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What is Apple CarPlay?

Stuart Masson
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5
What is Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay is a system designed by Apple, in conjunction with car manufacturers, that allows you to control selected apps on your iPhone from your car’s infotainment system.

The idea is to allow drivers to control selected apps on your phone in a safe manner while driving, such as your navigation, phone, messaging and music apps. Unsurprisingly, a similar system for Android phones was developed shortly after, called Android Auto.

Apple CarPlay is gradually being adopted by virtually every car company as new models are unveiled. The central display screens on new cars are perfect for CarPlay to create a display that looks very much like an iPhone screen, using app icons that look exactly the same as the ones on your phone.

Some older systems can be retrofitted with CarPlay, either by the car manufacturer or by independent companies, and there are a growing number of aftermarket stereo systems that can run CarPlay.

Apple CarPlay - MINI Countryman and Clubman
Apple CarPlay is available on the latest Mini models

Systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will potentially revolutionise in-car infotainment systems, providing a much better experience for car owners at a lower cost than traditional systems. A smartphone is far more advanced than your car’s radio and satnav system anyway, so it seems smarter for your car to use your phone’s technology rather than provide its own, inferior, systems.

The system also uses Apple’s Siri voice control system in addition to the car’s controls, so you don’t have to fiddle around with buttons or a touchscreen.

Which functions can I use?

Apple CarPlay allows you to access the following while driving:

Navigation: Your iPhone has a free and regularly updated navigation system already built in, thanks to Apple Maps. It may have been justifiably derided when it was first launched for being a bit rubbish, but Apple has been working away on its Maps app to the point where it is now as good as (if not better than) Google Maps and comes complete with a full “turn by turn” navigation system that is better than most portable satnav units or integrated manufacturer nav systems.

Apple Maps now provides speed limit information, lane suggestions and full UK postcode recognition. Plus the mapping is updated almost every week with the latest changes to the UK road system.

Phone calls: Using your car’s steering wheel phone controls, or the controls for the display screen, you can answer or reject calls, listen to voicemails.

There’s no need to sync your contacts between your phone and your car, as the system gets the information directly from your iPhone when a call is made or received.

Messages: Your text messages can be displayed on the car’s display screen, or Siri can read them to you if you prefer. You can also dictate a message for Siri to send to anyone in your contacts.

Audio: You can play music, podcasts or audiobooks stored on your phone from iTunes or your Apple Music account, or from other music apps like Spotify, Google Play Music or Amazon Music. You can also access radio apps like BBC iPlayer Radio.

Manufacturer apps: Many car manufacturers have developed specific apps that allow you to access certain car settings from the CarPlay display. To date, these have been very basic, but will develop further as demand grows and the manufacturers develop systems that integrate better with CarPlay.

Apple CarPlay running on a Volvo XC90
Apple CarPlay running on a Volvo XC90

Do I need Apple CarPlay on my new car?

If you are buying a new car and it offers the option of Apple CarPlay (usually along with Android Auto as well), it is definitely a worthwhile addition. At the moment, the level of integration between your phone and your car is somewhat limited, but this will accelerate rapidly in coming years.

The key selling points of Apple CarPlay are:

  • A (usually) seamless integration of selected functions of your iPhone with your car’s infotainment system
  • It’s always up to date. Apple updates iOS every year, with minor updates several times a year. When was the last time you updated your car’s operating system (or even had the option to?). If you have ever been frustrated by the navigation system on a ten-year-old car, you’ll understand the importance of keeping things up to date.
  • Voice control by Siri. Most voice command systems are, frankly, a waste of time. Siri, on the other hand, is one of the best on the market. If you use Siri anyway, you’ll find it perfectly natural to use it in your car. If you don’t currently use Siri on your iPhone, you may find it so useful in your car that you start using it all the time.
  • Only approved apps are accessible when driving. Your iPhone essentially blacks out when you plug it into your car, so any non-essential notifications will not be displayed until you disconnect it again. So no Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter (sorry Donald) or other distractions while you’re driving.

Important considerations are:

  • Apple CarPlay needs a decent phone signal at all times. Apple Maps, Apple Music, Spotify and most other apps require a constant data signal to function. If you are driving beyond cellular network range, your CarPlay won’t work.
  • Your phone needs to be plugged in to charge at all times. With your iPhone running your car stereo and providing navigation, and continually downloading and uploading data, your phone battery will go flat in no time. To date, all the CarPlay-compatible systems available have used a cable to connect your iPhone, so it will charge your phone while it working anyway. However, BMW has announced the first wireless CarPlay system, which sounds great but will kill your iPhone battery on a long journey. Some cars now have wireless charging as well, which you will need if you’re not plugging the phone in every time.

Is Apple CarPlay actually any good?

Depending on how new your particular model of car is, you may not find that CarPlay works any better than your existing navigation or voice control systems. However, a key part of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is that they will continue to be updated and improved, just like the operating system on your phone.

This means your car infotainment system will continue to get smarter over time, unlike existing systems that don’t improve or maintain compatibility with newer hardware and software.

What if I’m buying a used car? Can I get Apple CarPlay added?

Most existing cars on the road were not designed with Apple CarPlay in mind – in fact, one of the problems with traditional car infotainment systems is that they usually lag years behind consumers (which is why most new cars are still sold with CD players). Some systems can be retrofitted to accommodate CarPlay and/or Android Auto, but many can’t.

If you have an old-school standard size rectangular stereo (called DIN, or double DIN for units that are twice as tall), then you can easily replace your current unit with an aftermarket stereo that incorporates CarPlay. There are several stereo manufacturers who make CarPlay units that can slot straight into your car, and prices generally start at a couple of hundred pounds.

However, these have been getting increasingly rare over the last decade, as manufacturers preferred to fit integrated infotainment systems that are not interchangeable. This is more of a problem, as you can’t just pull out the old system and replace it.

For more popular brands like Audi, aftermarket companies have been developing hardware and software that updates existing systems to work with CarPlay. In coming years, many more companies are likely to find ways of adding CarPlay to your old unit, but it may take years to cover all the makes and models in the marketplace, so don’t hold your breath waiting.

‘No confidence’ as UK car sales slump again

Andrew Charman
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2
‘No confidence’ as UK car sales slump again

UK car sales plummeted again in October, as industry figures blamed the slide on collapsing consumer confidence and an over-hyped campaign against diesel.

New figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) show registrations of new cars slumped by more than 12% to 158,192 units, the first double-digit decline since the recession years. Year to date the market is down 4.6%.

For diesel the fall was even more marked, the 62,349 cars registered down 30%, or almost a third, on the same month in 2016. Diesel’s share of the market, that was almost half in October 2016, has now slipped to less than 40%.

New car registrations, October 2017
The fall of diesel shows no signs of slowing

Speaking to The Car Expert before the figures were released, Hyundai UK CEO Tony Whitehorn pinned blame for the slump on consumer confidence, less attractive exchange rates for foreign manufacturers and a campaign against diesel.

“Consumer confidence is low and won’t be helped by the increase this week in interest rates, that will hurt even more,” Whitehorn said. “(And) with the change in exchange rates many manufacturers are looking at the UK and saying this is no longer treasure island – we’re not going to invest quite so much. A number of manufacturers are tens of thousands of units down year on year.”

According to the SMMT figures, Hyundai registrations slipped by 0.5% in October but year-to-date the brand is up more than 2% in a market down 4.6%.

‘Tragic’ diesel campaign

Whitehorn dubbed as “tragic” the negative publicity applied to diesel cars. “I think it’s been hyped – diesel and petrol particulates, NOx, NO and CO are pretty similar nowadays with Euro-6 cars but there’s a consumer momentum,” he said.

Commenting on the figures, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes urged the Government to reassure customers over diesel cars. “Declining business and consumer confidence is undoubtedly affecting demand in the new car market but this is being compounded by confusion over government policy on diesel,” he said.

“Consumers need urgent reassurance that the latest, low emission diesel cars on sale will not face any bans, charges or other restrictions, anywhere in the UK – we urge the Government to use the forthcoming Autumn Budget to restore stability to the market, encouraging the purchase of the latest-low emission vehicles as fleet renewal is the fastest and most effective way of addressing air quality concerns,” he added.

However, others are urging further take-up of alternatively-fuelled vehicles, which include electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Registrations of such vehicles grew by 37% in October to 8,244, with their market share continuing to hover just above 5% for the fourth month in a row.

Year-to-date more than 102,000 AFVs have been registered in the UK, 4.6% of the market compared to 3.3% in 2016.

Hyundai dealer The Car Expert
Hyundai outlets including this one in Bluewater shopping centre, are among the few dealers suffering less in the current market.

 

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio; sub 4-sec SUV

Andrew Charman
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0
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio; sub 4-sec SUV

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the fastest SUV in its class, claim the new performance model’s creators.

Evidence for the claim is a remarkable 3.8-second 0-62mph time from the newcomer, a top speed of 176mph and a record-setting lap record of 7 min 51.7 sec around the 14-mile Nurburgring circuit in Germany during development.

When it arrives in summer 2018, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will become the top model in the Stelvio range, Alfa Romeo’s first SUV which went on sale in September. When the Italian brand revealed the Stelvio at the 2016 Los Angeles Motor Show, it was as a Quadrifoglio model.

On sale in the summer of 2018, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will join a fast-growing sub-sector of potent premium compact SUVs. Porsche launched the Macan turbo way back in 2015, while both BMW and Jaguar are developing performance versions of their X3 and F-Pace SUVs, using the same engines in their performance cars the M3 and F-Type SVR.

Bi-turbo powerplant

Alfa Romeo has taken a similar route – powering the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the same 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo petrol engine used in the Quadrifoglio version of the Giulia saloon. It produces 510hp at 6,500rpm, with 600Nm of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm.

The engine is matched to an eight-speed auto gearbox and all-wheel-drive, including torque vectoring that individually adjusts torque to individual wheels to maintain the most effective grip. This forms part of the Chassis Domain Control (CDC), described as the car’s ‘brain’ and coordinating all of the various electronic systems, such as the active suspension and the DNA Pro driving mode selector, to ensure they work most effectively together. Carbon-ceramic brakes are also part of the Quadrifoglio package.

Visually, the Quadrifoglio will stand out from stock Stelvio models courtesy of its additional vents on the bonnet and on the sides for the intercooler, the side skirts and big body-coloured wheel arches. Similarly, the inside will be liberally sprinkled with surfaces in carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara, while standard equipment will include the latest nine-inch Alfa Connect infotainment system with 3D navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility.

UK pricing and specifications for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio are yet to be released. Industry observers suggest it will start from above £65,000, based on how much more the Giulia Quadrifoglio costs over the Giulia Veloce. The current Stelvio range-topper is the Milano, which starts at £45,390.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio The Car Expert

PSA Groupe takes control of Vauxhall finance division

Stuart Masson
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0
PSA Groupe takes control of Vauxhall finance division

The next step in Vauxhall’s absorption into the PSA Groupe (Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles) has been finalised, with PSA  taking control of Vauxhall Finance.

Vauxhall Finance, along with its German sister Opel Finance, was part of GMAC under its previous owner General Motors. Following the sale of GM’s two European car brands to PSA Groupe, the finance divisions have now also been transferred to PSA’s finance operation.

Although the switch may not seem significant, it will affect nearly every customer buying a new Vauxhall as the finance offered at Vauxhall dealers is almost always provided by Vauxhall Finance. The 400 Vauxhall dealers themselves also use Vauxhall Finance to buy in vehicles, fund showroom improvements and other interests.

Vauxhall Finance and Opel Finance will now be set up as a new organisation under the control of Banque PSA Finance and major French bank BNP Paribas. With a total of 1,800 Opel and Vauxhall dealerships in 11 countries added to PSA’s existing operations for Peugeot, Citroën and DS dealerships, Vauxhall dealers will be hoping that the new arrangement will allow them to offer the most competitive finance deals possible for customers.

What does this mean for car buyers?

There is unlikely to be any visible difference to Vauxhall customers in how finance products are sold at dealerships (apart from a few lines in the fine print on all new contracts), but it remains to be seen how the new owners will approach the UK’s uncertain finance market.

Existing finance contracts will not be affected by the change, and all currently advertised offers are still available with no changes.

Management of the new operation has pledged to present its strategic plan for the future of Vauxhall Finance and Opel Finance within the next 100 days. Commenting on the transaction, Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Sorel said: “We are now thoroughly committed to building the strategic plan with the clear purpose of improving the performance of the company’s businesses and the competitiveness of our financial solutions for Opel and Vauxhall customers.”

Hyundai Ioniq hybrid review

Andrew Charman
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0
Hyundai Ioniq hybrid review

60-second summary

What is it?
The Hyundai Ioniq hybrid is one of a three-pronged eco attack by the Korean manufacturer that also includes full-electric and plug-in hybrid sister cars.

Key features
Less radical design, low starting price, well-equipped

Our view
The Hyundai Ioniq provides the Toyota Prius with a serious rival. The Korean newcomer is cheaper to buy, comes with plenty of equipment including a strong safety package, and offers performance and on-the-road dynamics directly comparable to its Japanese competitor.

Space inside is adequate, the boot good-sized, while the less outlandish design looks far more contemporary. However, the Hyundai is not quite as eco-efficient as the Toyota and becomes significantly less so if one chooses the top specification version.

Similar cars
Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris hybrid

Full review

Introduction

When Hyundai decided to make an assault on the eco market, it did so in force. The new Hyundai Ioniq is a model on sale in traditional hybrid and full-electric versions, plus a plug-in hybrid variant.

The hybrid Ioniq we are testing forms a direct rival to the Toyota Prius – the one car everyone will quote when asked to name a hybrid. And in many ways, the Korean newcomer even looks like its long-established Japanese rival, with a pointed stance, low nose, long, sleek shape and a more slab-like back.

The rear end of both cars shares that seeming hybrid styling signature, the split rear screen with two areas of glass separated by a metal panel. This reviewer is not a fan, the metal bit seeming to fall right across where one wants to see out the back in the mirror.

The Hyundai is slightly larger and generally a better-looking car than the Toyota, with subtle curves instead of sharp angles producing a pleasing visual stance. The fastback shape, we are told, is all about aerodynamics, while other efforts to make the most of the car’s eco credentials include such measures as an aluminium bonnet and tailgate. As a result, the Ioniq is 60kg lighter than its traditional stablemate the i30.

The Hyundai Ioniq is slightly larger and less radical in appearance than the Toyota Prius
The Hyundai Ioniq is slightly larger and less radical in appearance than the Toyota Prius

Buying and owning the Hyundai Ioniq

A big selling point for the Ioniq is its price – the hybrid starts from £19,995, which is more than £4,500 cheaper than its full-electric sister (even after the Government’s £4,500 plug-in grant is applied), and more than £4,000 less than the cheapest Prius.

The Hyundai also comes well equipped – standard on all versions are alloy wheels, DAB radio with Bluetooth, cruise control and both rear parking sensors and a camera.

It’s no less impressive in terms of safety. Autonomous Emergency Braking is on all cars, as is a lane-keep assist system, so it’s no surprise that the Ioniq has earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating – as has, incidentally, the Prius.

There are two more Ioniq trims – costing from £21,795, the Premium adds such niceties as satellite navigation, keyless entry and start, a digital dash and more upmarket audio with Android and Apple smartphone capability.

Our test car is the range-topping Premium SE, starting from £23,595. Heated leather extends across both front seats, the steering wheel and even the outer rear seats. The driver’s seat offers powered adjustment, while there are bigger alloy wheels and extra safety in the form of blind-spot detection (with a rear cross-traffic alert) and front parking sensors.

Note, however, that all this kit has a trade-off in terms of eco performance. The best fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures for the Ioniq are 83.1mpg and 79g/km – on our range-topper these dip to 70.6mpg and 92g/km, which lags significantly behind the equivalent top model of the Prius.

Inside the Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Ioniq hybrid dashboard
Conventional dash looks like any other Hyundai

The first thing one notices when slipping into the Ioniq is its normality. The dash layout looks like that of any other Hyundai and a world away from the sci-fi digital layout of the Prius, which this reviewer already considers oddly dated.

The Ioniq is cleverly packaged – that sharply-styled exterior profile with its dipping rear roofline means that space in the rear is cosy but not over so. The batteries for the hybrid system are neatly incorporated under the rear seats, which means no sacrifice of boot space and 443 litres as a result – more than 100 litres of extra volume compared to the Prius.

Driving the Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Ioniq on road rear
Steering is light for urban traffic but not so good on open roads

Powering the Ioniq is typical hybrid drivetrain, combining a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of 105hp with a 32kW electric motor. Combined they put out 141hp and 265Nm of torque, which is more than the Prius despite the Toyota having both a 1.8-litre engine and 53kW motor.  However our test Hyundai reaches 62mph from rest in 11.1 seconds, half a second behind the Prius.

Where the two rivals differ significantly is in the transmission. They are both autos, but the Toyota uses a CVT while the Ioniq gains a newly designed six-speed dual-clutch transmission. This is more efficient and makes acceleration a more purposeful process.

The petrol engine certainly holds its own alongside its electric imposter – while the car moves off smartly in full-electric mode, the engine is quick to cut in, which makes for more noise, especially if you use sport mode when the revs are held longer and the engine note can become intrusive.

The changes between electric and internal combustion powerplants are noticeable, as is the regenerative braking, and the Ioniq does not quite feel as smooth in this area as does the Toyota.

Hyundai has spent quite a lot of effort on the Ioniq’s suspension, with the rear benefiting from a multi-link suspension layout which translates to comfortable progress, slightly on the firm side, even when the road surfaces become less than perfect.

Up front for the driver, it’s not quite so pleasing. In town, it’s really easy to steer through sharp corners and urban traffic but out on a twisty country road, the steering feels over-light and lifeless when holding a straight line.

Summary

Many buyers when looking for an eco-friendly hybrid car might consider the Hyundai Ioniq a Korean copy of the Toyota Prius, which is to do it a disservice. This is an all-new design that competes square-on with its flag-waving rival and beats it in several areas.

The Ioniq is not the most exciting car to drive but that is not generally what people buy hybrids for. With a significantly lower selling price and an impressive equipment list it should appeal to those who have wanted to go hybrid but been put off by the price. But those for whom eco performance really is a major concern should keep away from the top-spec models like our test car.

Hyundai Ioniq hybrid on the streets of London
Not the most exciting car, but that’s not generally why people buy hybrids

Mercedes-Benz X-Class targets lifestyle buyers

Andrew Charman
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0
Mercedes-Benz X-Class targets lifestyle buyers

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will likely tick boxes with lifestyle buyers as a pickup wearing a desirable badge.

First deliveries of the brand’s first-ever open-backed model will be made in January 2018, at prices starting from £27,310 plus VAT, and only available in the lifestyle-friendly double-cab format.

However, Mercedes-Benz reckons buyers looking for a tough workhorse should not dismiss the X-Class, pointing to the fact that it boasts selectable all-wheel drive and a low-range gearbox as standard. A differential lock and 20mm ground clearance increase are also on offer as options to further expand the vehicle’s capabilities.

Both markets, meanwhile, will likely appreciate a strong standard safety specification. This includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping and hill-start assist, traffic sign recognition and a reversing camera, as well as the Mercedes me Connect emergency and breakdown service.

Trims to suit markets

The X-Class goes on sale in three trim levels and which you buy depends on what use you are likely to put the vehicle to. Entry-level is the X 220 d Pure, powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel of 163hp, put through a six-speed manual gearbox. Lots of storage, black fabric and 17-inch steel wheels feature on a specification tuned to the building site.

Progressive models will offer more home comforts, including styling upgrades, heated mirrors and alloy wheels, as well as the option of an X 250 d model with 190hp and matched to a seven-speed auto transmission. Progressive trim starts at £28,510, the more powerful engine and auto transmission combination adds another £2,000.

Lifestyle buyers will likely favour the top-range Power grade. Only available in X 250 d form and at £3600 more than the Progressive version, it gains a further raft of styling touches including quite a lot of chrome, along with LED front and rear lights, keyless entry and start, folding mirrors, electrically adjustable front seats, leather upholstery and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Mercedes offers a standard infotainment package across the range, a CD system also including Bluetooth and a DAB radio. A seven-inch touchscreen controls everything while steering wheel controls feature on Progressive and Power models. The package can be upgraded, adding Garmin Map Pilot navigation for £405, or the full Mercedes Connect Online system for £1470.

Also available on the options list are seven packages targeted at different types of users. These range from extra styling to parking sensors and a 360-degree camera and a winter package with heated seats and windscreen washer jets.

Mercedes clearly has high hopes for its new pickup and will expand the range later in 2018, adding a V6-powered X 350 d model to the line-up.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class The Car Expert

Star new models at the Tokyo Motor Show

Andrew Charman
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0
Star new models at the Tokyo Motor Show

This week the international motor show scene has shifted to Japan and while much of the new metal at the Tokyo Motor Show is destined for the domestic Japanese market, there are also cars that preview or at least hint at, future European models.

Posted here are some of the highlights from what is one of the most wide-ranging shows around.

Mitsubishi E-Evolution

Mitsubishi E-Evolution concept The Car Expert

This is the Mitsubishi E-Evolution – yes, it’s the brand’s first Evo model for years. But while the old Evos were rally replicas with big wings, this is a four-wheel-drive coupe-like SUV with an electric powertrain. Apparently it forecasts a new direction for the brand while not previewing a specific model.

Mazda Vision Coupe and Kai

Mazda pulls out the stops for its home show and two new models are attracting a lot of attention. The Vision Coupe (above) is one of the most striking cars at the show. Officially Mazda says that it previews the next version of the brand’s ‘Kodo – Soul in Motion’ design language, with a more minimalist theme. Beyond that, little is being said – certainly no mechanical information on the car, and no clue as to whether it might hint at a future sports car Mazda is known to be thinking about…

The future for the Mazda Kai (below) is much more predictable. Officially it’s a ‘compact hatchback that heralds a new generation of inspired vehicles’ – but most observers believe it will evolve into the next Mazda3, expected in 2019.

Mazda Kai The car Expert

Honda Sports EV and Urban EV

Is Honda about to make a successor to the iconic S2000? Apparently not, though comments by the brand’s high-ups at the show suggested such a car is not out of the question. These two are the Sports EV and Urban EV concepts. The latter is significant as its previews a production electric car that Honda intends to put on sale first in Europe, in 2020. The Sports EV suggests a future electric-powered performance car, though there is no current confirmation it will reach production.

Toyota TJ Cruiser

Can an SUV also be a van? Toyota thinks it could, and this concept, the TJ Cruiser, is it. The ‘crossover genre concept vehicle’ apparently ‘represents the harmonious balance between the roominess of a cargo van and the powerful design of an SUV.’ The T stands for ‘Toolbox’ – showing how the vehicle can be used for work, and the J for the ‘Joy’ of going visiting in the car. And it’s a Cruiser because all of Toyota’s SUV models are.

Toyota GR HV

Toyota GR HV the Car Expert

This is Toyota’s other major concept unveiled at Tokyo, the GR-HV. It’s designed to prove that a sports car can also be eco-friendly, though no performance figures have been revealed. The GR-HV boasts both design cues and powertrain elements evolved from the TS050 hybrid car that Toyota races in the Le Mans 24 Hours, while one other race-bred element is the H-pattern gearbox selection. Will it reach production? No clues, though Toyota is known to want a successor to sports models such as the Supra.

Subaru Viziv

Subaru Viziv the Car Expert

Subaru is certainly suggesting exciting future cars with this concept, the Viziv. It showcases the brand’s legacy, being both all-wheel-drive and powered by a ‘Boxer’ flat engine, but apart from that we are not being told much. Seasoned observers suggest this could hint at the shape of the next WRX.

Suzuki E-Survivor

The Car Expert Suzuki E- SurvivorThe next big thing in SUVs? Suzuki is showing the E-Survivor, a convertible SUV that is stripped down so much it could almost be a dune buggy. The electric all-wheel-drive model could also suggest elements of future versions of the brand’s well-known Jimny and Vitara models.

Tokyo Show suggests more Nissan Leaf models – click here

Tokyo show debut for flagship Lexus LS+ concept – click here

Citroën C4 Cactus bumps up its comfort

Andrew Charman
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0
Citroën C4 Cactus bumps up its comfort

New suspension technology and major changes to the signature ‘air bumps’ feature on the new Citroën C4 Cactus, unveiled ahead of its launch in Spring 2018.

The car has been revealed just as the Citroën C3 Aircross goes on sale, a small SUV that some observers consider has made the C4 Cactus effectively redundant. But Citroën has shown its faith in the model with wide-ranging updates.

Prime amongst these are the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions (PHC) – suspension technology debuting on a European Citroën and described as giving the car a ‘Magic Carpet’ ride quality. PHC is set to appear on other future models from the brand and its development resulted in the filing of 20 patents.

The PHC system replaces the bump stops in a conventional spring and damper suspension system with a pair of hydraulic stops on each unit – one for compression and one for decompression. These come into play when the car endures a heavy impact on the road surface, such as a pothole, by slowing each end of the suspension movement to avoid sudden jolts in the cabin.

Citroën is heavily promoting its Advanced Comfort programme and alongside the PHC the Cactus also debuts Advanced Comfort Seats. These use a high-density foam that is said to maintain its comfort even after many hours of use, or as the seats age over time.

Visually the most notable exterior difference of the Cactus will be the new design of ‘Air Bump’ body side mouldings. These are slimmer than their predecessors and mounted lower, on the sills rather than the door panels.

The new C4 Cactus will be offered with a wide line-up of powertrains although not all will be available to UK buyers. British buyers are expected to have a choice of petrol units ranging across 82, 110 or 130hp, all with manual gearboxes and the 110 also offered with a six-speed auto.

Diesel buyers will initially choose between either standard or stop-and-start versions of a 110hp unit. In Autumn 2018 a 120hp version with the auto transmission will join the line-up.

Meanwhile, technology available on the C4 Cactus will include 12 driver assistance systems and three different connectivity options. The latter includes Smartphone compatibility for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink, a connected navigation system through a seven-inch touchscreen and an assistance service for emergencies or accidents.

Citroën C4 Cactus the Car Expert

Citroën C3 Aircross review

Andrew Charman
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0
Citroën C3 Aircross review

60-second summary

What is it?
The new Citroën C3 Aircross is the brand’s small SUV that replaces an MPV

Key features
Stylish design, lots of space, more versatile than rivals

Our view
The Citroën C3 Aircross is a notably stylish new entrant to the small SUV market, both outside and in. It’s also practical and versatile, with lots of interior space and off-road ability with the aid of the optional GripControl.

While it offers an ordinary drive, this is no worse than the majority of the small SUV market. The only significant downside is the amount of equipment, especially safety-related, that requires paying for the top trim level or options.

Similar cars
Kia Stonic, Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Crossland X

Full review

Introduction

The new Citroën C3 Aircross aims to provide the manufacturer with a contender in the now hotly-contested small SUV market – but it also has a legacy to uphold.

For many years Citroën sold the C3 Picasso, an MPV that succeeded the equally distinctive Xsara Picasso and gained a lot of fans – 65,000 in the UK alone. But buyers don’t want MPVs anymore and the expansion of the latest C3 hatch, launched in January 2017, had to be an SUV.

The C3 Aircross is, of course, closely related to sister brand Peugeot’s 2008, but also to the Crossland X of new sister brand Vauxhall – they share their underpinnings and are all built together on the same production line in Zaragoza, Spain.

Not surprisingly, the Citroën stands out for style – today’s brand is all about distinctive cars. Styling signatures include the two-tier front light layout (now with the fog lights integrated into the main headlamp units), the ‘floating’ roof design with its black pillars and the 3D-effect rear lights intended to emphasise the car’s width.

Equally, the car emphasises its SUV credentials with black wheel arch edges, front and rear skid plates and roof rails, and its high stance – at 17.5cm the ground clearance is 5cm more than the C3 hatch.

Finally, there are up to 85 exterior colour combinations. These comprise eight body colours, three roof colour options and four ‘colour packs’ comprising headlamp surrounds, roof bars, door mirrors and a ‘venetian blind’ design on the rear quarter lights. This last, however, is a stick-on graphic on the glass and slightly low-rent to this reviewer’s eyes – as well as compromising rear three-quarter visibility.

Citroën C3 Aircross - front and rear
The Citroën C3 Aircross is one of the most stylish entrants to the small SUV market

Buying and owning the Citroën C3 Aircross

The C3 Aircross is offered with six powertrain combinations across four engines, and three trim levels, Touch, Feel and Flair. Petrol buyers have the choice of 82, 110 or 130hp engines with five or six-speed manual gearboxes, the 110 also offered with a six-speed auto.

For diesel fans the choice is between 100 or 120hp units, in manual form only. Initially, three-quarters of C3 Aircross sales are expected to be petrol-powered, but are expected to adjust to 60/40 as customers are told about the benefits of today’s cleaner diesels.

The entry-level Touch trim is only available with the 82hp petrol engine at a price of £13,995. Highlights of the equipment list include DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, manual air conditioning, cruise control and automatic lights.

Feel trim, costing from £15,100 with the 82hp engine, adds alloy wheels, an aluminium-effect finish on the skid plates, leather on the steering wheel and LED daytime running lights. There are two extra speakers on the audio, Android, Apple and Mirror smartphone connectivity, a seven-inch colour touchscreen and electric, heated door mirrors.

Another £1500 buys the top Flair trim, and rivals will point to the fact that you have to spend this amount of money to gain such basics as electric rear windows. The wheels expand to 17 inches, while the buyer has the choice of one of the four ‘style packs’ on the two-tone roof.

Navigation is included with Flair versions, while the air conditioning is automatic and dual zone. Other notables include keyless entry and start, automatic windscreen wipers and rear parking sensors.

Few of today’s small crossovers are available in four-wheel-drive form as customers want the looks not the capability, and the C3 Aircross is no different. But the car scores over its rivals by offering its clever GripControl traction system – a £400 option with all bar the 82hp engine and Touch trim.

GripControl keeps the car sure-footed off the tarmac, especially in muddy conditions – the latest version even includes Hill Descent Control. It is also a prime safety aid – an aspect of four-wheel-drive often forgotten – by improving grip on wet or icy roads.

The overall safety specification on all cars includes six airbags, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, hill-start assist and a speed limiter. Surprisingly neither of the upper trim levels adds further safety features except the connected emergency services on top Flair specification.

Autonomous emergency braking with a collision alert and blind-spot monitoring are both available for the Aircross, but only as options. We wait to see if this fact will affect the car’s Euro NCAP safety rating when it is tested.

Inside the Citroën C3 Aircross

Citroen C3 Aircross dashboard (The Car Expert)
Interior is an attractive environment, but also user-friendly and practical.

Citroën insists that the C3 Aircross has to reflect the practicality of its MPV forebear as much as the current SUV popularity, and in terms of interior space it generally does. The long 2.6-metre wheelbase translates to rear passenger leg and headroom claimed to be best in class, as is the 410-litre boot space.

This can be further improved by a neat arrangement that allows the individual sections of the 60:40 rear seat to slide back and forth by up to 15cm, as well as folding flat, which boosts carry space to 1289 litres. However, the sliding function is only available on Flair models as standard. On Feel models it’s part of the £490 optional ‘Family Pack’ which also includes the auto braking and collision alert and another neat touch – a folding front passenger seat, allowing something as long as 2.4 metres to be accommodated.

One further note – our test cars at the launch event included panoramic sunroofs, a £950 option on all but Touch models. These produce a light and airy interior but also cut the headroom available on the non-adjustable front passenger seat – tall buyers beware…

We first saw the new breed of stylish Citroën interiors with the C4 Cactus, and the C3 Aircross follows the format – generally, it’s an attractive environment but also user-friendly and practical. However the ordinary quality of some of the plastics and cloth trim slightly dull the effect, and a definite wrong move is the aircraft-style handbrake lever. A case of form over function, it looks good but is irritatingly difficult to use.

Driving the Citroën C3 Aircross

Citroën C3 Aircross on road rear (The Car Expert)
Engines are strong, but on-road dynamics not so much

At the launch event, The Car Expert was able to drive cars fitted with the 110 and 130hp petrol engines, which will take the majority of Citroën C3 Aircross sales. The efficiency and refinement of these three-cylinder turbo engines produce little surprise – they are effective units, especially the 110. Plus 50mpg combined cycle fuel economy combines with a CO2 emissions figure that is only 11g/km worse than the best diesel, and thanks to the stop-start function, a gramme better than the far-slower 82hp petrol.

Sadly the car’s on-the-road dynamics do not quite live up to the standards of the engines. Citroën makes much of ambitions to be the benchmark of the auto industry for comfort with its ‘Advanced Comfort Programme’ and the Aircross suspension, while slightly stiff, does smother the bumps and imperfections of the average road.

The steering, however, is fidgety, and absent of feel through the wheel, and through a series of bends the driver feels remote from the car. But the Aircross is not particularly worse than its rivals in this respect, unimpressive steering seeming to be a trait of the small SUV sector.

Summary

In a now crowded small SUV market any newcomer has to stand out, and in looks, the Citroën C3 Aircross certainly does that – it is one of the most stylish entrants to the market and leaves newcomers such as its Vauxhall sister model and the Kia Stonic in its wake.

The inside matches the exterior for style and adds a healthy dose of practicality, in most areas. However, making the car truly versatile requires paying for top trims or options – as does too much of the safety specification.

The Aircross won’t impress quite as much for its driving prowess, but then one will struggle to find a small SUV that does. Overall the car offers enough against its rivals, along with some bespoke extras such as the off-road ability provided by GripControl, to make it a contender.

BMW X2 looks for younger audience

Andrew Charman
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0
BMW X2 looks for younger audience

The BMW X2 has been unveiled as the brand’s sportiest small crossover yet – designed to attract more younger buyers than the other six models already in the X range.

First seen as Concept X2 at the Paris Motor Show in 2016, the newcomer measures up at 4360mm long – 20mm shorter than its X1 sister.

At 1526mm it is also more than 70mm lower. Much of this is removed from the depth of the windows, giving the car a sportier look which is emphasised by a new-design version of BMW’s signature kidney grille – wider at the base than at the top, it adds to the car’s planted look.

The X2 does match its X1 sister in the 2670mm wheelbase – the two cars share the same platform used under the 2 Series Active Tourer and are being built alongside each other at Regensburg in Germany. With a short bonnet and rear overhang, the X2 promises plenty of interior space, including a 470-litre boot.

Initially, the X2 will be sold in a single version – the xDrive 20d. This is powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine of 190hp and 400Nm of torque, put through an all-wheel-drive transmission. A degree of off-road ability is added by this transmission with hill-descent control fitted as standard.

The 20d offers 7.7-second 0-62mph time while returning combined cycle fuel economy of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 121g/km.

Three more variants will follow in 2018, all also 2-litre turbocharged models. The 20i petrol model will be on sale in front-wheel-drive form only, while there will be 18D diesel versions in both two and all-wheel drive formats.

BMW will offer four trim levels for its new SUV, in the familiar SE, Sport, M Sport and M Sport X grades. SE models sit on 17-inch wheels, all others on 19-inch wheels with 20-inch variants offered as options, while LED headlamps are standard on all bar the entry-level SE. all versions also get a 6.5-inch Touch Control Display with navigation system as standard, while the options list includes such niceties as a head-up display.

Dealers open order books for the car in mid-November, with the X2 xDrive 20D SE costing from £33,980.

BMW X2 The Car Expert

 

Collapsing car sales – is the car industry in crisis?

Stuart Masson
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9
Collapsing car sales – is the car industry in crisis?

New car sales figures for the six months between April and September (Q2 and Q3) made uncomfortable reading for many people in the UK automotive industry. 132,000 fewer new cars were registered than over the same six-month period last year, and there appears to be no end in sight to the falling market.

Initially, the industry brushed off concerns. Changes to road tax rules were said to be responsible for boosting sales in Q1 and hurting car sales in Q2 as buyers raced to beat the tax rises. Seemed reasonable.

Then in mid-April, the prime minister called a general election. That’s traditionally never a good thing for car sales, as both private and fleet buyers hold off purchasing for a few weeks to see how things pan out. Then we had the debacle of the hung election and uncertainty that lasted until the end of June.

So it was easy to write-off poor overall sales figures for Q2 as the result of external events. But you would then expect things to stabilise and bounce back to normal during Q3. Except that didn’t happen. July, then August and then September were all bad months as well.

Industry organisations like the SMMT have been eager to point the blame at Brexit, lack of government support, economic uncertainty, media coverage, aliens or any other external cause they can think of. But very few people within the automotive sector seem to accept that the car industry has played a large part in bringing its current problems on itself. It’s quite simple:

The UK car industry is reliant on customers buying cars they don’t need with money they don’t have. That is simply not sustainable.

Over the course of this decade, new car sales have soared year-on-year. Certainly part of this was a recovery from the global financial crisis, but it has been more than that. Private new car sales increased by 46% between 2011 and 2016, just ahead of an overall market growth of about 39% for the same period, according to SMMT figures. So where did this growth come from?

The country’s population grew by less than 4% over the same period, so it was clearly existing drivers choosing to buy new cars, rather than any massive population increase. Average weekly earnings improved by less than 9%, although real-world incomes have barely changed at all, so it’s not like we all had extra cash to flash on a shiny new car. The inevitable answer is cheap car finance in the form of personal contract purchase (PCP) and leasing (personal contract hire, or PCH) agreements.

At the start of this decade, fewer than half of private new car buyers financed their cars through the dealership, with the majority borrowing from a bank or elsewhere, or using their own savings. Today, nearly 90% of private new car buyers are financing through dealerships, which is all because of PCP car finance.

Although the PCP has been around for a long time, its popularity has boomed over the course of this decade. The government scrappage scheme in 2009/2010 was a massive boost in getting first-time new car buyers onto the PCP treadmill, providing a handy deposit that was combined with low monthly payments to put many thousands of drivers into a new car for the first time.

As the market recovered from the global financial crisis, demand for both new and used cars was strong and PCP customers came to the end of their agreements to find that they had a handy amount of equity between their car’s value and its settlement figure, which they rolled into another PCP on another new car. And as millions of car buyers have found over the last few years, once you get onto the PCP or leasing merry-go-round, it’s quite difficult to get off again.

Short-term desperation has caused longer-term problems

With PCP finance becoming more popular and customers swayed by low monthly payments, car manufacturers and finance companies began looking for ways to gain an edge and keep sales flowing. Different methods have been used to keep the advertised monthly payments as low as possible for both PCP and lease agreements, putting short-term results ahead of long-term sustainability.

Finance companies started pushing guaranteed future values (GFV/GMFV) up, even though used car values were falling due to the increased number of three-year-old cars coming back onto the market. The better the GFV, the lower the monthly payment. Of course, that meant less chance of a customer having equity at the end of the agreement, but that was a problem for tomorrow, not today.

Advertised offers have been based on ever-decreasing annual mileages. Instead of basing calculations on 10,000 miles per year, which is a reasonable average for most drivers, most deals are now advertised on the basis of 6,000 miles per year. Lower mileages mean better GFVs, which keep monthly payments down, etc. This was often not conveyed clearly to customers and many buyers have found themselves with unexpected excess mileage penalties.

The other tactic has been to stretch the contract lengths from the previous default of 36 months (three years) out to 42 months or 48 months (four years). A longer term means lower monthly payments on either a PCP or a lease. Again, it’s great for doing business today but creates problems tomorrow.

The net result of these tactics is that customers are coming back at the end of their PCP agreements (or before, when dealers have been chasing them with phantom early upgrade offers) to find that they don’t have their expected or promised equity, so they don’t have a ready-made deposit for a new car. With less deposit, they can’t afford the car they want, so they take a four-year term instead of a three-year term. That means that they are not going to be buying another car for at least a year longer than last time.

If every private PCP customer switched from a three-year PCP to a four-year PCP, some quick back-of-the-envelope maths suggests that it would cost the industry about 300,000 new car sales per year. If contract hire (both private and corporate) customers did the same thing, it would be even more disastrous. It would have a much greater impact than the various external excuses being thrown around.

Customers are still dependent on low monthly payments

Plenty of industry mouthpieces have complained that the general media is scaring the public away from buying cars with dire warnings about the perils of car finance. But those arguments don’t really stack up.

Media coverage and other warnings about PCP finance don’t appear to be putting people off. Monthly reports from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that a record 86% of private new car buyers are financing at dealers in 2017. The number of deals being done has decreased in line with the decrease in new car sales, but the amount of money being borrowed is still going up as buyers take on even higher levels of PCP debt.

It’s not like we’re seeing more buyers borrowing from elsewhere or paying cash. They’re still taking dealer finance – there’s just fewer of them about, and they are being talked into taking longer contracts so there will continue to be fewer coming back again each month for the next few years.

There have been waves of financial incentives and cheap credit thrown at car buyers to keep them coming into showrooms, but it would seem that the new car market has reached saturation point. There simply aren’t enough customers for all these vehicles. And with used car values continuing to fall, new cars are starting to look very expensive by comparison.

Tokyo show suggests more Nissan LEAF models

Andrew Charman
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0
Tokyo show suggests more Nissan LEAF models

A pair of concepts unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show suggest that the Nissan LEAF electric car is set to grow into a family.

The iMx electric crossover, and the LEAF NISMO performance concept, are both widely predicted to evolve into production models in the near future.

The electric platform that underpins the latest LEAF is also used, in updated form for the iMx, a four-seater crossover model. It offers all-wheel-drive thanks to the two electric motors, one on each axle, producing a total output of around 430hp with 700Nm of torque.

A compact platform allows a completely flat floor, translating to generous interior space, and Nissan adds that the low centre of gravity of the electric powertrain will make the iMx an impressive vehicle to drive. However when occupants don’t want to drive the concept will be able to take over with its in-built ProPilot autonomous system.

Nissan iMx The Car Expert
Flat floor of iMx means lots of space inside.

The car’s battery can be charged conventionally or wirelessly and will also serve as a power source, able to pass power to the grid. It is also claimed to offer a driving range of more than 370 miles.

Nissan is not currently revealing any future additional LEAF models, though personnel from the brand have suggested that an Electric Vehicle (EV) crossover model is in their plans. The styling of the iMx is very close to the latest production LEAF.

There are also currently no clues as to any performance upgrades that will accompany the forthcoming NISMO version of the LEAF, set to launch in the near future as the brand seeks to make its EV standard bearer appeal to more image-conscious buyers.

This process has become easier because the latest LEAF production model is both lower and wider than its predecessor, and the NISMO Concept on show in Tokyo includes the more aggressive body additions and styling that characterise models in the sporty sub-brand.

In a further move to strengthen its EV image, Nissan will effectively replace sister brand Renault in the all-electric FIA Formula E single-seater championship for the 2018-19 season. And the brand has also unveiled a future EV safety measure at the show – ‘Canto’.

Derived from the Latin for “I sing,” Canto is described as the future sound of Nissan’s electric vehicles. It will vary in tone and pitch depending on whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating or coasting, and will allow pedestrians to hear the normally virtually silent EVs approaching them.

Nissan LEAF NISMO The Car Expert
NISMO concept version of LEAF previews production model on the way.

Tokyo show debut for flagship Lexus LS+ concept

Andrew Charman
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0
Tokyo show debut for flagship Lexus LS+ concept

The Lexus LS+ Concept, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, previews a host of autonomous driving technology coming to the brand’s future models.

According to Lexus, the technologies are aimed at making driving both safe and smooth while still fun, and some of them are planned to feature on new Lexus models launched in the first half of the 2020s.

Included on the LS+ Concept are systems dubbed Highway Teammate, set to allow fully autonomous-driving on motorways, from joining to exiting, in 2020.

Drivers are already able to make use of systems that allow the car to autonomously merge onto motorways, make lane changes and diverge off them, as well as staying in lane and a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The technology recognises actual traffic conditions, makes judgements and responds accordingly.

The LS+ Concept takes this a stage further by communicating with a data centre to update its system software, so that new functions can be added. This can include information on roads and surrounding areas to increase the level of automated driving possible.

“In effect, the vehicle can grow with its users, representing a new era for the way in which people can become emotionally attached to their cars,” Lexus says.

Also featured on the Tokyo show concept are indications to the future direction of the  Lexus ‘L-finesse’ design language. The signature spindle grille is made bolder and features a shutter mechanism that improves cooling performance and the car’s overall aerodynamics. Both the headlamps and rear lights partly use lasers for illumination, and the side mirrors are electronic.

Lexus launched its F range of performance models with the IS F in 2007 and also debuting at the Tokyo show are limited edition models to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the F line.

The bespoke specification of these cars will include performance dampers and titanium exhaust silencers, and exterior styling details in CFRP composite material, complementing a matt grey paint finish and blue interior.

Just 50 10th anniversary versions each of the RC F coupe and GS F saloon will be built, but European fans will miss out as they will only be sold in Japan.

£104K buys Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Andrew Charman
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0
£104K buys Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Dealers are now taking orders for the updated Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, with prices starting from £104,115.

Entry model to the flagship range, unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September, is the S 560, replacing the outgoing S 500. Major change to the model is its 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol engine, producing 469hp and 700Nm of torque. The S 560 will reach 62mph from rest in 4.6 seconds and go on to an electronically-limited 155mph, while returning combined-cycle fuel economy of 34mpg and producing CO2 emissions of 188g/km.

Above the S 560 sit two AMG variants, the S 63 and S 65. The £128,015 S 63 uses AMG’s own 4.0-litre twin-turbo unit. With 612hp and 900Nm on tap the 0-62mph time is 4.2 seconds, alongside 31.7mpg and 203g/km. The S 65, costing from £189,615, is powered by a 6-litre V12 engine with 630hp and a torque figure of 1000Nm. This cuts another tenth of a second from the 62mph sprint time to 4.1sec, while like the S 63 top speed remains limited to 155mph. Official efficiency figures for the top model are 23.7mpg and 279g/km.

Buyers will only be able to buy the S 560 in AMG Line trim. Highlights of the equipment list include wireless phone charging, air suspension; a 12.3-inch widescreen cockpit and infotainment display; a panoramic sunroof, a memory package including electrically adjustable seats and steering wheel and ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours.

Owners of the S 63 will also enjoy massaging seats and various AMG accessories including a sports exhaust and suspension, sports seats finished in Nappa leather, a bespoke grille and 20-inch alloy wheels. S 65 models, meanwhile add a Burmester high-end sound system, intelligent lights with Swarovski crystals fitted, a head-up display, 360-degree camera and extra comfort and driver aids.

Standard on the S 63 and S 65 is the Driving Assistance package ranging across several electronic aids such as distance and steering controls, speed limit, braking and evasive steering assistance, and blind-spot and lane-keeping systems. The package also includes route-based speed adaptation, slowing the car down as it approaches junctions, roundabouts and toll roads.

S 560 owners can buy the Driving Assistance package as a £2,580 option, or £1,695 if specified with the £4,995 Premium Equipment line, adding such niceties as Nappa leather, a 360-degree camera and the various extra comfort packages.

First deliveries of the new S-Class Coupe models are expected in January 2018.

New Audi A7 Sportback revealed

Stuart Masson
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0
New Audi A7 Sportback revealed

Audi has unveiled the second generation of the A7 Sportback, a sleeker, five-door liftback incorporating much of the technology from the new A8 saloon flagship.

Although very similar in overall size and shape to the previous model, the second-generation A7 is an all-new production showcasing Audi’s latest design language and technological know-how. Its first public showing will be Los Angeles motor show in November, with UK orders opening early in 2018.

The styling follows Audi’s current trend for an even larger grille and slimmer LED headlights up front, and slim LED tail lights at the back. Like the previous model, the new A7 Sportback has a large rear hatchback to access a 535-litre boot. Both regular (SE) and S Line trims are expected when the car goes on sale next year.

Audi A7 Sportback rear, October 2017
The new Audi A7 hasn’t strayed from the original formula.

Inside, the A7 Sportback follows the lead of the new A8 saloon by replacing the previous MMI controls with twin touchscreen displays. An optional virtual cockpit digital display replacing the traditional dials, as well as a head-up display projecting selected information onto the windscreen, will give the driver plenty of information at any time. Size-wise, it’s very similar to the old model, with maybe a fraction more knee room for rear-seat passengers. UK-spec cars will have three seats as standard in the rear, although the centre seat is not going to be very comfortable for longer journeys.

The A7 Sportback will also provide higher levels of driver assistance and semi-autonomous driving, which will progressively ramp up over the anticipated life cycle of the car. The Audi AI system will allow the A7 Sportback to manoeuvre itself into and out of parking spaces and garages without a driver behind the wheel, and advanced cruise control support systems will help keep the car in its lane on motorways and A roads – much like the Tesla Autopilot system.

At launch, the A7 Sportback will only be available with a 3.0-litre petrol V6 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Additional petrol and diesel engines will follow, and presumably a hybrid as well. All versions of the vehicle will have ‘mild hybrid’ technology, using a 48-volt electrical system to allow the battery to control minor systems and potentially even switch off the engine while coasting.

Final UK prices and specifications will be announced closer to the car’s UK launch early in 2018. Audi has suggested that prices will start at about £56,000 on-road. The new A7 will be in for a fight right from the start, however, as Mercedes-Benz is expected to unveil its new A7 rival, the third-generation CLS, in coming weeks.

Audi A7 Sportback interior, October 2017
The cabin takes much of its design from the new flagship A8 saloon.

Car makers struggle to predict diesel future

Andrew Charman
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1
Car makers struggle to predict diesel future

Sliding sales of diesel-engined cars, reshaping the UK market, have caught the automotive industry by surprise.

The Car Expert has heard totally different opinions the future of diesel from two different brands within 24 hours, as manufacturers struggle to predict future trends and production quotas between petrol and diesel cars.

While UK car registrations slumped by 9% in September – normally one of the two biggest months of the year for the market due to the change in registration plates – diesel registrations plummeted almost 22%.

Year-to-date diesel demand has slid 14% to under 43% of the market, and the rate appears to be accelerating. A study commissioned by aftersales specialist Kwik-Fit suggested only one in six people planning to buy a new car in the next two years would consider a diesel.

Confusion driving customers away from diesel

Most in the industry agree that a wave of negative and often ill-informed publicity over the emissions of diesel, including the threats of bans, have hit the market – many of the ‘scare stories’ failing to discriminate between older, dirtier diesel engines and the newest-technology, more emissions-friendly units.

“The confusion surrounding air quality plans has not helped, but consumers should be reassured that all the new diesel and petrol models on the market will not face any bans or additional charges,”  said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), following the release of the latest registration figures.

However, only days after Hawes’ statement, Oxford City Council unveiled plans to start banning all petrol and diesel cars from Oxford city centre as early as 2020.

Nowhere has the effect been seen more than in the SUV sector, the fastest-growing part of the UK market. More and more buyers are turning to petrol in a sector formerly dominated by diesel.

“We expect our petrol/diesel split on the Stonic to be 65-35%,” Kia product specialist Monica Forgo told The Car Expert at the launch of the brand’s new Kia Stonic small SUV this week. “But it could be 70-30, and within year it might even be 80-20 – the market has changed so much and we are monitoring it very closely.”

One day later, however, Citroën’s Dan Bullimore offered a very different view at the launch of the brand’s new C3 Aircross – a direct rival to the Stonic. “We expect the initial split to be 75-25 in favour of petrol, but to then revert to 60-40,” he said.

“We have done a lot of work with our dealers to help them to explain to customers the advantages of our modern diesel engines and the differences between them and older units – particularly with regard to NOx emissions,” Bullimore added.

All of which suggests that the only predictable aspect of the diesel market over the coming months is that it will be unpredictable…

Citroën expects diesel sales to return to its new C3 Aircross model.

Suzuki rolls out new finance offers

Stuart Masson
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0
Suzuki rolls out new finance offers

Suzuki has announced a range of new PCP finance offers across its model range.

The best deals are on the Suzuki Swift and Vitara ranges, which benefit from 0% interest-free finance on a personal contract purchase (PCP). All other models are offered with a 5.9% APR representative (which is nothing to get too excited about), although Baleno and S-Cross models have deposit contributions of up to £2,500 available for finance customers, while Ignis and Celerio customers get free insurance and servicing if they take out the finance offer. The finance offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, like Suzuki’s scrappage scheme that has just been extended.

On Suzuki Swift and Vitara models, the PCP offer is 0% APR, which means no interest and no fees. There is no minimum deposit required, although obviously the more you put in up-front, the less you will have to pay each month.

The Baleno range has deposit contributions of either £1,500 or £2,000 on selected models, if taken with a PCP that is offered at 5.9% APR representative. S-Cross models. The interest and fees will probably account for about £1,500, so the discount offered up front is then clawed back over the next 3-4 years.

Similarly, S-Cross models are offered with a £2,500 deposit contribution in conjunction with a PCP. Again, the 5.9% APR representative interest rate means that you will probably pay back about £2,000 in interest and fees by the end of the agreement.

Celerio and Ignis models get three years’ free servicing and 12 months’ free insurance (assuming you’re over 21 and have a clean licence with no recent insurance claims) if you’re taking PCP finance at 5.9% APR representative. Again, bear in mind that you will probably be paying somewhere from £1,000 to £1,500 in interest over the course of the agreement, so you’ll need to compare other insurance and servicing quotes to decide how much you would really be saving.

The Car Expert examines the fine print

  • These personal contract purchase (PCP) finance offers are for selected new Suzuki models only.
  • The offers listed on the Suzuki website are only examples, and you are entitled to adjust the deposit and annual mileage to suit your own needs (within limits).
  • The annual mileages shown on the website examples are all set at 8,000. This is a bit less than most drivers average per year, so make sure you are choosing an annual mileage allowance that suits your needs.
  • The excess mileage on the PCP packages is up to 14p/mile. That’s £140 for every 1,000 miles you go over your limit, so make sure you allow yourself enough mileage when setting up the finance agreement. The fee only applies if you are giving the car back and claiming the guaranteed future value (GFV). HP customers do not need to worry about excess mileage.
  • Cars have to be ordered and delivered by 31 December 2017.
  • The deposit contribution cannot be used in conjunction with any other advertised offer, like the Suzuki scrappage scheme.
  • The finance offers are provided through Suzuki dealers by Suzuki Financial Services. If a dealer offers you a finance deal that does not match these details or from another lender, it is not part of this offer.

As with any car purchase, work out your budget before you visit the showroom and don’t be persuaded to go beyond it – regardless of what the smiling sales executive suggests. They don’t have your best interests at heart, but The Car Expert does!

Winter offers from Suzuki

Kia Stonic review

Andrew Charman
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0
Kia Stonic review

60-second summary

What is it?
The Kia Stonic is the brand’s first small SUV, entering UK’s the fastest-growing car market.

Key features
High-riding stance, new-tech petrol engine, strong connectivity and safety package

Our view
Kia’s first entry into the booming small SUV market does enough to make it a contender against an ever-increasing list of rivals. Based on the Rio supermini, it offers the more muscular visuals and high-riding stance that B SUV buyers demand, while being an easy car to drive and to live with – especially if one chooses the impressive 1-litre petrol engine.

Rear-seat space is cosy, the boot more so, while the car’s road holding and handling are competent rather than impressive. But a reasonable specification and strong warranty add to the Stonic’s appeal.

Similar cars
Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur

Full review

Introduction

Everybody wants a small, or what the market describes as B-segment, SUV these days and so every manufacturer wants to make one – our reviewer went straight from the Kia Stonic launch to that of the Citroën C3 Aircross that will become a direct rival.

Kia believes that a market that was worth 1.1 million vehicles in Europe in 2016 will reach 2.2 million by 2020. In the UK the Stonic is expected to take 10,000 to 15,000 sales in its first full year but the Korean brand’s number crunchers admit that judging by how many the larger Sportage takes, that figure could be conservative. This is a very important car for Kia.

So what makes the brand so confident? Well the Stonic is, like every other B SUV, chasing a slice of the market established by the Nissan Juke – it’s a compact car that has been muscled up to offer more road presence that would a traditional small hatch. In fact, it is directly evolved from the Kia Rio supermini and built alongside it in South Korea.

You can’t have all-wheel-drive in your Stonic, because no buyer these days wants SUV go-anywhere ability, they just require SUV go-anywhere looks. They also want lots of connectivity, one of today’s biggest selling points. And they want style and personalisation, which is why the upper of the two trim levels, First Edition, includes a two-tone body and roof paint job.

All this is placed on an attractive body shell, the Stonic presenting a chunky but purposeful visual presence – basically it looks the part, if anything a little sleeker than most of its rivals.

Kia Stonic UK launch
The Kia Stonic has a chunky but purposeful look

Buying and owning the Kia Stonic

Buyers of the Stonic are faced with an easy-to-understand line-up. There are just two trim levels, ‘2’ and ‘First Edition’, and three engines – the same selection offered to Rio buyers.

The ‘old tech’ if you like is the 1.4-litre petrol unit in the entry-level car. It produces a mere 99hp, which means it takes an asthmatic 12 seconds plus to pass 60mph. And while doing that its combined-cycle fuel economy figure only just breaks 50mpg and it produces 125g/km of CO2 emissions.

Compare that to the star of the range, the three-cylinder direct-injection turbo petrol unit. It’s smaller, just one litre in size, yet it serves up 120 horses. This slashes the 0-60mph time under 10 seconds, while also improving economy and emissions. At just £700 more than the 1.4, the 1-litre a worthwhile step up.

Diesel fans are served by a single 1.6 unit, with 110 horsepower and of course by far the best economy and emissions. Traditionally supermini buyers have only wanted petrol engines, whereas SUVs have been heavily biased towards diesels. But tradition doesn’t count any more – Kia expects 60% of Stonic buyers to choose petrol and admits the figure could end up being a lot higher as negative publicity continues to drive down diesel sales.

At the time of writing the Stonic has not been through a Euro NCAP crash test. The testers will be pleased to see a range of driver-assistance technologies available for the car, including Autonomous Emergency Braking and lane departure warning systems. They may be less delighted that these only come as standard on the First Edition model, being an option on 2 versions.

The 2 does include Vehicle Stability Management as part of its Electronic Stability Control system. Not only does this protect against skidding, the system fights against the car running wide in corners and keeps it straight when braking heavily. Hill Start Assist is standard too.

Those choosing the 2 grade also get some other desirable equipment, such as DAB radio, Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility, air conditioning and rear parking sensors.

Upgrade to First Edition – an increase of £2,700 – and as well as the additional safety the extras include a two-tone paint job, keyless entry and starting, heated seats, auto air conditioning and a seven-inch touchscreen navigation system with connected services. And like all Kias, the Stonic offers one significant peace-of-mind feature – a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Discounted service plans are also available.

Inside the Kia Stonic

Kia Stonic interior (The Car Expert)
Mostly grey with a dash of colour

The interior of the Stonic is typical of recent Kia models. Or more precisely, it’s very typical of the Rio, replicating the layout of its sister car. This is not a bad thing as the setup is user-friendly with all the buttons and switches falling easily to hand.

However – rivals are upping their game. Soft-touch plastics and fine detailing are becoming increasingly the norm in this market, and in this area Kia could soon be left behind. The colour contrasts one gets with First Edition models are essential to lift the finish above the ordinary.

B SUVs are not renowned for their space, being effectively jacked-up superminis, and the Stonic maintains the image. It’s okay up front, and the high seating position – the Stonic is 70mm taller than the Rio – gives the driver good visibility though the thick rear pillars compromise over the shoulder of oncoming traffic.

In the rear, however, it’s rather more cosy, while boot space of 352 litres is a lot less than rivals from Peugeot and Renault. This does extend to 1,155 litres with the seats folded down.

Driving the Kia Stonic

Kia Stonic dynamic spray (The Car Expert)
Ride is firm but comfortable at higher speeds

On the launch event, The Car Expert drove Stonics fitted with the 1.0-litre petrol and the diesel engines – these will take by far the majority of sales. Both are smooth and refined in operation, delivering their power effectively. The diesel does make a bit of noise when accelerating hard, and overall the petrol is the most impressive powerplant.

Ride quality is comparable to the Rio, which is no bad thing. The ruts and bumps of a typical UK road can make themselves felt in the cabin rather than being soaked up by the suspension, but at higher speeds they dial out for a slightly firm but comfortable ride.

The steering is a little too light and devoid of feel, especially at higher speeds, but this also translates to agile progress through urban streets.

In short, this is a very easy car to live with, confident and undemanding. And for that reason, it will likely tick most of the right boxes with its target market.

Summary

The Kia Stonic provides the brand with an effective contender in what is now a very important market. It does not stand out from the increasing crowd of B SUVs, but equally it is favourably comparable to most of its rivals. That, along with a reasonable amount of standard equipment and a strong warranty, should put it on many buyers’ shortlists.

Kia Stonic on road (The Car Expert)
The Kia Stonic compares favourably to most of its rivals

Suzuki extends scrappage scheme offer

Stuart Masson
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0
Suzuki extends scrappage scheme offer

UPDATE: Suzuki has announced that its scrappage scheme has been extended until the end of December 2017.

Suzuki has become the latest car manufacturer in the UK to offer a scrappage scheme for older part-exchange vehicles against a selection of new models.

An allowance of up to £2,000 is available on selected models across the entire Suzuki range, with the focus on higher-specification levels rather than base models.

Owners trading in any vehicle (from any brand) with a Euro 4 emissions standard engine or earlier, and registered before 2010, are eligible for the scrappage allowance. All part-exchange vehicles traded in under the scheme will be scrapped rather than re-sold.

The Suzuki offer is only valid this month, with buyers having to take delivery of their new vehicles by 30 September. UPDATE: This has now been extended, and buyers will have until 31 December to buy and take delivery of an eligible new Suzuki.

The savings for each model and grade in the Suzuki Scrappage Scheme are as follows:

Model Variant Scrappage saving (inc. VAT)
Celerio SZ4 £1,000
Ignis SZ-T & SZ5 £1,000
Jimny SZ4 £1,000
Baleno SZ-T & SZ5 £2,000
S-Cross SZ-T & SZ5 £2,000
Swift SZ-T & SZ5 £2,000
Vitara SZ-T, SZ5 & S £2,000

 

The Car Expert checks the fine print

  • This offer is a part-exchange allowance, for selected used cars part-exchanged against selected new cars.
  • Your current car can be from any brand, but must be built to Euro 4 emissions standard or earlier. This will definitely be cars registered before 31 December 2009, although some cars had Euro 5 specification engines earlier than this.
  • You must be the owner of the part-exchange vehicle and the buyer of the new car (same name and registered address).
  • You must have owned the old car for at least 90 days, to stop people buying an old banger for £200 and then getting a £2,000 part-exchange allowance for it.
  • The scrappage price is fixed for any car part-exchanged as part of the scheme, not an allowance on top of the car’s value. You are effectively getting nothing for your car, but a discount on the new car (although it won’t be written that way on the contract).
  • You must order and take delivery by 31 December 2017.
  • This offer cannot be used on top of any other offers from the dealer, manufacturer or finance company. Other offers may prove to be a better option, depending on your circumstances.
  • The offer is not dependent on you taking any finance package or other products.

Suzuki Vitara - scrappage scheme 2017

Vauxhall Grandland X review

Stuart Masson
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0
Vauxhall Grandland X review

60-second summary

What is it?
The Vauxhall Grandland X is the company’s entry into the very tough mid-sized SUV/crossover market.

Key features
Good specification levels, moderate off-road capabilities, practical design

Our view
The Grandland X is a critical new car for Vauxhall. The company expects that it will become its second-most popular model for retail customers after the Corsa supermini, and will be crucial in ensuring buyers continue to flock into Vauxhall showrooms for the next few years.

Vauxhall has set its prices higher than many of its major rivals, but is offering a lot of kit for your money in return. Safety kit is very good on most models, although the base model SE misses out on key accident avoidance technology like autonomous emergency braking.

Perfectly competent although never really compelling, the Grandland X ticks all the boxes that modern family cars need to tick. It’s comfortable, practical and well equipped for the money, and Vauxhall is expected to be competitive on finance offers once the Grandland X hits showrooms. It’s certainly impressive, but then so are most of the cars in this class.

Similar cars
Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Toyota RAV4, many others…

Full review

Introduction

The Grandland X is a very important car for Vauxhall. European sales of conventional hatchbacks and saloons, like the Astra and Insignia, are steadily sliding downhill every year. In their place have come hordes of soft-roader SUVs; minimal actual off-roading capabilities but with tougher looks and higher seating positions.

The Nissan Qashqai originally led the way, but now everyone is piling into the market and the vast majority of new cars we review here at The Car Expert are faux-by-fours of some sort. Vauxhall is playing catch-up in this area, having killed off its unloved and uncompetitive Antara model a few years ago.

The new Grandland X marks a fresh start for the British brand in the mid-size SUV segment, with a large helping hand from its new French owners PSA Groupe. The Grandland X shares its underpinnings with other members of the family, like the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, DS 7 Crossback and Citroën C5 Aircross.

Plunging into the middle of the pack, Vauxhall has set its prices higher than many of its major rivals – but is offering a lot of kit for your money in return. Once you start ticking options boxes on a Nissan Qashqai or SEAT Ateca, it largely evens out. And in any case, it will all depend on the finance and discounting offers that will inevitably follow the launch of the new model, and Vauxhall is not usually afraid to slash prices to boost sales.

Ultimately, the Grandland X will need to be a sales success to help boost Vauxhall’s profitability and market share. The company expects that it will become the second-biggest selling model to retail customers in its range, behind the Corsa. Astra and Insignia sales are dominated by fleet buyers, so this car needs to pull regular punters into Vauxhall showrooms for the next seven years.

The Vauxhall Grandland X is handsome yet familiar in Elite Nav trim
The Vauxhall Grandland X is handsome yet familiar in Elite Nav trim

Buying and owning a Vauxhall Grandland X

The Grandland X is being launched with four trim specifications, three aimed at retail customers and one targeting fleet buyers. There is a simple choice between a single 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.6-litre diesel engine (for an extra £1,375), with the petrol unit a bit perkier but the diesel probably better if you’re loading the car up with family and luggage. None have four-wheel drive, relying on trick software to enhance grip on loose surfaces like mud or snow.

The Tech Line Nav model is cheapest on paper (about £22,300 on-road), but is intended as a fleet model for company car drivers and there are unlikely to be retail offers available to private buyers.

The retail customer range starts with the SE trim level at about £22,500 on-road. That’s dearer than the Tech Line Nav and it gets much less standard equipment, which is because it’s basically a price-leader model that will only account for 5% of sales. But it will presumably look appealing in adverts for £199/month on a PCP or similar with attractive discounts.

The mid-spec for private buyers is Sport Nav, which is more than £2,000 dearer than the Tech Line Nav – with that extra money only giving you a different style of alloy wheel. But it does give you an indication that there will be regular discounting on Sport Nav models to make them more competitive.

Top of the line is the Elite Nav, which gets all the available gizmos and safety features.

In terms of safety, the Grandland X scored five stars from Euro NCAP and has a good standard level of safety equipment. The base model SE doesn’t get autonomous emergency braking or other advanced safety systems, which is disappointing, but since Vauxhall doesn’t really expect to sell very many of those it’s not as much of an issue as it otherwise might be.

The rest of the range comes standard with a safety pack, comprising autonomous emergency braking, driver drowsiness detection, lane assist and a forward collision alert.

Inside the Vauxhall Grandland X

Vauxhall Grandland X dashboard (The Car Expert)
The dash layout is clean and well thought out

The Grandland X might be based on the Peugeot 3008 and have very similar dimensions inside, but the layout is far more conventional than the Peugeot’s dazzling digital displays. That probably says a lot about Vauxhall’s intended market for the car; straight down the middle of the road and not too off-putting for technophobes or buyers of advancing years.

If you’ve recently set foot inside a new Astra, Insignia or Crossland X, it will look very familiar. But that’s not necessarily a negative, because it all works very well indeed. Switchgear is well organised and logically laid out, showing that considerable thought has gone into it.

A small but important example: the volume knob on most car stereos is placed on the left side of the dashboard. Why? Because it’s more convenient if your steering wheel is on the left-hand side. But on right-hand drive cars, manufacturers almost never bother to change the stereo controls, so British drivers have to reach further to grab the most frequently-used control on the dashboard. Vauxhall has been smarter than most, however, and put the volume knob right in the middle of the dash, under the infotainment screen, and within a comfortable arm’s reach for both driver and front passenger. I know, I’m petty. But it shows a level of thought absent in most new cars.

The seats are comfy enough and the all-round visibility is reasonable, much like any other modern SUV – higher up than a regular car but still with thick pillars everywhere. Headroom and legroom are also fine both front and rear, although as usual the rear centre seat is not a pleasant place to spend any length of time.

Boot space is good, and big enough for most family use. There’s a double floor so you can hide a few things out of sight, or lower the floor to fit some bulkier cargo if you need to. In other words, it’s very similar to most other cars in its class without quibbling about a few litres here and there.

The same can’t be said about the glovebox, which is tiny and virtually unusable except for maybe storing an actual pair of gloves. Other storage for various odds and ends is also a bit mean, so you’ll need to get serious about slimming down the amount of unnecessary stuff you carry around in your car.

Driving the Vauxhall Grandland X

Vauxhall Grandland X - rear on-road
A comfortable drive – more so on the 18-inch wheels than the 19-inch wheels

Much like the interior, the Grandland X driving experience is entirely sensible and middle-of-the-road. It’s comfortable and quiet. It feels reassuringly predictable, with everything happening exactly as you expect it to.

The steering is light for easy wheel-twirling in car parks, although there’s no great feel of what’s going on with the front wheels. The gearshift and clutch on manual cars are easy to use, so you shouldn’t have to endure agony with every gear change on long journeys.

Like most modern diesel engines, the 1.6-litre unit in the Grandland X is functional rather than fun, but it does give the feeling that it will happily go all day with a carload of people and luggage and won’t break a sweat.

The petrol engine is a bit zippier on solo trips and flat roads, but it is less likely to maintain that edge when you load it up with extra weight and point it up a hill. It is just under £1,400 cheaper though, so you’ll need to decide what you need your car to do before deciding which way to go.

The ride is generally pretty comfortable, although the 18-inch wheels on the Sport Nav and Tech Line Nav models make life a bit more comfy than the standard 19-inch wheels on the Elite Nav models.

Summary

The overwhelming feeling from the Grandland X is that it’s a very competent car that can stand comfortably alongside its competitors, without offering anything compelling or unique. There’s not many reasons not to choose a Grandland X, but there’s also no “must-have” feeling about it. It’s impressive, but then so are most of the cars in this class.

The Grandland X ticks pretty much all the boxes that modern families need to tick. It’s comfortable, practical and well equipped for the prices listed. The finance offers will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date of December/January, but if the payments are comparable to a Qashqai or 3008 then the Grandland X will be a perfectly reasonable choice.

 

There's not much not to like in the Grandland X
There’s not much not to like in the Grandland X

Safety upgrades on updated Lexus CT 200h

Andrew Charman
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0
Safety upgrades on updated Lexus CT 200h

A series of updates to the Lexus CT 200h hybrid includes a significant improvement in the car’s safety package.

Described by Lexus as the world’s first luxury hybrid hatchback, the CT 200h has sold 27,000 examples in the UK in the seven years since it launched, more than a third of the model’s entire European sales.

Now a facelift package for 2018 model year cars includes new styling to the exterior and interior, a simplified grade structure and the inclusion of the Lexus Safety System+ package as standard on all but entry-level SE models.

The safety package comprises active technology including a system to lessen the severity of collisions, adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure warning with an assistance system, automatic high-beam headlamps and traffic sign recognition.

Styling updates are intended to give the car more presence. There is a new mesh pattern to the grille which no longer has a bumper dividing it up, while on the top  Premier and F Sport Premier Pack models the daytime running lights sit above the headlamps and flow into the car’s side styling lines. L-shaped lights top the rear-end modifications.

Inside there are new upholstery and colour options, while the navigation system that is optional on all bar the entry-level model and standard on upper grades gains a larger screen, growing from seven to 10.3 inches.

The simplified grade structure sees the entry SE model joined by a new Luxury grade, above which is the F Sport model with sports-pitched additions including performance dampers and bespoke styling. Top of the range remains the Premier model.

No changes have been made to the CT 200h powertrain, the car still claiming a combined-cycle fuel economy figure of plus 73mpg and CO2 emissions down to 88g/km. Order books are open for the revised car at prices from £23,495.

Volvo’s electric spin-off brand launches first car

Stuart Masson
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0
Volvo’s electric spin-off brand launches first car

Polestar, the new performance electric car brand from Volvo, has unveiled its first new car, the Polestar 1.

Set to start production in a new factory in China in 2019, the Polestar 1 is a 600hp, 2+2 coupé that is based heavily on the design of the 2012 Volvo Concept Coupé. It will be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, with two electric motors driving the rear wheels and a Volvo 2.0-litre petrol engine driving the front wheels. Polestar plans to build no more than 500 cars per year.

Polestar claims that the car will be able to travel more than 90 miles on electric power alone, meaning that most drivers will rarely experience the petrol engine in regular use. For maximum performance, the petrol and electric motors operate together to deliver the maximum 600hp and 1,000Nm available.

The Polestar 1 will be the flagship of the new range, and is expected to be the only model that will be built as a hybrid. Subsequent models are intended to be strictly electric vehicles.

The Polestar 1 will be based on the same basic platform as Volvo’s latest models, but Polestar’s engineers claim that 50% of the platform is new and bespoke to this model. It is more than half a metre shorter than the Volvo S90 saloon, and extensive use of carbon fibre has helped save a claimed 230kg of weight.

Despite not carrying a Volvo badge, the Polestar 1 is clearly an extension of the Swedish brand’s principles and design language – both inside and out. The new Volvo S90 and V90 evolved from the same stunning 2012 Volvo concept that inspired the new Polestar 1, and the shared visual identity is evident – even down to the “Thor’s Hammer” headlights and C-shaped rear lights.

Most of the dashboard looks like it has been lifted straight out of the Volvo 90-series models, which is definitely no bad thing as those cars have been highly praised for their interiors.

Subscription service only, no cash buyers please

Polestar will also embrace Volvo’s new subscription service for its vehicles rather than traditional car ownership. The Polestar 1 and subsequent models will only be offered on an “all-inclusive” two- or three-year plan. This new premium leasing concept will also allow customers access to other Volvo and Polestar models on a short-term basis as part of the overall monthly payment. The vehicle can also be shared via a smartphone app, replacing a traditional car key.

The new customer concept will include collection and delivery for servicing, and ultimately is likely to bypass the normal new car dealership model altogether. Polestar does intend to build a small number of retail facilities in prominent locations, but most customers are likely to arrange test drives and order vehicles online, never setting foot in a dealership.

First of a new family of Polestar vehicles

The Polestar 1 will be followed in short order by two more models, to be named as (wait for it…) the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3. Unlike the flagship GT, these will be purely electric vehicles running off battery packs and will also be more practical than the two-door model.

The Polestar 2 will be a mid-sized car, aimed directly at the new Tesla Model 3. It is expected to launch in late 2019. It will be the entry-level model in the Polestar family, and will be followed to market by the Polestar 3, a larger “SUV-style” electric vehicle. Presumably, this will be something larger than a Volvo XC60 but smaller than an XC90. A launch date hasn’t been revealed, but is likely to be 2020 or 2021.

All Polestar models are likely to be built in China. A new factory is being constructed in Chengdu, and is due to open in mid-2018 in time to start pre-production of the first Polestar 1 vehicles.

It is not yet known what will become of the Polestar-branded Volvo performance models. Currently, the Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar models are offered, and a number of Polestar performance upgrades are available across the Volvo range.

SsangYong Rexton review

Andrew Charman
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0
SsangYong Rexton review

60-second summary

What is it?
The latest SsangYong Rexton is a completely new version of the brand’s traditional large SUV.

Key features
Seven seats, fully off-road capable 4×4, major interior upgrades.

Our view
The new SsangYong Rexton is a major advance that will surprise those familiar with the brand and should persuade others to check it out. It remains a traditional large SUV with selectable 4×4 transmission and body-on-frame construction – this makes it less assured on the road but capable of serious off-road ability and a heavyweight towing capacity.

Inside there is a great deal of space, especially in the enormous boot, but the major advance is in the quality of the fit and finish. This competes with rivals perceived to be much more upmarket.

The Rexton can’t compete with those rivals for the efficiency of its engine, but it does come well equipped and with an impressive standard safety package that includes autonomous emergency braking.

Similar cars
Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Land Rover Discovery

Full review

Introduction

The big old SsangYong Rexton SUV signifies how many people still view the Korean manufacturer – a budget brand relying on old tech and basic quality, a bit like Kia and Hyundai once were.

That view no longer really fits SsangYong, however. Recent new models, particularly the Tivoli and XLV, have brought significant growth to what is actually the oldest Korean brand of all, tracing its history back to 1954. Yet SsangYong also remains one of the smallest brands, and to continue the growth and close the yawning gap to its young upstart rivals, cars such as the Rexton have to be brought into line.

The all-new, fourth-generation Rexton goes quite some way to achieving this, particularly in terms of looks, interior quality and refinement. But it’s not all about revolution. In an age of monocoque SUVs, the Rexton retains its old-style body-on-frame construction. So it also retains its membership of the declining club of proper serious off-roaders, but will its on-the-road refinement suffer as a result?

And with a price tag for the upper models significantly increased over predecessors, can this really still be seriously considered as a low-cost option to the likes of the Land Rover Discovery?

SsangYong Rexton large SUV review 2017 | The Car Expert
The new Rexton presents a much more modern image than the previous model

Buying and owning a SsangYong Rexton

Choosing a new Rexton will be quite a simple process. Mechanically they are all the same, using the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel of the previous generation, though with a small amount of extra power squeezed out of it. On offer is 181hp, along with 400Nm of torque, which in this heavyweight environment results in an 11.1-second 0-62mph time – adequate, if not exciting.

The engine can be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox but an attractive option is the seven-speed automatic, which is a unit sourced from Mercedes-Benz and behaves very well. And every Rexton comes with selectable all-wheel-drive – no pussy-footing front-wheel-drive only models here. The unit boasts a low-ratio mode, and with the car’s high-stance providing steep approach and departure angles, and Hill Descent Control, the Rexton can hold its own when the going gets rough.

One other major plus is the car’s towing weight – the Rexton can haul 3.5 tonnes, which will make it attractive to the likes of the equestrian community, and allows it to compete with much more upmarket rivals such as the Discovery.

Prices start from £27,500 and range across three trim levels – EX, ELX and Ultimate. Some have questioned the £37,500 price of the latter for a brand still considered a budget option, but this does pay for a lot of equipment.

One can have the entry EX level with seven seats, while it also boasts 17-inch alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, a smart audio system accessed through an eight-inch screen, power/folding door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers and cruise control.

The standard safety package is notable too – the likes of Euro NCAP will no doubt point to this budget brand offering autonomous emergency braking as standard along with forward collision and lane departure warnings, high beam assistance and traffic sign recognition.

An extra £4,500 buys the ELX – the wheels get an inch larger, and there are such niceties as leather upholstery, dual-zone and rear air-con, heated and powered front seats and keyless entry.

The central infotainment screen grows to nine inches, which is useful as it now includes TomTom navigation. There’s a digital instrument cluster and nine instead of six airbags.

Ultimates only come in five-seat form and with the seven-speed auto transmission. The £37,500 price tag also pays for such desirables as 20in alloys, high-intensity headlights and LED fog lights with a cornering function, quilted nappa leather and a smart tailgate that opens or closes with a wave.

The safety package jumps too  – a 3D around-view camera is included, as are lane-change assist, blind-spot detection and rear-cross traffic alert driver aids.

Outside and Inside the SsangYong Rexton

SsangYong Rexton dashboard | The Car Expert review 2017
Interior trim is finished to a notably high standard.

On first viewing, the new Rexton presents a much more modern image. The latest styling treatment follows the LIV-2 concept unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2016, and the look is smoother throughout, which allows the car to appear far more confident alongside rivals in the car park.

It’s not quite so pleasing from the rear, as the Rexton still boasts an enormous rear overhang – this machine outstretches the Hyundai Santa Fe by some 150mm though at 4850mm in length it remains 100mm shorter than a Volvo XC90, another car SsangYong would like to steer customers away from.

The advantage of the stuck-out rear end becomes apparent once inside the car. Everywhere is spacious, front and back, and if you choose a five-seater version you get a gargantuan 820 litres – a lot more than the longer Volvo even before you think of folding the seats.

Making even more of an impression than the interior space, however, is the quality. Admittedly on the launch event we did not get to try the entry-level EX model, but the interior trim on the ELX and Ultimate versions is to a notably high standard. Evolved from the Tivoli, it features plastics that are soft touch and the chromework neatly detailed. It’s slightly too ‘blingy’ but also a world apart, in a good way, from previous Rextons.

Driving the SsangYong Rexton

SsangYong Rexton rear view | The Car Expert review 2017Taking the Rexton onto the road we were ready to be unimpressed, due to the designers retaining that body-on-frame construction. Off-road such a build provides the robustness one needs, as well as the impressive towing ability, but it doesn’t usually translate to the predictable, higher-standard handling of more modern monocoque designs.

The Rexton maintains the trend, but it’s not as bad as one might expect. Cruising on a motorway it is composed and noticeably quiet – the designers have worked hard on cutting noise, vibration and harshness out of the car and to a great extent they have succeeded.

In corners the car is not quite so assured – the softness of the suspension can make itself felt on sharp corners with a degree of body roll, but again it’s not excessive and a whole lot better than previous versions of the car.

The diesel engine plays its part too – under acceleration it remains refined, only really producing any significant audio note when really accelerated hard. However it can’t compete with more modern, downsized units in terms of efficiency – 36mpg and plus 200g/km emissions levels are somewhat old generation in today’s market.

Summary

SsangYong has improved the Rexton to an extent that will greatly surprise those who know the brand – especially once they get in it. The car will also score highly on the level of equipment supplied, in particular the safety package – justifying the now more substantial pricing.

Whether such first impressions will lead to purchases will likely depend on the requirements of the buyer. If you are looking for an SUV for the road, with car-like handling and great efficiency, then the Rexton is not for you.

If, however, you want a strong, robust 4×4, that can tow a heavy caravan or trailer not only to the scenery but through it, but you also want rather more than the low-rent, black plastic interior that formerly was a signature element of any vehicle with versatility, then you should check out the SsangYong Rexton.

SsangYong Rexton with horse box | The Car Expert review 2017
The SsangYong Rexton is a strong, robust 4×4 that can tow a heavy caravan or trailer not only to the scenery but through it

£32K buys Kia Stinger flagship GT

Andrew Charman
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0
£32K buys Kia Stinger flagship GT

Prices have been revealed for the Kia Stinger, the brand’s first GT, its first rear-wheel-drive car to be sold in the UK and set to become a flagship model.

Order books are now open for the Stinger and when it goes on sale in January 2018, the car will cost from £31,995 to £40,495.

Evolved from a concept first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, the Stinger is regarded as a game-changing model for the brand; “(It is) a car to convince people, if anyone still needs convincing, that the company has put the days when it was a value-driven brand mainly concerned with durability and practicality behind it,” Kia states, adding that the car emphasises that Kias can now be desirable in their own right.

Kia Stinger The Car Expert

Five models, three engines

Five versions of the Stinger will be available, based on three trim grades (GT-Line, GT-Line S and GT-S) and three turbocharged engines. Both the GT-Line and GT-Line S will be offered with either a 247hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 200hp 2.2-litre turbodiesel.

Range-topper will be the £40,495 GT-S, powered by a twin-turbo 370hp 3.3-litre V6 engine capable of taking the car to a 4.7-second 0-62mph time and on to a top speed of 168mph.

All versions will use an eight-speed automatic gearbox with five different shift and throttle programmes and the option of full manual control using the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

Kia describes a GT as a high-performance luxury car rather than a sports car and adds that the Stinger’s specifications reflect this. All versions include an 8-inch touchscreen navigation system with European mapping and a Traffic Messaging Channel. This is linked to Kia Connected Services with TomTom, offering information from traffic, weather and local searches to speed camera locations.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity is included, as is Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming. A reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster feature too, along with a head-up display displaying speed and navigation instructions and a first for Kia in the UK.

Kia Stinger engine

MINI 1499 GT recalls classic sports model

Andrew Charman
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0
MINI 1499 GT recalls classic sports model

The MINI 1499 GT special edition is inspired by a classic version of the small car but also signifies a change in powertrain direction for the BMW-owned range.

The 1499 GT is inspired by the 1275 GT, a sports-pitched version of the original Mini launched in 1969. Obvious links to the original include the distinctive stripes running along the sides under of the doors, and the increased engine capacity.

However, while the 1969 car achieved its 1275cc capacity by boring out the engine of the then 998cc standard Mini, the new special edition replaces the 1.2-litre engine previously used in the MINI with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo unit – it is understood the 1.2 engine is being phased out of the range to make it easier for the car to meet future emission regulations.

In the 1499 GT, the new engine produces 102hp and takes the car through 62mph from rest in 10.1 seconds. Mechanically the only other change over the standard car is the addition of sports suspension.

Yours in black or white

However, the special edition boasts a number of styling and equipment upgrades. It is only offered in black or white, with the side stripe in gold or black accordingly.

A John Cooper Works Sport Pack is added, consisting of 17in black alloy wheels, dark tinted windows and white indicator lenses, while the car also gains a JCW styling pack of bespoke front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoiler and door kick plates.

Inside there are sports seats in a Dinamica fabric and leather combination, a perforated leather steering wheel with red stitching and black interior trim. The wheel includes controls for various functions, while cruise control and smartphone compatibility are also part of the package.

Order books are open for the new car, at prices starting from £16,990, and the 1499-strong production run will only be sold through UK dealers.

MINI is also launching a new finance package with the 1499 GT – ‘MINI Ready Fuel Go’ offers one year’s inclusive insurance with a £299 customer deposit and £299 monthly payment.

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