tech for the road with its new C 63 S E-Performance super-saloon. The brand has turned to plug-in hybrid power inspired by the pinnacle of motorsport to deliver a huge 671bhp output from its new engine and electric-motor combination, pushing the C 63 S ahead of rival super-saloons including the non-hybrid BMW M3 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The car’s 2.0-litre unit features an electric exhaust gas turbocharger, just like in F1, to deliver a 469bhp hit, making it the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine. A relatively compact 6.1kWh battery – weighing just 89kg and mounted beneath the boot – feeds a 201bhp electric motor on the rear axle. Although the plug-in hybrid system has seen the C 63’s weight rise to 2,111kg…

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…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy YOU certainly can’t accuse BMW of being short on persistence. Its original entry-level X1 was an ugly child when it made its debut, as neither a proper SUV nor a style-focused crossover, back in 2009. Many of the sharper corners were knocked off by the second generation, in 2015. And now the third generation is being offered with such a variety of powertrains that BMW must be hoping there’s one for every taste. It’s a little bigger again too, this X1 – in length and wheelbase – but it sits on the same UKL2 platform as the old car (and the likes of the 1 Series and 2 Series Active Tourer). This time, though, BMW is making use of the architecture’s adaptability and slotting a pure-electric variant, the…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 64.2mpg (off icial) £88 fill-up VAUXHALL’S all-new eighth-generation Astra family hatch has already excelled, beating stiff rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus in petrol form. Looking ahead, there’s plenty of excitement to come, with performance-focused GSe models (Page 12) and an all-electric Astra-e set to arrive next year. But what if you want a mile-muncher? Diesel could still play a part, which is where this 1.5 Turbo D model comes in. With an eight-speed automatic gearbox and in GS Line trim, this Astra costs just over £30,000. But buy on finance and Vauxhall will throw in £750 up front, and it’ll double that if you pick a top-spec Ultimate model. There’s no real need to, because the GS Line gets plenty of kit. It’s…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk THE price of fun is rising, isn’t it? Well, not necessarily, and despite what you might think from the way the new-car market is progressing. Buying used can give you access to loads of new-to-you models: second-hand heroes that can deliver driving enjoyment and style, yet needn’t break the bank to buy or run – an important point given the direction fuel and energy prices are heading. So we’ve put together a list of 50 fast, fun cars starting from just £500 – real prices we’ve found in the classifieds, proving that there’s something for everyone out there. The usual caveats apply when buying a used car – do your research, view and drive the model in question if you can, and ask plenty of questions. But if everything…

MODEL TESTED: Nissan Juke Hybrid Tekna+ PRICE: £30,150 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl hybrid, 141bhp Running costs 45.1mpg (on test) £76 fill-up/£155 or 27% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 354/1,114 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.1 seconds/103mph WE’VE always felt that the current Juke is slightly lacking in the engine department, and the new Hybrid is meant to fix that. As with the Niro Hybrid, the Juke we have here is in top-spec trim, called Tekna+. The only optional extra on this test car is the metallic paint, which adds £170 to the £30,150 asking price. Design & engineering IT’S the older design of this pairing, but we still think that the Juke is the more distinctive-looking car here. The quirky shape and mix of sharp creases and soft curves won’t be to everyone’s…

Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid PRICE: £28,395 ENGINE: 1.6-litre hybrid, 143bhp RENAULT’S convincing one than the mechanically similar Juke. It’s more spacious than the Nissan inside, is more comfortable to drive, and offers better value for money, too. Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid Excel PRICE: £33,840 ENGINE: 1.8-litre hybrid, 120bhp THE C-HR offers a coupé-SUV look like the Juke, but isn’t as cramped inside, while it’s more expensive than the Kia. However, the C-HR is great to drive, it has the slickest hybrid system of the lot, and has the efficiency to match the Niro.…

“This year’s Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Competition was notable for the number of electric vehicles competing, and the EVs performed well against established petrol and diesel offerings. Meanwhile, SUVs lined up against estates and pick-ups, and even a traditional MPV was fielded. “Leisure-vehicle holidays are more popular than ever, so it’s important that the Club continues to provide qualified and unbiased information to help all those who plan to tow to find the right towcar for their needs. As the UK’s premier event of its type, this competition supplies caravan owners with important information on potential new towcars. During the exhaustive four-day test, the vehicles are taken on several hundred circuits of the Millbrook Proving Ground, consisting of many laps of the high-speed circular track and…

Long Range Dual Motor Kerbweight: 2,069kg Noseweight: 90kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,500kg Max towing capacity (braked): 1,500kg Price (as tested): £56,800* WHAT WE SAY THE Polestar was narrowly beaten by the Volvo XC40 Recharge in its caravan-weight class, because this category took into consideration specific objective test factors including caravanability, ease of stowing caravanning equipment, driver ergonomics, reversing and acceleration. It was a tough decision, though, and the judges awarded the Polestar first place in this specific EV category, based on the facts that it has a longer towing range and is more cost-effective than the Volvo. It’s not surprising the two models are relatively closely matched, of course, because Volvo owns the Polestar brand and both these rivals share the same engineering platform. As an EV all-rounder, the Polestar…

Sportline 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG 4x4 SCR Kerbweight: 1,656kg Noseweight: 90kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,408kg Max towing capacity (braked): 2,100kg Price (as tested): £39,860* WHAT WE SAY THE Skoda Karoq has been a long-time favourite here at Auto Express – and although it’s been around for a little while, a facelift in 2022 brought a wider, more upright grille, new designs for the lighting clusters and some aerodynamic tweaks intended to improve efficiency. However, the big news from the TowCOTY contest’s point of view is that Skoda entered the four-wheel-drive version for the first time, and the car cleaned up. As well as impeccable driving manners when hitched to a mid-range family caravan, where the Karoq’s superb towing stability makes for drama-free high-speed lane changes and confident cornering, the Karoq’s…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk Q Can I swap my tyres around? I RECENTLY had a service on my 2020 Volvo XC60 B5 R Design AWD. The tread depth readings were around 3.5mm on the front and 4.6mm on the rear. I asked why they hadn’t been swapped around to even up the wear and was told it’s not recommended to do that. What do you think? Don Phillips, E-mail A THERE’S no hard and fast rule, and I wouldn’t expect a garage to automatically swap the tyres. With such a small difference, I see no major downside to swapping front to rear. One argument for leaving them as they are is that some drivers prefer to only replace two tyres at a time. I have also done tests that show…

IN general, dash cams all look pretty similar. Some are rectangular boxes, while others are cigar-shaped tubes, and all stick to your windscreen. Vantrue’s new M2 device is a little bit different because the camera is built into a replacement rear-view mirror. It’s strapped over your current mirror so it doesn’t clutter the windscreen. This set-up can be very desirable if you have a classic car and want to maintain the original look, or have a very small glass area, such as in a sports car. This isn’t the only unusual part of the M2. It has a rear-view camera, but instead of sticking to the back window, it is mounted on the outside of the car. This is perfect for convertibles, but will also be useful for vans and…

Search thousands of new and used cars online THE third generation of the Nissan Qashqai didn’t come a moment too soon last year, because the sporty SUV segment the Japanese brand all but invented with its original model has blossomed ever since with new and improved rivals. Customers love the SUV concept, and the popular recipe of impressive practicality, fashionable styling and easy driving manners gets an added boost when you factor in the savings of a nearly new or pre-owned model. The Qashqai is one of our favourite contenders in this still-growing sector, but it faces stiff competition from the Hyundai Tucson and Peugeot 3008. With a few miles under their belts, and representing a big saving on the asking price of a new car, how do these three contenders…

Rovanperä set to be youngest WRC victor THIS year’s Rally New Zealand could be the site of WRC history, with Kalle Rovanperä looking to win the 2022 championship. At 21 years of age, the Finnish driver would be the younge-stever World Rally Champion, having already achieved the feat of becoming the youngest event winner in the sport. His Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate, eight-time World Rally Championship winner and reigning champion Sébastien Ogier, has never stood on the podium in New Zealand – something the Frenchman will be looking to rectify. 2022 marks the first time WRC has been to New Zealand since 2012, and there will be a new purpose-built 4.3-mile superspecial stage for drivers to get to grips with. Nicholas Latifi loses Williams drive for 2023 WILLIAMS has announced…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy • New all-electric crossover heralds start of a fresh era for Smart • Launch Edition on sale in January, ahead of the rest of the range IT’S time for change at Smart. Launched as an automotive manufacturer almost 25 years ago, the brand has traditionally been known for tiny city cars that sold in modest numbers and never really delivered a meaningful profit for owner Daimler. So now, Smart is a joint venture between the German group and Chinese firm Geely. And to get things rebooted, they’ve moved manufacturing and much of the engineering to China, and come up with Smart’s first SUV. It’s an all-electric model called the #1 – and yes, marketeers call it “Hashtag One” – just under 4.3 metres long and 1.6 metres tall.…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks • GSe trim takes over from VXR for fastest Vauxhalls • Plug-in hybrid Astra will be first of many sporty models VAUXHALL has revealed that the first car to wear its new sporty GSe moniker will be a hot Astra. It’ll be offered as a hatchback and Sports Tourer estate, and both models come with the most powerful version of the Stellantis Group’s plug-in hybrid powertrain and feature visual and performance tweaks. GSe – which stands for Grand Sport electric – is Vauxhall’s newest performance brand, taking over from the now-defunct VXR line of hot models. Power for the forthcoming Astra GSe comes from fundamentally the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, 12.4kWh battery and electric motor set-up that’s used by the Astra Hybrid 180. However, total system…

SMALL petrol-powered cars still make sensible buys, which is why Hyundai is readying an updated version of its i10 city car for 2023. It’s shunning the trend to turn full EV – for now. Even under the camouflage (below), we can make out a reshaped bumper and new LED running lights, while the interior will get a similarly evolutionary makeover. Expect the powertrain line-up to remain the same, with 66 and 99bhp versions of the 1.0-litre unit, plus an 83bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine.…

Higher towing limit, more kit for Ford EV FORD has updated its Mustang Mach-E EV (above) with more standard kit and higher towing limits. Intelligent Automated Cruise Control 2.0 is now fitted across the range, while the 91kWh Extended Range cars can pull up to 1,500kg – 500kg more than before. Premium RWD cars get 19-inch alloys, adaptive LED lights and eight-way electric seats. Prices start from £50,830. Chancellor urged to cut VAT on charging BOSSES from 23 public EV chargepoint operators – including Osprey, Ionity and Instavolt – have called on the Chancellor to cut the rate of VAT on public charging from 20 per cent to five per cent. High energy prices have forced operators to up their costs, with Osprey charging £1/kWh across its network. The Government…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress HOT TOPIC Ford Mustang FROM: Paul Fletcher I LOVE everything about this. The front end looks mean and aggressive, while the rear is sleek and futuristic. The fact it’s available with a V8 motor and a manual gearbox makes me very happy. Hope it’s not too pricey. FROM: Darren Barnes THE exterior design won’t be for everyone, but I think it looks the part. Not so sure about the interior – there are a worrying number of touch-sensitive controls, and the few physical buttons there are look a bit cheap. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “As an owner of a prefacelift S550 Mustang, I’m on the fence about whether I like this.” Duncan Macrae ■ “A pure muscle car! If only it didn’t have that huge display…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy BMW is taking a multi-track approach to electrification – and for now at least, that means offering pure-electric versions of some cars alongside mild and plug-in hybrid editions. The most effective example of this could well be the new iX1 – and this is our first chance to see how it stacks up. Under an almost identical skin is BMW’s latest fifth-generation electrical architecture. The company says the 64.7kWh (usable) battery will mean anywhere between 257 and 272 miles on a full charge, depending on trim; with 130kW charging a 10-80 per cent refill takes just under half an hour. This tech is very effective. It’s perhaps not quite as refined as it is in the iX, but even at a list price of just over £50,000, this…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks CO2/tax 0g/km £0 or 2% Performance 0-62mph/top speed 7.4 seconds/99mph Electric motor Power/range 228bhp/262 miles “Off the line the XC40 is steady rather than offering huge punch” WHEN we first sampled the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge in 2020, it was in range-topping dual-motor P8 guise. We thought more modest versions would be a better option, but is that really the case? The Single Motor model’s battery has a capacity of 69kWh, compared with 75kWh for the P8’s, while just one motor means there’s 228bhp and 330Nm of torque – still perfectly acceptable figures in a compact premium SUV. Performance looks fine on paper, with a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. Not long ago that would have been in hot hatch territory, but the XC40 does tail off at…

Kia Niro 10.25-inch touchscreen with Nav Key features: Kia Connect Services (7yrs) ALL models bar the entry-level Niro get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation. That means the display is a couple of inches larger than the Juke’s eight-inch set-up, but it’s the screen resolution that really sets the Niro apart from its rival here. The layouts are great, too; the main menu page features two rows of neatly laid out icons, while the sub-menus are just as straightforward. Loading times are only okay, however, and some processes, such as confirming a navigation route, take more button presses to confirm than we think should be necessary. A second 10.25-inch display is added to 4 trim for the digital instrument panel, and the information is presented clearly. A third, smaller panel…

WHEELS DEPENDING on the trim level you choose, the Kia comes with either 16 or 18-inch alloy wheels. The Juke is offered with 17 or 19-inch items. As a result, the Juke looks a little more dramatic, especially in Tekna+ trim, where the wheels get fairings to improve aero efficiency. However, the larger wheels also come at the expense of ride comfort, an area where the Niro has a clear edge. AUDIO THE Nissan has one advantage over the Niro, and that’s its sound system. The Bose Personal set-up has 10 speakers, with two in each of the front headrests. This gives a detailed stereo sound to each of the front occupants, and it’s backed up by the punch of the rest of the system. The Niro’s standard six-speaker system…

Style 77kWh Pro Performance 204PS Kerbweight: 2,117kg Noseweight: 75kg Caravan weight (as tested): 1,000kg Max towing capacity (braked): 1,000kg Price (as tested): £52,100* WHAT WE SAY THERE’S a lot to love about electric motoring, and some pretty obvious disadvantages – one of which (the dreaded range anxiety) is amplified significantly if you want to tow a caravan or trailer. The combination of weight and wind resistance can drastically affect how far you can travel on a charge, and that’s why EV makers limit towing weights, even for large, heavy and relatively powerful cars such as the VW ID.5. Not everyone towing a caravan wants to be adventurous, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club tells us many members have a favourite site 50 or 60 miles away that they use as a…

Darren_Wilson@autovia.co.uk “I’ve played with the seating, depending on who’s been with us and how much stuff we’re carrying” IF you’re all sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin. I’m now four months into my time with the Auto Express Family Car of the Year and my magnificent seven are finding the seating arrangements more than satisfactory. Anyone with a big family that includes teenage kids will know that you rarely have to shift them all at once; but having the option to is nice. The Jogger’s seating system is simple and clever. The backs of both rows of rear seats can fold forward and then over themselves again to create either a nice gap to enter the very back row of seats from the rear doors or more boot space when required…

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FIRST TEST AndaSeat Excel Price: £330 Rating: Contact: currys.co.uk A GAMING chair may have been seen as an expense too far up to now. But with more of us working at home, it’s easier to justify the cost if it can fulfil two roles, so we’ve been trying the new-for-2022 AndaSeat Excel. At £330, it is towards the upper end of the office-chair market, but the AndaSeat is well made, with just about all the features you’d expect. It’s a hefty unit and there’s around a half an hour’s assembly involved. The material is leather-textured PVC, which feels better than it sounds. The height, armrests and back can all be adjusted, plus it can be laid out much like a dentist’s chair and everything rolls on large castors. There’s an adjustable…

Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm Jeremy Clarkson (Penguin Michael Joseph, penguin.co.uk) Price: £8.99 Rating: FANS of Clarkson who enjoyed his farming TV series will like this. At points in the book he highlights serious problems faced by the farming community, bringing them more into the public eye. Of course, it’s littered with his trademark humour too, so expect plenty of laughs. The Lotus File William Taylor (Coterie Press, coteriepress.com) Price: £40 Rating: A PRETTY exhaustive list of every Lotus model ever produced – and even the latest Emira and Eletre are included, albeit with less detail than some of the other entries. The book even includes information on Lotus soap boxes and bikes, as well as all the road and race cars. Gorgeously presented with fine photos and…

Got any car queries? mail@autoexpress.co.uk Q Should power steering fluid be replaced like brake fluid? YOU quite often read about brake fluid that has to be changed at regular intervals for safety reasons. But do people bother changing the fluid in their power steering systems and is it really necessary? Karl McAvoy, E-mail A POWER steering uses a type of hydraulic oil to operate, but a slight degradation in its performance – or any visual discolouring with age – is unlikely to affect your steering’s performance in any material way. However, old brake fluid can, in certain conditions, affect your stopping distance. Some manufacturers recommend flushing and refreshing steering fluid at up to 80,000 miles, but unless the level is dropping, it’s usually okay to leave it. Q What can…

 +FOR Eye-catching styling, spacious accommodation, excellent ride quality, five-year warranty - AGAINST Tucson’s not the most thrilling car to drive, and it’s a little pricier than its two rivals here HYUNDAI may once have been a budget brand, even when compared with relatively mainstream rivals like Nissan and Peugeot, but that’s certainly not the case here today. The stronger residual values we predicted for the Tucson are a reality, and you’ll need to pay a little more for it than for either of its rivals. It’s not enough to sour the deal, though, especially because these are year-old cars with low mileages, and the Hyundai’s price may even be an advantage when you sell it on. The Tucson’s five-year warranty beats its rivals’ three-year deals, too, and means you could…

NOW, this is my idea of wrong place, wrong time. I’m in rural suburbia, it’s early morning, I have a busy day ahead and my car is parked up, in town, 20 miles away. But there’s a train station about three miles from me, and I must head for it – despite the threat of more strikes from railway workers. There’s little evidence of buses (also affected by strikes) or taxis (for those who can afford their fares). So I have to walk to the shabby station, wearing out my shoe leather and losing an hour of my day. I languish on the platform for 20 miserable minutes. Miraculously, the train shows up for my 45-minute ride. After that, 25 mins of walking, waiting for, and being hauled by bus.…

Q Who are you trying to appeal to with #1? Older Smart customers or new buyers? A “We want to remain true to the values of Smart – particularly being clever with space-efficiency. And, of course, the EQ ForTwo is well known for its approach to overall dimensions. With the #1, we’re broadening that appeal, so you have a larger car, but also one that offers incredible interior space. We think this will attract both old and new Smart customers, really.” Q What’s your UK sales approach going to be? Will you offer direct online sales? A “Yes, we will – with fixed, transparent pricing. But the key is that the back-end system in the dealerships is the same as the one powering the online interface you can use at…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk • Battery-powered SUV unveiled in November, with hi-tech safety • In showrooms next year, sold alongside plug-in hybrid XC90 VOLVO’S all-new, all-electric large SUV will be called EX90 and will come loaded with advanced safety tech as part of the Swedish brand’s vision of zero deaths and serious injuries in its new cars. The EX90 will be sold alongside plug-in hybrid variants of the current XC90, Auto Express understands, and will be unveiled on 9 November, before sales start in 2023. Our exclusive image shows what the new car – based on Volvo’s latest SPA2 platform – could look like when it finally breaks cover later this year, with an evolutionary design language for the large SUV. The EX90 will feature plenty of tech to protect pedestrians, cyclists and…

tristan_shale-hester@autovia.co.uk @tristan_shale IF you fancy yourself as something of a racing driver and want to test your mettle against like-minded folk on track, you might be able to do so if you have the necessary time and resources. Even then, you may only be hitting apexes behind the wheel of a stripped-out hatchback or kit car, unless you have the funds to buy a purpose-built track day weapon. What if you would rather drive something leagues above that, though? Something from a GT3 sportscar championship, for example, or maybe even a Formula One car? If that’s the case, but you don’t have the GDP of a small country stashed behind your sofa, you may think yourself out of luck. But this is actually more achievable than you might think –…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler WHAT a difference 180mm makes. The extra length the Bentley Bentayga EWB (standing for extended wheelbase) gets over the standard Bentayga all sits behind the B-pillars. As Bentley’s interior design boss Darren Day explained to us: “We thought about adding some space in the front, but we really wanted to spoil the rear passengers.” If anything, what equates to an extra seven inches makes the Bentayga EWB look better; the elongated rear doors and roof give it an elegant look that the standard car doesn’t have. Just as well, because this in effect replaces the Mulsanne saloon as the British brand’s range-topper and go-to model for anyone wanting to be chauffeured in the finest Bentley has to offer. Inside, the firm has really gone to town on spoiling…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram THE positive physical and emotional benefits of regular exercise are well documented. But what impacts mood to a greater extent? Track driving, or a gym workout? As a self-confessed petrolhead with a penchant for running, cycling and (occasionally) swimming, I was apparently the ideal candidate for such an experiment… But before getting shoved behind the wheel of an Abarth 595 Esseesse, being wired up with myriad monitors and the latest eye-tracking and facial recognition technology, I was talked through the series of track-based activities I’d need to complete – including timed runs, a precision driving course, and passenger laps with a qualified instructor. Alongside each task – performed at the tight, technical Mallory Park in Leicestershire – a team from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine…

MODEL TESTED: Kia Niro Hybrid 4 PRICE: £33,245 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl hybrid, 139bhp THE first-generation Niro was a huge success for Kia. Since 2016, more than 78,000 models have found homes in the UK, making it the brand’s second most popular model here after the Sportage. We’re testing the Niro Hybrid model in the highest 4 spec, which starts from £33,245. Running costs 45.2mpg (on test) £70 fill-up/£155 or 25% tax Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 451/1,445 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.8 seconds/100mph Design & engineering DURING the first-generation Niro’s life, it introduced newcomers to the brand with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains. Even better, it offered buyers a sensible, dependable five-door hatchback that offered strong efficiency. However, after six years of sales, the Niro’s unremarkable styling…

1st KIA WITH the second edition of the Niro, Kia has taken many of the strong points that made the first so successful, and improved on pretty much all of its weak points. It’s just as efficient as before, but that hybrid tech comes in a package that is now more grown-up, refined and practical. Handling aside, the Niro is at least a match for – or better than – the Juke in almost every area. 2st NISSAN MAKE no mistake, the Juke Hybrid is the most convincing version of Nissan’s small SUV yet. Beyond the extra fuel efficiency, it delivers a smoother drive than the conventional petrol at low speeds, and also benefits from the occasional silence of electric motor running. However, the Kia offers more space, greater comfort…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk Running costs 25.3mpg (on test) £104 fill-up, £520 or 37% tax Performance 0-62mph/top speed 3.9 seconds/190mph I’VE said goodbye to the Alfa. It was a sad day when the car was collected, because the past few months and more than 6,000 miles have been brilliant fun. Well, mostly. It was far from a love/hate relationship, with the emphasis being heavily on the former. However, there was one facet of the Quadrifoglio’s personality that I found close to infuriating: the brakes. In fact, they nearly broke me (no pun intended), so I chose to look into exactly what was going on. Firstly, the problem. The Intelligent Braking System’s pedal feel is horribly dead, especially at low speed. I learned that the standard steel-disc system uses brake-by-wire technology, which means the…

Aston Martin F1 Ogio luggage Price: from £90 Contact: eu.ogio.com ASTON Martin F1 fans and those who want to mark four-time champion Sebastian Vettel’s final year behind the wheel can now pick from two new additions to the Ogio line-up of branded luggage. The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 X Ogio Axle Pro Backpack may be a bit of a mouthful, but it can swallow a huge amount, including a laptop of up to 17 inches in the 22-litre space. There are no fewer than 18 pockets to keep everything organised, featuring dedicated places for a phone, charger and earbuds. The pack is made from water-repellent, ellent, durable 1680D ballistic fabric and has a luggage pass-through so it can be secured on wheeled case handles. It costs £90. For bigger…

BMW to turn ocean waste into car parts THE BMW Group has announced all its models launched from 2025 onwards will include parts made from recycled ocean waste. The plastic will contain at least 30 per cent discarded fishing nets and ropes, giving them a carbon footprint about 25 per cent lower than conventional plastic components. Previously, recycled nylon in this form could only be spun into a yarn for fabric surfaces, but a new process developed by Danish firm PLASTIX allows it to be injection-moulded. Encore and Kia team up on used batteries KIA Europe has partnered with start-up Encore to create second-life battery energy-storage systems using power packs from scrapped electric vehicles. The two have unveiled their first prototype together at EUREF-Campus in Berlin – a storage facility…

Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.1 seconds/123mph CO2 /tax 120-146g/km £165 Running costs 44-53mpg (1.0 TSI 110) £83 fill-up Search thousands of new and used cars online EVER since it became part of the Volkswagen Group, Skoda has produced hit after hit. So when it launched the Scala in 2019, we hoped that it would bring something very appealing to the compact family car class: an affordable, practical car that offered an easy ownership proposition. We weren’t disappointed, because it’s all of those things, and we discovered the proof when we ran one on our test fleet in 2020. After more than 11,000 miles in a 1.5 TSI edition, we loved its roomy cabin, punchy engine, exterior design, the quality of the fit and finish, and the lengthy list of standard equipment. The…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks ● Track’s post-pandemic return ● Verstappen for drivers’ title? “Drivers will be expecting a gruelling race, not only due to Singapore’s high humidity and ambient temperatures, but also because of the track itself” FORMULA One finally returns to Singapore at the beginning of October after cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The Marina Bay Street Circuit itself has served up plenty of action since it joined the F1 calendar in 2008 as the first nighttime race in the sport’s history, with at least one safety-car appearance in every year so far regularly pushing the race time close to the two-hour limit. The drivers will be expecting a gruelling race, not only due to high humidity and ambient temperatures, but also because of the track itself.…