Table of contents for 1546 in Auto Express

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram ● OFFICIAL VAUXHALL is set to completely overhaul its product range, introducing eight all-new or updated models by 2020. The plan will also see the Adam and Viva city cars axed from the line-up in a bid to boost profitability. The product refresh brings with it a big electrification push. Vauxhall says that four fully electric or hybrid cars will be available to buy from the start of the next decade, while every car in its range will offer an electrified version by 2024. Two of the most significant launches will take place next year, with debuts of the all-new Corsa supermini and Vivaro van. As part of the brand’s position within the PSA group, the next Corsa will be based on the Common Modular Platform (CMP), which…

New Jeep Wrangler names its price THE new, fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler is now on sale, from £44,495. The launch line-up does not feature the model’s new petrol engine, with every car currently using a 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel. Three trim levels are offered, including a tough Rubicon from £46,495. Two-door and four-door Wranglers are available, with the larger version of the new off-roader (above) costing £1,500 extra. JLR plans two-week shutdown JAGUAR Land Rover will close its Solihull factory for two weeks at the end of October as the company implements “operational efficiencies”. Staff at the plant, which is home to the Range Rover Sport and Jaguar F-Pace, will continue to be paid during the shutdown. Sales of Range Rovers and Jaguars were down 46 per cent last month in China…

ELSEWHERE at Porsche, the German brand is putting the finishing touches to a lightweight 718 Cayman T, Auto Express understands. The model will follow on from the recently launched 911 T, and offer a more focused driving experience without the flagship GT cars’ hefty price tag. Set to arrive in the UK next spring, the 718 Cayman T will sit between the Cayman S and GTS; it’s expected to use a tuned version of the 2.5-litre flat-four, developing around 360bhp. Weight-saving features such as thinner glass, fabric door pulls and sports seats will feature, along with more extreme measures such as the removal of the audio system. These moves should trim around 20kg from the car’s kerbweight.…

James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk @JRRBatchelor We deliver verdict on latest BMW X5 ANOTHER week and it’s another BMW. Last week we saw the new 3 Series and now it’s our chance to see another important model: the X5. The brand arguably invented the sporty 4x4, and it’s totally reworked the X5. Has it succeeded? Richard Ingram went to the US to find out. Can Cherokee lead brave Jeep charge? THE Cherokee name is one of the most prestigious in the world of 4x4s, but in a sea of similar SUV rivals, the famous badge hasn’t been enough. Now Jeep is retaliating with a refresh to the current model featuring a new look, more safety kit and a higher-tech interior. What’s it like? Join Alex Ingram for the walkaround. You can watch any of…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths “Jaguar is a great British brand that’s making modern, younger cars, like the EVs. And the I-Pace is great to drive”ANDYMURRAY Professional tennis player CHAMPIONS come in many shapes and sizes. The Jaguar I-Pace’s blend of desirability, driveability and cutting-edge tech makes it a worthy winner of the 2018 Auto Express Car of the Year award, not least because it beat models such as the Mercedes EQC, Audi e-tron and BMW iX3 to market. So the I-Pace is something of an underdog in the electric SUV stakes, and a similar argument can be made about Grand Slam tennis champion Andy Murray. While Murray has had a tough year following extensive hip surgery, the 31-year-old Scot is used to setting a standard others must beat – just like the…

Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @AxleIngram Running costs 48.7mpg (official) £72 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/124mph THERE’S not much in the automotive world that has hit the spot quite as sweetly as the Nissan Qashqai. The winner of the Auto Express Car of the Last 30 Years is still going strong more than a decade after the original was launched, with buyers loving its space, affordability and SUV style. The second-generation Qashqai came out in 2013, and today ranks as the fourth most popular new car in the UK. Not content with that, Nissan keeps tweaking the formula to ensure the Qashqai stays competitive. The latest changes aim to make it better to drive, cheaper to run and easier to live with. There’s a new infotainment system inside, but the biggest news is…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Running costs 48.7mpg (official) £69 fill-up Performance 0-62mph/top speed 8.6 seconds/130mph THE all-new Kia Ceed showed real promise when we tried it abroad a few months back (Issue 1,529). Now it’s time to see whether the Korean brand’s latest rival for the VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus can put in a similarly good showing on the UK’s pock-marked roads. There should be precious few excuses for a below-par performance, too. The Ceed we’re driving here is a First Edition, loaded up with kit and equipped with the 138bhp 1.4-litre petrol turbo that is, for now, the hot spot in the range. A 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 114bhp 1.6 diesel are also available – although given how Kia is really targeting big names such as the Focus…

Peugeot 508 Fastback Connected 3D Nav Standard Key features: Digi dash, connectivity WHILE Allure trim’s 10-inch screen is larger than we’ve seen in other Peugeot models fitted with the second-generation i-Cockpit layout, it still works in a similar way and boasts similar features. It’s a higher resolution than we’ve seen before, but only slightly, while the sat-nav, audio set-up and connectivity work just as well. The system isn’t the easiest to use, though, and sometimes lags behind your inputs, so using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto might be a better bet, because response times are better. Using either system is the easiest option. One of the more frustrating features is that the climate controls are integrated into the touchscreen, but at least with the larger display there are digital ‘buttons’…

Darren_Wilson@dennis.co.uk Performance 0-62mph/top speed 9.9 seconds/117mph Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 1,060/2,150 litres Running costs 32.9mpg (on test) £73 fill-up/£140 or 25% tax IT’S funny how car requirements can change as your family grows. Initially, it’s all about extra seats, more space and versatility. Yet over the past six months with our Peugeot 5008 seven-seater, we’ve needed its extra two seats only a couple of times – although we’ve certainly made use of the vast load area. My children are older now and do different things. They often require lifts, but it’s usually one at a time rather than all together with their friends. Even going on a recent family holiday to Devon didn’t fill up the car, unlike in the past. My eldest, George, stayed at home due to work…

Suzuki Swift Sport THIS month our Swift hasn’t had quite as much use, mainly due to staff writer Alex Ingram’s recent hectic schedule of car launches and motor shows. Even so, the first notably cold day after an unusually hot summer threw up a fault. A drop in temperature means a drop in pressure, much to the consternation of the tyre pressure warning system. At one point, this flashed up to inform Alex that the pressure was too low in three of the four tyres, even though everything was fine to within one or two PSI. Colleagues at our sister title evo told us their Swift Sport had exactly the same problem on the same day, which hints that it’s not an isolated issue. Annoyingly, there’s no way to reset…

Got a query? products@autoexpress.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Can I retro-fit CarPlay? I’VE been looking at installing an aftermarket infotainment system in my car to connect my iPhone via Bluetooth and make calls and play music. Are units available with Apple CarPlay? Geoff Temple, E-mail A APPLE CarPlay and its Android equivalent have long been offered by the aftermarket, which can react more quickly to tech changes than car makers. Our test winner Pioneer has products for most budgets, covering single-DIN dash slots (with its MXH-XV580DAB, above) and double-DIN dash slots alike. Q Tackling air-con pong USING my car’s air-conditioning and heater causes the vents to emit an unpleasant smell. The issue has steadily worsened over time. Is there anything I can do to alleviate this? Robert Blackburn, E-mail A THE smell is likely due to…

Dear Alex, I’m looking for a luxurious hybrid. I’ve got around £30,000 to spend, so what do you think I should buy? Roger Grant, E-mail Contact: Alex_Ingram@dennis.co.uk THE PERFORMANCE CHOICE BMW 7 Series FOR: Strong performance, solid build quality AGAINST: Fidgety ride, stodgy handling IF performance is your thing, then the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is the car to have here. The Seven’s hybrid system pairs a 3.0-litre straight-six with an electric motor, delivering a 0-62mph dash in 5.7 seconds – nearly a second faster than the other two. It’ll cover a couple of miles in electric-only mode, so with a light right foot it’ll return a claimed 41.5mpg. The BMW is set up for comfort, but while overall ride quality isn’t quite a match for the Mercedes’, the car is…

BRITISH racer Gary Paffett has been confirmed as the first driver in the new HWA Formula E team, joining the grid for the start of season five in December. Paffett moves from Mercedes’ DTM programme, which is being wrapped up this year. HWA Racelab is serving as a ‘shadow’ entry for Mercedes, which along with Porsche will join Formula E for season six in December 2019. Paffett said: “This is the first time in 15 years that I’ll have switched series and cars. It’ll be a major challenge – for me, and for the team. We have a lot to learn. It’ll not be easy at first, but we’re ready and are all looking forward to it.” Paffett’s team-mate has yet to be announced, but ex-McLaren Formula One driver Stoffel…

● All-wheel-drive monster SUV arrives in Britain next March ● Six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines offered at launch James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “BMW has been in the SUV business for less than 20 years, but they make up more than a third of all its new cars leaving showrooms” BMW is going after the Range Rover and Mercedes GLS with its new X7 SUV, revealed here in full ahead of its launch in Britain next March. It’s the largest SUV BMW has ever built and is a real sign of where the new car market has been moving in recent times. The brand has been in the SUV business for less than 20 years, but it already produces seven separate models, and this type of car accounts for more than a third…

“Basic level of equipment across every car in the new MINI line-up is the same” MINI has launched three new trim levels to replace the One, Cooper and Cooper S classifications it currently uses. From November those names will remain part of the ordering process – but only in reference to the engine selected. Instead, the way your MINI will look and what equipment it’ll have depends on which one of three new ‘styles’ you choose and what option packs you specify it with. The Classic style is the new entry-level MINI, priced from £16,190 for the MINI three-door hatch with a 101bhp One-badged three-cylinder engine. As an example of how the system works, you get the base Classic with a 189bhp Cooper S engine, priced from £20,660. Sitting above…

PHEV GRANT AXED: £2,500 consumer loss Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Was: £34,225 Now: £36,755 Volvo XC60 T8 Was: £51,370 Now: £53,870 EV GRANT REDUCED: £1,000 consumer loss Nissan Leaf Was: £25,190 Now: £26,190 Jaguar I-Pace Was: £58,995 Now: £59,995 Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths GOVERNMENT grants for plug-in hybrids have been axed, and subsidies for fully electric cars have been significantly reduced. The changes will add £2,500 to the cost of a new plug-in hybrid such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and increase the cost of a new Nissan Leaf by £1,000. The news comes as the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that grants for Category 2 and 3 plug-ins, which previously gave buyers a £2,500 discount, will end on 9 November. At the same time, the Category 1 grant for electric cars will…

Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths TOP TIPS FOR CONSUMERS: Contact your dealer the moment you get a recall letter Don’t pay for safety-related recall work Check online to see whether your car has an outstanding recall RECALLS are big news. So far this year, BMW has recalled 312,000 cars in the UK over a stalling issue, Toyota has issued two actions for 3.4 million vehicles worldwide, while Volkswagen and SEAT have recalled the Polo, Arona and Ibiza respectively over a malfunctioning rear seatbelt buckle. But while recalls are relatively commonplace occurrences for manufacturers, owners who receive a letter through the door telling them their vehicle has a potential safety defect may have questions. What should you do when you receive such a letter? How does a manufacturer decide to issue a recall? And…

Richard_Ingram@dennis.co.uk @rsp_ingram Performance 0-62mph/top speed 10.9 seconds/117mph Running costs 48.7mpg (official) £63 fill-up THE original brief for the 500X was to “take the 500 and make it bigger”. The plan worked – and in the three years since launch, the crossover has become the second best-selling model in the maker’s line-up. Now the time has come for a fairly extensive mid-life refresh. There’s a new look, technology and engines, plus more kit; the trim line-up has been restructured to reflect the buying habits of the 500X’s customers, too. We first drove the updated car in Italy in September (Issue 1,541), and declared that while the formula hadn’t changed, myriad tweaks gave the quirky SUV new appeal. Fiat’s decision to gift the crossover “even more ‘500-ness’ than before” had clearly worked.…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THE time has come to renew your car. But deciding what should take pride of place on your driveway can often be a complicated and difficult process. As ever, Auto Express is here to help; we’ve put together the most comprehensive guide to every new car coming next year and a little beyond. Over the next 28 pages you’ll see there’s no stopping the rise of the SUV as manufacturers race to get 4x4s of every shape and size in their range. An influx of new electric cars and plug-in hybrids, from Audi to Volvo, will be swamping dealers within the next 18 months, too. New versions of motoring icons such as the VW Golf and Porsche 911 are waiting in the wings, while newly formed brands such…

1st VAUXHALL THE Insignia wins yet again thanks to its incredible value for money. Performance, practicality, affordable running costs and a strong level of core kit are what counts in this class, and the Vauxhall nails it. It’s nearly as refined as the Kia, but faster, while it rides and handles as well as the Peugeot. It adds efficiency into the mix to make it a brilliant all-rounder. 2nd KIA SOME minor updates to the Optima have improved things. The new 1.6-litre diesel engine is refined and delivers acceptable performance, while the Kia still looks good, plus there’s plenty of space and, therefore, practicality to call on. However, the interior is bland and so is the driving experience. While it doesn’t offend, it’s also not as well-rounded as the cheaper…

Running costs 36.6mpg (on test) £59 fill-up/£140 or 32% tax Performance 0-60mph/top speed 6.3 seconds/136mph Practicality Boot capacity 130 litres Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 48.4/34.9/8.6m THE Mazda MX-5 is Britain’s best-selling roadster, and has been around for nearly 30 years. Even over that period, it’s always been one of the finest cars in its class. That’s because it has stayed true to its roots, which are fundamental to its brilliance. It’s small, good value and, above all, great fun to drive. That hasn’t changed one bit with this latest version, and in fact this new 2.0-litre model is more thrilling than ever. This is because there’s more power than before, up to 181bhp, thanks to a larger intake manifold, increased injection pressure and a new exhaust system. But it’s not just the…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn Performance 0-60mph/top speed 5.8 seconds/149mph Running costs 31.2mpg (on test) £79 fill-up/£140 or 37% tax “Lined up against its main rivals, Stinger has its own identity and stands out next to the German competition” “IT’S a Kia? Really?” is a phrase I’ve heard endlessly from people all over the country after four months of running the Stinger. Although I must admit that when I first saw the five-door on stage at the Detroit Motor Show back in January 2017, it took me by surprise, too. When the covers were first pulled off, nobody could quite believe the car had been designed and developed by the same company that for years had been building handsome but unexceptional hatchbacks and rather bland-looking SUVs. And 18 months later, it’s still catching…

Alfa Romeo Giulia Issues 1,534,1,544 AudiA7 Sportback Iss 1,529,1,536, 1,539,1,542 Hyundai Kona Electric New arrival Kia Stinger Issues 1,533, 1,537 Mazda 6 New arrival MINI Cooper5-door Issue 1,538 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Issue 1,545 Nissan Leaf Issue 1,533 Peugeot 5008 Issues 1,523, 1,531, 1,539 Renault Koleos Issues 1,530,1,542 Skoda Karoq Issues 1,536, 1545 Suzuki Swift Sport Issues 1,532, 1,541, 1,544 Toyota C-HR Issues 1,527, 1,535, 1,543 Vauxhall Grandland X Issues 1,536, 1,540 Volkswagen Polo New arrival Volvo XC60 T8 Issue 1,541…

NEW PRODUCT Sealey inspection lamps Price: From £35.94 Contact: www.sealey.co.uk TOOLS specialist Sealey currently produces our top cordless inspection lamp with its SlimFlex design, but it has reverted to a more conventional style for the latest additions to its LED360 range. Gone is the slender blade of 12 LEDs; the LED3606’s bank of 24 LEDs mounted in a cylindrical casing punches out more than twice the light of its predecessor. The surface-mount device (SMD) LEDs deliver a super-bright 1,000 lumen compared with the 400 of our current test winner. There’s a choice of two output levels, which give up to 12 hours’ run time. The LEDs are powered by two 3.7V 2.6Ah lithium-ion batteries, which are charged through a micro USB port and supplied cable. Alongside the inspection lamp, Sealey has…

Life on the road: Kiwi T rucking Stories Randolph Covich (Penguin Random House New Zealand, penguinrandomhouse.co.nz) Price: £8.99 (Kindle Edition) THIS is a fascinating read about the highs and lows of trucking across New Zealand told by the drivers, owners and operators. There’s also brilliant depth, with stories ranging from tales about modern units to the very origins of Kiwi trucking back in the thirties. Rover Cars: A Pictorial History James Taylor (Veloce Publishing, www.veloce.co.uk) Price: £9.99 IT’S easy to think of Rovers as dowdy, ugly and dated, but this reminds us that over its 100-plus years the brand made some interesting cars. The volume covers post-war models, albeit in rather short form due to its small size. Still, it’s concise and precise. Bridge Construction Simulator Available for: iOS, Android…

Got any car queries? Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer Q Shock at brake pads’ short life MY MINI is telling me to “service front brake pads” after 29,000 miles. My dealer says these must be changed, for £229, to maintain my warranty. Shouldn’t pads last longer? Mick Saul, E-mail A THE average life of pads is 50,000 miles, but urban driving can reduce this. So while you should heed the warning light, £229 is a lot to pay for front pads on a MINI; if an independent garage uses approved parts, replaces them to manufacturer requirements and documents its work, your warranty should be unaffected. Q Dash tapping noise concern AMYSTERIOUS tapping sound has developed in my car’s dashboard. It occurs randomly and seems unrelated to speed or engine temperature. Should I be worried? Jeremy Hunter,…

Stephen_Errity@dennis.co.uk A NEW single-seater championship exclusively for women drivers has been announced for 2019, sparking considerable debate and controversy. The ‘W Series’ will be free to enter, with a total prize fund of US$1.5million (£1.14m). It promises to select drivers based on real-world and simulator tests, plus engineering tests and fitness trials, and aims for entrants to progress further in racing, to Formula 2 or Formula One. The field will be made up of identical Tatuus Formula 3 cars and race on the support bill to Germany’s DTM touring car series, which visits circuits in the UK, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands as well as Germany on its 2019 calendar. It has been set up by Catherine Bond Muir, a lawyer and corporate finance banker specialising in sport and leisure.…

WILLIAMS has confirmed that the current Formula 2 championship leader George Russell will get one of its two race seats for the 2019 Formula One season. His promotion makes it three British drivers on the grid next year, alongside fellow rookie Lando Norris at McLaren and Lewis Hamilton. Williams’ second seat hasn’t yet been confirmed, with Lance Stroll widely expected to move to Force India. Current driver Sergey Sirotkin could remain, with a race return for Robert Kubica looking a less likely outcome.…

Motoring’s most outspoken and opinionated columnist sounds off Over weeks of party political broadcasts, I’ve hardy heard mention of Britain’s 40 million cars or our 50 million drivers AS a dyslexic agnostic insomniac, I often stay up half the night wondering if there really is a dog. Talk radio channels also help me get through the hours of darkness. By 7am I’m hooked on Radio 4. My lunch breaks wouldn’t be the same without the 1pm news bulletin on BBC1. Then afternoons and early evenings consist of driving cars, sitting at a desk, or both… usually with LBC on in the background. I’m addicted to radio and TV, but one of the consequences is that I’ve just suffered weeks of party political broadcasts, yet hardly, if ever, heard mention of…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THE new convertible version of the Volkswagen T-Roc has been caught testing in public for the first time, ahead of going on sale in the next 18 months. Previewed back at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with the T-Cross Breeze concept (right), the drop-top, captured on the road by our spy photographers (below), will enter a segment currently only occupied by the soon-to-be-axed Range Rover Evoque Convertible; it will be VW’s only soft-top model because it replaces the defunct Golf Cabriolet. While the Breeze concept initially previewed a drop-top variant of VW’s smallest SUV, the forthcoming T-Cross, the production vehicle will instead form part of the larger T-Roc range. The spy shots reveal the production model will be a three-door, just like the concept, and will use a…

A NEW telephone hotline will help UK car industry small businesses prepare for a potential hard Brexit. The helpline is part of the first phase of a Brexit Readiness Programme being developed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The trade body says 69 per cent of companies involved in the UK automotive supply chain employ 10 people or fewer, and it’s concerned such firms may not have the resources to properly prepare for leaving the EU without a trade deal. Five leading law and accountancy firms will join forces with the SMMT to help deliver advice on tax arrangements, regulation changes and other post-Brexit trade subjects. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes explained local supply chains form the “backbone” of manufacturing, and the UK car industry had “thrived” thanks…

PORSCHE is adding a bit more focus to its sports saloon and estate with the new Panamera GTS and Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. The new models benefit from an extra 20bhp and 100Nm of torque from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 powerplant – up to 453bhp and 620Nm. The gains mean the GTS incarnations can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and hit top speeds of 181mph (Panamera) and 180mph (Sport Turismo). The cars get a 10mm lower ride height and a new configuration of Porsche’s PASM active dampers. Adaptive air suspension is fitted as standard, too. Black trim elements and 20-inch Panamera Design wheels come as standard, along with black Alcantara and anodised aluminium finishes in the cabin. Dealers are accepting orders now, with the Panamera GTS weighing in at…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk @AutoExpress Write to: Watchdog/Letters, Auto Express, Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP FROM: Terence Borton I’VE always been a Hyundai fan, and it’s great to see the brand’s sporty side coming good. Hyundai should drop the Veloster as it currently stands, and use the name for a three-door i30 N coupé based on the Fastback. FROM: Jared Hitchens THE standard i30 N is a classic-in-the-making hot hatch, but I haven’t seen that many on the roads. Will the Fastback be more popular? Possibly, but I’d argue the rear three-quarters look unresolved, so it doesn’t wow on the design front. Join the debate at www.autoexpress.co.uk ■ “Premium brands should be getting nervous if Hyundai is capable of making cars like this.” Robert K ■ “The Fastback needs…

mail@autoexpress.co.uk ON the surface, the Ford Mustang Bullitt doesn’t seem to offer a whole lot extra above and beyond what you get from a standard V8 GT. Apart from its dark green paint, chrome details and natty new 19-inch wheels, it would appear to be much the same car as a regular Mustang. Dig a little deeper, however, and there are aspects that differentiate it – the most obvious of which is its new induction system. Internally, the 5.0 V8 remains in standard tune, but it’s been allowed to breathe much more freely thanks to a huge air filter, bigger throttle bodies and an all-new exhaust. The result is a 14bhp power hike (to 453bhp) plus a fulsome 529Nm of torque. Yet the Bullitt’s V8 engine feels and sounds different.…

NEW: Skoda Superb 2.0TDI 150 SE PRICE: £24,255 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp MORE power from its 2.0TDI means there’s plenty of poke, while the Superb SE is relatively well equipped, too. It’s great to drive and the big hatch means plenty of practicality, revealing a 625-litre boot. It’s also well priced. USED: BMW 320d M Sport auto PRICE: £25k ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 187bhp THIS budget buys you plenty on the used market, including a 2018 model BMW 320d in M Sport trim. It might not be as practical, but it gets lots of kit, feels more premium and drives brilliantly. It’s an automatic, too.…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods IF there’s one thing our fleet cars are tasked with regularly, it’s airport runs. We travel all over the place to get the latest stories, scoops and car reviews. Often this means travelling out of Britain and back in one day, and that guarantees some very early starts and equally late finishes. Quiet and comfortable cars are in demand as a result, and the MINI Cooper I’m running is making the grade as an airport shuttle. The five-door’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder motor is a very mature small engine. It’s particularly smooth and quiet for a three-cylinder, making the pre-dawn dashes to Heathrow and midnight trips back into London fairly tranquil. The fuel economy is starting to improve, too. We were a little unimpressed with the 29.9mpg recorded over several…

Accessorise Amarok with T ruckman kit VW Amarok pick-up owners looking for accessories now have three new products to choose from. Aftermarket expert Truckman has gained official VW approval for its DECKED drawer storage system (£1,440, above), Bedrug luxury bed liner (£403) and bespoke tailgate damper kit (£86). These won’t affect an original factory warranty, and can be fitted at VW van centres. Find out more at www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk. Latest policy covers rarely used classics SPECIALIST vehicle insurer Footman James has created a new policy aimed specifically at those who don’t drive their classic. The Restoration, Storage and Transit policy provides third-party cover for vehicles stored in garages, on display, being prepared for races or shows, or in transit. The policy can have additional cover for an agreed value, or spare parts…

BUYING and storing a pressure washer can be a bind, and if you don’t need all that blasting power then a brush on your garden hose could be a cost-effective way to go. This method scores over manual washing; it’s often quicker, there’s plenty of water to reduce the risk of scratching and you don’t need two buckets. Hand brushes are fine for most hatches and saloons, but for 4x4s and people carriers an extending handle will be more useful. So which is the one to speed up your car washing? We plugged in four of each to find out. PRODUCT GROUP TEST 17|10|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…