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Deputy editor, Auto Express BY all accounts, we’re now less than a month away from the reveal of Skoda’s new crossover – so it’s remarkable to hear a senior source admitting that the name is still under discussion. On the face of it, sticking with Yeti is a no-brainer; it’s a well known badge in lots of Skoda’s biggest markets, and one with solid equity in the UK. On the other hand, that name is less of an asset in China – a region that’s set to play an ever-increasing role in the brand’s bold growth plans. If the name does change, this could also be a reflection of the fact that Skoda’s smaller SUV is about to grow up, with far more conservative styling than the funky creation that…

SEAT’s all-new baby crossover shapes up SEAT Ireland has released a darkened teaser picture (above) of the brand’s upcoming Arona crossover. The car will sit below the Ateca and the future Formentor SUV, with similar headlamps and LED daytime running lights, an equally sharp body and small grille, but shorter overhangs. The roofline slopes more than on the Ateca, too. It’ll go on sale later this year, priced from around £16,000, and be powered by a range of familiar VW Group engines. Drivers oppose plan for four-year MoTs BRITISH drivers are worried dangerous cars could be on the road if Government proposals to delay a vehicle’s first MoT from three years to four go ahead. Ministers estimate the move could save motorists £100m a year – or £45 per car…

Steve_Fowler@dennis.co.uk @stevefowler THE 2017 Shanghai Motor Show treated us to an array of new production and concept cars from some of the world’s biggest and best-known manufacturers. Gone are the days where Auto Shanghai was merely an excuse to laugh at China’s copycat cars; some genuinely high-profile launches made it a show to rival those in Geneva, Tokyo and New York. Our team was on the floor in Shanghai, and here we round up our favourite cars from the show. CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief SUVs were ten-a-penny in Shanghai, many with familiar designs. But Citroen’s C5 Aircross follows an original approach, and not only with its striking exterior. The mid-size SUV takes Citroen’s Advanced Comfort philosophy to another level with its new Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension. CEO Linda…

www.thedrivingdoctor.org @drpaulripley AUTHORITIES haven’t yet managed to find solutions to the unacceptable deaths of young drivers in the early days after they pass their driving test. The problem remains that drivers are taught to pass a test and not how to drive in the real world. It means drivers have to use their own initiative and knowledge to stay safe, and as they have virtually no experience to call on, mistakes happen. The facts are simple: over 95 per cent of traffic crashes are down to human error (and therefore preventable). Young drivers account for just 10 per cent of the motoring public, but account for over a quarter of road deaths. It’s good to witness new elements being introduced to the test, but will they bring results? There remains…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan CAR makers have been giving us optimistic sales projections for years, and plug-in models often struggle the most to meet them. BMW’s target to shift 100,000 electrified vehicles globally in 2017 seemed like another ambitious reach – but it’s already registered 45,000 so far, so things appear to be well on track. The latest plug-in model to emerge from Munich should be a big part of that sales success. Not only is the 530e iPerformance the first 5 Series ever that can be refuelled from the mains, it also promises to be the most efficient one to date, with a claimed fuel economy figure of 141.2mpg. BMW predicts it’ll make up 15 per cent of total 5 Series sales, which is admirable given the fierce loyalty to diesel…

MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo SRi Nav PRICE: £23,815 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 158bhp THE Vauxhall Astra was reinvented for this seventh generation, and it edged ahead of its rivals to take the compact family hatch honours in our 2016 New Car Awards ceremony in the process. It’s beaten the best in popular diesel form and in 1.0-litre turbo guise (Issue 1,445), but can it maintain its advantage against more powerful diesel rivals? To find out we test it with the firm’s 1.6 CDTi BiTurbo in £23,815 SRi Nav trim. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 VAUXHALL has made a big deal of its latest Astra’s Watts-link rear suspension design, with the packaging helping space in the rear and the set-up also delivering a refined ride and plenty of stability.…

FOR most buyers, the Mercedes GLC and Jaguar F-Pace SUVs are at their best when they’re powered by four-cylinder diesel engines. These units offer the best balance of reasonable performance and economy, and they’re cheaper to buy in the first place. But what if you want to put the sport into your sports utility vehicle? Here we’ve brought the more powerful and refined versions head-to-head. Both cars feature smooth 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesels with over 250bhp. The Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 S is a little larger, but it’s also more expensive to buy, while the Mercedes GLC 350d AMG Line has sporty looks and a torquey V6 under the bonnet. While the price difference between the two is large, performance on paper is similar – so which one is best? MERCEDES GLC…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ WHAT’S the most demanding design brief for a car? You have to admit, the parameters set out for the new Bugatti Chiron must have been pretty tough to achieve with a top speed that could exceed 275mph. It’ll be equally hard for Rolls-Royce’s next super-luxurious Phantom saloon. However, I think the development goals for Volkswagen’s up! were just as tough. There’s not much profit margin in the city car sector, but the up! still has to be practical, economical, spacious, affordable, offer enough tech, handle well and deliver a decent mix of performance and refinement. Just like the original, this facelifted VW up! I’m running on the Auto Express fleet delivers in all these areas, except it now offers even more, thanks to a key addition: Volkswagen’s 1.0…

NEW PRODUCT DriveNow Price: Free Available for: iOS, Android Contact: www.drive-now.com BMW’S DriveNow car sharing project has just been upgraded, thanks to the introduction of a new app. This allows customers to reserve, access and drive away vehicles more quickly and easily than before. The app, which is now available on iOS and Android systems, means you can control within seconds hourly bookings, daily packages and can even unlock the car on arrival. What’s more, the app will be given new features that are set to be rolled out over the coming months. BMWs and MINIs can now be reserved at the touch of a button, and drivers can unlock a car when they’re within 150 metres of the vehicle via the app. The DriveNow website has also been given a…

Donald Campbell: 300+ A Speed Odyssey David de Lara (History Press, www.thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £30 Rating: THIS book tells the history of the man who broke numerous speed records in the fifties and sixties. It covers his life and achievements on both land and water, and is backed up by great pictures and a thoroughly researched story throughout. Heavy on interesting details, it’s a great account of Campbell’s remarkable life. Great Cars: Austin-Healey Bill Piggott (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £40 Rating: THE ‘Big Healey’ isn’t as much of an icon as the Jaguar E-Type, but there’s no denying it’s a much-loved sports car that’s well worth remembering. This book is accurately labelled as a celebration of the model; it strikes a great balance of detail, giving interesting facts without becoming dull.…

James_Disdale@dennis.co.uk THREE-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has called on his Mercedes squad to pull out all the stops in pursuit of victory in this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix. Last time out in Bahrain, the British ace finished second to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel for the second time in three races, leaving him trailing the German by seven points in the standings. “Ferrari did a great job,” explained Hamilton. “But we are going to push hard together – re-gather as a team – and come back fighting. It is all small, fine percentages that will make the difference between winning and coming second.” Hamilton certainly has strong form at Russia’s Sochi circuit, where he’s notched up two wins since the event joined the calendar in 2014. By contrast, arch-rival Vettel…

▪ Sub-four second 0-62mph time ▪ Range estimated at 310 miles Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn MG will make a dramatic return to the sports car market with its all-electric E-Motion coupé. Revealed as a concept at the Shanghai Motor Show last week, this spiritual successor to the MGB has been given the green light for production and could cost less than £30,000 when it arrives in the UK, possibly by the end of 2019. The E-Motion is based on the new electric modular architecture of parent company SAIC; MG claims the car will be capable of 0-62mph in less than four seconds and cover up to 310 miles on a single charge. However, MG has not issued any details on power, battery density or number of on-board electric motors. Lei Ming, deputy…

Graham_Hope@dennis.co.uk SKODA bosses have confirmed for the first time that they could be prepared to drop the massively popular and successful Yeti badge for the next-generation crossover. Speaking to Auto Express about how the Skoda Kodiaq could influence the styling of future SUVs, Skoda exterior design chief Karl Neuhold said the seven-seat model would lend its design language to “the new Yeti successor – the name is not sorted yet”. Asked specifically whether the next Yeti – previewed in our exclusive images – would retain the badge, Neuhold added: “At this time no, it is not decided yet. That is still in planning, in discussion, to the very end.” Rumours have been rife online that the Yeti badge may be dropped, with Skoda recently registering the Karoq name. But if…

SKODA’S Vision E concept has finally been revealed (below), but it’ll be beaten to production by another all-electric vehicle from the brand – and the current favourite is the humble Citigo. Boss Bernhard Maier has pledged the company will have five all-electric cars on sale by 2025, and that EV sales will make up 25 per cent of Skoda’s volume. It was widely assumed that the Vision E – a striking coupé crossover based on sister company VW’s MEB electric architecture – would lead the charge. But Christian Strube, member of the board for technical development, told Auto Express in Shanghai: “We have said Vision E is our first car on MEB. But we haven’t said it is our first production car.” The Citigo is the most obvious candidate, and…

FOR the second time in as many years, the latest Honda Civic Type R has set a new lap record for a front-wheel-drive car around Germany’s Nürburgring race track. The new 316bhp model, based on the Mk10 Honda family hatch, posted a time of seven minutes 43.8 seconds, meaning it reclaims its crown from the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S by over three seconds. And while the lap was set by a development car, Honda claims it’s representative of what is achievable with the production model. The new car laps the Nürburgring over six seconds faster than its predecessor, thanks to not just its additional power and torque – totalling 400Nm – but also a wider track, lighter bodywork and improved aerodynamics. The Type R goes on sale later this…

POP into a newsagent for your copy of Auto Express, and it’s likely you’ll be asked if you want any of the chocolate or sweets on special offer when you head to the tills. Hire a car on holiday, and at the rental desk you’ll be offered deals on a sat-nav, child seat or an excess damage waiver. And if you’re paying for some flights for your summer holiday, you’ll be faced with questions such as, are you interested in extra baggage? Would you like to pick your seat or select an in-flight meal, sir? This makes actually buying something for the advertised price nigh on impossible. How can consumers know which add-on they should agree to, and which should kindly be refused? It’s a minefield. This transfers to car…

Inbox What do you think? Contact Martin Saarinen FROM: cookedjackpotato LOOKS great and I’m sure people with lots of spare cash will jump at the chance. What I’m not sure about is how safe it is by today’s standards. I’m also curious to know how the reconditioned engine could have passed today’s emissions standards. FROM: JayDub GREAT looking car, and a fantastic idea. The only two things that let me down are tail-lights and gearbox. The rear lamps don’t look very pretty, and I think there should be a five-speed instead of the old four-speed. These are oversights in an otherwise fantastic car. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “It’s a nice looking car, but it has to be a lot more than just that for the price they’re asking.”…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.0 seconds/155mph Running costs 41.5mpg (official) £71 fill-up IT’S been nearly two years since BMW revealed a facelifted version of the ever-popular 3 Series. Yet, bizarrely, the maker has waited until now to apply the same changes to its two-door 4 Series. We’re driving the range-topping 440i petrol to see if it remains one of the class benchmarks, even in the face of rivals like the new Audi A5 Coupé. You can see why BMW wasn’t in too much of a hurry to bring the 4 Series up to date with its four-door sibling; it’s still a great looking design. BMW claims 2,500 components were changed for 2017, although you’d be hard pushed to notice at a glance. Keen eyes may spot the new full-LED…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @Jimmybrods A NEW Peugeot supermini is on the cards for 2018, but for now the firm’s 208 marches on, five years after its debut. The launch of the Black Edition, focusing on styling tweaks, makes it clear the current 208 won’t be around for much longer. It’s only available as a three-door, and replaces both the entry-level Access and low-spec Active specifications as an attractive entry point to the 208 range. The Black is £95 more expensive than a fivedoor Active equivalent, but Peugeot is offering some tempting deals on the new arrival, including deposit contributions, keen finance rates and low monthly repayments. There are three colour choices, with white and grey alongside the obvious black finish. On the outside, you get 16-inch black alloy wheels, a gloss-black grille…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI 150 Xcellence Technology PRICE: £23,830 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp UPDATES to the SEAT Leon are fairly minor, although the Xcellence Technology trim tested here is a new addition to the range. It offers a decent level of standard kit, and combined with the 2.0-litre TDI engine and manual box, it costs £23,830. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 VISUAL changes to the Leon are only minor. It looks a bit sharper at the front and rear, with different headlights (full LED units are standard here) and tail-lights, but that’s about it. Underneath the slightly sharper skin, the Leon is still based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB modular platform architecture for transverse engines. There are MacPherson struts at the front while the rear suspension is of…

SEAT LEON score 4.2 Media System Plus Standard Key features: Wireless charging, sat-nav AS with the Golf, one of the biggest changes to the SEAT is reserved for the infotainment system. Entry-level S models get a simple set-up with a five-inch screen, but SE Technology models and above get the larger eight-inch layout seen here. Under the skin, it’s essentially the same hardware as used in the Golf, although the lack of hot keys and different menu layouts mean it’s not quite as easy to navigate on the move. Bluetooth, DAB and sat-nav are included as standard, as are the crisp graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as part of Full Link, which is standard on FR Technology models and above, but a £XXX option on other versions.…

Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk @LobAllan HONDA admits that the average age of a Jazz owner is fairly high, at 61. While that’s no bad thing, it means that at 24 years old, I’m some way short of the typical profile. Our last Honda long-termer was the fire-breathing Civic Type R hot hatchback, so we wanted to see how something from the other end of the spectrum stacked up in the real world. It’s certainly not as glamorous or as intimidating on the road as the 306bhp hatch. Styling is always subjective, but the Jazz has always been more about maximising interior space than delivering a style statement. However, the current car has a bit more personality, and our top-spec EX model is helped by its shiny 16-inch alloys and vibrant Sunset Orange paint.…

Cot simulates night driving FORD has developed the Max Motor Dreams cot to help make the lives of every new parent that little bit easier. It simulates a night-time drive – a well known sleep tactic for lots of parents – in the comfort of your own home, by recreating the motion, engine noises and street lighting of a typical journey. The cot is a concept at the moment, but the favourable response means Ford is considering putting it into production. If you speak Spanish, go to www.fordmaxmotordreams.com for further information. Classic alloy wheel celebrates 40 years THE iconic Ronal R10 Turbo alloy wheel is approaching its 40th birthday. Having seen service on performance cars since the late seventies, the instantly recognisable dished design is a true classic, as are…

QUICK protection has long been sought after by car care producers, and among the most successful products are those that go on as you dry after washing, or direct on to a wet car. Using a wash wax means you either save time in drying the car or by not having to apply protection once the panels are dry, and the best work as well as many spray or liquid waxes. So, which is the one to make the most of your time this spring? We applied 10 to see which shone through. PRODUCT GROUP TEST 26 | 4 | 2017 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. Turtle Wax…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn BEFORE MG launches its all-electric sports car, it first needs to deal with the bread and butter of any mainstream product range: crossovers and SUVs. The ZS is the once-iconic brand’s take on the Nissan Juke, and ahead of the car landing here this year – with a new, unconfirmed name – Auto Express has been granted early access to see if it can help rejuvenate MG. Chinese owner SAIC has provided the backing to ensure the ZS has all the ingredients a successful crossover needs. There’s a punchy 1.0-litre engine, lots of kit and a competitive price. UK specs won’t be finalised until later, but bosses are confident a flagship ZS will undercut mid-level rivals like the Ford EcoSport by up to 20 per cent. Most of…

All-electric Volvo on sale in two years VOLVO has confirmed its upcoming EV will be built in China and exported to global markets in 2019. The all-electric model will be based on Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform for small vehicles, which will underpin the forthcoming XC40 SUV. Volvo bosses have also previously confirmed that a family of EVs are in the pipeline. It’s aiming to sell one million EV and hybrid vehicles by 2025. New Tesla pick-up right on schedule TESLA CEO, Elon Musk, has confirmed that the firm’s forthcoming pick-up truck will launch in 2019. Once again taking to Twitter, Musk said: “Pick-up truck unveil in 18 to 24 months,” but no further detail was announced. He also confirmed we’d see a Tesla semi truck (the American…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor AT youtube.com/Autoexpress this week, we reveal all on Jag’s four-cylinder F-Type, and round up our Shanghai show stars. Jaguar’s new 4cyl F-Type on the limit JAGUAR’S F-Type range has grown. You can now buy the sports car with four cylinders as well as six or eight, after the brand upset purists by fitting a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine under the shapely bonnet. It’s potent, though – with 296bhp and 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds – and £2,300 cheaper than the V6. But the four-cylinder F-Type is still £50k. Watch our video to hear what it sounds like. Shanghai show stars bound for UK AS you’ll have read in our news pages this week, the Shanghai Motor Show revealed some interesting cars set for the UK, not just the Far…

Joe_Finnerty@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer LACK of concentration and failing to pay attention remain the biggest contributing factors in road accidents in the UK, with thousands of drivers and pedestrians killed or seriously injured as a result. That’s not helped by the growing number of distractions fitted to modern vehicles, whether it’s increasingly advanced infotainment systems or the latest smartphones offering everything from sat-nav functions to hands-free calls. Factor in those who continue to flout tougher laws on using a mobile phone to call or text, and it’s little wonder there are so many incidents caused by not concentrating. Auto Express investigated what people got up to on the morning commute in Issue 1,462 to compile a list of the most common traffic offences. Unsurprisingly, mobile phone use topped the survey, whether that…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ Performance 0-62mph/top speed 4.0 seconds/155mph Running costs 34.0mpg (official) £71 fill-up THE evergreen BMWM3 defines the hot junior executive saloon sector and has dominated the class for decades. However, rivals have caught up and surpassed it over the past few years, with competitors from Mercedes and Alfa Romeo offering more power and performance. Now, the M3 is back with a mild facelift, although exterior changes are limited to a set of new hexagonal headlights. There’s also a new infotainment system, but it’s only a light reskin of the existing iDrive unit. Power from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six remains unchanged for the Competition Pack, so with 444bhp and 550Nm of torque, the car still gives away some grunt to the Mercedes-AMG C 63, as well as Alfa Romeo’s new…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn OUT of the countless models and derivatives offered by the VW Group, a Skoda Octavia Estate powered by a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is about as sensible as things get. It’s not going to turn many heads on the street, but if a practical, affordable and refined family car is what you need, then you really can’t do much better. This is the lightly updated version of Skoda’s best-selling Octavia. The changes aren’t revolutionary, but since its predecessor ticked so many boxes, a major revamp was hardly necessary. Nevertheless, the designers have been to work on the front end, sculpting a set of new split headlamps, while inside updated infotainment systems and a raft of new safety tech have been added. In SE L spec (the most popular…

MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 150 SE Navigation PRICE: £23,465 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp LIKE the Leon, the new Volkswagen Golf is essentially an update of its predecessor. Yet the brand left no stone unturned in its efforts to improve the car’s competitiveness, with the result that it took a well-earned victory on its road test debut (Issue 1,466). However, that was the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol; can the Golf repeat the feat in £23,465 2.0 TDI SE Navigaton trim test here? DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 VW has always taken a cautious approach to the styling of the Golf, so it’s no surprise to find the latest version looks very similar to the old car. Look carefully and you’ll spot the new LED tail-lights, reprofiled bumpers and altered headlamps,…

LOOKING for an ‘easy’ yet alluring career in the motor industry? Then get yourself a sharp suit before landing a job selling dream cars costing at least six figures. Positions for such men and, increasingly, women are on the up in the supercar world. That’s largely thanks to eye-wateringly wealthy buyers in New York City and Los Angeles – because the US still ranks as the most important and influential market for wheels like this. So it was appropriate that the small but perfectly formed Supercar Forum stand at the recent New York Auto Show was considered the most expensive piece of real estate in the city. On the grounds that I have what the US organisers describe as a “cute Irish accent”, I was the Forum’s appointed moderator. Inevitably,…