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Price is right as C3 Aircross edges Juke CITROEN has announced UK pricing for its new C3 Aircross. The small SUV (above) undercuts Nissan’s Juke by £880, starting from £13,995 in Touch trim with an 81bhp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine. Upgrading to Feel trim adds £1,100, and the top-spec Flair starts at £16,900. Other engines include 108bhp (from £16,200) and 128bhp (from £16,600) 1.2 petrols, while 98bhp and 118bhp 1.6-litre diesels cost from £17,220 and £17,920. German trio bid to cut diesel emissions BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler have agreed to issue a software update on 5.3 million diesel cars in Europe to cut pollution levels by a third. The trio reached an agreement with German authorities last week, and will issue a software update on Euro 5 and 6 diesels…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor Honda Civic Type R meets NSX on track CAN you make a Honda Civic Type R as fast as an NSX supercar around a track? Well, without wanting to give anything away, my challenge was to set a flying lap time in the NSX, then head out in the Type R alone. Second run in the Civic would be with special contributor Steve Sutcliffe giving me lessons from the passenger seat to beat my NSX time. Tune in; this video is well worth watching. McLaren’s beautiful 570S Spider driven McLAREN has lopped the roof off its exotic 570S to create the Spider, which is arguably an even more desirable supercar. It has the same 3.8-litre V8, delivering an identical 562bhp and 600Nm, but only weighs an extra 75kg.…

HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN ERADICATE ROAD DEATHS Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer LAST year, more than 1.2 million people died in road and traffic accidents around the world. That’s around one every 25 seconds. In the UK, the past 12 months saw 1,780 road fatalities, up by nearly 30 from 2015. In fact, for the past three years, road fatalities have failed to significantly decline beyond the 1,750 mark. While some of this is down to fewer police officers patrolling our roads and cuts in council budgets, there’s an overwhelming statistic that cannot be ignored: 90 per cent of road fatalities are down to driver error. This means that it’s our lack of judgment, lapses in concentration or lack of skills that lead to situations that place ourselves and others in harm’s way. But…

Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE BUYERS can’t get enough of fast SUVs, and fast Audi SUVs in particular. The previous SQ5 accounted for as many as one in five of all Q5 sales, despite its hefty price tag and high running costs. Now we’ve driven the new version in the UK to see how it fares on our broken roads. One look at the huge 21-inch alloy wheels fitted to our test car (a £1,500 extra) and you might be thinking that there’s no way this sporty Audi SUV can ride well on UK tarmac. But there’s more to the newcomer than meets the eye. While the SQ5 feels unsettled and not as comfortable as rival cars at speed – just like a regular Q5 – it actually handles pretty well around town,…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor IT’S hard to believe it’s been two years since the Jaguar XE burst on to the compact executive scene waving the Union Flag with pride. But the most important Jag in a generation has passed its second birthday, and in this time it has picked up three Auto Express awards and firmly banished memories of the X-Type. Back in 2015 the XE was launched with just a small handful of engines, with the big news being the new Wolverhampton-built Ingenium four-cylinder diesels. The rest of the range were Ford-related petrols. Now, though, the line-up has widened and the 2.0-litre blue oval turbo petrol has been quietly replaced with a new Ingenium unit – and this is our first drive of it. It’s the same cubic capacity as the…

MODEL TESTED: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110 N-Connecta PRICE: £25,555 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 108bhp THE second-generation Qashqai has been a sales success for Nissan, but with newer, more modern rivals eroding the car’s appeal, this new version aims to put it back to the top of the class. Here we test a £25,555 N-Connecta 1.5 dCi model. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 3.8 NISSAN hasn’t adjusted the recipe that has worked so well for it with this new Qashqai. Rather than choosing a radical redesign like Peugeot did with its 3008, the company has finessed what was already there to add a few more appealing aspects to the Qashqai and push it even further upmarket. One of those additions is the new Tekna+ model (this is the car shown in our…

NISSAN QASHQAI score 3.4 Nissan Connect Evo Standard Key features: Nav, live services THE Qashqai’s new NissanConnect Evo seveninch touchscreen system is standard on this N-Connecta model, and while it brings some useful features, it doesn’t address many of the criticisms we had of the previous car’s infotainment set-up. DAB is standard across the range, and this version gets built-in sat-nav. Bluetooth for calling and audio streaming is standard for the class, plus this system offers a driving eco score, Facebook newsfeed and TripAdvisor tips to select locations on the move. Nissan claims it’s a more app-based system, and while a three-year subscription to these services is included, the unit’s operation and menu layout are still clunky compared with the infotainment systems in its rivals. The graphics aren’t as sharp…

SKODA launched the facelifted Octavia earlier this year, and with it came a power hike for the hot vRS model. The new flagship was boosted to 242bhp to seal its place at the head of the line-up, and this is the car we’re testing here. The power output makes it the fastest Skoda ever, with a 155mph top speed, while in greasy conditions at our test track it sprinted from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds. It struggled with wheelspin off the line a little, but once it was rolling the Octavia showed the full potential of its enhanced engine. The 30 to 70mph test through the gears took just 5.5 seconds, and it covered 30-50mph in third in 2.7 seconds. Although the Focus was faster from 0-60mph with a time of…

Ford Edge CARS sold in the UK are getting larger all the time, but for really big models we have to look to the American market. That’s something Carbuyer editor Stuart Milne has contended with while driving Ford’s latest import from across the pond, the Edge. With big, bold styling and plenty of chrome, it’s a textbook US SUV – and its size backs that up. It’s not hard to drive a long car, but wide cars such as our Edge require extra concentration when you’re at the wheel, particularly on narrow streets or where other cars are double-parked. Car parks cause the most frustration, but not just because of the Edge’s width. The big, heavy doors are tricky to open wide enough to get in if another car is…

Spare kit to rescue of stranded drivers SINCE 2012 vehicle manufacturers have not been obliged by law to provide a spare wheel, leaving some motorists stranded at the side of the road with just a can of tyre foam. Wheelwright aims to remedy this with the new Roadhero space-saver spare wheel kit (above). Supplied in exactly the right size for the target car, the Roadhero kit also includes all the necessary fixings, an appropriate wheelbrace and jack, plus a handy bag to keep it all in. It’s currently available for over 800 vehicles, and can be ordered from www.wheelwright.co.uk. Sample sale gives air ambulance a lift SAMPLES left over from the Auto Express car care testing programme raised £1,274.71 at the Waxstock detailers’ show held at Coventry’s Ricoh stadium at…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 9 | 8 | 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. Sealey AK7960 Price: £56.12 Rating: Sizes: 6-24mm (excluding 20, 23mm), 10-19mm deep Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk BEST BUY A STRONG all-rounder that initially impresses because of its whopping 27-socket count and very reasonable sub-£60 price. Look closer, though, and there are some really clever touches. The ubiquitous 1/2-inch to 3/8-inch drive adapter can be slipped on to an extension bar, transforming it into a breaker bar, should you not want to strain the ratchet on really tight fasteners. And the ratchet itself is impressive. Its telescopic handle extends and we like the tool’s fine 72-position…

LOVED-UP Peugeot and Opel have finally done the decent thing and consummated their marriage. There’s no doubt that the former is the stronger and more secure partner. But their respective siblings – Citroen and DS on one side, Vauxhall on the other – apparently gave it their blessing, so all five can now look to work together as one big happy family. But the harsh truth is that they have too many factories, design centres and offices in too many countries. It’s inevitable that the PSA Group will close some. Remember Ryton (Peugeot), Longbridge (Rover) and Dagenham (Ford)? They were entirely or largely murdered as car-building venues. Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port and Luton factories are safe for now, but they’re bound to come under scrutiny in the early 2020s. Their workers…

Michael_Cox@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer MANUFACTURERS could stop offering individual options on new cars in the future to meet the new, tougher emissions tests, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. From next month, a new Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) will replace the existing New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) for type approval and, eventually, tax purposes. For the first time, the way options affect CO2 emissions and fuel economy will be considered. Each vehicle configuration will be given a CO2 figure determined by the added weight of options, such as sunroofs. HM Treasury told Auto Express that WLTP will be used to calculate Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in the future, although it failed to give a date, suggesting that adding options could push buyers into different tax bands. WLTP will place manufacturers…

CEO, Smartdriverclub www.smartdriverclub.co.uk THERE’S lots of talk about the ‘connected car’, but what exactly is one? Well, it’s a vehicle able to optimise its own operation and maintenance, plus the convenience and comfort of passengers using on-board sensors and Internet connectivity. In other words, these cars talk with each other and the wider infrastructure, and their manufacturers. And they are talking at the speed of light to manufacturers, telling them where, when and how we are driving. This raises a few questions: are car makers being transparent about this? And are motorists benefiting from their data being collected in this way? Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) figures for the first six months of this year reported 1,401,811 new cars registered, most of which will have some form of…

MODEL TESTED: Peugeot 3008 1.6 BlueHDi Allure PRICE: £26,125 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 118bhp THE 3008 has proven a big hit for Peugeot. It’s our favourite mid-size SUV, and here we test the £26,125 1.6 BlueHDi 120 model in mid-spec Allure trim (our pictures show a GT Line) to match the Qashqai. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 FOR Peugeot, the 3008’s transformation from ugly mid-size MPV to more svelte SUV has worked wonders. It was late following the 4x4 trend, but the car has modern underpinnings that deliver a decent drive. The 3008 is based on Peugeot’s EMP2 platform. It’s the answer to the MQB architecture that underpins the Ateca and is a versatile base to work from. There’s still a practical focus here, which any family SUV has to offer,…

FORD’S ST badge carries a lot of weight for hot hatch fans, especially here in the UK thanks to a back catalogue of high-performance hits. In recent years, the Focus ST has been overshadowed by the excellent Focus RS – but it’s still one of the best front-wheel-drive five-doors on sale. The Ford’s steering has lots of feel, and it’s fast. Every corner is a delight; you feel connected to the road and in touch with how the car is moving around beneath you. The chassis set-up contributes to that, too, and lets you control the car’s line with the throttle. While the Skoda is engaging and fun to drive, the Ford has the edge if you’re an enthusiast – but it loses out in other areas. The trade-off for…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THE way consumers own and use their vehicles is on the cusp of a revolution as car manufacturers across the industry evaluate ways of introducing autonomous tech and mobility to younger generations and those living in crowded cities. Today’s core sales model, of one family or one consumer owning a vehicle, looks to be under threat as makers around the world look at ways to target customers who would typically not consider buying a vehicle because of where they live or their income. One of the biggest disrupters to the idea of car ownership are so-called millennials who, according to Richard Balch, Ford’s Smart Mobility boss in Europe, “don’t feel the need to own everything in their lives”. He added: “The leasing type model and the pay-per-use model…

MISS paying your vehicle tax and you face having your car clamped (see right), but fortunately, this no longer applies if you overstay at private parking sites, as the practice was outlawed in 2012 amid worries of firms unfairly targeting drivers. This hasn’t stopped companies from finding new ways of cashing in on motorists. New figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that the number of vehicle records the agency shared with private parking firms surged by 64 per cent in the first quarter of 2017. Private parking firms bought 1.74 million driver records from the DVLA, up from 1.06 during the first four months of last year. This could bring this year’s total to seven million, a huge increase over the 2016 total of 4.71 million…

FROM: Andrew Weekes I’VE done 80,000 miles in my previous-generation Swift Sport and love it as much now as when I first got it. I’m worried that a turbo will remove some of the car’s character – lots of revs and great throttle response – but there’s no doubt it will be more frugal. FROM: Dom Osborn OH dear, what has Suzuki done? Right now it looks like the Swift has gone from the best-looking car in the class to the ugliest. It might grow on me, as radical design changes tend to. With any luck, the drive and quality will make up for the controversial styling. Inbox What do you think? Contact Michael Cox Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP Join the…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @Sean_Carson_ FERRARI is intrinsically linked to the V12 engine. This type of motor featured in the company’s first ever road car and the configuration now powers one of its greatest models yet: the GTC4 Lusso. From the moment you thumb the starter button and the GTC4’s 6.3-litre motor fires into life to the first chance you get to extend the rev counter needle towards 8,000rpm, this motor will resonate with you if you’ve got a molecule of octane in your system. But the car is so much more than just an engine. This big four-seat GT has some clever tech, such as the four-wheel steering that made its debut on the F12tdf. The V12 now kicks out 681bhp and 697Nm of torque. But just because the motor can rev…

MODEL TESTED: SEAT Ateca 1.6 TDI Ecomotive SE Technology PRICE: £24,330 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp THE Ateca was SEAT’s first foray into the SUV market. There’s a larger off-roader on the way, but for now the Spanish manufacturer’s crossover debut is still breaking new ground for the firm. We test the 1.6 TDI in £24,330 SE Technology ºspec to see if it can beat its competitors here. DESIGN & ENGINEERING score 4.0 THE Qashqai once had few rivals, but now this is one of the most crowded sectors of the market. SEAT’s arrival in the crossover class heralded a new era for the brand. It branched out into SUVs for the first time with the help of the VW Group’s MQB chassis architecture, which forms the basis of the Ateca.…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram IF you were asked to name Britain’s most recognisable family car, chances are you’d think of a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus. But while both have sold in their millions since launch, the Honda Civic’s roots can be traced all the way back to 1972. Now in its 10th generation, the Civic is barely recognisable from the cute and compact original, and there’s no denying the new model looks distinctive alongside its more mundane predecessor. Honda’s designers have thrown away the rule book for the latest car, and its sharp lines, bold creases and sloping roofline are already creating debate in the Auto Express office. To see if the car’s interest runs more than skin deep, we’ve added a new Civic SR to our fleet. We’ll be assessing…

NEW PRODUCTS Sealey Schumacher chargers and starters Price: From £107.94 (SPI15S charger) Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk TOOLS specialist Sealey has expanded its range of battery chargers and jump starters from American giant Schumacher. If you have a large-capacity engine and want to keep a jump starter in the glovebox then the SL1S lithium power pack is for you. Its 400A punch is good for 3.0-litre petrol engines and 2.0-litre diesels. It also has a USB port for charging phones and tablets. Like all the new additions, it’s currently on promotion; the SL1S costs £179.94. The £384.94 RoadStart PBI2212S is a more conventional jump starter and has been approved by German testing authority DEKRA. It can be used with all common types of car battery, packs a hefty 1,900A start charge…

The Places They Raced: Circuits of the Golden Age Jim Loveridge (Douglas Loveridge Publications) Price: £35 Rating: WE’RE big fans of the style of this book, which simply has great pictures of pre-1918 circuit racing – be they photographs, slides or postcards – as well as brief captions. It’s an interesting look into the ‘golden age’ of racing. We’d quite like more detail on certain, interesting photos, and a chapter system would be handy, too. Competition Car Aerodynamics Simon McBeath (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £37.50 Rating: THE purpose of this book is to inform rather than entertain, and it does that rather well, diving into the complex world of aerodynamics with aplomb. We’ll stop short of recommending it to the casual reader, but owners of race cars might find information…

Dear Lawrence, I’m looking for a comfortable, well equipped four-seat convertible suitable for daily use. What would you recommend for my £20k budget? Jamie Friedel, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk THE ALL-ROUND CHOICE BMW 4 Series FOR: Good to drive, smart cabin, refined AGAINST: Roof eats into boot space, pricey THE BMW 4 Series Convertible is a stylish and slick option; it’s also the only car here with a folding metal roof. This is a bonus for cruising, with coupé-like wind and road noise levels, plus it’s more secure. The downside is that it’s less practical than rivals and potentially more expensive to repair, but the 4 Series is still the best car of the three to drive. It also offers strong performance across the range. A 2014 420d M Sport with…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk YOUNG British racers Lando Norris and George Russell grabbed headlines in last week’s post-Hungarian Grand Prix testing – the final Formula One track action before the sport’s summer break. Testing for McLaren, 17-year-old Norris recorded the second-quickest time of the test’s second day, just under three tenths off the pace of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. “It was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn and further develop as a driver,” said Norris later. “I managed to get through all the tests the team asked me to complete and everything went well. “Getting used to the car was a bit of a challenge at first but by the end of the day I felt very comfortable. I got a lot of laps under my belt and enjoyed the experience.” McLaren’s racing…