Table of contents for 1823 in Auto Express

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Electric SUV is the first Audi model to use new PPE platform A range of 388 miles puts Q6 ahead of Tesla Model Y AUDI has revealed the new Q6 e-tron electric SUV, and as a car that occupies the same segment as the brand’s global best-seller, the Q5. There’s a great deal of expectation on the all-new model, plus it’s the first electric model to be manufactured at Audi’s home factory in Ingolstadt. It’s no surprise then that the full force of Audi’s technical know-how has been thrown at the Q6 e-tron. We had a chance to drive a late prototype back in July (Issue 1,790), but at that point the interior and other details were largely under wraps. Now we have the full tech specs, and…

Richard_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ingram YANGWANG probably isn’t a name you’re familiar with. But in its home market, this BYD subsidiary sells the most expensive mass-produced Chinese car ever built: the 5.3m-long U8 SUV. This is a Land Rover Defender-rivalling off-roader with a price of 1,098,000 CNY (£120,000). It has four electric motors for a combined 1,180bhp and 1,280Nm. But its powertrain isn’t a conventional petrol or electric layout, instead acting as a range-extender; the petrol engine is a generator, not connected to the wheels. While the REx set-up is fine when the U8 is running on electricity – Yangwang claims the U8 is “as quiet as a library” – the hum from the four-cylinder engine isn’t the most pleasant when it’s not. The on-paper performance stats make this thing out to be…

THE following provide help with motoring problems. Some services are free, others charge a fee or operate on premium-rate lines (p), while some offer advice for members only (m). 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…

Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk @AxleIngram Verstappen looks to extend title lead Ferrari back to full strength with Sainz’s return FORMULA 1 continues the flyaway portion of its 2024 season with round three taking place in Australia. The Albert Park circuit was revised for 2022, with a more open section through turns nine and 10 increasing speeds and cutting lap times drastically. It’s a race which could see Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (right) equal his own record for the most consecutive wins in the sport – one which he only set last year in the 10 races from Miami in May to Monza in September. His current streak runs from last year’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Aussie GP was a race full of chaos last year. Safety cars, virtual safety cars, and even two…

ARGUABLY nothing – at least until the FCA compels the lending industry to put a compensation scheme in place. By holding fire, you’re not sharing data with third-party websites or worse, contracting yourself to sharing a sizable chunk of any future payout with a claims-management firm that’s taking an early punt on the FCA’s verdict. If the thought of doing nothing even at this early stage is simply too much to bear, you can join in the fun at MoneyExpert.com. Use its online tool to simply ask lenders which – if any – of your finance deals since 2007 included a Discretionary Compensation Agreement, and to simultaneously lodge a complaint. Alternatively you can write to your lender in person, to ask whether any of your finance deals included DCAs. Just remember…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 690/1,920 litres Running costs 57.6mpg (official) £96 fill-up THERE are few mainstream cars that garner such enthusiasm among owners as the Skoda Superb, so when the time came to replace it, the brand had a tough job on its hands. As the king of estates, the Superb has long excelled on interior space, quality and value. It’s these targets the new model will need to hit, all while adding extra tech and efficiency. The new Superb, first tested here in Estate form, is aiming to do just that. It goes about its task with a new body and interior, plus upgrades to the powertrains, which now feature hybrid options. Starting with practicality, the new car is 40mm longer than before, with a 690-litre boot that’s…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy Electric motor Power/range 187bhp/300 miles Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.9 seconds/99mph THERE’S plenty of choice for anyone after a small, premium, all-electric SUV, with models from Mercedes, Audi and BMW vying for attention alongside rivals from Lexus and even Smart. But what if you’re after something genuinely practical? Perhaps with seven seats? Your list of options shortens somewhat, bringing the Mercedes EQB sharply into focus. And now it has been treated to some worthy updates. The changes should widen the EQB’s appeal – although that’s as much to do with the model line-up itself as it is any major overhauls elsewhere. Still, there are visual cues to signify that you’ve bought a facelifted model, with a new front grille, including an LED band that joins the headlights, plus different…

Can I drive on a non-UK driving licence? AS a rule of thumb, everyone is entitled to drive according to the validity of their home country’s licence for 12 months from when they became a resident in the UK. There are different requirements after that initial period, depending on which country issued your driving licence. If you hold a licence issued in the European Union, you are able to drive in the UK without needing to change your licence or pass any form of further driving test. You are entitled to exchange it for a UK licence if you wish. If your licence was issued by a country outside the EU, your eligibility to drive in the UK depends on where you passed your test. If you came from a…

WINNER Hyundai Kona 1st THE Hyundai Kona remains the benchmark in this class in so many ways. It manages to mix a wide spread of appealing qualities – from competitive performance and efficiency, to one of the most spacious cabins in the segment, and a distinctive design that still maintains sound ergonomics. In this contest the Kona has the Honda covered in almost every area. If Hyundai decided to introduce a more competitive finance rate, it would become almost unstoppable. • Comfortable drive• Spacious cabin• Generous standard kit• Value for money • Not much fun to drive• Sub-par charging speeds• Cheap and nasty key• Divisive looks INTERESTED? Scan the code for further information RUNNER-UP Honda e:Ny1 2nd THE Honda e was clever and desirable, but needed to be cheaper. The…

SAME CLASS MG ZS EV IF you’re in the market for an electric SUV but value is your primary concern, then few cars present such a strong bargain as the ZS. Early 2020 models have dipped below £11,000, which gets you a compact SUV that’s absolutely tiny on running costs but very big on interior space and kit. A 44.5kWh battery means a fairly modest range, but the 141bhp motor offers performance that isn’t far shy of either the Honda’s or the Hyundai’s. • Spacious cabin• Low running costs • Underwhelming chassis• Poor Driver Power feedback SAME MONEY Renault Megane THE Megane E-Tech is as sharp to drive as it is to look at, so if you want a used electric family hatch that’s fun to drive, then look no…

Dawn_Grant@autovia.co.uk YOU can be forgiven if you’re looking at this page and asking why there’s a photograph of me holding a couple of balloons while standing next to a brand-new Renault Clio. It’s not my idea of a normal Tuesday morning, I can tell you. But there is a link, because the French supermini is 33 years old this year and, although I don’t like to think about it too much, I’ve been working at Auto Express for about the same length of time. So it seemed apt to celebrate the connection. In fact, the Clio has been on sale in Europe since 1990, and here in the UK since 1991, when Renault launched it to replace the well loved 5, which – coincidentally – was the first car I…

Italian pair on time with 500e tribute ABARTH has teamed up with Breil to create a watch that pays homage to the car maker’s first EV, the 500e. The piece has a skeleton movement and face inspired by the car’s alloys, plus details in Acid Green on the second hand and index. Even the case is inspired by the car’s headlights. The watch is finished in titan steel with a bracelet in the same material, and if you scan the QR code on the buckle you’ll hear the car’s signature roar. Limited to just 999 units, the Breil 500e Abarth Automatic costs 499 Euros (£425) from breil.com. New Scenic sounds out Harman Kardon HARMAN Kardon has announced it will supply the premium audio system for Renault’s new Scenic E-Tech electric…

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 20|3|2024 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive WE use our smartphones so much nowadays – for everything from E-mail to text, social media, banking and photography – and flattening the battery is annoyingly easy, which is why an in-car charger makes a lot of sense. For those with a suitable phone, a wireless charger is the best choice: just pop the handset in the cradle or on the magnetic surface, and that’s it – no plugs or cables. For older phones, it’s possible to get a case to convert to wireless. We tested eight chargers, some of which had a USB adaptor for the 12V lighter socket,…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler “The Epiq will offer a spacious interior within a compact exterior, all at an attractive price”KLAUS ZELLMER Skoda CEO SKODA has revealed first details of its new all-electric baby SUV, boldly called the Epiq. It’s set to cost around 25,000 Euros (£22,000) and will revive the spirit of the Yeti when it goes on sale after a public debut next year. Although the car in these official images is technically a design study, Auto Express understands that it’s pretty close to the model that will make it into showrooms, including the interior. With the concept’s compact, upright stance and flexible interior, Skoda fans will immediately draw comparisons with the ever-popular Yeti SUV that was axed to the disappointment of many in 2017. At 4,100mm long, the Epiq is…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk Family-friendly SUV gets electric drive for the first time EV arrives first, with hybrid variants at a later date PEUGEOT has unveiled its new family-focused E-5008 – a more practical seven-seat version of the E-3008. This means it comes not only with an all-new design and interior, but it also sits on the brand’s new STLA Medium platform. Due first in EV form, cars will start to arrive in the UK in the early autumn. The key differences between this and the E-3008 are its overall size and seven-seat interior. The E-5008 is longer, both in body (+250mm) and wheelbase (+160mm). This helps to improve rear legroom and ease access to the third row. We were given a poke around the 5008, and found space in the rearmost row…

Special-edition Arona follows Ibiza’s lead FOLLOWING in the footsteps of its Ibiza 40th Anniversary supermini sibling, the SEAT Arona SUV has been issued with a new special-edition trim. Priced from £27,480, the FR Limited Edition (above) adds Graphene Grey paint and a black roof, like the Ibiza. Inside there’s a BeatsAudio stereo and sports seats. All cars get a 114bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, plus a choice of a manual or auto gearboxes. Rally-badge revival for sportier Ypsilon LANCIA is bringing back its hallowed HF brand for performance versions of its new cars, starting with the electric Ypsilon HF hot hatchback. Due in 2025, the fiery Ypsilon will get a 237bhp motor capable of sending the car from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds. But that’s not all – the HF will…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk New hot hatchback revealed Rapid ID.7 estate also shown VOLKSWAGEN has toyed with high-performance versions of its electric models up to now, but it’s about to get serious with the introduction of the ID.3 GTX hot hatch and the ID.7 GTX Tourer estate. The ID.3 GTX package is built around a new motor that sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. There will be an ‘entry’ version of the GTX, with 285bhp, but it’s the top-spec GTX Performance model that’ll grab headlines. It produces a hefty 321bhp, the most of any ID.3 to date. It’ll also get a whopping 585Nm of torque – a full 255Nm more than any other ID.3 In the GTX Performance the substantially more powerful motor is connected to a new 79kWh battery, up from…

OLLIE Bearman will have another chance to impress prospective F1 team bosses this weekend, as the F2 calendar supports the main event Down Under once more. The 18-year old will return to his regular seat with the Prema team, for which he took F2 pole in Jeddah before Ferrari drafted him into the vacant Sainz seat. After a difficult start in Bahrain and his absence in Saudi, Bearman has scored more points in F1 this year than in four F2 rounds, so needs a strong weekend to catch up. “Zane Maloney holds a 15-point lead in the F2 championship standings” In Jeddah, it was Enzo Fittipaldi who took the spoils, with a dominant feature race win. The grandson of double F1 champ Emerson launched himself to second in the standings,…

Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk IT’S not every day that Maserati beats its rivals to the punch. After all, it took eight years to conjure up a competitor for the successful petrol-powered Porsche Macan. But with a few months to go until the German EV SUV lands, Maserati’s all-electric Grecale Folgore has arrived in style. Kicking off with a single high-spec model that is priced from £109,900, the Grecale will have to deal with the top-spec Porsche Macan Turbo. No pressure, then. As the name suggests, the Grecale Folgore is related to the combustion-engined car, sharing its Alfa Romeo-derived Giorgio platform. Although this means it doesn’t get a bespoke EV architecture, as the new Macan does, Maserati’s engineers insist that the underlying chassis is so flexible that turning it into an electric vehicle was…

Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk @AllieCrooks Running costs 74.6mpg (official) £52 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.7 seconds/108mph BADGE engineering or ‘rebadging’ is when two or more manufacturers sell the same base car with minimal changes – often tweaking little more than the logo on the bonnet and bootlid. It helps with economies of scale, and should (in theory) allow the savings to be shared between the makers and their customers. The Mazda 2 Hybrid is an obvious example of this, being based on the well loved Toyota Yaris – a car we drove in facelifted form only last week (Issue 1,822). The Mazda arrived in 2021 and, initially at least, made little attempt to look different from the model on which it was based. This new one has undergone some cosmetic surgery, however. According…

Steve Fowler Editor-in-chief Steve has been answering car buyers’ and owners’ questions for over 30 years, 12 as editor of Auto Express. John McIlroy Editor-at-large A leading news and reviews writer, John has spent more than two decades helping people buy and run their cars. Dawn Grant Picture editor With 33 years working on Auto Express, Dawn has an encyclopedic knowledge of cars, products and news. Richard Ingram Deputy editor He’s an electric-car advocate, but Rich’s expertise stretches beyond EVs; he’s been at Auto Express for over a decade. Darren Wilson Creative director With over 30 years working on Auto Express, there’s very few automotive topics Darren hasn’t worked across. Chris Rosamond Current affairs editor Covering automotive current affairs and industry stories for 30 years, Chris is our lead expert…

What is company-car tax? THE Government considers that providing employees with a car that can be used for personal trips – including commuting – is a ‘perk’, which should be taxed as though it is income. If you are only allowed to drive the car for work mileage, though, there’s no benefit, so you won’t be liable for company-car tax. These company-provided cars have a ‘Benefit-in-Kind’ (BiK) tax imposed, which means money will be deducted from your salary before it hits your bank account. The rate you are taxed depends on a complicated calculation, which takes into account number of factors. These include: ● The car’s list price and its CO2 emissions. ● Whether you have access to it all the time. ● Whether you pay towards its cost. ●…

MODEL TESTED: e:Ny1 150kWh Advance PRICE: £47,195 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 68.8kWh battery, 201bhp 201bhp Powertrain 1x e-motor 68.8kWh Battery/range 256 miles 7.7 seconds Performance 99mph 344 litres Seats up/down 1,136 litres IT’S fair to say that our initial impressions of the e:Ny1 were lukewarm, and a large influence on our three-star rating was the whopping £47,195 price tag of top-spec Advance trim. That’s the car we’re testing here, but some very punchy finance deals have made the Honda much more tempting. Is that enough to turn things around? Tech highlights WHILE the car’s name is all new, the e:Ny1 looks a little familiar. That’s because, for Honda’s second attempt at an electric vehicle, it hasn’t quite started from scratch. Instead, the e:N Architecture F that is suitable for a range…

SAME CLASS Volvo EX30 JUDGING by the on-paper specs, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the EX30 competes in an entirely different category from these two. With 268bhp, it’s significantly more powerful, it’s quicker in a straight line, and it charges much more quickly, at 175kW. But if you’re willing to sacrifice a little range and plump for the smaller-battery option, it starts from over £1,000 less than the entry-level Kona. All that from a premium brand such as Volvo is outstanding in itself, but the X30 is also great to drive. The compromise comes with a smaller interior, while the touchscreen-heavy interface takes some getting used to. • Performance• Fun to drive• Cabin design and quality • Rear seats a little cramped• Touchscreen too fiddly in places• Few PCP…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk READER William Read asked us to shed light on this conundrum at a time when torch manufacturers are increasingly switching to rechargeable devices, rather than ones powered by disposable batteries. There are several reasons for this, not least because alkaline AA, AAA or C-size batteries are almost ‘single-use’ and should be recycled once flat. But they are often simply put in the household rubbish. There’s also a cost element to factor in, because disposables require up to 500 times more electricity to produce than they can deliver. For an in-car torch, rechargeable devices have an added advantage, because they can be revived via a USB slot if they have gone flat while stored. That’s not the case with disposable batteries. However, are you giving up performance…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk POOR perceived value and high running costs contribute to the 5 Series’s less-than-inspiring showing in the Driver Power survey. The price of servicing is deemed most unsatisfactory, at 74th out of 75 vehicles, but other costs, such as insurance, are rated almost as badly by respondents. The infotainment systems earn decent third and 10th places for function and the balance between physical and touchscreen controls respectively. The quality of finish and materials ranks 15th inside and 22nd outside, but ratings for the styling inside and out are poor, at 63rd and 59th. Ride and handling scores are mid-range, but the ranking for the number of safety features is disappointingly low, at 65th. WE SAID “The BMW 5 Series is a hugely capable, beautifully built and spacious premium saloon that’s…

VOLKSWAGEN ID.2 PREDICTABLY, the Epiq won’t be the only VW Group model of its type. VW itself will launch the ID.2 next year, delivering on a project to bring an EV to market for under 25,000 Euros. It and the Skoda will be joined by a Cupra – but there won’t be an Audi. CITROEN E-C3 LIKELY to beat the VW Group models to market, the E-C3 is due later this year. It uses Stellantis’s new ‘Smart Platform’ to offer a 44kWh battery and 199 miles of range. An even cheaper version will follow in due course, along with a seven-seat E-C3 Aircross.…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk Authority will look at market More rises expected this year THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will make a new assessment of the state of the car insurance market this year, following calls in Parliament and elsewhere for a response to spiralling prices. The promised insurance review won’t be a full market inquiry, which the FCA last carried out on the sector in 2019, but we’ve been told the assessment will include a full evaluation of the impact of new pricing rules introduced in 2021, and will look into concerns about insurance add-ons and extra costs. “We are acutely aware of the growing concern about the cost of purchasing motor insurance,” the regulator says. “While we do not set or control prices, we are monitoring the motor-insurance market to ensure…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpres YOUR VIEWS This week’s letters SLK’s boot holds all we need for trip away FROM: Richard Rouse I CHALLENGE your “tiny boot with the roof down” claim for the Mercedes SLK (Issue 1,819). On an annual trip from Berkshire to Orkney, our 2008 SLK 280 fits two cabin cases, a large laptop bag, plus shoes and coats. With the roof up, we can add a week’s shopping on arrival. A sound idea to help the visually impaired FROM: Brian Tugwell I WAS at my men’s group this week and the chat started about switching to hybrid or fully electric cars. Our blind member made a very valid point. He can’t hear them, and his guide dog gets very confused by them. Isn’t it time it became law for…

Chris_rosamond@autovia.co.uk “Did you buy a car on finance between April 2007 and January 2021? You could be owed thousands!” Discretionary Commission Agreements being looked at FCA will issue a ruling on DCAs in September Claim firms already testing waters for compensation DON’T worry, Auto Express isn’t about to join the bandwagon of claims-management firms advertising on social media and elsewhere, using statements like the one above to get their claws into a share of any payout you – and millions of others – may one day be entitled to as a result of a ‘mis-sold’ finance agreement. At issue are finance agreements including a non-disclosed Discretionary Commission Agreement between your lender and your dealer, allowing the latter to secretly tweak interest rates for more or less commission. DCAs were banned…

JOIN the SD1 Club (roversd1club.net) and you’ll be able to find your dream car, although if you’re picky, you might have to wait. Most variations come up for sale sooner or later, with V8 editions fetching £7,000-£20,000, depending on spec and condition. The best six cylinder 2600 Vanden Plas is worth no more than £10,000. Series 1 SD1s are rare because they rotted so badly; later cars fare better but you still need to check the bodywork carefully. However, panel availability is surprisingly good at sensible prices. The same is also true of most of the running gear, although many parts for the four-cylinder engines (petrol and diesel)are hard to come by. Six-cylinder engines are durable if the oil is changed regularly, but most remaining SD1s are V8s, either carburetted…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy TOYOTA does sell an EV (the bZ4X), but for now at least, the company remains sharply focused on ‘transitional’ models that offer greater efficiency, while still using a petrol engine. It’s a policy that has brought the brand huge success through its Yaris, Corolla and C-HR. The last of those cars is, of course, already available with a choice of 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre hybrid powertrains, cheekily referred to by Toyota as ‘self-charging’. But now there’s a plug-in version of the funky crossover, promising more power and performance, plus improved efficiency and the sort of pure-EV range that brings big benefits to company-car taxpayers. The new set-up is based on the 2.0-litre hybrid, but with a bigger 13.6kWh battery. As a result, Toyota claims you can travel up to…

THE genesis of the kit car? It’s got to be the Porsche 356, hasn’t it? Post World War II, when Ferry Porsche needed to kick-start the family business, a sports car seemed like the best plan. But with money, materials and components in short supply, Porsche turned to what was available, and that was a pile of VW parts. These were components that he was more than familiar with, having designed the ‘People’s car’ and the Kübelwagen, after all. And the connection still stands today. True, the kit car industry doesn’t revolve around the VW Beetle as it used to, but the idea of a Porsche Speedster based on VW running gear, is surely the equivalent of night following day? A cut-down VW Beetle floorpan and running gear meet lightweight…

Why should I consider an electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid car? FOR many years Governments, legislators, car manufacturers and environmentalists all over the world have been looking at ways to reduce harmful exhaust emissions from road transport, and by cutting out internal combustion engines there are obvious improvements to be made to local air quality. On top of that, there’s scope to save a lot of money in running costs, especially as the technology becomes more commonplace and the UK’s electric vehicle infrastructure improves. Why are electric cars hitting the market so quickly? THERE are multiple factors here, chief among them being that since 2009 every car maker has been tasked with reducing its CO2 emissions targets year-on-year, while from 2024 it has also been mandated that a minimum of…

MODEL TESTED: Kona Electric Long Range Ultimate PRICE: £43,095 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 65.4kWh battery, 215bhp 215 bhp Powertrain 1x e-motor 65.4kWh Battery/range 282 miles 7.8 secs Performance 97mph 466 litres Seats up/down 1,300 litres WE’RE testing the Kona here in top-spec Ultimate Long Range guise. It’s priced from £43,095, which is high when compared with the entry-level models, but is still significantly cheaper than the Honda before any financial incentives are factored in. Tech highlights FOR the latest-generation Kona Electric, Hyundai listened to feedback from owners of the previous version. With many desiring more practicality, the new model has grown larger than its predecessor. There were very few complaints about the powertrain, which is why the motor and battery specs haven’t altered significantly from the first-generation model. At 215bhp, it’s…

IN an almost-immediate admission that the e:Ny1 was far too expensive from the outset, Honda has elected to offer buyers a whopping £8,000 deposit contribution if they take out a PCP finance agreement. So while finance figures were once in the ballpark of significantly faster, more practical EVs such as the Tesla Model Y, they’re now at a level where they undercut the top-spec version of the Kona we’re testing here. Place a £5,000 deposit on each car, and on a three-year PCP deal with a 10,000-mile annual mileage agreement, the Honda comes to £403 per month, compared with £516 for the Kona. The base-spec Elegance is even cheaper, at £344 per month. While the Kona is pricey in this trim, it’s worth noting that the entry-level Advance model, which…

SMALL ELECTRIC SUVs There’s room for improvement at Honda, but the Kona is far from having the sector all to itself. “THE Kona was our worthy Car of the Year for 2023, but 2024 will bring an incredibly tough challenge with a new crop of rivals. The Volvo EX30 will fight it from the premium segment, while keen drivers will almost certainly want to look towards Ford’s electric Puma.” “THERE aren’t many brands whose range is such a mixed bag as Honda’s. The Civic – and its hot Type R variant – is absolutely superb and the Jazz is a very clever supermini. The fact the manufacturer that delivered those cars can also release the flawed e:Ny1 is quite a surprise.” “HONDA hasn’t traditionally been a class leader when it…

Steve_Fowler@autovia.co.uk @stevefowler Running costs Official range/tax 251 miles/£0 Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 1,121/2,205 litres Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.2 seconds/90mph I HAVE history with the ID. Buzz. As a judge on sister title Auto Bild’s Golden Steering Wheel awards, I totally fell for Volkswagen’s ‘happy bus’. It was love at first drive and I said so on video, admitting that I wanted to marry the ID. Buzz. The video was played out to the great and good of the car industry at the awards ceremony, including VW’s top bosses, who’ve never let me forget. And now the ID. Buzz and I are at the start of a six-month relationship, which began at the Citygate Volkswagen Van Centre in Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire. Van Centre? Yes, the ID. Buzz comes out of Volkswagen’s…

Geoff Lees: From Mechanic to Formula 1 Geoff Lees (Independently published, amazon.co.uk) Price: £22 Rating: THOSE interested in racing are likely to enjoy this autobiography from one of F1’s lesser-known drivers, who could have gone further. It’s an interesting tale, but better formatting and proofreading would have done more justice to the gripping content. Fast Fords Jeremy Walton (Evro Publishing, evropublishing.com) Price: £60 Rating: MOTORING journalist and pro driver Walton has clearly written this from the heart – his deep love of faster models from the Blue Oval is obvious. The beauty of this is that, instead of being just a dry history and fact book, it’s written with first-hand knowledge of driving these fantastic cars. Well presented with plenty of imagery, this is a great book for Ford fans. Mountain Climb:…

VAT and me have history. As do the Conservatives, who cruelly increased the tax in 2010, the year David Cameron became Prime Minister. Back then, he looked me in the eye and assured me that his party was “the motorist’s friend.” You sure about that, Dave? In the years since, I’ve argued that – for sales of new cars in general, and electric vehicles in particular – Government has excessively profiteered from its greedy 20 per cent VAT. Nobody (not the car makers, retailers or anyone else) enjoys more profit from the sale of factory-fresh EVs than the state. In 2021, I argued that VAT-related margins on EVs bought by private drivers were “indefensible.” Since then, matters have worsened as inflation bit, and for every mid-sized family EV sold for…