Table of contents for 1536 in Auto Express

• Corsa set to be first model to feature latest design language Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram VAUXHALL has confirmed that a fresh brand design language is on the way, teasing a new concept carto mark the first anniversary of Opel and Vauxhall’s takeover by the PSA Group. Called the GT X Experimental, the design study will be revealed imminently. It doesn’t have a conventional grille, potentially hinting at a fully-electric drivetrain. There’s no information on what form the concept will take, although the cleverly draped sheet suggests a conventional hatchback shape. The face of the GT X Experimental is also expected to influence the all-new Vauxhall Corsa, which isdue in 2019. Vauxhall vice-president of design Mark Adams previously told AutoExpress: “The [GT X Experimental] concept is where weare going with the brand…

469bhp C-Class names its price BUYERS will have to wait for the new GLE SUV (left), but they can order the latest Mercedes-AMG C 63 now after prices were released. First deliveries are due in October, and the 469bhp saloon (above) kicks off from £66,429, while the Estate costs from £67,629. Coupé and Cabriolet models are £68,719 and £72,537 respectively, and stepping up to the 503bhp C 63 S adds around £9,000 to any bodystyle. Volkswagen T-Roc given diesel boost VOLKSWAGEN has added a new 1.6-litre TDI diesel to its T-Roc crossover range. The familiar 113bhp engine sits above the entry-level 1.0 TSI petrol and is lifted from the Golf. It’s available in S, SE, Design and SEL trims, with prices from £21,290. The 1.6 TDI is front-wheel drive only,…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths THE UK’s roads are busier than ever, with car drivers covering an estimated 254.4 billion miles last year; the highest figure ever logged. Despite this growth, the number of accidents has fallen by 10 per cent over the past five years, while deaths on the road were down by four per cent in 2017. Improvements in car safety have undoubtedly played their part, with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance (LKA) and blind spot warning helping keep cars away from each other, and on the correct side of the road. But which of the UK’s most popular cars get these features as standard? And if they’re not included, how much do they cost to add? We surveyed the 10 most recent best-sellers to find out. Commenting on our…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 74.3mpg (official) £66 fill-up Essentials Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi 3 Price: £21,955 Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl diesel Power/torque: 114bhp/280Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10.6 seconds Top speed: 116mph Economy: 74.3mpg CO2: 99g/km ONSALE Now “It’s grippy during everyday driving, and adjustable enough when you find an entertaining back road” THIS is Kia’s new family hatchback. But don’t call it the Cee’d any more; it’s now Ceed. The rather confusing apostrophe placement found on the previous two versions has been axed. We first drove the new Ceed in June (Issue 1,529), in turbo petrol form. Now, we’ve driven the frugal CRDi version to see if the diesel is the pick of the range. With 114bhp, it’s well matched against the Volkswagen Golf’s 1.6 TDI, but the…

Steve_Walker@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.4 seconds/126mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 588/1,810 litres Running costs 37.0mpg (on test) £64 fill-up/£140 or 26% tax WE know the Skoda Karoq is good. Not just good in fact, it’s our Best Mid-Size SUV for 2018. It’s blitzed our road tests and faced off against some highly talented rivals to drive away with the big award in what is one of the most competitive sectors of the UK car market today. What we don’t know yet is what the Karoq is like to live with for an extended period. Will the sheen on Skoda’s all-conquering crossover be dulled once it comes into contact with a few oily bikes, wet dogs and kids’ crayons? That’s the next stage in our ongoing evaluation of the car and…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk THE Volkswagen Arteon is a good-looking car that attracts either quiet approval from those who know what it is, or bewildered fascination from those who don’t. Despite bearing a distant resemblance to the CC that unofficially preceded it, the Arteon is a much more dramatic, far more successful design than just about any other previous big VW. There are several reasons why. One, its proportions are almost perfectly in balance from front to rear, which is unusual for such a big car. Two, the line from bonnet to tail is entirely unbroken as it swoops rearwards, which makes the car look like a classically dynamic coupé, rather than a traditional five or four-door. Three, its wheels sit quite beautifully within the wheelarches, and the design is, I believe, kind…

Hire a Morgan 4/4 for your hotel stay A COUNTRY house hotel and a classic sports car is an idyllic pairing, and the Nare Hotel in Cornwall has made the process easier for its guests. Those staying at the Nare can hire a Morgan 4/4 (above) for £250 per day. It’s offered in a partnership between Morgan and Pride of Britain hotels. Visit www.narehotel.co.uk. Kim’s Corner gives air ambulance a lift LEFTOVER samples from the Auto Express car care testing programme over the past year were on sale again at the Waxstock detailing show at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena last month. Volunteers sorted and priced the samples, then manned Kim’s Corner, named after our products editor Kim Adams, and raised an impressive £984.93 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Log on…

PRODUCT GROUP TEST 8|8|2018 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 IN this age of USB charging, adapters that convert a car’s 12-Volt power socket into several more may seem old hat. But there are still lots of accessories that require more punch than a standard USB outlet’s 5V can provide. Powered cool boxes, travel mugs, aftermarket reversing camera systems, in-car fans and heated seat covers all require a cigarette lighter socket. For these, adapters which increase your 12V socket count and provide USB outlets make more sense than those that just offer the latter, and remove the use of the socket at the same time. So which are the…

Dear Alex, My mates and I are going on a European trip. What can we get for £3,000 that’ll hold all of us, and our cheap booze? John Smith, E-mail Contact: Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk THE PRACTICAL CHOICE Chrysler Voyager FOR: Spacious cabin, sliding doors, comfortable seats AGAINST: Dated interior design, thirsty diesel AMERICANS love to do things big, and the Chrysler Voyager is a prime example. Open those sliding rear doors, a unique feature in this trio, and it’s vast inside. On the road, it’s happiest when cruising along wide, open tarmac, because the Voyager feels a little ponderous through turns. The 2.5 and 2.8-litre engines use a lot of diesel, but the bigger unit has more torque and an automatic gearbox. Tidy 56-plate models that have covered 100,000 miles fall within…

Join the debate now at autoexpress.co.uk/opinion Rutherford Mike Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off The Adam Smith Institute vows to create a ‘happier world’, so why has it declared war on MoTs that save lives? THE three things that annoy me most about DAB car radios? Patchy signal strength; not enough proper news; phone-in presenters and callers endlessly referring to Donald Trump as an idiot. From what I see and hear from him, I don’t like him. But an idiot he is not. He needs to be – and is – super smart for first becoming a billionaire, prior to winning enough votes to assume the US presidency, then taking over the job of most powerful person on the planet. But it falls apart for The Donald when…

COMBO LIFE – 2018 New Vauxhall leisure activity vehicle hits UK this summer. ASTRA FACELIFT – 2019 Updated version of brand’s VW Golf rival has been spied. CORSA – 2019 Supermini will share platform with next Peugeot 208. GRANDLAND X PHEV – 2019 Plug-in hybrid version of flagship SUV confirmed. CORSA EV – 2020 Electric Corsa will be first of many EVs from firm by 2024. MOKKA X – 2020 Next Mokka X on PSA platform has been spied on test as well. NEW ASTRA – 2022 Eighth-generation Astra to boast plug-in hybrid tech.…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP FROM: Wheats THE Macan is still the best SUV on the market by a long way (only the new X3 comes anywhere close). The facelift will keep it fresh, and the larger sat-nav screen is welcome. Looking forward to trying the new 300bhp 2.0-litre petrol. FROM: Alistair Gibb I WILL reserve full judgement until I see it in the metal, but am sorry to see the facelifted Macan has lost its predecessor’s gorgeous rear lights. A wide LED light bar works on a Panamera or Cayenne, but the Macan doesn’t need it. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ▪ “It exudes a presence and sophistication that many larger cars fail to match.” Kamelo ▪ “Interior…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.1 seconds/152mph Running costs 55mpg (est) £83 fill-up Essentials Audi A6 40 TDI S line Price: £39,000 (est) Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel Power/torque: 201bhp/400Nm Transmission: Seven-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.1 seconds Top speed: 152mph Economy: 55mpg (est) CO2: 135/km (est) ONSALE September “You do sacrifice a bit of outright performance by downsizing, but you also lose a fair bit of weight” WE already know how good the new Audi A6 is. It’s based on the bigger but mightily impressive new A7, yet it sheds a little weight and adds a fair chunk of design appeal over the car it replaces. Having already driven it in 55 TFSI specification (Issue 1,525), we know it drives as good as it looks, too. You might think that by…

Stuart_Milne@dennis.co.uk Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 514/1,652 litres Running costs 38.9mpg (on test) £64 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 11.1 seconds/117mph DOES Vauxhall’s latest and largest SUV really have X-appeal? That’s the big question I’ll be trying to answer over the coming months at the wheel of a Grandland X. It’s safe to say that Vauxhall has been slow to embrace the SUV phenomenon. The Antara lumbered on for several years past its sell-by date, and the big-selling Mokka X arguably majors on value more than it does mechanical appeal. Yet Vauxhall set out its stall a few years ago by revealing all its SUVs would be suffixed by an X, hence the name of my latest long termer. The Grandland X shares its platform and engines with the Peugeot 3008; it’s…

Suzuki Swift Sport WHEN Suzuki revealed the latest Swift Sport, it separated the warm hatch from its supermini sibling by launching it with unique Champion Yellow paint. So of course, when speccing our long-term test car, there was only one colour we wanted. But it seems everyone else thought the same, as reviews and features editor Rich Ingram found out on a trip to Bedford to visit our colleagues at sister title evo. As he pulled into the car park, evo’s identical yellow test car was hiding in plain sight. As Suzuki offers so few options, the two Sports were identical, with the same wheels, the same lights and the same body trim; even the interior upholstery was identical. Elsewhere, the Swift Sport’s driving dynamics continue to impress. Rich found…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Is charger safe on my car? MY BMW X3 diesel has stop/start, but I’m worried about plugging my CTEK 0.8A battery charger into it. Is it safe to use on the BMW? Jill Crowdy, E-mail A YOUR charger is fine to use on your BMW, but it’s a low-powered unit designed for long-term maintenance and smaller batteries like those on motorcycles. Charging a flat BMW battery would take a long time. Our test winner, the CTEK CT5 Time to Go (above), would be much faster and has a mode to suit cars with AGM (absorbent glass mat) stop/start batteries. Q Help choosing seat covers AS a driving instructor with a lot of people getting in and out of my car, I am looking to…

MANY manufacturers prefer to have separate cleaners for hard and soft surfaces in your car’s cabin. But Chipex has introduced a new product that aims to tackle both. Factory Finish Interior and Dashboard Cleaner joins other newcomers Uber Super Concentrate Car Shampoo (£12.95, 500ml) and a revised version of Aquaphobic Rain-Repelling Screenwash (£13.95, one litre) in the Chipex range. We tested the new interior cleaner against our hard surface test winner, Dodo Juice Total Wipe Out, and the soft champ, Halfords’ Upholstery Cleaner. Chocolate and margarine were applied to a car mat and trim panel, plus we added ballpoint ink to the fabric. We used limited wiping and assessed progress once the test areas had dried. Our champs retain their titles, but the Chipex is worth a look if you…

WHILE much of Suzuki’s SUV focus is on the all-new Jimny (driven on Page 8), it isn’t neglecting the evergreen Vitara. As part of a mid-life facelift, Suzuki has gifted the Vitara a series of design revisions, new engines and safety tech. Design changes are subtle. There’s a redesigned front grille with vertical slats, while the front bumper is new, too. The refreshed face is completed with new headlights boasting a redesigned lighting signature. New alloy wheel designs and fresh paint colours are available as well. Inside, the instrument panel has been redesigned and now incorporates a colour TFT display between the dials. Suzuki claims to have used higher-quality materials in the cabin, too. Engines include new 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre turbo petrol units, with ALLGRIP all-wheel drive also available. The…

THIS is the Lexus LC Limited Edition, a special version of the four-seat coupé complete with a unique colour scheme and extra equipment. Every version gets Naples Yellow paint and the LC’s Sport+ pack, which adds 21-inch alloy wheels and a carbon-fibre roof, as well as Lexus Dynamic Handling, four-wheel steering, a Torsen limited-slip differential and an active rear wing. Inside, the door trims are finished in yellow, while there’s contrast stitching for the steering wheel, instrument panel and armrest. A head-up display and Mark Levinson audio system – both optional on other LCs – are also included. The Limited Edition comes in LC 500 and 500h guises, and although prices haven’t been confirmed, we expect it to cost around £90,000.…

• Electrified SUV and saloon spearhead brand’s offensive Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consume EXCLUSIVE IMAGES GEELY-owned Lynk & Co is gearing up for an assault on the European car market with two new models, Auto Express can exclusively reveal. Despite the brand’s relative infancy, Lynk & Co is already planning at least two electrified models based on Volvo’s SPA platform. The cars are expected to appear early in the next decade. The first will be a big SUV. Our inside source told us: “We have plans to work on the XC90 platform. But we will also look at fully electric. We are already working on four different versions, which won’t all come from Volvo.” Our contact, who works in the firm’s product management department, told us Lynk & Co is also working on…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We run the rule over affordable Kona EV HYUNDAI plans to shake up the affordable EV market with its Kona Electric. Using the Kona small SUV as a base, it offers up to 300 miles per charge and costs less than £30,000. That’s a remarkable claim and leads the way for cheap EVs with a long range. Watch our video review. Subscribe to our YouTube channel IF you’re reading this column and you’re not a subscriber to our YouTube channel, then why not? You’ll be notified when a new video is uploaded and you’ll be the first to watch our news, reviews and our famous track battle and drag race videos. Go to youtube.com/autoexpress and click ‘subscribe’. You can watch any of our videos on your phone Simply…

Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer “I THINK one of the most interesting pieces I ever picked up was a Hula Hoops crisp packet from 1987,” says Emily Stevenson, a 21-year-old marine biology graduate who is now safeguarding Cornwall’s beaches from plastic. “It just goes to show that this stuff stays forever, it doesn’t decompose.” More than eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans each year, causing untold damage to marine and beach ecosystems. And up to 80 per cent of all ocean litter is made of plastic, according to the United Nations. While the UK’s recycling efforts are better than in many other countries, oceans have little regard for borders. Plastic is washed on to Britain’s beaches from as far afield as China. To help keep the country’s beaches…

Ford Fiesta ST SYNC3 Standard Key features: Sat-nav, Android Auto and CarPlay THE Ford’s standard eight-inch touchscreen display is responsive, clear and bright, so it’s relatively easy to figure out. There’s nowhere to rest your hand while you operate the set-up, so doing so while on the move is frustrating; but for the most part the buttons on screen are large enough that you can accurately select them. Menu layout is logical and simple, with functions clearly displayed on the main screen. However, there’s no physical home button and few other buttons to access the different menus in the system, unlike with the easy-to-use MINI set-up. On all three cars the air-conditioning is operated by physical controls and not hidden among the screen menus, which is a big positive for…

sean_carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ Performance 0-62mph/top speed 5.7 seconds/155mph Running costs 38.5mpg (on test) £82 fill-up/£450 or 36% tax IN my first report (Issue 1,529), where I picked up our Audi A7 Sportback from the dealer, I remarked on how much tech was crammed into the beautifully trimmed cabin. This is the way modern cars are going, with more connectivity and gadgetry – but they’re still cars first and foremost and, for now, still driven by humans. So, bearing that in mind, what’s the A7 like from behind the wheel? This is a car that majors on comfort and refinement. Many long trips over the past few months have brought this home to me, especially the refinement. Sounds from outside like wind and tyre noise are well attenuated due to the acoustic…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issue 1,534 Audi A7 Sportback Issue 1,529 Citroen C3 Aircross Issues 1,526, 1,532 Honda Civic Type R Iss 1,512, 1,524, 1,527, 1,534 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Iss 1,514, 1,523, 1,528, 1,533 Kia Stinger Issue 1,533 Mazda CX-5 Iss 1,503, 1,512, 1,521, 1,530 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Issues 1,509, 1,521, 1,535 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531 Renault Koleos Issue 1,530 SEATArona Issues 1,524, 1,531, 1,535 SsangYong Rexton Issues 1,516, 1,525, 1,529 Suzuki Swift Sport Issue 1,532 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527, 1,535 Volkswagen Arteon Issues 1,520, 1,530 Volvo XC60 Issues 1,523, 1,527, 1,534…

Range Rover First Generation: The Essential Buyer’s Guide James Taylor (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £12.99 IF any car needs a checklist before you buy, it’s the original Range Rover. This book takes you through the pitfalls and helps you decide initially if you should actually consider a Rangie. It won’t replace a workshop manual or history book, but pick up a copy for a little extra peace of mind. Teach Yourself Motoring Dudley Noble (Teach Yourself, teachyourself.co.uk) Price: £7.99 (Kindle) THIS enlightening 1951 guide deals with motoring in a time before motorways, five-speed gearboxes and automatic chokes. It’s charming and fascinating, while much of the advice on preparation and smoothness still holds true. Tiny Auto Shop Available for: iOS, Android Price: Free ADORABLY-styled garage game sees you fuelling, washing, repairing…

Sponsored by Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Letting turbos cool down I GREW up when turbos were relatively rare, and back then the advice was to leave turbocharged engines idling at the end of a run. Is this still necessary? Adam O’Carrol, E-mail A THIS certainly used to be the case, and was required to let turbos cool down properly to prevent hot spots from forming. Modern engines feature more sophisticated engine management software and cooling systems, though, so this advice is less relevant today. Check your car’s handbook to be sure. Q Ciggie smoke smell problem THE used car I recently bought has started to smell of old cigarette smoke; I think scent from the cleaning products the dealer used is wearing off. Can I ask for a…

First UK race for German tin-tops since 2013 Paffett leads points Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk GERMANY’S DTM touring-car series makes a return to Brands Hatch in Kent this weekend for the first time since 2013. But unlike its previous visits to the circuit, which used the short Indy layout, this time the full Grand Prix loop will be used. There’s plenty for the home fans to get excited about, too, as British Mercedes drivers Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta are currently first and second in the standings, with the brand looking to end its DTM run on a high before switching to Formula E next season. “There hasn’t necessarily been any extra push for the last year,” Paffett told Auto Express ahead of the event. “The team has just been evolving over…